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A review by carolinethereader
Rogues by George R.R. Martin, Gardner Dozois
3.0
QUITE a good book overall. A few excellent stories and a few not so much. Individual ratings and thoughts down below.
Tough Times All Over by Joe Abercrombie - 4.5/5 stars
First time reading a story by this author and I really enjoyed it! We follow a package as it changes hands many, many times. The perspective shifts and follows the package. I enjoyed that we got to see each characters motivations in such a short story and it was a bit of fun.
What Would You Do? by Gillian Flynn - 4/5 stars
An enjoyable story about a 'spiritual cleansing' of a woman's house where the woman doing the cleansing is in well over her head. The tension was held really well but the ending left me feeling a little underwhelmed.
The Inn of Seven Blessings by Matt Hughes - 3/5 stars
Pretty entertaining story. I didn't mind it and the concept was fun. The narrator kind of annoyed me because every time he saw the female lead there would be an observational comment about her breasts which is never great.
Bent Twig by Joe R. Lansdale - 3/5 stars
I didn't mind this story but in the grand scheme of the book it kinda faded into the background. I was also really confused about when this story was occuring; it is mentioned that the characters use cell phones but also that a black man almost wasn't let into an inn. Was a little odd.
Tawny Petticoats by Michael Swanwick - 3.5/5 stars
This was a really fun story! Loved the dynamic of the characters and the badass female character. Some real cool elements to the story that intrigued me even though they were a little weird.
Provenance by David W. Ball - DNF at 10%
Started this and within ten minutes I was bored near to death. Just not the story for me.
The Roaring Twenties by Carrie Vaughn - 4/5 stars
Great story, lovely and strong characters. Amazing setting that I would love to know more about because it was a great foundation for a wider story.
A Year and a Day in Old Theradane by Scott Lynch - 5/5 stars
Scott Lynch is excellent! Loved seeing him write a story setting with so much magic in it, lots of fun. Characters were well developed and had a wonderful dynamic. Would definitely do back and read this again.
Bad Brass by Bradley Denton - DNF at 55%
I listened to a fair bit of this story but found the main character really difficult to care about. He's very "I'm a cool teacher" and "Look at these kids on their cell phones, I can outsmart them. Granted I don't know how the story ends so maybe they outsmart him but it was very grating having the main character be so...eugh. This is also the longest story in the collection and it really isn't worth it.
Heavy Metal by Cherie Priest - 3.5/5 stars
For a quite simple story about a monster hunter doing some work in a small town, this was very entertaining. Some powerful passages. Nothing special but still good.
The Meaning of Love by Daniel Abraham - 3.5 stars
A prince is in hiding and falls in love with a young woman about to be sold as a slave. I didn't mind this story. There were some good characters and the shenanigans were a lot of fun.
A Better Way to Die by Paul Cornell - ???
I have nothing written down for this one in my notes? I literally can't remember it so I have no idea if it was a DNF or if I made it to the end, sorry y'all.
Ill Seen in Tyre by Steven Saylor - 3/5 stars
Very funny story. I don't think it's particularly remarkable but it was entertaining enough while I listened.
A Cargo of Ivories by Garth Nix - 3/5 stars
Great action scenes, lots of tension and the characters were cool. Annoying repetition of certain phrases was a little frustrating once I noticed it.
Diamonds from Tequila by Walter Jon Williams - 1/5 stars
Hated it. Insufferable main character and underdeveloped characters. Wish I gave up instead of toughing it out.
The Caravan to Nowhere by Phyllis Eisenstein - 4/5 stars
A journey through sand dunes to a mysterious place for some mysterious goods. I enjoy simpler stories with good characters and this was definitely one.
The Curious Affair of the Dead Wives by Lisa Tuttle - 3.5/5 stars
Excited to have finally read something by Lisa Tuttle! Liked this one because it had such a Sherlock Holmes vibe (but interestingly took place in a world where the Sherlock Holmes books also exist). A bit of an obvious mystery and conclusion but I still had a good time reading it.
How the Marquis Got His Coat Back by Neil Gaiman - 4.5/5 stars
This was great! Loved the main character and the world. Didn't love the accent the narrator did for the Marquis (kinda terrible French accent) but still overall great.
Now Showing by Connie Willis - 2.5/5 stars
Quite a cool concept to have a mega cinema complex. Didn't love the amount of movie references because it became kind of exhausting and it was so much of the dialogue between characters.
The Lightning Tree by Patrick Rothfuss - 5/5 stars
AMAZING! Would read his shopping list. Loved reading about Bast and a day in his life, he's such a fascinating character from The Name of the Wind. Beautifully written.
The Rogue Prince by George R.R. Martin - 5/5 stars
Loved it! Narrated by Iain Glenn (Ser Jorah) which was an excellent choice. It's a great piece of history from a clever and well developed world. Great read.
Tough Times All Over by Joe Abercrombie - 4.5/5 stars
First time reading a story by this author and I really enjoyed it! We follow a package as it changes hands many, many times. The perspective shifts and follows the package. I enjoyed that we got to see each characters motivations in such a short story and it was a bit of fun.
What Would You Do? by Gillian Flynn - 4/5 stars
An enjoyable story about a 'spiritual cleansing' of a woman's house where the woman doing the cleansing is in well over her head. The tension was held really well but the ending left me feeling a little underwhelmed.
The Inn of Seven Blessings by Matt Hughes - 3/5 stars
Pretty entertaining story. I didn't mind it and the concept was fun. The narrator kind of annoyed me because every time he saw the female lead there would be an observational comment about her breasts which is never great.
Bent Twig by Joe R. Lansdale - 3/5 stars
I didn't mind this story but in the grand scheme of the book it kinda faded into the background. I was also really confused about when this story was occuring; it is mentioned that the characters use cell phones but also that a black man almost wasn't let into an inn. Was a little odd.
Tawny Petticoats by Michael Swanwick - 3.5/5 stars
This was a really fun story! Loved the dynamic of the characters and the badass female character. Some real cool elements to the story that intrigued me even though they were a little weird.
Provenance by David W. Ball - DNF at 10%
Started this and within ten minutes I was bored near to death. Just not the story for me.
The Roaring Twenties by Carrie Vaughn - 4/5 stars
Great story, lovely and strong characters. Amazing setting that I would love to know more about because it was a great foundation for a wider story.
A Year and a Day in Old Theradane by Scott Lynch - 5/5 stars
Scott Lynch is excellent! Loved seeing him write a story setting with so much magic in it, lots of fun. Characters were well developed and had a wonderful dynamic. Would definitely do back and read this again.
Bad Brass by Bradley Denton - DNF at 55%
I listened to a fair bit of this story but found the main character really difficult to care about. He's very "I'm a cool teacher" and "Look at these kids on their cell phones, I can outsmart them. Granted I don't know how the story ends so maybe they outsmart him but it was very grating having the main character be so...eugh. This is also the longest story in the collection and it really isn't worth it.
Heavy Metal by Cherie Priest - 3.5/5 stars
For a quite simple story about a monster hunter doing some work in a small town, this was very entertaining. Some powerful passages. Nothing special but still good.
The Meaning of Love by Daniel Abraham - 3.5 stars
A prince is in hiding and falls in love with a young woman about to be sold as a slave. I didn't mind this story. There were some good characters and the shenanigans were a lot of fun.
A Better Way to Die by Paul Cornell - ???
I have nothing written down for this one in my notes? I literally can't remember it so I have no idea if it was a DNF or if I made it to the end, sorry y'all.
Ill Seen in Tyre by Steven Saylor - 3/5 stars
Very funny story. I don't think it's particularly remarkable but it was entertaining enough while I listened.
A Cargo of Ivories by Garth Nix - 3/5 stars
Great action scenes, lots of tension and the characters were cool. Annoying repetition of certain phrases was a little frustrating once I noticed it.
Diamonds from Tequila by Walter Jon Williams - 1/5 stars
Hated it. Insufferable main character and underdeveloped characters. Wish I gave up instead of toughing it out.
The Caravan to Nowhere by Phyllis Eisenstein - 4/5 stars
A journey through sand dunes to a mysterious place for some mysterious goods. I enjoy simpler stories with good characters and this was definitely one.
The Curious Affair of the Dead Wives by Lisa Tuttle - 3.5/5 stars
Excited to have finally read something by Lisa Tuttle! Liked this one because it had such a Sherlock Holmes vibe (but interestingly took place in a world where the Sherlock Holmes books also exist). A bit of an obvious mystery and conclusion but I still had a good time reading it.
How the Marquis Got His Coat Back by Neil Gaiman - 4.5/5 stars
This was great! Loved the main character and the world. Didn't love the accent the narrator did for the Marquis (kinda terrible French accent) but still overall great.
Now Showing by Connie Willis - 2.5/5 stars
Quite a cool concept to have a mega cinema complex. Didn't love the amount of movie references because it became kind of exhausting and it was so much of the dialogue between characters.
The Lightning Tree by Patrick Rothfuss - 5/5 stars
AMAZING! Would read his shopping list. Loved reading about Bast and a day in his life, he's such a fascinating character from The Name of the Wind. Beautifully written.
The Rogue Prince by George R.R. Martin - 5/5 stars
Loved it! Narrated by Iain Glenn (Ser Jorah) which was an excellent choice. It's a great piece of history from a clever and well developed world. Great read.