McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales
by Michael Chabon
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 633)
Read in June, 2003
This was my first foray into McSweeney's, drawn into it by the inclusion of two of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman and Harlan Ellison, both of whose contributions, oddly enough, turned out to be some of the weaker stories included here (you read enough Gaiman and it becomes easy to tell when he's phoning it in, and Ellison, by virtue of being so prolific, has put out more than a few clunkers, especially as he gets more and more mired in his own lingo as he ages). Guest editor Michael Chabon ov...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
those seeking thrills and otherwise
This McSweeny's publication is edited by Michael Chabon and his purpose for the anthology was to include, as the title suggests, thrilling short stories. He didn't dissapoint. Some excellent talent was recruited including: Elmore Leonard, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Nick Hornby, Michael Crichton, Sherman Alexie and of course Dave Eggers and Mr. Chabon himself.
After finishing this book the thing I was most surprised about was that many of my favorite stories were by the authors which I was unf...more
After finishing this book the thing I was most surprised about was that many of my favorite stories were by the authors which I was unf...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2003
recommends it for:
anyone who likes "old-fashioned" short stories
I spotted McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales on the New Releases table at the local bookstore a month or two ago - I picked it up & glanced at the list of authors on the back & figured it to be a pretty good read.
I was not disappointed. In his introduction, Michael Chabon discussed his concern with the current state of the short story and challenged his fellow authors to come up with plot-driven stories, more in line...more
I was not disappointed. In his introduction, Michael Chabon discussed his concern with the current state of the short story and challenged his fellow authors to come up with plot-driven stories, more in line...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
Well, I hate to be a pretentious indie hipster, but I love and adore McSweeney's and I want them to publish something that I write someday cause it would be awesome.
That being said, this book only continues my love affair with the publisher.
In the introduction, Michael Chabon complains about how most short stories written today completely lack plot and then end with a startling revelation that is character-related. He's absolutely right. Remember all of those creative writing stories...more
That being said, this book only continues my love affair with the publisher.
In the introduction, Michael Chabon complains about how most short stories written today completely lack plot and then end with a startling revelation that is character-related. He's absolutely right. Remember all of those creative writing stories...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
The problem with anthologies like this is that if the writers submit new stories, which they did in this case, they're just not going to be their best work. Those same writers are going to save their best work for their OWN collections of short stories.
I did not finish this book but I did read Hornby's, Chaon's, Crichton's, Gaiman's, Leonard's, and attempted to read King's (impenetrable). Leonard's. Leonard's was the only one that was good--it was quite good. The others were quite bad, reall...more
I did not finish this book but I did read Hornby's, Chaon's, Crichton's, Gaiman's, Leonard's, and attempted to read King's (impenetrable). Leonard's. Leonard's was the only one that was good--it was quite good. The others were quite bad, reall...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
A good collection of ripping yarns, despite any (staggering) misgivings you may have about the imprint. I especially enjoyed “The Nazi Canary” by Michael Moorcock (alt-30’s Conan-Doyle-style whodunnit concerning the suspicious death of Hitler’s niece); “Ghost Dance,” a cowboys-and-Indians ghost story by Sherman Alexie; plus a Depression-era gangster shoot-em-up by Elmore Leonard, a couple of good time-travel stories by Nick Hornby and Chris Offutt, and an in-search-of-prehistoric-sha...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommends it for:
people who feel guilty about not having worked on their own short stories in a long time
i owned this book at one time, and then in a fit of "i'm moving, i need to jettison some crap," i gave it away or possibly sold it at half-price books. BAD IDEA. but then i found a copy of this one and a similar one ( mcsweeney's enchanted chamber of astonishing stories) at the strand and knew i had to have them back.
the nick hornby story in the book is probably my favorite, though that opi...more
the nick hornby story in the book is probably my favorite, though that opi...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
A mixed bag, but overall a strong collection of "genre" fiction in McSweeney's Quarterly Volume 10. There are a number of mystery and adventure stories, some horror, fantasy, and science fiction.
Definitely read Dan Chaon's "The Bees," Glen David Gold's "Tears of Squonk," Jim Shepard's "Tedford and the Megalodon," and Rick Moody's "The Albertine Notes."
Skip Chris Offutt's "Chuck's Bucket," and Michael Chrichton's "...more
Definitely read Dan Chaon's "The Bees," Glen David Gold's "Tears of Squonk," Jim Shepard's "Tedford and the Megalodon," and Rick Moody's "The Albertine Notes."
Skip Chris Offutt's "Chuck's Bucket," and Michael Chrichton's "...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2007
Hyperbole, Ahoy!
While not exactly "thrilling," there are some damnably-good short stories in this compendium from America's (the world's?) best short-literature publication (magazine doesn't quite fit the fine, high-quality, heavyweight paper used in McSweeney's, nor the quality of the material therein, which is distressingly bereft of articles on how to make your bedroom sizzle).
Of particular note is a new short by Nick Hornby which, while not thrilling, is a ripping-good yarn.
While not exactly "thrilling," there are some damnably-good short stories in this compendium from America's (the world's?) best short-literature publication (magazine doesn't quite fit the fine, high-quality, heavyweight paper used in McSweeney's, nor the quality of the material therein, which is distressingly bereft of articles on how to make your bedroom sizzle).
Of particular note is a new short by Nick Hornby which, while not thrilling, is a ripping-good yarn.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Hit or miss. With more misses than hits. But - full disclosure - I disliked the smirking archness of the title from the get-go, so I was a little predisposed not to like this book.
When the McSweeney's gang are good, they are very, very good. But when they miss the mark, their cleverness can get old very quickly indeed.
As other reviewers have noted, Nick Hornby's contribution is terrific. But certainly not worth the price of this book.
When the McSweeney's gang are good, they are very, very good. But when they miss the mark, their cleverness can get old very quickly indeed.
As other reviewers have noted, Nick Hornby's contribution is terrific. But certainly not worth the price of this book.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
McSweeney's completists.
The premise of this is really cool -- stories that are about something, plotty and genre-y. The execution runs a little hot and cold. Some of the stories are really cool and engaging, some not so much. I was actually pretty impressed by Dave Eggers's showing (a story about a woman climbing Mount Kilimanjaro). Also includes stories by Neil Gaiman, Kelly Link, Sherman Alexie, and Michael Chabon, who also complied the book.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
A lot of these stories are very fun. One of my favorites is a great western by Elmore Leonard. I also liked "Otherwise Pandemonium" by Nick Hornby, "Chuck's Bucket" by Chris Offutt, "Up the Mountain Coming Down Slowly" by by Dave Eggers, and "The Albertine Notes" by Rick Moody. This really made me want to read both more short stories, and more westerns. I'd call this a really fun, entertaining book.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2007
For the most part, I enjoyed these stories...for the most part. There was one that made me want to burn this book in annoyance, which would actually be appropriate to the story, sort of. But another story would make me leap into the flames to save this collection. Here are the titles: The Case of the Nazi Canary and The Albertine Notes. Can you guess which is which?
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
i picked this up because i have been reading some of michael chabon's books and he edited this one. it is filled with short stories from mostly famous authors. kinda creepy, kinda dark. the one about the elephant stayed with me for days. and elmore leonards story has a "no country for old men" film noir-ish feel.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
i loved this group of stories put out by mcsweeneys and edited by michael chabon. both this book and the other amazing tales book edited by chabon are great. like the mcsweeneys qtrlys, it brings together stories, by both well known and not so well known authors, that are a little off the beaten path.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
as always, a mixed bag. although I usually love Stephen King, I skipped his story because (having never read the Dark Tower books) I didn't understand it. The stories by Nick Hornby, Glen David Gold and Kelly Link were brilliant, but most of the others were just so-so.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
Readers who enjoy action stories
This is an OK collection assembled by Dave Eggers and McSweeney's. Most of the stories are readable and enjoyable, but not excellent. However, Nick Hornby's "Otherwise Pandemonium" is remarkable. That story alone makes this collection worth buying.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2004
recommends it for:
short story enthusiasts
These stories run the gammut from here to there, everywhere but boring. I suggest you take some serious time to think through the story "Cat Skin". Wow. You have not read a story like this. It is a stand out among gems.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I've been "currently reading" this book since about around Christmas 2005, I think. Doesn't mean I don't enjoy it, just don't usually read short stories. It's something fun to pick up when I'm between books, though.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2007
Seems to have a slight fantasy touch in most of the stories within this compilation.
As with any short story collection with different authors, you will enjoy some, suffer through some.
As with any short story collection with different authors, you will enjoy some, suffer through some.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
