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bookreadgirl21's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know what to write. It says short stories on the front and I expected short stories, but I wasn't aware how many short stories I'd end up reading. Now I'm kinda burned out.
Here is a short review of every short story in the book:
Paranoia by Saïd Sayrafiezadeh
Solid start. A short story about american dreamers. Bet that hit different in 2014.
Slatland by Rebecca Lee
Peak short story fiction.
Very well written and interesting story about a woman who struggles to find the right way to deal with her interpersonal problems. There is also a therapist who talks in a funny voice, which is always a plus for any kind of story. The idea of the slatlands and rising above conflicts is pretty dope, but I don't think that it is applicable to every problem in real life. You better go visit a therapist, maybe you are lucky and find one who talks to you in a funny voice.
The Early Deaths Of Lubeck, Brennan, Harp, and Carr
Also a peak short story (This review spoils the story so read it before continuing).
Was a gut punch for me, reading how all those guys are getting killed in senseless duels. By the end I was really hoping that the protagonist would just turn the judge's head into pink mist with a well placed shot, but of course it all comes differently. In the last pages you find out that the judge just kills the boys for his bitch cunt wife. It's like reading a Hemingway short story. My neck still hurts from that whiplash because my feminist mind was experiencing, because my first reaction was "Oh damn the wife is badass". Some kids throw a snowball into your face? Just have your Judge Dredd husband kill all of them in a duel even though he kinda doesn't want to. That is some huge boss ass bitch energy. Maybe the emancipation movement was just a logical conclusion of the ban on duels. Now that all those crazy women whose husbands have just been castrated can't eliminate some poor blokes by proxy. Of course they won't just sit still at home and churn butter. These women all have a mean pitbull inside of them just waiting to get out. Go girls, you get them four year olds.
Some Other, Better Otto by Deborah Eisenberg
Not good. Forgot nearly everything. Something about some middle aged gay lawyer with family problems. Thats like every gay lawyer, get creative.
The Deep by Anthony Doerr
Good story. There is nothing as pure as a blooming love between a girl and a mentally stunted boy.
A Man Like Him by Yiyun Li
Meh story. I don't remember enough about it to write something good here and I don't dislike it too much to write something bad about it anyway.
Home by George Saunders
Good Story. A dysfunctional veteran returning to a home that doesn't care for veterans and having a kinda fucked up life. Can't have an american short story collection without some of these.
SHHHH by NoViolet Bulawayo
Yeah I don't remember this one at all.
Special Economics by Maureen McHugh
Great story! Especially if you fight yourself through 200 pages of kinda depressing short stories and then realize that this one actually has a happy ending with no strings attached. What a relief!
This Appointment Occurs In The Past by Sam Lipsyte
Great story! Loveable hairy sex machine meets his dying rich theatre kid friend. What a great performance!
Men by Lydia Davis
Short story.
Another Manhattan by Donald Antrim
Ok story. Eh. Kinda weird couple, but whatever floats your boat. Not sure what to make of this story. Something about mental health or dysfunctional relationships? I don't know and I don't really care.
Meet The President! by Zadie Smith
Good story. Cool sci-fi version of playing TimeSplitters on your ps2 while your little cousin is there on a visit and mom says you have to play with her, but with more subtext.
The Largesse Of The Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson
Meh story. Some weird caleidoscope portrait about some dude.
The Country by Joy Williams
Meh story but better than the previous one. Something about religious cults.
A Happy Rural Seat Of Various View: Lucinda's Garden by Christine Schutt
Good story. Do you know those commericals on your phone for video games you never buy? The one about the woman who gets a garden from her criminal grandma? This story kinda has the same vibe.
Hammer And Sickle by Don DeLillo
Cool prison story.
Play by Mathias Svalina
Bonghit short story. Probably the best in the whole book.
Madmen by Lucy Corin
Great short story! So many themes packed in there, I could write a lot about it but I won't. Just read it!
The Arms And Legs Of The Lake by Mary Gaitskill
Another veteran story! And even better than Home! They mention Ghostface Killah! That's a mark of quality writing!
Raw Water by Wells Tower
Meh story. I remember what it was about but I don't really have anything to say about it.
Pee On Water by Rachel B. Glaser
Good story. It's a history of the earth in episodes kinda story. Can't help to compare it to Play as they both are the odd ones out within this anthology. But Play is so much weirder and cooler that Pee On Water gets kinda overshadowed.
Love Is A Thing On Sale For More Money Than There Exists by Tao Lin
This was a weird one because Tao Lin was the only one of the authors I read before. So I went into this short story with some expectations and only thought "Oh so this is like a mini Taipei, right?". I am a horrible reviewer, please don't take me seriously.
The Toast by Rebecca Curtis
I had so high hopes for this short story! It starts so out so good! The flashbacks were great and these drip fed moment that characterise both sister where like heroin to me, but then it fizzles just out. It feels like the the story took some turn along the way and I would have preferred riding along in the other direction.
Going For A Beer by Robert Coover
Yeah so I just reread my review and noticed that I forgot to write something about this short story. I also don't feel like opening the book again to remember what this one was about, so that's that.
Standard Loneliness Package by Charles Yu
Great story! Character driven drama enabled through light sci-fi. That's the best kind of sci-fi imo.
Wait Till You See Me Dance by Deb Olin Unferth
Cool story. Not sure who it was about but I liked it.
The Lucky Boy by Kyle Coma-Thompson
Huh? That's just some pages of gore right? Maybe I'm missing something, kinda skimmed this one.
The Lost Order by Riveka Galchen
Good story. It's really hard to not cook spaghetti.
Fish Sticks by Donald Ray Pollock
Good story. hmm. I liked it but I don't think I get it, but I liked the part where the bodybuilder had to blow some fat dude for money.
Valley Of The Girls by Kelly Link
Good story. Maybe I just wasn't trying anymore as I got closer to the end of the book. It's a good story I kinda get some subtext and I kinda don't get anything at all.
The Diggings by Claire Vaye Watkins
The big closer. I was really demotivated because this story is like 80 pages long and I really wanted to finish the book. But it's a great one! I really liked it.
Here is a short review of every short story in the book:
Paranoia by Saïd Sayrafiezadeh
Solid start. A short story about american dreamers. Bet that hit different in 2014.
Slatland by Rebecca Lee
Peak short story fiction.
Very well written and interesting story about a woman who struggles to find the right way to deal with her interpersonal problems. There is also a therapist who talks in a funny voice, which is always a plus for any kind of story. The idea of the slatlands and rising above conflicts is pretty dope, but I don't think that it is applicable to every problem in real life. You better go visit a therapist, maybe you are lucky and find one who talks to you in a funny voice.
The Early Deaths Of Lubeck, Brennan, Harp, and Carr
Also a peak short story (This review spoils the story so read it before continuing).
Was a gut punch for me, reading how all those guys are getting killed in senseless duels. By the end I was really hoping that the protagonist would just turn the judge's head into pink mist with a well placed shot, but of course it all comes differently. In the last pages you find out that the judge just kills the boys for his bitch cunt wife. It's like reading a Hemingway short story. My neck still hurts from that whiplash because my feminist mind was experiencing, because my first reaction was "Oh damn the wife is badass". Some kids throw a snowball into your face? Just have your Judge Dredd husband kill all of them in a duel even though he kinda doesn't want to. That is some huge boss ass bitch energy. Maybe the emancipation movement was just a logical conclusion of the ban on duels. Now that all those crazy women whose husbands have just been castrated can't eliminate some poor blokes by proxy. Of course they won't just sit still at home and churn butter. These women all have a mean pitbull inside of them just waiting to get out. Go girls, you get them four year olds.
Some Other, Better Otto by Deborah Eisenberg
Not good. Forgot nearly everything. Something about some middle aged gay lawyer with family problems. Thats like every gay lawyer, get creative.
The Deep by Anthony Doerr
Good story. There is nothing as pure as a blooming love between a girl and a mentally stunted boy.
A Man Like Him by Yiyun Li
Meh story. I don't remember enough about it to write something good here and I don't dislike it too much to write something bad about it anyway.
Home by George Saunders
Good Story. A dysfunctional veteran returning to a home that doesn't care for veterans and having a kinda fucked up life. Can't have an american short story collection without some of these.
SHHHH by NoViolet Bulawayo
Yeah I don't remember this one at all.
Special Economics by Maureen McHugh
Great story! Especially if you fight yourself through 200 pages of kinda depressing short stories and then realize that this one actually has a happy ending with no strings attached. What a relief!
This Appointment Occurs In The Past by Sam Lipsyte
Great story! Loveable hairy sex machine meets his dying rich theatre kid friend. What a great performance!
Men by Lydia Davis
Short story.
Another Manhattan by Donald Antrim
Ok story. Eh. Kinda weird couple, but whatever floats your boat. Not sure what to make of this story. Something about mental health or dysfunctional relationships? I don't know and I don't really care.
Meet The President! by Zadie Smith
Good story. Cool sci-fi version of playing TimeSplitters on your ps2 while your little cousin is there on a visit and mom says you have to play with her, but with more subtext.
The Largesse Of The Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson
Meh story. Some weird caleidoscope portrait about some dude.
The Country by Joy Williams
Meh story but better than the previous one. Something about religious cults.
A Happy Rural Seat Of Various View: Lucinda's Garden by Christine Schutt
Good story. Do you know those commericals on your phone for video games you never buy? The one about the woman who gets a garden from her criminal grandma? This story kinda has the same vibe.
Hammer And Sickle by Don DeLillo
Cool prison story.
Play by Mathias Svalina
Bonghit short story. Probably the best in the whole book.
Madmen by Lucy Corin
Great short story! So many themes packed in there, I could write a lot about it but I won't. Just read it!
The Arms And Legs Of The Lake by Mary Gaitskill
Another veteran story! And even better than Home! They mention Ghostface Killah! That's a mark of quality writing!
Raw Water by Wells Tower
Meh story. I remember what it was about but I don't really have anything to say about it.
Pee On Water by Rachel B. Glaser
Good story. It's a history of the earth in episodes kinda story. Can't help to compare it to Play as they both are the odd ones out within this anthology. But Play is so much weirder and cooler that Pee On Water gets kinda overshadowed.
Love Is A Thing On Sale For More Money Than There Exists by Tao Lin
This was a weird one because Tao Lin was the only one of the authors I read before. So I went into this short story with some expectations and only thought "Oh so this is like a mini Taipei, right?". I am a horrible reviewer, please don't take me seriously.
The Toast by Rebecca Curtis
I had so high hopes for this short story! It starts so out so good! The flashbacks were great and these drip fed moment that characterise both sister where like heroin to me, but then it fizzles just out. It feels like the the story took some turn along the way and I would have preferred riding along in the other direction.
Going For A Beer by Robert Coover
Yeah so I just reread my review and noticed that I forgot to write something about this short story. I also don't feel like opening the book again to remember what this one was about, so that's that.
Standard Loneliness Package by Charles Yu
Great story! Character driven drama enabled through light sci-fi. That's the best kind of sci-fi imo.
Wait Till You See Me Dance by Deb Olin Unferth
Cool story. Not sure who it was about but I liked it.
The Lucky Boy by Kyle Coma-Thompson
Huh? That's just some pages of gore right? Maybe I'm missing something, kinda skimmed this one.
The Lost Order by Riveka Galchen
Good story. It's really hard to not cook spaghetti.
Fish Sticks by Donald Ray Pollock
Good story. hmm. I liked it but I don't think I get it, but I liked the part where the bodybuilder had to blow some fat dude for money.
Valley Of The Girls by Kelly Link
Good story. Maybe I just wasn't trying anymore as I got closer to the end of the book. It's a good story I kinda get some subtext and I kinda don't get anything at all.
The Diggings by Claire Vaye Watkins
The big closer. I was really demotivated because this story is like 80 pages long and I really wanted to finish the book. But it's a great one! I really liked it.
bookreadgirl22's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know what to write. It says short stories on the front and I expected short stories, but I wasn't aware how many short stories I'd end up reading. Now I'm kinda burned out.
Here is a short review of every short story in the book:
Paranoia by Saïd Sayrafiezadeh
Solid start. A short story about american dreamers. Bet that hit different in 2014.
Slatland by Rebecca Lee
Peak short story fiction.
Very well written and interesting story about a woman who struggles to find the right way to deal with her interpersonal problems. There is also a therapist who talks in a funny voice, which is always a plus for any kind of story. The idea of the slatlands and rising above conflicts is pretty dope, but I don't think that it is applicable to every problem in real life. You better go visit a therapist, maybe you are lucky and find one who talks to you in a funny voice.
The Early Deaths Of Lubeck, Brennan, Harp, and Carr
Also a peak short story (This review spoils the story so read it before continuing).
Was a gut punch for me, reading how all those guys are getting killed in senseless duels. By the end I was really hoping that the protagonist would just turn the judge's head into pink mist with a well placed shot, but of course it all comes differently. In the last pages you find out that the judge just kills the boys for his bitch cunt wife. It's like reading a Hemingway short story. My neck still hurts from that whiplash because my feminist mind was experiencing, because my first reaction was "Oh damn the wife is badass". Some kids throw a snowball into your face? Just have your Judge Dredd husband kill all of them in a duel even though he kinda doesn't want to. That is some huge boss ass bitch energy. Maybe the emancipation movement was just a logical conclusion of the ban on duels. Now that all those crazy women whose husbands have just been castrated can't eliminate some poor blokes by proxy. Of course they won't just sit still at home and churn butter. These women all have a mean pitbull inside of them just waiting to get out. Go girls, you get them four year olds.
Some Other, Better Otto by Deborah Eisenberg
Not good. Forgot nearly everything. Something about some middle aged gay lawyer with family problems. Thats like every gay lawyer, get creative.
The Deep by Anthony Doerr
Good story. There is nothing as pure as a blooming love between a girl and a mentally stunted boy.
A Man Like Him by Yiyun Li
Meh story. I don't remember enough about it to write something good here and I don't dislike it too much to write something bad about it anyway.
Home by George Saunders
Good Story. A dysfunctional veteran returning to a home that doesn't care for veterans and having a kinda fucked up life. Can't have an american short story collection without some of these.
SHHHH by NoViolet Bulawayo
Yeah I don't remember this one at all.
Special Economics by Maureen McHugh
Great story! Especially if you fight yourself through 200 pages of kinda depressing short stories and then realize that this one actually has a happy ending with no strings attached. What a relief!
This Appointment Occurs In The Past by Sam Lipsyte
Great story! Loveable hairy sex machine meets his dying rich theatre kid friend. What a great performance!
Men by Lydia Davis
Short story.
Another Manhattan by Donald Antrim
Ok story. Eh. Kinda weird couple, but whatever floats your boat. Not sure what to make of this story. Something about mental health or dysfunctional relationships? I don't know and I don't really care.
Meet The President! by Zadie Smith
Good story. Cool sci-fi version of playing TimeSplitters on your ps2 while your little cousin is there on a visit and mom says you have to play with her, but with more subtext.
The Largesse Of The Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson
Meh story. Some weird caleidoscope portrait about some dude.
The Country by Joy Williams
Meh story but better than the previous one. Something about religious cults.
A Happy Rural Seat Of Various View: Lucinda's Garden by Christine Schutt
Good story. Do you know those commericals on your phone for video games you never buy? The one about the woman who gets a garden from her criminal grandma? This story kinda has the same vibe.
Hammer And Sickle by Don DeLillo
Cool prison story.
Play by Mathias Svalina
Bonghit short story. Probably the best in the whole book.
Madmen by Lucy Corin
Great short story! So many themes packed in there, I could write a lot about it but I won't. Just read it!
The Arms And Legs Of The Lake by Mary Gaitskill
Another veteran story! And even better than Home! They mention Ghostface Killah! That's a mark of quality writing!
Raw Water by Wells Tower
Meh story. I remember what it was about but I don't really have anything to say about it.
Pee On Water by Rachel B. Glaser
Good story. It's a history of the earth in episodes kinda story. Can't help to compare it to Play as they both are the odd ones out within this anthology. But Play is so much weirder and cooler that Pee On Water gets kinda overshadowed.
Love Is A Thing On Sale For More Money Than There Exists by Tao Lin
This was a weird one because Tao Lin was the only one of the authors I read before. So I went into this short story with some expectations and only thought "Oh so this is like a mini Taipei, right?". I am a horrible reviewer, please don't take me seriously.
The Toast by Rebecca Curtis
I had so high hopes for this short story! It starts so out so good! The flashbacks were great and these drip fed moment that characterise both sister where like heroin to me, but then it fizzles just out. It feels like the the story took some turn along the way and I would have preferred riding along in the other direction.
Going For A Beer by Robert Coover
Yeah so I just reread my review and noticed that I forgot to write something about this short story. I also don't feel like opening the book again to remember what this one was about, so that's that.
Standard Loneliness Package by Charles Yu
Great story! Character driven drama enabled through light sci-fi. That's the best kind of sci-fi imo.
Wait Till You See Me Dance by Deb Olin Unferth
Cool story. Not sure who it was about but I liked it.
The Lucky Boy by Kyle Coma-Thompson
Huh? That's just some pages of gore right? Maybe I'm missing something, kinda skimmed this one.
The Lost Order by Riveka Galchen
Good story. It's really hard to not cook spaghetti.
Fish Sticks by Donald Ray Pollock
Good story. hmm. I liked it but I don't think I get it, but I liked the part where the bodybuilder had to blow some fat dude for money.
Valley Of The Girls by Kelly Link
Good story. Maybe I just wasn't trying anymore as I got closer to the end of the book. It's a good story I kinda get some subtext and I kinda don't get anything at all.
The Diggings by Claire Vaye Watkins
The big closer. I was really demotivated because this story is like 80 pages long and I really wanted to finish the book. But it's a great one! I really liked it.
Here is a short review of every short story in the book:
Paranoia by Saïd Sayrafiezadeh
Solid start. A short story about american dreamers. Bet that hit different in 2014.
Slatland by Rebecca Lee
Peak short story fiction.
Very well written and interesting story about a woman who struggles to find the right way to deal with her interpersonal problems. There is also a therapist who talks in a funny voice, which is always a plus for any kind of story. The idea of the slatlands and rising above conflicts is pretty dope, but I don't think that it is applicable to every problem in real life. You better go visit a therapist, maybe you are lucky and find one who talks to you in a funny voice.
The Early Deaths Of Lubeck, Brennan, Harp, and Carr
Also a peak short story (This review spoils the story so read it before continuing).
Was a gut punch for me, reading how all those guys are getting killed in senseless duels. By the end I was really hoping that the protagonist would just turn the judge's head into pink mist with a well placed shot, but of course it all comes differently. In the last pages you find out that the judge just kills the boys for his bitch cunt wife. It's like reading a Hemingway short story. My neck still hurts from that whiplash because my feminist mind was experiencing, because my first reaction was "Oh damn the wife is badass". Some kids throw a snowball into your face? Just have your Judge Dredd husband kill all of them in a duel even though he kinda doesn't want to. That is some huge boss ass bitch energy. Maybe the emancipation movement was just a logical conclusion of the ban on duels. Now that all those crazy women whose husbands have just been castrated can't eliminate some poor blokes by proxy. Of course they won't just sit still at home and churn butter. These women all have a mean pitbull inside of them just waiting to get out. Go girls, you get them four year olds.
Some Other, Better Otto by Deborah Eisenberg
Not good. Forgot nearly everything. Something about some middle aged gay lawyer with family problems. Thats like every gay lawyer, get creative.
The Deep by Anthony Doerr
Good story. There is nothing as pure as a blooming love between a girl and a mentally stunted boy.
A Man Like Him by Yiyun Li
Meh story. I don't remember enough about it to write something good here and I don't dislike it too much to write something bad about it anyway.
Home by George Saunders
Good Story. A dysfunctional veteran returning to a home that doesn't care for veterans and having a kinda fucked up life. Can't have an american short story collection without some of these.
SHHHH by NoViolet Bulawayo
Yeah I don't remember this one at all.
Special Economics by Maureen McHugh
Great story! Especially if you fight yourself through 200 pages of kinda depressing short stories and then realize that this one actually has a happy ending with no strings attached. What a relief!
This Appointment Occurs In The Past by Sam Lipsyte
Great story! Loveable hairy sex machine meets his dying rich theatre kid friend. What a great performance!
Men by Lydia Davis
Short story.
Another Manhattan by Donald Antrim
Ok story. Eh. Kinda weird couple, but whatever floats your boat. Not sure what to make of this story. Something about mental health or dysfunctional relationships? I don't know and I don't really care.
Meet The President! by Zadie Smith
Good story. Cool sci-fi version of playing TimeSplitters on your ps2 while your little cousin is there on a visit and mom says you have to play with her, but with more subtext.
The Largesse Of The Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson
Meh story. Some weird caleidoscope portrait about some dude.
The Country by Joy Williams
Meh story but better than the previous one. Something about religious cults.
A Happy Rural Seat Of Various View: Lucinda's Garden by Christine Schutt
Good story. Do you know those commericals on your phone for video games you never buy? The one about the woman who gets a garden from her criminal grandma? This story kinda has the same vibe.
Hammer And Sickle by Don DeLillo
Cool prison story.
Play by Mathias Svalina
Bonghit short story. Probably the best in the whole book.
Madmen by Lucy Corin
Great short story! So many themes packed in there, I could write a lot about it but I won't. Just read it!
The Arms And Legs Of The Lake by Mary Gaitskill
Another veteran story! And even better than Home! They mention Ghostface Killah! That's a mark of quality writing!
Raw Water by Wells Tower
Meh story. I remember what it was about but I don't really have anything to say about it.
Pee On Water by Rachel B. Glaser
Good story. It's a history of the earth in episodes kinda story. Can't help to compare it to Play as they both are the odd ones out within this anthology. But Play is so much weirder and cooler that Pee On Water gets kinda overshadowed.
Love Is A Thing On Sale For More Money Than There Exists by Tao Lin
This was a weird one because Tao Lin was the only one of the authors I read before. So I went into this short story with some expectations and only thought "Oh so this is like a mini Taipei, right?". I am a horrible reviewer, please don't take me seriously.
The Toast by Rebecca Curtis
I had so high hopes for this short story! It starts so out so good! The flashbacks were great and these drip fed moment that characterise both sister where like heroin to me, but then it fizzles just out. It feels like the the story took some turn along the way and I would have preferred riding along in the other direction.
Going For A Beer by Robert Coover
Yeah so I just reread my review and noticed that I forgot to write something about this short story. I also don't feel like opening the book again to remember what this one was about, so that's that.
Standard Loneliness Package by Charles Yu
Great story! Character driven drama enabled through light sci-fi. That's the best kind of sci-fi imo.
Wait Till You See Me Dance by Deb Olin Unferth
Cool story. Not sure who it was about but I liked it.
The Lucky Boy by Kyle Coma-Thompson
Huh? That's just some pages of gore right? Maybe I'm missing something, kinda skimmed this one.
The Lost Order by Riveka Galchen
Good story. It's really hard to not cook spaghetti.
Fish Sticks by Donald Ray Pollock
Good story. hmm. I liked it but I don't think I get it, but I liked the part where the bodybuilder had to blow some fat dude for money.
Valley Of The Girls by Kelly Link
Good story. Maybe I just wasn't trying anymore as I got closer to the end of the book. It's a good story I kinda get some subtext and I kinda don't get anything at all.
The Diggings by Claire Vaye Watkins
The big closer. I was really demotivated because this story is like 80 pages long and I really wanted to finish the book. But it's a great one! I really liked it.
absalomabsalom's review
A string of 3-4 stories where each made me cry by the end even the fact of chinese boy's un-factual and assumed father being truly uncle.
Very pleasant and diverting reading experience w/ all stories radiating out clean from a known medial line. some making a sort of unnecessary speculatory hash, when writing i feel obsessive cleavage between NECESSARY and UNNECESSARY, or more meaningfully between the fine hard transcendent center vs loose sort of running-in-place verbal folds, some of these stories are the center and some are the folds
Learned that though george saunders is easily parody-able and simple there is a perfect and never superfluous and strong brave heart to his work that in other paler saunders-like pieces is not present at all
Interesting to end it in the dust in the hard placed location of extant and previous time
Very pleasant and diverting reading experience w/ all stories radiating out clean from a known medial line. some making a sort of unnecessary speculatory hash, when writing i feel obsessive cleavage between NECESSARY and UNNECESSARY, or more meaningfully between the fine hard transcendent center vs loose sort of running-in-place verbal folds, some of these stories are the center and some are the folds
Learned that though george saunders is easily parody-able and simple there is a perfect and never superfluous and strong brave heart to his work that in other paler saunders-like pieces is not present at all
Interesting to end it in the dust in the hard placed location of extant and previous time
bettyvd's review against another edition
3.0
Dit boek lag dus drie jaar op mijn nachtkastje. Te liggen. Met lange tanden dan toch mijn bord leeg gegeten. Hier en daar een lekker brokje, maar meestal lauwe kost. Een sampler korte verhalen? Doe ik niet meer.
jajajanea's review against another edition
3.0
Individually, the stories are great, but as a collection they become repetitive in theme, motif, and style. My favorites of the collection were "Men," "Madmen," and "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden."
sam8834's review
4.0
3.5 stars. I wanted to like this a lot more than I did, because Ben Marcus, and because he featured so many writers I love. The truth is, this anthology doesn't necessarily give you the strongest work from each writer, and when you try to compile a volume of outside-the-box fiction, the result can be quite scattered across the spectrum of what innovative/experimental fiction is. That said, it's still a cool collection, and I'm happy to have discovered some writers I hadn't read before whose works I'll be pursuing further. Bottom line, mixed feelings about a mixed bag, but if you're a fan of these writers, I'd check it out.