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mithren's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Most of these stories are not even in the humor genre, much less funny. When I read an anthology subtitled Comic Tales of Fantasy, I expect to at least chuckle in a third of them, and for 90% to belong to the humor genre; but this was just a terrible slog to get through.
Also the majority of them are not fantasy, but science fiction. I'd give it a pass if the scifi stories were contained to the last section, Astronauts and Aliens, but even on the first two, Wizards and Wotsits and Swords and Sorcery, fantasy is in the minority.
The mini-introductions that the author made for each story were generally intereting, though. Not all of them were great, but still a facisnating bit of historical, biographycal and literary context.
It is really a shame that this anthology is so dissapointing, though, because it got a very good cover; very Pratchett-like. [Which makes sense, being in reality the cover of one of his short-stories, available in this anthology.]
Stories I Liked:
Also the majority of them are not fantasy, but science fiction. I'd give it a pass if the scifi stories were contained to the last section, Astronauts and Aliens, but even on the first two, Wizards and Wotsits and Swords and Sorcery, fantasy is in the minority.
The mini-introductions that the author made for each story were generally intereting, though. Not all of them were great, but still a facisnating bit of historical, biographycal and literary context.
It is really a shame that this anthology is so dissapointing, though, because it got a very good cover; very Pratchett-like. [Which makes sense, being in reality the cover of one of his short-stories, available in this anthology.]
Stories I Liked:
- Theatre of Cruelty [Discworld #14.5] - Terry Pratchett | The only one genuinely funny
- The Rule of Names [Earthsea Cycle] - Ursula K. Le Guin | Very amusing
- The Odd Old Bird [Doctor Eszterhazy] - Avram Davidson | Very Pratchett-like
- Ministering Angels - C. S. Lewis | Very amusing, got a few chuckles out of me
- The Gnurrs Come from the Voodvork Out [Papa Schimmelhorn] - Reginald Bretnor | Some passages were very funny
- Captain Wyxtpthll's Flying Saucer [variant title of Trouble with the Natives] - Arthur C. Clarke | Funny, I chuckled a little a few times
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Murder, and Suicide
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