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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading Neil Gaiman’s work is like the ultimate writing inspiration for me, something about his approach to magic just speaks to me on some inexplicable level. This collection is no different, and I’ll definitely be keeping it around and highlighting more passages when I’m next in an urban fantasy mood. There’s just a few stories that really didn’t work for me; one jarringly orientalist pastiche about a desert (very “what Hollywood gets wrong about Arabia” type), and a couple politically confused ones about AIDS and abortion. The latter few weren’t totally bad, and honestly I’ve mostly forgotten exactly why I didn’t like them, but that says it all really. Doesn’t meaningfully detract from the strength of the rest of the collection.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I read this as part of the 2024 r/fantasy Bingo - Five Short Stories
Story Reviews:
Changes - 4 out of 5
This feels like a really accurate outline of what the future would be if the premise of the story came true. A great little piece of science fiction that shines on the concept of gender and the way society is built upon it.
The Daughter of Owls - 4 out of 5
A short but very interesting little story. Written to feel like a real account from the high middle ages.
Shoggoth's Old Peculiar - 5 out of 5
A really charming cthulhu story. How often do you find that? Weird but also very normal. I personally traveled with a guy who was a lot like Ben Lassiter and boy could I picture him in the story. Loved the charming cultists.
Looking for the Girl - 2 out of 5
Didn't really care for this one. Had the element of yearning for youth and wistful longing, while at the same time feeling a bit skeevy. Something off putting about someone pining for a perpetually young woman throughout time.
Chivalry - 4 out of 5
A really charming story about the holy grail that I think my grandma would like.
Story Reviews:
Changes - 4 out of 5
This feels like a really accurate outline of what the future would be if the premise of the story came true. A great little piece of science fiction that shines on the concept of gender and the way society is built upon it.
The Daughter of Owls - 4 out of 5
A short but very interesting little story. Written to feel like a real account from the high middle ages.
Shoggoth's Old Peculiar - 5 out of 5
A really charming cthulhu story. How often do you find that? Weird but also very normal. I personally traveled with a guy who was a lot like Ben Lassiter and boy could I picture him in the story. Loved the charming cultists.
Looking for the Girl - 2 out of 5
Didn't really care for this one. Had the element of yearning for youth and wistful longing, while at the same time feeling a bit skeevy. Something off putting about someone pining for a perpetually young woman throughout time.
Chivalry - 4 out of 5
A really charming story about the holy grail that I think my grandma would like.
fast-paced
This one has some of my favorites in it! Murder Mysteries is my top fave I think 🩷
This was the perfect start for Neil Gaiman's work for me.
This is the first work of his that I've read and I am enthralled. This anthology acted as a sort of sampler for me to his writing, and he did not disappoint.
His writing is dark and eerie and constantly has you guessing. His short stories take drastic twists and turns, and end miles off of where the story started.
His stories are all so different, yet so wonderfully executed. He goes from realism to fantasy with ease and it is magical to read (ha nice pun).
This was the perfect way for me to see his writing without fully investing in a series. And I can honestly say I am HOOKED! What is the first one I can get my hands on?
This is the first work of his that I've read and I am enthralled. This anthology acted as a sort of sampler for me to his writing, and he did not disappoint.
His writing is dark and eerie and constantly has you guessing. His short stories take drastic twists and turns, and end miles off of where the story started.
His stories are all so different, yet so wonderfully executed. He goes from realism to fantasy with ease and it is magical to read (ha nice pun).
This was the perfect way for me to see his writing without fully investing in a series. And I can honestly say I am HOOKED! What is the first one I can get my hands on?
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced