Starlight Express -- (5*) Haunting. Visceral, ghostly, and above all, rich in worldbuilding and future speculation. I'm sure it'll stickShort stories:
Starlight Express -- (5*) Haunting. Visceral, ghostly, and above all, rich in worldbuilding and future speculation. I'm sure it'll stick with me for some time.
The Last Days of Old Night -- (4*) A delightful retelling of old fairy tales, but with hardcore fantasy, rather SFish flare that's all Swanwick. Very entertaining.
The Year of the Three Monarchs -- (3*) Very Conan fantasy/allegory about living by, dying by swords.
Ghost Ships -- (4*) A self-proclaimed autobiographical story, down-to-earth and reflective for a ghost story.
The White Leopard -- (5*) Cool VR/Drone, but the connections with others gave it heart. Only then to twist a knife in by the end. Wicked.
Dragon Slayer -- (4*) Timey-Wimey fantasy done right.
The Warm Equations -- (4*) Disaster and friendship. But mostly about friendship.
Requiem for a White Rabbit -- (5*) DARK. So many great facets to this story, and each slams.
Dreadnought -- (5*) This one snuck up on me GOOD and kicked my ass. Loved, loved it. Wildly great characters.
Grandmother Dimetrodon -- (3*) I really wanted to like this more, but for the premise. It may be true, and the setting is interesting and strange, but the whole story just sat wrong to me.
The Star-Bear -- (4*) Reads like a love story to a literary friend. But very Russian, either way. :)
Nirvana Or Bust -- (4*) Change. Death, change, and synthesis. I rather liked this one.
Reservoir Ice -- (5*) Truly excellent time travel story. And extremely messy.
Artificial People -- (5*) People are people. What a damning sentiment.
Huginn And Muninn -- (5*) A proper send off for Alice Sheldon, her imagination, and a what-if about her suicide. Very creative.
Cloud -- (3*) More of a standard story without fantastical elements. Didn't really grab me.
Timothy: An Oral History -- (5*) Truly a fantastic story, stand out on all levels. No men. Just women in the world. :) Enter the only man... :)
Annie Without Crow -- (5*) Gods of Romance and Trickery up to their grand glories. Yet again.
The Universe Box -- (4*) Heist-like god wonkiness messing with them damn mortals again. And it's fun. Very fun.
Overall, I love this collection of short stories by Swanwick. I might even go as far to say that he's one of the best short fiction writers, period. The craft screams on page. I wouldn't miss it for the world, if I were you....more
I was right. Not just one, but two wars are breaking out. And a couple of metaphorical ones, too.
I'm SO glad some of the characters from before are geI was right. Not just one, but two wars are breaking out. And a couple of metaphorical ones, too.
I'm SO glad some of the characters from before are getting into the fight again. As much as I've grown to love all the new ones, it's really satisfying to see it all come together again.
A lot of consequences here. Massive consequences to the real world and especially this world. The Administrator's demise is hardly the worst part. BetA lot of consequences here. Massive consequences to the real world and especially this world. The Administrator's demise is hardly the worst part. Between the game's upcoming stress test and new baddies rising up on the other side and our MC's curse... things couldn't look bleaker.
As it is, this whole novella serves as a massive laid groundwork for a lot to come, no less the heroic return of a fallen hero. ...more
This is basically a straight continuation of the tower-climb, complete with more battles, reversals, and gains. All said, it's more of a middle scene This is basically a straight continuation of the tower-climb, complete with more battles, reversals, and gains. All said, it's more of a middle scene in a grand adventure than a full novel.
Not that it isn't entertaining as all hell, because it is.
This is a solid step-up for the action. For all the missing action in middle books, we get a great correction. It's especially good since we're not ceThis is a solid step-up for the action. For all the missing action in middle books, we get a great correction. It's especially good since we're not certain of the outcome.
Stakes: the whole world and all its people. The twist: the mindset you go out with.
I can't fault this at all. It's very beautiful. :)
New life to the series. It's full-on modern LitRPG now, but with a MUCH more solid foundation of multiple books deepening and enriching what is now toNew life to the series. It's full-on modern LitRPG now, but with a MUCH more solid foundation of multiple books deepening and enriching what is now to be the de facto standard of the genre.
This is a turning point for the series, I believe. Or rather, it takes on a whole new life, aka, ANY of the LitRPG novels that have come out AFTER thiThis is a turning point for the series, I believe. Or rather, it takes on a whole new life, aka, ANY of the LitRPG novels that have come out AFTER this.
Indeed, my interest had been waning for the last couple of novels, but this one makes me feel like it's all brand new again. :)
I can say this 100% every single time now: I cannot get over how much I love this series and how excited I am to get to read it. It's christmas and myI can say this 100% every single time now: I cannot get over how much I love this series and how excited I am to get to read it. It's christmas and my birthday all at the same time, and on top of that, I read it slower because I never want it to end.
For how long the books are, and this one is just as heart-stoppingly long as the others, it's unique in that I never ever ever want it to stop.
So many characters at this point. So many gorgeous stories. So much current history. So much EMOTION.
I was just laughing with my family about just how crazy it is to have a single little scene where an ancient and impossibly powerful dragon is complaining about just how stupid Shrek is while refusing to stop watching it. And require commentary.
I couldn't stop chortling... not because the scene was funny in concept, and it is, but because of ALL the other things that had to happen FIRST for it to hit QUITE this hard.
That's the genius of this work. And I love it. Love, love, love.
And that's just a tiny little sliver. So much happens in just this book and it's world-wide and amazing in scope, with wars, a whole pirate section, medical drama with body-stealing friends, sex drama, and most of all---friendship.
And while all that's happening, we even get Soccer. And a little troublemaking inn-keeper telling the most powerful king in all the world to "stuff his face" on live TV. And he loves it. *shakes head*
I can't recommend this series enough. It's just too good on way too many levels.
Part one of Phantom Bullet. I honestly enjoyed this setup more than the fairy world. Not just the world itself, but the characterizations and developmPart one of Phantom Bullet. I honestly enjoyed this setup more than the fairy world. Not just the world itself, but the characterizations and developments.
Gun trauma meets gun game. Pretty classic, all told, but tastefully done on all counts. Western/cyberpunk tones.
Can't wait to see where it goes. I don't think I saw further in the anime, and now I'm wondering why not. ...more
At this point, it's just about enjoying the world and characters in short stories or novellas. Specifically, early days and late days. I really enjoyeAt this point, it's just about enjoying the world and characters in short stories or novellas. Specifically, early days and late days. I really enjoyed about half of them, and thought the others were fine. A nice combination of cuteness and battles.
I think I do like the fact that these books take on different styles of storytelling as they go. Virtual reality games are now just a part of life, afI think I do like the fact that these books take on different styles of storytelling as they go. Virtual reality games are now just a part of life, after all, and people change... and use them differently.
But this? It's about connections. True connections. Trying to give a little kindness out of a deep-seated need to pass along something good--because that's what she needs for herself.
Out of all the books in this series, this one is the most healing, the most down-to-earth. It's a nice change....more
Maybe not as interesting as the first parts of this story, but it does complete the "save the princess" storyline begun in the previous book. I think Maybe not as interesting as the first parts of this story, but it does complete the "save the princess" storyline begun in the previous book. I think my main problem with it is that he starts off OP instead of truly grounded. I wanted to like it more, but that's the risk with OP stats. Oh, the pitfalls for storytelling.
It feels like the aftermath story, but damn, I prefer it this way. Picking up the pieces, trying to get answers... and some semblance of a life back. It feels like the aftermath story, but damn, I prefer it this way. Picking up the pieces, trying to get answers... and some semblance of a life back. Or bring someone back who is still lost.
I can tell right away that many of the side-stories from the anime were taken from this volume while the main story was taken from the first volume. TI can tell right away that many of the side-stories from the anime were taken from this volume while the main story was taken from the first volume. Together it makes up the whole first season. I have no complaints. They're both good. :)
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