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eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review
4.0
This series of stories had some hits and misses, but I liked most of them better than average.
kaarna's review
4.0
This was given to every member of Worldcon attending the 2017 con held in Finland. I'm really glad to think that people around the world might be reading these stories. I found them interesting and well written, and they are by the most famous Finnish weird writers of the moment.
I especially liked Anne Leinonen's "The Skinner". It didn't (as to my knowledge) directly reference Finnish mythology but it still had a very Finnish feel to it - which I appreciated in this context. The story was whole and the main character's uncertain fate kept me reading. The language was beautiful and the brutal scenes were harsh but not overly so.
If someone wants to read this, message me and we'll arrange something!
I especially liked Anne Leinonen's "The Skinner". It didn't (as to my knowledge) directly reference Finnish mythology but it still had a very Finnish feel to it - which I appreciated in this context. The story was whole and the main character's uncertain fate kept me reading. The language was beautiful and the brutal scenes were harsh but not overly so.
If someone wants to read this, message me and we'll arrange something!
xan_van_rooyen's review
4.0
An interesting mix of stories here. Some I loved, others I didn't really care for but that's always the case with an anthology. The translations were all excellent. Definitely going to keep my eye on some of these authors and absolutely want to read their novels now!
faeden's review
4.0
This was a fortuitous find at the library. Some of these short stories really had me thinking that the cultural difference could have lead to some different ideas, as they felt quite different from anything else I recall.
I loved the concept of The Haunted House of Rocketworks Street. My mouth dropped open near the end. Undine was cool. I liked how it's never explained, which let me come to my own conclusions. Bearer of the Bone Harp was another with a great concept. I thought it was terrific. I wish I'd have jotted down notes of what each story was making me think to share in this review. That was much of the appeal of these stories. They really made me think a lot.
The Skinner by Anne Leinonen is excellent, and I know I've read this, or a very similar story before. I can't imagine where I would have encountered her work before though. Wish I could figure it out.
The River God did not resonate at all. Summerland: Chapter One is just that, the first chapter of a novel. It didn't seem to fit in with the short stories to me.
I loved the concept of The Haunted House of Rocketworks Street. My mouth dropped open near the end. Undine was cool. I liked how it's never explained, which let me come to my own conclusions. Bearer of the Bone Harp was another with a great concept. I thought it was terrific. I wish I'd have jotted down notes of what each story was making me think to share in this review. That was much of the appeal of these stories. They really made me think a lot.
The Skinner by Anne Leinonen is excellent, and I know I've read this, or a very similar story before. I can't imagine where I would have encountered her work before though. Wish I could figure it out.
The River God did not resonate at all. Summerland: Chapter One is just that, the first chapter of a novel. It didn't seem to fit in with the short stories to me.
standback's review
5.0
Great showcase of Finnish short stories. The pieces are short and evocative. Overall tone is melancholy and weird.
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