tien's review
3.0
Is it terrible to say that I found the Foreword the most interesting piece in this book? I like that it set out the history of urban fantasy especially ones with a 'city' as central to the works. I actually added about 7 books onto my tbr from the foreword (mostly classics!). I found, however, that I only liked about 1/3 of the stories in this anthology. The rest I found to be either confusing or just plain dislike. Then again, it usually takes me a bit of time to get used to an author's voice/pacing and I find short-stories rather tough to chew. Therefore, when I just got used to or starting liking the story, it's over :(
I found the idea of this anthology fascinating which is why I picked it up but I didn't find the stories that captivating.
I found the idea of this anthology fascinating which is why I picked it up but I didn't find the stories that captivating.
wealhtheow's review
2.0
Of twenty-one stories, I liked five:
Cat Rambo's "The Bumblety's Marble." Two youngsters retrace their steps to find a magic marble. I actually believed in the city, and the characters.
Jay Lake's "Promises; a Tale of the City Imperishable." A girl gives up her name, her infant, her breasts--all to become one of the city's protectors. But there is one more test before she becomes a Grey Lady, and it may be too much for her.
Greg van Eekhout's "Ghost Market." A man goes to buy the memories of a murdered boy. Short, but with a punch to it.
Darin C Bradley's "They Would Only Be Roads." One down on his luck cyber-mage begs the help of another. I liked the world construction: charms powered by email chain letters, rumors, yarn...
Anna Tambour's "The Age of Fish, Post-Flowers." A group of dysfunctional city-dwellers builds themselves into a team in order to survive in a closed-off city. Little food, no sun, and constant invasion by orms, which can eat through anything. Taut, believable.
Catherynne M Valente's piece was well written but too surreal for my tastes.
Two stories stood out as particularly unreadable: Hal Duncan's "The Tower of Morning's Bones" was a confused mess. No sentence connected to the next. Paul Meloy's "Alex and the Toyceivers" was astonishingly bad.
Cat Rambo's "The Bumblety's Marble." Two youngsters retrace their steps to find a magic marble. I actually believed in the city, and the characters.
Jay Lake's "Promises; a Tale of the City Imperishable." A girl gives up her name, her infant, her breasts--all to become one of the city's protectors. But there is one more test before she becomes a Grey Lady, and it may be too much for her.
Greg van Eekhout's "Ghost Market." A man goes to buy the memories of a murdered boy. Short, but with a punch to it.
Darin C Bradley's "They Would Only Be Roads." One down on his luck cyber-mage begs the help of another. I liked the world construction: charms powered by email chain letters, rumors, yarn...
Anna Tambour's "The Age of Fish, Post-Flowers." A group of dysfunctional city-dwellers builds themselves into a team in order to survive in a closed-off city. Little food, no sun, and constant invasion by orms, which can eat through anything. Taut, believable.
Catherynne M Valente's piece was well written but too surreal for my tastes.
Two stories stood out as particularly unreadable: Hal Duncan's "The Tower of Morning's Bones" was a confused mess. No sentence connected to the next. Paul Meloy's "Alex and the Toyceivers" was astonishingly bad.
janapbianchi's review
3.0
Muito legal descobrir, com essa coletânea, que a fantasia urbana vai muito além do que as obras com atmosfera mais "clássica" que conhecemos. Algumas histórias eu sequer classificaria como urbana antes de ler o prefácio e ler os contos selecionados. Como em toda antologia (ainda mais com uma grande quantidade de textos, como é o caso), minha avaliação dos contos oscilou consideravelmente. Há contos que eu achei bem fraquinhos, outros que eu não consegui entender (mas a culpa deve ser minha hahaha) e, por outro lado, há alguns contos MUITO bons. Os meus destaques foram o "Ghost market" do Greg van Eekhout, "Promises; a tale of the city imperishable" do Jay Lake e "Sammarynda deep", da Cat Sparks. Não curti muito a ordem dos contos: achei os primeiros os mais esquisitos e até ininteligíveis pra mim, e os três melhores contos na minha opinião estão em sequência. Acho que vale a leitura pra entender que a fantasia urbana tem muitas nuances.
deejsylvis's review
3.0
A really mixed bag of stories, unfortunately. There are a few that are beautiful, well-written, touching and exquisite ... and, unfortunately, more than a few that don't come anywhere near the same level of quality.
jen1110's review
5.0
So, so beautiful. This is a collection of short stories based on the theme of Urban Fantasy. The stories are alternately rich, intoxicating, funny, and dark. If you like de Lint's or Gaiman's work, you will probably like this book very much.
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