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bookfessional's review
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
Bad Dream Girl, InCryptid 2.2
2 stars
As much as I love roller derby, I did not love this story.
BAD DREAM GIRL felt like it was written to fill a anthology slot, and while it kind of was, McGuire writes for anthologies all the time, and it's always been meaningful to whatever world she's adding to.
Not this time. It was all, "I don't wanna bore you with details,"--seriously, that was said at least three times--Antimony trying to figure out what kind of cryptid she was dealing with, and it ended with a confrontation that left me concerned for the youngest Price's life expectancy.
Seriously, if this is how they deal with problem creatures, how are any of them still alive?
No bueno.
Bad Dream Girl, InCryptid 2.2
2 stars
As much as I love roller derby, I did not love this story.
BAD DREAM GIRL felt like it was written to fill a anthology slot, and while it kind of was, McGuire writes for anthologies all the time, and it's always been meaningful to whatever world she's adding to.
Not this time. It was all, "I don't wanna bore you with details,"--seriously, that was said at least three times--Antimony trying to figure out what kind of cryptid she was dealing with, and it ended with a confrontation that left me concerned for the youngest Price's life expectancy.
Seriously, if this is how they deal with problem creatures, how are any of them still alive?
No bueno.
eleefoley's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
macthekat's review
4.0
Far from every story was one I liked but the ones I liked I liked a lot. There were some really great stories among them. And a lot of them played very intelligently with the theme. There were some that played with fairy tales, which right now is like candy to me for some reason.
Read my review of the individual stories here: http://wp.me/p40HVI-2M
Read my review of the individual stories here: http://wp.me/p40HVI-2M
myntop's review
5.0
*This review is only for the InCryptid section of the anthology at this time*
I love the InCryptid world so much more than I thought I would before I started the series. One of the greatest things is honestly these shorts! I feel that they give us just a little taste into the inside world of some of the family members that aren't featured as heavily in the main series and I have to admit I love those little tastes! We read a bit more about Antimony and her Roller Derby in this short. I love Roller Derby so I'm partial, but I love reading about her adventures on and off the track. I hope we get more!
I love the InCryptid world so much more than I thought I would before I started the series. One of the greatest things is honestly these shorts! I feel that they give us just a little taste into the inside world of some of the family members that aren't featured as heavily in the main series and I have to admit I love those little tastes! We read a bit more about Antimony and her Roller Derby in this short. I love Roller Derby so I'm partial, but I love reading about her adventures on and off the track. I hope we get more!
shane's review
5.0
This was produced via kickstarter apparently. I didn't know that until I happened across a review, I think it was Tor.com I initially read about it. It's an Anthology that asked for submissions with a prompt of,
...which sounded like heaven to me. So I bought it for next to nothing on 'smashwords', about $3.95 or something I think, which was a steal considering one or two of the stories are worth more than that on their own.
I won't go through each story individually due to them all being well written and wonderful in their own way, but of course in every Anthology their are always the stories that you love more than others. For me I particularly enjoyed the ones that dived right into the whole 'Roller Derby' scene complete with various aliens and other strange goings on. It sent me right back to the '80s when we'd go daily to the hall in our local sports centre and stumble around the large wooden-floored hall there in an attempt not to go arse-upwards in time to the music that blasted out. I remember one lad that gained one hell of a reputation for being the best skater that ever lived. He was there all the time, whenever we arrived he would already be whizzing around, jumping over the fallen with unnatural ease and generally being a god of the rink.
I've never seen a real, proper Roller Derby but some of these stories really make me feel as though I have, while at the same time hoping I'll get the chance for real one day.
There are a few stories that didn't hit the spot with me at the time, the more serious ones usually, or those few that only very subtly hint at the whole 'Roller Derby, nightclubs, glam aliens...' prompt given to those submitting. However, I would jump at the chance to see a 'Glitter & Mayhem 2' enter the fray and will be keeping an eye out on their website just in case another kickstarter appears. If it does, do yourself a huge favour and jump right on it ASAP. I certainly will be. In the meantime, do yourself another favour and head on over to smashwords(or any number of other sites) and download the best time you'll have since those dim and distant memories of the '80s.
Fantastic Anthology. Highly recommended. Buy it now...!
"Roller Derby, nightclubs, glam aliens, (literal) party monsters, drugs, sex, glitter, debauchery, etc."
...which sounded like heaven to me. So I bought it for next to nothing on 'smashwords', about $3.95 or something I think, which was a steal considering one or two of the stories are worth more than that on their own.
I won't go through each story individually due to them all being well written and wonderful in their own way, but of course in every Anthology their are always the stories that you love more than others. For me I particularly enjoyed the ones that dived right into the whole 'Roller Derby' scene complete with various aliens and other strange goings on. It sent me right back to the '80s when we'd go daily to the hall in our local sports centre and stumble around the large wooden-floored hall there in an attempt not to go arse-upwards in time to the music that blasted out. I remember one lad that gained one hell of a reputation for being the best skater that ever lived. He was there all the time, whenever we arrived he would already be whizzing around, jumping over the fallen with unnatural ease and generally being a god of the rink.
I've never seen a real, proper Roller Derby but some of these stories really make me feel as though I have, while at the same time hoping I'll get the chance for real one day.
There are a few stories that didn't hit the spot with me at the time, the more serious ones usually, or those few that only very subtly hint at the whole 'Roller Derby, nightclubs, glam aliens...' prompt given to those submitting. However, I would jump at the chance to see a 'Glitter & Mayhem 2' enter the fray and will be keeping an eye out on their website just in case another kickstarter appears. If it does, do yourself a huge favour and jump right on it ASAP. I certainly will be. In the meantime, do yourself another favour and head on over to smashwords(or any number of other sites) and download the best time you'll have since those dim and distant memories of the '80s.
Fantastic Anthology. Highly recommended. Buy it now...!
coffeeandink's review
2.0
The stories aren't bad, but the only stand-out entry is Sofia Samatar's "Bess, the Landlord's Daughter, Goes Out for Drinks with the Green Girl," which covers some of the same territory as Helen Oyeyemi's Mr. Fox, but in a whirl of bars and flirtations and dancing and friendships and escapes that come too late. We are fascinated by beautiful dead girls; they take their revenge.
I also liked:
Tansy Rayner Robert's "The Minotaur Girls," where a girl needs to free her friends from the labyrinth of a roller rink; Rayner Robert's urban fantasies really appeal to me. I'd love to see her do one at novel length.
Christopher Barzak's "Sisters Twelve: Confessions of a Party Monster," a retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses."
Maria Davana Headley's "Such & Such and So & So," in which personified drinks seduce the unwary.
Jennifer Pelland's "Star Dancer," in which a bug-eyed alien just wants to dance.
The anthology was still a pleasure to read because of all the women in it -- lots of female characters, including a couple of trans women, and a lot of queer women.
I also liked:
Tansy Rayner Robert's "The Minotaur Girls," where a girl needs to free her friends from the labyrinth of a roller rink; Rayner Robert's urban fantasies really appeal to me. I'd love to see her do one at novel length.
Christopher Barzak's "Sisters Twelve: Confessions of a Party Monster," a retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses."
Maria Davana Headley's "Such & Such and So & So," in which personified drinks seduce the unwary.
Jennifer Pelland's "Star Dancer," in which a bug-eyed alien just wants to dance.
The anthology was still a pleasure to read because of all the women in it -- lots of female characters, including a couple of trans women, and a lot of queer women.
glennisleblanc's review
4.0
Up front I supported the Kickstarter for this book and I also happened to win a review copy off of Goodreads. I was sold on this anthology mostly because of Seanan McGuire was in it and I enjoy her stuff. What I got was a great story by her and several other stories that were great and at least one I know will be on my Hugo ballot for short story next year. There were a few stories that didn't kick with me but that seems to happen in every theme anthology that read. As much as I thought all the stories would be about roller derby there were some that were more clubbing than skating but that would work with the glitter part of the title. I probably would have rated it higher on Goodreads if I hadn't hit several stories that just didn't click with me at all.
Review copy provided by the publisher through Goodreads.
Review copy provided by the publisher through Goodreads.
goodbyepuckpie's review
4.0
Picked this up for the Seanan McGuire short story -- which did not disappoint.
I really enjoyed the majority of the stories in this anthology, only one or two which I thought were weak or not to my taste.
I liked the spin on a fairy tale in Christopher Barzak's Sister Twelve, that was a neat take. Also enjoyed Of Selkies, Disco Balls, and Anna Plane, although I think I'd like to have seen that story in a longer format too. Also really liked the Minotaur Girls by Tansy Rayner Roberts. One of the most interesting, touching and sensitively written stories in the anthology was a Hollow Play by Amal el-Mohtar, which I liked on every level.
Subterraneans by William Shunn & Laura Chavoen felt a little fridge-y in terms of how the plot ended up unspooling, and I also didn't like that the nonconsensual actions in the story didn't seem to be acknowledged as such. I could see what they were going for but I don't think it totally succeeded.
David J Schwartz' Apex Jump probably tied with the Incryptid short as my favourite story in the anthology -- an awesome roller derby story with a trans* protagonist. Seanan McGuire's Bad Dream Girl was a lot of fun too - set in a NorCal roller derby, and with a glimpse into one of the other Price siblings' lives. Liked this a lot and can't wait to read more in this universe.
I really enjoyed the majority of the stories in this anthology, only one or two which I thought were weak or not to my taste.
I liked the spin on a fairy tale in Christopher Barzak's Sister Twelve, that was a neat take. Also enjoyed Of Selkies, Disco Balls, and Anna Plane, although I think I'd like to have seen that story in a longer format too. Also really liked the Minotaur Girls by Tansy Rayner Roberts. One of the most interesting, touching and sensitively written stories in the anthology was a Hollow Play by Amal el-Mohtar, which I liked on every level.
Subterraneans by William Shunn & Laura Chavoen felt a little fridge-y in terms of how the plot ended up unspooling, and I also didn't like that the nonconsensual actions in the story didn't seem to be acknowledged as such. I could see what they were going for but I don't think it totally succeeded.
David J Schwartz' Apex Jump probably tied with the Incryptid short as my favourite story in the anthology -- an awesome roller derby story with a trans* protagonist. Seanan McGuire's Bad Dream Girl was a lot of fun too - set in a NorCal roller derby, and with a glimpse into one of the other Price siblings' lives. Liked this a lot and can't wait to read more in this universe.