jsimpson's review against another edition
4.0
very nice anthology, edited by the world's preeminent Lovecraftian scholar. Bang up tales from the likes of Laird Barron and Caitlin R. Kiernan. A useful insight into the new wave of weird authors, doing new and interesting things with the mythos, and refining the rest.
More thorough review pending...
For Lovecraftian fans, this is essential.
More thorough review pending...
For Lovecraftian fans, this is essential.
fullofstars's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
3.0
Averaging out the short stories at 3/5 doesn't quite reflect the reading experience.
The stories that I liked, I really liked! Waller, One Tree Hill and Further Beyond in particular were a lot of the fun.
Unfortunately, there was no middle ground. The stories I didn't enjoy, I really did not enjoy. Weltchmerz was a bizaare plot involving a manic pixie dreamgirl-esque character. I found Down Black Staircases to be almost incomprehensible (and not in the fun way). Thistle's find was so lecherous that I question its inclusion at all. No-one in the history of ever is going to.
The stories that I liked, I really liked! Waller, One Tree Hill and Further Beyond in particular were a lot of the fun.
Unfortunately, there was no middle ground. The stories I didn't enjoy, I really did not enjoy. Weltchmerz was a bizaare plot involving a manic pixie dreamgirl-esque character. I found Down Black Staircases to be almost incomprehensible (and not in the fun way). Thistle's find was so lecherous that I question its inclusion at all. No-one in the history of ever is going to
Spoiler
comment on the labia of a ghoul whilst it is charging towards themarthurbdd's review against another edition
2.0
Finds the anthology series grinding deeper into the rut it has created for itself. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2021/10/18/black-wings-the-final-flight/
arthurbdd's review against another edition
3.0
Marks the point where the hit/miss ratio in the long-running series starts creeping downwards, Joshi's regular stable of authors starting to phone it in. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2020/10/23/black-wings-the-fourth-flutter/
arthurbdd's review
3.0
Multi-author anthologies inevitably end up being a bit hit and miss for the reader, since it's unlikely that every author's style will be to your taste. That said, one would think that the brief of "Lovecraftian cosmic horror" would lead to a slightly better hit/miss ratio than this collection achieves. As it stands, it's good, but not brilliant. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2017/12/08/black-wings-takeoff/
arthurbdd's review against another edition
3.0
Third volume of the series. About as good a hit/miss ratio as the second volume in the series, though the misses are worse than the misses in that one, prefiguring the slip in quality that would turn me off later volumes. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2018/10/27/black-wings-the-third-flap/
ivan_tw's review
2.0
Half inspired weird tales, half dull, repetitive drivel. Not one of the better Lovecraft-style collections I've read.
hornmp's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
krstrau's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0