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ofearna's review against another edition
4.0
The Garnet and the Glory • (1984) • shortstory by Phyllis Ann Karr
Severed Heads • [Dread Empire] • (1984) • novelette by Glen Cook
Taking Heart • (1984) • shortstory by Stephen L. Burns
The Rending Dark • (1984) • novelette by Emma Bull
Gimmile's Songs • [Dossouye] • (1984) • shortstory by Charles R. Saunders
♥ The Valley of the Troll • [Aynber] by Charles de Lint re-read 6/16/2015
Imperatrix • (1984) • shortstory by Deborah J. Ross [as by Deborah Wheeler ]
Blood of Sorcery • (1984) • shortstory by Jennifer Roberson
With Four Lean Hounds • (1984) • novelette by Pat Murphy
House in the Forest • (1984) • shortstory by Anodea Judith
Sword of Yraine • [Shanna of Sharteyn] • (1984) • shortstory by Diana L. Paxson
Daton and the Dead Things • (1984) • shortstory by Michael Ward
Gate of the Damned • (1984) • shortstory by Janet Fox
Child of Orcus • (1984) • novelette by Robin Wayne Bailey [as by Robin W. Bailey ]
Things Come in Threes • [Cynthia, Daughter of Euelpides] • (1984) • shortstory by Dorothy J. Heydt
Severed Heads • [Dread Empire] • (1984) • novelette by Glen Cook
Taking Heart • (1984) • shortstory by Stephen L. Burns
The Rending Dark • (1984) • novelette by Emma Bull
Gimmile's Songs • [Dossouye] • (1984) • shortstory by Charles R. Saunders
♥ The Valley of the Troll • [Aynber] by Charles de Lint re-read 6/16/2015
Imperatrix • (1984) • shortstory by Deborah J. Ross [as by Deborah Wheeler ]
Blood of Sorcery • (1984) • shortstory by Jennifer Roberson
With Four Lean Hounds • (1984) • novelette by Pat Murphy
House in the Forest • (1984) • shortstory by Anodea Judith
Sword of Yraine • [Shanna of Sharteyn] • (1984) • shortstory by Diana L. Paxson
Daton and the Dead Things • (1984) • shortstory by Michael Ward
Gate of the Damned • (1984) • shortstory by Janet Fox
Child of Orcus • (1984) • novelette by Robin Wayne Bailey [as by Robin W. Bailey ]
Things Come in Threes • [Cynthia, Daughter of Euelpides] • (1984) • shortstory by Dorothy J. Heydt
maenad_wordsmith's review against another edition
I read a large number of the Sword and Sorceress books, but I don't think I read them all. Since I checked them out from the library more than ten years ago, it's hard to remember which ones I missed. But I do remember them having a huge impact on me--I've always sought out books by and about women, and these nurtured my nascent feminism back in the day.
bookwisp86's review against another edition
4.0
A good collection of fantasy stories all with women as the leading roles. This is the first of I think 30 of these anthologies. Favorite story was severed heads, about a woman seeking revenge against a wizard and Gimmile's Song about a warrior seeking peace.
innae's review against another edition
4.0
"What are we without friends? Just severed heads rolling across the sands." pg. 49 Glen Cook
Here are my thoughts on the tales within this book:
The Garnet and the Glory by Phyllis Ann Karr: Not my favorite tale at all, it was an okay read. Perhaps if I read more of the sagas of Frost and Thorn I would have found it better.
Severed Heads by Glen Cook: better than the first tale, and I did like the revenge side of the tale
Taking Heart by Stephen L. Burns: technically a story about a male thief...but really a much different tale indeed. I saw it coming, but it was still a good tale, with a touch of humor.
The Rending Dark by Emma Bull: meh. had a little bit of a horror story in it, but I just didn't get to liking the main characters.
Gimmile's Songs by Charles R. Saunders: LOVE this tale. I must note that our heroine spends 90% of the tale (including a fight scene) naked. Yep, written by a man...a strong woman, but she should be naked! ha!
The Valley of the Troll by Charles de Lint: again with a little bit of horror. I enjoyed this one immensely. And the bad guys get what they deserve, nice.
Imperatrix by Deborah Wheeler: a tale about the disguising of a royal to solve the problems of the world. We have read it before, but it still was told nicely.
Blood of Sorcery by Jennifer Roberson: I so love Jennifer's stories. And this one didn't fail me either. It has some hidden ideas about fate and duty.
With Four Lean Hounds by Pat Murphy: Another great story. And a tale of how kindness will win over MASTERY everytime.
House in the Forest by Anodea Judith: a tale for the ecologist. Save the planet sort of tale, with a haunted house. NICE.
Sword of Yraine by Diana L. Paxson: Finding where you belong, and accepting what you didn't know you should accept. I loved this tale (but again with the naked fighting chicks)
Daton and the Dead Things by Michael Ward: Humor. An enjoyable tall tale -- the fish was THIS big I swear..well, no, I don't have any proof :-)
Gate of the Damned by Janet Fox: The only Amazon story in the bunch, and it just wasn't that good. Only ok.
Child of Orcus by Robin W. Bailey: end this tale however you will...the lady or the tiger, with a twist. I enjoyed it very much...our heroine is just wonderful.
Things come in Threes by Dorothy J. Heydt: more humor, a nice ending to a great anthology.
I liked more stories than I didn't, and I didn't HATE any of them, a rarity. Marion Zimmer Bradley could tell a good tale, both with her own words, and with others.
Here are my thoughts on the tales within this book:
The Garnet and the Glory by Phyllis Ann Karr: Not my favorite tale at all, it was an okay read. Perhaps if I read more of the sagas of Frost and Thorn I would have found it better.
Severed Heads by Glen Cook: better than the first tale, and I did like the revenge side of the tale
Taking Heart by Stephen L. Burns: technically a story about a male thief...but really a much different tale indeed. I saw it coming, but it was still a good tale, with a touch of humor.
The Rending Dark by Emma Bull: meh. had a little bit of a horror story in it, but I just didn't get to liking the main characters.
Gimmile's Songs by Charles R. Saunders: LOVE this tale. I must note that our heroine spends 90% of the tale (including a fight scene) naked. Yep, written by a man...a strong woman, but she should be naked! ha!
The Valley of the Troll by Charles de Lint: again with a little bit of horror. I enjoyed this one immensely. And the bad guys get what they deserve, nice.
Imperatrix by Deborah Wheeler: a tale about the disguising of a royal to solve the problems of the world. We have read it before, but it still was told nicely.
Blood of Sorcery by Jennifer Roberson: I so love Jennifer's stories. And this one didn't fail me either. It has some hidden ideas about fate and duty.
With Four Lean Hounds by Pat Murphy: Another great story. And a tale of how kindness will win over MASTERY everytime.
House in the Forest by Anodea Judith: a tale for the ecologist. Save the planet sort of tale, with a haunted house. NICE.
Sword of Yraine by Diana L. Paxson: Finding where you belong, and accepting what you didn't know you should accept. I loved this tale (but again with the naked fighting chicks)
Daton and the Dead Things by Michael Ward: Humor. An enjoyable tall tale -- the fish was THIS big I swear..well, no, I don't have any proof :-)
Gate of the Damned by Janet Fox: The only Amazon story in the bunch, and it just wasn't that good. Only ok.
Child of Orcus by Robin W. Bailey: end this tale however you will...the lady or the tiger, with a twist. I enjoyed it very much...our heroine is just wonderful.
Things come in Threes by Dorothy J. Heydt: more humor, a nice ending to a great anthology.
I liked more stories than I didn't, and I didn't HATE any of them, a rarity. Marion Zimmer Bradley could tell a good tale, both with her own words, and with others.
bookcrazylady45's review against another edition
3.0
I sure hope the next ones are better. I started with number 22-25 and loved almost every story. Just finished number 1 and didn't really care for a single one.
evalynex's review against another edition
2.0
Overall, I found the book as a whole underwhelming. There are some really good gems in there, but for the most part, I would have only kept on story and maybe another if it was ever expanded on. It really shouldn't have taken me so long to read this book but I kept getting bored with certain stories that I ended up reading two different books and finishing them while slowly making my way through these.
-The Garnet and The Glory: Thorn's complete disrespect for animals was a real negative force on this story. Other than that, it was just okay. I liked that one person's magic would change depending on the world and magic developed differently, often shaping the culture.
-Severed Heads: I almost didn't read this one when I skimmed the forward by MZB and she said it contained rape. But I gave it a try anyway and it was okay. Narrimam was interesting and I appreciated that she and her father did not hate the child that was resulted from rape. I also appreciated that Narrimam was headstrong and stubborn before the rape happened - that her strong will wasn't a result of the rape.
-Taking Heart: This one was pure fun - Clea outsmarting Raalt, proving to be the better thief, despite her small frame. I would read a full-length book on Clea....as long as not all her witty plots where her seducing and running out on her target.
-The Rending Dark: I actually really enjoyed this one - Kit and Marya make an odd but funny pair that I totally ship together. The plot was interesting and came full circle - it didn't feel like an excerpt of a book and could stand alone, though I would also have loved a full length novel about these two women.
-Gimmile's Songs: It was okay. I appreciate the variety of cultures found in the collection of short stories, but this yet another "magic induced consent" and it's just not a good story element.
-The Valley of the Troll: Eh. Boring in my opinion.
-Imperatrix: Eh. It was okay but the whole thing felt rushed and I felt that if the author had left it at Charalldana leaving the service of the lord, it would have been a much stronger ending, rather than rushing it into her confronting her brother and claiming the thrown right outside the gate.
-Blood of Sorcery: I really enjoyed that one - enough action to keep you interested and enough history to give you good handle on the setting with a plotline that fit the length of the story.
-With Four Lean Hounds: Love the writing style - I felt almost like I was physically wrapped up in this story. I am half tempted to keep the book just for this one story. I won't but this was just THAT good of a story.
-House in the Forest: Very interesting! Enjoyed reading this....even if I was hoping for a haunted house story at first! Still, I enjoyed it.
-Sword of Yraine: It was okay. I like that Shaana found purpose in protecting the girls and the temple.
-Daton and the Dead Things: It was a fun style of story telling, but ultimately left me going "eh".
-Gate of the Damned: I honestly didn't like a single thing about this story. None at all.
-Child of Orcus: I was really enjoying it - right up till the end where Diana starts to barter with Orcus to save that murdering jackass, Decius. I hate when people are shown mercy just because they once did and created beautiful things - once a murdering jackass, always a murdering jackass.
-Things Come in Threes: That was weird. Very weird. I can't say that I didn't like it....but I can't say I liked it.
-The Garnet and The Glory: Thorn's complete disrespect for animals was a real negative force on this story. Other than that, it was just okay. I liked that one person's magic would change depending on the world and magic developed differently, often shaping the culture.
-Severed Heads: I almost didn't read this one when I skimmed the forward by MZB and she said it contained rape. But I gave it a try anyway and it was okay. Narrimam was interesting and I appreciated that she and her father did not hate the child that was resulted from rape. I also appreciated that Narrimam was headstrong and stubborn before the rape happened - that her strong will wasn't a result of the rape.
-Taking Heart: This one was pure fun - Clea outsmarting Raalt, proving to be the better thief, despite her small frame. I would read a full-length book on Clea....as long as not all her witty plots where her seducing and running out on her target.
-The Rending Dark: I actually really enjoyed this one - Kit and Marya make an odd but funny pair that I totally ship together. The plot was interesting and came full circle - it didn't feel like an excerpt of a book and could stand alone, though I would also have loved a full length novel about these two women.
-Gimmile's Songs: It was okay. I appreciate the variety of cultures found in the collection of short stories, but this yet another "magic induced consent" and it's just not a good story element.
-The Valley of the Troll: Eh. Boring in my opinion.
-Imperatrix: Eh. It was okay but the whole thing felt rushed and I felt that if the author had left it at Charalldana leaving the service of the lord, it would have been a much stronger ending, rather than rushing it into her confronting her brother and claiming the thrown right outside the gate.
-Blood of Sorcery: I really enjoyed that one - enough action to keep you interested and enough history to give you good handle on the setting with a plotline that fit the length of the story.
-With Four Lean Hounds: Love the writing style - I felt almost like I was physically wrapped up in this story. I am half tempted to keep the book just for this one story. I won't but this was just THAT good of a story.
-House in the Forest: Very interesting! Enjoyed reading this....even if I was hoping for a haunted house story at first! Still, I enjoyed it.
-Sword of Yraine: It was okay. I like that Shaana found purpose in protecting the girls and the temple.
-Daton and the Dead Things: It was a fun style of story telling, but ultimately left me going "eh".
-Gate of the Damned: I honestly didn't like a single thing about this story. None at all.
-Child of Orcus: I was really enjoying it - right up till the end where Diana starts to barter with Orcus to save that murdering jackass, Decius. I hate when people are shown mercy just because they once did and created beautiful things - once a murdering jackass, always a murdering jackass.
-Things Come in Threes: That was weird. Very weird. I can't say that I didn't like it....but I can't say I liked it.
catevari's review
4.0
Books of my childhood heart; I have no idea how well it would hold up for me today, but at the time, the whole Sword and Sorceress series were my LIFE.
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