Canavan’s
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(group member since May 15, 2018)
Canavan’s
comments
from the Spells, Space & Screams: Collections & Anthologies in Fantasy, Science Fiction, & Horror group.
Showing 681-700 of 1,078
“Bread and Bombs”, M. Rickert (2003)This story, inspired by the aftermath of 9/11, deals in part with the effects of fear and prejudice in a rather ill-defined post-apocalyptic setting. I liked certain aspects of the story-telling, but I found the ending to be a bit of head scratcher.
✭✭½
“Salvage”, Orson Scott Card (1986)Boy, I just don’t know what to think about this one. On the plus side, I think Card is a fairly decent writer often capable of crafting believable characters placed in sometimes interesting situations. I find that evident in this story; I find myself caring about what happens to these individuals. My problem is that at the end of the day I don’t think I understand the point Card is trying to make here. (view spoiler)
✭✭½
“The End of the Whole Mess”, Stephen King (1986)I didn’t find this to be a particularly promising start to the collection, but then again I’m probably biased. I’m really not one of those King haters. I actually enjoy a lot of his work. But as a general rule I think he should steer clear of science fiction. As supporting evidence I’d cite stories such as “Beachworld” and novels like The Tommyknockers . King’s scifi almost always comes off as a bit klunky and old-fashioned, seemingly rooted in cheesy B movies from the 50s directed by the likes of Roger Corman and William Castle. (view spoiler)
✭✭
I typically don’t bother mentioning the foreword when posting on these group reads, but a few points about the one by John Joseph Adams, the editor of
Wastelands
, bugged me a bit, so here goes...First, in his recounting of the history of apocalyptic literature, Adams reflects on its resurgence in this new century and speculates that this might be due to a political environment that more and more resembles the one during the Cold War era (i.e., when the form first rose to prominence). Maybe. But I think Adams misses a far more obvious source of global anxiety. Even a decade ago (when this collection hit the shelves), the growing scientific consensus was increasingly clear about the potentially catastrophic near- and longer-term effects of climate change for the human species and for the planet as a whole.
If you haven’t read the Adams introduction, I’m going to recommend that you do not read what follows. It discusses a portion of the intro in which Adams hugely spoils a certain story by John Varley (which is not in this anthology).
(view spoiler)
D said (in part):“The brotherhood of mutilation”
This was excellent.
For those who liked “The Brotherhood of Mutilation”, I would recommend Evenson’s 2009 novel, Last Days , which expands upon the story in the original novella.
Thanks for posting the thread, Lena.2019 was a fairly unproductive year for me. This was particularly true in the case of novels and book-length nonfiction, so I’m going to dispense with those categories and just list the best (i.e., 5-star) short works that I read (or re-read) during the year.
“The Lost Room”, Fitz-James O’Brien (1858), in: Masterpieces of Terror and the Unknown , Marvin Kaye (Ed.) (1994) (horror)
“The Veldt”, Ray Bradbury (1950), in: The Illustrated Man , Ray Bradbury (1951/2011 rev.) (science fiction)
“Canavan’s Back Yard”, Joseph Payne Brennan (1958), in: Nine Horrors and a Dream , Joseph Payne Brennan (1958) (horror)
“Fire in the Hole”, Elmore Leonard (2001), in: Fire in the Hole and Other Stories , Elmore Leonard (2004) (adventure-police procedural)
“State Change”, Ken Liu (2004), in: The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories , Ken Liu (2016) (fantasy)
“Je weet hoe dit verhaal gaat” (“You Know How the Story Goes”), Thomas Olde Heuvelt (2017/2018 trans.), in: The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Eleven , Ellen Datlow (Ed.) (2019) (horror)
I was wondering if anyone has yet had the chance to look at the Netflix/BBC One television series, Dracula, developed by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat. Any spoiler-free opinions? I’ve watched the first (of three) episodes and found things to both like and dislike.
D said (in part):“Don’t look now”
This wasn’t my favorite Daphne du Maurier story the first time I read it and I have to say that it has not fared well from rereading
What follows is adapted from an older post I wrote on this story.
There is a fair bit of deft misdirection taking place here. Unfortunately, having previously seen the Nicholas Roeg film, my enjoyment of the story’s clever and shocking conclusion was sort of blunted. I have some minor quibbles with the author’s style, but on the other hand I found my nodding in appreciation at the way her prose supports the story’s ending; at various points she seems to emphasize the deceptive nature of appearances and, more specifically, the darkness that ultimately underlays the cheerful exterior of Venice.
✭✭✭✭½
Corinne said (in part):I need to stop getting distracted by new and shiny :D
This is an excellent resolution. I know I have an absolutely terrible habit of leaving unfinished single-author collections and anthologies, always telling myself I will go back and finish them at a later time, only to be perpetually distracted by newer books. I’m not nearly as organized as Corinne and so haven’t made a list, but I have vowed to myself to complete at least 25 of these yet-to-be-finished books by year’s end. I’ve already finished two! 😁
Ronald said:There are some inspired editorial decisions for this book, but others...
Also some stories I don't think are the best work of the author. For example "The White Hands" by Mark Samuels is a ok story in my opinion--though I know at least one goodreads friend who has a higher opinion of it than mine--but I think most of Samuels' other stuff is better.
I also would have liked stories by Reggie Oliver, and Simon Strantzas in the book.
I enjoy Strantzas’s work, but I suspect not quite as much as you, Ronald. I agree about the omission of Oliver — I might argue that a story from one of his later collections might be a better thematic fit; perhaps “Flowers of the Sea”. I have by no means read all of Mark Samuels’ work, but I find the quality on the whole a bit uneven; and of the stories I’ve read, I quite like “The White Hands”.
Ronald said:I don't consider James Tiptree, Jr (pen name of Alice Sheldon) a weird fictionist. And arguably her worst short story was chosen for this book.
It’s been so long since I’ve read “Psychologist” that I don’t feel qualified to say all that much substantive about it. I remember it as an uncomfortable read, but I thought more highly of it than either you or Lena. I agree that Tiptree’s best, most thought-provoking stuff is rooted more in an SF tradition, e.g., “Houston, Houston, Do You Read?”
Lena wrote (in part):Sandkings is next, I hope it has something to do with Beau Bridges episode of The Outer Limits.
The premier episode of the 1995-2002 version of The Outer Limits was indeed based on the George R. R. Martin classic. You’ll shortly be able to judge for yourself, but I found the story vastly superior.
You’re nearly to the finish line, Ronald! Congrats (very slightly) in advance on your accomplishment. I just wanted to let you know that I appreciated the effort and found your comments informative.
Lena said (in part):I would love company.
Depending on what else I have going, I’d certainly be interested in the Kiernan read. I’ve read a handful of stories in Houses Under the Sea and recall them as being pretty good.
Ronald wrote (in part):Window
Bob Leman
A well crafted story, written with flair. The story hooked me from the beginning.
It’s a shame that Leman wrote so little. What he left us with tended to be quite good. Around 20 years ago John Pelan operated a small publishing house called Midnight House that focused on an eclectic mix of horror and science fiction writers. The best of the Midnight House collections was probably Feesters in the Lake & Other Stories , that brought together most, if not all, of Leman’s short stories. If you ever manage to find an affordable copy, snap it up.
