stewie's review against another edition
4.0
I saw the news announcement sometime last year for the anthology The Doll Collection, edited by the fantastic [a:Ellen Datlow|46138|Ellen Datlow|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1616102283p2/46138.jpg] no less, and I got a bit excited. I had to read this. Dolls are creepy little things that I'm convinced come alive at night and watch you as you sleep, and a book containing stories about these soul stealers edited by Datlow?!? Sign. Me. Up.
When I finally had the book in my hands, I eagerly opened it up, ready for some tales of doll terror. I paused long enough only to read Datlow's introduction. If you aren't the type of person who reads an introduction and/or foreword, you really should fix that. Many times you'll get a glimpse of the reasoning behind the editor's decisions in regards to the topic at hand, how the book came to be, or, in the case here, something that throws a wrench into your entire conception about what you are about to jump into. Datlow made one condition when she approached the authors in this book, "…no evil doll stories." Wait, what? An anthology about dolls, none of which can be evil? I'll admit I was both disappointed and intrigued when I read that. So, does it work? Well, for the most part, yeah.
You can read my full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
When I finally had the book in my hands, I eagerly opened it up, ready for some tales of doll terror. I paused long enough only to read Datlow's introduction. If you aren't the type of person who reads an introduction and/or foreword, you really should fix that. Many times you'll get a glimpse of the reasoning behind the editor's decisions in regards to the topic at hand, how the book came to be, or, in the case here, something that throws a wrench into your entire conception about what you are about to jump into. Datlow made one condition when she approached the authors in this book, "…no evil doll stories." Wait, what? An anthology about dolls, none of which can be evil? I'll admit I was both disappointed and intrigued when I read that. So, does it work? Well, for the most part, yeah.
You can read my full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
allweatherreader's review
4.0
Surprisingly, this was a pretty solid collection, with a few gems but no real duffers. Even the middling ones weren't a chore to read. The ones that didn't shine weren't badly written, but you could see where the doll theme had been crowbarred in.
The best ones were definitely the Seanan McGuire and the Stephen Graham Jones offerings. Very effective.
The last story was "Word Dolls" and it had one of those abrupt endings that short stories frequently suffer from, but it was a very cool idea that I now need to go and look into to see if it's true o.O
The best ones were definitely the Seanan McGuire and the Stephen Graham Jones offerings. Very effective.
The last story was "Word Dolls" and it had one of those abrupt endings that short stories frequently suffer from, but it was a very cool idea that I now need to go and look into to see if it's true o.O
doubleinfinity's review against another edition
3.0
the jco story was so great it ruined the rest of the collection for me. :'c
beckylej's review against another edition
4.0
From dolls as vessels (for spirits, emotions, and other) and figurative dolls of another sort to poppets that can help heal and word dolls to watch out for, Ellen Datlow has collected an anthology of truly creeptastic tales. For anyone with even minor pediophobia this set of stories is likely to leave you cowering in the corner and looking at even the most innocent of kewpies with suspicion.
Here's the full Table of Contents:
Skin and Bone by Tim Lebbon
Heroes and Villains by Stephen Gallagher
The Doll-Master by Joyce Carol Oates
Gaze by Gemma Files
In Case of Zebras by Pat Cadigan
There Is No Place For Sorrow in the Kingdom of the Cold by Seanan McGuire
Goodness and Kindness by Carrie Vaughn
Daniel's Theory About Dolls by Stephen Graham Jones
After and Back Before by Miranda Siemienowicz
Doctor Faustus by Mary Robinette Kowal
Doll Court by Richard Bowes
Visit Lovely Cornwall on the Western Railway Line by Genevieve Valentine
Ambitious Boys Like You by Richard Kadrey
Miss Sibyl-Cassandra by Lucy Sussex
The Permanent Collection by Veronica Schanoes
Homemade Monsters by John Langan
Word Doll by Jeffrey Ford
So unless we're talking the obviously meant to be creepy doll from Annabelle (did you know the REAL Annabelle was a Raggedy Ann doll?) dolls don't generally give me the heebie jeebies. But some of the dolls in this collection sure do! A few of my personal favorites: Jeffrey Ford's "Word Doll," which combines folklore and middle American farming (Ford is a character within the story as well), "Miss Sibyl-Cassandra" by Lucy Sussex was infinitely fun, and Richard Kadrey's "Ambitious Boys Like You" was, as Datlow promised in her O&F Podcast, particularly nasty!
If you're a fan of anthologies, Datlow is probably a name you'll recognize. She's made a career out of culling shorts to create the annual Best Horror of the Year anthologies as well as numerous collections like this one. Anton Strout featured her on the Once and Future Podcast a couple of weeks ago, giving readers like me a chance to hear more about what she does and her process for putting together an anthology. I highly recommend checking that out.
Here's the full Table of Contents:
Skin and Bone by Tim Lebbon
Heroes and Villains by Stephen Gallagher
The Doll-Master by Joyce Carol Oates
Gaze by Gemma Files
In Case of Zebras by Pat Cadigan
There Is No Place For Sorrow in the Kingdom of the Cold by Seanan McGuire
Goodness and Kindness by Carrie Vaughn
Daniel's Theory About Dolls by Stephen Graham Jones
After and Back Before by Miranda Siemienowicz
Doctor Faustus by Mary Robinette Kowal
Doll Court by Richard Bowes
Visit Lovely Cornwall on the Western Railway Line by Genevieve Valentine
Ambitious Boys Like You by Richard Kadrey
Miss Sibyl-Cassandra by Lucy Sussex
The Permanent Collection by Veronica Schanoes
Homemade Monsters by John Langan
Word Doll by Jeffrey Ford
So unless we're talking the obviously meant to be creepy doll from Annabelle (did you know the REAL Annabelle was a Raggedy Ann doll?) dolls don't generally give me the heebie jeebies. But some of the dolls in this collection sure do! A few of my personal favorites: Jeffrey Ford's "Word Doll," which combines folklore and middle American farming (Ford is a character within the story as well), "Miss Sibyl-Cassandra" by Lucy Sussex was infinitely fun, and Richard Kadrey's "Ambitious Boys Like You" was, as Datlow promised in her O&F Podcast, particularly nasty!
If you're a fan of anthologies, Datlow is probably a name you'll recognize. She's made a career out of culling shorts to create the annual Best Horror of the Year anthologies as well as numerous collections like this one. Anton Strout featured her on the Once and Future Podcast a couple of weeks ago, giving readers like me a chance to hear more about what she does and her process for putting together an anthology. I highly recommend checking that out.
detailsandtales's review against another edition
4.0
As with any short story collection, there were stories I liked, and stories I didn't. In this case, there were more of the former than the latter.
bookdragon_1978's review against another edition
3.0
This book took me much longer than anticipated to complete as I found that I struggle reading short stories. My mind requires a long read to get absorbed into rather than the short attempts of character and story building.
However, having said this the stories themselves were well-written with a creepy, uncomfortable edge to them. This discomfort around dolls, their descriptions, and stories was more rewarding than the cliche evil-dolls that we expect.
I am still freaked out by dolls, maybe more so after this book, and I don’t believe this will ever change.
However, having said this the stories themselves were well-written with a creepy, uncomfortable edge to them. This discomfort around dolls, their descriptions, and stories was more rewarding than the cliche evil-dolls that we expect.
I am still freaked out by dolls, maybe more so after this book, and I don’t believe this will ever change.
sarrie's review against another edition
4.0
The ratings on these averaged out to be about 3.7 so a rounded up 4.
The standout stories were the Seanan McGuire, the last story by Jeffrey Ford, the second story from Stephen Gallaghar, and seventh story by Carrie Vaughn.
It was a surprising mix as well. You'd expect just straight creepy dolls the whole way through but this managed to take the idea of a 'story about a doll' and frame it in a variety of different ways. Especially the last story Word Doll, I don't know if it or the Seanan McGuire story were my favorite. It had the most unique premise for me though.
The standout stories were the Seanan McGuire, the last story by Jeffrey Ford, the second story from Stephen Gallaghar, and seventh story by Carrie Vaughn.
It was a surprising mix as well. You'd expect just straight creepy dolls the whole way through but this managed to take the idea of a 'story about a doll' and frame it in a variety of different ways. Especially the last story Word Doll, I don't know if it or the Seanan McGuire story were my favorite. It had the most unique premise for me though.
brisk28's review against another edition
2.0
I bought this awhile back and only just remembered it recently, and I’m extremely disappointed. I read the intro and when it basically stated that it wasn’t a composition of short stories about evil dolls...I kinda grew a bit worried. I’m one of those people that enjoy good books about evil dolls so to say the least: I’m disappointed. I enjoyed the first short story, but I managed to make it to the fifth short story when I decided this book just isn’t for me. Even Seanan McGuire couldn’t save this.