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tobin_elliott's reviews
533 reviews
No Gods, Only Chaos by Fiction › HorrorFiction / HorrorFiction / Short Stories (single author)
fast-paced
5.0
This is one of those "holy shit!" books..books that you expect to be good, but not "holy shit, this is GOOD!"
Way back toward the beginning of November 2024, author LC Marino picked up this book and pretty much shoved it into my hands. He had this grin on his face, and this look in his eye as he told me how freaking good this book was.
I took his word for it, and purchased the book.
Six months later, I have to say, if anything, Marino undersold the book. This has a collection of thirteen of some of the most incredible short stories I've had the privilege to read. Maybe part of my love is halo effect, because there's a good chunk of these that, under slightly different circumstances, I feel I could have written myself, so they were definitely in my neighbourhood.
But all of them, every one of them, grabbed me and had me hooked. Often, even with short story collections, I'll just blast through them, reading four or five stories back to back. But this collection? Yeah, it demands that the reader slow down, read each story, then sit back and freaking get their mind right with what they just read.
I've been lucky enough to have read a few story collections this year, but this one?
Holy shit, it's good.
Way back toward the beginning of November 2024, author LC Marino picked up this book and pretty much shoved it into my hands. He had this grin on his face, and this look in his eye as he told me how freaking good this book was.
I took his word for it, and purchased the book.
Six months later, I have to say, if anything, Marino undersold the book. This has a collection of thirteen of some of the most incredible short stories I've had the privilege to read. Maybe part of my love is halo effect, because there's a good chunk of these that, under slightly different circumstances, I feel I could have written myself, so they were definitely in my neighbourhood.
But all of them, every one of them, grabbed me and had me hooked. Often, even with short story collections, I'll just blast through them, reading four or five stories back to back. But this collection? Yeah, it demands that the reader slow down, read each story, then sit back and freaking get their mind right with what they just read.
I've been lucky enough to have read a few story collections this year, but this one?
Holy shit, it's good.
Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Interesting.
This is the most weirdly paced "novel" I may have ever read. It reads more like a series of long anecdotes about various characters we've already met in THE LAST WISH and SWORD OF DESTINY. And, had I not read those books first, much of this would likely have made no sense whatsoever.
But, I did, so it did.
There's very little action in this one, it's mostly background information that—I'm assuming—will make what's coming a more understandable.
However, the last bit with Ciri and Yennifer? While it was most dialogue and, like the rest of the book, not much happening, it was fun, and I got to understand two of my favourite characters far more, as I had done with the opening of the book and Triss.
So, a weird entry, but overall, an illuminating one.
This is the most weirdly paced "novel" I may have ever read. It reads more like a series of long anecdotes about various characters we've already met in THE LAST WISH and SWORD OF DESTINY. And, had I not read those books first, much of this would likely have made no sense whatsoever.
But, I did, so it did.
There's very little action in this one, it's mostly background information that—I'm assuming—will make what's coming a more understandable.
However, the last bit with Ciri and Yennifer? While it was most dialogue and, like the rest of the book, not much happening, it was fun, and I got to understand two of my favourite characters far more, as I had done with the opening of the book and Triss.
So, a weird entry, but overall, an illuminating one.
Burn the Girls by L.C. Marino, L.C. Marino
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow...just...wow.
Marino has found the perfect neighbourhood for horror...that realm of grief, when the one you love the most has passed away. The horror is a rich vein to be mined, whether it's the real life aspects of the last conversation shared, the last time you saw them before they passed, the devastation of their death, and having to carry on, going through the motions and carrying out the expected duties of the next of kin, to complete the tasks of returning that loved one to the earth.
And through that, mixed in with that, any other horrors you may experience, any sightings of the dead—real or imagined—can be written off as part of the grieving process.
Marino writes a compelling narrative that is filled with the everyday life events we all go through, and provides his characters with all the exact right reactions to the everyday horrors, and the supernatural ones.
All while slowly, expertly ratcheting up the supernatural ones.
This is such a sad and horrible book to read, because Marino taps into that well of grief so well, that we can't help but feel it too. At the same time, it's a compulsively readable novel, because the characters are so very real.
Honestly, I couldn't get enough of this book, and I'm excited, having seen how he's blended the first novella into the fabric of this one, to see where he takes things in the next book.
It's such a pleasure to read a novel, knowing you're in the hands of a masterful wordsmith, knowing that the story is going to grab you and hold you right until the very end. This is one of those books, and L.C. Marino is one of those authors.
Marino has found the perfect neighbourhood for horror...that realm of grief, when the one you love the most has passed away. The horror is a rich vein to be mined, whether it's the real life aspects of the last conversation shared, the last time you saw them before they passed, the devastation of their death, and having to carry on, going through the motions and carrying out the expected duties of the next of kin, to complete the tasks of returning that loved one to the earth.
And through that, mixed in with that, any other horrors you may experience, any sightings of the dead—real or imagined—can be written off as part of the grieving process.
Marino writes a compelling narrative that is filled with the everyday life events we all go through, and provides his characters with all the exact right reactions to the everyday horrors, and the supernatural ones.
All while slowly, expertly ratcheting up the supernatural ones.
This is such a sad and horrible book to read, because Marino taps into that well of grief so well, that we can't help but feel it too. At the same time, it's a compulsively readable novel, because the characters are so very real.
Honestly, I couldn't get enough of this book, and I'm excited, having seen how he's blended the first novella into the fabric of this one, to see where he takes things in the next book.
It's such a pleasure to read a novel, knowing you're in the hands of a masterful wordsmith, knowing that the story is going to grab you and hold you right until the very end. This is one of those books, and L.C. Marino is one of those authors.
The Squeaking Goblin by Lester Dent, Kenneth Robeson
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
As a couple of others have said, I think I liked this one more because Monk and Ham (and Habeas Corpus) were mostly sidelined, allowing Renny and Johnnie more airtime this go-round. Nice change.
And once again, though there was the standard lovely lady in the mix, she was not transfixed and hypnotized by the uber-Alpha male, Doc Savage, nor did any of his band of merry men try to catch her eye.
As for the actual mystery this time around? It was more about why it was going on and less about who was masterminding it...because that was obvious. The eventual explanation for the spookyness aspect was a little underwhelming, but I was pretty much ready for that.
In the end, typical Doc Savage adventure, this time, in the middle of a Kentucky clan war. Big dumb fun, as usual.
And once again, though there was the standard lovely lady in the mix, she was not transfixed and hypnotized by the uber-Alpha male, Doc Savage, nor did any of his band of merry men try to catch her eye.
As for the actual mystery this time around? It was more about why it was going on and less about who was masterminding it...because that was obvious. The eventual explanation for the spookyness aspect was a little underwhelming, but I was pretty much ready for that.
In the end, typical Doc Savage adventure, this time, in the middle of a Kentucky clan war. Big dumb fun, as usual.
Michael Whelan's Works of Wonder by Michael Whelan
5.0
This was absolutely fascinating. Not only do we get some gorgeous artwork from one of the modern SF/F masters of book covers, but we also get some commentary and insight into how he arrived at that particular image, and how, often, he's still not satisfied with the final result.
Loved this.
Loved this.
2113 : Stories Inspired by the Music of Rush by Michael Z. Williamson, Fritz Leiber, David Farland, John McFetridge, Richard S. Foster, Greg Van Eekhout, David Mack, Kevin J. Anderson, Mark Leslie, Mercedes Lackey, Larry Dixon, Ron Collins, Brad R. Torgersen, David Niall Wilson, Dayton Ward, Brian Hodge, Tim Lasiuta
1.5
This was a trainwreck. I should have known better. I should have seen that name on the cover and walked away.
I love Rush. I love everything about Rush. Three insanely talented musicians, and one of them also the talented wordsmith behind the brilliant, insightful, incisive lyrics. I'd hoped this collection would be a testament to the creativity of Neil Peart.
Instead, it was an exercise in bloated, dull storytelling, usually with a SF bent. Now, yes, Peart often went in an SF direction for his songs...but more often, especially from the latter two-thirds of the Rush catalogue, he more examined the human condition, without the SF trappings.
Many of these stories honestly felt as though they'd been pre-written, then a couple of Rush lyrics were shoehorned in to make it fit to the anthology concept. Some very obviously came directly from the songs, but twisted the intent of the song so far out of true as to be virtually unrecognizable. I'll be honest, the only story that held any interest was "A Nice Morning Drive" simply due to its place in history for inspiring "Red Barchetta".
And the less said about the Fritz Lieber story that inspired "Roll The Bones" the better. While it may have inspired the song, it was so blatantly racist I was shocked at its inclusion.
I'd had high hopes for a good anthology inspired by one of Canada's best, but with KJA at the helm, I really should have known better. If this anthology serves any purpose, it's to show what a brilliant writer Peart was.
Never again.
I love Rush. I love everything about Rush. Three insanely talented musicians, and one of them also the talented wordsmith behind the brilliant, insightful, incisive lyrics. I'd hoped this collection would be a testament to the creativity of Neil Peart.
Instead, it was an exercise in bloated, dull storytelling, usually with a SF bent. Now, yes, Peart often went in an SF direction for his songs...but more often, especially from the latter two-thirds of the Rush catalogue, he more examined the human condition, without the SF trappings.
Many of these stories honestly felt as though they'd been pre-written, then a couple of Rush lyrics were shoehorned in to make it fit to the anthology concept. Some very obviously came directly from the songs, but twisted the intent of the song so far out of true as to be virtually unrecognizable. I'll be honest, the only story that held any interest was "A Nice Morning Drive" simply due to its place in history for inspiring "Red Barchetta".
And the less said about the Fritz Lieber story that inspired "Roll The Bones" the better. While it may have inspired the song, it was so blatantly racist I was shocked at its inclusion.
I'd had high hopes for a good anthology inspired by one of Canada's best, but with KJA at the helm, I really should have known better. If this anthology serves any purpose, it's to show what a brilliant writer Peart was.
Never again.
Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I enjoyed this one more than THE LAST WISH, I think, because we got more depth, more nuance, and a bit more insight into Geralt.
I very much enjoyed this one. Looking forward to the novels, now.
I very much enjoyed this one. Looking forward to the novels, now.
Obscene Folklore by Mer Whinery
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
It's not just a shame, but an utter crime that this collection is out of print.
It's easily one of the best single-author short story collections I've ever had the pleasure to read. Many of the stories are interconnected, but the stories themselves...man! There's atmosphere to spare here.
This is small town, down home folk horror—stuff I wish I could write, but I just don't have the background or experience or upbringing—and it should be a genre all its own.
If you can get your hands on this, do it. It's absolutely worth the read. Phenomenal collection.
It's easily one of the best single-author short story collections I've ever had the pleasure to read. Many of the stories are interconnected, but the stories themselves...man! There's atmosphere to spare here.
This is small town, down home folk horror—stuff I wish I could write, but I just don't have the background or experience or upbringing—and it should be a genre all its own.
If you can get your hands on this, do it. It's absolutely worth the read. Phenomenal collection.
Dali by ERIC SHANE
4.25
Really good, really informative book, providing a decent biography of both Dali and his weird relationship with his wife Gala.
I always knew Dali was "out there"...but I didn't realize quite how far out there he was. I think, between this and the previous Dali book I read, that I've determined that I'm more of a "greatest hits" fan of Dali's work than I realized.
Some of this has either simply left me disgusted, left me confused, or left me cold. The ones that work, I love. But I've figured out that most of it doesn't work for me.
Having said that, this book does a fantastic overview (and is not scared to get critical) of Dali's work.
I always knew Dali was "out there"...but I didn't realize quite how far out there he was. I think, between this and the previous Dali book I read, that I've determined that I'm more of a "greatest hits" fan of Dali's work than I realized.
Some of this has either simply left me disgusted, left me confused, or left me cold. The ones that work, I love. But I've figured out that most of it doesn't work for me.
Having said that, this book does a fantastic overview (and is not scared to get critical) of Dali's work.
The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a tough one for me. I've read (I think) damn near everything Fracassi's written, and, with only one exception, not just liked it all, but absolutely loved it all.
I've had a few online conversations with him, and I've even been lucky enough to have met the author, and he's simply a wonderful guy. Hell, he was even nice enough to give some weird author publishing his first in a series novella an incredible blurb. THAT'S the kind of guy Fracassi is.
So, I don't ever want to slag his work.
And I'm not slagging this one, for the most part, I actually really enjoyed it. It's a well-realized world that Fracassi's created, and he's simply a master at building characters that the reader can not just identify with, but could see themselves hanging out with. He very much does that here, building the family at the same time he's building the concept of time travel.
I felt it did get into the weeds a bit with the entire explanation of how the time travel apparatus functioned and what the traveler experienced, but I also believe that was to set up the ending, which makes sense.
And, while his three rules of time travel will never replace Asimov's three laws of robotics, they are well thought out.
I have to say, I truly appreciated the subtlety that Fracassi employed as the story progressed. I feel like most authors would have kind of done a literary stab of the finger and say, "LOOK! SEE? See what I did there?" where Fracassi just lightly dropped things in...if you notice, you notice, if you don't, oh well. I really appreciated that. I don't see enough of that. Fracassi wields a scalpel where many wield a hammer.
However, the issue I have is more the ending. I won't get into spoilers, instead I'll just say that it kind of felt as though all the parameters that had been built up in the first three-quarters of the book were sort of...brushed aside to allow the ending that, I have to say, I saw coming from a mile off.
I guess I'm more used to some of Fracassi's other endings in other stories that maintained the logic of the story while still hitting the reader with a surprise they didn't see coming.
I'm a sucker for time travel stories. I adore them. But, while this one is good, it wasn't quite as satisfying as I'd hoped.
Still, for all that, a near-miss by Fracassi is still, by far, better than most author's best efforts. I've always said this author's one to watch, and I still firmly believe that.
I've had a few online conversations with him, and I've even been lucky enough to have met the author, and he's simply a wonderful guy. Hell, he was even nice enough to give some weird author publishing his first in a series novella an incredible blurb. THAT'S the kind of guy Fracassi is.
So, I don't ever want to slag his work.
And I'm not slagging this one, for the most part, I actually really enjoyed it. It's a well-realized world that Fracassi's created, and he's simply a master at building characters that the reader can not just identify with, but could see themselves hanging out with. He very much does that here, building the family at the same time he's building the concept of time travel.
I felt it did get into the weeds a bit with the entire explanation of how the time travel apparatus functioned and what the traveler experienced, but I also believe that was to set up the ending, which makes sense.
And, while his three rules of time travel will never replace Asimov's three laws of robotics, they are well thought out.
I have to say, I truly appreciated the subtlety that Fracassi employed as the story progressed. I feel like most authors would have kind of done a literary stab of the finger and say, "LOOK! SEE? See what I did there?" where Fracassi just lightly dropped things in...if you notice, you notice, if you don't, oh well. I really appreciated that. I don't see enough of that. Fracassi wields a scalpel where many wield a hammer.
However, the issue I have is more the ending. I won't get into spoilers, instead I'll just say that it kind of felt as though all the parameters that had been built up in the first three-quarters of the book were sort of...brushed aside to allow the ending that, I have to say, I saw coming from a mile off.
I guess I'm more used to some of Fracassi's other endings in other stories that maintained the logic of the story while still hitting the reader with a surprise they didn't see coming.
I'm a sucker for time travel stories. I adore them. But, while this one is good, it wasn't quite as satisfying as I'd hoped.
Still, for all that, a near-miss by Fracassi is still, by far, better than most author's best efforts. I've always said this author's one to watch, and I still firmly believe that.