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A review by inquisitrix
Even Greater Mistakes by Charlie Jane Anders
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
4.75
Charlie Jane Anders is one of the great voices in contemporary speculative fiction. As expected, her first short story collection is a joy to read--funny, witty, charming, touching, adventurous, and, most of all, immensely and impressively imaginative.
The introduction alone is worth the price of admission. It offers a delightful little tour through some of the steps, missteps, and leaps Anders took along the way to becoming a beloved SFF titan. This introduction, along with the notes before each story, heightens the feeling that this collection is in some ways both showcase and masterclass, a glimpse at some of the possible ways to make it as a writer. This structure lends the book a warm and generous atmosphere that is, of course, only fitting for the kinds of stories Anders tells within.
As is often the case with short story collections--particularly collections spanning a writer's career--Even Greater Mistakes is not completely even in tone. None of the stories are bad, or even mediocre, but not every single one is absolutely fantastic. Most of them are fantastic, though, and of course such things are subjective. Particular highlights for me included the clever "As Good as New", the heartbreaking "Rat Catcher's Yellows", the silly but steadfast "Fairy Werewolf vs. Vampire Zombie", the hilariously devastating novella "Rock Manning Goes for Broke", and, most especially, the poignantly hopeful "The Bookstore at the End of America". With 19 stories to choose from, this collection offers more than enough range to satisfy any Anders fan and create more than a few new ones.
Overall, this is a thrilling, fascinating, and extremely fun collection I'd call a must-read not only for existing Anders fans but also for anyone who appreciates the possibilities of 21st-century speculative short fiction.
I received a free e-ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The introduction alone is worth the price of admission. It offers a delightful little tour through some of the steps, missteps, and leaps Anders took along the way to becoming a beloved SFF titan. This introduction, along with the notes before each story, heightens the feeling that this collection is in some ways both showcase and masterclass, a glimpse at some of the possible ways to make it as a writer. This structure lends the book a warm and generous atmosphere that is, of course, only fitting for the kinds of stories Anders tells within.
As is often the case with short story collections--particularly collections spanning a writer's career--Even Greater Mistakes is not completely even in tone. None of the stories are bad, or even mediocre, but not every single one is absolutely fantastic. Most of them are fantastic, though, and of course such things are subjective. Particular highlights for me included the clever "As Good as New", the heartbreaking "Rat Catcher's Yellows", the silly but steadfast "Fairy Werewolf vs. Vampire Zombie", the hilariously devastating novella "Rock Manning Goes for Broke", and, most especially, the poignantly hopeful "The Bookstore at the End of America". With 19 stories to choose from, this collection offers more than enough range to satisfy any Anders fan and create more than a few new ones.
Overall, this is a thrilling, fascinating, and extremely fun collection I'd call a must-read not only for existing Anders fans but also for anyone who appreciates the possibilities of 21st-century speculative short fiction.
I received a free e-ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.