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mxsallybend's review against another edition
5.0
Before I get to my review, I want to offer a friendly public service message to those who are fortunate enough to be reading and voting on the various genre awards. Go ahead and pencil in Fearsome Journeys as this year's winner for best anthology, and Jonathan Strahan as winner for best editor. That's right, find your nomination form, jot the title down, put a huge asterisk beside it as the likely winner, and focus your reading efforts on those categories yet be decided.
Okay, so maybe I am being a bit facetious, but it really is that good!
Short story collections are problematic for me. On the one hand, I like being able to sample authors in small doses, and to get a feel for their work, or to simply pay a brief visit with old favorites, no strings (or subsequent volumes) attached. On the other hand, I find them wildly uneven in terms of content and quality, with the weakest entries unfairly dragging down my overall impression of the collection as a whole.
Much to my delight, Fearsome Journeys has proven to be the rare exception to that rule. There were a few stories here that didn't completely wow me, but I can honestly say I still enjoyed them all. While those few suffer by comparison against their companions here, they likely would have come across as some of the better entries in a different collection. There are several authors here who have just shot to the top of my TBR pile, based on the strength of their contributions, and a few others who've absolutely demanded I immediately rectify their absence from that same pile.
The Effigy Engine: A Tale of the Red Hats by Scott Lynch was a great choice to lead off the collection. It's fantastic in every sense of the world, with a world and characters I would gladly revisit.
Amethyst, Shadow, and Light by Saladin Ahmed was another great story, reminiscent (to me) of the tales of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, with a surprise ending that left me with a satisfied smile.
Camp Follower by Trudi Canavan was a really interesting story, with several twists that worked exceptionally well, and an ending that satisfied immensely.
The Dragonslayer of Merebarton by K J Parker was, for me, probably the weakest entry in the collection. I simply didn't care for the telling, finding it too casual and removed, with no sense of urgency, but the story itself was decent.
Leaf and Branch and Grass and Vine by Kate Elliott more than redeemed that small literary stumble with a great tale, exceptionally well-told, some nice mythology, and characters I really want to read more about.
Spirits of Salt: A Tale of the Coral Heart by Jeffrey Ford is one of the few I had issues with. As well-told as it was, I didn't care for the main character at all. The clever twist ending redeemed it somewhat, but not enough to rise above its peers.
Forever People by Robert V S Redick is a story that I quite liked, finding myself very invested in seeing how it all developed, but I find myself feeling a little . . . well, ambiguous about the ambiguity of the ending. I didn't originally care for it, but found it better on a second read, although I find myself wavering again this morning.
Sponda the Suet Girl and the Secret of the French Pearl by Ellen Klages is an oddly comic tale that almost felt out of place here, but had some really nice elements to it, and won me over with just how thoroughly the tables were turned by the end.
Shaggy Dog Bridge: A Black Company Story by Glen Cook was a serviceable enough story, with some great moments of action and drama, but I found the narrative a bit flat, as if it assumed too much of the reader in terms of Black Company knowledge. Having said that, I can see why Cook is so often mentioned in the same breath as Steven Erikson.
The Ghost Makers by Elizabeth Bear was an absolutely stellar tale, well-told, with a pair of intriguing protagonists, and a nice weaving of magic and mythology. It took me a while to warm up to it, but my appreciation continued to grow as each layer was revealed.
One Last, Great Adventure by Ellen Kushner and Ysabeau S. Wilce was a story where I found the present-tense narrative a bit jarring at first, but eventually settled in to enjoy a decent tale.
The High King Dreaming by Daniel Abraham is a deep, dark, introspective, tale told in snippets and scenes. While it may not have offered the strongest story in terms of plot, it was compelling from a narrative standpoint.
For those of you who are curious, it's Lynch, Elliott, and Bear who are the three authors who've made the most significant climbs in my TBR pile, and Ahmed and Canavan who have won themselves a place. Overall, however, this just a great collection of tales, well-selected and well put together by a man who has an obvious feel for the genre. I cannot recommend Fearsome Journeys highly enough.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Okay, so maybe I am being a bit facetious, but it really is that good!
Short story collections are problematic for me. On the one hand, I like being able to sample authors in small doses, and to get a feel for their work, or to simply pay a brief visit with old favorites, no strings (or subsequent volumes) attached. On the other hand, I find them wildly uneven in terms of content and quality, with the weakest entries unfairly dragging down my overall impression of the collection as a whole.
Much to my delight, Fearsome Journeys has proven to be the rare exception to that rule. There were a few stories here that didn't completely wow me, but I can honestly say I still enjoyed them all. While those few suffer by comparison against their companions here, they likely would have come across as some of the better entries in a different collection. There are several authors here who have just shot to the top of my TBR pile, based on the strength of their contributions, and a few others who've absolutely demanded I immediately rectify their absence from that same pile.
The Effigy Engine: A Tale of the Red Hats by Scott Lynch was a great choice to lead off the collection. It's fantastic in every sense of the world, with a world and characters I would gladly revisit.
Amethyst, Shadow, and Light by Saladin Ahmed was another great story, reminiscent (to me) of the tales of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, with a surprise ending that left me with a satisfied smile.
Camp Follower by Trudi Canavan was a really interesting story, with several twists that worked exceptionally well, and an ending that satisfied immensely.
The Dragonslayer of Merebarton by K J Parker was, for me, probably the weakest entry in the collection. I simply didn't care for the telling, finding it too casual and removed, with no sense of urgency, but the story itself was decent.
Leaf and Branch and Grass and Vine by Kate Elliott more than redeemed that small literary stumble with a great tale, exceptionally well-told, some nice mythology, and characters I really want to read more about.
Spirits of Salt: A Tale of the Coral Heart by Jeffrey Ford is one of the few I had issues with. As well-told as it was, I didn't care for the main character at all. The clever twist ending redeemed it somewhat, but not enough to rise above its peers.
Forever People by Robert V S Redick is a story that I quite liked, finding myself very invested in seeing how it all developed, but I find myself feeling a little . . . well, ambiguous about the ambiguity of the ending. I didn't originally care for it, but found it better on a second read, although I find myself wavering again this morning.
Sponda the Suet Girl and the Secret of the French Pearl by Ellen Klages is an oddly comic tale that almost felt out of place here, but had some really nice elements to it, and won me over with just how thoroughly the tables were turned by the end.
Shaggy Dog Bridge: A Black Company Story by Glen Cook was a serviceable enough story, with some great moments of action and drama, but I found the narrative a bit flat, as if it assumed too much of the reader in terms of Black Company knowledge. Having said that, I can see why Cook is so often mentioned in the same breath as Steven Erikson.
The Ghost Makers by Elizabeth Bear was an absolutely stellar tale, well-told, with a pair of intriguing protagonists, and a nice weaving of magic and mythology. It took me a while to warm up to it, but my appreciation continued to grow as each layer was revealed.
One Last, Great Adventure by Ellen Kushner and Ysabeau S. Wilce was a story where I found the present-tense narrative a bit jarring at first, but eventually settled in to enjoy a decent tale.
The High King Dreaming by Daniel Abraham is a deep, dark, introspective, tale told in snippets and scenes. While it may not have offered the strongest story in terms of plot, it was compelling from a narrative standpoint.
For those of you who are curious, it's Lynch, Elliott, and Bear who are the three authors who've made the most significant climbs in my TBR pile, and Ahmed and Canavan who have won themselves a place. Overall, however, this just a great collection of tales, well-selected and well put together by a man who has an obvious feel for the genre. I cannot recommend Fearsome Journeys highly enough.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
3.0
To be discussed on Tuesday August 13th at Powells SF group in Beaverton at 7pm. A mixed bag of fantasy story mostly leaning towards war and battle and mayhem. One, by Elizabeth Bear, was overly long though very pretty with an interesting backstory concerning people that become automatons and wizards and guard ninja orphans. And another, by Glen Cook, had annoying use of language, with a military band on the run with a very irritating backstory and set of characters. The stronger stories are mostly in the front. But really I saw nothing here that would make me want to go out and read any of these authors.
shirin_mandi's review against another edition
5.0
Shaggy Dog Bridge (The Chronicles of the Black Company #2.2)
technophile's review against another edition
2.0
For some reason I really didn't care for many of the stories in this book. Honestly, I was looking for something new, basically trying out authors I've avoided to this point to see if they might be worth looking up, and came away mostly disappointed. Nearly all of the stories in this collection, as best I could tell, are simply additions to their existing universes, not really new or terribly interesting.
If you like the existing work of most/all of the authors in the collection, it will probably be worthwhile, but if you don't this isn't going to be very interesting for you.
If you like the existing work of most/all of the authors in the collection, it will probably be worthwhile, but if you don't this isn't going to be very interesting for you.
technophile's review
2.0
For some reason I really didn't care for many of the stories in this book. Honestly, I was looking for something new, basically trying out authors I've avoided to this point to see if they might be worth looking up, and came away mostly disappointed. Nearly all of the stories in this collection, as best I could tell, are simply additions to their existing universes, not really new or terribly interesting.
If you like the existing work of most/all of the authors in the collection, it will probably be worthwhile, but if you don't this isn't going to be very interesting for you.
If you like the existing work of most/all of the authors in the collection, it will probably be worthwhile, but if you don't this isn't going to be very interesting for you.
sarah42783's review
5.0
➽ March 31, 2019: picking this up again because I'm, um, you know, fearsome like that and stuff.
Why thank you so much for the support, doggy-looking barnacles mine!
P.S. Expect this review to be bumped to death as I read and crappily non-review stories in this collection and stuff. You're welcome and stuff.
[ January 2019]
Disclaimer: there are twelve short stories in this collection. I only read Glen Cook's. Because I'm revoltingly selective like that. And also because DUH.
Friendly warning: the first three paragraphs of this review are a total waste of your time. You’re welcome.
“Shaggy Dog Bridge” by Glen Cook: 4.5 stars and stuff.again and that this sentence is nothing special. And it’s alright. I mean, you’re entitled to your ever-erroneous opinion and stuff. Besides, I was as clueless as you Barnacled Bunch once hahahahaha, just kidding. Trying to make you feel better about your little selves, that is all , and didn’t know who the fish Glen Cook was (my life had no meaning back then, just so you know), so I understand. Then again maybe not.
Anyway, I kept reading, all giddy and slightly delirious as only a Moderately Unbalanced Glen Cook Shrimpgirl (MUGCS™) can be, and came across this:
Because Glen Cook! Using acronyms! Just like me! You know what this means, right?! It means I must be the long lost daughter he had in secret with Lady! It all makes sense now! I got my Severe Nefariousness Disorder (SND™)—and ruthless world domination penchant—from her and Acute Acronymitis Syndrome (AAS™) from him! Ergo, my life is now utterly complete and stuff, and I can die most deliriously happy.
So, now that we have so efficiently solved the fascinating mystery of my ancestry, let’s talk about Shaggy Dog Bridge, shall we? This story takes place between books 1 and 2 of the Most Scrumptious Fantasy Series that Ever Was and Ever Will Be (MSFStEWaEWB™)asking me what the name of said series is is the surest way to get the murderous crustaceans unleashed on your miserable little derrieres post haste, just so you know . And it’s kinda sorta pointless to read it if you are not already familiar with the MSFStEWaEWB™ and its delicious characters—aka my Yummilicious Mercenary Boyfriends (YMB™)—to be honest. But hey, it’s your life, so feel free to waste it as you like and stuff.
Anyhoooo, this little tale finds my YMB™ on the run from their previous employers, namely my newfound mommy Lady (aka my girlfriend, aka my boyfriend Croaker’s girlfriend. One big happy family and all that). They come upon some kind of secret road. And some kind of secret bridge. And then spoiler spoiler spoiler stuff happens. There’s a most delicious Taken-like chick (Poof! Gone! Harem!) and the “evil versus evil sorcery duel of the decade.” The dialogues are hahahahahaha as ever, and most of the original Luscious Mercenaries are around. They're in rare form, too: One-Eye grumbles while Goblin giggles, Elmo is revealed not to be a complete dickhead (only that he is, part of the job description and all that) and Croaker shares deep, profound rejoinders “scintillating in their Croakeresqueness.” In other words, Pure Unadulterated Black Company Bliss (PUBCB™).
How does it end, you ask? Well more or less something like this:
Such brave, fearless, courageous men, my YMB™! No wonder I 💕lurves💕 them so bloody shrimping much!
· Book 1: The Black Company ★★★★★
·Book 1.5: Port of Shadows ★ ← I have no idea where this book came from, or what it's about. Pretty sure I never read it.
· Book 2: Shadows Linger ★★★★★
· Book 2.3 (short story): Bone Eaters ★★★★★
· Book 3: The White Rose ★★★★★
·Book 3.5: The Silver Spike ★★ ← pretending this one never happened.
· Book 4: Shadow Games ★★★★★
· Book 5: Dreams of Steel ★★★★★
· Book 6: Bleak Seasons ★★★★★
· Book 7: She Is The Darkness ★★★★★
· Book 8: Water Sleeps ★★★★★
· Book 9: Soldiers Live ★★★★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
My Yummilicious Mercenary Boyfriends (YMB™) strike again!
➽ Full review to magically appear post haste and stuff.
Why thank you so much for the support, doggy-looking barnacles mine!
P.S. Expect this review to be bumped to death as I read and crappily non-review stories in this collection and stuff. You're welcome and stuff.
[ January 2019]
Disclaimer: there are twelve short stories in this collection. I only read Glen Cook's. Because I'm revoltingly selective like that. And also because DUH.
Friendly warning: the first three paragraphs of this review are a total waste of your time. You’re welcome.
“Shaggy Dog Bridge” by Glen Cook: 4.5 stars and stuff.
“Shit happens. Sometimes no matter how much you dog-gnaw the bone you don’t get it to make no sense, ‘specially the who done what why.”So I read this sentence (the very first in this lovely little tale full of fluffy bunnies and pastel-colored rainbows) and thought to myself: “why do I ever bother reading stuff NOT written by Glen Cook, anyway?” Okay, so you probably think that this is me slightly exaggerating
Anyway, I kept reading, all giddy and slightly delirious as only a Moderately Unbalanced Glen Cook Shrimpgirl (MUGCS™) can be, and came across this:
“Rusty was a FNG, with us only six months. He had no hope of becoming a Fucking Old Guy. He was an asshole and a bully. His type never prospers with us.”Which got me all,
Because Glen Cook! Using acronyms! Just like me! You know what this means, right?! It means I must be the long lost daughter he had in secret with Lady! It all makes sense now! I got my Severe Nefariousness Disorder (SND™)—and ruthless world domination penchant—from her and Acute Acronymitis Syndrome (AAS™) from him! Ergo, my life is now utterly complete and stuff, and I can die most deliriously happy.
So, now that we have so efficiently solved the fascinating mystery of my ancestry, let’s talk about Shaggy Dog Bridge, shall we? This story takes place between books 1 and 2 of the Most Scrumptious Fantasy Series that Ever Was and Ever Will Be (MSFStEWaEWB™)
Anyhoooo, this little tale finds my YMB™ on the run from their previous employers, namely my newfound mommy Lady (aka my girlfriend, aka my boyfriend Croaker’s girlfriend. One big happy family and all that). They come upon some kind of secret road. And some kind of secret bridge. And then spoiler spoiler spoiler stuff happens. There’s a most delicious Taken-like chick (Poof! Gone! Harem!) and the “evil versus evil sorcery duel of the decade.” The dialogues are hahahahahaha as ever, and most of the original Luscious Mercenaries are around. They're in rare form, too: One-Eye grumbles while Goblin giggles, Elmo is revealed not to be a complete dickhead (only that he is, part of the job description and all that) and Croaker shares deep, profound rejoinders “scintillating in their Croakeresqueness.” In other words, Pure Unadulterated Black Company Bliss (PUBCB™).
How does it end, you ask? Well more or less something like this:
Such brave, fearless, courageous men, my YMB™! No wonder I 💕lurves💕 them so bloody shrimping much!
· Book 1: The Black Company ★★★★★
·
· Book 2: Shadows Linger ★★★★★
· Book 2.3 (short story): Bone Eaters ★★★★★
· Book 3: The White Rose ★★★★★
·
· Book 4: Shadow Games ★★★★★
· Book 5: Dreams of Steel ★★★★★
· Book 6: Bleak Seasons ★★★★★
· Book 7: She Is The Darkness ★★★★★
· Book 8: Water Sleeps ★★★★★
· Book 9: Soldiers Live ★★★★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
My Yummilicious Mercenary Boyfriends (YMB™) strike again!
➽ Full review to magically appear post haste and stuff.
daveversace's review
4.0
Fearsome Journeys is an anthology of fantasy short stories, most of which are quests or at least quest-adjacent. Though editor Jonathan Strahan intends it to encompass a wide spectrum of modern fantastika, I found the my favourites tended more towards the low-magic grit of Fahfrd and the Gray Mouser's end of the spectrum than elf-strewn high fantasy. It's a solid collection from some excellent fantasy writers.
Military fantasy gets a good look in with Scott Lynch's opener "The Effigy Engine: A Tale of the Red Hats", which pits a band of highly competent mercenary wizards against an enemy with a battlefield super-weapon, and of course Glen Cook's contribution is another amusing and alarming tale in his long-running Black Company series "Shaggy Dog Bridge: A Black Company Story". Trudi Canavan's hard-edged "Camp Follower" ranges from gritty military fantasy to a high-magic showdown. Kate Elliott shows a bloody political skirmish from the point of view of civilians caught in the middle in "Leaf and Branch and Grass and Vine".
Saladin Ahmed's "Amethyst, Shadow and Light" was one of my favourites - a sword and sorcery heist in Fritz Leiber-ish tradition, featuring a rabbit warrior-woman and a barbarian named Zok. No, no, it's really good.
Another favourite was K J Parker's "The Dragonslayer of Merebarton", featuring a retired knight whose social obligations unfortunately include dragonslaying. This one had a light if somewhat weary tone and may have been the pick of the collection. I also enjoyed the amusing "Sponda the Suet Girl and the Secret of the French Pearl", a screwball comedy about thieves and con artists.
This is a fine cross-section of fantasy fiction that I would recommend to anyone looking to sample the genre.
Military fantasy gets a good look in with Scott Lynch's opener "The Effigy Engine: A Tale of the Red Hats", which pits a band of highly competent mercenary wizards against an enemy with a battlefield super-weapon, and of course Glen Cook's contribution is another amusing and alarming tale in his long-running Black Company series "Shaggy Dog Bridge: A Black Company Story". Trudi Canavan's hard-edged "Camp Follower" ranges from gritty military fantasy to a high-magic showdown. Kate Elliott shows a bloody political skirmish from the point of view of civilians caught in the middle in "Leaf and Branch and Grass and Vine".
Saladin Ahmed's "Amethyst, Shadow and Light" was one of my favourites - a sword and sorcery heist in Fritz Leiber-ish tradition, featuring a rabbit warrior-woman and a barbarian named Zok. No, no, it's really good.
Another favourite was K J Parker's "The Dragonslayer of Merebarton", featuring a retired knight whose social obligations unfortunately include dragonslaying. This one had a light if somewhat weary tone and may have been the pick of the collection. I also enjoyed the amusing "Sponda the Suet Girl and the Secret of the French Pearl", a screwball comedy about thieves and con artists.
This is a fine cross-section of fantasy fiction that I would recommend to anyone looking to sample the genre.
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