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ginnikin's review against another edition
5.0
A very well written collection of short stories. They're heavy and dark and grim and remind you of your insignificance, but they're so well written. You just keep hoping something will go right in one of these stories. Hang on for the last one. It's an appropriate hope-tinged finale to this great anthology.
jerseygrrrl's review against another edition
5.0
Normally, I don't like short stories. These are different. "Fate of Mice" is the most perfect short story I've ever read. "Grisella" makes me cry every time I read it. Each story breaks my heart. Susan Palwick is a genius.
thistlechaser's review against another edition
5.0
A complaint I often have about books is that the writer doesn't trust their readers. One of the reasons I love Susan Palwick's writing so much is that she fully trusts us. Each of the book's short stories ended at the perfect point: She leads us right up to the ending, there's no doubt how the story will turn out, but she ends it a moment too soon. Every time a story ended, I had that "Arg! Wait no! That can't be the ending! It can't stop here!" reaction. And yet every story was a complete story -- you knew how it ended, but leaving it open like that made it delicious.
While each of these short stories was sci fi, it's really interesting because they were a lot more than that. Each of the stories was actually about something normal or mundane, the sci fi was just window dressing. But it really, really worked. A short story about how some men stop loving women as the women get older and less beautiful? BORING! I'd never ever read that! But couch it in the framework of a werewolf story? And I loved it!
Review of each individual story at my main review blog: http://thistle-chaser.livejournal.com/1539268.html
While each of these short stories was sci fi, it's really interesting because they were a lot more than that. Each of the stories was actually about something normal or mundane, the sci fi was just window dressing. But it really, really worked. A short story about how some men stop loving women as the women get older and less beautiful? BORING! I'd never ever read that! But couch it in the framework of a werewolf story? And I loved it!
Review of each individual story at my main review blog: http://thistle-chaser.livejournal.com/1539268.html
beththebookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
A wonderful array of original stories, often taking a remarkably radical new take on fantasy standards such as werewolves and the Cinderella fairy tale. Deeply human stories, often with humor though usually of a dark sort. If you enjoy intense dark fantasy, suspense and horror with detailed characters, this is for you!
I met Susan Palwick at a science-fiction club meeting just as her first book was coming out and sat next to her afterward at the diner, talking about her involvement with starting a graduate-students' union at Yale (where she was a master's candidate in English at the time) and about life in general. I liked her instinctively and while I never read the first book, I thoroughly enjoyed her The Necessary Beggar--amazingly original and rich science fiction--and the few short stories I've read by her. This anthology shows she hasn't lost her touch.
Side note: the preface, which is by SF author Paul di Filippo, has an awesome phrase: "unless and until some uper-techonogical 'Rapture of the Nerds' rewrites the fatal certainties of the entirety of human existence..."
(I'm waiting for that Rapture!)
I met Susan Palwick at a science-fiction club meeting just as her first book was coming out and sat next to her afterward at the diner, talking about her involvement with starting a graduate-students' union at Yale (where she was a master's candidate in English at the time) and about life in general. I liked her instinctively and while I never read the first book, I thoroughly enjoyed her The Necessary Beggar--amazingly original and rich science fiction--and the few short stories I've read by her. This anthology shows she hasn't lost her touch.
Side note: the preface, which is by SF author Paul di Filippo, has an awesome phrase: "unless and until some uper-techonogical 'Rapture of the Nerds' rewrites the fatal certainties of the entirety of human existence..."
(I'm waiting for that Rapture!)
aomdoa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Enjoyed each of the stories which had their own sense, exploration and meandering. I do recommend.
survivalisinsufficient's review against another edition
4.0
A fantasy/fable type short-story collection (a bit like Kelly Link), with morals and everything. I liked these and would read something else by her, though I wasn't a big fan of "GI Jesus", which was nominated for the World Fantasy Award.
juliemawesome's review against another edition
5.0
Awesome. How come I never heard of Susan Palwick before? How come she hasn't been on the Tiptree Award lists? How come how come?
I really liked all of the stories in this collection. My favorite might be the first one, "The Fate of Mice", about a smart, talking mouse and the girl who tells him stories.
Then again, "Ever After" is pretty cool too. And I didn't even get what was going on with the godmother until most of the way through.
And it was "Jo's Hair" that I read in an anthology that made me seek out more of her stuff, so that must be pretty good too.
I wonder how much she realizes she has a pregnancy theme going on here. There's at least 4 in here you could read as being about that.
I'm very glad I skipped Paul di Fillipo's introduction until after I'd read the book. Not only do introductions like that tend to spoil the stories, but he completely missed a major point. He gives passing reference to her 'feminist concerns' in a paranthetical. I don't think he grasps how almost all of the stories are about women. No matter if the protagonist is male. No matter if it's a mouse.
I've borrowed more Palwick from the library. They're high on my to-read list.
I really liked all of the stories in this collection. My favorite might be the first one, "The Fate of Mice", about a smart, talking mouse and the girl who tells him stories.
Then again, "Ever After" is pretty cool too. And I didn't even get what was going on with the godmother until most of the way through.
And it was "Jo's Hair" that I read in an anthology that made me seek out more of her stuff, so that must be pretty good too.
I wonder how much she realizes she has a pregnancy theme going on here. There's at least 4 in here you could read as being about that.
I'm very glad I skipped Paul di Fillipo's introduction until after I'd read the book. Not only do introductions like that tend to spoil the stories, but he completely missed a major point. He gives passing reference to her 'feminist concerns' in a paranthetical. I don't think he grasps how almost all of the stories are about women. No matter if the protagonist is male. No matter if it's a mouse.
I've borrowed more Palwick from the library. They're high on my to-read list.
bucketheadmary's review against another edition
5.0
I think the common thread running through these stories is that eventually everyone meets death. That sounds really depressing, and some of the stories do hurt (oh man, "Gestella" was rough), but mostly I'm just left feeling how important it is to take care of your life while you have it.
mohillskc's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t think I’ve ever before read a collection of short stories in which every story is so thought provoking and emotionally wrenching. I’m startled that I hadn’t heard of them before; they are excellent example of clear, thoughtful, poignant writing.
janetlun's review
A collection of short stories. I don't read anthologies much -- I prefer novels -- but I really enjoyed this one. Each story takes your imagination, and emotions, in a different and unexpected direction. I shall never look at Cinderella and her fairy godmother in the same way again.