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posies23's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books I'd always heard about, but never been able to track down. Finally, last year, Greg at Dreamhaven books sold me a battered old copy so I could see what everyone was talking about.
This is a "shared world" anthology, about a place called "The Borderlands," where the world of elves and magic has inexplicably merged with the "real" world. The short stories take place in various time periods after the merger. Each of the stories builds a bit of the "mythology" of the series, while occasionally referencing people and things from the other stories.
It's a good book, and I can see how it really (along with Emma Bull's brilliant WAR FOR THE OAKS) kicked off the whole "Urban Fantasy" genre. It's also WAY ahead of its time in terms of politics and gender roles, which is cool to read. I found each of the stories intriguing, although by nature there are huge gaps in the background information, as the first volume works out the "ground rules" of the series. For all of that, it took me quite awhile to get through the book, as other books kept pushing their way to the top of my "to read" list, which probably hurt the overall effect of the book.
My favorite two stories in the book were by Charles De Lint and Ellen Kushner, who have also written other books well worth searching out.
I'll continue on through the series, and see how it develops!
This is a "shared world" anthology, about a place called "The Borderlands," where the world of elves and magic has inexplicably merged with the "real" world. The short stories take place in various time periods after the merger. Each of the stories builds a bit of the "mythology" of the series, while occasionally referencing people and things from the other stories.
It's a good book, and I can see how it really (along with Emma Bull's brilliant WAR FOR THE OAKS) kicked off the whole "Urban Fantasy" genre. It's also WAY ahead of its time in terms of politics and gender roles, which is cool to read. I found each of the stories intriguing, although by nature there are huge gaps in the background information, as the first volume works out the "ground rules" of the series. For all of that, it took me quite awhile to get through the book, as other books kept pushing their way to the top of my "to read" list, which probably hurt the overall effect of the book.
My favorite two stories in the book were by Charles De Lint and Ellen Kushner, who have also written other books well worth searching out.
I'll continue on through the series, and see how it develops!
kayzie7's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like this is quite dated nowadays, it feels very 80s but in a way that's nice having read how important this series was to outcasts in the 80s. Definitely worth a read for fans of urban fantasy to see where the amazing genre originated from! The only shame for me was that just as I was becoming interested and getting attached to all the students the stories would finish...
rebeccacider's review against another edition
4.0
Eighties mythic urban fantasy that, almost more than War of the Oaks, sets the tone for the rest of the genre. The prose is merely serviceable, the characters likable but uncomplicated, but the aesthetic of Celtic punk rock, elf/human gang warfare, and glamorous urban decay absolutely succeeds. You can understand why this series inspired its own new wave/nerd subculture back in the eighties.
The first three stories are very much cut of the same cloth, but Kushner's last story is a welcome surprise, depicting teenage angst and moral ambivalence with an emotional rawness that the previous stories lack.
The first three stories are very much cut of the same cloth, but Kushner's last story is a welcome surprise, depicting teenage angst and moral ambivalence with an emotional rawness that the previous stories lack.
justiceofkalr's review against another edition
4.0
I read this after having read the newest book in the Bordertown universe, Welcome to Bordertown, and despite my fears that this first book might feel too dated it was just as good. Sure, there's definitely things that place it in the 80's like band references, but the stories themselves felt like they could have belonged any time. There's only four stories in this collection, but I enjoyed all of them. I'm always kind of wary of shared universes, but Bordertown is really well down and has a lot of great authors writing for it.
jukaschar's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting collection of four fairy tales set in Bordertown, between elven and human lands.
The stories have a distinct late 70s, 80s feel to them, which I like. There are some blunders, very much typical of the time the anthology was published in, some minor scenes that felt very out of place from a modern perspective.
The influence of these stories on modern fairy tale and urban fantasy is very obvious and as someone who really enjoys the fairy tale subgenre I'm very impressed.
The stories have a distinct late 70s, 80s feel to them, which I like. There are some blunders, very much typical of the time the anthology was published in, some minor scenes that felt very out of place from a modern perspective.
The influence of these stories on modern fairy tale and urban fantasy is very obvious and as someone who really enjoys the fairy tale subgenre I'm very impressed.
vae's review against another edition
4.0
I can understand why this is a classic - it's a lovely introduction to the world, every story building out a little more as well as introducing great characters.
vylotte's review
5.0
My very favorite shared universe, about a city on the blurred edge of earth and faerie, and the people who find their way there. One of many anthologies and stand-alone novels.
nicholascairns's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
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