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Reviews
Queen Victoria's Book of Spells: An Anthology of Gaslamp Fantasy by Ellen Datlow, Terri Windling
bookishwendy's review against another edition
3.0
This was a mixed bag for me, as most story collections are. I love the idea of the "gaslamp fantasy" genre, which in my mind is historical fiction set in the Victorian era, with just a touch of fairy dust. This is the editor's mindset, too, as she elaborates in her introduction about how the rise of the industrial revolution coincided with a renewed interest in the fae and the occult--a sort of emotional revolt against science and technology, against the growth of knowledge and the shrinking of the Unknown.
With that said, I most appreciated the stories that went for seriousness and depth. Hands down, my favorite story was "Phosphorous," which successfully combined the occult with the gruesome (and completely factual) descriptions of "phossy jaw", a condition afflicting factory girls who worked in match factories in which the bones of their jaws would rot and crumble away. Ick.
I also liked "Charged", about a narrator who is struck by lightening and seems to have the ability to control electricity; "Smithfield," an elegy to the loss of gaslamps to candescent lighting; the voice-rich "La Reine d'Enfer"; and the re-imagined Victoria of the title story, learning spells as a young girl.
I didn't care so much for the stories that went more the "fan-fiction of well-known characters in 19th century fiction" route because I felt the authors leaned too much on said pre-established characters, so while these stories were quite quirky, they got little emotional response from me.
With that said, I most appreciated the stories that went for seriousness and depth. Hands down, my favorite story was "Phosphorous," which successfully combined the occult with the gruesome (and completely factual) descriptions of "phossy jaw", a condition afflicting factory girls who worked in match factories in which the bones of their jaws would rot and crumble away. Ick.
I also liked "Charged", about a narrator who is struck by lightening and seems to have the ability to control electricity; "Smithfield," an elegy to the loss of gaslamps to candescent lighting; the voice-rich "La Reine d'Enfer"; and the re-imagined Victoria of the title story, learning spells as a young girl.
I didn't care so much for the stories that went more the "fan-fiction of well-known characters in 19th century fiction" route because I felt the authors leaned too much on said pre-established characters, so while these stories were quite quirky, they got little emotional response from me.
stolencapybara's review against another edition
4.0
An anthology that is more than a sum of its parts. I was pleasantly surprised to find it, for the most part, unsentimental, with a real feel for the nuances and the exploitativeness of the era. Varied, surprising, and just good.
meijhen's review against another edition
4.0
As usual in an anthology, some of the stories were excellent, some not as excellent. I would definitely recommend this one to people who like steampunk fantasy, or alternative history.
rayn0n's review against another edition
5.0
A really fun anthology that scratches a lot of Victorian itches - except for Maguire's piece. Maybe I'm biased against him as an author but read his spiritual successor to A Christmas Carol with a HUGE grain of salt. He was operating off a couple of interesting concepts but ge got really frickin wierd with the story canon (Fred suddenly was never married? Tim was 3 during the events of the original book instead of 6 or 7? They felt like really arbitrary needless changes) and it took a right turn into absurd about halfways through. Okay okay, but the other dozen stories were fantastic and really enjoyable, just skip Maguire's if you don't want to suffer through story whose thesis is that there's nothing Scrooge could've done to avoid damnation. Which, yah know. Completely negates Dickens' novel.
peachyclaudia's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
Some stories were awesome, some less so.
saguaros's review against another edition
3.0
what I've discovered is that gaslamp fantasy--just like historical fiction--can hit me just right, and when it does it's so good it makes me dizzy, or it can bore me to tears.
So through no fault of the stories, I'm sure, I had to give it 3 stars even though the stories I loved I truly loved, because I just ended up skimming a few others.
My faves:
Queen Victoria's Book of Spells - Delia Sherman
The Memory Book - Maureen McHugh
The Governess - Elizabeth Bear
Mr. Splitfoot - Dale Bailey
Phosphorus - Veronica Schanoes
The Vital Importance of the Superficial - Ellen Kushner & Caroline Stevermer
Estella Saves the Village - Theodora Goss
So through no fault of the stories, I'm sure, I had to give it 3 stars even though the stories I loved I truly loved, because I just ended up skimming a few others.
My faves:
Queen Victoria's Book of Spells - Delia Sherman
The Memory Book - Maureen McHugh
The Governess - Elizabeth Bear
Mr. Splitfoot - Dale Bailey
Phosphorus - Veronica Schanoes
The Vital Importance of the Superficial - Ellen Kushner & Caroline Stevermer
Estella Saves the Village - Theodora Goss
misssusan's review against another edition
3.0
overall a solid collection of fantasy. i do wish windling and datlow had made even the slightest effort at including some geographic diversity; i got a bit bored of reading story after story set in victorian england with no thought of the colonies. schanoes' felt like the only person who was like heeeeeeey, we should probaaaaably talk a little bit about the politics of the era? anyone? bueller?
anyways if i was gonna make recommendations i'd suggest reading the stories by terri windling, maureen mchugh, kathe koja, elizabeth bear, veronica schanoes, catherynne valente, and theodora goss.
3 stars
anyways if i was gonna make recommendations i'd suggest reading the stories by terri windling, maureen mchugh, kathe koja, elizabeth bear, veronica schanoes, catherynne valente, and theodora goss.
3 stars
applezing's review against another edition
3.0
Some great stories and some so-so stories, but overall a solid collection, even if I’m not as Victoriana-crazed as I used to be. One of my favorite things about anthologies is getting to find new authors and there were definitely some in this collection that I hope to read more from!
snazel's review
4.0
Really enjoyed the title story, Elizabeth Bear's tale, "Phosphorus", and "We Without Us Were Shadows". The rest I'm pretty well indifferent towards, but I REALLY liked those four.
It's odd how often people use the Victorian era to explore the ignorance and powerlessness of women, though. That was definitely a theme.
It's odd how often people use the Victorian era to explore the ignorance and powerlessness of women, though. That was definitely a theme.
wizardowl's review against another edition
4.0
Marking this one as 'read' for now, because it needs to go back to the library and because I'm notoriously bad at finishing anthologies. I do hope to borrow it again sometime and finish the rest of the stories, though!
For the Briar Rose by Elizabeth Wein- 5 stars. I think that Elizabeth Wein could write just about anything and I'd love it; she consistently delivers such beautiful prose, vibrant characters, and transporting stories. This captivating story was no exception, breathing life into a cast of historical artists and the world they inhabit. I often find that characters fall flat in short stories, with so little time to get to know them, but I felt like I knew this protagonist very well from the start, which is my favourite thing of all to happen when I read a story.
The Vital Importance of the Superficial by Ellen Kushner and Caroline Stevermer - 4 stars. A charming, funny, sweet story told through letters. The characters were great, the plot was exciting, and the ending was very satisfying: everything I ask for from a short story.
The Jewel in the Toad Queen's Crown by Jane Yolen - 2 stars. I felt like I wasted my time with this one. The characters were unlikable, there was no suspense, and the ending was anti-climactic. The story seemed pointless; it really had nothing to say.
A Few Twigs He Left Behind by Gregory Maguire - 4 stars. This one was a sequel of sorts to A Christmas Carol, complete with Tiny Tim and a hint of ghosts. The entire tone was a little bit disturbing, which is not overly much my cup of tea, but it had such rich atmosphere and tone that it really drew me in. I don't know if I'd say it was enjoyable, per se, but it was interesting.
For the Briar Rose by Elizabeth Wein- 5 stars. I think that Elizabeth Wein could write just about anything and I'd love it; she consistently delivers such beautiful prose, vibrant characters, and transporting stories. This captivating story was no exception, breathing life into a cast of historical artists and the world they inhabit. I often find that characters fall flat in short stories, with so little time to get to know them, but I felt like I knew this protagonist very well from the start, which is my favourite thing of all to happen when I read a story.
The Vital Importance of the Superficial by Ellen Kushner and Caroline Stevermer - 4 stars. A charming, funny, sweet story told through letters. The characters were great, the plot was exciting, and the ending was very satisfying: everything I ask for from a short story.
The Jewel in the Toad Queen's Crown by Jane Yolen - 2 stars. I felt like I wasted my time with this one. The characters were unlikable, there was no suspense, and the ending was anti-climactic. The story seemed pointless; it really had nothing to say.
A Few Twigs He Left Behind by Gregory Maguire - 4 stars. This one was a sequel of sorts to A Christmas Carol, complete with Tiny Tim and a hint of ghosts. The entire tone was a little bit disturbing, which is not overly much my cup of tea, but it had such rich atmosphere and tone that it really drew me in. I don't know if I'd say it was enjoyable, per se, but it was interesting.