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mxsallybend's review
4.0
I'm not much of a gamer, so I don't know the first thing about Strange Brigade, which makes me an odd choice to read a tie-in book . . . but I couldn't resist the concept of a Department of Antiquities that is tasked with confronting ancient and terrible evils.
Fortunately, The True History of the Strange Brigade is more an origin story than a tie-in, so no prior knowledge of the franchise is required to enjoy it. David Thomas Moore has gathered an impressive array of authors, who have contributed an eclectic range of genres.
"And Was Jerusalem Builded Here?" by Cassandra Khaw serves as an absolutely killer opening to the collection, a creepy tale of Victorian horror with the darkest of morbid imagery - eyes the color of linen and soot, hair the hue of menstrual tissue, and more. A stunning read.
"Ripples In A Polluted Pool" by Jonathan L. Howard merges pulp adventure and sci-fi horror, with a unique take on symbiotic parasites and hive mentality, with a truly chilling question of fate left open at the end.
"The Professor's Dilemma" by Tauriq Moosa returns to the Victorian horror theme, layering in some archaeological adventure, with a story that offers some dark, intriguing insights into the members of the Strange Brigade.
"Nalangu's Trials" by Gaie Sebold and "Where You Bury Things" by Guy Adams were two stories that didn't really work for me, distractions that caused me to put the book down for an extended period of time before coming back to it.
"Peccavi, Or If Thy Father" by Mimi Mondal got things back on track with the story of a family curse, of a young woman struggling against death, in a well-written story that surprised me with the way it developed.
"The Island of Nightmares" by Patrick Lofgren was a very cool story about a mysterious island, cannibals, monsters, and a mad villain. A truly heroic adventure.
"Tessie's Song" by Joseph Guthrie was the pulpiest adventure of them all, and yet one of my favorites, a perfect way to end the collection on a high note. What begins with the undead in bar ends with a pterodactyl attack and a rescue from an island of dinosaurs.
Aside from the soft spot in the middle, The True History of the Strange Brigade was a fantastic collection that delivered exactly what I was looking for. Some great characters, fun monsters, over-the-top adventure, and solid writing.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2018/10/12/book-review-the-true-history-of-the-strange-brigade-edited-by-david-thomas-moore/
Fortunately, The True History of the Strange Brigade is more an origin story than a tie-in, so no prior knowledge of the franchise is required to enjoy it. David Thomas Moore has gathered an impressive array of authors, who have contributed an eclectic range of genres.
"And Was Jerusalem Builded Here?" by Cassandra Khaw serves as an absolutely killer opening to the collection, a creepy tale of Victorian horror with the darkest of morbid imagery - eyes the color of linen and soot, hair the hue of menstrual tissue, and more. A stunning read.
"Ripples In A Polluted Pool" by Jonathan L. Howard merges pulp adventure and sci-fi horror, with a unique take on symbiotic parasites and hive mentality, with a truly chilling question of fate left open at the end.
"The Professor's Dilemma" by Tauriq Moosa returns to the Victorian horror theme, layering in some archaeological adventure, with a story that offers some dark, intriguing insights into the members of the Strange Brigade.
"Nalangu's Trials" by Gaie Sebold and "Where You Bury Things" by Guy Adams were two stories that didn't really work for me, distractions that caused me to put the book down for an extended period of time before coming back to it.
"Peccavi, Or If Thy Father" by Mimi Mondal got things back on track with the story of a family curse, of a young woman struggling against death, in a well-written story that surprised me with the way it developed.
"The Island of Nightmares" by Patrick Lofgren was a very cool story about a mysterious island, cannibals, monsters, and a mad villain. A truly heroic adventure.
"Tessie's Song" by Joseph Guthrie was the pulpiest adventure of them all, and yet one of my favorites, a perfect way to end the collection on a high note. What begins with the undead in bar ends with a pterodactyl attack and a rescue from an island of dinosaurs.
Aside from the soft spot in the middle, The True History of the Strange Brigade was a fantastic collection that delivered exactly what I was looking for. Some great characters, fun monsters, over-the-top adventure, and solid writing.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2018/10/12/book-review-the-true-history-of-the-strange-brigade-edited-by-david-thomas-moore/
imzadirose's review
4.0
I don't know why there are two versions of this book in two places but one had good reviews and one has shitty, so let's hope the folks who like it come bump up this book.
I also don't understand why people who didn't know what this book is (a history of a video game) are reading it. I hate it when people rate something badly because they didn't take the time to find out what it was. Too over the top? Well it is about a VIDEO GAME with SUPERNATURAL creatures. SMH
Rant over. Maybe. I liked the book and I hope to get the game sometime after it comes out. Damn not having the money for it right now! I really wanted to read the book to see what these characters are going to be like.
The book was a collection of stories about each of the 8 characters. I enjoyed some more than others, but overall enjoyed them all. For me, Fairburne was the least memorable and I actually had to go back to see what his story was because I couldn't remember. I didn't love Nalangu's story, but it wasn't bad. The rest I really enjoyed, my favorite's being Gracie's, Anjali's and Tessie's.
I hope I can get the game, because I will love it. :) Great book for those fans of the game or who think they will be fans of the game, as it's not actually out yet. Lucky you that get to play it soon! Enjoy!
I also don't understand why people who didn't know what this book is (a history of a video game) are reading it. I hate it when people rate something badly because they didn't take the time to find out what it was. Too over the top? Well it is about a VIDEO GAME with SUPERNATURAL creatures. SMH
Rant over. Maybe. I liked the book and I hope to get the game sometime after it comes out. Damn not having the money for it right now! I really wanted to read the book to see what these characters are going to be like.
The book was a collection of stories about each of the 8 characters. I enjoyed some more than others, but overall enjoyed them all. For me, Fairburne was the least memorable and I actually had to go back to see what his story was because I couldn't remember. I didn't love Nalangu's story, but it wasn't bad. The rest I really enjoyed, my favorite's being Gracie's, Anjali's and Tessie's.
I hope I can get the game, because I will love it. :) Great book for those fans of the game or who think they will be fans of the game, as it's not actually out yet. Lucky you that get to play it soon! Enjoy!
kjcharles's review
An anthology of stories based around a secret-government-bureau team of adventurers dealing with Weird Stuff. This is actually a tie in, sort of supplying backstory to a video game (which I have never played), and it does slightly feel like that, in the sense that I am now waiting for the adventure to begin and to see where the characters go.
Nevertheless, I think it works perfectly well as a story collection. I grabbed it because Cassandra Khaw and Jonathan L Howard are two of my favourite writers, and both their stories are creepy, morally twisty and very well written, but I read the whole thing with a lot of enjoyment. If you like Indiana Jonesish 1930s adventure and secret Government paranormal investigations, and who does not, it's good retro fun. If I played video games, I would now play this video game.
Nevertheless, I think it works perfectly well as a story collection. I grabbed it because Cassandra Khaw and Jonathan L Howard are two of my favourite writers, and both their stories are creepy, morally twisty and very well written, but I read the whole thing with a lot of enjoyment. If you like Indiana Jonesish 1930s adventure and secret Government paranormal investigations, and who does not, it's good retro fun. If I played video games, I would now play this video game.
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