A collection of short fantasy tales includes works by Patricia McKillip, Jane Yolen, Joan Vinge, Peter Dickinson, James P. Blaylock, P.C. Hodgell, ...
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reviews
Feb 14, 2011
Althea
rated it: 
Imaginary Lands - Robin McKinley, ed.
I expected to like this anthology a lot more than I did. Many of the authors are ones that I greatly like and respect; and a couple of the entries were excellent - but others fell a bit flat, to me.
contents:
• James P. Blaylock. Paper Dragons. 1985
This story had a bit too much of the classic 'tall tale' to it for my taste. Those who enjoy that sort of thing may love it, but it just wasn't for me.
• Patricia A. McK More...
I expected to like this anthology a lot more than I did. Many of the authors are ones that I greatly like and respect; and a couple of the entries were excellent - but others fell a bit flat, to me.
contents:
• James P. Blaylock. Paper Dragons. 1985
This story had a bit too much of the classic 'tall tale' to it for my taste. Those who enjoy that sort of thing may love it, but it just wasn't for me.
• Patricia A. McK More...
May 07, 2010
Ashley
rated it:
I really struggled through this anthology. I picked it up because of McKinley's name on the cover. I love Robin McKinley, but this book makes me embarrased for her and several of the authors who contributed. Some of the stories felt like they were just trying so hard to make the setting of the story the focal point that the actual story was completely lost or irrelevant. Most of them did not include enough character development to make the characters matter to the reader and very few of them hel
More...
Jun 14, 2008
Lia
rated it:
A collection of stories . . . some are good. Not a super-strong collection.
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Sep 28, 2009
Maureen
rated it:
edited by Robin McKinley
This the second time I've read this anthology. Oddly enough, I think I liked it more this time around. There were still a few stories I wasn't as wild about. But "Flight" by Peter Dickinson, "The Old Woman and the Storm" by Patricia McKillip, and "The Stone Fey" by Robin McKinley herself were all, in my opinion, excellent. They were also, interestingly enough, the stories which I felt best fulfilled the stated mission of the b More...
This the second time I've read this anthology. Oddly enough, I think I liked it more this time around. There were still a few stories I wasn't as wild about. But "Flight" by Peter Dickinson, "The Old Woman and the Storm" by Patricia McKillip, and "The Stone Fey" by Robin McKinley herself were all, in my opinion, excellent. They were also, interestingly enough, the stories which I felt best fulfilled the stated mission of the b More...
Aug 18, 2010
Julie
rated it:
A story collection, Robin McKinley edited and contributed one story (The Stone Fey, which is also available separately).
It wasn't really great. I think I was expecting stories more like Robin's but they weren't really. A couple were the weird, surreal stories that seem to think themselves cool or highly literary when they leave the reader going "Huh? Was that based on half an odd dream, or what?" that you find in fantasy collections but never make it as books. I wouldn't ha More...
It wasn't really great. I think I was expecting stories more like Robin's but they weren't really. A couple were the weird, surreal stories that seem to think themselves cool or highly literary when they leave the reader going "Huh? Was that based on half an odd dream, or what?" that you find in fantasy collections but never make it as books. I wouldn't ha More...
Mar 16, 2009
Meg
rated it:
On the whole, I was a little disappointed by this short story collection; I had high expectations of an anthology, edited by McKinley, but none of the stories other than McKinley's own "The Stone Fey" particularly resonated with me. And if you want to read "The Stone Fey", I'd recommend the stand-alone illustrated version.
Still three stars, though. A disappointing McKinley collection is still better than most collections.
Still three stars, though. A disappointing McKinley collection is still better than most collections.
Sep 14, 2010
None of the stories in here were very appealing to me. Though some of them might appeal to other readers, or even to me in a different mood. I mainly got this from the library because I was mildly surprised that Robin McKinley had edited an anthology.
Oct 16, 2011
Adrian
rated it:
I didn't know that this book existed but randomly ran across it in the library. Short story collection compiled by Robin McKinley from 1986. I enjoyed it but probably won't read it again.
Dec 03, 2008
Lisette
rated it: 
If you read nothing else in here, read Peter Dickinson's contribution. You don't know irony until you've read "Flight." Dryly hilarious, in a pseudo-dry-as-dust-history kind of way.
Aug 11, 2011
Not one I want my kids to read until they're older. Very well written, very interesting, they pull you in completely.
Jul 13, 2009
Mnemosyne
rated it:
"The Stone Fey" is enchanting as always. The rest of the short stories were just okay.
Feb 04, 2011
Lucianna
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Nov 29, 2007
Mary-Beth
rated it:
So the story in this anthology that has haunted me forever is for some reason "The Big Rock Candy Mountain." I don't even remember what the story was about fully except that it was an underground land where everything was coated with salt crystals, including a man and a horse.
Jan 30, 2011
Unit of Raine
rated it: 
Blah. Wasn't really in the mood. I mainly chose this book for the Darian short story. And it was poorly written. Which hasn't inspired me to read any of the other stories in the collection. Thank goodness for library books ...
Apr 16, 2008
Karen
rated it:
Books like this are great for finding new authors and new "worlds." I'm already making a list of existing lands that I would like to futher explore!
Nov 25, 2011
Beka
rated it:
I didn't enjoy most of these stories, but a couple of them were enjoyable.
Sep 21, 2007
elissa
rated it:
A nice collection of fantasy stories (and SF?--not sure), edited by McKinley.
Feb 13, 2012
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