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sausome's review against another edition
3.0
As with any anthology, some stories work for an individual more than others. Some stories grip you, and some evade your snares. Some stories embrace you, while others feels like a kissing a dead fish. In any case, this was quite a wonderful collection. Just think about it -- the range of what "circus" tales can actually be is quite vast -- optimistic, hopeful and childlike; dark, life-wasted in a circus, sideshow freaks mistreated, etc.; otherworldly, creatures making up the show from places outside Earth, etc.; humorous and adventurous through trials of young adulthood to a life in the trade, etc., and many more unexpected aspects of this particular story focus. I'll just share some excerpts that caught my eye:
From: "Welcome to the Greatest Show in the Universe" by Deborah Walker: "Jinkers entered the lapis lazuli palace of Nebuchadnezzar. She remembered the sense of awe that had struck her, the majesty of the spectacle had overwhelmed her twenty years ago. ... But now, as Jinkers walked through the palace, she didn't feel the same. She watched the punters stare in wonder at the spectacle of their collective past. She wanted to share their experience, to recapture the emotion she'd felt all those years ago. But all she could see was a facsimile of reality. When she looked at the throne, she didn't marvel at the luxury of wealth, instead she saw the cost of the gold plating and remembered the builders' overpriced estimates. ... She saw through the illusion of history. Her administrator's eye had spoiled the magic and the fantasy."
--sound familiar to anyone? Perhaps like that job everyone says, "it must be so fantastic to work there!" but you've seen behind the velvet curtain and the Great and Powerful Oz is after all just a man.
From: "Making My Entrance Again with my Usual Flair" by Ken Scholes ... for absolute hilarity, really reminded me of Douglas Adams:
"When we crossed into Oregon, the monkey woke up. I knew this because he asked me for a cigarette. I swerved to the shoulder, mashing the brakes with one clown-shoed foot while hyperventilating. 'Just one,' he said. 'Please?' I couldn't get out of the car fast enough. After a few minutes of pacing by the side of the road, convincing myself that it was the result of quitting the booze cold turkey, I poked my head back into the car. 'Did you say something?' I asked, holding my breath. Silence. Releasing my breath, I climbed back into the car. 'I didn't think so.' I started the car back up, eased it onto the road. I laughed at myself. 'Talking monkeys,' I said, shaking my head. 'Monkeys can't talk,' the monkey said. Then he yawned loudly. I braked again."
From: "Welcome to the Greatest Show in the Universe" by Deborah Walker: "Jinkers entered the lapis lazuli palace of Nebuchadnezzar. She remembered the sense of awe that had struck her, the majesty of the spectacle had overwhelmed her twenty years ago. ... But now, as Jinkers walked through the palace, she didn't feel the same. She watched the punters stare in wonder at the spectacle of their collective past. She wanted to share their experience, to recapture the emotion she'd felt all those years ago. But all she could see was a facsimile of reality. When she looked at the throne, she didn't marvel at the luxury of wealth, instead she saw the cost of the gold plating and remembered the builders' overpriced estimates. ... She saw through the illusion of history. Her administrator's eye had spoiled the magic and the fantasy."
--sound familiar to anyone? Perhaps like that job everyone says, "it must be so fantastic to work there!" but you've seen behind the velvet curtain and the Great and Powerful Oz is after all just a man.
From: "Making My Entrance Again with my Usual Flair" by Ken Scholes ... for absolute hilarity, really reminded me of Douglas Adams:
"When we crossed into Oregon, the monkey woke up. I knew this because he asked me for a cigarette. I swerved to the shoulder, mashing the brakes with one clown-shoed foot while hyperventilating. 'Just one,' he said. 'Please?' I couldn't get out of the car fast enough. After a few minutes of pacing by the side of the road, convincing myself that it was the result of quitting the booze cold turkey, I poked my head back into the car. 'Did you say something?' I asked, holding my breath. Silence. Releasing my breath, I climbed back into the car. 'I didn't think so.' I started the car back up, eased it onto the road. I laughed at myself. 'Talking monkeys,' I said, shaking my head. 'Monkeys can't talk,' the monkey said. Then he yawned loudly. I braked again."
april_infinite's review
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
hestia30's review against another edition
26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss by Kij Johnson
tregina's review against another edition
3.0
For such a specific theme, there are a huge variety of stories in this anthology. I don't think there were even any I disliked, though I'm not sure there were any I loved either. Certainly a high calibre of work, in a subgenre that rarely fails to entertain.
tregina's review
3.0
For such a specific theme, there are a huge variety of stories in this anthology. I don't think there were even any I disliked, though I'm not sure there were any I loved either. Certainly a high calibre of work, in a subgenre that rarely fails to entertain.
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