maedo's review against another edition
4.0
This is so very nearly a 5-star collection, but for a few weaker stories near the ending. Austin Bunn writes across genres with ease, most stories dealing with some sort of personal or worldly apocalypse.
Incidentally, if I were to publish a collection of my all time favorite short stories, there is a strong chance that I might include "Ledge". This book is worth its current $1.99 Kindle price tag for that story alone.
Incidentally, if I were to publish a collection of my all time favorite short stories, there is a strong chance that I might include "Ledge". This book is worth its current $1.99 Kindle price tag for that story alone.
dennisjacobrosenfeld's review against another edition
3.0
Reviewing a short story collection with just a single rating seems kind of odd. Therefore I've decided to rate every story individually and then give an overall rating as well.
How to Win an Unwinnable War: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Griefer: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Getting There & Away ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The End of the Age is Upon Us: ⭐️
The Worst You Can Imagine Is Where This Starts: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ledge: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Everything All at Once: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hazard 9: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When You Are The Final Girl: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Curious Father: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
How to Win an Unwinnable War: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Griefer: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Getting There & Away ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The End of the Age is Upon Us: ⭐️
The Worst You Can Imagine Is Where This Starts: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ledge: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Everything All at Once: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hazard 9: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When You Are The Final Girl: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Curious Father: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
drewsof's review against another edition
4.0
As good as the stories are individually and as well as the collection coheres as a single object (held together by that spine), there's something lacking in the final resolve. I put the collection down and thought "oh, very good" and moved on and felt nothing more about it. I'll read whatever Bunn writes next (and I now want to see Kill Your Darlings) but I feel strangely like the collection didn't strike me at that deeper level, despite each story feeling perfectly poised. Perhaps it was the perfection of it all that bothered me - or perhaps I'll be proved wrong in time, with this collection hanging around long after I'd assumed I'd forget. Perhaps it'll be that spine that will stir memories every time I see it on the shelf. Time will tell, I suppose.
More at RB: http://ragingbiblioholism.com/2015/04/27/the-brink/
More at RB: http://ragingbiblioholism.com/2015/04/27/the-brink/
jerkyf's review against another edition
4.0
3 1/2 stars. Closer to 4.
Like all short story collections, some stories were better than others. For the most part, the stories are very good.
Like all short story collections, some stories were better than others. For the most part, the stories are very good.
thoughtsonbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This is an incredible short story collection. I recently decided to read more short stories because it is a genre I kinda struggle with given the incomplete nature of the stories told. I am super glad I read this though, because this is an amazing book. Yes, the stories are incomplete but this vagueness packs such a punch in places that I am absolutely enamoured with what I just read. I think everybody should read this! (I am already running a mental list who among my friends and family will get this book for Christmas)
Seriously, amazing, brilliant, absolutely phenomenal.
Seriously, amazing, brilliant, absolutely phenomenal.
li3an1na4's review
4.0
An eclectic book of short stories all dealing with people on the brink of something. The stories are all over the place. A fantasy story about sailing to the edge of the world to an inside look to the cultist who killed themselves over Hale-Bopp. Each story does have it's own voice as well.
I do think the book is stacked with the stronger stories in the front and the weaker ones at the end.
3.5 stars rounds to 4.
I do think the book is stacked with the stronger stories in the front and the weaker ones at the end.
3.5 stars rounds to 4.
More...