None
3 stars
This is, as the name implies, a strange collection. Its a mish-mash of an urban fantasy collection with the detective/mystery collection I think Martin might have really been shooting for. He even tries to address this to some degree in his introduction, which also includes a much appreciated reference to the fact that the often more-romantasy-than-fantasy current urban fantasy is basically a distinct genre from what we called urban fantasy in the 80s and 90s (I think there's some veiled references to Bull and Windling). I think he may have wanted a more detective noir collection that dabbled in some true or not supernatural events, and I don't think it succeeds at that. There's too much wild variation from noir, to current urban fantasy, to romantasy. Just all over the place. Which is not to say there are some good stories here, just that I don't think its successful as …
This is, as the name implies, a strange collection. Its a mish-mash of an urban fantasy collection with the detective/mystery collection I think Martin might have really been shooting for. He even tries to address this to some degree in his introduction, which also includes a much appreciated reference to the fact that the often more-romantasy-than-fantasy current urban fantasy is basically a distinct genre from what we called urban fantasy in the 80s and 90s (I think there's some veiled references to Bull and Windling). I think he may have wanted a more detective noir collection that dabbled in some true or not supernatural events, and I don't think it succeeds at that. There's too much wild variation from noir, to current urban fantasy, to romantasy. Just all over the place. Which is not to say there are some good stories here, just that I don't think its successful as a themed anthology (that cover is also not great). A lot of these authors also seemed to have worked with or received accolades from Martin in the past, and I wonder how much of the contributors list ended up being chosen not because the stories fit the theme well but because he just likes these people and their work more broadly (like, there's I think three WildCards contributors here??).returnI haven't read, nor intended to ever read, any Charlaine Harris and the true blood world story 'Death by Dahlia' definitely didn't change those plans.returnJoe Lansdale's 'The Bleeding Shadow' was phenomenal, and quite frankly worth a library check out or a super cheat used copy price all on its own as a weird fiction noir.returnAs seems usual at this point, Simon R. Green's 'The Hungry Heart' was far more enjoyable than any of his novel length Nightside books. I've yet to try reading anything non-nightside from him, so I'm not sure if its just his writing, or the nature of his nightside setting that seems to make them successful as short stories but fall really flat as novels for me. Probably a combination.return'Styx and Stones' by Steven Saylor was a lot more interesting and fun than I expected, kind of a scooby doo mystery but less silly. Also one of at least three stories set in the ancient world, with a few more historical mysteries chucked in, further kind of muddying up what the overriding theme is supposed to be. Regardless, I'll probably look at some other Saylor stories.returnS.M. Stirling's 'Pain and Suffering' was certainly better than probably the last 6 or so ploddingly long Emberverse books I read. Though its set in one of his other series, I recognize some strong similarities in how he writes about his antagonists. If they aren't 900 pages long and I find them cheap it might be enough to make me try one of his books from this world.return'Its Still the same Old Story' is a Carrie Vaughn, Kitty Norville, short story and plugs comfortably into the urban fantasy maybe theme. Better than I would have expected.returnI'd never heard of Conn Iggulden before 'The Lady Is a Screamer'...its not much of a detective story/mystery, nor historical, nor really any version of urban fantasy so I'm not 100% sure what its doing here, but it was an interesting change of pace as a ghost hunter story with somewhat of a moral.return'Hellbender' wants to be noir, but overdoes it in parts and fails to achieve it in others. Also sexy salamanders.returnI know Glen Cook is supposed to have some great series, and apparently Garrett P.I. is a long running one. But man was 'Shadow Thieves' a rough read. Maybe its because the series is so long and there's too much back story for these seemingly main characters for someone to jump in with a short story this late in the game. But I didn't care about the people, there were lots of references to characters or things that seemed to assume prior knowledge. The dialogue, what wasn't just omitted or hand waived because some characters could read minds, was almost as disjointed as the action scenes.returnSnodgrass' 'No Mystery, No Miracle' holds up well enough without knowing anything about her edge of reason series, though again, doesn't feel detective/mystery (though I think the series does focus on a detective). Like others have in the past, I think its trying to shoehorn some of Lovecraft's 'Old Ones' material into a good vs. evil/cosmic battle sort of framework.returnDaniel Abraham, writing under his romantasy non de plume M.L.N. Hanover, contributes a piece so interesting I was shocked that was supposed to be part of his romantasy series. One of the better characterization of cops as well.returnThe last big chunk of the book is equally hit and miss, but Lord John was an interesting historical piece set in Jamaica, an In Red, With Pearls was a Patricia Briggs/Mercy Thompson urban fantasy that was readable. returnAll in all, I think this is a good example of what angers Martin fans when he does yet another project of dubious quality instead of finishing his own work. Maybe pick it up at the library if there are some stories by folks you already like, or just read a couple of the ones that catch your eye and skip the others.
