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qdony's review
4.0
Buen libro de relatos de Marian Womack con un fuerte componente “weird” que explota en los finales, siempre desconcertantes y a un paso de lo inexplicable. Aunque hay motivos que se repiten —la naturaleza en declive, el simbolismo de las aves, la pérdida…— y el parentesco entre los distintos relatos es claro, Womack juega con distintos registros y consigue un libro variado. Personalmente me quedo con “Little Red Drops” y su juego de referencias, lo sugerente de “The ravisher, the thief” y el mundo que pinta con cuatro pinceladas, y el personal y emotivo “Kingfisher”. Es un libro muy consistente con la sensibilidad que ya había mostrado Marian como editora. Recomendado.
vondav's review against another edition
5.0
A day does not go by when the news does not feature global warming or a certain animal on the endangered list. This book contains 10 short stories exploring the impact of extinct creatures, a lack of food and changing climates,
Regardless which story your read, you soon come to realise that every story is beautifully written. The descriptive style of this author made me feel that I was going on a discovery and as I followed each character I was instantly submerge in their story.
Some of the stories that stood out for me were Black Isle: Based in Scotland, Dr Andrew Hay and his colleagues were scientist trying to restore nature. As I read this story I got the sense that there was something destructive was going to happen. The sense of foreboding especially when there was no bird song, had me wondering how far scientist were going to create their ideal world and one of the strangest things was the climate in Scotland. Constant sunshine and no rain.
Love (Ghost) Story. The MC had a ghost that appeared every evening. Throughout this story I found myself asking myself questions. How did he die? Did she kill him? Was she a victim of domestic violence? Because of all these questions, I felt real sympathy for the MC, and I felt a sense of loss for her as I felt that even in death, the ghost caused her to stop living.
The Ravisher, The Thief: Taking you to a mystical land, following Paloma who lived in a land were birds were heralded as gods. As to do some translating she learns a secret that has a big impact on the land. This story had a magical feel to it and I enjoyed reading about how the birds were trained and cared for. The story built up to an unexpected and tragic ending.
As a new author to me this book was a great introduction to her work. As these were short stories of various length, it was perfect if you wanted a quick read as you could read a story in less than 1 hour.
Another great find from Luna Press Publishing
Regardless which story your read, you soon come to realise that every story is beautifully written. The descriptive style of this author made me feel that I was going on a discovery and as I followed each character I was instantly submerge in their story.
Some of the stories that stood out for me were Black Isle: Based in Scotland, Dr Andrew Hay and his colleagues were scientist trying to restore nature. As I read this story I got the sense that there was something destructive was going to happen. The sense of foreboding especially when there was no bird song, had me wondering how far scientist were going to create their ideal world and one of the strangest things was the climate in Scotland. Constant sunshine and no rain.
Love (Ghost) Story. The MC had a ghost that appeared every evening. Throughout this story I found myself asking myself questions. How did he die? Did she kill him? Was she a victim of domestic violence? Because of all these questions, I felt real sympathy for the MC, and I felt a sense of loss for her as I felt that even in death, the ghost caused her to stop living.
The Ravisher, The Thief: Taking you to a mystical land, following Paloma who lived in a land were birds were heralded as gods. As to do some translating she learns a secret that has a big impact on the land. This story had a magical feel to it and I enjoyed reading about how the birds were trained and cared for. The story built up to an unexpected and tragic ending.
As a new author to me this book was a great introduction to her work. As these were short stories of various length, it was perfect if you wanted a quick read as you could read a story in less than 1 hour.
Another great find from Luna Press Publishing
betwixtcraft's review
4.0
If you enjoy apocalyptic, weird fiction with a little bit of horror, you'll enjoy this collection of short stories. Marian Womack speculates what the world might look like in our future if climate change is not addressed. Some of the stories, I didn't really understand. But her prose is beautifully written, and if you read this for nothing else, read it for "Kingfisher".
"Perhaps this was what getting older meant, realising that you cannot fix everything."
"...after years of expensive academic education, we had absolutely no practical skills. Sometimes it felt as if all the sacrifices that my parents had made to provide me with a better future had been for nothing."
"When I was student I had read about a famous American poet who had also wanted to do more than one thing. But to her, wanting everything had not left her paralysed like it had me: she became a famous poet after all. She had also ended up with her head inside an oven, but even so she had not been gobbled up by history, as had happened to so many women who had managed to do even one of the things they wanted to do."
mariahaskins's review
5.0
A luminous collection of beautiful and haunting short stories. In every story, the world and the people and creatures in it seem in the process of changing and transforming. Landscapes, animals and humans seem to shiver between dream and nightmare, between one state of being and another and the stories capture that uncertain state in all its dark glory.
Dark, weird, and memorable speculative fiction.
Dark, weird, and memorable speculative fiction.
antonioct's review
4.0
Coincido en un 70% con las filias temáticas que se muestran aquí. Si encima la autora tiene ideas buenísimas, y un ojo para la ambientación que da miedo, pues cómo no me va a gustar. Alguno de los relatos es demasiado weird para mí, pero mira, no me voy a quejar.
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