mlklein1's review against another edition
4.0
I was very excited when I heard last year about the coming of this book. First of all: apocalypse, - yes. Second, [a:China Miéville|33918|China Miéville|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1243988363p2/33918.jpg], for sure. And [a:Emily St. John Mandel|2786093|Emily St. John Mandel|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1576606299p2/2786093.jpg] - hell yes!
The collection of 19 stories and 2 poems, most by authors with whom I was not familiar, was, excellent, amusing, confusing, and impenetrable in spots.
Favorites included Ms. Mandel's "Mr. Thursday;" "Inventory" by [a:Carmen Maria Machado|6860265|Carmen Maria Machado|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1461618720p2/6860265.jpg]; "The Green Caravanserai" by [a:Lavie Tidhar|572738|Lavie Tidhar|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1369652429p2/572738.jpg]; and "The Rise and Fall of Whistle-Pig City" by [a:Paul Di Fillippo|18692616|Paul Di Fillippo|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png].
I enjoyed several others and abandoned only one.
More than one story was written in 2nd person - something you don't see very often, in part because it is difficult to maintain the illusion and stay connected with the reader. Short stories and speculative, weird ones at that, provide a better than normal shot at pulling it off. [a:Nick Mamatas|193861|Nick Mamatas|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1380393331p2/193861.jpg] does just that with "The Man You Flee at Parties."
All in all, some fun stories and new authors to track.
The collection of 19 stories and 2 poems, most by authors with whom I was not familiar, was, excellent, amusing, confusing, and impenetrable in spots.
Favorites included Ms. Mandel's "Mr. Thursday;" "Inventory" by [a:Carmen Maria Machado|6860265|Carmen Maria Machado|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1461618720p2/6860265.jpg]; "The Green Caravanserai" by [a:Lavie Tidhar|572738|Lavie Tidhar|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1369652429p2/572738.jpg]; and "The Rise and Fall of Whistle-Pig City" by [a:Paul Di Fillippo|18692616|Paul Di Fillippo|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png].
I enjoyed several others and abandoned only one.
More than one story was written in 2nd person - something you don't see very often, in part because it is difficult to maintain the illusion and stay connected with the reader. Short stories and speculative, weird ones at that, provide a better than normal shot at pulling it off. [a:Nick Mamatas|193861|Nick Mamatas|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1380393331p2/193861.jpg] does just that with "The Man You Flee at Parties."
All in all, some fun stories and new authors to track.
skulldugged's review against another edition
A few stories with interesting concepts, but I'm not impressed by this curation overall. Even the work by authors I typically enjoy are falling flat for me. Not getting at the core of what I think is most interesting about spec fic either.
grond's review against another edition
3.0
need to stop reading these anthology books. some real stinkers in here
mrzachyt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.5
emilyctrigg's review against another edition
Nothing makes any sense. I haven't understood four stories and I'm just over it.
makifanclub's review against another edition
The duds are starting to outweigh the good stories, so now that I’ve read the ones by the authors I already cared about I don’t feel particularly motivated to finish this collection. There were some interesting ideas in here, and I like the overall concept of pulling together different perspectives on a post-apocalyptic world, but it felt like most of these stories were in a competition to make up the most incomprehensible futuristic-sounding words and make their plots as opaque as possible, and it’s getting old. I liked Emily St. John Mandel’s story “Mr. Thursday” because I could see how it birthed the idea for her novel Sea of Tranquility, and “Reminded” and “As Good As New” were also standouts.
annarella's review against another edition
3.0
It's a mix bag of stories, it features some of my favorite authors but I was a bit disappointed.
some of them are quite good but they're like the start of a novel and you are left wondering what will be next.
Some are so enigmatic that you are left wondering what was the meaning.
Some are easily forgotten.
One moved me: Ramsey Campbell never disappoints.
I also love the one by Lavie Tidhar but I want to know what will happen.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
some of them are quite good but they're like the start of a novel and you are left wondering what will be next.
Some are so enigmatic that you are left wondering what was the meaning.
Some are easily forgotten.
One moved me: Ramsey Campbell never disappoints.
I also love the one by Lavie Tidhar but I want to know what will happen.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
ipb1's review against another edition
3.0
To quote the mighty Simpsons these are "Adequate, forgettable, Occasionally regrettable". 3* errs on the side of generosity.
barb4ry1's review against another edition
4.0
Although I am not obsessed with apocalyptic ideas, I find the notion of the end of the world as we know it both fascinating and terrifying. If I had a choice, I would prefer to avoid such events altogether, but I can't help but wonder what would it look like? What would trigger it? Would it wipe us all out, or would there be survivors? And if so, what would their lives look like?
In Out of The Ruins, Grassman delivers 20 stories (including 2 poems) that offer a fresh look at post-apocalyptic tropes and themes. Most of them are introspective and literary rather than fast-paced or survivalist. I prefer them this way.
There are no throwaway stories here. Some are outstanding, others less so, but they still deserve their place in the anthology. Among the standout stories here is Emily St. John Mandel s "Mr. Thursday." Her Station Eleven is, probably, my favorite book ever, and her writing style has that wonderfully melancholic atmosphere I can't resist. I understand why some readers won't like it (slow, episodic, with no clear ending), but I adored it. What is it about? Well, it shows how one small decision can affect more than one life.
Another story I loved was Tidhar's The Green Caravanserai that opens the anthology and delivers lots of thrills. Certainly, there are also weaker stories here, such as As Good as New by Charlie Jane Anders, which has a great premise (genie in a bottle after the apocalypse) but disappointing execution. I had high hopes for China Mieville's Watching God but I ended up feeling lukewarm about it. No idea why, to be honest; it's well written, inventive, dreamy.
Preston Grassmann did a great job here, making sure Out of the Ruins has a fantastic mix of styles and approaches to the post-apocalyptic themes. I highly recommend Out of the Ruins to readers looking for thoughtful and touching short stories.
In Out of The Ruins, Grassman delivers 20 stories (including 2 poems) that offer a fresh look at post-apocalyptic tropes and themes. Most of them are introspective and literary rather than fast-paced or survivalist. I prefer them this way.
There are no throwaway stories here. Some are outstanding, others less so, but they still deserve their place in the anthology. Among the standout stories here is Emily St. John Mandel s "Mr. Thursday." Her Station Eleven is, probably, my favorite book ever, and her writing style has that wonderfully melancholic atmosphere I can't resist. I understand why some readers won't like it (slow, episodic, with no clear ending), but I adored it. What is it about? Well, it shows how one small decision can affect more than one life.
Another story I loved was Tidhar's The Green Caravanserai that opens the anthology and delivers lots of thrills. Certainly, there are also weaker stories here, such as As Good as New by Charlie Jane Anders, which has a great premise (genie in a bottle after the apocalypse) but disappointing execution. I had high hopes for China Mieville's Watching God but I ended up feeling lukewarm about it. No idea why, to be honest; it's well written, inventive, dreamy.
Preston Grassmann did a great job here, making sure Out of the Ruins has a fantastic mix of styles and approaches to the post-apocalyptic themes. I highly recommend Out of the Ruins to readers looking for thoughtful and touching short stories.
keary's review against another edition
3.0
Sonne really good stories here but let down by a couple of stinkers. Stories that I just could not finish. It's okay to emerge yourself in language that evokes new modes of speech but the reader still needs to know what you are saying.