Scan barcode
A review by pine_wulf
The Bible Repairman and Other Stories by Tim Powers
4.0
3.5 overall.
This is my first Tim Powers and overall they're pretty good. I only read 5/6 of them and 4 of those dealt with souls after death/ghosts (maybe even all 5, but I was lost on that one), so there is definitely a bit of a theme going on. Also a lot of sacrificing for the sake of the dead. Whether it happens or just contemplated, it's still a significant part of the stories I read. I also don't recommend reading them close together because the protagonists start to feel a bit same-y. Lonely, grieving, wondering if there is anything left for them here on this plane. I will definitely try one of Powers' novels soon, but after a break.
The Bible Repairman: (3/5) About ghosts and selling parts of the soul. The way he "repaired" Bibles was an interesting idea, but not really integral to what happens, I think. Just window dressing to how the world worked. Overall I liked it. But I just started to really get into the world when it ended. I also feel like something went over my head at the end.
Soul in a Bottle: (4/5) A man meets a very intriguing girl. Turns out she's dead. Really good. I wasn't expecting the time travel element, but it works.
The Hour of Babel: (2/5) This one is a miss for me. It just made too little sense. Something about an angel? inhabiting a bar at a specific point in time?
Parallel Lines: (3.5/5) About an old lady and her twin's ghost. They don't like each other. I liked the old lady's reaction when she figures out her dead sister's plan. I do wish it was fleshed out a bit more, but enough clues are given to get a general idea about the past.
A Journey of Only Two Paces: (4/5) Starts off normal enough, with the guy trying to execute a friend(?)'s will and then turns increasingly creepy. And there's cats! This one pulled me in and made me really want to see how it was going to turn out.
A Time to Cast Away Stones: Not read. It's supposed to be a sequel to The Stress of Her Regard, which, as it turns out, I got in the same Humble Bundle as this book. Also turns out I have a different Tim Powers novel on my kindle which will likely be read first. Since I don't actually planning on reading The Stress of Her Regard anytime soon, I can only hope I'll remember to come back and read this story when that happens.
This is my first Tim Powers and overall they're pretty good. I only read 5/6 of them and 4 of those dealt with souls after death/ghosts (maybe even all 5, but I was lost on that one), so there is definitely a bit of a theme going on. Also a lot of sacrificing for the sake of the dead. Whether it happens or just contemplated, it's still a significant part of the stories I read. I also don't recommend reading them close together because the protagonists start to feel a bit same-y. Lonely, grieving, wondering if there is anything left for them here on this plane. I will definitely try one of Powers' novels soon, but after a break.
The Bible Repairman: (3/5) About ghosts and selling parts of the soul. The way he "repaired" Bibles was an interesting idea, but not really integral to what happens, I think. Just window dressing to how the world worked. Overall I liked it. But I just started to really get into the world when it ended. I also feel like something went over my head at the end.
Soul in a Bottle: (4/5) A man meets a very intriguing girl. Turns out she's dead. Really good. I wasn't expecting the time travel element, but it works.
The Hour of Babel: (2/5) This one is a miss for me. It just made too little sense. Something about an angel? inhabiting a bar at a specific point in time?
Parallel Lines: (3.5/5) About an old lady and her twin's ghost. They don't like each other. I liked the old lady's reaction when she figures out her dead sister's plan. I do wish it was fleshed out a bit more, but enough clues are given to get a general idea about the past.
A Journey of Only Two Paces: (4/5) Starts off normal enough, with the guy trying to execute a friend(?)'s will and then turns increasingly creepy. And there's cats! This one pulled me in and made me really want to see how it was going to turn out.
A Time to Cast Away Stones: Not read. It's supposed to be a sequel to The Stress of Her Regard, which, as it turns out, I got in the same Humble Bundle as this book. Also turns out I have a different Tim Powers novel on my kindle which will likely be read first. Since I don't actually planning on reading The Stress of Her Regard anytime soon, I can only hope I'll remember to come back and read this story when that happens.