davidscrimshaw's review against another edition
5.0
If you're not going to try a sword and sorcery book, you might as well skip this review and skip the book.
If you're thinking sword and sorcery might be for you, you can read this review, but you should read the book.
If sword and sorcery is your thing, the book is a must-read, no need for you to read this review, but you might as well since if you had a copy, you'd be reading it instead of this and it won't hurt to give you something to anticipate.
Lately, I've been starting one book after another and just not getting into them. I was starting to think there was something wrong with me. But then I started this collection and everything changed. It's full of stories that I just loved.
Going in, I knew there was a Garth Nix story. I was sort of crossing my fingers that it would be a story about Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz. And it was!
For almost every author in the collection that I was unfamiliar with, I now have a book on reserve at the library.
The only story that I didn't get into was the George R. R. Martin story, which is a recounting of ancient Westeros history that talks about what happened but doesn't really get into what's going on in people's minds.
If you're thinking sword and sorcery might be for you, you can read this review, but you should read the book.
If sword and sorcery is your thing, the book is a must-read, no need for you to read this review, but you might as well since if you had a copy, you'd be reading it instead of this and it won't hurt to give you something to anticipate.
Lately, I've been starting one book after another and just not getting into them. I was starting to think there was something wrong with me. But then I started this collection and everything changed. It's full of stories that I just loved.
Going in, I knew there was a Garth Nix story. I was sort of crossing my fingers that it would be a story about Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz. And it was!
For almost every author in the collection that I was unfamiliar with, I now have a book on reserve at the library.
The only story that I didn't get into was the George R. R. Martin story, which is a recounting of ancient Westeros history that talks about what happened but doesn't really get into what's going on in people's minds.
joebuuz's review against another edition
5.0
Keeping a running track of the stories:
KJ Parker, “The Best Man Wins”
4* - Solid immersion into a task and mindset.
Robin Hobb, “Her Father’s Sword”
4* - Spooky and sad.
Ken Liu, “The Hidden Girl”
4* - Fast paced action with dynamic imagery.
Matthew Hughes, “The Sword of Destiny”
5* - A comedy of hijinks and cascading bad situations. Really had fun listening to this one.
Katie Elliot, “I am a Handsome Man, said Apollo Crow.”
3* - Good story with fantastic imagery.
Walter Jon Williams, “The Triumph of Virtue”
3* - Court intrigue had a lot of names I wasn’t catching. Story may have been better in print so I could see the spellings and keep track.
Daniel Abraham, “The Mocking Tower”
5* - Really got into this story. Long history punctuates the ending.
C.J. Cherryh, "Hrunting"
4* - A desperate journey to relcaim a family's honor set in the years after the events of Beowulf.
Garth Nix, "A Long Cold Trail"
4* - Dug the mix of style and characters in this investigation and chase of a demon possessed artifact sword.
Ellen Kushner, "When I was a Highwayman"
4* - A sad tale that captured a wide range of emotion for a short story.
Scott Lynch, "The Smoke of Gold is Glory"
5* - I LOVED this story. Can't say enough good about it but it was what I usually want when I pick up a fantasy short story. Perfectly framed oration dense with glib phrasing that gave us a band of glory seekers going after a dragon's hoard. Highly recommend. Has been the star of this book so far.
Rich Larson, "The Colgrid Conundrum"
4* - Adventure hook story with a pair of rogues. Standout setting and flavor.
Elizabeth Bear, "The King's Evil"
4* - Imaginative characters made this story.
Lavie Tidhar, "Waterfalling"
5* - Enjoyed meeting Gorel of Gloris. I'd read more adventures about him. He;s like a mix of Conan the Barbarian and Roland of Gilead.
Cecelia Holland, "The Sword Tyraste"
5* - This was outstanding quick read. Straight forward revenge pursuit.
George R.R. Martin, "The Sons of the Dragon"
5* - More Westeros history, this of Aegon the Conquerer and sons.
KJ Parker, “The Best Man Wins”
4* - Solid immersion into a task and mindset.
Robin Hobb, “Her Father’s Sword”
4* - Spooky and sad.
Ken Liu, “The Hidden Girl”
4* - Fast paced action with dynamic imagery.
Matthew Hughes, “The Sword of Destiny”
5* - A comedy of hijinks and cascading bad situations. Really had fun listening to this one.
Katie Elliot, “I am a Handsome Man, said Apollo Crow.”
3* - Good story with fantastic imagery.
Walter Jon Williams, “The Triumph of Virtue”
3* - Court intrigue had a lot of names I wasn’t catching. Story may have been better in print so I could see the spellings and keep track.
Daniel Abraham, “The Mocking Tower”
5* - Really got into this story. Long history punctuates the ending.
C.J. Cherryh, "Hrunting"
4* - A desperate journey to relcaim a family's honor set in the years after the events of Beowulf.
Garth Nix, "A Long Cold Trail"
4* - Dug the mix of style and characters in this investigation and chase of a demon possessed artifact sword.
Ellen Kushner, "When I was a Highwayman"
4* - A sad tale that captured a wide range of emotion for a short story.
Scott Lynch, "The Smoke of Gold is Glory"
5* - I LOVED this story. Can't say enough good about it but it was what I usually want when I pick up a fantasy short story. Perfectly framed oration dense with glib phrasing that gave us a band of glory seekers going after a dragon's hoard. Highly recommend. Has been the star of this book so far.
Rich Larson, "The Colgrid Conundrum"
4* - Adventure hook story with a pair of rogues. Standout setting and flavor.
Elizabeth Bear, "The King's Evil"
4* - Imaginative characters made this story.
Lavie Tidhar, "Waterfalling"
5* - Enjoyed meeting Gorel of Gloris. I'd read more adventures about him. He;s like a mix of Conan the Barbarian and Roland of Gilead.
Cecelia Holland, "The Sword Tyraste"
5* - This was outstanding quick read. Straight forward revenge pursuit.
George R.R. Martin, "The Sons of the Dragon"
5* - More Westeros history, this of Aegon the Conquerer and sons.
greenstrider's review against another edition
4.0
A collection of stories with a lot of famous names. Favourites includes 'Her Father's Sword' by Robin Hobb and 'The Best Man Wins' by K J Parker. Others were more disappointing, such as 'The Hidden Girl' which followed a quite typical story with a mediocre story line, as well as 'The Smoke of Glory is Gold' which started really well, but didn't have an end which payed off.
joebuuz's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Keeping a running track of the stories:
KJ Parker, “The Best Man Wins”
4* - Solid immersion into a task and mindset.
Robin Hobb, “Her Father’s Sword”
4* - Spooky and sad.
Ken Liu, “The Hidden Girl”
4* - Fast paced action with dynamic imagery.
Matthew Hughes, “The Sword of Destiny”
5* - A comedy of hijinks and cascading bad situations. Really had fun listening to this one.
Katie Elliot, “I am a Handsome Man, said Apollo Crow.”
3* - Good story with fantastic imagery.
Walter Jon Williams, “The Triumph of Virtue”
3* - Court intrigue had a lot of names I wasn’t catching. Story may have been better in print so I could see the spellings and keep track.
Daniel Abraham, “The Mocking Tower”
5* - Really got into this story. Long history punctuates the ending.
C.J. Cherryh, "Hrunting"
4* - A desperate journey to relcaim a family's honor set in the years after the events of Beowulf.
Garth Nix, "A Long Cold Trail"
4* - Dug the mix of style and characters in this investigation and chase of a demon possessed artifact sword.
Ellen Kushner, "When I was a Highwayman"
4* - A sad tale that captured a wide range of emotion for a short story.
Scott Lynch, "The Smoke of Gold is Glory"
5* - I LOVED this story. Can't say enough good about it but it was what I usually want when I pick up a fantasy short story. Perfectly framed oration dense with glib phrasing that gave us a band of glory seekers going after a dragon's hoard. Highly recommend. Has been the star of this book so far.
Rich Larson, "The Colgrid Conundrum"
4* - Adventure hook story with a pair of rogues. Standout setting and flavor.
Elizabeth Bear, "The King's Evil"
4* - Imaginative characters made this story.
Lavie Tidhar, "Waterfalling"
5* - Enjoyed meeting Gorel of Gloris. I'd read more adventures about him. He;s like a mix of Conan the Barbarian and Roland of Gilead.
Cecelia Holland, "The Sword Tyraste"
5* - This was outstanding quick read. Straight forward revenge pursuit.
George R.R. Martin, "The Sons of the Dragon"
5* - More Westeros history, this of Aegon the Conquerer and sons.
KJ Parker, “The Best Man Wins”
4* - Solid immersion into a task and mindset.
Robin Hobb, “Her Father’s Sword”
4* - Spooky and sad.
Ken Liu, “The Hidden Girl”
4* - Fast paced action with dynamic imagery.
Matthew Hughes, “The Sword of Destiny”
5* - A comedy of hijinks and cascading bad situations. Really had fun listening to this one.
Katie Elliot, “I am a Handsome Man, said Apollo Crow.”
3* - Good story with fantastic imagery.
Walter Jon Williams, “The Triumph of Virtue”
3* - Court intrigue had a lot of names I wasn’t catching. Story may have been better in print so I could see the spellings and keep track.
Daniel Abraham, “The Mocking Tower”
5* - Really got into this story. Long history punctuates the ending.
C.J. Cherryh, "Hrunting"
4* - A desperate journey to relcaim a family's honor set in the years after the events of Beowulf.
Garth Nix, "A Long Cold Trail"
4* - Dug the mix of style and characters in this investigation and chase of a demon possessed artifact sword.
Ellen Kushner, "When I was a Highwayman"
4* - A sad tale that captured a wide range of emotion for a short story.
Scott Lynch, "The Smoke of Gold is Glory"
5* - I LOVED this story. Can't say enough good about it but it was what I usually want when I pick up a fantasy short story. Perfectly framed oration dense with glib phrasing that gave us a band of glory seekers going after a dragon's hoard. Highly recommend. Has been the star of this book so far.
Rich Larson, "The Colgrid Conundrum"
4* - Adventure hook story with a pair of rogues. Standout setting and flavor.
Elizabeth Bear, "The King's Evil"
4* - Imaginative characters made this story.
Lavie Tidhar, "Waterfalling"
5* - Enjoyed meeting Gorel of Gloris. I'd read more adventures about him. He;s like a mix of Conan the Barbarian and Roland of Gilead.
Cecelia Holland, "The Sword Tyraste"
5* - This was outstanding quick read. Straight forward revenge pursuit.
George R.R. Martin, "The Sons of the Dragon"
5* - More Westeros history, this of Aegon the Conquerer and sons.
eatingfiction's review against another edition
3.0
As is the trouble with anthologies, some stories I loved, and some I simply wasn't interested in. My favourites were Ken Liu, Kate Elliot, and Scott Lynch.
grimhand's review against another edition
4.0
A good collection of short stories centering around, of course, the sub-genre of sword and sorcery. Includes a new history from George R.R. Martin, this time centering mostly around the reign of Maegor the Cruel.
rsarnelli's review against another edition
3.0
Didn’t read all the stories - I kind of lost interest after I had read maybe half - but I liked most of the ones I did read. Reviews/ratings to come of the ones I read.
vae's review against another edition
Returned. Reminded me why I so rarely read fantasy written by men, or written in the period that this anthology was published.
ganglari's review against another edition
3.0
As with all genre short-story collections (barring a very few exceptions) there’s a pretty big span in the quality of the stories. While none were *bad*, several were decidedly ho-hum, and very few stayed with me, and while interesting, George RR Martin’s story isn’t really a story, it’s more a section of history from Westeros. However, K.J. Parker’s “The Best Man Wins”, Scott Lynch’s “The Smoke of Gold is Glory”, and C.J. Cherryh’s alt-Beowulf sequel “Hrunting” were all excellent.