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Dreamsongs #1
Dreamsongs: Volume I
Even before A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin had already established himself as a giant in the field of fantasy literature. The first of two stunning collections, Dreamsongs: Volume I is a rare treat for readers, offering fascinating insight into his journey from young writer to award-winning master.
Gathered here in Dreamsongs: Volume I are the very best of George R. R. Martin’s early works, including his Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker award–winning stories, cool fan pieces, and the original novella The Ice Dragon, from which Martin’s New York Times bestselling children’s book of the same title originated. A dazzling array of subjects and styles that features extensive author commentary, Dreamsongs, Volume I is the perfect collection for both Martin devotees and a new generation of fans.
“Fans, genre historians and aspiring writers alike will find this shelf-bending retrospective as impressive as it is intriguing.”—Publishers Weekly
“Dreamsongs is the ideal way to discover . . . a master of science fiction, fantasy and horror. . . . Martin is a writer like no other.”—The Guardian (U.K.)
PRAISE FOR GEORGE R. R. MARTIN
“Of those who work in the grand epic-fantasy tradition, Martin is by far the best. In fact . . . this is as good a time as any to proclaim him the American Tolkien.”—Time
“Long live George Martin . . . a literary dervish, enthralled by complicated characters and vivid language, and bursting with the wild vision of the very best tale tellers.”—The New York Times
“I always expect the best from George R. R. Martin, and he always delivers.”—Robert Jordan
Gathered here in Dreamsongs: Volume I are the very best of George R. R. Martin’s early works, including his Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker award–winning stories, cool fan pieces, and the original novella The Ice Dragon, from which Martin’s New York Times bestselling children’s book of the same title originated. A dazzling array of subjects and styles that features extensive author commentary, Dreamsongs, Volume I is the perfect collection for both Martin devotees and a new generation of fans.
“Fans, genre historians and aspiring writers alike will find this shelf-bending retrospective as impressive as it is intriguing.”—Publishers Weekly
“Dreamsongs is the ideal way to discover . . . a master of science fiction, fantasy and horror. . . . Martin is a writer like no other.”—The Guardian (U.K.)
PRAISE FOR GEORGE R. R. MARTIN
“Of those who work in the grand epic-fantasy tradition, Martin is by far the best. In fact . . . this is as good a time as any to proclaim him the American Tolkien.”—Time
“Long live George Martin . . . a literary dervish, enthralled by complicated characters and vivid language, and bursting with the wild vision of the very best tale tellers.”—The New York Times
“I always expect the best from George R. R. Martin, and he always delivers.”—Robert Jordan
720 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2003
938 people are currently reading
6980 people want to read
About the author
George R.R. Martin
1,533 books117k followersGeorge Raymond Richard "R.R." Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews
May 31, 2016
Here’s what George R.R. Martin said in 2003:
"I was a lot better at starting stories than I was at finishing them"
Isn’t that just terribly hilarious? But let's move on.
George R.R Martin is such a versatile writer. His ease at switching numerous point of views is testimony to this in A Song of Ice and Fire. But, he has also written many other novels and short stories. He’s just as adept at writing science fiction as he is fantasy. For Martin fans who don’t read beyond his masterpiece are really missing out. There’s some good stuff in here.
A wide range of stories
What surprised me the most when reading this was that I actually enjoyed each and every short story. With collections like this there are almost always a few that stand and, inevitably, a few that are easily forgotten. With this every short story stood out. They are all unique in their own way, and demonstrate an author who is completely confident in his craft. I have nothing bad to say about this at all. It was thoroughly enjoyable. I highly recommend it to his fans.
The variety is quite astonishing. I expected many of the stories to be fairly similar or at the very least of a similar style. The Pear Shaped Man is a creepy story that had almost elements of Lovecraft to it. The Exit to San Breta was thrilling and almost sounded like it was written by Stephen King. Sankings was very unique, and very strange. Certainly, one I want to read again and provide a separate review for in the future. The Ice Dragon is the sort of thing you would expect him to write; it’s a sad little tale that will really needs to be read by all lovers of A Song of Ice and Fire. Simply because it shows how his initial idea developed into his epic.
An author’s journey
This isn’t just an impersonal collection of stories shoved together; it is a journey of the man himself. It is divided into sections of his life, sections in which he wrote different stories. He provides a mini narrative in the form of an introduction to each part, which is frank and revealing. He explains why he took up writing and describes his early experiences in the field. He is a man who has always been dedicated to what he does and one who had to work really hard to be successful.
Before A Game of Thrones he’d written a couple of books that were considered failures or at the very least not very popular. Such as the terrible Armageddon Rag. That was just dull. So these little additions made reading this all the more interesting. It’s rare that an author gives such a glimpse of himself. This was a good collection.
"I was a lot better at starting stories than I was at finishing them"
Isn’t that just terribly hilarious? But let's move on.
George R.R Martin is such a versatile writer. His ease at switching numerous point of views is testimony to this in A Song of Ice and Fire. But, he has also written many other novels and short stories. He’s just as adept at writing science fiction as he is fantasy. For Martin fans who don’t read beyond his masterpiece are really missing out. There’s some good stuff in here.
A wide range of stories
What surprised me the most when reading this was that I actually enjoyed each and every short story. With collections like this there are almost always a few that stand and, inevitably, a few that are easily forgotten. With this every short story stood out. They are all unique in their own way, and demonstrate an author who is completely confident in his craft. I have nothing bad to say about this at all. It was thoroughly enjoyable. I highly recommend it to his fans.
The variety is quite astonishing. I expected many of the stories to be fairly similar or at the very least of a similar style. The Pear Shaped Man is a creepy story that had almost elements of Lovecraft to it. The Exit to San Breta was thrilling and almost sounded like it was written by Stephen King. Sankings was very unique, and very strange. Certainly, one I want to read again and provide a separate review for in the future. The Ice Dragon is the sort of thing you would expect him to write; it’s a sad little tale that will really needs to be read by all lovers of A Song of Ice and Fire. Simply because it shows how his initial idea developed into his epic.
An author’s journey
This isn’t just an impersonal collection of stories shoved together; it is a journey of the man himself. It is divided into sections of his life, sections in which he wrote different stories. He provides a mini narrative in the form of an introduction to each part, which is frank and revealing. He explains why he took up writing and describes his early experiences in the field. He is a man who has always been dedicated to what he does and one who had to work really hard to be successful.
Before A Game of Thrones he’d written a couple of books that were considered failures or at the very least not very popular. Such as the terrible Armageddon Rag. That was just dull. So these little additions made reading this all the more interesting. It’s rare that an author gives such a glimpse of himself. This was a good collection.
May 13, 2017
My 400th Review!
As expected I loved this anthology of works from George R.R Martin. It was so cute how he included a couple stories from when he was young, while they were a tiny bit painful to get through it was amazing to see how far he has come with his writing.
As someone who discovered him from his Song of Ice and Fire series it was interesting to find out that he is actually famous in a wide range of genres. Horror, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, he masters them all. I don't think that there is a single story throughout this anthology that I didn't like. I also really appreciated his thoughts on the stories, it was a nice lead in. I can't wait to read volume two.5/5
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Buy
As expected I loved this anthology of works from George R.R Martin. It was so cute how he included a couple stories from when he was young, while they were a tiny bit painful to get through it was amazing to see how far he has come with his writing.
As someone who discovered him from his Song of Ice and Fire series it was interesting to find out that he is actually famous in a wide range of genres. Horror, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, he masters them all. I don't think that there is a single story throughout this anthology that I didn't like. I also really appreciated his thoughts on the stories, it was a nice lead in. I can't wait to read volume two.5/5
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Buy
February 6, 2008
I have never read anything by George R. R. Martin before. I am highly skeptical of science fiction writers, unless they come highly recommended by someone whose opinion I trust, because of the vast mountains of crap which exist in the genre. I came upon Dreamsongs in my local library, and decided to check it out, to put my toe in the water, as it were. I am now interested enough that I have dug out my boyfriend's copies of the Song of Fire and Ice series. I plan to dive in to those next, and Dreamsongs, Volume Two, as well.
GRRM is a brilliant writer, and I have only just begun to know him. I appreciate the autobiographical interludes in Dreamsongs, as I love to know what inspires a writer -- what times and places in his history, events in his life, what other authors, etc., have shaped his stories. I find that Martin is influenced by Heinlein and Tolkien, two of my favorite writers of all time, as well as Lovecraft and others whom I do not know but now wish to meet.
The stories in Dreamsongs span decades, genres, and worlds. They contain humans, aliens, and beasts; gods, demons, and ghosts. They are future history and mythology. There are all the grand themes and archetypes of great literature: heroes vanquish villians, faith grapples with doubt, good triumphs over evil. There is irony and futility, love and redemption, loneliness and regret.
There are those who will say that Martin has been a critically acclaimed author for thirty-odd years, that I am 'way behind the curve. That is true enough, but I am glad to have finally discovered him for myself.
GRRM is a brilliant writer, and I have only just begun to know him. I appreciate the autobiographical interludes in Dreamsongs, as I love to know what inspires a writer -- what times and places in his history, events in his life, what other authors, etc., have shaped his stories. I find that Martin is influenced by Heinlein and Tolkien, two of my favorite writers of all time, as well as Lovecraft and others whom I do not know but now wish to meet.
The stories in Dreamsongs span decades, genres, and worlds. They contain humans, aliens, and beasts; gods, demons, and ghosts. They are future history and mythology. There are all the grand themes and archetypes of great literature: heroes vanquish villians, faith grapples with doubt, good triumphs over evil. There is irony and futility, love and redemption, loneliness and regret.
There are those who will say that Martin has been a critically acclaimed author for thirty-odd years, that I am 'way behind the curve. That is true enough, but I am glad to have finally discovered him for myself.
July 3, 2019
Dreamsongs is a collection of 22 short stories by George R. R. Martin, written between the 60’s through the 80’s. Mixed in with the short stories are brief segments where the author talks about his writing career, how it started, what influenced him, the publishing process, and the inspiration for some of the stories. The stories are a mix of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, with some being a blending of genres. I’d say science fiction had the heaviest emphasis.
His early stories were a bit painful to read. He was heavily influenced by comics in his childhood, keeping in mind that he was born in 1948. That was particularly apparent in the first story in the collection, “Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark”. It was very melodramatic and cheesy. After the rough start, the stories progressively improved and I particularly liked some of the ones at the end. The biographical bits by the author were interesting, but sometimes had more detail than I was interested in, especially when he was talking about the things he enjoyed reading in his youth. Somebody who grew up around the same time, especially if they enjoyed comics and fanzines, would probably appreciate it more than I did.
I’d heard good things about “Sandkings”, so I had pretty high expectations for that one. My expectations were met. It was a great story, my favorite in the book, disturbing, a bit creepy, and memorable. I also liked the last two stories in the book. It’s difficult to say if I found them more memorable just because they’re the last two stories I read, but I suspect “The Monkey Treatment” at least will stick with me. It’s about a very unique and unpleasant dieting method. It was intended as horror I think, but I mostly just thought it was funny. I kept mentally offering suggestions to the main character as I read and he even followed some of them. The last story, “The Pear-Shaped Man”, was almost as creepy to me as “Sandkings”, maybe more so. In general, I think it would bother more women than men; it’s about a woman who has recently moved into an apartment with a very disturbing neighbor.
More of the short stories were based on romance than I had expected. Well, romance might not be the right word because they weren’t all particularly romantic and the relationships didn’t all end well. Looking down the list of stories, it may not have been in as many stories as it felt like, but there was a point when I started to feel like I was reading a collection of weird romance stories and I wanted it to stop. There was less of it toward the end, though.
I’m not sure many of these stories will stick with me beyond the ones I mentioned. Already there are a few where I can’t remember what they were about just by looking at the title. This is pretty normal for me with short story collections. They’re just so short and naturally they’re often written with a similar style, so they all start to blur together. I did enjoy quite a bit of it while I was reading it though, and some of the stories were particularly good. I’m going to rate it at 3.5 stars and round down to 3 on Goodreads.
His early stories were a bit painful to read. He was heavily influenced by comics in his childhood, keeping in mind that he was born in 1948. That was particularly apparent in the first story in the collection, “Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark”. It was very melodramatic and cheesy. After the rough start, the stories progressively improved and I particularly liked some of the ones at the end. The biographical bits by the author were interesting, but sometimes had more detail than I was interested in, especially when he was talking about the things he enjoyed reading in his youth. Somebody who grew up around the same time, especially if they enjoyed comics and fanzines, would probably appreciate it more than I did.
I’d heard good things about “Sandkings”, so I had pretty high expectations for that one. My expectations were met. It was a great story, my favorite in the book, disturbing, a bit creepy, and memorable. I also liked the last two stories in the book. It’s difficult to say if I found them more memorable just because they’re the last two stories I read, but I suspect “The Monkey Treatment” at least will stick with me. It’s about a very unique and unpleasant dieting method. It was intended as horror I think, but I mostly just thought it was funny. I kept mentally offering suggestions to the main character as I read and he even followed some of them. The last story, “The Pear-Shaped Man”, was almost as creepy to me as “Sandkings”, maybe more so. In general, I think it would bother more women than men; it’s about a woman who has recently moved into an apartment with a very disturbing neighbor.
More of the short stories were based on romance than I had expected. Well, romance might not be the right word because they weren’t all particularly romantic and the relationships didn’t all end well. Looking down the list of stories, it may not have been in as many stories as it felt like, but there was a point when I started to feel like I was reading a collection of weird romance stories and I wanted it to stop. There was less of it toward the end, though.
I’m not sure many of these stories will stick with me beyond the ones I mentioned. Already there are a few where I can’t remember what they were about just by looking at the title. This is pretty normal for me with short story collections. They’re just so short and naturally they’re often written with a similar style, so they all start to blur together. I did enjoy quite a bit of it while I was reading it though, and some of the stories were particularly good. I’m going to rate it at 3.5 stars and round down to 3 on Goodreads.
October 6, 2008
4.0 stars. Even his early work showed flashes of brilliance. This is a "mostly" excellent collection of stories ranging from science fiction to fantasy to horror. Definitely worth reading.
June 29, 2012
One day I might write a more comprehensive review of this. For now I'll just put down my thoughts on some of the stories.
The Fortress - A lot of fun to read, it was interesting to see Martin's take on a piece of Finnish history.
The Exit to San Breta - A scifi ghost story. Not earth-shattering or mind blowing, but definitely original and clever.
The Second Kind of Loneliness - One of my favourites. Hit very close to home, got me crying. The ending is chilling.
With Morning Comes Mistfall - A very visual, beautiful story. Martin has a talent for creating fascinating alien worlds.
A Song for Lya - I read this story after Tainaron, and somehow the setting had a similar atmosphere to it. Alien, exotic, beautiful. Liked the ending and the developing relationship between the two main characters.
This Tower of Ashes - The main character's journey is wonderful, as is the world building. This story is set in another of those beautiful, strange worlds Martin creates, and the way he paints it to the reader is great.
And Seven Times Never Kill a Man - Alien religion was part of what made A Song for Lya so intriguing, and the same stands true here.
The Stone City - An odd story, one that I can't really even remember anymore. Have completely forgotten the ending. Should read again.
Bitterblooms - The ending has a good twist. A winter story.
(I stopped reading here for a long time)
The Way of Cross and Dragon - Can't say that I liked this one. The main reason is probably that I'm quite sick of the "moustache-twirling evil Catholic Church" cliché, it's gotten very old. Even if I ignore that, however, the story feels weak.
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr - Another wonderful twist ending. The MC had a slight Mary Sue-ish vibe, but it wasn't too distracting. This time wasn't that fascinated by the world, only Laren Dorr. Thought while reading that he might've been the MC's lost lover.
The Ice Dragon - A Song of Ice and Fire seems to have drawn just a bit from this story (which is normal and even unavoidable - I pull from old stories or story ideas all the time when I write). I liked the atmosphere, the idea of a winter child, and the ice dragon. The ending was nice, but nothing earth-shattering when compared to Martin's other endings.
In The Lost Lands - Interesting. Once again, great ending. The world doesn't get much weight here, but the characters make up for it. Especially the main character was intriguing.
Meathouse Man - Another story I didn't really like. Didn't feel like horror to me, and I wasn't sure why it was in the horror/hybrid section (I guess you could think of it as scifi/romance, but that's really stretching it when you consider the ending). The meathouse was disgusting, sure, but nothing really horrifying happened, and the twist ending was predictable.
Remembering Melody - One of those classic ghost stories: fun to read, the ending twist catches you more-or-less off guard, and you leave the story behind without thinking too much about it. Liked it, but then I read Sandkings.
Sandkings - Deservedly won both the Hugo and the Nebula award. Blew me away. Couldn't put it down, no matter how scared I was. Amazing.
Nightflyers - Read this, Sandkings and Remembering Melody all in one sitting. Though Nightflyers didn't really feel like horror to me either, it was definitely very tense and thrilling. The mystery and danger kept me tied to the story until the very end.
The Monkey Treatment and The Pear Shaped Man - These raised a lot of the same thoughts and emotions. *This* is horror, if you ask me. Wonderfully creepy, disgusting and relevant. Made my skin crawl but impossible to put down.
The Fortress - A lot of fun to read, it was interesting to see Martin's take on a piece of Finnish history.
The Exit to San Breta - A scifi ghost story. Not earth-shattering or mind blowing, but definitely original and clever.
The Second Kind of Loneliness - One of my favourites. Hit very close to home, got me crying. The ending is chilling.
With Morning Comes Mistfall - A very visual, beautiful story. Martin has a talent for creating fascinating alien worlds.
A Song for Lya - I read this story after Tainaron, and somehow the setting had a similar atmosphere to it. Alien, exotic, beautiful. Liked the ending and the developing relationship between the two main characters.
This Tower of Ashes - The main character's journey is wonderful, as is the world building. This story is set in another of those beautiful, strange worlds Martin creates, and the way he paints it to the reader is great.
And Seven Times Never Kill a Man - Alien religion was part of what made A Song for Lya so intriguing, and the same stands true here.
The Stone City - An odd story, one that I can't really even remember anymore. Have completely forgotten the ending. Should read again.
Bitterblooms - The ending has a good twist. A winter story.
(I stopped reading here for a long time)
The Way of Cross and Dragon - Can't say that I liked this one. The main reason is probably that I'm quite sick of the "moustache-twirling evil Catholic Church" cliché, it's gotten very old. Even if I ignore that, however, the story feels weak.
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr - Another wonderful twist ending. The MC had a slight Mary Sue-ish vibe, but it wasn't too distracting. This time wasn't that fascinated by the world, only Laren Dorr. Thought while reading that he might've been the MC's lost lover.
The Ice Dragon - A Song of Ice and Fire seems to have drawn just a bit from this story (which is normal and even unavoidable - I pull from old stories or story ideas all the time when I write). I liked the atmosphere, the idea of a winter child, and the ice dragon. The ending was nice, but nothing earth-shattering when compared to Martin's other endings.
In The Lost Lands - Interesting. Once again, great ending. The world doesn't get much weight here, but the characters make up for it. Especially the main character was intriguing.
Meathouse Man - Another story I didn't really like. Didn't feel like horror to me, and I wasn't sure why it was in the horror/hybrid section (I guess you could think of it as scifi/romance, but that's really stretching it when you consider the ending). The meathouse was disgusting, sure, but nothing really horrifying happened, and the twist ending was predictable.
Remembering Melody - One of those classic ghost stories: fun to read, the ending twist catches you more-or-less off guard, and you leave the story behind without thinking too much about it. Liked it, but then I read Sandkings.
Sandkings - Deservedly won both the Hugo and the Nebula award. Blew me away. Couldn't put it down, no matter how scared I was. Amazing.
Nightflyers - Read this, Sandkings and Remembering Melody all in one sitting. Though Nightflyers didn't really feel like horror to me either, it was definitely very tense and thrilling. The mystery and danger kept me tied to the story until the very end.
The Monkey Treatment and The Pear Shaped Man - These raised a lot of the same thoughts and emotions. *This* is horror, if you ask me. Wonderfully creepy, disgusting and relevant. Made my skin crawl but impossible to put down.
December 20, 2022
This is a collection of shorter works by George R.R. Martin, who is more known as the author of fantasy epic, which was the base of the popular TV series. However, his rise to the fame wasn’t is the genre he is most widely known about now, but stuff in SF, horror and superheroics. This book collects his early stuff, divided into several groups with a preview of each part by the author, diving his autobiography as a writer and fan.
One -- A Four-Color Fanboy a short review of author’s childhood, his love for comics, just appeared Fantastic Four, his shift to comic fandom, starting writing for fanzines.
Only Kids Are Afraid Of The Dark an usual superhero story – adventurers in jungles accidently wake up ancient evil, but a superhero Doctor Weird comes to rescue. 2* here just because it is the earliest available
The Fortress historical fiction about the fall of well-supplied Swedish fortress Sveaborg to small Russian force in 1808, 3*
And Death His Legacy a populist leader arises in the US and a wealthy Englishman, dying from cancer decides to assassinate his before we got another Hitler. 3*
Two -- The Filthy Pro how he started publications in SF magazines, how his manuscripts were lost, rejected, etc.
The Hero the protagonist is a professional soldier, who wants to retire and see Earth for which he fought his whole life, but his superiors ask him not to. 3*
The Exit To San Breta a haunting house trope, but with a car instead of a building, in a world where most shifted to helicopters. 3*
The Second Kind Of Loneliness a guy works on a space station next to some kind of hypergate, waiting when the replacement come. Surprising reveal. 3.5*
With Morning Comes Mistfall a journalist comes to a planet where some mystic things are maybe happening, a conflict between a man of science and one, who insists that come wonders should remain 4*
Three -- The Light Of Distant Stars how he started reading SF, watching SF movies and then write.
A Song For Lya a couple of human telepaths are send on a planet, where some kind of religious cult that has a suicide as an ultimate end started taking human converts. 4*
This Tower Of Ashes a man lives in ruins of old alien castle, hunting dream-spiders, his former girlfriend with her new guy visit and they wander around and discuss. 2.5*
And Seven Times Never Kill Man one hi-tech alien group (Angels) destroys lo-tech pyramid worshippers, humans try to arm the latter, but they believe gods will protect them. 3.5*
The Stone City a man is stranded in a weird town at a planet closer to the galactic core, where our physics laws change, with time loops and new ways of travel. 3*
Bitterblooms a woman (likely a colonist of degraded lo-tech colony planet) meets another in a tower of steel (space ship) and lives with her. 3.5*
The Way Of Cross And Dragon an inquisitor in future Catholic church is sent to destroy a heresy about Judas and his dragons. 5*
Overall, a very good overview of the author’s work.
One -- A Four-Color Fanboy a short review of author’s childhood, his love for comics, just appeared Fantastic Four, his shift to comic fandom, starting writing for fanzines.
Only Kids Are Afraid Of The Dark an usual superhero story – adventurers in jungles accidently wake up ancient evil, but a superhero Doctor Weird comes to rescue. 2* here just because it is the earliest available
The Fortress historical fiction about the fall of well-supplied Swedish fortress Sveaborg to small Russian force in 1808, 3*
And Death His Legacy a populist leader arises in the US and a wealthy Englishman, dying from cancer decides to assassinate his before we got another Hitler. 3*
Two -- The Filthy Pro how he started publications in SF magazines, how his manuscripts were lost, rejected, etc.
The Hero the protagonist is a professional soldier, who wants to retire and see Earth for which he fought his whole life, but his superiors ask him not to. 3*
The Exit To San Breta a haunting house trope, but with a car instead of a building, in a world where most shifted to helicopters. 3*
The Second Kind Of Loneliness a guy works on a space station next to some kind of hypergate, waiting when the replacement come. Surprising reveal. 3.5*
With Morning Comes Mistfall a journalist comes to a planet where some mystic things are maybe happening, a conflict between a man of science and one, who insists that come wonders should remain 4*
Three -- The Light Of Distant Stars how he started reading SF, watching SF movies and then write.
A Song For Lya a couple of human telepaths are send on a planet, where some kind of religious cult that has a suicide as an ultimate end started taking human converts. 4*
This Tower Of Ashes a man lives in ruins of old alien castle, hunting dream-spiders, his former girlfriend with her new guy visit and they wander around and discuss. 2.5*
And Seven Times Never Kill Man one hi-tech alien group (Angels) destroys lo-tech pyramid worshippers, humans try to arm the latter, but they believe gods will protect them. 3.5*
The Stone City a man is stranded in a weird town at a planet closer to the galactic core, where our physics laws change, with time loops and new ways of travel. 3*
Bitterblooms a woman (likely a colonist of degraded lo-tech colony planet) meets another in a tower of steel (space ship) and lives with her. 3.5*
The Way Of Cross And Dragon an inquisitor in future Catholic church is sent to destroy a heresy about Judas and his dragons. 5*
Overall, a very good overview of the author’s work.
April 10, 2023
A good variety of different stories but even more than them I liked the introductions of each segments, where GRRM writes about his life and career.
March 28, 2022
As a big fan of George R.R. Martin, I have been eager to dive into his shorter work for a long time. There is a lot of it, and a collection that contained overly twenty short stories seemed like the perfect way to get into the author’s short stories. As with any collection, however, I enjoyed some of these more than others.
Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark is a very early story from the author. It is safe to say he has come a long way since writing this one, and I was unsurprised when I was not sucked into it in the way I had hoped. There was the potential for an interesting story, but it only touched the surface. Had there been more to it, I’m sure I would have enjoyed it more. As it was, I never really cared for this one. A one-star read for me.
The Fortress is an early piece of work from George R.R. Martin, and it’s another story that I think will mostly interest people determined to read everything the author has released. Had it been by anyone else, I doubt I would have ever read it. It is a short story that focuses on a point of history I know nothing about, which made it difficult to care about what was happening. If I’d known more about the history or there had been more information in it, I’m sure I would have enjoyed it more. As it was, I could not get invested in this telling of a historical event. Another one-star rating for me.
And Death His Legacy was an interesting politically themed short story from George R.R. Martin, yet it was one that didn’t quite have the depth to wow me. Things happened quickly and were predictable, and that took away some of my enjoyment from this one. Had there been a bit more to it, had it not been quite as quick, I could see myself having enjoyed it a lot more. As it was, it was just too simple for me. A two-star rating for me.
The Hero is a story that was a little too predictable for me, otherwise I could have loved it. There was the potential for a variety of interesting elements to be developed with this one, yet the story focused on a single element that did not surprise me. With a little bit more, I could have been hooked on this. As it was, it was just okay. A two-star rating for me.
The Exit to San Breta was a story that played out in the way I had anticipated, yet that was not enough to take away the fact that this was an enjoyable little read. It was a horror without being spooky, just an unusual read with a hint of the supernatural. Simple but effective, it’s certainly one of the better George R.R. Martin short stories. A three-star rating for me.
The Second Kind of Loneliness was a short story I quickly fell for, one I happily devoured in no time. It was a story that I could not pull my attention from once I started, reading faster with each page, eager to see how all the details would come together. In fact, this is one of those stories where I rounded my rating down. I adored it and was hooked, but there were some details that I would have liked to see expanded a bit more. Nevertheless, it was a powerful little read. A three-star rating for me.
With Morning Comes Mistfall was a story filled with wonderful description, yet I feel that was the best part of the tale. It painted a vivid picture, one that had me hoping for lots of intriguing moments, yet the story itself didn’t have as much depth as I would have liked. It was one of those tales that had potential, yet it never went into anything with the depth I had hoped for. A two-star rating for me.
A Song for Lya was a story that took a little while for me to get into it, but I was invested once it started moving. There were some parts of this one that I would have liked to have seen expanded a lot more, yet it did make for easy quick reading. A mixture of weird and thoughtful, it was one that left me curious. A three-star rating for me.
This Tower of Ashes was one of those short stories that left me conflicted. Although I liked the way it came together, found it to be one that leaves a person to think, I was never quite as invested in it as I would have liked. I think a large part of this comes down to the fact that I wanted more from the world we were introduced to. A two-star rating for me.
And Seven Times Never Kill Man is one of those stories that is likely to leave people conflicted. Unfortunately, I was one of those people the story did not work for. There was an interesting story in here about colonisation and oppression, but it failed to tick the boxes for me. I was never invested in it the way I had hoped, and I found it easy to put down despite how quick it was to read. A one-star rating for me.
The Stone City was a story that started off well, leaving me curious about where the story would go. Sadly, as the story progressed, I found my interest in it started to fade. It was one of those stories that could have offered so much, but the way the story was told did not work for me. Between the fact that it flickered between points in time and the fact that the details I was interested in were never looked at as deeply as I had hoped, this one didn’t quite work for me. A two-star rating for me.
Bitterblooms was a story I found to be predictable in many ways. However, this was not enough to lessen my enjoyment. It was a simple story, I knew where it was going, yet I was hooked on the way in which it unfolded. It managed to include more elements than expected, ensuring there was plenty of padding to keep me turning the pages. A three-star rating for me.
The Way of Cross and Dragon was a story that had me somewhat dubious at first. I was not quite sure what it would offer, and I had my doubts about where the story would head. Quickly, however, it managed to suck me in and gave me the unexpected. It was a story that puts a twist on religion that is amusing while making the reader think. It was unexpected in the best of ways. A three-star rating for me.
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr was a story that intrigued me with the introduction, but my feelings changed as the story progressed. I loved how atmospheric this story was, along with the intriguing world-building, yet I never connected with the characters. There were so many intriguing elements introduced that I wished to see more of, but we never explored them. Thus, I found myself a little disappointed by how something so unique was used with something that didn’t fully deliver. A two-star rating for me.
The Ice Dragon felt like a somewhat cliched story for children made bleaker. It had me curious to see how everything played out, but I was never invested in it as I had hoped to be. In other words, it passed the time, but I never truly cared about it. A two-star rating for me.
In the Lost Lands was a story that I didn’t quite reach my expectations. At first, I was super intrigued by the elements introduced. As the story progressed, though, I felt some of the tension in it slipped away. It was certainly an interesting tale, yet it never quite wowed me in the way I had hoped. A two-star rating for me.
Meathouse Man was a story that did not work for me. Sure, there were some creepy elements to it. However, for me, it all felt a bit too yucky for me to fall into it the way I had hoped. It’s one I quickly worked my way through as I was never overly interested and just wanted it over. A one-star rating for me.
Remembering Melody was a story that I was a wee bit unsure about at the start, but things quickly came together to tell a story that was not what I expected. While this was not the full-blown horror of some stories, it was certainly a creepy little tale that left a mark. Mixed with some details that people will find themselves able to relate to, it packs a powerful punch for such a short read. A three-star rating for me.
Sandkings was a story that pulled me in deeper and deeper with every detail that played out. From the start, I was curious and wanted to see how things played out. Once the story started to move, however, that curiosity quickly developed into an inability to put the story down. It’s one of those stories that can be approached from many different angles, with plenty of elements that will leave people talking. It’s creepy in a subtle way, creepier in making the skin-crawl way, and it guarantees the reader will think about it long after finishing. A four-star rating for me.
Nightflyers was filled with things I love – space and murder – not what I had expected it to be. There were times when I was invested in the story, when I was desperate to see how everything came together, but I failed to feel the depth of emotion I had expected to feel towards this one. I wanted to be obsessed, instead I took a stroll through the story. A two-star rating for me.
The Monkey Treatment started in a way that left me unaware of what the story would give. It was strange, to say the least, but it quickly pulled me in and had me curious to see how it would come together. It was one of those strange horror reads that do not offer the truly terrifying but does offer a creepy factor. Somehow, through this, weight loss becomes a very strange and terrifying thing. A three-star rating for me.
The Pear-Shaped Man was another of George R.R. Martin’s short stories that can be labelled as horror. As with other stories labelled as such from the author, this was not a terrifying read but it was a creepy read. It is one of those subtly unsettling reads that leaves you eager to see how everything comes together, desperately turning the pages to see what the creepy ending will be. A three-star rating for me.
All in all, while some of these did stand out, I was not a fan of most. This collection shows a wide range of the author’s work, with the good next to the bad, and I found the bad were harder to ignore than I’d hoped. I’ll certainly be reading the other volume in the hope those short stories are better, but I am not holding my breath. After this, a part of me feels I’m going to favour the author’s bigger work.
Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark is a very early story from the author. It is safe to say he has come a long way since writing this one, and I was unsurprised when I was not sucked into it in the way I had hoped. There was the potential for an interesting story, but it only touched the surface. Had there been more to it, I’m sure I would have enjoyed it more. As it was, I never really cared for this one. A one-star read for me.
The Fortress is an early piece of work from George R.R. Martin, and it’s another story that I think will mostly interest people determined to read everything the author has released. Had it been by anyone else, I doubt I would have ever read it. It is a short story that focuses on a point of history I know nothing about, which made it difficult to care about what was happening. If I’d known more about the history or there had been more information in it, I’m sure I would have enjoyed it more. As it was, I could not get invested in this telling of a historical event. Another one-star rating for me.
And Death His Legacy was an interesting politically themed short story from George R.R. Martin, yet it was one that didn’t quite have the depth to wow me. Things happened quickly and were predictable, and that took away some of my enjoyment from this one. Had there been a bit more to it, had it not been quite as quick, I could see myself having enjoyed it a lot more. As it was, it was just too simple for me. A two-star rating for me.
The Hero is a story that was a little too predictable for me, otherwise I could have loved it. There was the potential for a variety of interesting elements to be developed with this one, yet the story focused on a single element that did not surprise me. With a little bit more, I could have been hooked on this. As it was, it was just okay. A two-star rating for me.
The Exit to San Breta was a story that played out in the way I had anticipated, yet that was not enough to take away the fact that this was an enjoyable little read. It was a horror without being spooky, just an unusual read with a hint of the supernatural. Simple but effective, it’s certainly one of the better George R.R. Martin short stories. A three-star rating for me.
The Second Kind of Loneliness was a short story I quickly fell for, one I happily devoured in no time. It was a story that I could not pull my attention from once I started, reading faster with each page, eager to see how all the details would come together. In fact, this is one of those stories where I rounded my rating down. I adored it and was hooked, but there were some details that I would have liked to see expanded a bit more. Nevertheless, it was a powerful little read. A three-star rating for me.
With Morning Comes Mistfall was a story filled with wonderful description, yet I feel that was the best part of the tale. It painted a vivid picture, one that had me hoping for lots of intriguing moments, yet the story itself didn’t have as much depth as I would have liked. It was one of those tales that had potential, yet it never went into anything with the depth I had hoped for. A two-star rating for me.
A Song for Lya was a story that took a little while for me to get into it, but I was invested once it started moving. There were some parts of this one that I would have liked to have seen expanded a lot more, yet it did make for easy quick reading. A mixture of weird and thoughtful, it was one that left me curious. A three-star rating for me.
This Tower of Ashes was one of those short stories that left me conflicted. Although I liked the way it came together, found it to be one that leaves a person to think, I was never quite as invested in it as I would have liked. I think a large part of this comes down to the fact that I wanted more from the world we were introduced to. A two-star rating for me.
And Seven Times Never Kill Man is one of those stories that is likely to leave people conflicted. Unfortunately, I was one of those people the story did not work for. There was an interesting story in here about colonisation and oppression, but it failed to tick the boxes for me. I was never invested in it the way I had hoped, and I found it easy to put down despite how quick it was to read. A one-star rating for me.
The Stone City was a story that started off well, leaving me curious about where the story would go. Sadly, as the story progressed, I found my interest in it started to fade. It was one of those stories that could have offered so much, but the way the story was told did not work for me. Between the fact that it flickered between points in time and the fact that the details I was interested in were never looked at as deeply as I had hoped, this one didn’t quite work for me. A two-star rating for me.
Bitterblooms was a story I found to be predictable in many ways. However, this was not enough to lessen my enjoyment. It was a simple story, I knew where it was going, yet I was hooked on the way in which it unfolded. It managed to include more elements than expected, ensuring there was plenty of padding to keep me turning the pages. A three-star rating for me.
The Way of Cross and Dragon was a story that had me somewhat dubious at first. I was not quite sure what it would offer, and I had my doubts about where the story would head. Quickly, however, it managed to suck me in and gave me the unexpected. It was a story that puts a twist on religion that is amusing while making the reader think. It was unexpected in the best of ways. A three-star rating for me.
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr was a story that intrigued me with the introduction, but my feelings changed as the story progressed. I loved how atmospheric this story was, along with the intriguing world-building, yet I never connected with the characters. There were so many intriguing elements introduced that I wished to see more of, but we never explored them. Thus, I found myself a little disappointed by how something so unique was used with something that didn’t fully deliver. A two-star rating for me.
The Ice Dragon felt like a somewhat cliched story for children made bleaker. It had me curious to see how everything played out, but I was never invested in it as I had hoped to be. In other words, it passed the time, but I never truly cared about it. A two-star rating for me.
In the Lost Lands was a story that I didn’t quite reach my expectations. At first, I was super intrigued by the elements introduced. As the story progressed, though, I felt some of the tension in it slipped away. It was certainly an interesting tale, yet it never quite wowed me in the way I had hoped. A two-star rating for me.
Meathouse Man was a story that did not work for me. Sure, there were some creepy elements to it. However, for me, it all felt a bit too yucky for me to fall into it the way I had hoped. It’s one I quickly worked my way through as I was never overly interested and just wanted it over. A one-star rating for me.
Remembering Melody was a story that I was a wee bit unsure about at the start, but things quickly came together to tell a story that was not what I expected. While this was not the full-blown horror of some stories, it was certainly a creepy little tale that left a mark. Mixed with some details that people will find themselves able to relate to, it packs a powerful punch for such a short read. A three-star rating for me.
Sandkings was a story that pulled me in deeper and deeper with every detail that played out. From the start, I was curious and wanted to see how things played out. Once the story started to move, however, that curiosity quickly developed into an inability to put the story down. It’s one of those stories that can be approached from many different angles, with plenty of elements that will leave people talking. It’s creepy in a subtle way, creepier in making the skin-crawl way, and it guarantees the reader will think about it long after finishing. A four-star rating for me.
Nightflyers was filled with things I love – space and murder – not what I had expected it to be. There were times when I was invested in the story, when I was desperate to see how everything came together, but I failed to feel the depth of emotion I had expected to feel towards this one. I wanted to be obsessed, instead I took a stroll through the story. A two-star rating for me.
The Monkey Treatment started in a way that left me unaware of what the story would give. It was strange, to say the least, but it quickly pulled me in and had me curious to see how it would come together. It was one of those strange horror reads that do not offer the truly terrifying but does offer a creepy factor. Somehow, through this, weight loss becomes a very strange and terrifying thing. A three-star rating for me.
The Pear-Shaped Man was another of George R.R. Martin’s short stories that can be labelled as horror. As with other stories labelled as such from the author, this was not a terrifying read but it was a creepy read. It is one of those subtly unsettling reads that leaves you eager to see how everything comes together, desperately turning the pages to see what the creepy ending will be. A three-star rating for me.
All in all, while some of these did stand out, I was not a fan of most. This collection shows a wide range of the author’s work, with the good next to the bad, and I found the bad were harder to ignore than I’d hoped. I’ll certainly be reading the other volume in the hope those short stories are better, but I am not holding my breath. After this, a part of me feels I’m going to favour the author’s bigger work.
January 29, 2010
I'm awfully glad Game of Thrones was the first George R.R. Martin I tried. Had I stumbled across some of his early sci-fi, showcased here in Dreamsongs, I'd have never pursued more. But if I hadn't fallen in love with A Song of Ice and Fire, I would've never turned enough Dreamsong pages to get to some of the best short fiction I've ever read.
Martin's commentary is honest -- he knows the early stuff isn't good. And honestly, a lot of my problems with it are genre specific. I don't wholeheartedly embrace sci-fi, but in novel length, I can get past the jargon if I love the characters. In short stories, there's little chance to do that.
But who cares about the so-so stuff, right? It's the amazing I want you to know about. The book has sci-fi, fantasy and horror, but the best stories combine all of the above.
Even if you've never tried Martin, it's worth picking up this volume to read select stories. (And once you're attached, ask may about ASOIAF.)
-- Sandkings is incredible, hands down one I'll reread again and again. (Apparently it's what he was famous for before the whole Song thing.) It's creepy and weird and horrifying and fascinating.
-- The Way of the Cross and The Dragon is religion and sci-fi, twisted. If you don't like having your beliefs challenged, this one isn't for you. A Song for Lya also has a strong dose of religion, but it's not one you'll recognize. (Plus there are parasites.)
-- The Second Kind of Loneliness is poetic and beautiful. And then it'll stun you.
-- The Hero has a classic short-story format with GRRM's grim view of authority.
-- I read the first four graphs of the The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr aloud to Adam. If you want to know why Martin is a celebrated wordsmith, start there.
-- Ice Dragon makes me long for Dance of Dragons. But even if you don't know what that means, it's a Gaiman-esque children's tale.
-- Meathouse Man has a turn-away kind of opening sequence. The story never gets far enough away from the grotesque for it be enjoyable, but it's certainly memorable.
-- Nightflyers is like Norman Bates' mom and Firefly's Captain Mal had a love child. (Yup, as weird as that is.)
-- The final two horror stories (The Monkey Treatment and The Pear-Shaped Man) are decent on their own but don't stand with the best of the best in here.
And the rest? Eh. Like I said, more sci-fi than I'd like and the words just don't live up to the Martin magic. But it was worth reading all of those to find the gems and to get a sense of the man himself through his introductory chapters. I can't say enough.
Martin's commentary is honest -- he knows the early stuff isn't good. And honestly, a lot of my problems with it are genre specific. I don't wholeheartedly embrace sci-fi, but in novel length, I can get past the jargon if I love the characters. In short stories, there's little chance to do that.
But who cares about the so-so stuff, right? It's the amazing I want you to know about. The book has sci-fi, fantasy and horror, but the best stories combine all of the above.
Even if you've never tried Martin, it's worth picking up this volume to read select stories. (And once you're attached, ask may about ASOIAF.)
-- Sandkings is incredible, hands down one I'll reread again and again. (Apparently it's what he was famous for before the whole Song thing.) It's creepy and weird and horrifying and fascinating.
-- The Way of the Cross and The Dragon is religion and sci-fi, twisted. If you don't like having your beliefs challenged, this one isn't for you. A Song for Lya also has a strong dose of religion, but it's not one you'll recognize. (Plus there are parasites.)
-- The Second Kind of Loneliness is poetic and beautiful. And then it'll stun you.
-- The Hero has a classic short-story format with GRRM's grim view of authority.
-- I read the first four graphs of the The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr aloud to Adam. If you want to know why Martin is a celebrated wordsmith, start there.
-- Ice Dragon makes me long for Dance of Dragons. But even if you don't know what that means, it's a Gaiman-esque children's tale.
-- Meathouse Man has a turn-away kind of opening sequence. The story never gets far enough away from the grotesque for it be enjoyable, but it's certainly memorable.
-- Nightflyers is like Norman Bates' mom and Firefly's Captain Mal had a love child. (Yup, as weird as that is.)
-- The final two horror stories (The Monkey Treatment and The Pear-Shaped Man) are decent on their own but don't stand with the best of the best in here.
And the rest? Eh. Like I said, more sci-fi than I'd like and the words just don't live up to the Martin magic. But it was worth reading all of those to find the gems and to get a sense of the man himself through his introductory chapters. I can't say enough.
September 23, 2015
A good collection of shorts: sci-fi, fantasy, and some horror. Some stories are much better than others, but I enjoyed reading all of them. And it was nice to read the work in chronological order, observing how Martin's work progressed and grew over time.
September 12, 2016
This is the first time I read something by GRRM that isn't related to ASoIaF. The man in a proven genius, and those stories are all little masterpieces. Can't wait to read volume II.
September 17, 2010
DREAMSONGS VOLUME I BY GEORGE R. R. MARTIN: The two great mysteries of this world are when scientists will come up with a unification theory for quantum mechanics and relativity, and when George R. R. Martin will release the very long-awaited fifth book in his “Song of Ice and Fire” series, A Dance With Dragons. With a hopeful but doubtful release some time next year, for the time being there is thankfully Dreamsongs, a two-volume collection featuring George R. R. Martin’s short stories and novellas spanning his career.
This first volume is split into five parts, separating periods of Martin’s life from the sixties and on through the seventies. At the beginning of each part, Martin gives an introduction, telling his life story at this particular moment, and what were the circumstances that led up to each particularly story and how they were published. He begins from the beginning, writing and publishing at a young age, when one would expect the work to be simple and undeveloped, and yet it is clear that George R. R. Martin was a talented writer from the start. In each story are unique and memorable characters that stick with the reader long after the story is over. In “The Exit to San Breta,” the main character is driving his classic, ancient Jaguar along the old and disused freeways of North America. It is on a particular road in Arizona that he runs into an even more ancient Edsel in incredible condition riding a perfectly flat and unblemished road. Soon he becomes part of a horrific haunting accident set to continuously play itself out for all eternity.
In Martin’s science fiction, he establishes himself in a unique way, using the same world each time, but different planets, an distinct plot, and unforgettable characters that just add much more meaning to the story. In the last two parts, Martin reveals his love for first fantasy and his development as a fantasy writer, and finally as a horror writer. His most well-known story that won him the most prestigious science fiction awards involves a combination of these genres, in “Sandkings.” Kress is a collector of the unusual, whatever the cost, until the day he buys a terrarium of sandkings: small insect-like creatures that form alliances and coalitions, fight wars over land and food, live in peace when able; even worshiping their owner, if he feeds them and takes good care of them. Kress seeks to control and make them his playthings, until they become too intelligent and powerful, breaking free of the terrarium, increasing in size, until Kress has no form of escape.
In this first collection, one sees where the writer George R. R. Martin came from, and what events and stories led him to becoming an important writer in the growing science fiction genre, the barely-begun fantasy genre, and the growing popularity of the horror genre. It is in these stories that one sees the beginning characters and story complexities that would later lead to the epic “Song of Ice and Fire” series. In Dreamsongs Volume I, Martin confesses that he would never be able to write as well as one of his childhood idols, J. R. R. Tolkien, and yet has now been labeled as the “American Tolkien” of our time. Clearly, Martin is destined to become one of the most important fantasy (as well as science fiction and horror) writers of our time.
For more book reviews, and author interviews, go to BookBanter.
This first volume is split into five parts, separating periods of Martin’s life from the sixties and on through the seventies. At the beginning of each part, Martin gives an introduction, telling his life story at this particular moment, and what were the circumstances that led up to each particularly story and how they were published. He begins from the beginning, writing and publishing at a young age, when one would expect the work to be simple and undeveloped, and yet it is clear that George R. R. Martin was a talented writer from the start. In each story are unique and memorable characters that stick with the reader long after the story is over. In “The Exit to San Breta,” the main character is driving his classic, ancient Jaguar along the old and disused freeways of North America. It is on a particular road in Arizona that he runs into an even more ancient Edsel in incredible condition riding a perfectly flat and unblemished road. Soon he becomes part of a horrific haunting accident set to continuously play itself out for all eternity.
In Martin’s science fiction, he establishes himself in a unique way, using the same world each time, but different planets, an distinct plot, and unforgettable characters that just add much more meaning to the story. In the last two parts, Martin reveals his love for first fantasy and his development as a fantasy writer, and finally as a horror writer. His most well-known story that won him the most prestigious science fiction awards involves a combination of these genres, in “Sandkings.” Kress is a collector of the unusual, whatever the cost, until the day he buys a terrarium of sandkings: small insect-like creatures that form alliances and coalitions, fight wars over land and food, live in peace when able; even worshiping their owner, if he feeds them and takes good care of them. Kress seeks to control and make them his playthings, until they become too intelligent and powerful, breaking free of the terrarium, increasing in size, until Kress has no form of escape.
In this first collection, one sees where the writer George R. R. Martin came from, and what events and stories led him to becoming an important writer in the growing science fiction genre, the barely-begun fantasy genre, and the growing popularity of the horror genre. It is in these stories that one sees the beginning characters and story complexities that would later lead to the epic “Song of Ice and Fire” series. In Dreamsongs Volume I, Martin confesses that he would never be able to write as well as one of his childhood idols, J. R. R. Tolkien, and yet has now been labeled as the “American Tolkien” of our time. Clearly, Martin is destined to become one of the most important fantasy (as well as science fiction and horror) writers of our time.
For more book reviews, and author interviews, go to BookBanter.
December 20, 2008
George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books were some of the first fantasy I read, back when I was in grade seven. One of my friends introduced me to fantasy by way of David Eddings' The Belgariad, and after polishing that off, I read the first three A Song of Ice and Fire books (yes, all three were out then, and the fourth one just came out recently!). Martin is one of my favourite authors, truly a brilliant combination of writer and storyteller: a master of the technique as well as the craft.
Martin is brave to publish Dreamsongs, which gives us--especially those of us who are younger readers and haven't been as exposed to the short fiction magazines of Martin's youth--a glimpse of Martin's formative years and the works with which he became a professional author. You can clearly see his writing improve over the course of the five-part book. Yet at the same time, even his early stories carry the kernel of creativity that's evident throughout this volume.
My favourites were "The Second Kidn of Loneliness", "And Seven Times Never Kill Man", "The Ice Dragon", "Meathouse Man", "Remembering Melody", and "Nightflyers". Having never read any of Martin's horror/SF stories, those latter "Hybrids and Horrors" made a significant impression on me--in particular, I'd compare them to Orson Scott Card in terms of ingenuity. Although "The Pear-Shaped Man" wasn't one of my favourites of this anthology, it's an excellent example of that Card-like creativity that makes Martin a prodigious writer: he knows how to get under your skin.
For those who have read other works by Martin, this will expand your knowledge of his oeuvre and his talents: he is indeed a science fiction/fantasy/horror writer, and everything in between. Plus, it will sate your thirst for more Martin stories in between books in A Song for Ice and Fire!
For those who are reading the works of Martin for the first time, this book is an excellent introduction.
Martin is brave to publish Dreamsongs, which gives us--especially those of us who are younger readers and haven't been as exposed to the short fiction magazines of Martin's youth--a glimpse of Martin's formative years and the works with which he became a professional author. You can clearly see his writing improve over the course of the five-part book. Yet at the same time, even his early stories carry the kernel of creativity that's evident throughout this volume.
My favourites were "The Second Kidn of Loneliness", "And Seven Times Never Kill Man", "The Ice Dragon", "Meathouse Man", "Remembering Melody", and "Nightflyers". Having never read any of Martin's horror/SF stories, those latter "Hybrids and Horrors" made a significant impression on me--in particular, I'd compare them to Orson Scott Card in terms of ingenuity. Although "The Pear-Shaped Man" wasn't one of my favourites of this anthology, it's an excellent example of that Card-like creativity that makes Martin a prodigious writer: he knows how to get under your skin.
For those who have read other works by Martin, this will expand your knowledge of his oeuvre and his talents: he is indeed a science fiction/fantasy/horror writer, and everything in between. Plus, it will sate your thirst for more Martin stories in between books in A Song for Ice and Fire!
For those who are reading the works of Martin for the first time, this book is an excellent introduction.
August 19, 2012
(Review of both Book One and Book Two)
Got both of these anthologies from the library. Together, they're a great retrospective of Martin's career.
They're worth reading, for any Martin fan, even completists who've already read nearly everything in them, as Martin introduces and arranges the contents. His commentary on the stories is worth the price of admission alone.
It starts off with a hilarious (and, admittedly, hilariously bad) fantasy story first published in an independent fanzine when Martin was a teen... and quickly moves into his excellent sci-fi and horror stories, includes some TV scripts, and more recent short fiction. Nearly all of it is 5-star material, with, (in my opinion) the exception of the 'Wild Cards' material... but that's just me; I'm just not a fan of the superhero genre, even when it's well-done, socially relevant and gritty as hell. I just can't force myself to love it.
That's OK, though, because I love everything else here - and that's a lot to love - this collection is two big, thick books. Go read.
Got both of these anthologies from the library. Together, they're a great retrospective of Martin's career.
They're worth reading, for any Martin fan, even completists who've already read nearly everything in them, as Martin introduces and arranges the contents. His commentary on the stories is worth the price of admission alone.
It starts off with a hilarious (and, admittedly, hilariously bad) fantasy story first published in an independent fanzine when Martin was a teen... and quickly moves into his excellent sci-fi and horror stories, includes some TV scripts, and more recent short fiction. Nearly all of it is 5-star material, with, (in my opinion) the exception of the 'Wild Cards' material... but that's just me; I'm just not a fan of the superhero genre, even when it's well-done, socially relevant and gritty as hell. I just can't force myself to love it.
That's OK, though, because I love everything else here - and that's a lot to love - this collection is two big, thick books. Go read.
June 14, 2015
Every fan of George R. R. Martin should read it. All of the stories are really really good. I've personally never read Science Fiction, but I loved the book and I'm looking forward to read more from Martin, no matter what genre.
July 6, 2016
Just a wonderful collection of short stories from a modern speculative fiction master. I ordered the stories from my favorite to least favorite and included a short review for each.
"A Song for Lya" - Martin explores our need for human connection and the ways we try, and inevitably fail, to understand someone on every level of their being. Alternately heartbreaking and fascinating, with an ending that will haunt you long into the night. 5/5"
"Sandkings" - Creeping, crawling, heart-pounding sci-fi horror. I was nailed to my seat. 5/5"
"The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr" - Gorgeous. Laren's eternity weighs heavily on the reader as Sharra makes her brief visit to his world. 5/5"
"The Ice Dragon" - I picked this one to cheer me up after "Meathouse Man", since I'd heard it was for children. I sincerely hope no child every picks this up by accident. Bleak, frigid, and absolutely stunning. 5/5"
"The Monkey Treatment" - This one is absolutely ridiculous. Totally tongue-in-cheek, suitably gross, and more than a little creepy. I would highly recommend it if you're into that sort of thing. 5/5"
"Nightflyers" - I heard this was originally 40 pages shorter, and I think that's a more appropriate length for this story. I had a good time reading this cleverly plotted space horror story, though I had hoped it would deliver a bit more on the existential side story."
"In the Lost Lands" - This would have made a great Twilight Zone episode. Nice little ironic twist at the end."
"And Seven Times Never Kill Man" - Great read. Has a lot of Martin's characteristic commentary on religion and violence. As always, his characters become intimately familiar after only a few pages. I'm not sure I completely understood the ending, but I can see what he was going for."
"This Tower of Ashes" - Not sure I completely understood the ending, but this one was very well done and a lot of fun to read."
"The Fortress" - Great setting. It introduced me to a fascinating little bit of history. Unfortunately, George's interpretation didn't quite measure up."
"With Morning Comes Mistfall" - A nice little meditation on human exploration and the dual nature of our fascination and fear for the unknown."
"Meathouse Man" - I needed a hug after this one. Very interesting commentary on our expectations of love, but I felt the characters were a bit flat."
"The Hero" - I believe this was Martin's first published short story. Nothing too special, but it was entertaining and his natural talent for storytelling shines through in places."
"The Exit to San Breta" - I don't think ghost stories are Martin's thing. This wasn't especially scary, mysterious, or even interesting. Quick read, though."
"The Second Kind of Loneliness" - Rock-solid premise, but it just didn't happen for me. The prose got too scattered and frantic. The message was too heavy-handed. It really was a nice idea, though."
"Bitterblooms" - Not bad, but it felt overly familiar, if only because I've been reading a ton of Martin's stories in a row."
"The Way of Cross and Dragon" - Didn't quite agree with his conclusion, but I appreciate George's honesty and conviction in matters of religion and truth. He's clearly thought deeply about these things. The story was very well thought out."
"The Stone City" - Not bad, but a little slow. Nothing particularly new or interesting, as many similar story elements had made appearances in the other stories in this book. Definitely worth reading in its own right."
"Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark" - This is one of his earlier stories...and it shows. It was an interesting read if only to see how much his prose has improved. The world and characters are fun enough; he just didn't take them anywhere interesting."
"And Death His Legacy" - Not bad, not really boring, but the "American dictator" thing has definitely been done before and there was nothing particularly interesting about George's version."
"The Pear-Shaped Man" - In many ways, it's the same story as The Monkey Treatment, just less fun to read and a lot more gross."
"Remembering Melody" - Pretty standard ghost story. Kinda boring."
"A Song for Lya" - Martin explores our need for human connection and the ways we try, and inevitably fail, to understand someone on every level of their being. Alternately heartbreaking and fascinating, with an ending that will haunt you long into the night. 5/5"
"Sandkings" - Creeping, crawling, heart-pounding sci-fi horror. I was nailed to my seat. 5/5"
"The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr" - Gorgeous. Laren's eternity weighs heavily on the reader as Sharra makes her brief visit to his world. 5/5"
"The Ice Dragon" - I picked this one to cheer me up after "Meathouse Man", since I'd heard it was for children. I sincerely hope no child every picks this up by accident. Bleak, frigid, and absolutely stunning. 5/5"
"The Monkey Treatment" - This one is absolutely ridiculous. Totally tongue-in-cheek, suitably gross, and more than a little creepy. I would highly recommend it if you're into that sort of thing. 5/5"
"Nightflyers" - I heard this was originally 40 pages shorter, and I think that's a more appropriate length for this story. I had a good time reading this cleverly plotted space horror story, though I had hoped it would deliver a bit more on the existential side story."
"In the Lost Lands" - This would have made a great Twilight Zone episode. Nice little ironic twist at the end."
"And Seven Times Never Kill Man" - Great read. Has a lot of Martin's characteristic commentary on religion and violence. As always, his characters become intimately familiar after only a few pages. I'm not sure I completely understood the ending, but I can see what he was going for."
"This Tower of Ashes" - Not sure I completely understood the ending, but this one was very well done and a lot of fun to read."
"The Fortress" - Great setting. It introduced me to a fascinating little bit of history. Unfortunately, George's interpretation didn't quite measure up."
"With Morning Comes Mistfall" - A nice little meditation on human exploration and the dual nature of our fascination and fear for the unknown."
"Meathouse Man" - I needed a hug after this one. Very interesting commentary on our expectations of love, but I felt the characters were a bit flat."
"The Hero" - I believe this was Martin's first published short story. Nothing too special, but it was entertaining and his natural talent for storytelling shines through in places."
"The Exit to San Breta" - I don't think ghost stories are Martin's thing. This wasn't especially scary, mysterious, or even interesting. Quick read, though."
"The Second Kind of Loneliness" - Rock-solid premise, but it just didn't happen for me. The prose got too scattered and frantic. The message was too heavy-handed. It really was a nice idea, though."
"Bitterblooms" - Not bad, but it felt overly familiar, if only because I've been reading a ton of Martin's stories in a row."
"The Way of Cross and Dragon" - Didn't quite agree with his conclusion, but I appreciate George's honesty and conviction in matters of religion and truth. He's clearly thought deeply about these things. The story was very well thought out."
"The Stone City" - Not bad, but a little slow. Nothing particularly new or interesting, as many similar story elements had made appearances in the other stories in this book. Definitely worth reading in its own right."
"Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark" - This is one of his earlier stories...and it shows. It was an interesting read if only to see how much his prose has improved. The world and characters are fun enough; he just didn't take them anywhere interesting."
"And Death His Legacy" - Not bad, not really boring, but the "American dictator" thing has definitely been done before and there was nothing particularly interesting about George's version."
"The Pear-Shaped Man" - In many ways, it's the same story as The Monkey Treatment, just less fun to read and a lot more gross."
"Remembering Melody" - Pretty standard ghost story. Kinda boring."
October 19, 2024
Review is also available on my blog The Shameful Narcissist Speaks.
Every great writer starts somewhere, but there are few who display their first fruits in a compendium for all to read. George R R Martin, author of the soon to be legendary A Song of Ice and Fire series, is one of those few. Dreamsongs, broken into two volumes and those volumes themselves split into several sections, shows the rough and the rougher in the initial part and later the luster when time and experience serves to smooth.
This is not going to be a full review of the collection, but rather a highlight and brief examination of the select few that struck in me a cord. I was only able to complete one story in the first section known as A Four-Color Fanboy, and any attempt at others were met with resignation that it couldn't be done. That part holds Martin's dullest stones, but even there, the spark of brilliance dwells. By The Filthy Pro I was immersed, and the author also gives a foreword on each section. His own admission on the first part's status prompted me to speak of it without impunity for Martin himself recognizes it as his more amateur work paving the epic way.
The stories I shall touch on are as follows:
The Second Kind of Loneliness
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr
The Ice Dragon
Nightflyers
The Second Kind of Loneliness
There comes that moment in a story you are bound to love that you sit up and pay attention. That unexpected catalyst where you know it's much more than a story you're reading, because it puts into words something you've always known, but never expressed to anyone.
"Lonely? Yes. But a solemn, brooding, tragic loneliness that a man hates with a passion--yet loves so much he craves for more.
And then there is the second kind of loneliness.
You don't need the Cerberus Star Ring for that kind. You can find it anywhere on Earth. I know. I did. I found it everywhere I went, in everything I did.
It's the loneliness of people trapped within themselves. The loneliness of people who have said the wrong thing so often that they don't have the courage to say anything anymore.
The loneliness, not of distance, but of fear.
The loneliness of people who sit alone in furnished rooms in crowded cities, because they've got nowhere to go and no one to talk to. The loneliness of guys who go to bars to meet someone, only to discover they don't know how to strike up a conversation, and wouldn't have the courage to do so if they did.
There's no grandeur to that kind of loneliness. No purpose and no poetry. It's a loneliness without meaning. It's sad and squalid and pathetic, and it stinks of self-pity.
Oh yes, it hurts at times to be alone among the stars.
But it hurts a lot more to be alone at a party. A lot more."
There is a meta and an irony to those words. They speak to everyone. We are therefore all together in our soul crushing solitude, and yet, even knowing this it does not entirely ease. Though this was written years before I was born and takes place years after I will be dead, in that range of multitude eons its message still reaches my soul. I understand being in a crowded room and still feeling hollow as if no feast will fill me up for no conversation can ease the despair. Social interactions consistently consist of emptiness filled with meaningless words. You want poetry and you get pop music. You wish to speak of the inner workings of narratives, but you get shallow assessments. There's so much lurking on your tongue, but you're afraid to say it because you've tried to engage before, tried to access and express higher meaning, but everyone has moved on to the next shinier thing. I think people underestimate the impact of good conversation, of being valued and understood, of having someone catch the shadow below your words without having to explain in minute detail why is seems so dark. The second kind of loneliness is what we except, because the wall around it is too thick for all but the sharpest arrow to pierce.
The end of this story is haunting in a way I've never experienced before. It left a hole in the pit of my gut, and yet it was beautiful in its horror. There is a decent review of it done by Vassals of Kingsgrave whom I've been listening to for their Dreamsongs' story reviews as I read them.
The first reviewed of Dreamsongs was my favorite, but the second speaks of loneliness, too...
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr
Every author has a pattern, but Martin continues to surprise me with his. I think I have what's happening figured out, but with him I either don't catch it until so close to the end it no longer matters or I'm utterly wrong in my assessment (I'm happy to report that I seem to be getting to hang of it in his Tuf Voyaging stories per the ones in Dreamsongs: Volume II, but that'll be discussed when we get there). The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr had that surprise ending that seemed more sorrowful and less shocking at examination. It was another story about loneliness, but split between two individuals, and I can't lie and say equally. The one character's loneliness is far more hopeless as they were chosen for a specific purpose where the other character had a hope and prayer (no matter how faint) of achieving her loneliness' end. Being picked by the gods, especially the cruel ones of Martin's worlds, is rarely if ever desirable.
Next is the portrayal of one half of the great dichotomy...
The Ice Dragon
Though it is not stated in the title, the "fire" that goes with "ice" is more than represented here. I don't know if I could call this story a precursor to Song, but if Martin does not use some of the motifs therein, I will be more than disappointed. He's stated that he was the first person to come up with the idea of the ice dragon, and if someone has a novel idea and different twist on an old trope, I would fully expect it to be somewhere in their magnum opus.
The main character is a little girl called Adara who bears the winter in her skin.
Her mother died in birthing her, the cold too much for her flesh, and though Adara's father loves her, he also resents her for the death of his wife (sound familiar?), but she and her ice dragon do spectacular things despite her tender age and terrible odds. I truly wonder if a very similar battle will play out in Song and what side the ice dragon will fight on.
The Vassals do a review of this one as well.
Now we come to more novella than short in the section marked for horror, and it does not disappoint...
Nightflyers
This is the final story and as with the first it has a line that stopped me utterly cold. I wish I could speak of it candidly here, but as it is the crux of the tale, it can only be a:
Cold as the dark between the stars...which is what the characters are arguably chasing. It may be more accurate to say they are chasing a creature that dwells within that star space and has for nearly the entirety of history. Nightflyers is about the search for an ancient unknown, a wonder that has pursued mankind's imagination for as long as it's been pursued.
Initially, the ragtag group of scientists, technicians, and psychics did little to hold my attention. It was the elusive volcryn I craved to see, but the Nightflyer's strange captain Royd Eris became an intrigue and the personalities of some of the passenger's began to engage. Karoly d'Branin, the front runner of the mission and Melantha Jhirl, self-described as a "new and improved model," took center stage with the latter emerging as the definitive main character.
The horror of the story should've been plain to me from a key moment, and I'm ashamed of myself for not picking it up. At one point Eris (who only appears as a hologram, but perpetually spies on his passengers even when he's not seen) tells a story about himself that could or could not have been a lie at the time. Martin has the uncanny ability to drop significance so casually into his stories. I didn't dismiss it, but this particular tale should've set off my radar, and when the bombshell hit, I put down the book and poured myself a glass of wine. It upped the eerie wrongness that had been laid throughout more than tenfold, prompted the creation of an absolutely horrible pun: and reaffirmed that Martin knows that the most unsettled kind of horror is that which is found in ordinary, often endearing concepts.
I leave you with the first lines of Nightflyers, because another thing our author is good at is immediately pulling you into a tale, piquing your interest, and despite potential dull points, leaving enough breadcrumbs to stir the appetite, but never satisfy.
"When Jesus of Nazareth hung dying on his cross, the volcryn passed within a year of his agony, headed outward.
"When the Fire Wars raged on Earth, the volcryn sailed near Old Poseidon, where the seas were still unnamed and unfinished. By the time the stardrive had transformed the Federated Nations of Earth into the Federal Empire, the volcryn had moved into the fringes of Hrangan space. The Hrangans never knew it. Like us they were children of the small bright worlds that circled their scattered suns, with little interest and less knowledge of the things that moved in the gulfs between."
All in all, it was an excellent volume revealing the earlier offerings and showing the upward progression of Martin's work.
Every great writer starts somewhere, but there are few who display their first fruits in a compendium for all to read. George R R Martin, author of the soon to be legendary A Song of Ice and Fire series, is one of those few. Dreamsongs, broken into two volumes and those volumes themselves split into several sections, shows the rough and the rougher in the initial part and later the luster when time and experience serves to smooth.
This is not going to be a full review of the collection, but rather a highlight and brief examination of the select few that struck in me a cord. I was only able to complete one story in the first section known as A Four-Color Fanboy, and any attempt at others were met with resignation that it couldn't be done. That part holds Martin's dullest stones, but even there, the spark of brilliance dwells. By The Filthy Pro I was immersed, and the author also gives a foreword on each section. His own admission on the first part's status prompted me to speak of it without impunity for Martin himself recognizes it as his more amateur work paving the epic way.
The stories I shall touch on are as follows:
The Second Kind of Loneliness
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr
The Ice Dragon
Nightflyers
The Second Kind of Loneliness
There comes that moment in a story you are bound to love that you sit up and pay attention. That unexpected catalyst where you know it's much more than a story you're reading, because it puts into words something you've always known, but never expressed to anyone.
"Lonely? Yes. But a solemn, brooding, tragic loneliness that a man hates with a passion--yet loves so much he craves for more.
And then there is the second kind of loneliness.
You don't need the Cerberus Star Ring for that kind. You can find it anywhere on Earth. I know. I did. I found it everywhere I went, in everything I did.
It's the loneliness of people trapped within themselves. The loneliness of people who have said the wrong thing so often that they don't have the courage to say anything anymore.
The loneliness, not of distance, but of fear.
The loneliness of people who sit alone in furnished rooms in crowded cities, because they've got nowhere to go and no one to talk to. The loneliness of guys who go to bars to meet someone, only to discover they don't know how to strike up a conversation, and wouldn't have the courage to do so if they did.
There's no grandeur to that kind of loneliness. No purpose and no poetry. It's a loneliness without meaning. It's sad and squalid and pathetic, and it stinks of self-pity.
Oh yes, it hurts at times to be alone among the stars.
But it hurts a lot more to be alone at a party. A lot more."
There is a meta and an irony to those words. They speak to everyone. We are therefore all together in our soul crushing solitude, and yet, even knowing this it does not entirely ease. Though this was written years before I was born and takes place years after I will be dead, in that range of multitude eons its message still reaches my soul. I understand being in a crowded room and still feeling hollow as if no feast will fill me up for no conversation can ease the despair. Social interactions consistently consist of emptiness filled with meaningless words. You want poetry and you get pop music. You wish to speak of the inner workings of narratives, but you get shallow assessments. There's so much lurking on your tongue, but you're afraid to say it because you've tried to engage before, tried to access and express higher meaning, but everyone has moved on to the next shinier thing. I think people underestimate the impact of good conversation, of being valued and understood, of having someone catch the shadow below your words without having to explain in minute detail why is seems so dark. The second kind of loneliness is what we except, because the wall around it is too thick for all but the sharpest arrow to pierce.
The end of this story is haunting in a way I've never experienced before. It left a hole in the pit of my gut, and yet it was beautiful in its horror. There is a decent review of it done by Vassals of Kingsgrave whom I've been listening to for their Dreamsongs' story reviews as I read them.
The first reviewed of Dreamsongs was my favorite, but the second speaks of loneliness, too...
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr
Every author has a pattern, but Martin continues to surprise me with his. I think I have what's happening figured out, but with him I either don't catch it until so close to the end it no longer matters or I'm utterly wrong in my assessment (I'm happy to report that I seem to be getting to hang of it in his Tuf Voyaging stories per the ones in Dreamsongs: Volume II, but that'll be discussed when we get there). The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr had that surprise ending that seemed more sorrowful and less shocking at examination. It was another story about loneliness, but split between two individuals, and I can't lie and say equally. The one character's loneliness is far more hopeless as they were chosen for a specific purpose where the other character had a hope and prayer (no matter how faint) of achieving her loneliness' end. Being picked by the gods, especially the cruel ones of Martin's worlds, is rarely if ever desirable.
Next is the portrayal of one half of the great dichotomy...
The Ice Dragon
Though it is not stated in the title, the "fire" that goes with "ice" is more than represented here. I don't know if I could call this story a precursor to Song, but if Martin does not use some of the motifs therein, I will be more than disappointed. He's stated that he was the first person to come up with the idea of the ice dragon, and if someone has a novel idea and different twist on an old trope, I would fully expect it to be somewhere in their magnum opus.
The main character is a little girl called Adara who bears the winter in her skin.
Her mother died in birthing her, the cold too much for her flesh, and though Adara's father loves her, he also resents her for the death of his wife (sound familiar?), but she and her ice dragon do spectacular things despite her tender age and terrible odds. I truly wonder if a very similar battle will play out in Song and what side the ice dragon will fight on.
The Vassals do a review of this one as well.
Now we come to more novella than short in the section marked for horror, and it does not disappoint...
Nightflyers
This is the final story and as with the first it has a line that stopped me utterly cold. I wish I could speak of it candidly here, but as it is the crux of the tale, it can only be a:
Cold as the dark between the stars...which is what the characters are arguably chasing. It may be more accurate to say they are chasing a creature that dwells within that star space and has for nearly the entirety of history. Nightflyers is about the search for an ancient unknown, a wonder that has pursued mankind's imagination for as long as it's been pursued.
Initially, the ragtag group of scientists, technicians, and psychics did little to hold my attention. It was the elusive volcryn I craved to see, but the Nightflyer's strange captain Royd Eris became an intrigue and the personalities of some of the passenger's began to engage. Karoly d'Branin, the front runner of the mission and Melantha Jhirl, self-described as a "new and improved model," took center stage with the latter emerging as the definitive main character.
The horror of the story should've been plain to me from a key moment, and I'm ashamed of myself for not picking it up. At one point Eris (who only appears as a hologram, but perpetually spies on his passengers even when he's not seen) tells a story about himself that could or could not have been a lie at the time. Martin has the uncanny ability to drop significance so casually into his stories. I didn't dismiss it, but this particular tale should've set off my radar, and when the bombshell hit, I put down the book and poured myself a glass of wine. It upped the eerie wrongness that had been laid throughout more than tenfold, prompted the creation of an absolutely horrible pun: and reaffirmed that Martin knows that the most unsettled kind of horror is that which is found in ordinary, often endearing concepts.
I leave you with the first lines of Nightflyers, because another thing our author is good at is immediately pulling you into a tale, piquing your interest, and despite potential dull points, leaving enough breadcrumbs to stir the appetite, but never satisfy.
"When Jesus of Nazareth hung dying on his cross, the volcryn passed within a year of his agony, headed outward.
"When the Fire Wars raged on Earth, the volcryn sailed near Old Poseidon, where the seas were still unnamed and unfinished. By the time the stardrive had transformed the Federated Nations of Earth into the Federal Empire, the volcryn had moved into the fringes of Hrangan space. The Hrangans never knew it. Like us they were children of the small bright worlds that circled their scattered suns, with little interest and less knowledge of the things that moved in the gulfs between."
All in all, it was an excellent volume revealing the earlier offerings and showing the upward progression of Martin's work.
December 16, 2015
How do I begin to describe the most life-changing book I've ever read?
This is, put simply, brilliant. A Song of Ice and Fire has been my favorite book series ever since I was old enough to tackle it, but these short stories cement George R.R. Martin as my favorite author of all time. He is poetic, and he is painful, and he is a master of language. No short stories have ever affected me this much.
And hearing the introductions by the man himself. My god! He's so human. This is no J.K. Rowling. He didn't pop out of nowhere and make it big with one novel. No, this is someone who toiled and toiled and toiled at his craft, honing, improving. It makes it all feel so real, so attainable.
If you've ever wanted to write, read this book. Or better yet, listen to it on audiobook, where you get to hear Mr. Martin's voice and it feels like he's talking just to you. It will make it all feel possible. You get to watch ol' R.R. grow. You get to see his craft improve. You get to feel his heartbreak, learn about his life, see what inspired him. And all of his stories are more meaningful because you understand the context. I've always wanted to be a writer, but this book makes me feel like it's possible.
Read this book. Read it now. Read it all. This is writing, real writing, and your heart will beat in tune to the rhythm of its melancholy.
My favorites from this Volume:
The Fortress:
--Amazing how he brings history alive.
With Morning Comes Mistfall:
--One of the most powerful, heart-wrenching stories I've read.
In the Lost Lands:
--Martin is a master of heartbreak and woe.
Meathouse Man:
--I find myself afraid of how much I can relate to this story. Dark, sexual, traumatizing.
The Monkey Treatment:
--Again, I relate far too well to this. A horrifying take on our relationship with food.
The Pear-Shaped Man:
--I did not expect this at all. We all act as judges of character, and sometimes we miss the mark.
Full Table of Contents:
A Four-Color Fanboy
Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark
The Fortress
And Death His Legacy
The Filthy Pro
The Hero
The Exit to San Breta
The Second Kind of Loneliness
With Morning Comes Mistfall
The Light of Distant Stars
A Song for Lya
This Tower of Ashes
And Seven Times Never Kill Man
The Stone City
Bitterblooms
The Way of Cross and Dragon
The Heirs of Turtle Castle
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr
The Ice Dragon
In the Lost Lands
Hybrids and Horrors
Meathouse Man
Remembering Melody
Sandkings
Nightflyers
The Monkey Treatment
The Pear-Shaped Man
This is, put simply, brilliant. A Song of Ice and Fire has been my favorite book series ever since I was old enough to tackle it, but these short stories cement George R.R. Martin as my favorite author of all time. He is poetic, and he is painful, and he is a master of language. No short stories have ever affected me this much.
And hearing the introductions by the man himself. My god! He's so human. This is no J.K. Rowling. He didn't pop out of nowhere and make it big with one novel. No, this is someone who toiled and toiled and toiled at his craft, honing, improving. It makes it all feel so real, so attainable.
If you've ever wanted to write, read this book. Or better yet, listen to it on audiobook, where you get to hear Mr. Martin's voice and it feels like he's talking just to you. It will make it all feel possible. You get to watch ol' R.R. grow. You get to see his craft improve. You get to feel his heartbreak, learn about his life, see what inspired him. And all of his stories are more meaningful because you understand the context. I've always wanted to be a writer, but this book makes me feel like it's possible.
Read this book. Read it now. Read it all. This is writing, real writing, and your heart will beat in tune to the rhythm of its melancholy.
My favorites from this Volume:
The Fortress:
--Amazing how he brings history alive.
With Morning Comes Mistfall:
--One of the most powerful, heart-wrenching stories I've read.
In the Lost Lands:
--Martin is a master of heartbreak and woe.
Meathouse Man:
--I find myself afraid of how much I can relate to this story. Dark, sexual, traumatizing.
The Monkey Treatment:
--Again, I relate far too well to this. A horrifying take on our relationship with food.
The Pear-Shaped Man:
--I did not expect this at all. We all act as judges of character, and sometimes we miss the mark.
Full Table of Contents:
A Four-Color Fanboy
Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark
The Fortress
And Death His Legacy
The Filthy Pro
The Hero
The Exit to San Breta
The Second Kind of Loneliness
With Morning Comes Mistfall
The Light of Distant Stars
A Song for Lya
This Tower of Ashes
And Seven Times Never Kill Man
The Stone City
Bitterblooms
The Way of Cross and Dragon
The Heirs of Turtle Castle
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr
The Ice Dragon
In the Lost Lands
Hybrids and Horrors
Meathouse Man
Remembering Melody
Sandkings
Nightflyers
The Monkey Treatment
The Pear-Shaped Man
September 8, 2020
I never had the courage to read A Song of Ice and Fire, primarily because it is still unfinished with no end in sight in the near future. Nevertheless, I was always interested to explore George R R Martin’s work. Recently, I started reading a lot of short stories and came to know about Martin’s fantastic and extremely underrated early works. Martin has written several acclaimed short stories and novellas in the 70s and 80s, which would have probably received a lot more love and recognition from fans, had it not been eclipsed by his recent stellar achievements with A Song of Ice and Fire.
This book is the first volume of a collection of several short stories and novellas, written back in the day when he was just starting out as a writer. Although it was written almost 40-50 years ago, the vision and language with which he wrote don’t feel dated at all. Most of the stories are sci-fi, horror, fantasy, or some hybrid genre of these. One of the things I liked most is the extreme attention to detail with which he describes the elements in the stories, always engaging all the senses and never feeling overly drawn out. The beauty and precision with which he crafts each sentence has left me in awe, it never bored me and made the simplest of things feel interesting. Apart from the mind-blowing prose, the plot and characters in most of the stories are quite good and the themes explored are eternally relevant. Even the less than impressive stories left an indelible mark on me with its lucid vocabulary and sublime descriptions.
I will finish by recommending some of my favorites (among the ones I have already read) to those who are looking for suggestions. Most of the longer works deserve a mention. Sandkings is probably the best of the lot, I have never read anything quite like it. Nightflyers is also pretty good with themes that were far ahead of its time, the vibes reminiscent of Ridley Scott’s Alien. Among the short stories, The Second Kind of Loneliness hit home for me with its deep personal touch, similar to Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse in atmosphere and tone. The Ice Dragon is a great fantasy short, and one can easily spot the influence it had on his later works on A Song of Ice and Fire. I also liked The Way of Cross and Dragon, for its remarkable handling of mature and sensitive themes. I am yet to finish the book, and will probably discover a few more favorites along the way. Happy reading!
This book is the first volume of a collection of several short stories and novellas, written back in the day when he was just starting out as a writer. Although it was written almost 40-50 years ago, the vision and language with which he wrote don’t feel dated at all. Most of the stories are sci-fi, horror, fantasy, or some hybrid genre of these. One of the things I liked most is the extreme attention to detail with which he describes the elements in the stories, always engaging all the senses and never feeling overly drawn out. The beauty and precision with which he crafts each sentence has left me in awe, it never bored me and made the simplest of things feel interesting. Apart from the mind-blowing prose, the plot and characters in most of the stories are quite good and the themes explored are eternally relevant. Even the less than impressive stories left an indelible mark on me with its lucid vocabulary and sublime descriptions.
I will finish by recommending some of my favorites (among the ones I have already read) to those who are looking for suggestions. Most of the longer works deserve a mention. Sandkings is probably the best of the lot, I have never read anything quite like it. Nightflyers is also pretty good with themes that were far ahead of its time, the vibes reminiscent of Ridley Scott’s Alien. Among the short stories, The Second Kind of Loneliness hit home for me with its deep personal touch, similar to Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse in atmosphere and tone. The Ice Dragon is a great fantasy short, and one can easily spot the influence it had on his later works on A Song of Ice and Fire. I also liked The Way of Cross and Dragon, for its remarkable handling of mature and sensitive themes. I am yet to finish the book, and will probably discover a few more favorites along the way. Happy reading!
March 16, 2013
ეს წიგნი შეიძლება წაიკითხო ორგვარად: 1. მოთხრობების კრებული; 2. ერთი მთლიანი ნარატივი. წიგნი დაყოფილია ხუთ ნაწილად და თითოეულ ნაწილს წინ უძღვის ავტორის ავტობიოგრაფიული ჩანართები, სადაც გვიამბობს, როგორ ვითარდებოდა მისი კარიერა, როგორ დაიწე���ა ესა თუ ის მოთხრობა და ა.შ.
The Hero (3/5) - პირველი მოთხრობა, რომელიც მარტინმა გაყიდა და პირველი მოთხრობა, რომელიც მომეწონა ამ კრებულში.
A Song for Lya (5/5) - ძალიან შთამბეჭდავია, ძალიან მაგარია; ერთ-ერთი საუკეთესო, რაც კი ოდესმე წამიკითხავს სიყვარულზე.
This Tower of Ashes (3/5) - თავად ამბავი იმდენად საინტერესო და შთამბეჭდავი არ არის, რამდენადაც გარემო, სადაც ის ხდება.
And Seven Times Never Kill Man (3/5) - უცნაური მოთხრობაა, მაგრამ პირველი ადამიანების და ტყის ბავშვების (Children of the forest) ისტორია გამახსენდა asoiaf-იდან.
Bitterblooms (4/5) - (რთული ასახსნელია).
The Way of Cross and Dragon (3/5) - ეს მოთხრობა ჩემს ყურადღებას არ მიიქცევდა, იუდა ისკარიოტელი დრაკონთა მეფის თავგადასავალი რომ არ ჰქონდეს ჩართული. ამის გამო ყველაზე სასაცილო მოთხრობაა.
In the Lost Lands (4/5) - ფენტეზი მოთხრობებს შორის საუკეთესო და საერთოდ კრებულში ყველაზე დამაინტრიგებელი და ერთ-ერთი ყველაზე დრამატული მოთხრობაა მოულოდნელი დასასრულით.
Remembering Melody (3/5) - ერთადერთი ჰორორ-მოთხრობა, რომელიც მომეწონა. ტრადიციული ჰორორია, ყოველგვარი ფანტასტიური მხეცების და კოსმოსური ხომალდის მოჩვენებების გარეშე...
The Hero (3/5) - პირველი მოთხრობა, რომელიც მარტინმა გაყიდა და პირველი მოთხრობა, რომელიც მომეწონა ამ კრებულში.
A Song for Lya (5/5) - ძალიან შთამბეჭდავია, ძალიან მაგარია; ერთ-ერთი საუკეთესო, რაც კი ოდესმე წამიკითხავს სიყვარულზე.
This Tower of Ashes (3/5) - თავად ამბავი იმდენად საინტერესო და შთამბეჭდავი არ არის, რამდენადაც გარემო, სადაც ის ხდება.
And Seven Times Never Kill Man (3/5) - უცნაური მოთხრობაა, მაგრამ პირველი ადამიანების და ტყის ბავშვების (Children of the forest) ისტორია გამახსენდა asoiaf-იდან.
Bitterblooms (4/5) - (რთული ასახსნელია).
The Way of Cross and Dragon (3/5) - ეს მოთხრობა ჩემს ყურადღებას არ მიიქცევდა, იუდა ისკარიოტელი დრაკონთა მეფის თავგადასავალი რომ არ ჰქონდეს ჩართული. ამის გამო ყველაზე სასაცილო მოთხრობაა.
In the Lost Lands (4/5) - ფენტეზი მოთხრობებს შორის საუკეთესო და საერთოდ კრებულში ყველაზე დამაინტრიგებელი და ერთ-ერთი ყველაზე დრამატული მოთხრობაა მოულოდნელი დასასრულით.
Remembering Melody (3/5) - ერთადერთი ჰორორ-მოთხრობა, რომელიც მომეწონა. ტრადიციული ჰორორია, ყოველგვარი ფანტასტიური მხეცების და კოსმოსური ხომალდის მოჩვენებების გარეშე...
April 9, 2013
I wish I could really give is 3 and 3/4 stars....If you are a GRRM fan you will gobble this up? it includes an introductory prologue to each of the 5 sections and the reader gets an inside view to the workings of GRRMs writings and the influences that he had from a very early age. From the "4 color fan boy", who loved comics, "the filthy pro", who started writing for money, "light of the distant stars", that ignited his love for SCI-FI," heirs of the turtle castle", that give us a prequel to the great LOIAF that we all love so much , to the final "hybrids and horrors", that contain stories that make your skin crawl, literally.
The prologues are also like a personal conversation with the author at a stage in his life heretofore unknown that pulls back the curtain for just an instant, to let us see just enough, to know what was going on in one or two brain cells, that he would write in this particular genre at this time. It includes a story that I think was eventually made into a movie "Sandkings".( creepy)
It wasn't what I expected, I'm not a rabid Sci-fi fan, and it is rather dated, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. And will continue to look for more of his work to read. I'm hoping to find the Hedgeknight series to read quickly as possible.
The prologues are also like a personal conversation with the author at a stage in his life heretofore unknown that pulls back the curtain for just an instant, to let us see just enough, to know what was going on in one or two brain cells, that he would write in this particular genre at this time. It includes a story that I think was eventually made into a movie "Sandkings".( creepy)
It wasn't what I expected, I'm not a rabid Sci-fi fan, and it is rather dated, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. And will continue to look for more of his work to read. I'm hoping to find the Hedgeknight series to read quickly as possible.
July 25, 2014
Sand Kings 5/5
The Ice Dragon 5/5
The Second Kind of Loneliness 4/5
The Way of Cross and Dragon 4/5
Meathouse Man 4/5
Song for Lya 3.5/ 5
With Morning Comes Mistfall 3.5/5
The Hero 3.5/5
The Tower of Ashes 3/5
Remembering Melody 3/5
The Ice Dragon 5/5
The Second Kind of Loneliness 4/5
The Way of Cross and Dragon 4/5
Meathouse Man 4/5
Song for Lya 3.5/ 5
With Morning Comes Mistfall 3.5/5
The Hero 3.5/5
The Tower of Ashes 3/5
Remembering Melody 3/5
April 4, 2015
A little uneven, but an overall excellent collection of short stories. "With Morning Comes Mistfall," "A Song for Lya." "The Ice Dragon," Meathouse Man," and "Sandkings" are a few of my favorites.
November 12, 2015
I loved most of the stories in here. Great volume of stories.
March 23, 2015
Aproveitei o embalo com que estava a ler contos do autor e decidi pegar nos volumes originais que incluem, entre outros, os contos incluídos em O Cavaleiro de Westeros & Outras Histórias e O Dragão de Inverno & Outras Histórias, publicados em Portugal e que já comentei por aqui. Optei por ler apenas os que ainda não tinha lido, principalmente porque ainda os tenho muito frescos, sendo que a única exceção foi a releitura de With Morning Comes Mistfall, que já tinha encontrado numa revista BANG!. Abaixo segue a lista dos contos que compõem este primeiro volume, com as respetivas classificações para os contos que li agora e também para os que já tinha lido no âmbito das coletâneas portuguesas que referi:
Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark – 1/5
The Fortress – 2/5
And Death His Legacy – 2/5
The Hero – 3/5
The Exit to San Breta – 4/5
The Second Kind of Loneliness – 4/5
With Morning Comes Mistfall – 4/5
A Song for Lya (Uma Canção para Lya) – 4/5
This Tower of Ashes (Esta Torre de Cinzas) – 3/5
And Seven Times Never Kill Man (E Sete Vezes Nunca Mateis um Homem) – 3/5
The Stone City (A Cidade de Pedra) – 3/5
Bitterblooms (Flormordentes) – 2/5
The Way of Cross and Dragon (O Caminho da Cruz e Dragão) – 3/5
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr (As Solitárias Canções de Laren Dorr) – 4/5
The Ice Dragon (O Dragão de Inverno) – 4/5
In the Lost Lands – 4/5
Meathouse Man (O Homem da Casa-da-Carne) – 2/5
Remembering Melody (Recordando Melody) – 3/5
Sandkings (Reis-de-Areia) – 5/5
Nightflyers (Nightflyers) – 4/5
The Monkey Treatment (O Tratamento do Macaco) – 3/5
The Pear-Shaped Man (O Homem em Forma de Pera) – 4/5
Este livro tem histórias muito boas; se tivesse que recomendar a leitura de apenas uma, seria sem dúvida Sandkings (Reis-de-Areia), mas boa parte delas justifica plenamente uma leitura. Este livro tem muitas mais-valias, sendo a mais óbvia a qualidade geral das histórias, onde apenas destoam as primeiras, escritas no início da carreira de George R.R. Martin, mas que apesar de mais fracas são um elemento importante para que o leitor perceba de onde veio o autor e qual foi a evolução da sua carreira.
Aliás, as introduções que o autor faz a cada uma das secções do livro são valiosíssimas, não só porque proporcionam uma visão única sobre a vida e carreira de Martin, mas também porque funcionam como “cola” das histórias que nos vai apresentando, fazendo com que o livro seja muito mais do que a soma das suas partes (ou contos). É por isso que se fizesse uma média aritmética simples das classificações que atribuí aos vários contos a classificação final seria 3; assim, dou-lhe um sólido 4, recomendando o livro a todos os leitores que desejem perceber de onde veio o autor que se tornou tão famoso pelas suas Crónicas de Gelo e Fogo.
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Abaixo, podem ler a opinião detalhada de cada um dos contos sobre os quais escrevi agora opinião. Quanto aos restantes podem consultar as opiniões que já publiquei sobre O Cavaleiro de Westeros & Outras Histórias e O Dragão de Inverno & Outras Histórias nos respetivos links.
Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark – 1/5
Uma das primeiras histórias escritas e publicadas pelo autor, e nota-se. A personagem principal da história, o Dr. Weird, era um herói de comics já existente, sobre o qual George R.R. Martin escrevia histórias, que mais tarde eram transformadas em ilustrações.
O Dr. Weird era um fantasma com poderes imensos, que neste conto luta contra um demónio muito poderoso. Saagael, era este o seu nome, decide sair do seu domínio, uma torre enorme, para escravizar os seres humanos, até que Dr. Weird intervem e tudo se resolve.
É uma história bastante previsível e over-the-top, que deve ser lida tendo em conta o contexto e o facto de o autor estar a começar a sua carreira – e tem de se começar por algum lado, certo? Ainda assim, não consigo dizer que gostei. Tem alguns apontamentos interessantes, mas para quem já leu o autor no seu melhor é complicado apreciar estas histórias básicas. Lê-se como curiosidade, mas é dispensável.
The Fortress – 2/5
Este conto foi a génese de Sob Cerco (Under Siege), e foi escrito originalmente quando o autor se encontrava na faculdade, para uma cadeira de História. George R.R. Martin andava encantado com o poema épico “The Tales of Ensign Stål“, do finlandês Johan Ludvig Runeberg, mais especificamente com a parte sobre o cerco de Sveaborg em 1808, que incluía uma rendição aparentemente sem explicação às forças russas. Com base nesse acontecimento, Martin escreveu uma história em que o protagonista, o coronel Bengt Antonnen, duvida das intenções russas e tenta impedir a rendição através de um motim.
A grande novidade em relação à segunda versão desta história é mesmo a não inclusão da componente de ficção científica: não há história “presente” pós-apocalíptica nem reencarnações; é apenas um relato histórico com a traição como principal motor. Apesar de o contexto histórico ser ainda menos desenvolvido do que aquela segunda história, desta vez eu já trazia a lição estudada e, por isso, estava bem mais familiarizada com tudo o que se estava a passar. Acho que a componente de ficção científica emprestou um caráter original à história, mas de certo modo a simplicidade desta primeira versão acaba por torná-la interessante, ainda que um pouco ingénua. Não é uma história marcante e vale principalmente como ponto de comparação à versão que lhe seguiu.
And Death His Legacy – 2/5
Esta é a história de dois homens: um Profeta, que percorre os E.U.A. a espalhar as suas crenças contra comunistas, fascistas e outros que vivem do trabalho dos outros sem fazer nada; um homem rico, que sofre de cancro e só tem um ano de vida. Dado o seu tempo limitado, decide fazer algo de significativo e isso passa por eliminar o Profeta, que vê como uma ameaça semelhante a Hitler.
É uma história interessante, provavelmente superior às duas que lhe antecedem, com vários pontos que induzem à reflexão, como fazer o mal para o bem comum ou como por vezes as boas intenções resvalam em acontecimentos ainda piores. Contudo, nota-se ainda alguma imaturidade na escrita e no desenvolvimento de personagens e acontecimentos; por exemplo, a ligação entre as duas personagens principais poderia ter sido muito mais bem conseguida, o que decerto tornaria a história mais interessante. Acredito que se esta história fosse escrita hoje seria provavelmente bastante poderosa e marcante, mas não deixa de ser curioso lê-la e perceber a evolução na escrita do autor.
The Hero – 3/5
Este conto foi o primeiro escrito por Martin que lhe rendeu algum dinheiro. Foi escrito em 1971, em plena Guerra do Vietname, quando o autor se encontrava na possibilidade de ser chamado a participar. Martin fez um pedido para ser dispensado, alegando objeção de consciência, e esse pedido foi acompanhado por esta história. Não se sabe se teve influência na posterior decisão de o dispensar, mas achei curioso.
O protagonista desta história é o veterano John Kagen, que há 20 anos servia nas tropas especiais de humanos que andavam em guerra com alienígenas de outros planetas. Mas Kagen estava farto da guerra e decidiu pedir a reforma, a ser desfrutada no planeta Terra, onde nunca tinha estado. Este conto denota uma evolução na forma como o autor desenvolve a sua personagem principal, que neste caso se torna em alguém bastante interessante. Também o tema principal, a guerra e as consequências que tem em que nela participa, é tema que dá pano para mangas. Ainda assim, por ser tão curtinho acabou por saber-me a pouco. O final da história também está bem conseguido, apesar de um pouco deprimente.
The Exit to San Breta – 4/5
O protagonista (e narrador) deste conto é um homem que vive numa América em que os carros se tornaram obsoletos. Já quase ninguém possui carro e as estradas e auto-estradas foram votadas ao abandono. Mas ele continua a gostar da nostalgia de ter um carro e conduzir pelas estradas durante a noite. Numa das suas viagens, encontra um carro raro onde viaja uma família… e é esse encontro que dá origem a um acontecimento estranho que vai desenterrar uma história antiga.
Sem querer revelar demasiado, para não tirar a piada a quem quiser ler, é um conto que se torna bastante interessante pelo volte-face sobrenatural que se revela no final. É uma história bem desenvolvida, apesar de curta, e com um crescendo de suspense que a torna muito agradável de ler. Foi a melhor desta coletânea até agora.
The Second Kind of Loneliness – 4/5
Um homem, de quem nunca sabemos o nome, encontra-se a milhares de milhões de quilómetros da terra, sozinho numa estação espacial que tem como objetivo abrir vórtices que permitissem as viagens interstelares. Depois de 4 anos de solidão, prepara-se finalmente para ser rendido e o conto é composto de entradas no seu diário onde nos dá uma perspetiva dos acontecimentos e dos pensamentos que o consomem.
A solidão é o tema central deste conto. O segundo tipo de solidão, que dá o título à história, é a não literal, aquela que sentimos quando estamos rodeados de pessoas. O narrador sente-se sozinho, mas encontrou nessa solidão um escape àquela que sentia quando estava na Terra. O prosseguir dos dias e o aproximar do seu regresso à Terra permitem a composição um retrato psicológico muito interessante e o final algo inesperado acaba por ser adequado e bastante de acordo com aquilo que Martin normalmente oferece ao leitor. Dentro de um contexto de ficção científica, o autor oferece uma história sobre anseios e problemas intemporais do ser humano. Muito interessante.
With Morning Comes Mistfall – 4/5
Assim que comecei a ler esta história, lembrei-me que já a tinha lido na Revista Bang! n.º 8. Como já foi há vários anos, e como me recordo de ter gostado bastante, decidi reler o conto.
Num dos planetas explorados pelos seres humanos, a neblina toma conta da paisagem assim que o sol desaparece, e é neste contexto que aparecem os espectros que ameaçam os exploradores mais incautos. Sanders, o humano que construiu neste planeta um hotel protegido contra os espectros, recebe uma expedição que pretende provar a existência ou não dos mesmos, e que inclui o jornalista que pretende cobrir os acontecimentos e que nos narra esta história na primeira pessoa.
É uma história que pretende destacar o poder da magia, da imaginação e das coisas por explicar no imaginário humano e que, no fundo, explica muito do apelo em relação à fantasia e à ficção científica. É uma mensagem poderosa e que, quanto a mim, faz todo o sentido. Por isso mesmo, foi uma das minhas histórias preferidas desta coletânea.
In the Lost Lands – 4/5
Gray Alys é uma feiticeira conhecida por realizar todos os desejos de quem a procura, desde que seja devidamente recompensada. No início deste conto, a feiticeira é procurada por um enviado de Lady Melange, que deseja ter o poder dos metamorfos. Para conseguir transformar este desejo em realidade, Gray Alys viaja para as Lost Lands (ou Terras Perdidas), um local desértico e desolado mas possuidor de uma certa beleza selvagem, com Boyce, um homem que promete levá-la a um lobisomem e ajudá-la na sua demanda.
Sem revelar muito mais do enredo, para não estragar a história a quem quiser lê-la, posso dizer que o final é bastante agridoce e merecedor da famosa expressão “tem cuidado com o que desejas, não vá tornar-se realidade”. Martin apresenta-nos um final inesperado, numa história que vinga por ter uma personagem principal bem caracterizada e vai muito para além da típica bruxa.
A título de curiosidade, foi revelado recentemente que este conto, juntamente com Bitterblooms (Flormordentes) e The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr (As Solitárias Canções de Laren Dorr), vão servir de base a um filme chamado “In the Lost Lands” e que deverá ter como protagonista Milla Jovovich no papel de Gray Alys. Fico curiosa!
Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark – 1/5
The Fortress – 2/5
And Death His Legacy – 2/5
The Hero – 3/5
The Exit to San Breta – 4/5
The Second Kind of Loneliness – 4/5
With Morning Comes Mistfall – 4/5
A Song for Lya (Uma Canção para Lya) – 4/5
This Tower of Ashes (Esta Torre de Cinzas) – 3/5
And Seven Times Never Kill Man (E Sete Vezes Nunca Mateis um Homem) – 3/5
The Stone City (A Cidade de Pedra) – 3/5
Bitterblooms (Flormordentes) – 2/5
The Way of Cross and Dragon (O Caminho da Cruz e Dragão) – 3/5
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr (As Solitárias Canções de Laren Dorr) – 4/5
The Ice Dragon (O Dragão de Inverno) – 4/5
In the Lost Lands – 4/5
Meathouse Man (O Homem da Casa-da-Carne) – 2/5
Remembering Melody (Recordando Melody) – 3/5
Sandkings (Reis-de-Areia) – 5/5
Nightflyers (Nightflyers) – 4/5
The Monkey Treatment (O Tratamento do Macaco) – 3/5
The Pear-Shaped Man (O Homem em Forma de Pera) – 4/5
Este livro tem histórias muito boas; se tivesse que recomendar a leitura de apenas uma, seria sem dúvida Sandkings (Reis-de-Areia), mas boa parte delas justifica plenamente uma leitura. Este livro tem muitas mais-valias, sendo a mais óbvia a qualidade geral das histórias, onde apenas destoam as primeiras, escritas no início da carreira de George R.R. Martin, mas que apesar de mais fracas são um elemento importante para que o leitor perceba de onde veio o autor e qual foi a evolução da sua carreira.
Aliás, as introduções que o autor faz a cada uma das secções do livro são valiosíssimas, não só porque proporcionam uma visão única sobre a vida e carreira de Martin, mas também porque funcionam como “cola” das histórias que nos vai apresentando, fazendo com que o livro seja muito mais do que a soma das suas partes (ou contos). É por isso que se fizesse uma média aritmética simples das classificações que atribuí aos vários contos a classificação final seria 3; assim, dou-lhe um sólido 4, recomendando o livro a todos os leitores que desejem perceber de onde veio o autor que se tornou tão famoso pelas suas Crónicas de Gelo e Fogo.
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Abaixo, podem ler a opinião detalhada de cada um dos contos sobre os quais escrevi agora opinião. Quanto aos restantes podem consultar as opiniões que já publiquei sobre O Cavaleiro de Westeros & Outras Histórias e O Dragão de Inverno & Outras Histórias nos respetivos links.
Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark – 1/5
Uma das primeiras histórias escritas e publicadas pelo autor, e nota-se. A personagem principal da história, o Dr. Weird, era um herói de comics já existente, sobre o qual George R.R. Martin escrevia histórias, que mais tarde eram transformadas em ilustrações.
O Dr. Weird era um fantasma com poderes imensos, que neste conto luta contra um demónio muito poderoso. Saagael, era este o seu nome, decide sair do seu domínio, uma torre enorme, para escravizar os seres humanos, até que Dr. Weird intervem e tudo se resolve.
É uma história bastante previsível e over-the-top, que deve ser lida tendo em conta o contexto e o facto de o autor estar a começar a sua carreira – e tem de se começar por algum lado, certo? Ainda assim, não consigo dizer que gostei. Tem alguns apontamentos interessantes, mas para quem já leu o autor no seu melhor é complicado apreciar estas histórias básicas. Lê-se como curiosidade, mas é dispensável.
The Fortress – 2/5
Este conto foi a génese de Sob Cerco (Under Siege), e foi escrito originalmente quando o autor se encontrava na faculdade, para uma cadeira de História. George R.R. Martin andava encantado com o poema épico “The Tales of Ensign Stål“, do finlandês Johan Ludvig Runeberg, mais especificamente com a parte sobre o cerco de Sveaborg em 1808, que incluía uma rendição aparentemente sem explicação às forças russas. Com base nesse acontecimento, Martin escreveu uma história em que o protagonista, o coronel Bengt Antonnen, duvida das intenções russas e tenta impedir a rendição através de um motim.
A grande novidade em relação à segunda versão desta história é mesmo a não inclusão da componente de ficção científica: não há história “presente” pós-apocalíptica nem reencarnações; é apenas um relato histórico com a traição como principal motor. Apesar de o contexto histórico ser ainda menos desenvolvido do que aquela segunda história, desta vez eu já trazia a lição estudada e, por isso, estava bem mais familiarizada com tudo o que se estava a passar. Acho que a componente de ficção científica emprestou um caráter original à história, mas de certo modo a simplicidade desta primeira versão acaba por torná-la interessante, ainda que um pouco ingénua. Não é uma história marcante e vale principalmente como ponto de comparação à versão que lhe seguiu.
And Death His Legacy – 2/5
Esta é a história de dois homens: um Profeta, que percorre os E.U.A. a espalhar as suas crenças contra comunistas, fascistas e outros que vivem do trabalho dos outros sem fazer nada; um homem rico, que sofre de cancro e só tem um ano de vida. Dado o seu tempo limitado, decide fazer algo de significativo e isso passa por eliminar o Profeta, que vê como uma ameaça semelhante a Hitler.
É uma história interessante, provavelmente superior às duas que lhe antecedem, com vários pontos que induzem à reflexão, como fazer o mal para o bem comum ou como por vezes as boas intenções resvalam em acontecimentos ainda piores. Contudo, nota-se ainda alguma imaturidade na escrita e no desenvolvimento de personagens e acontecimentos; por exemplo, a ligação entre as duas personagens principais poderia ter sido muito mais bem conseguida, o que decerto tornaria a história mais interessante. Acredito que se esta história fosse escrita hoje seria provavelmente bastante poderosa e marcante, mas não deixa de ser curioso lê-la e perceber a evolução na escrita do autor.
The Hero – 3/5
Este conto foi o primeiro escrito por Martin que lhe rendeu algum dinheiro. Foi escrito em 1971, em plena Guerra do Vietname, quando o autor se encontrava na possibilidade de ser chamado a participar. Martin fez um pedido para ser dispensado, alegando objeção de consciência, e esse pedido foi acompanhado por esta história. Não se sabe se teve influência na posterior decisão de o dispensar, mas achei curioso.
O protagonista desta história é o veterano John Kagen, que há 20 anos servia nas tropas especiais de humanos que andavam em guerra com alienígenas de outros planetas. Mas Kagen estava farto da guerra e decidiu pedir a reforma, a ser desfrutada no planeta Terra, onde nunca tinha estado. Este conto denota uma evolução na forma como o autor desenvolve a sua personagem principal, que neste caso se torna em alguém bastante interessante. Também o tema principal, a guerra e as consequências que tem em que nela participa, é tema que dá pano para mangas. Ainda assim, por ser tão curtinho acabou por saber-me a pouco. O final da história também está bem conseguido, apesar de um pouco deprimente.
The Exit to San Breta – 4/5
O protagonista (e narrador) deste conto é um homem que vive numa América em que os carros se tornaram obsoletos. Já quase ninguém possui carro e as estradas e auto-estradas foram votadas ao abandono. Mas ele continua a gostar da nostalgia de ter um carro e conduzir pelas estradas durante a noite. Numa das suas viagens, encontra um carro raro onde viaja uma família… e é esse encontro que dá origem a um acontecimento estranho que vai desenterrar uma história antiga.
Sem querer revelar demasiado, para não tirar a piada a quem quiser ler, é um conto que se torna bastante interessante pelo volte-face sobrenatural que se revela no final. É uma história bem desenvolvida, apesar de curta, e com um crescendo de suspense que a torna muito agradável de ler. Foi a melhor desta coletânea até agora.
The Second Kind of Loneliness – 4/5
Um homem, de quem nunca sabemos o nome, encontra-se a milhares de milhões de quilómetros da terra, sozinho numa estação espacial que tem como objetivo abrir vórtices que permitissem as viagens interstelares. Depois de 4 anos de solidão, prepara-se finalmente para ser rendido e o conto é composto de entradas no seu diário onde nos dá uma perspetiva dos acontecimentos e dos pensamentos que o consomem.
A solidão é o tema central deste conto. O segundo tipo de solidão, que dá o título à história, é a não literal, aquela que sentimos quando estamos rodeados de pessoas. O narrador sente-se sozinho, mas encontrou nessa solidão um escape àquela que sentia quando estava na Terra. O prosseguir dos dias e o aproximar do seu regresso à Terra permitem a composição um retrato psicológico muito interessante e o final algo inesperado acaba por ser adequado e bastante de acordo com aquilo que Martin normalmente oferece ao leitor. Dentro de um contexto de ficção científica, o autor oferece uma história sobre anseios e problemas intemporais do ser humano. Muito interessante.
With Morning Comes Mistfall – 4/5
Assim que comecei a ler esta história, lembrei-me que já a tinha lido na Revista Bang! n.º 8. Como já foi há vários anos, e como me recordo de ter gostado bastante, decidi reler o conto.
Num dos planetas explorados pelos seres humanos, a neblina toma conta da paisagem assim que o sol desaparece, e é neste contexto que aparecem os espectros que ameaçam os exploradores mais incautos. Sanders, o humano que construiu neste planeta um hotel protegido contra os espectros, recebe uma expedição que pretende provar a existência ou não dos mesmos, e que inclui o jornalista que pretende cobrir os acontecimentos e que nos narra esta história na primeira pessoa.
É uma história que pretende destacar o poder da magia, da imaginação e das coisas por explicar no imaginário humano e que, no fundo, explica muito do apelo em relação à fantasia e à ficção científica. É uma mensagem poderosa e que, quanto a mim, faz todo o sentido. Por isso mesmo, foi uma das minhas histórias preferidas desta coletânea.
In the Lost Lands – 4/5
Gray Alys é uma feiticeira conhecida por realizar todos os desejos de quem a procura, desde que seja devidamente recompensada. No início deste conto, a feiticeira é procurada por um enviado de Lady Melange, que deseja ter o poder dos metamorfos. Para conseguir transformar este desejo em realidade, Gray Alys viaja para as Lost Lands (ou Terras Perdidas), um local desértico e desolado mas possuidor de uma certa beleza selvagem, com Boyce, um homem que promete levá-la a um lobisomem e ajudá-la na sua demanda.
Sem revelar muito mais do enredo, para não estragar a história a quem quiser lê-la, posso dizer que o final é bastante agridoce e merecedor da famosa expressão “tem cuidado com o que desejas, não vá tornar-se realidade”. Martin apresenta-nos um final inesperado, numa história que vinga por ter uma personagem principal bem caracterizada e vai muito para além da típica bruxa.
A título de curiosidade, foi revelado recentemente que este conto, juntamente com Bitterblooms (Flormordentes) e The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr (As Solitárias Canções de Laren Dorr), vão servir de base a um filme chamado “In the Lost Lands” e que deverá ter como protagonista Milla Jovovich no papel de Gray Alys. Fico curiosa!
June 20, 2020
I'm not done yet. By the end of this review I should be though. I've decided that this is a long book with different stories and at the end of the book the last one is likely to be burned into the back of my mind. In order to be fair to each individual story I'll write down my thought as I go along. I want them to end up here eventually so it'd less work than typing it up and saving it as a word document and then copying and pasting. I can still edit here.
A Four-Colour Fanboy
GRRM's thoughts were nice to read. I related to some of the things he said and I was glad that he wrote them down.
Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark
I liked the poem but I just didn't care much about the story.
The Fortress
I was really interested in seeing what would happen and it ended in vintage GRRM style.
And Death His Legacy
This was the best of this chapter. At first I wondered how it was going to be connected and then I saw it come together nicely. You'd expect it to be all over with the assassination but it was like fighting Hydra. Cut of one head and another emerges to carry on. Stopping a regime with a solid following and infectious ideologies are not that simple and I'm glad that he showed that. Normally, well based on what I've read, people make it that simple. It's sadly, not.
The Filthy Pro
I liked his last introduction better.
The Hero
I saw it coming but I didn't see how it would actually happen. I still wonder if Grady was actually trying to kill him or he really was just testing him. I think he was really trying to kill him but that it probably just me. That end was really reminiscent of Ned Stark. His honour killed him. The difference is that many actually thought Ned would make it somehow. We believed in him as a hero.
The Exit to San Breta
This was really haunting. You could tell that something's wrong. For a moment I thought he was the ghost and then I realized that the family in the car was the ghost. I liked the explanation at the end. It wasn't a jump-out-at-you-and-scare-you kind of story but more of a subtle one and they are often the more unnerving ones, I think.
The Second Kind of Loneliness
This started slow but I found that I really got into it later on and started to really feel the character. He's unnamed, unless I totally missed it. It's a series of journal entries that really bares the heart and soul of the human being. It's hard to not connect and then you see that something is wrong and you feel for this stranger whose name you don't even know more.
With Morning Comes Mistfall
This was a bittersweet tale. Firstly, I thought that there was some kind of mystery there. A wraith would show up. Sanders might be a killer. I was hoping that something would happen. However, I wasn't disappointed - entirely. This is a philosophical story. I personally felt torn. I like knowing. It's nice to know. However, the familiar becomes boring eventually. I enjoy wondering and pondering and imagining. There's a thrill and excitement to it. The mystery. The magic. To know that anything is possible. It's unpredictable. Exciting. It's not the same thing over and over. Knowing becomes normal and normal becomes familiar and comfortable but boring. I think that a mix is important. We need to know but we need some mystery too.
The Light of Distant Stars
I preferred reading Martin's insights here than in The Filthy Pro. His thoughts in this piece were really moving. I like how he talks about the stars and I loved that he refused to censor!
A Song for Lya
This was such an amazing read that I feel like I will fail to put it into words. I feel like GRRM combined A Second Kind of Loneliness and With Morning Comes Mistfall. I found myself really liking the religion of the Skea and the Joining and finally the Union. It seems to be everything that we've wanted and everything that we've been searching for. I feel like once Lyanna felt it she just could not go back. Ignorance is bliss because once you know you can never not know and go back to the completeness of believing that there is nothing else to know. Telepaths like Robb and Lyanna surpassed the average human love and connection. They thought that they were lucky but once Lyanna found that there was something more; that she could love and be loved entirely; be herself and be one with others; be accepted entirely for who she was and understood and loved for it; she just could not go back. Being with Robb felt superficial. I understand that. Somehow despite it being all that we craved, love, God, immortality, eternal bliss, peace, it disturbed me. I cannot fully explain why. Maybe on some level I am like Dino with his wall. But I identify most with Robb. He knows it but doesn't want to surrender to it, even if it means so much. The Greeshka touched him through Lyanna but he ran away. I think it's a bit of wanting to love but not surrendering entirely. Even though you maintain something of yourself you become so open to everybody else and despite the acceptance it is jarring. This was just beautiful yet disturbing, everything and yet like Robb you wonder what you really want. Maybe it means that you need to know yourself more. Who knows? GRRM is amazing to write such as story. He articulated everything so well. I will have to re-read this one. Maybe over and over again. My mind may change over time. Maybe that's it. Once the Joining anf Union happens there is no more change. It is just the you in one state of eternal bliss forever.
This Tower of Ashes
I feel for Johnny though self-imposed exile in such a place for such a prolonged period of time probably wasn't the best idea. Maybe it's the point of view bias but I disliked Gerry. I feel it's mainly because he didn't see the beauty of the forest. He just wasn't my cup of tea. Unlike Johnny though, I found Crystal annoying. In the first place, why are you harassing the man? He's trying to move on. Let him. Leave him be. He should have done a better job but the least that the couple could do is leave him be. They shouldn't have stayed and they shouldn't have gone into that forest. Then again, I shouldn't complain because then there wouldn't be a story. Johnny needs to move on with his life. He got caught up in a web of dreams and his ego coupled with it to produce the stupid idea of going into the forest. Gerry's ego made him agree and Crystal, well, maybe she just couldn't read the situation, liked the adventure that much, or was grateful to avoid talking about the love triangle. Overall, I enjoyed it. It was a fun read. I still can't believe Johnny stayed there. The eight legged cat made me wonder as well about the reality of everything. I feel like I will need to re-read this one.
And Seven Times Never Kill Man
I did not like this one much. That doesn't mean that there were not things that I picked up on. It's a good story. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I feel I should have. The Steel Angels are colonizing and expanding. The Jaenshi are relatively peaceful but in the end I think that they managed to trick the Steel Angels into destroying themselves with their own military religion and zealotry. I wonder about those prophecies. Where did they come from? Did the Jaenshi have something to do with it?
The Stone City
I think I got lost in this story. There were many flashbacks and sometimes I kept on wondering what was really going on and what was the point. I finally felt like I was getting somewhere when Holt killed the foxman and flee into the stone city. Finally! Then it was like getting lost in the House of the Undying, even though I thought he visited something like that earlier in the story. I was so confused in the stone city. There were so many visions and then we Holt said that he'd go back but had to visit planets through the various doors I knew. I knew that he was lost in there but somewhat happy? He could see so many worlds and he did, while the rest of the universe grew old and the races on that planet wasted away. Holt still went on from star to star in the stone city. It's escaping but not truly escaping. Blissful yet not real? In a way he got off the planet but didn't. Instead he's trapped there forever.
Bitterblooms
Well I'm glad that A Song of Ice and Fire has not desensitized me to incest. I did a double take when Shawn described her relationship with Lane and others in Carinhall which rhymes with Harrenhal. Tesenya reminds me of Visenya. Old Jon is like Old Nan which is hilarious! There are so many references! There is winter which lasts a long time. The vampires are like the White Walkers. And then we get Morgan Le Fay and Avalon which is a King Arthur reference. Most importantly, those Bitterblooms which snap Shawn out of it all make me think of the blue winter roses. Shawn and Morgan even wear them in their hair. The old of Carinhall even leave when they've become too old. They go off to die in the snow like the Northerners. What a weird story.
The Way of Cross and Dragon
GRRM showcases his view on religion. Liars. LOL. I laughed a lot throughout this story. I truly enjoyed the Judas story. It was fun. Damien liked it too. Lukyan is also right. Dragons are awesome! Also, I am guessing that GRRM recycled some of the dragon riding bits in A Song of Ice and Fire.
The Heirs of Turtle Castle
This was probably my favourite sneak peek into the life and times of GRRM. I love fantasy so naturally I loved this.
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr
I think this is the most beautiful story that I've read thus far from GRRM. There is so much beauty and sweetness to it all. And still that slice of bitterness. Overall I am satisfied with the ending. It was earned and I can understand and appreciate the why. GRRM tackles love and loneliness in this one. Powerful and complex themes. They resonate with you. The aspect that I loved was how fleeting love is. It's that fleeting nature that gave it passion. If there is no change there is boredom which may even give way to hate. And this is a recurring theme that I keep on coming back to with many of the stories: change. Immortality and permanence gives way to loneliness and madness. Change is very important which is why Laren is so melancholic and Sharra must move on.
The Ice Dragon
This is the second time that I am reading this story. However, this is also another version. I had read the young adult version of this story: the one without the rape. I think that I liked that one more or just didn't think much about the story. This time, I found the father very annoying. There's a war raging and your brother is fighting in it and telling you how grim things are and that you should leave. He should take his children and leave but no. He stays. Even after people hurry past him. Adara is just as stubborn but she is only 7. He is a grown man and should have a better understanding of the horror that could come for him. And of course the horror came in the form of three dragonriders from the enemy's side. Hal and Brimstone die trying to fight them and then they have their way with the rest of the family. It's the one time Adara's stubbornness came in handy.
In the Lost Lands
This was an enjoyable and brief story. Many aspects can also be noted in A Song of Ice and Fire. The story is not a happy one. I do not feel like anyone is truly content with life at the end: Boyce was horrifically killed, Alys mourned the loss and cruel work she does, Jerais is married to a madwoman and horrific beast and well Lady Melange is a beast. I had to come back to this review after a friend puzzled out why Lady Melange wanted to be a wolf. Lady Melange loved Boyce and wanted to be with him and Jerais wanted Lady Melange and the power that would come from being her husband. Their wishes killed Boyce. Lady Melange was horrified and became mad and grief-stricken as her desire to become a wolf led to Boyce's death despite her ability to now change at will. Jerais became her husband but his wife is now mad and he fears her when she transforms into a wolf at night. And so, you really should not go to Gray Alys as she grants your wish but ultimately is is not what you thought it would be.
Hybrids and Horrors
I loved reading this bit from GRRM. I actually laughed a few times. The ending where he described the horror genre was beautiful. I've never really enjoyed any horror. I've always found them to be weak. They're fun but generally weak. This reading made me think that I should re-read and re-think some of the horror I've seen and read. Or maybe they were just bad. Who knows?
Meathouse Man
This was a disturbing and depressing story. The ways in which corpses are exploited were disturbing. The life and times of Greg Tregar was depressing. The way relationship between Greg and the corpse is both disturbing and depressing. GRRM covers several issues in this story and he does it well. Prostitution, Loneliness, Love and Friendship feature prominently.
Remembering Melody
This was a really good story on toxic friendships. I think that there is only so much some people are able to do for their friends. Melody needed professional help and it is too bad that she did not get it. I don't think I will be swearing undying friendships with anyone in a hurry after this read!
Sandkings
Simon Kress is a arrogant twat. I did pity him in the end though. I knew the orange ones would get him. They kind of deserved to get him as opposed to the other colours. Those sandkings were his monsters. He did that to them.
Nightflyers
I enjoyed Nightflyers. Trying to figure out what was going on alongside the various characters was great. Royd was an effective red-herring. If I were onboard the Nightflyer I would be weary of him after the first death like the others. Once I realized that he was spying on everyone I immediately became weary of him. Overall, Royd is a tragic character who spies on others to live vicariously through them. That doesn't make the spying alright. The story was good and GRRM did a great job fusing science fiction and horror. You don't always come across a ghost story on a spaceship.
The Monkey Treatment
I never thought that you could write a horror story about weight loss but here it is. GRRM's horrifying weight loss program. It can literally consume you and torment you, all the while grinning like a monkey. I really felt bad for Kenny but I am glad he made it in the end and got that monkey man off his back. It's terrible that he was driven to a mad suicide attempt for it to happen.
The Pear Shaped Man
I feel really bad for Jessie. She doesn't want to be paranoid about the Pear Shaped Man. That's the thing about paranoia. You don't want it. Somehow you just lose control of your own mind. It's sick and terrifying. Somehow he seeped into her mind and told hold of it. She became trapped within her own mind and by the end she became trapped within his body and his mind seemed to actually begin seeping into her own. He also seemed to have become her. He stole her life.
Great collection!!!!
A Four-Colour Fanboy
GRRM's thoughts were nice to read. I related to some of the things he said and I was glad that he wrote them down.
Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark
I liked the poem but I just didn't care much about the story.
The Fortress
I was really interested in seeing what would happen and it ended in vintage GRRM style.
And Death His Legacy
This was the best of this chapter. At first I wondered how it was going to be connected and then I saw it come together nicely. You'd expect it to be all over with the assassination but it was like fighting Hydra. Cut of one head and another emerges to carry on. Stopping a regime with a solid following and infectious ideologies are not that simple and I'm glad that he showed that. Normally, well based on what I've read, people make it that simple. It's sadly, not.
The Filthy Pro
I liked his last introduction better.
The Hero
I saw it coming but I didn't see how it would actually happen. I still wonder if Grady was actually trying to kill him or he really was just testing him. I think he was really trying to kill him but that it probably just me. That end was really reminiscent of Ned Stark. His honour killed him. The difference is that many actually thought Ned would make it somehow. We believed in him as a hero.
The Exit to San Breta
This was really haunting. You could tell that something's wrong. For a moment I thought he was the ghost and then I realized that the family in the car was the ghost. I liked the explanation at the end. It wasn't a jump-out-at-you-and-scare-you kind of story but more of a subtle one and they are often the more unnerving ones, I think.
The Second Kind of Loneliness
This started slow but I found that I really got into it later on and started to really feel the character. He's unnamed, unless I totally missed it. It's a series of journal entries that really bares the heart and soul of the human being. It's hard to not connect and then you see that something is wrong and you feel for this stranger whose name you don't even know more.
With Morning Comes Mistfall
This was a bittersweet tale. Firstly, I thought that there was some kind of mystery there. A wraith would show up. Sanders might be a killer. I was hoping that something would happen. However, I wasn't disappointed - entirely. This is a philosophical story. I personally felt torn. I like knowing. It's nice to know. However, the familiar becomes boring eventually. I enjoy wondering and pondering and imagining. There's a thrill and excitement to it. The mystery. The magic. To know that anything is possible. It's unpredictable. Exciting. It's not the same thing over and over. Knowing becomes normal and normal becomes familiar and comfortable but boring. I think that a mix is important. We need to know but we need some mystery too.
The Light of Distant Stars
I preferred reading Martin's insights here than in The Filthy Pro. His thoughts in this piece were really moving. I like how he talks about the stars and I loved that he refused to censor!
A Song for Lya
This was such an amazing read that I feel like I will fail to put it into words. I feel like GRRM combined A Second Kind of Loneliness and With Morning Comes Mistfall. I found myself really liking the religion of the Skea and the Joining and finally the Union. It seems to be everything that we've wanted and everything that we've been searching for. I feel like once Lyanna felt it she just could not go back. Ignorance is bliss because once you know you can never not know and go back to the completeness of believing that there is nothing else to know. Telepaths like Robb and Lyanna surpassed the average human love and connection. They thought that they were lucky but once Lyanna found that there was something more; that she could love and be loved entirely; be herself and be one with others; be accepted entirely for who she was and understood and loved for it; she just could not go back. Being with Robb felt superficial. I understand that. Somehow despite it being all that we craved, love, God, immortality, eternal bliss, peace, it disturbed me. I cannot fully explain why. Maybe on some level I am like Dino with his wall. But I identify most with Robb. He knows it but doesn't want to surrender to it, even if it means so much. The Greeshka touched him through Lyanna but he ran away. I think it's a bit of wanting to love but not surrendering entirely. Even though you maintain something of yourself you become so open to everybody else and despite the acceptance it is jarring. This was just beautiful yet disturbing, everything and yet like Robb you wonder what you really want. Maybe it means that you need to know yourself more. Who knows? GRRM is amazing to write such as story. He articulated everything so well. I will have to re-read this one. Maybe over and over again. My mind may change over time. Maybe that's it. Once the Joining anf Union happens there is no more change. It is just the you in one state of eternal bliss forever.
This Tower of Ashes
I feel for Johnny though self-imposed exile in such a place for such a prolonged period of time probably wasn't the best idea. Maybe it's the point of view bias but I disliked Gerry. I feel it's mainly because he didn't see the beauty of the forest. He just wasn't my cup of tea. Unlike Johnny though, I found Crystal annoying. In the first place, why are you harassing the man? He's trying to move on. Let him. Leave him be. He should have done a better job but the least that the couple could do is leave him be. They shouldn't have stayed and they shouldn't have gone into that forest. Then again, I shouldn't complain because then there wouldn't be a story. Johnny needs to move on with his life. He got caught up in a web of dreams and his ego coupled with it to produce the stupid idea of going into the forest. Gerry's ego made him agree and Crystal, well, maybe she just couldn't read the situation, liked the adventure that much, or was grateful to avoid talking about the love triangle. Overall, I enjoyed it. It was a fun read. I still can't believe Johnny stayed there. The eight legged cat made me wonder as well about the reality of everything. I feel like I will need to re-read this one.
And Seven Times Never Kill Man
I did not like this one much. That doesn't mean that there were not things that I picked up on. It's a good story. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I feel I should have. The Steel Angels are colonizing and expanding. The Jaenshi are relatively peaceful but in the end I think that they managed to trick the Steel Angels into destroying themselves with their own military religion and zealotry. I wonder about those prophecies. Where did they come from? Did the Jaenshi have something to do with it?
The Stone City
I think I got lost in this story. There were many flashbacks and sometimes I kept on wondering what was really going on and what was the point. I finally felt like I was getting somewhere when Holt killed the foxman and flee into the stone city. Finally! Then it was like getting lost in the House of the Undying, even though I thought he visited something like that earlier in the story. I was so confused in the stone city. There were so many visions and then we Holt said that he'd go back but had to visit planets through the various doors I knew. I knew that he was lost in there but somewhat happy? He could see so many worlds and he did, while the rest of the universe grew old and the races on that planet wasted away. Holt still went on from star to star in the stone city. It's escaping but not truly escaping. Blissful yet not real? In a way he got off the planet but didn't. Instead he's trapped there forever.
Bitterblooms
Well I'm glad that A Song of Ice and Fire has not desensitized me to incest. I did a double take when Shawn described her relationship with Lane and others in Carinhall which rhymes with Harrenhal. Tesenya reminds me of Visenya. Old Jon is like Old Nan which is hilarious! There are so many references! There is winter which lasts a long time. The vampires are like the White Walkers. And then we get Morgan Le Fay and Avalon which is a King Arthur reference. Most importantly, those Bitterblooms which snap Shawn out of it all make me think of the blue winter roses. Shawn and Morgan even wear them in their hair. The old of Carinhall even leave when they've become too old. They go off to die in the snow like the Northerners. What a weird story.
The Way of Cross and Dragon
GRRM showcases his view on religion. Liars. LOL. I laughed a lot throughout this story. I truly enjoyed the Judas story. It was fun. Damien liked it too. Lukyan is also right. Dragons are awesome! Also, I am guessing that GRRM recycled some of the dragon riding bits in A Song of Ice and Fire.
The Heirs of Turtle Castle
This was probably my favourite sneak peek into the life and times of GRRM. I love fantasy so naturally I loved this.
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr
I think this is the most beautiful story that I've read thus far from GRRM. There is so much beauty and sweetness to it all. And still that slice of bitterness. Overall I am satisfied with the ending. It was earned and I can understand and appreciate the why. GRRM tackles love and loneliness in this one. Powerful and complex themes. They resonate with you. The aspect that I loved was how fleeting love is. It's that fleeting nature that gave it passion. If there is no change there is boredom which may even give way to hate. And this is a recurring theme that I keep on coming back to with many of the stories: change. Immortality and permanence gives way to loneliness and madness. Change is very important which is why Laren is so melancholic and Sharra must move on.
The Ice Dragon
This is the second time that I am reading this story. However, this is also another version. I had read the young adult version of this story: the one without the rape. I think that I liked that one more or just didn't think much about the story. This time, I found the father very annoying. There's a war raging and your brother is fighting in it and telling you how grim things are and that you should leave. He should take his children and leave but no. He stays. Even after people hurry past him. Adara is just as stubborn but she is only 7. He is a grown man and should have a better understanding of the horror that could come for him. And of course the horror came in the form of three dragonriders from the enemy's side. Hal and Brimstone die trying to fight them and then they have their way with the rest of the family. It's the one time Adara's stubbornness came in handy.
In the Lost Lands
This was an enjoyable and brief story. Many aspects can also be noted in A Song of Ice and Fire. The story is not a happy one. I do not feel like anyone is truly content with life at the end: Boyce was horrifically killed, Alys mourned the loss and cruel work she does, Jerais is married to a madwoman and horrific beast and well Lady Melange is a beast. I had to come back to this review after a friend puzzled out why Lady Melange wanted to be a wolf. Lady Melange loved Boyce and wanted to be with him and Jerais wanted Lady Melange and the power that would come from being her husband. Their wishes killed Boyce. Lady Melange was horrified and became mad and grief-stricken as her desire to become a wolf led to Boyce's death despite her ability to now change at will. Jerais became her husband but his wife is now mad and he fears her when she transforms into a wolf at night. And so, you really should not go to Gray Alys as she grants your wish but ultimately is is not what you thought it would be.
Hybrids and Horrors
I loved reading this bit from GRRM. I actually laughed a few times. The ending where he described the horror genre was beautiful. I've never really enjoyed any horror. I've always found them to be weak. They're fun but generally weak. This reading made me think that I should re-read and re-think some of the horror I've seen and read. Or maybe they were just bad. Who knows?
Meathouse Man
This was a disturbing and depressing story. The ways in which corpses are exploited were disturbing. The life and times of Greg Tregar was depressing. The way relationship between Greg and the corpse is both disturbing and depressing. GRRM covers several issues in this story and he does it well. Prostitution, Loneliness, Love and Friendship feature prominently.
Remembering Melody
This was a really good story on toxic friendships. I think that there is only so much some people are able to do for their friends. Melody needed professional help and it is too bad that she did not get it. I don't think I will be swearing undying friendships with anyone in a hurry after this read!
Sandkings
Simon Kress is a arrogant twat. I did pity him in the end though. I knew the orange ones would get him. They kind of deserved to get him as opposed to the other colours. Those sandkings were his monsters. He did that to them.
Nightflyers
I enjoyed Nightflyers. Trying to figure out what was going on alongside the various characters was great. Royd was an effective red-herring. If I were onboard the Nightflyer I would be weary of him after the first death like the others. Once I realized that he was spying on everyone I immediately became weary of him. Overall, Royd is a tragic character who spies on others to live vicariously through them. That doesn't make the spying alright. The story was good and GRRM did a great job fusing science fiction and horror. You don't always come across a ghost story on a spaceship.
The Monkey Treatment
I never thought that you could write a horror story about weight loss but here it is. GRRM's horrifying weight loss program. It can literally consume you and torment you, all the while grinning like a monkey. I really felt bad for Kenny but I am glad he made it in the end and got that monkey man off his back. It's terrible that he was driven to a mad suicide attempt for it to happen.
The Pear Shaped Man
I feel really bad for Jessie. She doesn't want to be paranoid about the Pear Shaped Man. That's the thing about paranoia. You don't want it. Somehow you just lose control of your own mind. It's sick and terrifying. Somehow he seeped into her mind and told hold of it. She became trapped within her own mind and by the end she became trapped within his body and his mind seemed to actually begin seeping into her own. He also seemed to have become her. He stole her life.
Great collection!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2018
Below a short review for each story, but first some general comments.
George R.R. Martin is a big fan of short fiction and has written a lot of short stories throughout his career. This book provides a collection of some of his favorite stories, roughly in a chronological order in which they were written. The book has five sections which each include an introduction, wherein Martin provides his commentary on his personal situation and career at the time he wrote the stories. I liked Martin's commentary a lot. They were well written, gave a glimpse on what type of person Martin is, and provided some extra background to the stories.
The majority of the stories have a science-fiction setting. There were only three stories in the fantasy genre (Martin explained in his commentary that there was not much demand for these in the 70s and 80s) and a similar few set in our own world. Actually, I generally prefer Martin's non-sci-fi work, which have the characters more on the forefront. Martin is really good at creating new settings in an alien world, but for a short story I don't think it's always worth it to invest the time.
Although there are a few nice stories in the first half of the book (e.g. Song for Lya), I only really got into this at Bitterblooms. I don't know exactly why. Maybe it's the writing style that gets more accessible. Or maybe a decrease in lengthy descriptions of the environment. Or maybe Martin had simply become a better writer at this time (as said, the stories are roughly in choronological order of writing). Regardless, I enjoyed the second half much more than the first half.
A short review for each story:
The first three stories - Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark (a bit silly, not the type of superhero I like), The Fortress (not as ambiguous as it would like to be) and And Death His Legacy (a bit too serious) - were just okay reads. However, what made them worth reading is that they show how Martin started out and the diversity of the first stories he wrote.
The Hero (2*): A bleak story about a super soldier wanting to retire. The story was very short - too short for me to really care about the world and its characters.
The Exit to San Breta (4*): Great atmosphere and setting of an abanoned highway. Feels like a classic ghost story. The last part of the story was a bit too busy with explaining stuff though.
The Second Kind of Loneliness (3*): A diary of a man all alone in outer space. A striking description of a person trapped with his own feelings, fears and doubts. In parts a bit over the top for my taste though.
With Morning Comes Mistfall (5*): This story is like a painting, with Martin creating a scenery with so much atmosphere, mystery and melancholy, that it does not even need much of a storyline or character development to be awesome.
A Song for Lya (5*): About two telepaths called in by early settlers on a strange planet to help them deal with the problematic local religion. It manages to avoid many of the stereotypical issues associated with the topic of religion. The story has a very natural flow. While reading, you almost know intuitively what is about to happen next, which actually is one of its strengths. The foreboding feeling makes the story work perfectly.
This Tower of Ashes (1*): This story suffers from a trio of unlikeable characters. The beginning of the story started out okay, but the trip through the jungle by night did nothing for me (nor for the characters in my opinion).
And Seven Times Never Kill Man (3*): Again a story about religion and faith. A good story with an original object of worship. The peaceful tribes were interesting as a whole, but none of the characters particularly stood out. I did not care much for the villain perspective.
The Stone City (2*): A story about space travelers, who are stuck on a faraway planet. Overall, I found this a bit too slow and in parts just not that interesting. I liked the concept of traveling (too) far outside human territory. However, the story lost its intrigue and mystery at about three quarters (when the main character went underground) and never managed to pull me back in.
Bitterblooms (5*): In this story you can (for the first time?) see Martin's gift of depicting a flawed character without the narrator of the story providing any moral judgement. The reader has to make up his own mind about the merits of the character's actions (which I love - I have seen reviews wherein the two female characters of this story are described as being 'lovers' - definitely not my reading of events). Together with the long winter setting, this story strongly reminded me of a Song of Ice and Fire. And I loved it for similar reasons.
The Way of Cross and Dragon (4*): A story about an inquisitor trying to stop the heresy of a new religious branch of his faith. The alternative holy text and its history are brilliant. I found the actual conflict to be less inspired, even though it started out wonderfully.
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr (3*): About a heroine who travels between worlds and arrives at the world of the lonely Larren Dor. A well thought-out and well-structured story with a lot of atmosphere. The story feels like a peaceful intermezzo in a larger epic story (which is intentional). This works well for setting the scenes and background, but it also makes the story lose some urgency and tension. The heroine could also have used a stronger personality.
The Ice Dragon (5*): Gripping story about a peculiar young girl, her family and an ice dragon. It's equal parts classic fantasy and fairy tale. I loved the winter theme ingrained in the story, which despite the small number of pages managed to evoke a warm magical atmosphere.
In the Lost Lands (3*): About a witch-like woman who grants wishes and has to work on fulfilling two seemingly incompatible wishes. I liked the focus on the wish fulfiller rather than the people making the wish. The resolution of the problem came a bit out of the blue for me though.
Meathouse Man (2*): Weird story. The first scene is horror. Then, after a few pages, you realize the story is set in the future (sci-fi). But eventually, the story is simply about a man in search for 'real' love. What felt like a missed opportunity is that neither the horror nor the sci-fi elements had any impact on the story. If you would replace the 'corpses' with robots, you would immediately loose all horror from the story. And any character development was unrelated to the sci-fi setting. What remains then is the love story, which is the weakest part of the story. The main character is so depressed and has so much self-pity that I cannot take the story's message (if there is any) seriously. Martin explains in the introduction that his personal life was not going well and he put everything in this story. It shows, but not for the good.
Remembering Melody (5*): A more traditional story. The main character is visited by Melody, an old friend who is always in trouble and once again needs help. The conversations between the two are vivid and gripping - playfully manipulative from both sides. And since the story is in the 'hybrids and horrors' section of the book, you know the main character is screwed. The question is how. Reading this put a constant grin on my face.
Sandkings (5*): About a cruel man who likes to collect dangerous alien pets. Because of the main character showing no empathy to anything or anyone, I found myself rooting for his pets almost immediately. And that mindset made reading this a true joy. If you would classify this tale as a monster story, the main character is without a doubt the real monster. Furthermore, the story has a remarkably small scale (especially considering George Martin is the author), basically taking place for the most part in and around someone's house. This made it easy to imagine and absorb myself in the story. Also a very addictive read - I was reading this in public transportation, arrived at my stop with some 10 pages left, and then kept reading on the street until it was finished.
Nightflyers (2*): The story starts out well. Interesting mission, nice crew, mysterious captain. Good sci-fi overall. But despite the horror elements, it never really got tense or scary. And the whodunnit part was too predictable (maybe less at the time it was written, but still).
The Monkey Treatment (5*): Probably the funniest story in this book. About an obese guy who wants to lose weight and starts the so-called monkey treatment. The treatment is absurd and terrible, yet funy in a wicked and dark kind of way. Again hard to put down.
The Pear-Shaped Man (4*): The only genuinely creepy story in the book. It is easy to relate to the main character, as we are basically in the same boat: we are pretty sure something is wrong, but have no idea what and no tangible evidence to prove it.
The above ratings probably have an average of about 3.5*. However, Martin's personal commentary in the book definitely brings the rating to a solid 4 stars.
George R.R. Martin is a big fan of short fiction and has written a lot of short stories throughout his career. This book provides a collection of some of his favorite stories, roughly in a chronological order in which they were written. The book has five sections which each include an introduction, wherein Martin provides his commentary on his personal situation and career at the time he wrote the stories. I liked Martin's commentary a lot. They were well written, gave a glimpse on what type of person Martin is, and provided some extra background to the stories.
The majority of the stories have a science-fiction setting. There were only three stories in the fantasy genre (Martin explained in his commentary that there was not much demand for these in the 70s and 80s) and a similar few set in our own world. Actually, I generally prefer Martin's non-sci-fi work, which have the characters more on the forefront. Martin is really good at creating new settings in an alien world, but for a short story I don't think it's always worth it to invest the time.
Although there are a few nice stories in the first half of the book (e.g. Song for Lya), I only really got into this at Bitterblooms. I don't know exactly why. Maybe it's the writing style that gets more accessible. Or maybe a decrease in lengthy descriptions of the environment. Or maybe Martin had simply become a better writer at this time (as said, the stories are roughly in choronological order of writing). Regardless, I enjoyed the second half much more than the first half.
A short review for each story:
The first three stories - Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark (a bit silly, not the type of superhero I like), The Fortress (not as ambiguous as it would like to be) and And Death His Legacy (a bit too serious) - were just okay reads. However, what made them worth reading is that they show how Martin started out and the diversity of the first stories he wrote.
The Hero (2*): A bleak story about a super soldier wanting to retire. The story was very short - too short for me to really care about the world and its characters.
The Exit to San Breta (4*): Great atmosphere and setting of an abanoned highway. Feels like a classic ghost story. The last part of the story was a bit too busy with explaining stuff though.
The Second Kind of Loneliness (3*): A diary of a man all alone in outer space. A striking description of a person trapped with his own feelings, fears and doubts. In parts a bit over the top for my taste though.
With Morning Comes Mistfall (5*): This story is like a painting, with Martin creating a scenery with so much atmosphere, mystery and melancholy, that it does not even need much of a storyline or character development to be awesome.
A Song for Lya (5*): About two telepaths called in by early settlers on a strange planet to help them deal with the problematic local religion. It manages to avoid many of the stereotypical issues associated with the topic of religion. The story has a very natural flow. While reading, you almost know intuitively what is about to happen next, which actually is one of its strengths. The foreboding feeling makes the story work perfectly.
This Tower of Ashes (1*): This story suffers from a trio of unlikeable characters. The beginning of the story started out okay, but the trip through the jungle by night did nothing for me (nor for the characters in my opinion).
And Seven Times Never Kill Man (3*): Again a story about religion and faith. A good story with an original object of worship. The peaceful tribes were interesting as a whole, but none of the characters particularly stood out. I did not care much for the villain perspective.
The Stone City (2*): A story about space travelers, who are stuck on a faraway planet. Overall, I found this a bit too slow and in parts just not that interesting. I liked the concept of traveling (too) far outside human territory. However, the story lost its intrigue and mystery at about three quarters (when the main character went underground) and never managed to pull me back in.
Bitterblooms (5*): In this story you can (for the first time?) see Martin's gift of depicting a flawed character without the narrator of the story providing any moral judgement. The reader has to make up his own mind about the merits of the character's actions (which I love - I have seen reviews wherein the two female characters of this story are described as being 'lovers' - definitely not my reading of events). Together with the long winter setting, this story strongly reminded me of a Song of Ice and Fire. And I loved it for similar reasons.
The Way of Cross and Dragon (4*): A story about an inquisitor trying to stop the heresy of a new religious branch of his faith. The alternative holy text and its history are brilliant. I found the actual conflict to be less inspired, even though it started out wonderfully.
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr (3*): About a heroine who travels between worlds and arrives at the world of the lonely Larren Dor. A well thought-out and well-structured story with a lot of atmosphere. The story feels like a peaceful intermezzo in a larger epic story (which is intentional). This works well for setting the scenes and background, but it also makes the story lose some urgency and tension. The heroine could also have used a stronger personality.
The Ice Dragon (5*): Gripping story about a peculiar young girl, her family and an ice dragon. It's equal parts classic fantasy and fairy tale. I loved the winter theme ingrained in the story, which despite the small number of pages managed to evoke a warm magical atmosphere.
In the Lost Lands (3*): About a witch-like woman who grants wishes and has to work on fulfilling two seemingly incompatible wishes. I liked the focus on the wish fulfiller rather than the people making the wish. The resolution of the problem came a bit out of the blue for me though.
Meathouse Man (2*): Weird story. The first scene is horror. Then, after a few pages, you realize the story is set in the future (sci-fi). But eventually, the story is simply about a man in search for 'real' love. What felt like a missed opportunity is that neither the horror nor the sci-fi elements had any impact on the story. If you would replace the 'corpses' with robots, you would immediately loose all horror from the story. And any character development was unrelated to the sci-fi setting. What remains then is the love story, which is the weakest part of the story. The main character is so depressed and has so much self-pity that I cannot take the story's message (if there is any) seriously. Martin explains in the introduction that his personal life was not going well and he put everything in this story. It shows, but not for the good.
Remembering Melody (5*): A more traditional story. The main character is visited by Melody, an old friend who is always in trouble and once again needs help. The conversations between the two are vivid and gripping - playfully manipulative from both sides. And since the story is in the 'hybrids and horrors' section of the book, you know the main character is screwed. The question is how. Reading this put a constant grin on my face.
Sandkings (5*): About a cruel man who likes to collect dangerous alien pets. Because of the main character showing no empathy to anything or anyone, I found myself rooting for his pets almost immediately. And that mindset made reading this a true joy. If you would classify this tale as a monster story, the main character is without a doubt the real monster. Furthermore, the story has a remarkably small scale (especially considering George Martin is the author), basically taking place for the most part in and around someone's house. This made it easy to imagine and absorb myself in the story. Also a very addictive read - I was reading this in public transportation, arrived at my stop with some 10 pages left, and then kept reading on the street until it was finished.
Nightflyers (2*): The story starts out well. Interesting mission, nice crew, mysterious captain. Good sci-fi overall. But despite the horror elements, it never really got tense or scary. And the whodunnit part was too predictable (maybe less at the time it was written, but still).
The Monkey Treatment (5*): Probably the funniest story in this book. About an obese guy who wants to lose weight and starts the so-called monkey treatment. The treatment is absurd and terrible, yet funy in a wicked and dark kind of way. Again hard to put down.
The Pear-Shaped Man (4*): The only genuinely creepy story in the book. It is easy to relate to the main character, as we are basically in the same boat: we are pretty sure something is wrong, but have no idea what and no tangible evidence to prove it.
The above ratings probably have an average of about 3.5*. However, Martin's personal commentary in the book definitely brings the rating to a solid 4 stars.
January 18, 2024
Dreamsongs is a collection of Martin’s works from across his career, many of which in Volume 1 are short stories. Mostly good with a few great, it is broken up into sections that are each introduced by him with a bit of reflection as well as commentary.
Part 1 is made up of three early pieces of ‘apprentice work’ as he calls them and they are, unsurprisingly, not very good.
Part 2 was an improvement, with 3/4 of the short stories being enjoyable reads. ‘The Hero’ was predictable but ‘The Exit to San Breta’, ‘The Second Kind of Loneliness’, and ‘With Morning Comes Mistfall’ were all decent.
Part 3 contains 6 sci-fi stories, and they were mostly meh but the two I particularly enjoyed were ‘Bitterblooms’ and ‘The Way of Cross and Dragon’. The second of which I would say was great.
Part 4 is focused on fantasy and I enjoyed all 3 of the stories in this section a lot which probably says more about me than him.
Part 5 is aptly titled ‘Hybrids and Horrors’ and has 6 stories that are difficult to classify but lean mostly towards Horror. 'Sandkings' was the standout here with the others ranging from disturbing to bizarre. I skipped 'Nightflyers' in this section because I want to read the illustrated edition at some point in the future.
It was an interesting experience reading some of his work outside of A Song of Ice and Fire, seeing some of the recurring themes as well as general philosophies. But my biggest take away is his range which is a virtue I don’t think he gets lauded for enough. He can write plain or poetic as the story demands but also across genres, seemingly outside of genre, and mixing genre elements in ways that seem so obvious it makes me wonder why it isn’t done more often.
Part 1 is made up of three early pieces of ‘apprentice work’ as he calls them and they are, unsurprisingly, not very good.
Part 2 was an improvement, with 3/4 of the short stories being enjoyable reads. ‘The Hero’ was predictable but ‘The Exit to San Breta’, ‘The Second Kind of Loneliness’, and ‘With Morning Comes Mistfall’ were all decent.
Part 3 contains 6 sci-fi stories, and they were mostly meh but the two I particularly enjoyed were ‘Bitterblooms’ and ‘The Way of Cross and Dragon’. The second of which I would say was great.
Part 4 is focused on fantasy and I enjoyed all 3 of the stories in this section a lot which probably says more about me than him.
Part 5 is aptly titled ‘Hybrids and Horrors’ and has 6 stories that are difficult to classify but lean mostly towards Horror. 'Sandkings' was the standout here with the others ranging from disturbing to bizarre. I skipped 'Nightflyers' in this section because I want to read the illustrated edition at some point in the future.
It was an interesting experience reading some of his work outside of A Song of Ice and Fire, seeing some of the recurring themes as well as general philosophies. But my biggest take away is his range which is a virtue I don’t think he gets lauded for enough. He can write plain or poetic as the story demands but also across genres, seemingly outside of genre, and mixing genre elements in ways that seem so obvious it makes me wonder why it isn’t done more often.
June 25, 2023
A Song for Lya, The Lonely Songs of Larren Dorr, The Ice Dragon и The Sandkings са ми любими от този том.
Изключително интересни са интерлюдиите преди всеки период, в които Мартин разказва за въпросните разкази в частта - как са написани, защо, как животът му е повлиял на писането и т.н. Напред към том 2.
Изключително интересни са интерлюдиите преди всеки период, в които Мартин разказва за въпросните разкази в частта - как са написани, защо, как животът му е повлиял на писането и т.н. Напред към том 2.
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