Other Lives

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Other Lives collects three short stories set in secondary worlds by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. In "Mirror Life," the beautiful Miranda hopes for a marriage to a rich nobleman, but a dark secret threatens her happiness. “King of Sand and Stormy Seas” focuses on a mercenary recently returned home. “Salt” tells the story of a young woman who has lost her magic powers.

Moreno-Garcia's tales usually utilize Latin American settings and folklore. Other Lives therefore offers a glimpse at a different kind of tale.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction

66 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2013

About the author

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of several novels, including Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. She has also edited a number of anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (a.k.a. Cthulhu's Daughters). Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination.

Reviews

[JM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed pretty much everything I've read by the author, but I think that her short stories are usually stronger than her novels. This little collection focuses on three stories that, unlike everything else she's published so far, do not take place in real location, and all three were pretty good. The first one was much longer than the other two, but all three were interesting enough and, despite the fantastic elements, pretty much focus on the characters and the way their lives aren't what they thought they would be when they were younger, whether it's the unmarried girl with a strange curse, the mercenary who thought he'd grow up to be a hero, or the woman whose chance to become a water priestess was taken away when she was a girl because of a boy's promise of marriage. Solid little collection.

[Ronald Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is the second I've read of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the first being her initial collection, This Strange Way of Dying. Other Lives, unlike the tales in her first book, are not woven with her Latino mythic threads but are structured as stories in other fabled realms. The three stories are all early work, including her first two published pieces "Mirror Life" and "King of Sand and Stormy Seas"; "Salt" was published about four years later than the others. Even with her initial published work, there are indications of a captivating, effortless style of sparsity and subtlety, suggesting there is much more in brief words. I've enjoyed what I've read of her work and look forward to her longer volumes. I have all of her books and plan to read them in the order published.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories - I'm really interested in this author and found a PDF of this because the book is unavailable. I sometimes struggle with short stories because they can be very different (as these 3 short stories were) - and I like more clarity. I enjoyed the first story, Mirror Life more than the other ones, and it was up my alley. I will read more from the author for sure!

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I managed to find the three stories of this collection scattered about online. I definitely enjoyed them, and for a sort of debut-level work they were impressive. However, Gods of Jade and Shadow was much more engrossing and satisfying :)

[Montse Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Las tres historias me parecieron muy buenas, sobretodo la primera, tanto que me quede con ganas de más, aún así no me quejo.
Me gustó los pequeños mundos que mostró y como con tan pocas palabras dijo mucho.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three enchanting stories. I felt like the first and third story would make a great novel or novella. The second story was perfect in its current length.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different than my norm , but very enjoyable