Reviews

Thirteen Steps in the Underworld by Su-Yee Lin

antonism's review

4.0

A very short story about a person's trip to the underworld, or maybe his underworld. This one is written in a very unique style, being half like a memoir, half instruction notes. It feels easy to read but at the same time there's a lot of mystery and tension. Many questions arise and are slowly and eventually answered like: Who is this guy? Why is he there? What is he looking for? How did he arrive? The descriptions and imagery were also crafty and fascinating and the pace was quite compelling. To sum up, it is very short and it's free (click here to read it), so there's nothing really holding you back from giving it a quarter of an hour and a chance. I liked it a lot for what it was and I would be interesting to read more works from this author.
3.5 / 5

nathanaeljs's review

4.0

Beautiful, atmospheric story. The plot is bare and simple, but the imagery of the Underworld cities is really well done and the story made me tear up at the end. A short, worthwhile read.

amyotheramy's review

5.0

It’s disconcerting, this meshing of the dead and the living. Is it just as strange for the dead? Do they hear your thoughts, see your memories? There are no answers, because they do not speak to you; they rush through you, on their way to a party, a concert, a show. These ghosts are in a hurry, perpetually late. They don’t mind the dark, but they love the light, so you find yourself colliding with one every time you enter the pools of light spilling out from lamps or neon signs. The brief whiff of memory, there and then gone.

You welcome it, because every time you think: this time, it might be her. This time and this time and this time. But it never is.

I loved this. Another husband goes into the Underworld in search of his wife, and fails ... differently than Orpheus did. I thought the ending was wonderful, but I see I am in the minority on that. If second person point of view annoys you, stay away. Otherwise, go read it now. It's free from Tor.

http://www.tor.com/2013/11/20/thirteen-steps-in-the-underworld-su-yee-lin/

anaelwynn's review

3.0

This was an interesting story. I enjoyed the way (format?) it was written a lot. Thirteen Steps in the Underworlds was such an atmospheric story, full of hope and grief. With that being said, this story didn't grip me that much. I didn't feel that invested in what was happening to the character, or what was going on in the story.