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Roaring Twenties
An invisible speakeasy, flappers and gangsters, hot action, cool jazz — and a whole lot of magic. It's 1927 and trouble is on the horizon, a crisis that has nothing to do with magic. Madame M is looking out for allies, and Pauline is looking out for Madame M. Good thing, too, because there's danger in every corner.
This story originally appeared in the anthology ROGUES, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, from Bantam Books.
This story originally appeared in the anthology ROGUES, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, from Bantam Books.
- GenresFantasyShort Stories
33 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2014
12 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Vaughn
280 books4,523 followersCarrie Vaughn is the author more than twenty novels and over a hundred short stories. She's best known for her New York Times bestselling series of novels about a werewolf named Kitty who hosts a talk radio advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged. In 2018, she won the Philip K. Dick Award for Bannerless, a post-apocalyptic murder mystery. She's published over 20 novels and 100 short stories, two of which have been finalists for the Hugo Award. She's a contributor to the Wild Cards series of shared world superhero books edited by George R. R. Martin and a graduate of the Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop.
An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.
Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com
For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn
An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.
Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com
For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 12, 2018
“THE ROARING TWENTIES” by Carrie Vaughn ****
Opening line: “The good thing about Blue Moon is that it's invisible, so it never gets raided.” (p208)
A tense confrontation in a speakeasy frequented by the magical crowd. Quite a unique story. Keeps you guessing.
“The singer's finished her latest song, a slow sad piece about how he done her wrong, and she keeps coming back, like the girls always seem to do in these songs.” (p217-8)
“Lack of subtlety, that’s how you beat magic.” (p218)
“We keep moving because it makes us a harder target to hit.” (p219)
“I lose a hand, win a hand, and the players chalk it up to luck because it's easier than admitting a woman can actually play.” (p222)
“One of the heavies slams up against the bar, and I crack the bottle over his head because it's a classic move and I can't resist. The bottle breaks, pieces of glass rain down like bells, and the lunk of a guy slides to the floor, unconscious. Very satisfying.” (p225)
- - -
Opening line: “The good thing about Blue Moon is that it's invisible, so it never gets raided.” (p208)
A tense confrontation in a speakeasy frequented by the magical crowd. Quite a unique story. Keeps you guessing.
“The singer's finished her latest song, a slow sad piece about how he done her wrong, and she keeps coming back, like the girls always seem to do in these songs.” (p217-8)
“Lack of subtlety, that’s how you beat magic.” (p218)
“We keep moving because it makes us a harder target to hit.” (p219)
“I lose a hand, win a hand, and the players chalk it up to luck because it's easier than admitting a woman can actually play.” (p222)
“One of the heavies slams up against the bar, and I crack the bottle over his head because it's a classic move and I can't resist. The bottle breaks, pieces of glass rain down like bells, and the lunk of a guy slides to the floor, unconscious. Very satisfying.” (p225)
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December 24, 2020
Stumbling upon this story so soon after I finish with the Dresden Files is serendipity at its finest. This is like Dresden Files, but better.
It's an urban fantasy set during the Prohibition Era, starring a witch and her right hand woman. It hints at the potentially expansive supernatural world-building that I loved in Dresden's Chicago. The story takes place in the Blue Moon, a speak-easy made invisible by a veil, its hidden door guarded by a werewolf (I think) bounced. But somehow, a Prohibition agent gets in with the aim of raiding the place, either by strong-arming a low-level fortuneteller or worse, by stumbling across an old spellbook and working it out on his own--like handing someone a loaded gun and having them figure how to use it by trial and error (or as the narrator puts it, "a crusader with a stick of dynamite and no idea what to do with it"). So he's got a trick or two, but unfortunately for him, the lioness's lair is dangerous, though the lioness be not there. For the gangsters and gamblers "are the least of it. There are people here who'll drink your blood dry if you let them, others who'll tear out your throat, and a few who'll buy your soul, even knowing how little some souls around here are worth." And oh yeah, the bartender is a zombie, "so a shot of Whitney's a shot of whiskey, nothing skimmed off the top and nothing extra for the band." And oh, the band; I love that the singer is a siren , how clever is that. This story, short as it is, is chock full of fun little details like that.
Even though it's a standalone story and not a prelude to more, I still highly recommend it. It's not available for free online, but it can be found in Gardner Dozois and George R.R. Martin's Rogues anthology. It's also available as a standalone via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.
It's an urban fantasy set during the Prohibition Era, starring a witch and her right hand woman. It hints at the potentially expansive supernatural world-building that I loved in Dresden's Chicago. The story takes place in the Blue Moon, a speak-easy made invisible by a veil, its hidden door guarded by a werewolf (I think) bounced. But somehow, a Prohibition agent gets in with the aim of raiding the place, either by strong-arming a low-level fortuneteller or worse, by stumbling across an old spellbook and working it out on his own--like handing someone a loaded gun and having them figure how to use it by trial and error (or as the narrator puts it, "a crusader with a stick of dynamite and no idea what to do with it"). So he's got a trick or two, but unfortunately for him, the lioness's lair is dangerous, though the lioness be not there. For the gangsters and gamblers "are the least of it. There are people here who'll drink your blood dry if you let them, others who'll tear out your throat, and a few who'll buy your soul, even knowing how little some souls around here are worth." And oh yeah, the bartender is a zombie, "so a shot of Whitney's a shot of whiskey, nothing skimmed off the top and nothing extra for the band." And oh, the band; I love that the singer is a siren , how clever is that. This story, short as it is, is chock full of fun little details like that.
Even though it's a standalone story and not a prelude to more, I still highly recommend it. It's not available for free online, but it can be found in Gardner Dozois and George R.R. Martin's Rogues anthology. It's also available as a standalone via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.
December 12, 2018
This is just a story (novelette), that I enjoyed reading before. (It's only a dollar in the Kindle store). I just got a hankering to read it again.
It has a couple of magic ladies, a prohibition speakeasy, the sister of one of the ladies, and feds.
I guess the only other thing that is useful for you to know is that it is not a comedy, horror, nor dark.
It has a couple of magic ladies, a prohibition speakeasy, the sister of one of the ladies, and feds.
I guess the only other thing that is useful for you to know is that it is not a comedy, horror, nor dark.
June 19, 2023
Eu gostei que é um conto centrado em mulheres, e adoro a ambientação. Mas como o tema da antologia é "rogues", senti que poderia ter estabelecido qual era a delas um pouco mais cedo. a cena do Poker, por exemplo, foi fantástica. Se tivesse acontecido mais cedo eu sinto que as personagens teriam me conquistado mais e eu ficaria mais ansiosa para ver o que estava acontecendo. A escrita em si é OK, não é complexa, mas também não é aquela coisa que você diga "ó que delícia".
November 6, 2018
Wonderful escape
Again Ms. Vaughan provides us with a fantastic story, taking you from reality for a few hours and enjoy a good read.
Again Ms. Vaughan provides us with a fantastic story, taking you from reality for a few hours and enjoy a good read.
December 20, 2018
A book among several short stories that I read in an anthology.
I cannot remember much about it and it would do well to reread it at some point.
I cannot remember much about it and it would do well to reread it at some point.
July 7, 2019
A short story about an illegal speakeasy in the "Roaring Twenties", with just a touch of magic. M and Pauline are there for a meeting with the owner when a shady character walks in
January 6, 2020
Didn't enjoy this short story. Didn't find it very exciting and the characters did not capture my attention.
A short story about two females in an invisible night club.
A short story about two females in an invisible night club.
July 9, 2020
What an unexpected and exciting story.
An unexpected and exciting peak into the history of the Blue Moon. Quite fun! Carrie is one of my favorite storytellers.
An unexpected and exciting peak into the history of the Blue Moon. Quite fun! Carrie is one of my favorite storytellers.
April 28, 2021
Excellent!
November 3, 2022
fun little world, but didn't keep my attention and felt a bit anticlimactic. It was okay, though.
Read
March 14, 2019Two women enter a speakeasy. Some things happen, including mythical creatures and the maddening of a Fed for the raid on the place. Warnings given, but not taken. (Presumably this was before the Stock Market Crash, so that could be the warning.)
March 8, 2020
Roaring Twenties
By Carrie Vaughn
Two sisters have separate rolls to play in an age of speakeasy and jazz. With the twist of magic, monsters, and Tommy guns.
Carrie Vaughn adds to the supernatural stories in her collection taking the reader to a time not explored before.. she has a great way of immersing the reader in he stories that you accept all the various myths and realities. A great short jaunt.
By Carrie Vaughn
Two sisters have separate rolls to play in an age of speakeasy and jazz. With the twist of magic, monsters, and Tommy guns.
Carrie Vaughn adds to the supernatural stories in her collection taking the reader to a time not explored before.. she has a great way of immersing the reader in he stories that you accept all the various myths and realities. A great short jaunt.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews