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Titan and Serpent #3 - Until There Is Only Hunger
Upside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling
Upside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling is an anthology of short stories, poetry, and essays edited by Monica Valentinelli and Jaym Gates. Over two dozen authors, ranging from NYT-bestsellers and award winners to debut writers, chose a tired trope or cliche to challenge and surprise readers through their work.
Read stories inspired by tropes such as the Chainmaille Bikini, Love at First Sight, Damsels in Distress, Yellow Peril, The Black Man Dies First, The Villain Had a Crappy Childhood, The Singularity Will Cause the Apocalypse, and many more...then discover what these tropes mean to each author to find out what inspired them.
Join Maurice Broaddus, Adam Troy-Castro, Delilah S. Dawson, Shanna Germain, Sara M. Harvey, John Hornor Jacobs, Rahul Kanakia, Alethea Kontis, Valya Dudycz Lupescu, Haralmbi Markov, Sunil Patel, Kat Richardson, Nisi Shawl, Ferrett Steinmetz, Anton Strout, Michael Underwood, Alyssa Wong and many other authors as they take well-worn tropes and cliches and flip them upside down.
CONTENTS
Introduction -- Jerry Gordon
SECTION I: INVERTING THE TROPES
On Loving Bad Boys: A Villanelle -- Valya Dudycz Lupescu
Single, Singularity -- John Hornor Jacobs
Lazzrus -- Nisi Shawl
Seeking Truth -- Elsa Sjunneson-Henry
Thwock -- Michelle Muenzler
Can You Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place? -- Michael R. Underwood
Chosen -- Anton Strout
The White Dragon -- Alyssa Wong
Her Curse, How Gently It Comes Undone -- Haralambi Markov
Burning Bright -- Shanna Germain
Santa CIS (Episode 1: No Saint) -- Alethea Kontis
Requiem for a Manic Pixie Dream -- Katy Harrad & Greg Stolze
The Refrigerator in the Girlfriend -- Adam-Troy Castro
The First Blood of Poppy Dupree -- Delilah S. Dawson
Red Light -- Sara M. Harvey
Until There Is Only Hunger -- Michael Matheson
Super Duper Fly -- Maurice Broaddus
Drafty as a Chain Mail Bikini -- Kat Richardson
Swan Song -- Michelle Lyons-McFarland
Those Who Leave -- Michael Choi
Nouns of Nouns: A Mini Epic -- Alex Shvartsman
Excess Light -- Rahul Kanakia
The Origin of Terror -- Sunil Patel
The Tangled Web -- Ferrett Steinmetz
Hamsa, Hamsa, Hamsa, Tfu, Tfu, Tfu. -- Alisa Schreibman
Real Women Are Dangerous -- Rati Mehrotra
SECTION II: DISCUSSING THE TROPES
I'm Pretty Sure I've Read This Before ... -- Patrick Hester
Fractured Souls -- Lucy A. Snyder
Into the Labyrinth: The Heroine's Journey -- A.C. Wise
Escaping the Hall of Mirrors -- Victor Raymond
Tropes as Erasers: A Transgender Perspective -- Keffy R.M. Kehrli
SECTION III: DEFINING THE TROPES
Afterword -- Monica Valentinelli & Jaym Gates
Trope Definitions/Index of Tropes
SECTION IV: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND ADDITIONAL BIOS
358 pages, Hardcover
First published December 13, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 6, 2017
Upside Down is a collection of short stories intended to subvert common tropes in storytelling and essays discussing trope usage. The vast majority of the collection is short stories, and wow are there a lot of stories. Like in any collection, there were stories that impressed me and stories that didn’t. However, on the whole I found the collection to be on the weaker side.
Going into the collection, I wasn’t aware of most of the contributing authors. I picked it up mainly for Delilah S. Dawson, Alyssa Wong, and Nisi Shawl. I found Shawl’s story to be all right if not exceptional, but I did love both Wong and Dawson’s work. Alyssa Wong took on Yellow Peril in her short story “The White Dragon,” about a girl with the ability to see curses. I loved how magic was described here! Alyssa Wong never disappoints. Dawson twisted First Period Panic in her story “The First Blood of Poppy Dupree,” creating an intriguing mix of Southern Gothic and Greek mythology.
There were other stories I enjoyed as well. Micheal Choi’s “Those Who Leaves” centers on the relationship between a girl, her mother, and the sea. He manages to make a heartrendingly beautiful story out of the Asian Scientist trope. In another #ownvoices story, “Seeking Truth,” Elsa Sjunneson-Henry tackles Blind People Are Magic in her tale of a blind criminal interrogator who always finds the truth.
Other stories had some interesting ideas at their heart. In “The Tangled Web,” Ferrett Steinmetz crafts a tale of a race of insect people where the males’ greatest desire is to find true love and be devoured by eggs a female lays in him. It was the strangest version of Love at First Sight I’ve ever encountered. “No Saint” by Alethea Kontis uses the trope of The Retired Pro’s “Last” Job, but the “pro” in this instance is none other than Santa Claus!
“Super Duper Fly” by Maurice Broaddus had a shaky start but ended up being a hilarious parody of the Magical Negro trope and The Green Mile. On the flip side, Michael Underwood’s “Can You Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place?” was hands down the most depressing story of the collection. Yes, I know the ending’s optimistic, but still.
Other stories felt contrived or one note. Some of these it was clear what trope the author was using, others it wasn’t. Kat Richardson’s “Drafty as a Chainmaille Bikini” felt simplistic and didn’t add much new to criticisms of female characters in chain mail bikinis. I think it was intended to be funny, but it left me cold. Alex Shvartsman tries to work with all of epic fantasy in “Noun of Nouns: A Mini Epic,” but it never feels more than juvenile. And is epic fantasy even a trope? I think of it more as a genre. Another story that never felt more than surface level was “The Refrigerator in the Girlfriend” by Adam-Troy Castro. He never engages with the criticisms of Woman in the Refrigerator and does little more than flip the words to create an absurd scenario.
I found other stories more confusing in what tropes they were using, but there’s a section at the end of the book connecting each trope to each story. Rati Mehrotra attempts to take on Gendercide in “Real Women Are Dangerous,” but ends up with a very gender binary story focused around men. I could tell while reading it that “Chosen” by Anton Strout was trying to do something with the Chosen One trope, but it felt rather aimless and confusing.
There’s twenty-six short stories in this collection. I’ve only gone over fourteen here, but the other twelve felt completely forgettable and not even worth getting into. I did have hopes for the nonfiction section, but I ended up disappointed there as well. Most of the essays felt incredibly boring. The only one I made it all the way through was Keffy R.M. Kehrli’s “Tropes as Erasers: A Transgender Perspective,” which I actually did like.
There were stories I liked but they felt largely outweighed by stories I didn’t care for. This isn’t a collection I’ll be recommending in the future.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received an ARC of Upside Down from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
Going into the collection, I wasn’t aware of most of the contributing authors. I picked it up mainly for Delilah S. Dawson, Alyssa Wong, and Nisi Shawl. I found Shawl’s story to be all right if not exceptional, but I did love both Wong and Dawson’s work. Alyssa Wong took on Yellow Peril in her short story “The White Dragon,” about a girl with the ability to see curses. I loved how magic was described here! Alyssa Wong never disappoints. Dawson twisted First Period Panic in her story “The First Blood of Poppy Dupree,” creating an intriguing mix of Southern Gothic and Greek mythology.
There were other stories I enjoyed as well. Micheal Choi’s “Those Who Leaves” centers on the relationship between a girl, her mother, and the sea. He manages to make a heartrendingly beautiful story out of the Asian Scientist trope. In another #ownvoices story, “Seeking Truth,” Elsa Sjunneson-Henry tackles Blind People Are Magic in her tale of a blind criminal interrogator who always finds the truth.
Other stories had some interesting ideas at their heart. In “The Tangled Web,” Ferrett Steinmetz crafts a tale of a race of insect people where the males’ greatest desire is to find true love and be devoured by eggs a female lays in him. It was the strangest version of Love at First Sight I’ve ever encountered. “No Saint” by Alethea Kontis uses the trope of The Retired Pro’s “Last” Job, but the “pro” in this instance is none other than Santa Claus!
“Super Duper Fly” by Maurice Broaddus had a shaky start but ended up being a hilarious parody of the Magical Negro trope and The Green Mile. On the flip side, Michael Underwood’s “Can You Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place?” was hands down the most depressing story of the collection. Yes, I know the ending’s optimistic, but still.
Other stories felt contrived or one note. Some of these it was clear what trope the author was using, others it wasn’t. Kat Richardson’s “Drafty as a Chainmaille Bikini” felt simplistic and didn’t add much new to criticisms of female characters in chain mail bikinis. I think it was intended to be funny, but it left me cold. Alex Shvartsman tries to work with all of epic fantasy in “Noun of Nouns: A Mini Epic,” but it never feels more than juvenile. And is epic fantasy even a trope? I think of it more as a genre. Another story that never felt more than surface level was “The Refrigerator in the Girlfriend” by Adam-Troy Castro. He never engages with the criticisms of Woman in the Refrigerator and does little more than flip the words to create an absurd scenario.
I found other stories more confusing in what tropes they were using, but there’s a section at the end of the book connecting each trope to each story. Rati Mehrotra attempts to take on Gendercide in “Real Women Are Dangerous,” but ends up with a very gender binary story focused around men. I could tell while reading it that “Chosen” by Anton Strout was trying to do something with the Chosen One trope, but it felt rather aimless and confusing.
There’s twenty-six short stories in this collection. I’ve only gone over fourteen here, but the other twelve felt completely forgettable and not even worth getting into. I did have hopes for the nonfiction section, but I ended up disappointed there as well. Most of the essays felt incredibly boring. The only one I made it all the way through was Keffy R.M. Kehrli’s “Tropes as Erasers: A Transgender Perspective,” which I actually did like.
There were stories I liked but they felt largely outweighed by stories I didn’t care for. This isn’t a collection I’ll be recommending in the future.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received an ARC of Upside Down from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
June 12, 2017
I've said before that anthologies are notoriously hard to review. This one is no exception. In a way the difficulty is doubled because I'm not just rating the stories on their own merit but also by how well they subverted the tropes they're trying to flip. I'm going to try not to reveal the trope they're trying to flip but sometimes it's not easy.
As I usually do, I'll rate each story and then wrap it up at the end. So, let's get started!
On Loving Bad Boys: A Villainelle - Valya Dudycz-Lupescu 3 Stars
Since this one is pretty obvious what the trope is (Good Girls Love Bad Boys) I'm not going to bother with hiding it. I'm not a huge reader of poetry so I don't really know what the 'standards' are. It was ok, in my opinion, but I wasn't thrilled with it. Then again, someone else might like it better.
Single/Singularity - John Hornor Jacobs 4 Stars
I really, really liked the story. It's got a great story but I don't think it really flips the trope around that much. In fact, it's a story about a computer becoming self-aware and sentient. So I'm not exactly sure how it flips that particular trope by creating a story with that very same trope at the heart of it. I enjoyed the story immensely though.
Lazzrus - Nisi Shawl 4 Stars
I liked this story a lot. It's a good inversion of the trope they were (if you'll pardon the expression) taking aim at. It seems to be a trope that's slowly starting to fade but not soon enough.
Seeking Truth - Elsa Sjunneson Henry 4 Stars
I haven't read this trope in horror in a while but I don't read all that much fantasy so for all I know it might be alive and well in that genre. I did love the story, though. I think it would make a great thriller series.
Thwock - Michelle Muenzler 2 Stars
I didn't care for this story too much. It's just my opinion of course, but it's short and it doesn't feel like much effort was given to it. I also don't think the author explores the 'Names Have Power' trope as fully as it could be.
Can You Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place? - Michael Underwood 4 Stars
It kind of reminded me of a mix between Sesame Street and Five Nights at Freddy's mixed together. It is a good, dystopian story. I do believe it could be shortened just a tad though as some parts seemed a bit repetitive. I also loved the idea of the Brand Wars.
Chosen - Anton Strout 4 Stars
This story was hilarious and a great spoof of The Chosen One cliche. Ok, the ending is slightly depressing but I loved the rest of the story. It's got each variety of Chosen One (which always makes me think of the movie Kung-Pow). There's the Gunslinger/Brawler, the Antiquarian/Sorcerer/Spell-caster, The Mystical Asian Child and The One raised from birth to fight evil. I think they missed only one trope in that genre: The Hapless Bystander who ends up being the key to the whole thing.
The White Dragon - Alyssa Wong 4 Stars
Again, a trope that is used often, particularly the 'Asian Crime Syndicate' but hopefully will be on the wane soon. Of course, 'The Villainous Crime Syndicate' isn't exactly unique to Asian culture, the Italians get hit with that one as well, quite often.
Her Curse, How Gently It Comes Undone - Haralambi Markov 4 Stars
An awesome story with a great flip on the infamous Damsel in Distress trope. That also seems to be a trope that's trying to wane but is dying hard. For every three that break the mold there are another ten out there that do nothing but reinforce it. No offense to romance readers but this seems to be a genre that highlights that in particular.
Burning Bright - Shanna Germain 5 Stars
I actually couldn't figure out what the trope for this was supposed to be because this is one that, at least in books, is starting to die out. In video games I don't think it's ever really been a trope too much. I also love the main character, she is awesome, ass-kicking and smart but without having it shoved down your throat. It flows naturally from the story. Women have been getting much more physical in books, movies and games for quite a while now.
Santa CIS (Episode 1: No Saint) - Alethea Kontis 4 Stars
I really liked this one a lot. It's perfectly timed with all of the Krampus stories on the upswing. It also defines the trope very well. I don't really see this one going anywhere anytime soon but it really doesn't need to. It's a cliche, but it's an inoffensive one and a lot of good stories can start from cliche ideas. It's where the author takes it from there that makes or breaks a story. This story is very well-made.
Requiem for a Manic Pixie Dream - Katy Harrad and Greg Stolze 4 Stars
This one was perfect and I loved the flip. I was more expecting the Manic Pixie would be a male Manic Pixie (because you rarely see those, if ever) but I liked the way this story went as well.
The Refrigerator in the Girlfriend - Adam-Troy Castro 3 Stars
The trope they're going for is kind of obvious but the story was just so-so to me. It flipped the words around but did nothing for the trope itself which was a little disappointing. It also is a little creepy. Not in a good way, either. It just feels like so much more could have been done with it than was attempted here.
The First Blood of Poppy Dupree - Delilah S. Dawson 4 Stars
I loved this story as well. I kind of figured where it was going but I loved the ending. I can see this trope being on its way out. With the internet and everything there's almost no way a girl could not know the facts of menstruation and all the wonderfulness that goes with it.
Red Light - Sara M. Harvey 4 Stars
Another very good story. I've seen stories in a similar vein. This one was very good though. I'm not sure if it really flips the trope but I'm not really sure how you could flip it without going the total opposite way and running into a whole other trope, the Druggie Hooker.
Until There is Only Hunger - Michael Matheson 5 Stars
A very good story. Awesome imagery. The trope is the world ending/resetting/rebooting and it's not clear which is going on in the story. I would assume that it's ending but it's hard to tell.
Super Duper Fly - Maurice Broaddus 3 Stars
It would be nice if this stereotype got buried. It goes with the Mystical Fill-in-the-Blank Other. The only reason for the lower stars is because the story is kind of choppy.
Drafty as a Chain Mail Bikini - Kat Richardson 5 Stars
Even though I do believe this trope is almost dead this story is hilarious. I love the practicalities of trying to deal with a chain mail bikini. I also love that they also worked in the "If you didn't want to be attacked why would you wear that?". That's something that I would happily see die out, in fiction and real life. I also love the Stolen Honour part of it.
Swan Song - Michelle Lyons-McFarland 3 Stars
It's written well but it's not exactly a new spin on either trope: The "You're Enchanted So Now You Must Marry Me" and the "Wicked Step-Mother".
Those Who Leave - Michael Choi 5 Stars
Great story. I can definitely see what the author means. I've never thought that way but the general media portrayal certainly goes in that direction. Cold, emotionless and robotic. Just because people don't display their emotions does not mean they're robots.
Noun of Nouns: A Mini Epic - Alex Shvartsman 4 Stars
I love the mini-ness of it. As the author puts it the "Epic-fantasy genre is known for it's extra-thick volumes filled with Important People doing World-altering things and engaging in heroic quests." I've actually stayed away from quite a few of them because I don't want to get sucked into a hundred volume series. I'm looking at you Dungeons and Dragons.
Excess Light - Rahul Kanakia 3 Stars
The story was well-written. So why the three stars? I just didn't get what was going on, how the city worked or what they were. I didn't know if they were human or fish-people or what. I'm unfamiliar with the trope but I wouldn't knock stars off for that. It's not one that I run into much because I don't read much futuristic sci-fi stories. I usually only run into it in short story collections. Again, like the 'Pro's Last Job' it seems like a cliche, but a cliche you can take a lot of different places.
The Origin of Terror - Sunil Patel 5 Stars
I loved this story a lot. Because what the author says in their notes is true. If a villain has a bad upbringing nobody thinks twice about it. "Of course, they did that! Look at their childhood!" It almost seems like an excuse for what they've done. A lot of people that do evil things come from backgrounds that are just fine, though. It certainly gives you something to think about.
The Tangled Web - Ferrett Steinmetz 3 Stars
A really creepy (as in creepy crawly creepy) love story about beetles (I think) that sit alone watching romantic comedies and digging knives under their carapaces for pleasure. They live in hope of finding the right female to eat them and fulfill their function. It's supposed to be 'love at first sight' but it struck me more as a failed romance kind of thing. While the story is ok, it doesn't really highlight the trope too well.
Hamsa, Hamsa, Hamsa, Tfu, Tfu, Tfu - Alisa Schreibman 4 Stars
I loved the story and the mythology behind it. The female lead was also awesome.She was intelligent and a bad ass without them thrusting it in your face saying "Look at me, I'm sooo much an ass-kicking woman!" I also do get what they're trying to say. Any Jewish characters are always super-stereotypes or secret ones until they need a show minority.
Real Women Are Dangerous - Rati Mehrotra 3 Stars
I think the issues brought up are explored decently. At the same time the woman is what spurs the male to genius so, it's still a little on the icky side. She's also very sub-serviant and the male goes running back to her because he wants her, not a 'real' woman. so I'm not sure if it went where the author was hoping for it too.
Section II contains different essays which go into further depth on some of the tropes that were not mentioned and deeper into some that were. These include: I'm Pretty Sure I've Read This Before... - Patrick Hester, Fractured Souls - Lucy A. Snyder, Into the Labyrinth: The Heroine's Journey - A.C Wise, Escaping the Hall of Mirrors - Victor Raymond, and Tropes as Erasers: A Transgender Perspective - Keffy R.M. Kehrli.
I didn't care for two of them and I may go further into the Fractured Souls essay at some other time. I think their reading of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' is off but now's not the time to go into it. I've demanded far too much of your attention already.
My only other complaint in how it's set up is that it would have been much easier to read the author's trope explanations come at the end of the story they were writing. Or perhaps a link to the back of the book and the story it goes with. Or, at the very least, in the Index of Tropes at the back to list them in order of their appearance in the book.
I don't know about other people but my memory isn't very good and it would be much easier to just be able to flip the page and get the trope rundown or at the very least be linked to them.
So, there is my rather lengthy review and I hope it was at least enjoyable reading.
Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
As I usually do, I'll rate each story and then wrap it up at the end. So, let's get started!
On Loving Bad Boys: A Villainelle - Valya Dudycz-Lupescu 3 Stars
Since this one is pretty obvious what the trope is (Good Girls Love Bad Boys) I'm not going to bother with hiding it. I'm not a huge reader of poetry so I don't really know what the 'standards' are. It was ok, in my opinion, but I wasn't thrilled with it. Then again, someone else might like it better.
Single/Singularity - John Hornor Jacobs 4 Stars
I really, really liked the story. It's got a great story but I don't think it really flips the trope around that much. In fact, it's a story about a computer becoming self-aware and sentient. So I'm not exactly sure how it flips that particular trope by creating a story with that very same trope at the heart of it. I enjoyed the story immensely though.
Lazzrus - Nisi Shawl 4 Stars
I liked this story a lot. It's a good inversion of the trope they were (if you'll pardon the expression) taking aim at. It seems to be a trope that's slowly starting to fade but not soon enough.
Seeking Truth - Elsa Sjunneson Henry 4 Stars
I haven't read this trope in horror in a while but I don't read all that much fantasy so for all I know it might be alive and well in that genre. I did love the story, though. I think it would make a great thriller series.
Thwock - Michelle Muenzler 2 Stars
I didn't care for this story too much. It's just my opinion of course, but it's short and it doesn't feel like much effort was given to it. I also don't think the author explores the 'Names Have Power' trope as fully as it could be.
Can You Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place? - Michael Underwood 4 Stars
It kind of reminded me of a mix between Sesame Street and Five Nights at Freddy's mixed together. It is a good, dystopian story. I do believe it could be shortened just a tad though as some parts seemed a bit repetitive. I also loved the idea of the Brand Wars.
Chosen - Anton Strout 4 Stars
This story was hilarious and a great spoof of The Chosen One cliche. Ok, the ending is slightly depressing but I loved the rest of the story. It's got each variety of Chosen One (which always makes me think of the movie Kung-Pow). There's the Gunslinger/Brawler, the Antiquarian/Sorcerer/Spell-caster, The Mystical Asian Child and The One raised from birth to fight evil. I think they missed only one trope in that genre: The Hapless Bystander who ends up being the key to the whole thing.
The White Dragon - Alyssa Wong 4 Stars
Again, a trope that is used often, particularly the 'Asian Crime Syndicate' but hopefully will be on the wane soon. Of course, 'The Villainous Crime Syndicate' isn't exactly unique to Asian culture, the Italians get hit with that one as well, quite often.
Her Curse, How Gently It Comes Undone - Haralambi Markov 4 Stars
An awesome story with a great flip on the infamous Damsel in Distress trope. That also seems to be a trope that's trying to wane but is dying hard. For every three that break the mold there are another ten out there that do nothing but reinforce it. No offense to romance readers but this seems to be a genre that highlights that in particular.
Burning Bright - Shanna Germain 5 Stars
I actually couldn't figure out what the trope for this was supposed to be because this is one that, at least in books, is starting to die out. In video games I don't think it's ever really been a trope too much. I also love the main character, she is awesome, ass-kicking and smart but without having it shoved down your throat. It flows naturally from the story. Women have been getting much more physical in books, movies and games for quite a while now.
Santa CIS (Episode 1: No Saint) - Alethea Kontis 4 Stars
I really liked this one a lot. It's perfectly timed with all of the Krampus stories on the upswing. It also defines the trope very well. I don't really see this one going anywhere anytime soon but it really doesn't need to. It's a cliche, but it's an inoffensive one and a lot of good stories can start from cliche ideas. It's where the author takes it from there that makes or breaks a story. This story is very well-made.
Requiem for a Manic Pixie Dream - Katy Harrad and Greg Stolze 4 Stars
This one was perfect and I loved the flip. I was more expecting the Manic Pixie would be a male Manic Pixie (because you rarely see those, if ever) but I liked the way this story went as well.
The Refrigerator in the Girlfriend - Adam-Troy Castro 3 Stars
The trope they're going for is kind of obvious but the story was just so-so to me. It flipped the words around but did nothing for the trope itself which was a little disappointing. It also is a little creepy. Not in a good way, either. It just feels like so much more could have been done with it than was attempted here.
The First Blood of Poppy Dupree - Delilah S. Dawson 4 Stars
I loved this story as well. I kind of figured where it was going but I loved the ending. I can see this trope being on its way out. With the internet and everything there's almost no way a girl could not know the facts of menstruation and all the wonderfulness that goes with it.
Red Light - Sara M. Harvey 4 Stars
Another very good story. I've seen stories in a similar vein. This one was very good though. I'm not sure if it really flips the trope but I'm not really sure how you could flip it without going the total opposite way and running into a whole other trope, the Druggie Hooker.
Until There is Only Hunger - Michael Matheson 5 Stars
A very good story. Awesome imagery. The trope is the world ending/resetting/rebooting and it's not clear which is going on in the story. I would assume that it's ending but it's hard to tell.
Super Duper Fly - Maurice Broaddus 3 Stars
It would be nice if this stereotype got buried. It goes with the Mystical Fill-in-the-Blank Other. The only reason for the lower stars is because the story is kind of choppy.
Drafty as a Chain Mail Bikini - Kat Richardson 5 Stars
Even though I do believe this trope is almost dead this story is hilarious. I love the practicalities of trying to deal with a chain mail bikini. I also love that they also worked in the "If you didn't want to be attacked why would you wear that?". That's something that I would happily see die out, in fiction and real life. I also love the Stolen Honour part of it.
Swan Song - Michelle Lyons-McFarland 3 Stars
It's written well but it's not exactly a new spin on either trope: The "You're Enchanted So Now You Must Marry Me" and the "Wicked Step-Mother".
Those Who Leave - Michael Choi 5 Stars
Great story. I can definitely see what the author means. I've never thought that way but the general media portrayal certainly goes in that direction. Cold, emotionless and robotic. Just because people don't display their emotions does not mean they're robots.
Noun of Nouns: A Mini Epic - Alex Shvartsman 4 Stars
I love the mini-ness of it. As the author puts it the "Epic-fantasy genre is known for it's extra-thick volumes filled with Important People doing World-altering things and engaging in heroic quests." I've actually stayed away from quite a few of them because I don't want to get sucked into a hundred volume series. I'm looking at you Dungeons and Dragons.
Excess Light - Rahul Kanakia 3 Stars
The story was well-written. So why the three stars? I just didn't get what was going on, how the city worked or what they were. I didn't know if they were human or fish-people or what. I'm unfamiliar with the trope but I wouldn't knock stars off for that. It's not one that I run into much because I don't read much futuristic sci-fi stories. I usually only run into it in short story collections. Again, like the 'Pro's Last Job' it seems like a cliche, but a cliche you can take a lot of different places.
The Origin of Terror - Sunil Patel 5 Stars
I loved this story a lot. Because what the author says in their notes is true. If a villain has a bad upbringing nobody thinks twice about it. "Of course, they did that! Look at their childhood!" It almost seems like an excuse for what they've done. A lot of people that do evil things come from backgrounds that are just fine, though. It certainly gives you something to think about.
The Tangled Web - Ferrett Steinmetz 3 Stars
A really creepy (as in creepy crawly creepy) love story about beetles (I think) that sit alone watching romantic comedies and digging knives under their carapaces for pleasure. They live in hope of finding the right female to eat them and fulfill their function. It's supposed to be 'love at first sight' but it struck me more as a failed romance kind of thing. While the story is ok, it doesn't really highlight the trope too well.
Hamsa, Hamsa, Hamsa, Tfu, Tfu, Tfu - Alisa Schreibman 4 Stars
I loved the story and the mythology behind it. The female lead was also awesome.She was intelligent and a bad ass without them thrusting it in your face saying "Look at me, I'm sooo much an ass-kicking woman!" I also do get what they're trying to say. Any Jewish characters are always super-stereotypes or secret ones until they need a show minority.
Real Women Are Dangerous - Rati Mehrotra 3 Stars
I think the issues brought up are explored decently. At the same time the woman is what spurs the male to genius so, it's still a little on the icky side. She's also very sub-serviant and the male goes running back to her because he wants her, not a 'real' woman. so I'm not sure if it went where the author was hoping for it too.
Section II contains different essays which go into further depth on some of the tropes that were not mentioned and deeper into some that were. These include: I'm Pretty Sure I've Read This Before... - Patrick Hester, Fractured Souls - Lucy A. Snyder, Into the Labyrinth: The Heroine's Journey - A.C Wise, Escaping the Hall of Mirrors - Victor Raymond, and Tropes as Erasers: A Transgender Perspective - Keffy R.M. Kehrli.
I didn't care for two of them and I may go further into the Fractured Souls essay at some other time. I think their reading of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' is off but now's not the time to go into it. I've demanded far too much of your attention already.
My only other complaint in how it's set up is that it would have been much easier to read the author's trope explanations come at the end of the story they were writing. Or perhaps a link to the back of the book and the story it goes with. Or, at the very least, in the Index of Tropes at the back to list them in order of their appearance in the book.
I don't know about other people but my memory isn't very good and it would be much easier to just be able to flip the page and get the trope rundown or at the very least be linked to them.
So, there is my rather lengthy review and I hope it was at least enjoyable reading.
Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
June 1, 2019
I almost didn't read this book because I've had such horrible luck with the last few anthologies I've tried, but I don't think there was a single bad story in here. There were a few that I thought were just a okay, but they were generally the ones that were more sci-fi based and I don't like sci-fi nearly as much as I like fantasy.
I think what made this book so good is that obviously all the authors were very aware of the tropes they were using and also actively worked to subvert them and make them interesting. Tropes are not a bad thing in and of themselves, but it can often make for a boring story that paints completely by the numbers, or else something that is incredibly racist/sexist/homophobic because it uses bad stereotypes. These are all stories that are actively trying to do something new and different and I think that makes them more interesting to read. There are also a few non-fiction essays about the nature of tropes in general at the back of the book.
If you are someone that often struggles with short stories and anthologies then I think this would be a good book for you. It is definitely a cut above most of the anthologies that I have read [which usually get 2 or 3 stars].
I think what made this book so good is that obviously all the authors were very aware of the tropes they were using and also actively worked to subvert them and make them interesting. Tropes are not a bad thing in and of themselves, but it can often make for a boring story that paints completely by the numbers, or else something that is incredibly racist/sexist/homophobic because it uses bad stereotypes. These are all stories that are actively trying to do something new and different and I think that makes them more interesting to read. There are also a few non-fiction essays about the nature of tropes in general at the back of the book.
If you are someone that often struggles with short stories and anthologies then I think this would be a good book for you. It is definitely a cut above most of the anthologies that I have read [which usually get 2 or 3 stars].
November 13, 2016
I have a funny relationship with short stories. If they're bad stories, I'm happy with them because at least they were short. If they're good stories I get mad at them because they should have been longer. I mostly was angry with this book because I wanted all the stories to be longer. Which means it was good I guess.
August 2, 2017
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I'm a bit of a sucker for turning tropes on their ears. I have soft spots for movies that throw them out the window OR turn them up to eleven to the point to where they're ridiculous. Some do both at the same time.
The issue with collections of short stories is that you are probably going to love a few, dislike a few, and the rest are going to be somewhere in the middle. It tends to leave you with a general 'eh' sort of feeling once you get to the end of them. I usually like to note ratings for each individual story, but in this case I didn't really have the option while I was reading it.
I'm a bit of a sucker for turning tropes on their ears. I have soft spots for movies that throw them out the window OR turn them up to eleven to the point to where they're ridiculous. Some do both at the same time.
The issue with collections of short stories is that you are probably going to love a few, dislike a few, and the rest are going to be somewhere in the middle. It tends to leave you with a general 'eh' sort of feeling once you get to the end of them. I usually like to note ratings for each individual story, but in this case I didn't really have the option while I was reading it.
August 4, 2021
A cool idea for a collection of short stories....take a bunch of tired fictional tropes and have different authors write stories that turn them on their ear. I became aware of this book after finishing (and loving) John Horner Jacob's book A Lush and Seething Hell, and seeing that he was one of the contributing authors. His story for the book, Single/Singularity was really good IMO. The end of the book also contains a handful of essays that do a deeper dive into tropes (and the often all too real world harm they do) and these were really interesting as well. I particularly enjoyed the essay Fractured Souls by Lucy A. Snyder that compares and contrasts the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story with Stephen King's portrayal of Detta Walker and Odetta Holmes in his Gunslinger books.
December 27, 2017
I've said before that anthologies are notoriously hard to review. This one is no exception. In a way the difficulty is doubled because I'm not just rating the stories on their own merit but also by how well they subverted the tropes they're trying to flip. I'm going to try not to reveal the trope they're trying to flip but sometimes it's not easy.
As I usually do, I'll rate each story and then wrap it up at the end. So, let's get started!
On Loving Bad Boys: A Villainelle - Valya Dudycz-Lupescu 3 Stars
Since this one is pretty obvious what the trope is (Good Girls Love Bad Boys) I'm not going to bother with hiding it. I'm not a huge reader of poetry so I don't really know what the 'standards' are. It was ok, in my opinion, but I wasn't thrilled with it. Then again, someone else might like it better.
Single/Singularity - John Hornor Jacobs 4 Stars
I really, really liked the story. It's got a great plot but I don't think it really flips the trope around that much. In fact, it's a story about a computer becoming self-aware and sentient. So I'm not exactly sure how it flips that particular trope around by creating a story with that very same trope at the heart of it. The reason for the destruction of humanity is a little different though.
Lazzrus - Nisi Shawl 4 Stars
I liked this story a lot. It's a good inversion of the trope they were (if you'll pardon the expression) taking aim at. It seems to be a trope that's slowly starting to fade but not soon enough.
Seeking Truth - Elsa Sjunneson Henry 4 Stars
I haven't read this trope in horror in a while but I don't read all that much fantasy so for all I know it might be alive and well in that genre. I did love the story, though.
Thwock - Michelle Muenzler 2 Stars
I didn't care for this story too much. It's just my opinion of course, but it's short and it doesn't feel like much effort was given to it. I also don't think the author explores the[su_spoiler title="Spoiler Tidbit" icon="arrow-circle-1"] 'Names Have Power'[/su_spoiler] trope as fully as it could be.
Can You Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place - Michael Underwood 4 Stars
It kind of reminded me of a mix between Sesame Street and Five Nights at Freddy's mixed together. It is a good, dystopian telling of the [su_spoiler title="Spoiler Tidbit" icon="arrow-circle-1"]'Super Soldier'[/su_spoiler] trope.
Chosen - Anton Strout 4 Stars
This story was hilarious and a great spoof of The Chosen One cliche. Ok, the ending is slightly depressing but I loved the rest of the story. It's got each variety of Chosen One (which always makes me think of the movie Kung-Pow). There's the Gunslinger/Brawler, the Antiquarian/Sorcerer/Spell-caster, The Mystical Asian Child and The One raised from birth to fight evil. I think they missed only one trope in that genre: The Hapless Bystander who ends up being the key to the whole thing.
The White Dragon - Alyssa Wong 4 Stars
Again, a trope that is used often particularly the 'Asian Crime Syndicate' but hopefully will be on the wane soon. Of course, 'The Villainous Crime Syndicate' isn't exactly unique to Asian culture, the Italians get hit with that one as well, quite often.
Her Curse, How Gently It Comes Undone - Haralambi Markov 4 Stars
An awesome story with a great flip on the infamous Damsel in Distress trope. That also seems to be a trope that's trying to wane but is dying hard. For every three that break the mold there are another ten out there that do nothing but reinforce it. No offense to romance readers but this seems to be a genre that highlights that in particular.
Burning Bright - Shanna Germain 5 Stars
I actually couldn't figure out what the trope this was supposed to be for because this is one that, at least in books, is starting to die out. In video games I don't think it's ever really been a trope too much. The whole [su_spoiler title="Spoiler Tidbit" icon="arrow-circle-1"]"Guys Smash, Girls Shoot" [/su_spoiler]thing I just don't see much anymore. Women have been getting much more physical in books, movies and games for quite a while now.
Santa CIS (Episode 1: No Saint) - Alethea Kontis 4 Stars
I really liked this one a lot. It's perfectly timed with all of the Krampus stories on the upswing. It also defines the trope very well. I don't really see this one going anywhere anytime soon but it really doesn't need to. It's a cliche, but it's an inoffensive one and a lot of good stories can start from cliche ideas. It's where the author takes it from there that makes or breaks a story. This story is very well-made.
Requiem for a Manic Pixie Dream - Katy Harrad and Greg Stolze 4 Stars
This one was perfect and I loved the flip. I was more expecting the Manic Pixie would be a male Manic Pixie (because you rarely see those, if ever) but I liked the way this story went as well.
The Refrigerator in the Girlfriend - Adam-Troy Castro 3 Stars
The trope they're going for is kind of obvious but the story was just so-so to me. It flipped the words around but did nothing for the trope itself which was a little disappointing. It also is a little creepy. Not in a good way, either.
The First Blood of Poppy Dupree - Delilah S. Dawson 4 Stars
I loved this story as well. I kind of figured where it was going but I loved the ending. I can see this trope being on its way out. With the internet and everything there's almost no way a girl could not know the facts of menstruation and all the wonderfulness that goes with it.
Red Light - Sara M. Harvey 4 Stars
Another very good story. I've seen stories in a similar vein. This one was very good though. I'm not sure if it really flips the trope but I'm not really sure how you could flip it without going the total opposite way and running into a whole other trope, the Druggie Hooker.
Until There is Only Hunger - Michael Matheson 5 Stars
A very good story. Awesome imagery. The trope is the [su_spoiler title="Spoiler Tidbit" icon="arrow-circle-1"]world ending/resetting/rebooting[/su_spoiler] and it's not clear which is going on in the story. I would assume that it's ending but it's hard to tell.
Super Duper Fly - Maurice Broaddus 3 Stars
It would be nice if this stereotype got buried. It goes with the Mystical Fill-in-the-Blank Other. The only reason for the lower stars is because the story is kind of choppy.
Drafty as a Chain Mail Bikini - Kat Richardson 5 Stars
Even though I do believe this trope is almost dead this story is hilarious. I love the practicalities of trying to deal with a chain mail bikini. I also love that they also worked in the "If you didn't want to be attacked why would you wear that?". That's something that I would happily see die out, in fiction and real life.
Swan Song - Michelle Lyons-McFarland 3 Stars
It's written well but it's not exactly a new spin on either trope: The[su_spoiler title="Spoiler Tidbit" icon="arrow-circle-1"] "You're Enchanted So Now You Must Marry Me" and the "Wicked Step-Mother".[/su_spoiler]
Those Who Leave - Michael Choi 5 Stars
Great story. I can definitely see what the author means. I've never thought that way but the general media portrayal certainly goes in that direction. Cold, emotionless and robotic. Just because people don't display their emotions does not mean they're robots.
Noun of Nouns: A Mini Epic - Alex Shvartsman 4 Stars
I love the mini-ness of it. As the author puts it the "Epic-fantasy genre is known for it's extra-thick volumes filled with Important People doing World-altering things and engaging in heroic quests." I've actually stayed away from quite a few of them because I don't want to get sucked into a hundred volume series.
Excess Light - Rahul Kanakia 3 Stars
The story was well-written. So why the three stars? I just didn't get what was going on, how the city worked or what they were. I didn't know if they were human or fish-people or what. I'm unfamiliar with the trope but I wouldn't knock stars off for that. It's not one that I run into much because I don't read much futuristic stuff. Again, like the 'Pro's Last Job' it seems like a cliche, but a cliche you can take a lot of different places.
The Origin of Terror - Sunil Patel 5 Stars
I loved this story a lot. Because what the author says in their notes is true. If a villain has a bad upbringing nobody thinks twice about it. "Of course, they did that! Look at their childhood!" It almost seems like an excuse for what they've done. A lot of people that do evil things come from backgrounds that are just fine, though. It certainly gives you something to think about.
The Tangled Web - Ferrett Steinmetz 3 Stars
A really creepy (as in creepy crawly creepy) love story about beetles (I think) that sit alone watching romantic comedies and digging knives under their carapaces for pleasure (ok, that's just creepy creepy). They live in hope of finding the right female to eat them (the males) and fulfill their function. It's supposed to be 'love at first sight' but it struck me more as a failed romance kind of thing. While the story is ok, it doesn't really highlight the trope too well.
Hamsa, Hamsa, Hamsa, Tfu, Tfu, Tfu - Alisa Schreibman 4 Stars
I loved the story and the mythology behind it. The female lead was also awesome. But I also do get what they're trying to say. Any Jewish characters are always super-stereotypes or secret ones until they need a show minority.
Real Women Are Dangerous - Rati Mehrotra 3 Stars
I think the issues brought up are explored decently. At the same time the woman is what spurs the male to genius so it's still a little on the icky side. She's also very sub-serviant and the male goes running back to her because he wants her, not a 'real' woman. So I'm not sure if it went where the author was hoping for it to go.
Section II contains different essays which go into further depth on some of the tropes that were not mentioned and deeper into some that were. These include: I'm Pretty Sure I've Read This Before... - Patrick Hester, Fractured Souls - Lucy A. Snyder, Into the Labyrinth: The Heroine's Journey - A.C Wise, Escaping the Hall of Mirrors - Victor Raymond, and Tropes as Erasers: A Transgender Perspective - Keffy R.M. Kehrli.
I didn't care for two of them and I may go further into the Fractured Souls essay at some other time. I think their reading of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' is off but now's not the time to go into it. I've demanded far too much of your attention already.
My only other complaint in how it's set up is that it would have been much easier as a read if the author's trope explanations came at the end of the story they were writing. Or perhaps a link to the back of the book and the story it goes with. Or, at the very least, in the Index of Tropes at the back to list them in order of their appearance in the book.
I don't know about other people but my memory isn't very good and it would be much easier to just be able to flip the page and get the trope rundown or at the very least be linked to them.
Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
As I usually do, I'll rate each story and then wrap it up at the end. So, let's get started!
On Loving Bad Boys: A Villainelle - Valya Dudycz-Lupescu 3 Stars
Since this one is pretty obvious what the trope is (Good Girls Love Bad Boys) I'm not going to bother with hiding it. I'm not a huge reader of poetry so I don't really know what the 'standards' are. It was ok, in my opinion, but I wasn't thrilled with it. Then again, someone else might like it better.
Single/Singularity - John Hornor Jacobs 4 Stars
I really, really liked the story. It's got a great plot but I don't think it really flips the trope around that much. In fact, it's a story about a computer becoming self-aware and sentient. So I'm not exactly sure how it flips that particular trope around by creating a story with that very same trope at the heart of it. The reason for the destruction of humanity is a little different though.
Lazzrus - Nisi Shawl 4 Stars
I liked this story a lot. It's a good inversion of the trope they were (if you'll pardon the expression) taking aim at. It seems to be a trope that's slowly starting to fade but not soon enough.
Seeking Truth - Elsa Sjunneson Henry 4 Stars
I haven't read this trope in horror in a while but I don't read all that much fantasy so for all I know it might be alive and well in that genre. I did love the story, though.
Thwock - Michelle Muenzler 2 Stars
I didn't care for this story too much. It's just my opinion of course, but it's short and it doesn't feel like much effort was given to it. I also don't think the author explores the[su_spoiler title="Spoiler Tidbit" icon="arrow-circle-1"] 'Names Have Power'[/su_spoiler] trope as fully as it could be.
Can You Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place - Michael Underwood 4 Stars
It kind of reminded me of a mix between Sesame Street and Five Nights at Freddy's mixed together. It is a good, dystopian telling of the [su_spoiler title="Spoiler Tidbit" icon="arrow-circle-1"]'Super Soldier'[/su_spoiler] trope.
Chosen - Anton Strout 4 Stars
This story was hilarious and a great spoof of The Chosen One cliche. Ok, the ending is slightly depressing but I loved the rest of the story. It's got each variety of Chosen One (which always makes me think of the movie Kung-Pow). There's the Gunslinger/Brawler, the Antiquarian/Sorcerer/Spell-caster, The Mystical Asian Child and The One raised from birth to fight evil. I think they missed only one trope in that genre: The Hapless Bystander who ends up being the key to the whole thing.
The White Dragon - Alyssa Wong 4 Stars
Again, a trope that is used often particularly the 'Asian Crime Syndicate' but hopefully will be on the wane soon. Of course, 'The Villainous Crime Syndicate' isn't exactly unique to Asian culture, the Italians get hit with that one as well, quite often.
Her Curse, How Gently It Comes Undone - Haralambi Markov 4 Stars
An awesome story with a great flip on the infamous Damsel in Distress trope. That also seems to be a trope that's trying to wane but is dying hard. For every three that break the mold there are another ten out there that do nothing but reinforce it. No offense to romance readers but this seems to be a genre that highlights that in particular.
Burning Bright - Shanna Germain 5 Stars
I actually couldn't figure out what the trope this was supposed to be for because this is one that, at least in books, is starting to die out. In video games I don't think it's ever really been a trope too much. The whole [su_spoiler title="Spoiler Tidbit" icon="arrow-circle-1"]"Guys Smash, Girls Shoot" [/su_spoiler]thing I just don't see much anymore. Women have been getting much more physical in books, movies and games for quite a while now.
Santa CIS (Episode 1: No Saint) - Alethea Kontis 4 Stars
I really liked this one a lot. It's perfectly timed with all of the Krampus stories on the upswing. It also defines the trope very well. I don't really see this one going anywhere anytime soon but it really doesn't need to. It's a cliche, but it's an inoffensive one and a lot of good stories can start from cliche ideas. It's where the author takes it from there that makes or breaks a story. This story is very well-made.
Requiem for a Manic Pixie Dream - Katy Harrad and Greg Stolze 4 Stars
This one was perfect and I loved the flip. I was more expecting the Manic Pixie would be a male Manic Pixie (because you rarely see those, if ever) but I liked the way this story went as well.
The Refrigerator in the Girlfriend - Adam-Troy Castro 3 Stars
The trope they're going for is kind of obvious but the story was just so-so to me. It flipped the words around but did nothing for the trope itself which was a little disappointing. It also is a little creepy. Not in a good way, either.
The First Blood of Poppy Dupree - Delilah S. Dawson 4 Stars
I loved this story as well. I kind of figured where it was going but I loved the ending. I can see this trope being on its way out. With the internet and everything there's almost no way a girl could not know the facts of menstruation and all the wonderfulness that goes with it.
Red Light - Sara M. Harvey 4 Stars
Another very good story. I've seen stories in a similar vein. This one was very good though. I'm not sure if it really flips the trope but I'm not really sure how you could flip it without going the total opposite way and running into a whole other trope, the Druggie Hooker.
Until There is Only Hunger - Michael Matheson 5 Stars
A very good story. Awesome imagery. The trope is the [su_spoiler title="Spoiler Tidbit" icon="arrow-circle-1"]world ending/resetting/rebooting[/su_spoiler] and it's not clear which is going on in the story. I would assume that it's ending but it's hard to tell.
Super Duper Fly - Maurice Broaddus 3 Stars
It would be nice if this stereotype got buried. It goes with the Mystical Fill-in-the-Blank Other. The only reason for the lower stars is because the story is kind of choppy.
Drafty as a Chain Mail Bikini - Kat Richardson 5 Stars
Even though I do believe this trope is almost dead this story is hilarious. I love the practicalities of trying to deal with a chain mail bikini. I also love that they also worked in the "If you didn't want to be attacked why would you wear that?". That's something that I would happily see die out, in fiction and real life.
Swan Song - Michelle Lyons-McFarland 3 Stars
It's written well but it's not exactly a new spin on either trope: The[su_spoiler title="Spoiler Tidbit" icon="arrow-circle-1"] "You're Enchanted So Now You Must Marry Me" and the "Wicked Step-Mother".[/su_spoiler]
Those Who Leave - Michael Choi 5 Stars
Great story. I can definitely see what the author means. I've never thought that way but the general media portrayal certainly goes in that direction. Cold, emotionless and robotic. Just because people don't display their emotions does not mean they're robots.
Noun of Nouns: A Mini Epic - Alex Shvartsman 4 Stars
I love the mini-ness of it. As the author puts it the "Epic-fantasy genre is known for it's extra-thick volumes filled with Important People doing World-altering things and engaging in heroic quests." I've actually stayed away from quite a few of them because I don't want to get sucked into a hundred volume series.
Excess Light - Rahul Kanakia 3 Stars
The story was well-written. So why the three stars? I just didn't get what was going on, how the city worked or what they were. I didn't know if they were human or fish-people or what. I'm unfamiliar with the trope but I wouldn't knock stars off for that. It's not one that I run into much because I don't read much futuristic stuff. Again, like the 'Pro's Last Job' it seems like a cliche, but a cliche you can take a lot of different places.
The Origin of Terror - Sunil Patel 5 Stars
I loved this story a lot. Because what the author says in their notes is true. If a villain has a bad upbringing nobody thinks twice about it. "Of course, they did that! Look at their childhood!" It almost seems like an excuse for what they've done. A lot of people that do evil things come from backgrounds that are just fine, though. It certainly gives you something to think about.
The Tangled Web - Ferrett Steinmetz 3 Stars
A really creepy (as in creepy crawly creepy) love story about beetles (I think) that sit alone watching romantic comedies and digging knives under their carapaces for pleasure (ok, that's just creepy creepy). They live in hope of finding the right female to eat them (the males) and fulfill their function. It's supposed to be 'love at first sight' but it struck me more as a failed romance kind of thing. While the story is ok, it doesn't really highlight the trope too well.
Hamsa, Hamsa, Hamsa, Tfu, Tfu, Tfu - Alisa Schreibman 4 Stars
I loved the story and the mythology behind it. The female lead was also awesome. But I also do get what they're trying to say. Any Jewish characters are always super-stereotypes or secret ones until they need a show minority.
Real Women Are Dangerous - Rati Mehrotra 3 Stars
I think the issues brought up are explored decently. At the same time the woman is what spurs the male to genius so it's still a little on the icky side. She's also very sub-serviant and the male goes running back to her because he wants her, not a 'real' woman. So I'm not sure if it went where the author was hoping for it to go.
Section II contains different essays which go into further depth on some of the tropes that were not mentioned and deeper into some that were. These include: I'm Pretty Sure I've Read This Before... - Patrick Hester, Fractured Souls - Lucy A. Snyder, Into the Labyrinth: The Heroine's Journey - A.C Wise, Escaping the Hall of Mirrors - Victor Raymond, and Tropes as Erasers: A Transgender Perspective - Keffy R.M. Kehrli.
I didn't care for two of them and I may go further into the Fractured Souls essay at some other time. I think their reading of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' is off but now's not the time to go into it. I've demanded far too much of your attention already.
My only other complaint in how it's set up is that it would have been much easier as a read if the author's trope explanations came at the end of the story they were writing. Or perhaps a link to the back of the book and the story it goes with. Or, at the very least, in the Index of Tropes at the back to list them in order of their appearance in the book.
I don't know about other people but my memory isn't very good and it would be much easier to just be able to flip the page and get the trope rundown or at the very least be linked to them.
Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Currently reading
November 27, 2021I’ll start by saying this. Every last one of these stories hooked me. Every last one of them made me care about the protagonist and the protagonist’s success.
I’m just not sure all of them met the premise. They’re all supposed to upend tropes, but I saw a lot of rehashed ideas. The corporations that go to war - even though real corporations don’t war each other - has been done to death, and we see it again in one of these stories. I’ve also seen the ancient love goddess as a modern prostitute before. I’ve seen stalkery AI. I’ve seen a gritty Santa Claus in PVP Online and Sluggy Freelance and trailers for Fatman. While working to overturn one trope, some only served to bolster another.
In some others, tropes are inverted, but in a way that makes them less realistic. We have a story of a supervillain who turned to mass murder without a tragic backstory. Yet psychology tells us that the surest predictor of a violent adulthood is an authoritarian upbringing with routine corporal punishment, especially if they have no one in their lives to show them a kinder way.
But these are minor complaints. I’m still glad I read the collection. I have a few favorites. There’s a story told to highlight the city planet trope that also becomes a nice take on psychohistory. There’s a biting satire of the Magical Negro. There’s one that has quite a surprise when a man doesn’t bother to get to know a manic pixie dream girl’s deeper thoughts. There’s one about archetypal chosen ones, though I can’t explain why I love it without spoilers. And I laughed quite a bit at the story of a woman who only wore a chainmail bikini as a last resort, until she had a chance to recover her stolen plate armor.
Turn tropes on their head or no, each story demands thought about the elements of story that we tell each other again and again, and that makes them all worth the read. They’re all entertaining, besides.
I’m just not sure all of them met the premise. They’re all supposed to upend tropes, but I saw a lot of rehashed ideas. The corporations that go to war - even though real corporations don’t war each other - has been done to death, and we see it again in one of these stories. I’ve also seen the ancient love goddess as a modern prostitute before. I’ve seen stalkery AI. I’ve seen a gritty Santa Claus in PVP Online and Sluggy Freelance and trailers for Fatman. While working to overturn one trope, some only served to bolster another.
In some others, tropes are inverted, but in a way that makes them less realistic. We have a story of a supervillain who turned to mass murder without a tragic backstory. Yet psychology tells us that the surest predictor of a violent adulthood is an authoritarian upbringing with routine corporal punishment, especially if they have no one in their lives to show them a kinder way.
But these are minor complaints. I’m still glad I read the collection. I have a few favorites. There’s a story told to highlight the city planet trope that also becomes a nice take on psychohistory. There’s a biting satire of the Magical Negro. There’s one that has quite a surprise when a man doesn’t bother to get to know a manic pixie dream girl’s deeper thoughts. There’s one about archetypal chosen ones, though I can’t explain why I love it without spoilers. And I laughed quite a bit at the story of a woman who only wore a chainmail bikini as a last resort, until she had a chance to recover her stolen plate armor.
Turn tropes on their head or no, each story demands thought about the elements of story that we tell each other again and again, and that makes them all worth the read. They’re all entertaining, besides.
May 20, 2020
There are a bunch of fun stories in this book. Reading some of them, it was clear which trope was being inverted or subverted (sometimes more than one trope in a single story). In other stories, it wasn't so clear to me. In that case, the appendix was very handy: it listed, for each story, a description of the trope, and the author's comments about it.
There were also a few essays about tropes, evoking various degrees of interest. Those that described how certain tropes are harmful to some people were most enlightening for me (as a white cis het man).
There were also a few essays about tropes, evoking various degrees of interest. Those that described how certain tropes are harmful to some people were most enlightening for me (as a white cis het man).
July 14, 2025
This collection is illuminating for all the wrong reasons, but what a great idea. Take some of the more embedded tropes out there, flip them upside down, and see what happens. The result is a collection very light on good stories. I think a combination of two things may have happened. First, these aren't author-inspired stories; they are stories on-demand, written after the author selected a trope to invert. Intellectual exercises more than great stories. Second, some of these tropes don't invert well. The chainmail bikini trope, for example... does one simply not have their female protagonist wear a chainmail bikini? viola? or does one have their female protagonist wear a chainmail bikini and simply complain about it for six pages?
Alas, many of these stories don't even invert the trope they selected, they just do a sort of awkward fictional trope takedown, often with enraged impunity. That said, there are some great stories here, the best of which, retrospectively unsurprising, have their tropes in question virtually unrecognizable. My favorites were: Can you Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place (wandering animal robots look for home), Santa CIS (Episode 1: No Saint) (in which Santa helps take down a kidnapper), The Refrigerator in the Girlfriend (in which the girlfriend literally has a refrigerator in her, hilarious.), and Excess Light (a far future changed human race). Each of those were great stories, inverted trope or no.
The worst stories failed even to be stories. The authors each speak to their tropes at the end, and the results are pretty mixed.
The trope essays at the end were mostly exhausting and written in very defensive tones. And I get it. Marginalized voices need to be heard. The Luke Skywalker style hero's journey doesn't apply to everyone. Bigotry does still exist. Many of these tropes/cliches are intended to or result in a further repression of marginalized stories, if only by volume alone. But at the same time, a book like Hero of a Thousand Faces isn't saying "these tropes are the only stories that matter", it's saying, historically, a huge percentage of the stories examined follow these characteristics. It's not a judgement, it's an observation. What we need more than anything is for writers to tell authentic stories... full stop. A writer that cracks open the Power of Myth and uses the hero's journey as an outline is as guilty of wasting my time as the writer who takes the same outline and turns it upside down or shoehorns some marginalized character in there. And yet, both of those strategies are okay. Writers should write whatever they want to. Because ultimately, that's what we are going to read: whatever we want to. Thankfully, we live in a time where more opportunity exists for marginalized writers than ever before in history. There's a lot of course correcting going on in American publishing, and a lot of growing pains, but who knows, maybe the Hero of a Thousand Faces a few thousand years from now has a few thousand new faces to discuss.
On to the next one.
Alas, many of these stories don't even invert the trope they selected, they just do a sort of awkward fictional trope takedown, often with enraged impunity. That said, there are some great stories here, the best of which, retrospectively unsurprising, have their tropes in question virtually unrecognizable. My favorites were: Can you Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place (wandering animal robots look for home), Santa CIS (Episode 1: No Saint) (in which Santa helps take down a kidnapper), The Refrigerator in the Girlfriend (in which the girlfriend literally has a refrigerator in her, hilarious.), and Excess Light (a far future changed human race). Each of those were great stories, inverted trope or no.
The worst stories failed even to be stories. The authors each speak to their tropes at the end, and the results are pretty mixed.
The trope essays at the end were mostly exhausting and written in very defensive tones. And I get it. Marginalized voices need to be heard. The Luke Skywalker style hero's journey doesn't apply to everyone. Bigotry does still exist. Many of these tropes/cliches are intended to or result in a further repression of marginalized stories, if only by volume alone. But at the same time, a book like Hero of a Thousand Faces isn't saying "these tropes are the only stories that matter", it's saying, historically, a huge percentage of the stories examined follow these characteristics. It's not a judgement, it's an observation. What we need more than anything is for writers to tell authentic stories... full stop. A writer that cracks open the Power of Myth and uses the hero's journey as an outline is as guilty of wasting my time as the writer who takes the same outline and turns it upside down or shoehorns some marginalized character in there. And yet, both of those strategies are okay. Writers should write whatever they want to. Because ultimately, that's what we are going to read: whatever we want to. Thankfully, we live in a time where more opportunity exists for marginalized writers than ever before in history. There's a lot of course correcting going on in American publishing, and a lot of growing pains, but who knows, maybe the Hero of a Thousand Faces a few thousand years from now has a few thousand new faces to discuss.
On to the next one.
May 29, 2017
[I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.]
3.5/4 stars; I liked quite a few of these short stories, none of them made me roll my eyes, and to be fair, the essays at the end of the book were also quite interesting.
My favourites:
* “Single, Singularity”: While it doesn’t really invert the trope it’s based on, I’m a sucker for AI stories, and this one was both thrilling, and chilling in its ending.
* “Seeking Truth”: The ‘blind psychic’ trope, subverted in that here, the blind person is extremely skilled at reading other people, no need for special powers for that.
* “Can You Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place?”: A mix of Sesame Stree-like TV shows and jaded ex-super soldiers trying to go home. Very nostalgic, perhaps a wee bit long, but a good read nonetheless.
* “Chosen”: A comic twist on ‘the Chosen’, with jabs at tropes like the gun-toting weapons maniac, the Buffy-like teenager fighting demons, and pedantic occultist scholar. This one was really fun.
* “The White Dragon”: A different take on the ‘yellow peril’, in a 1920s San Francisco (also, I liked revisiting that city in such a light, now that I’ve finally been able to actually travel there).
* “Her Curse, How Gently It Comes Undone”: The Witch and the Damsel In Distress, poised against each other, each with their wiles and strengths, and with the story playing on the trope of men rescuing the Damsel... only they’re not the right people to do the job.
* “Burning Bright”: I really liked the main character here, just the right mix of slightly hinged and yet fairly grounded at the same time.
* “Santa CIS (Episode 1: No Saint)”: This story plays well on both the Santa Claus/Christmas and ‘old soldier goes back to war’ tropes.
* “The First Blood of Poppy Dupree”: At first I thought this would be about werewolves, and it turned out it was something else, which I liked.
* “Until There is Only Hunger”: A strong story, with a definite end-of-the-world feeling, dwindling hope mixed with growing despair, and characters trying to find whatever comfort they can, although this rings more and more hollow. Bonus point for characters not being typical cis/hetero/white.
* “Drafty as a Chain Mail Bikini”: I suspected where this one was going, but I liked it, and it made me laugh.
* “The Tangled Web”: Love at first sight and romance woes... but not among humans, which lent a different dimension to this story.
The essays: definitely read those. They deal with the Hero’s Journey, its limitations, the Heroine’s Journey, its limitations as well, and push further, when it comes to trans and gay/lesbian heroes, which is really needed. Because let’s be honest: it’s already difficult to find a good story where a woman is not reduced to accomplishment = family/motherhood/taking care of others, but it’s even worse when you’re non-binary.
3.5/4 stars; I liked quite a few of these short stories, none of them made me roll my eyes, and to be fair, the essays at the end of the book were also quite interesting.
My favourites:
* “Single, Singularity”: While it doesn’t really invert the trope it’s based on, I’m a sucker for AI stories, and this one was both thrilling, and chilling in its ending.
* “Seeking Truth”: The ‘blind psychic’ trope, subverted in that here, the blind person is extremely skilled at reading other people, no need for special powers for that.
* “Can You Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place?”: A mix of Sesame Stree-like TV shows and jaded ex-super soldiers trying to go home. Very nostalgic, perhaps a wee bit long, but a good read nonetheless.
* “Chosen”: A comic twist on ‘the Chosen’, with jabs at tropes like the gun-toting weapons maniac, the Buffy-like teenager fighting demons, and pedantic occultist scholar. This one was really fun.
* “The White Dragon”: A different take on the ‘yellow peril’, in a 1920s San Francisco (also, I liked revisiting that city in such a light, now that I’ve finally been able to actually travel there).
* “Her Curse, How Gently It Comes Undone”: The Witch and the Damsel In Distress, poised against each other, each with their wiles and strengths, and with the story playing on the trope of men rescuing the Damsel... only they’re not the right people to do the job.
* “Burning Bright”: I really liked the main character here, just the right mix of slightly hinged and yet fairly grounded at the same time.
* “Santa CIS (Episode 1: No Saint)”: This story plays well on both the Santa Claus/Christmas and ‘old soldier goes back to war’ tropes.
* “The First Blood of Poppy Dupree”: At first I thought this would be about werewolves, and it turned out it was something else, which I liked.
* “Until There is Only Hunger”: A strong story, with a definite end-of-the-world feeling, dwindling hope mixed with growing despair, and characters trying to find whatever comfort they can, although this rings more and more hollow. Bonus point for characters not being typical cis/hetero/white.
* “Drafty as a Chain Mail Bikini”: I suspected where this one was going, but I liked it, and it made me laugh.
* “The Tangled Web”: Love at first sight and romance woes... but not among humans, which lent a different dimension to this story.
The essays: definitely read those. They deal with the Hero’s Journey, its limitations, the Heroine’s Journey, its limitations as well, and push further, when it comes to trans and gay/lesbian heroes, which is really needed. Because let’s be honest: it’s already difficult to find a good story where a woman is not reduced to accomplishment = family/motherhood/taking care of others, but it’s even worse when you’re non-binary.
October 22, 2017
This book offers a collection of short stories where each presents a typical trope used in science fiction or fantasy such as Gendercide in “Real Women Are Dangerous”; The Villain Had a Crappy Childhood in “The Origin of Terror”; The Super Soldier in “Can You Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place?” and The Pro’s Last Job in “No Saint”. To add to the fun, the authors inverted the accepted theme for the trope. In other words, instead of The Villain Had a Crappy Childhood this particular story was about a villain who is the child of two super heroes and had a very warm and loving childhood.
With any collection of short stories, there are high and low spots. Every story in this collection, though, is by very experienced authors. When taken on the whole, this book is a high spot.
A mentor of mine once suggested that I write a story that did not use any tropes. The fact is, I’m not sure that is truly possible. As this book shows, there are more tropes than one first thinks of. The other issue of writing a “trope-less” story is that that readers expect resolutions to stories that follow accepted norms. The simple fact is, heroes can’t die or the couple, regardless of all the hardship, must fall in love. Simply put, to do otherwise, does not bring readers back for more. What I gained from this book was to look at tropes in a different way: to turn them upside-down and play with them. Doing this makes for fun reading.
Phillip M. Johns
With any collection of short stories, there are high and low spots. Every story in this collection, though, is by very experienced authors. When taken on the whole, this book is a high spot.
A mentor of mine once suggested that I write a story that did not use any tropes. The fact is, I’m not sure that is truly possible. As this book shows, there are more tropes than one first thinks of. The other issue of writing a “trope-less” story is that that readers expect resolutions to stories that follow accepted norms. The simple fact is, heroes can’t die or the couple, regardless of all the hardship, must fall in love. Simply put, to do otherwise, does not bring readers back for more. What I gained from this book was to look at tropes in a different way: to turn them upside-down and play with them. Doing this makes for fun reading.
Phillip M. Johns
December 20, 2023
I have read "Upside Down Inverted Tropes in Storytelling". I have had to only skip two stories, namely the stories "Until There is Only Hunger" and "Excess Light". "The Origin of Terror" was relaxing to read. "The Refrigerator in the Girlfriend" and "Chosen" were very funny. I have to ponder about "Lazarus" still. I have read this story twice. ||At the end of this story, do you need super self-healing power if you are a POC? Occurrences, such as George Floyd in the USA and the NSU murders or the Hanau assassinations in Germany show that very clearly. Of course, I have read in the afterword, that the story is the inverted trope of "The Black Man Dies First".|| I could not read the spider novel written by Tschaikowski, too exotic for 400 pages. But as a short story, in which case "The Tangled Web", the topic was completely right. There were many good stories. It was difficult every time to find the entrance to the story. Therefore, novels are easier to read and anthologies are a little bit more exhausting to read. Section 2 contained non-fiction articles. These articles were also interesting. I have learned a lot of transgender tropes, an important topic. I'm still shocked by such a farcical urban legend as "Black Widow". As a well-depicted trans protagonist, I can mention Victor in the last season of Umbrella Academy. All in all, a very, very good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2017
A short story written by pretentious kids acting as if they're the first to look at tropes and supposedly change them. In SF & Fantasy, that's been happening at least since the late 1950s and the 1960s. Worse, the stories are mediocre at best. Worst, avoid the darling lil' essays that follow them.
Go read many of the New Wave authors for some real classics, or read many of the current authors who take the old tropes from fairy tales and the Golden Age of SF and either ignore them or have fun with them.
While I love short stories, as a start, put them down for a bit and go read Ursula K Le Guin's The Dispossessed, Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon, or, for something more modern, almost any of Nnedi Okorafor's books.
Go read many of the New Wave authors for some real classics, or read many of the current authors who take the old tropes from fairy tales and the Golden Age of SF and either ignore them or have fun with them.
While I love short stories, as a start, put them down for a bit and go read Ursula K Le Guin's The Dispossessed, Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon, or, for something more modern, almost any of Nnedi Okorafor's books.
August 26, 2017
This is a collection of unmemorable short stories. It would be more accurate to say that some are mere sketches, not actual stories. They have no entertainment value, no 'moral', no purpose except as an attempt to illustrate a trope. I had textbooks in high school literature class that contained more interesting stories than this anthology. The last hundred pages or so, aren't even stories, but lectures and diatribes - mostly from people who feel that their particular subset of humanity has been slighted in most common books and movies. Don't even try to wade through these lectures unless you're familiar with some very old and obscure movies and books.
February 13, 2017
I picked this up because it sounded really cool, based on one of the blogs I read. The stories were a mixed bag, and unfortunately quite a few of them took "invert a trope" to mean "make it a horror story," which I'm not particularly fond of. The stories got better as the book went on, and I really enjoyed the last few and wish they'd been longer. There's also a large discussion section in the back about the tropes themselves and how they were twisted or flipped, if that sort of analysis is your bag.
Worth a read, but prepared for some horror.
Worth a read, but prepared for some horror.
May 30, 2017
This book is about challenging what we think of cliches. It is a book of short stories, essays and poetry. It entertained and educated me. Though I must admit, that at first I had trouble getting into reading it. I kept at it as I knew many of the authors. I recommend this book for those who want something different to read.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Net-galley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Net-galley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
July 24, 2017
The trick with this book is that you don't have to be an expert to understand the trope exploration and reversals, where applicable. The short story book comes with companion information that explains each story from both the author's and tropes perspectives. Some of the stories have sexual content, so it would be wise to screen these if you are giving it to pre teen or early teen aged readers. The prose itself has its good moments and I really didn't find enough faults or flaws to complain about the book and give it a bad rating. Excellent find and read, especially during Comic Con weekend.
October 30, 2023
I really enjoyed this Anthology overall. As with any anthology, some stories were not for me, and some I loved. It was a well-put-together anthology. It flowed from one story to the next.
My Favorites were-
The Origin of Terror. SUNIL PATEL
Red Light. SARA M. HARVEY
Until There Is Only Hunger. MICHAEL MATHESON
I have to find more by Michael Matheson, their story was amazing.
This is a roller coaster of a book. I laughed, I teared up. These are well written, well selected stories. Another winner from Apex.
My Favorites were-
The Origin of Terror. SUNIL PATEL
Red Light. SARA M. HARVEY
Until There Is Only Hunger. MICHAEL MATHESON
I have to find more by Michael Matheson, their story was amazing.
This is a roller coaster of a book. I laughed, I teared up. These are well written, well selected stories. Another winner from Apex.
November 2, 2018
Mixed bag of short stories. I love short stories, and can even tolerate blah ones, as they are short. They are perfect for the commuter, or just a quick read in the bath or at bedtime. Anytime time is short is time for a quick tale! There are a lot of them in this book, so I am sure everyone is going to find something to their liking!
I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
June 15, 2017
A better than average collection of shorts aimed at trope busting, also includes essays on tropes and cliches as well as author's notes on the tropes they roasted. The articles also have a decent bibliography. A combination of very funny and sad, it also has the obligatory Lovecraft pastiche and an Asimov err... homage. This apparently was a Kickstarter book, awesome.
July 22, 2017
A short story collection of science-fiction and fantasy topics, twisting some kind of tropes. Like most short story collections, it's hit or miss. My favorite stories were: Can You Tell Me How to Get to Paprika Place; The Refrigerator in the Girlfriend; Nouns of Nouns a Mini Epic; and The Tangled Web. The essays analyzing the tropes were also great.
September 17, 2018
A great Anthology. I enjoyed all off it.
March 6, 2017
I read this completely cover to cover. Each of the short stories was a treat that kept me guessing and I don't think I'll ever stop thinking about some of them. I loved the essays to, they gave me a lot to think about and touched on a wide range of issues and ideas.
February 6, 2017
This book was a bit of fresh air to read. A lot of books have become a bit predictable lately, and while not the authors fault as it seems the only the cliche-ish of books seem to get popular (at least to me). I really did enjoy this, but I am really happy that it was short stories as opposed to one long story. I like that I was not able to predict what was going to happen. I was also eager to check out every new story to see where the author would take it.
Of course you know that when you have a anthology filled with stories not all of them could be great and I did not like every single one of them. I wont list them here but I will list a couple of my favorite stories
On Loving Bad Boys: A Villainelle by: Valya Dudycz Lipescu
Single, Singularity by: John Hornor Jacobs
Chosen by: Anton Strout
Santa CIS (Episode 1: No Saint) by: Alethea Kontis
The First Blood of Poppy Dupree by: Deliah S. Dawson
While there were much more I like, these were the stories I wish the author would expand upon. I would love full books on this especially the Santa CIS. The stories I did like far out-weighed the stories I didn't like. I recommend this book for anyone who is tired of the everyday fairy tale and needs something new
Of course you know that when you have a anthology filled with stories not all of them could be great and I did not like every single one of them. I wont list them here but I will list a couple of my favorite stories
On Loving Bad Boys: A Villainelle by: Valya Dudycz Lipescu
Single, Singularity by: John Hornor Jacobs
Chosen by: Anton Strout
Santa CIS (Episode 1: No Saint) by: Alethea Kontis
The First Blood of Poppy Dupree by: Deliah S. Dawson
While there were much more I like, these were the stories I wish the author would expand upon. I would love full books on this especially the Santa CIS. The stories I did like far out-weighed the stories I didn't like. I recommend this book for anyone who is tired of the everyday fairy tale and needs something new
January 2, 2017
Upside Down provided an anthology of surprising, norm-defying short stories and a collection of thought-provoking essays that challenged and explored common and not-so-common literary tropes. From a tale about a computer system gone rogue to an essay exploring the Heroine Journey by looking at Labyrinth, this work is interesting, concise, and serves its stated purpose of encouraging the reader to address familiar tropes well.
The stories are all creative and unique, quick reads that delve into the fantastical, science-fiction, and psychological. Because of the nature of the project and process of the anthology, some of the stories do feel more contrived and slightly forced, like a response to a creative writing prompt that hasn't been completely pulled off or thought through. The essays in section two are also thought-provoking and fascinating. Most provide insightful and much-needed commentary on topics like feminism and transphobia in the arts, although a couple seem not quite as in-depth and less evidence-based. The sectioning of the work (particularly the division between section one and two) was a little clunky in that the style of my reading experience was immediately switched, but the rationale behind the split also seems logical.
Overall, an anthology of interesting short stories and insightful essays that fabulously addresses the book's purpose of challenging and starting dialogue concerning troubling literary tropes as well as their role in the greater arts world.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital copy!
The stories are all creative and unique, quick reads that delve into the fantastical, science-fiction, and psychological. Because of the nature of the project and process of the anthology, some of the stories do feel more contrived and slightly forced, like a response to a creative writing prompt that hasn't been completely pulled off or thought through. The essays in section two are also thought-provoking and fascinating. Most provide insightful and much-needed commentary on topics like feminism and transphobia in the arts, although a couple seem not quite as in-depth and less evidence-based. The sectioning of the work (particularly the division between section one and two) was a little clunky in that the style of my reading experience was immediately switched, but the rationale behind the split also seems logical.
Overall, an anthology of interesting short stories and insightful essays that fabulously addresses the book's purpose of challenging and starting dialogue concerning troubling literary tropes as well as their role in the greater arts world.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital copy!
February 7, 2017
I receive this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest review. This does not affect my opinions or whatsoever.
Upside Down is an anthology of stories that contain inverted trope. Blind people who portrayed as physic turns our to be a normal person like us. Damsel in Distress who turned out to be not as in need as we thought she is, and so on. While I enjoyed reading some stories, most of them feel bland to me and I skipped a lot of them. If you expect some kind of creepy stories, because of the cover, I think you will get some, but not as much as you'll like. So all in all... I didn't like the stories.
BUT. I do like the essays. The introduction and discussion are amazing! It discuss how harmful trope can be, how to use it, etc. If this book is all about essays instead of stories, I'm sure I would enjoyed it more.
Upside Down is an anthology of stories that contain inverted trope. Blind people who portrayed as physic turns our to be a normal person like us. Damsel in Distress who turned out to be not as in need as we thought she is, and so on. While I enjoyed reading some stories, most of them feel bland to me and I skipped a lot of them. If you expect some kind of creepy stories, because of the cover, I think you will get some, but not as much as you'll like. So all in all... I didn't like the stories.
BUT. I do like the essays. The introduction and discussion are amazing! It discuss how harmful trope can be, how to use it, etc. If this book is all about essays instead of stories, I'm sure I would enjoyed it more.
June 24, 2017
Relationships with anthologies and short story compilations can be a seriously complicated matter. It seems that regardless of who is contributing, there will be highs and lows. From my experience, this is unavoidable, and I approach each collection with this knowledge in advance. Such was the case with Upside Down.
Read my thoughts here.
Read my thoughts here.
December 25, 2016
The stories are good and the essays are thought-provoking, but I wish they had made the choice of interweaving the three sections instead of separating them. Still, I'm glad I supported this on Kickstarter.
January 14, 2017
An impressive sci-fi collection. I find myself wanting to recommend each short story after I read it to others. How the various tropes were treated made for intriguing discussion with friends and just musings. Overall an excellent collection.
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