Oh friends, a full short story: beginning, middle, and oh-shit ending. We start with stereotypes and bloom into layered, desperate, characters. This is my favorite “green ribbon” story.
Decades before the Targaryens hit the shelves there was “a race which loved pleasure, cruelty, and sophistication for its own sake. The race of Melnibonéans.”
I have had my eye on reading about Elric of Melniboné ever since Centipede Press came out with this gem: http://www.centipedepress.com/fantasy/elric1.html
These stories have definitely moved up my mental TBR!
My first Conan story! I enjoyed the adventure as much as the sexualized clever barbarian. The combination of Yog-Sothoth and Ganesh gave the story a charming otherworldly quality. Conan didn’t get the gem but made the world a better place.
Sweet little story of a young girl choosing the forest over the invading hordes that killed her father. The wild sees her grow strong and beautiful: ready for retribution.
Red Guild Assassins have the Force, if the Force was a rabid werewolf. Here great power means great control, and great loneliness. As a young assassin, Coriia is tricked by greater magic and finds love in Nowhere. But Nowhere is not a place to spend the rest of your life.
A dreaded Centurion from a vast undefeated Eastern Empire, newly fallen into civil war, has abandoned his nation in search of a peaceful, noble, life in foreign lands. It’s not easy to leave war behind, but it’s better when you can pick your own battles.
After her lands are invaded and subjugated Jirel ventures to the underworld to seek a weapon rather than be raped by Guillaume and his men.
The underworld parts of the story were pleasantly Lovecraft-y, but the ending… This is my second read and I’m not only disappointed but confused. Were demons twisting her great love into seeming like a great enemy?
The Coral Heart by Jeffrey Ford ★★★½☆
Not sure how I feel about this. A warrior with a sword that can turn anyone to red coral falls in love with mysterious princess. This was a good setup for a revenge story but was ensues is just a never ending bloodbath. That’s neither fun nor fulfilling.
Not sure how I feel about this. A warrior with a sword that can turn anyone to red coral falls in love with mysterious princess. This was a good setup for a revenge story but was ensues is just a never ending bloodbath. That’s neither fun nor fulfilling.
This was a tough one to grade, it runs afoul of animal violence and dubious consent. On the other hand, there was an awesome war-bull, a Dora Milaje style warrioress, and quite the thoughtful ending. Doussouye was right, white hot vengeance was an expensive club when there were other deft, effective, options for comeuppance.
When Mouse’s master is killed by Duke Janarrl, hate fills the young wizard and with it the gateway to black magic. This tale of vengeance is circuitous, but gives agency to Janarrl’s beaten down daughter, Ivrian.
The Tale of Hauk by Poul Anderson ★★★☆☆
I’ve heard a historian refer to the Viking Age as the age of the pig farmer: most Scandinavians were not Vikings. Hauk, our fair hero, is the son of a Viking who decided trading was more his speed. You still have to be tough to not get robbed, but it’s not the same thing. This was just ok.
I’ve heard a historian refer to the Viking Age as the age of the pig farmer: most Scandinavians were not Vikings. Hauk, our fair hero, is the son of a Viking who decided trading was more his speed. You still have to be tough to not get robbed, but it’s not the same thing. This was just ok.
Six From Atlantis by Gene Wolfe ★★★☆☆
Well, that was harsh. This is about a pirate type named Thane from Atlantis. There is an exciting name drop, Red Sonja, but that was the highlight. The ending reminded me of that poor girl who got dumped for dating Fabio.
Well, that was harsh. This is about a pirate type named Thane from Atlantis. There is an exciting name drop, Red Sonja, but that was the highlight. The ending reminded me of that poor girl who got dumped for dating Fabio.
The Sea Troll’s Daughter by Caitlín R. Kiernan ★★★☆☆
A benign offering from Kiernan. A drunken noble warrior woman slays a troll for its bounty and chaos ensues.
A benign offering from Kiernan. A drunken noble warrior woman slays a troll for its bounty and chaos ensues.
The Barrow by David Drake ★★½☆☆
A terrible man named Womanslayer, yes it fits, kidnaps a priest to help steal gold from a troll. He succeeds, then becomes the troll.
A terrible man named Womanslayer, yes it fits, kidnaps a priest to help steal gold from a troll. He succeeds, then becomes the troll.
The Year of the Three Monarchs by Michael Swanwick ★★½☆☆
Three people seek to rule the land and armies of The Floating City with similar results.
Three people seek to rule the land and armies of The Floating City with similar results.
The Stages of the God by Ramsey Campbell ★★☆☆☆
An expelled king finds a shrine which gives him both limited and limitless power. The king decides to devote himself to himself for centuries.
An expelled king finds a shrine which gives him both limited and limitless power. The king decides to devote himself to himself for centuries.
The Adventuress by Joanna Russ ★☆☆☆☆
I have read, and enjoyed, a tale of Alyx the warrior thief before, but this was not worth the time she took to write it.
I have read, and enjoyed, a tale of Alyx the warrior thief before, but this was not worth the time she took to write it.
Path of the Dragon by George R. R. Martin (Skip)
“Daenerys Targaryen was as happy as she could ever remember being.”
That was in the first paragraph and I decided to leave it there. Dae deserves to be happy.
“Daenerys Targaryen was as happy as she could ever remember being.”
That was in the first paragraph and I decided to leave it there. Dae deserves to be happy.
Epistle from Lebanoi by Michael Shea DNF
Skipped. It did not catch my interest.
Skipped. It did not catch my interest.
There were some excellent stories here! I read 17/19 stories for an average of 3.26 stars.
Awesome review Lena. A couple of stories there I know of.
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