A Day at the Inn, a Night at the Palace and Other Stories

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A Day at the Inn, a Night at the Palace and Other Stories

by Catherine Lundoff (Goodreads Author)

4.38 of 5 stars 4.38 · rating details · 13 ratings · 6 reviews

A Day at the Inn, A Night at the Palace, the short and fantastical fiction collection by two-time Golden Crown Literary Award winner Catherine Lundoff features engaging stories about swashbuckling female pirates, opera singers and mercenaries. Follow Shakespeare's sister, Judith, and solve the question of who really authored the plays. Consort with highwaymen (who are more...more

Paperback, 1st, 220 pages

Published October 9th 2011 by Lethe Press (first published October 6th 2011)

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Dec 07, 2011 Warren Rochelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

This fine new collection of stories from by two-time winner of the Golden Crown Literary Award and Lambda Literary and Tiptree Award-nominated author, Catherine Lundoff, is labeled on its back cover lesbian fiction.

True enough. The protagonists of these stories are lesbians and lesbian relationships are prominently featured, as one might expect. But to apply that label and to stop there is limiting and suggests that one's sexuality is all that defines a person, and that one is gay or straight or...more This fine new collection of stories from by two-time winner of the Golden Crown Literary Award and Lambda Literary and Tiptree Award-nominated author, Catherine Lundoff, is labeled on its back cover lesbian fiction.

True enough. The protagonists of these stories are lesbians and lesbian relationships are prominently featured, as one might expect. But to apply that label and to stop there is limiting and suggests that one's sexuality is all that defines a person, and that one is gay or straight or bisexual before one is anything else. Yes, these protagonists, these heroines, are lesbians, but they are also swashbuckling female pirates, opera singers and witches, a lovelorn editor of anthologies about cats, the Queen of the Fey, and Shakespeare's twin sister (just who did write those plays?), and even highway men (sort of).

Or a mercenary, as is the protagonist of the title story, "Corporal Maeve the Red, swordswoman, last of the Prince of Surest's Company, at your service," who wakes up feeling that "Morning has hit [her] like a kick from a horse" (187). Not the most auspicious of ways to start one's day, to say the least. Beside her on the floor is the Princess Miaqi, one of the Sunborn, hereditary rulers of the country, and daughter of the reigning king. Or is she? Where is Maeve's companion in arms and crime, her cousin, Raven? Things are not quite what they seem--a running motif in this collection and one of its strengths, as Lundoff is constantly asking the reader to question reality as is presented, as is perceived, and to question the truth of such constraints as gender definitions imposed on us by society, by custom. The supposed princess, whose presence on the floor of a room smelling of stale beer sends Maeve into something akin to a panic, isn't--she--or rather he--is her cousin, Raven, who now happens to be in the wrong body. Which means the Princess must be in Raven's body, inside the palace . . .

This does not bode well.

So, then, Maeve's adventures commence, with the help of Ginn, a quiet attractive woman (who seems quite interested in Maeve), plying her trade at the Inn and Ginn's sister, a spit girl (she turns the meat spit in the kitchen) in the palace. Like any good adventuress, Maeve has a quest to complete, with particular tasks to perform: how to get into said palace, figure what the hell is going on, find the Princess-who-is-in-Raven's body, make the switch, and get out without being caught or killed. As Raven-as-Princess says, "Maeve, I want my body back. I want it now" (200). Complications definitely ensue, as Maeve and Raven-as-Princess find themselves in the middle of sibling rivalry taken to new heights: which child of the dying King can take and hold the throne, never mind which was born first. And there is the mage who is apparently responsible for the magic necessary--will he cooperate? That switching bodies proves far more complicated than expected almost goes without saying. If there is a happy ending or not--will bodies and souls be reunited, will Maeve come back to Ginn?--I leave for the reader to discover.

That all of this seems like a dark comedy of errors of some sort (albeit a very dangerous one) is, I would argue, no mistake. Another strong feature of Lundoff's writing is its current of wry humor. How else could Maeve survive what seems to be one misstep after another? So it is with Selena, the heroine of "Spell, Book, and Candle," who is the proprietress of Lovejoy's Magical Books and Mystical Goods Emporium and is still lusting after her college girl friend, Mona Santiago, she of the corporate magic world. Six or seven years after their breakup, Selena still has dreams "about her almost every night" (150). Then, Mona shows up in Selena's store wanting a love spell to ensnare another woman. The temptation is too great: with some magical assistance, Selena can make Mona fall in love with her all over again--or can she? Complications definitely ensue, including Selena's magic causing Mona to fall in love with Selena's cat, not her--that and the cat is now hosting a ancestral practitioner of the black arts, Lady Isabelle. Attempting to fix things .... more trouble.

These are but two of the ten excellent and well researched stories that comprise this collection, stories of the unexpected, often funny, and always something of a commentary on the human condition, and on the human heart. Lundoff notes in her introduction that she grew up reading "Dumas and Sabatini and Hope, dreaming about more active roles for their women characters" --and in this collection she has created just these kinds of roles, as is illustrated in the historical tales included here, such as "The Letter of the Marque," about the real-life pirate, Jacquotte Delahaye, and the equally real opera singer, Aubigny Le Maupin, in "M. LeMaupin." And as she also notes in her introduction, "Other events and other stories are more speculative . . . other worlds, things that might have been, all of these have been a source of fascination and inspiration for [her]" (10).

And always: these are stories about what it means to be human. There are many ways to answer that question and readers will find many possible answers in these ten stories. Readers will find themselves thinking about gender as a social construct, and hear the voices of strong and powerful women, queer voices that have long needed hearing. They will ponder second chances and what could have been; what should have been. Readers will find themselves at the intersection of love and magic, thanks to this powerful storyteller.
Highly recommended. (less)

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Nov 07, 2011 Gwendolyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

To be fair, I have to admit up-front to already being a fan of the work of Catherine Lundoff.

That said, this wonderful collection of short-stories is engrossing and delightful. The stories will leave a smile on your lips, and don't be surprised if you find yourself shaking your head in disbelief and thinking.'I didn't see that coming'.

I do have one... and only one complaint, which is that I reached the back cover far too soon for my own liking.

Brava!

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Dec 14, 2012 Victoria Pond rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: anthology, fantasy, alternate-universe, romance, regency, science-fiction, victoriana

This anthology of lesbian romances has everything. Bizarre horror, Shakespeare's younger sister, a Regency cross-dressing tale (which is the story I bought it for).

Lots of fun!

(Disclaimy-Note: Reviewer is internet-friends with the author.)

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Nov 14, 2012 David marked it as to-read

Shelves: collections, fantasy, not-available-at-library, glbt, by-women

I liked her short story in Obessions so I requested this book.

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Jul 13, 2012 Sally rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lesbian

Anthologies are generally hit or miss, but this is a solid collection of stories. The various settings are handled beautifully, and even if some aren't developed beyond the historical reality, they are still explored in enough detail to be thoroughly convincing. I loved the heroines in all the stories (a nice sampling of characters), and the writing was wonderful.

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Oct 26, 2012 Marcie Parrish rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a really nice collection of short stories. The biggest problem with the book is that I wanted several of the stories to continue for many more pages.

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May 13, 2013 Shama marked it as to-read

Apr 22, 2013 Aren Nova marked it as to-read

Shelves: fantasy

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Jan 01, 2013 Helle marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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Nov 27, 2012 Rosemary O'Malley marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Nov 14, 2012 Reccy is currently reading it

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Nov 30, 2012 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical

Nov 01, 2012 Catriona marked it as to-read

May 12, 2012 Casey marked it as to-read

Shelves: queer, short-stories

Mar 29, 2012 Elaine Mulligan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mar 19, 2012 Snott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lesbian-scifi-fantasy-paranormal

Mar 03, 2012 Ohhaykendra marked it as to-read

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Mar 03, 2012 Vicky marked it as to-read

Recommended to Vicky by: via lesbrary

Shelves: short-stories

Mar 03, 2012 Danika at The Lesbrary marked it as to-read

Feb 16, 2012 C.M. rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Jul 29, 2012 Kristi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, ebook

Dec 21, 2011 Brigitte marked it as to-read

Shelves: fairy-tales, fantasy, historical-fiction, lgbtq, magical-realism, women-feminism

Dec 06, 2011 Dawn marked it as to-read

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About Catherine Lundoff

Catherine Lundoff’s stories have appeared or are forthcoming in over 70 publications including So Fey: Queer Faery Stories, Time Well Bent: Queer Alternate History, Tales of the Unanticipated, Periphery: Erotic Lesbian Futures, Farrago’s Wainscot, Khimairal Ink, Caught Looking, The Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica 6, Sex and Candy, Best Lesbian Bondage Erotica and Best Lesbian Erotica 2008. She is...more

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