Scan barcode
vavita's review against another edition
5.0
Very good book! I was really surprised that I didn't know any of the 5 authors who contributed to this book. I am gonna get some more information about their work right now!
The five short stories were amazing and very different between each other. We have warriors from the future and from the past, vikings ,soldiers, romans. All stories were refreshing in their own way.
Lastly, we had the longer story from George RR Martin. It was really cool although a bit confusing with so many characters and their back stories. But confusion is a norm in his books and that I enjoy a lot!
I will begin with Warriors 2 now
The five short stories were amazing and very different between each other. We have warriors from the future and from the past, vikings ,soldiers, romans. All stories were refreshing in their own way.
Lastly, we had the longer story from George RR Martin. It was really cool although a bit confusing with so many characters and their back stories. But confusion is a norm in his books and that I enjoy a lot!
I will begin with Warriors 2 now
timetoread_more2022's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this compendium of stellar short stories! What I really liked was the diversity of ideas, eras and characters. There are many stories which I didn't want to see end.... I am going to have to enlarge my "to read" list considerably! Some faves include: "Ancient Ways" (SM Stirling), "Out of the Dark" (David Weber), "Dirae" (Peter S. Beagle), "The Pit" (James Rollins), and "Soldierin'" (Joe R. Lansdale).
murcatto's review against another edition
3.0
Although it was nice to read a new Dunk and Egg story, none of the stories really stood out and grabbed me. All were quite predictable and unremarkable. Sadly including the Dunk and Egg story.
oisin175's review against another edition
4.0
Most of the short stories in this collection were great. I felt that some did not really fit with the theme, though the stories themselves were still enjoyable. I definitely have some new authors to check out, and maybe some more works by authors I've already read.
redbluemoon's review against another edition
4.0
This is a mixed bag for me: some short stories were excellent, others weren't made for me at all. I felt like there were holes in the book, with an accumulation of stories I didn't particularly like.
Just like [b:Dangerous Women|17279560|Dangerous Women|George R.R. Martin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1370759802s/17279560.jpg|19236677] and [b:Rogues|20168816|Rogues|George R.R. Martin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1404616147s/20168816.jpg|27565413], this collection begins with an introduction by one of the editors, here, George R. R. Martin. It was quite like one of the others I already read, but still, I find them very enticing: the reader really wants to dive into the book after that!
Just a little remark before we begin: contrary to the two other anthologies, this one features many more male authors than female authors!
- "The King of Norway", Cecelia Holland | Historical fiction | 3 stars
I couldn't get attached to the characters, and I didn't understand all the maritime vocabulary used here. The ending kind of came out of nowhere. I wasn't into the story at all. And, for me, it was not really a good way to start the anthology.
- "Forever Bound", Joe Halderman | SF | 5 stars
I looooooooove this story!! The writing style is good, I grew attached to the characters (thanks to the pov). The system of bounding made me think of the coterie in the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb. It was fascinating, but also quite frightening at the same time! I was shocked by the ending!!
It was so good that I would really like to read another book by the author!!!
- "The Triumph", Robin Hobb | Historical fiction | 5 stars
Still adore Robin Hobb's way of writing! Moreover, the action is set in the Roman Empire, and deals with a friendship between two men. It was beautiful to read, and so sad at the same time. Probably my favorite story! So, still in love with this author!
- "Clean Slate", Lawrence Block | Thriller | 5 stars
I was completely drawn into this short story! We follow this woman whom the reader can't really trust, and her counting of the men she slept with. It's the first story with a female character as the protagonist! I think we can put it in the psychological thriller genre: madness seems to creep into the story, and it was quite frightening! The character is clearly unreliable, and the reader don't know what to think until the very end! There are heavy topics mentioned, such as rape and incest.
- "And Ministers of Grace", Tad Williams | SF | 4.5-5 stars
This story deals with religious terrorism in the future; religion has been banished from Earth, and tries to conquer it anew thanks to attacks it seems. The main character is super interesting: it feels like he is semi-human, semi-robot, a kind of mutant. It was original, combined with the plot! I felt a strong social criticism through the theme of brain washing for terrorists, but also for rationalists! The ending was a little too abrupt - it's the only reason it's not a full 5-star-read!
- "Soldierin'", Joe R. Lansdale | Historical fiction | 3.5 stars
Clearly not my favorite, because this kind of story is not my type at all. We're in Texas, in the 1800s, and we follow former Black slaves - we know that because they mention their former owners. It was violent (but the other stories are too, so that's not the only reason why I didn't like it), and I didn't enjoy reading it. There were good parts, and good reflexions.
- "Dirae", Peter S. Beagle | SF | 4.5-5 stars
I'm so glad I finally discovered Beagle! This story was fascinating, even if it was quite hard to enter it, because it was quite confusing! The confusion is not there just to be there, but has a purpose: we are in the character's head, and it allows us to understand her. The reader sees through her eyes, lives what she lives. It was also really moving. I really can't wait to read novels by Beagle, mostly [b:The Last Unicorn|29127|The Last Unicorn (The Last Unicorn, #1)|Peter S. Beagle|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1524764327s/29127.jpg|902304]!!
- "The Custom of the Army", Diana Gabaldon | Historical fiction | 3.5-4 stars
It's more of a 3.5 than a 4-star read I must admit. I like Diana Gabaldon's writing; the problem was that I couldn't help being distracted while I read the story. It was too long. Maybe I needed more context to appreciate the story more? The thing I liked was the battle scene, I was into it! But the rest was quite meh. (liked the mention of the Frasers!)
I still have [b:Outlander|10964|Outlander (Outlander, #1)|Diana Gabaldon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1529065012s/10964.jpg|2489796]to read!
- "Seven Years from Home", Naomi Novik | SF | 3.5-4 stars
I must admit I was quite disappointed here. I expected to love it! But it was strange, and quite confusing in the beginning. I didn't feel any attachment for the characters, but felt it for Melida itself. The writing was good, but I was not embarked in the story. And, I thought about Avatar from beginning to end!
I still want to read the Temeraire series (the first book being: [b:His Majesty's Dragon|28876|His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1)|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1376392909s/28876.jpg|726205]), [b:Uprooted|22544764|Uprooted|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480121122s/22544764.jpg|41876730], [b:Spinning Silver|36896898|Spinning Silver|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1513872748s/36896898.jpg|58657620].
- "The Eagle and the Rabbit", Steven Saylor | Historical fiction | 4.5-5 stars
First: Ancient World. So, for the setting, I was already in! It's very cruel, and very violent, as our characters are taken captive by a Roman mercenary who loves to play with his prisoners. The protagonists fall down one at a time, and it's quite painful to read. At the center of the story is the question of Freedom, what it is, and if we ever can be truly free. The ending was kind of frustrating:
I really can't wait to read novels by the author, like [b:Roma|75503|Roma (Roma, #1)|Steven Saylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388712965s/75503.jpg|73039] or [b:Roman Blood|102720|Roman Blood (Roma Sub Rosa, #1)|Steven Saylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388555429s/102720.jpg|2569207]!
- "The Pit", James Rollins | hard to categorise, I would say thrillerish | 4-4.5 stars
I didn't feel this story at all, from the beginning: it is about abused dogs. I just can't deal with that. But, I still read it. The pov is that of the dog himself, so it's even more painful to read. It's cruel, violent, heartbreaking. But, it's still very good! I predicted the ending; if it had been otherwise, I would have hated this story for sure! In a way
I really want to read novels by the author, and to reread the Banned and the Banished series, the first book being [b:Wit'ch Fire|872109|Wit'ch Fire (The Banned and the Banished, #1)|James Clemens|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403170899s/872109.jpg|252443]!
- "Out of the Dark", David Weber | SF | 5 stars
I just could not not love this story!! It happens nowadays, so it's realistic SF, if I may say so. It was super easy for me to believe it, and to imagine it as something real! I now want a full novel about the Hegemony and these humans!
- "The Girls from Avenger", Carrie Vaughn | Historical fiction | 4.5 stars
This story was better for me than the one I read in Dangerous Women by the same author ("Raisa Stepanova"). It's still during WWII, and it's still about women during the war, how they were (mis)treated because they couldn't possibly participate in the war effort: here, flying. It deals with the forgotten women, the ones we don't speak about in school books! It was sad, and we can feel the characters' despair. It's so unfair! And it wouldn't surprise me if it were real! The revelation is just horrible, because it is so insignificant!
- "Ancient Ways", S. M. Stirling | SF | 3 stars
I wasn't into it at all, and there were better futuristic/SF short stories in this collection for me. It was still interesting, but nothing to match my favorites!
I made a break here, because I felt like the following short stories wouldn't be great (and, I must admit, I was a little sick to only read about war and warriors!)
- "Ninieslando", Howard Waldrop | Historical fiction | 3.5 stars
It was an original idea, and dealt with WWI, not WWII for a change. I loved the place the Esperanto takes here, as it is something quite forgotten by many people! But I was not captivated or really into it …
- "Recidivist", Gardner Dozois | SF | 4-4.5 stars
It was my first time reading Gardner Dozois, and I really liked it! It was original, not that far from us, and, at the same time, completely weird. It was quite hard to enter it at the beginning, and then I was into it, and wanted more - a novel about it all please! I loved the definition of robots, the difference between them and humans!
I'll try to read other works by Dozois!
- "My Name Is Legion", David Morrell | Historical fiction | 4 stars
It's about the French Foreign legion, and I think I never read anything about it before! It was really interesting and different - even if it's still warlike, of course. I thought it was honor at its worst, as the reader grows to understand that. It's during WWII, and is quite moving as the main character reveals his past and the reason why he entered the Legion.
- "Defenders of the Frontier", Robert Silverberg | Fantasy | 3.5-4 stars
People must defend a far away frontier for an Empire that seems to have forgotten them. The vision of women and other people was kind of borderline, and quite annoying - I don't attribute that to the author, but to the character, of course. It was quite harrowing at times: they are alone, completely and utterly. I would like to know the story of the Empire and all! The ending is a little frustrating and distressing, as we don't know what happens after that!
- "The Scroll", David Ball | Historical fiction | 4-4.5 stars
I liked the other stories I read by David Ball in the other anthologies; this one is no exception. Like the others in this book, it is quite violent and so cruel!! I was completely into it, and had goosebumps just thinking it could have been true. I hated the ending though. Really!!
- "The Mystery Knight", George R. R. Martin | Fantasy | 5 stars
It was the first time I picked up this kind of anthology, and didn't think it was exclusively for Martin's story!
I had a hard time in the beginning, as I didn't know Dunk and Egg at all - I have not read the other stories concerning them. So, it was also quite hard to understand the context. I have Dunk to thank for his explanations throughout the story! It felt good to be back in Westeros, even if it was with a character I didn't know and didn't care for in the beginning. I thought it was quite slow to pick up, but, after that, I was into it!
Can we please finally have The Winds of Winter?!!
So, overall, a good anthology, with really excellent stories, and others that really didn't suit me at all. I'm not quite the military type, but I was surprised to love some stories that had war and battle at their core!
Just like [b:Dangerous Women|17279560|Dangerous Women|George R.R. Martin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1370759802s/17279560.jpg|19236677] and [b:Rogues|20168816|Rogues|George R.R. Martin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1404616147s/20168816.jpg|27565413], this collection begins with an introduction by one of the editors, here, George R. R. Martin. It was quite like one of the others I already read, but still, I find them very enticing: the reader really wants to dive into the book after that!
Just a little remark before we begin: contrary to the two other anthologies, this one features many more male authors than female authors!
- "The King of Norway", Cecelia Holland | Historical fiction | 3 stars
I couldn't get attached to the characters, and I didn't understand all the maritime vocabulary used here. The ending kind of came out of nowhere. I wasn't into the story at all. And, for me, it was not really a good way to start the anthology.
- "Forever Bound", Joe Halderman | SF | 5 stars
I looooooooove this story!! The writing style is good, I grew attached to the characters (thanks to the pov). The system of bounding made me think of the coterie in the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb. It was fascinating, but also quite frightening at the same time! I was shocked by the ending!!
It was so good that I would really like to read another book by the author!!!
- "The Triumph", Robin Hobb | Historical fiction | 5 stars
Still adore Robin Hobb's way of writing! Moreover, the action is set in the Roman Empire, and deals with a friendship between two men. It was beautiful to read, and so sad at the same time. Probably my favorite story! So, still in love with this author!
- "Clean Slate", Lawrence Block | Thriller | 5 stars
I was completely drawn into this short story! We follow this woman whom the reader can't really trust, and her counting of the men she slept with. It's the first story with a female character as the protagonist! I think we can put it in the psychological thriller genre: madness seems to creep into the story, and it was quite frightening! The character is clearly unreliable, and the reader don't know what to think until the very end! There are heavy topics mentioned, such as rape and incest.
- "And Ministers of Grace", Tad Williams | SF | 4.5-5 stars
This story deals with religious terrorism in the future; religion has been banished from Earth, and tries to conquer it anew thanks to attacks it seems. The main character is super interesting: it feels like he is semi-human, semi-robot, a kind of mutant. It was original, combined with the plot! I felt a strong social criticism through the theme of brain washing
Spoiler
embodied by this card placed in everybody's brain!- "Soldierin'", Joe R. Lansdale | Historical fiction | 3.5 stars
Clearly not my favorite, because this kind of story is not my type at all. We're in Texas, in the 1800s, and we follow former Black slaves - we know that because they mention their former owners. It was violent (but the other stories are too, so that's not the only reason why I didn't like it), and I didn't enjoy reading it. There were good parts, and good reflexions.
Spoiler
I felt like the death of the horse at the end was not necessary AT ALL, but it's just me- "Dirae", Peter S. Beagle | SF | 4.5-5 stars
I'm so glad I finally discovered Beagle! This story was fascinating, even if it was quite hard to enter it, because it was quite confusing!
Spoiler
The creation of a human being thanks to dreams, and this being is capable of acting: that's just awesome!- "The Custom of the Army", Diana Gabaldon | Historical fiction | 3.5-4 stars
It's more of a 3.5 than a 4-star read I must admit. I like Diana Gabaldon's writing; the problem was that I couldn't help being distracted while I read the story. It was too long. Maybe I needed more context to appreciate the story more? The thing I liked was the battle scene, I was into it! But the rest was quite meh. (liked the mention of the Frasers!)
I still have [b:Outlander|10964|Outlander (Outlander, #1)|Diana Gabaldon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1529065012s/10964.jpg|2489796]to read!
- "Seven Years from Home", Naomi Novik | SF | 3.5-4 stars
I must admit I was quite disappointed here. I expected to love it! But it was strange, and quite confusing in the beginning. I didn't feel any attachment for the characters, but felt it for Melida itself. The writing was good, but I was not embarked in the story. And, I thought about Avatar from beginning to end!
I still want to read the Temeraire series (the first book being: [b:His Majesty's Dragon|28876|His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1)|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1376392909s/28876.jpg|726205]), [b:Uprooted|22544764|Uprooted|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480121122s/22544764.jpg|41876730], [b:Spinning Silver|36896898|Spinning Silver|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1513872748s/36896898.jpg|58657620].
- "The Eagle and the Rabbit", Steven Saylor | Historical fiction | 4.5-5 stars
First: Ancient World. So, for the setting, I was already in! It's very cruel, and very violent, as our characters are taken captive by a Roman mercenary who loves to play with his prisoners. The protagonists fall down one at a time, and it's quite painful to read. At the center of the story is the question of Freedom, what it is, and if we ever can be truly free. The ending was kind of frustrating:
Spoiler
did they succeed? did they die? were they taken back?!!I really can't wait to read novels by the author, like [b:Roma|75503|Roma (Roma, #1)|Steven Saylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388712965s/75503.jpg|73039] or [b:Roman Blood|102720|Roman Blood (Roma Sub Rosa, #1)|Steven Saylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388555429s/102720.jpg|2569207]!
- "The Pit", James Rollins | hard to categorise, I would say thrillerish | 4-4.5 stars
I didn't feel this story at all, from the beginning: it is about abused dogs. I just can't deal with that. But, I still read it. The pov is that of the dog himself, so it's even more painful to read. It's cruel, violent, heartbreaking. But, it's still very good! I predicted the ending; if it had been otherwise, I would have hated this story for sure! In a way
Spoiler
it shows that fighting dogs can still have a normal dog's life after some time, care, and love.I really want to read novels by the author, and to reread the Banned and the Banished series, the first book being [b:Wit'ch Fire|872109|Wit'ch Fire (The Banned and the Banished, #1)|James Clemens|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403170899s/872109.jpg|252443]!
- "Out of the Dark", David Weber | SF | 5 stars
I just could not not love this story!!
Spoiler
Man there's Dracula in it!!! How could I not love this?!! There were clues I couldn't miss, and I was so excited to understand, because I couldn't believe it!Spoiler
vampire- "The Girls from Avenger", Carrie Vaughn | Historical fiction | 4.5 stars
This story was better for me than the one I read in Dangerous Women by the same author ("Raisa Stepanova"). It's still during WWII, and it's still about women during the war, how they were (mis)treated because they couldn't possibly participate in the war effort: here, flying. It deals with the forgotten women, the ones we don't speak about in school books! It was sad, and we can feel the characters' despair. It's so unfair! And it wouldn't surprise me if it were real! The revelation is just horrible, because it is so insignificant!
- "Ancient Ways", S. M. Stirling | SF | 3 stars
I wasn't into it at all, and there were better futuristic/SF short stories in this collection for me. It was still interesting, but nothing to match my favorites!
I made a break here, because I felt like the following short stories wouldn't be great (and, I must admit, I was a little sick to only read about war and warriors!)
- "Ninieslando", Howard Waldrop | Historical fiction | 3.5 stars
It was an original idea, and dealt with WWI, not WWII for a change. I loved the place the Esperanto takes here, as it is something quite forgotten by many people! But I was not captivated or really into it …
- "Recidivist", Gardner Dozois | SF | 4-4.5 stars
It was my first time reading Gardner Dozois, and I really liked it! It was original, not that far from us, and, at the same time, completely weird. It was quite hard to enter it at the beginning, and then I was into it, and wanted more - a novel about it all please! I loved the definition of robots, the difference between them and humans!
I'll try to read other works by Dozois!
- "My Name Is Legion", David Morrell | Historical fiction | 4 stars
It's about the French Foreign legion, and I think I never read anything about it before! It was really interesting and different - even if it's still warlike, of course. I thought it was honor at its worst, as the reader grows to understand that
Spoiler
it is a fratricidal battle- "Defenders of the Frontier", Robert Silverberg | Fantasy | 3.5-4 stars
People must defend a far away frontier for an Empire that seems to have forgotten them. The vision of women and other people was kind of borderline, and quite annoying - I don't attribute that to the author, but to the character, of course. It was quite harrowing at times: they are alone, completely and utterly. I would like to know the story of the Empire and all! The ending is a little frustrating and distressing, as we don't know what happens after that!
- "The Scroll", David Ball | Historical fiction | 4-4.5 stars
I liked the other stories I read by David Ball in the other anthologies; this one is no exception. Like the others in this book, it is quite violent and so cruel!! I was completely into it, and had goosebumps just thinking it could have been true. I hated the ending though. Really!!
- "The Mystery Knight", George R. R. Martin | Fantasy | 5 stars
It was the first time I picked up this kind of anthology, and didn't think it was exclusively for Martin's story!
I had a hard time in the beginning, as I didn't know Dunk and Egg at all - I have not read the other stories concerning them. So, it was also quite hard to understand the context. I have Dunk to thank for his explanations throughout the story! It felt good to be back in Westeros, even if it was with a character I didn't know and didn't care for in the beginning. I thought it was quite slow to pick up, but, after that, I was into it!
Can we please finally have The Winds of Winter?!!
So, overall, a good anthology, with really excellent stories, and others that really didn't suit me at all. I'm not quite the military type, but I was surprised to love some stories that had war and battle at their core!
fsethompson's review against another edition
3.0
There are a couple of gems in this book, but I wouldn't really say it was worth the price of a giant hardback. There are way more modern war stories than I was expecting, considering the speculative fiction careers of the editors. For what it's worth, I highly recommend Peter S. Beagle's "Dirae", Robert Silverberg's "Defenders of the Frontier", Stephen Saylor's "The Eagle and the Rabbit" and David Weber's "Out of the Dark" (though it felt a little bloated at times, the sheer glee I felt at the twist was worth it).
miss_fish's review against another edition
4.0
Picked this up for Gabaldon's "The Custom of the Army," another Lord John installment. This story, for those familiar with John, brings him to Canada and introduces Manoke, a character with little background in other novels. I always love Gabaldon's stories, this was no exception.
I've read a handful of other stories from the book, it's still hanging around just in case I'm tempted to read further. I thought starting off with Cecelia Holland's story was an odd choice, easily the weakest that I've read from the collection. Very much enjoyed Peter Beagle's "Dirae" and Robin Hobb's "The Triumph." While I've heard of all but two of the contributing authors, I'd only previously read Gabaldon and Beagle. This has been a nice introduction to authors I'd not likely have read otherwise.
I've read a handful of other stories from the book, it's still hanging around just in case I'm tempted to read further. I thought starting off with Cecelia Holland's story was an odd choice, easily the weakest that I've read from the collection. Very much enjoyed Peter Beagle's "Dirae" and Robin Hobb's "The Triumph." While I've heard of all but two of the contributing authors, I'd only previously read Gabaldon and Beagle. This has been a nice introduction to authors I'd not likely have read otherwise.
celli's review against another edition
4.0
I feel a little awkward rating this when I didn't read it from cover to cover--I only read the two authors I picked it up for, [a:Lawrence Block|17613|Lawrence Block|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1263189552p2/17613.jpg] and [a:Naomi Novik|8730|Naomi Novik|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1206646770p2/8730.jpg]. But from those two I can tell you it's a fascinating collection. Neither story ended the way I had expected. Block's was darkly entertaining, and Novik's was both fantastical and painful.
prationality's review against another edition
4.0
The Warriors anthology, edited by George R.R. Martin and his long-time associate Gardner Dozois, was at first something that most people wouldn’t think to associate with me. Despite my love of fantasy, and anthologies for that matter, Warriors isn’t just that. It would be fair to say that each genre is represented at least once and that the talent pool is a heady mix of known names and relatively unknowns. Of the twenty authors who contributed, I knew twelve names but had only read five of those. Anyone who reads anthologies on a regular basis understands that even if you got nothing but best-sellers for your contributor list, that doesn’t guarantee a strong collection as a whole. Anthologies are often regarded as the sum of their parts, instead.
Martin’s introduction gave me a much better insight into the type of anthology he wanted to create than the information on the cover. His recollections of finding books as a child at the store on a spinner rack had me grinning; I’m almost forty years younger then he is, but I have fond recollections of going to the flea market or one of the Summer Malls (a collection of stores that set up on the first day of summer in collapsible tents in the area where my grandparents lived) and rooting through the bins of books. I didn’t much care what genre a book was; if the cover interested me and I had the spare change, I bought it. His intro reminded me how fun and enlightening it was just choosing a book because it looked interesting, not because it was something I knew I might like.
The five authors who I had previously read were part of the reason why I chose to read this anthology. S.M. Stirling, who writes the Emberverse (or Change) novels I enjoy, has a short story in here called “Ancient Ways.” The story, which is part of the Emberverse, is separate from the main series and follows the adventures of two different warriors on the same mission–to save a Princess. It sounds cliche, but what works is that the two warriors have a wonderful dynamic. They both acknowledge that the mission is rather ridiculous, but proceed with a humor I appreciated. Their banter is priceless.
“The Eagle and the Rabbit” by Steven Saylor, a historical fiction author, surprised me only in that it wasn’t what I was expecting. I read Saylor’s Roman mystery series (Roma Sub Rosa) and expected a story in that vein. Instead I was given a story about Ancient Carthage, or rather a wrecked Carthage and a vividly horrifying story centered around a group of slaves who have to participate in a game called temptatio. Saylor’s Roma books aren’t happy times, but “The Eagle and the Rabbit” takes things to a new level of unhappy. Its not a story for the faint of heart, but, for historical fiction fans, this short is not to be missed.
“The Girls From Avenger” by Carrie Vaughn was about one WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) pilot’s mission to find out the truth about a friend’s death. WASP-related fiction is hard to come by, at least good WASP related fiction, and I have always had a special interest in the subject. Vaughn, whose urban fantasies I normally read, writes a straight historical mystery fiction story that is respectful, well-researched, and welcoming even if you have no idea who the WASP’s were.
Naomi Novik’s “Seven Years From Home” is not set in her Temeraire universe, but set in space (or, rather, on a different planet). Diplomat Ruth is sent as a negotiator to get the faction to stop opposing the Confederacy and to join with them. Of the twists the story took, I was expecting the very end, and Ruth’s actions, the least. The style was more of a journal entry sort than straight prose, but I found I enjoyed it quite a bit, which was a surprise to me since I’m not a fan of her Temeraire books at all.
The last author I had read previously was Diana Gabaldon. Her story “The Custom of the Army” is set in her Lord John books, which I have not read (I’ve previously read her Outlander books). Unfortunately, since I have no previous knowledge of the series, nor is there much by way of explanation in the story as set-up, I was lost and confused throughout most of this story.
Of the remaining fifteen stories, I think Robin Hobb’s “The Triumph” was the most entertaining (set in Ancient Rome, so it was a weird precursor to Saylor’s story in a way), and Tad Williams’ “And Ministers of Grace” made me want to read his novels the most. Though, as his story was more of a dramatic science fiction story and not epic fantasy, I almost feel like that would be a waste if I were looking for more of what I found here.
As a mixed-genre anthology, I think this collection worked fantastically. Not only did it present quite a few authors outside of their native genres (Carrie Vaughn and Tad Williams, especially), but it also proved that Martin’s “spinner rack theory” has some basis of truth. When given the opportunity to read in genres that were outside my norm, I found that I enjoyed them and wanted to read more of them.
Martin’s introduction gave me a much better insight into the type of anthology he wanted to create than the information on the cover. His recollections of finding books as a child at the store on a spinner rack had me grinning; I’m almost forty years younger then he is, but I have fond recollections of going to the flea market or one of the Summer Malls (a collection of stores that set up on the first day of summer in collapsible tents in the area where my grandparents lived) and rooting through the bins of books. I didn’t much care what genre a book was; if the cover interested me and I had the spare change, I bought it. His intro reminded me how fun and enlightening it was just choosing a book because it looked interesting, not because it was something I knew I might like.
The five authors who I had previously read were part of the reason why I chose to read this anthology. S.M. Stirling, who writes the Emberverse (or Change) novels I enjoy, has a short story in here called “Ancient Ways.” The story, which is part of the Emberverse, is separate from the main series and follows the adventures of two different warriors on the same mission–to save a Princess. It sounds cliche, but what works is that the two warriors have a wonderful dynamic. They both acknowledge that the mission is rather ridiculous, but proceed with a humor I appreciated. Their banter is priceless.
“The Eagle and the Rabbit” by Steven Saylor, a historical fiction author, surprised me only in that it wasn’t what I was expecting. I read Saylor’s Roman mystery series (Roma Sub Rosa) and expected a story in that vein. Instead I was given a story about Ancient Carthage, or rather a wrecked Carthage and a vividly horrifying story centered around a group of slaves who have to participate in a game called temptatio. Saylor’s Roma books aren’t happy times, but “The Eagle and the Rabbit” takes things to a new level of unhappy. Its not a story for the faint of heart, but, for historical fiction fans, this short is not to be missed.
“The Girls From Avenger” by Carrie Vaughn was about one WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) pilot’s mission to find out the truth about a friend’s death. WASP-related fiction is hard to come by, at least good WASP related fiction, and I have always had a special interest in the subject. Vaughn, whose urban fantasies I normally read, writes a straight historical mystery fiction story that is respectful, well-researched, and welcoming even if you have no idea who the WASP’s were.
Naomi Novik’s “Seven Years From Home” is not set in her Temeraire universe, but set in space (or, rather, on a different planet). Diplomat Ruth is sent as a negotiator to get the faction to stop opposing the Confederacy and to join with them. Of the twists the story took, I was expecting the very end, and Ruth’s actions, the least. The style was more of a journal entry sort than straight prose, but I found I enjoyed it quite a bit, which was a surprise to me since I’m not a fan of her Temeraire books at all.
The last author I had read previously was Diana Gabaldon. Her story “The Custom of the Army” is set in her Lord John books, which I have not read (I’ve previously read her Outlander books). Unfortunately, since I have no previous knowledge of the series, nor is there much by way of explanation in the story as set-up, I was lost and confused throughout most of this story.
Of the remaining fifteen stories, I think Robin Hobb’s “The Triumph” was the most entertaining (set in Ancient Rome, so it was a weird precursor to Saylor’s story in a way), and Tad Williams’ “And Ministers of Grace” made me want to read his novels the most. Though, as his story was more of a dramatic science fiction story and not epic fantasy, I almost feel like that would be a waste if I were looking for more of what I found here.
As a mixed-genre anthology, I think this collection worked fantastically. Not only did it present quite a few authors outside of their native genres (Carrie Vaughn and Tad Williams, especially), but it also proved that Martin’s “spinner rack theory” has some basis of truth. When given the opportunity to read in genres that were outside my norm, I found that I enjoyed them and wanted to read more of them.