Amazons! in Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"

Jun 13, 2016 Derek rated it really liked it

Shelves: sword-and-sorcery

An extremely strong collection with much to recommend in it. Salmonson had a laser-like focus on exactly what she wanted, but her attitude bled through at points. Her assertive views about the state of heroic fantasy at the time--testosterone-drenched pastiche--eventually sounded like a chip on her shoulder.

"Wolves of Nakesht" sketches a wide world and backstory without providing details. Why is Chimquar here? Who are her enemies and why do they team up against her? Who are her wards? These ques ...more

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May 07, 2009 Charles rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

A collection of stories about Amazons, mostly by female writers. Andre Norton and C. J. Cherryh are the biggest names here, but my favorite story was "Morrien's Bitch" by Janet Fox. ...more

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May 09, 2014 Bryn Hammond rated it really liked it

Shelves: sword-and-sorcery

This was a good one. Five stories have three or above ticks from me, which indicates great enthusiasm. Even outside of those five, there is Charles R. Saunders, writer of African-themed fantasy, who here gives us the woman Dossouye; and a narrative poem by Emily Bronte, edited from her manuscripts by Joanna Russ.

Amazons 2 didn't match up the quality of selections here. ...more

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Mar 16, 2022 Quentin Wallace rated it liked it

This was okay. I'm not a fan of "high fantasy" as I call it, as I also don't enjoy "hard sci fi." This was what I consider high fantasy with the fairy tale style storytelling and the meticulous writing. I suppose I prefer my writing to be more colloquial.

In any case, this wasn't bad, just came across a little tedious. If you enjoy high fantasy with the obligatory purple prose, you'll probably enjoy this collection. ...more

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Jul 30, 2017 Jeffrey Doten rated it it was ok

Shelves: rereads

I read this when first came out, but I wasn't as enamoured with it this time as I was in 1980. For my money Tanith Lee won, and CJ Cherryh came in second. Salmonson considers the tragic last tale "The woman who loved the moon to be the jewel in the crown." I don't have enough 'cares' to ponder why. To paraphrase Yoda, "so much anger, so much hate..." ...more

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