Neil Gaiman is a master of the short story and of fantasy, yet unfortunately Norse Mythology is not among his best.
Vikings may be having a cultural mNeil Gaiman is a master of the short story and of fantasy, yet unfortunately Norse Mythology is not among his best.
Vikings may be having a cultural moment. This is a good primer on the tales of Odin and Thor and Loki etc. Written informally in the common vernacular, with a mix of Gaiman's own original take making for an authentic feel of reading the traditional mythology. It just still seems a bit too academic for me, it's not enough like modern fiction writing, and it doesn't always work.
Several of the short stories do stand out. And it is a good time to revisit these pagan gods. Note that this is nothing like Marvel's Thor movies, and far more similar in vein to Gaiman's Sandman graphic novel series that occasionally featured the Aesir...
It's short and doesn't take too much commitment, so a decent read for fantasy lovers and Gaiman fans in particular. Enjoy, but don't expect it to be among his best. ...more
Brilliant short story collection by Ted Chiang, who writes rarely but masters the form whenever he does.
Being familiar with the film Arrival, I enjoyBrilliant short story collection by Ted Chiang, who writes rarely but masters the form whenever he does.
Being familiar with the film Arrival, I enjoyed Story of Your Life about nonlinear linguistics and it's always fun to compare with source material. A pleasant surprise, however, was how many of these are kind of religious magical realism of the fantasy genre.
There are multiple stories that take Biblical concepts, from the tower of Babylon to golems and the chaotic amorality of angels, and take these ideas seriously to see how it would work in a real-world society. It's fascinating from my atheistic perspective, and I wonder what an actual believer would think.
My favorite is probably Understand, about super-intelligence. It's an impressive feat to write with so much detail about a mind that would basically be incomprehensible to us mere mortals.
I look forward to next reading his collection Exhalation....more
Letters From a Dead Mentor is a kind of non-genre novella, seems very autobiographical but also contains several short stories in a similar vein. WritLetters From a Dead Mentor is a kind of non-genre novella, seems very autobiographical but also contains several short stories in a similar vein. Written in the medium of letters, it is a direct take on the author's observations about life as a foreigner in China and about the hearts of the men who end up there. Some leave, some work in Japan for a while, all while reflecting on memory and also imagining what might've been...
It's not exactly a story structure per se, but a way to simply saying what this letter writer thinks without much pretense.
The other short stories are vignettes about this specific feel. Subjects include trains, talking to girls, and of course that common job westerners get in Asia. The themes herein are not universal, they are about certain places in China at a certain time from a certain point of view. In this the book is successful and expresses that atmosphere well....more
The Naked Wedding is a slim short story collection from a (formerly) China-based author. With sophisticated literary ambitions, it does tend to have sThe Naked Wedding is a slim short story collection from a (formerly) China-based author. With sophisticated literary ambitions, it does tend to have some self-centered stories. There is the writing about writing, the metafiction. From the first story: 27 Club about of course a struggling aspiring writer who wants to be worthy to die famous at 27, to the final clever story featuring the author as a character from the point-of-view as a phone which is aptly named Disposable.
“Your lyrics have poetry, but Dao Ge’s poetry has life. And life is not poetry, not if you really live it.” This refers to the poet who died at China’s infamous Foxconn factory, a theme which makes for an interesting intro and outro.
There are other stories from the Chinese perspective, about the city of Dongguan and racism and basketball. Another is told in an email format. Satires of business life. Tragedies about infidelity and the women left behind. And a disturbing tale of abused, broken people who try and fail to escape. Suicide comes up time and again.
The titular story, “Naked Wedding”, is a term that refers to a poor marriage without owning a home. The divide between sophisticated city life and the rural hometown villages is a contentious part of modern China life for millions, and very much worth writing and reading about.
The author has talent, but readers are left wanting more (always a risk with the short story medium). One hopes that McGeary will write something lengthier, incorporating all the elements briefly touched on in these stories, and satisfy with a complete novel one day…
A haunting short story told like a fable. The metaphor of toxic family members may resonate with some readers, and the literal fog of depression can bA haunting short story told like a fable. The metaphor of toxic family members may resonate with some readers, and the literal fog of depression can be negative and cruel indeed. This tale reads quickly with expert prose. Recommended for aficionados of literary horror and classic fantasy. ...more
Personally, I’ve always enjoyed the short story medium best when the stories are relatively economical and to thLiterary shorts for fans of the medium
Personally, I’ve always enjoyed the short story medium best when the stories are relatively economical and to the point. The prose should pack a punch and showcase the author’s talents with one the exact level of detail and brevity necessary.
And when it comes to short story anthologies by one specific author, I prefer a diversity of premises while still maintaining one singular style. It is an opportunity to see what a writer can do from many angles, and that’s the fun of reading such a book.
Jigs & Tales of Bawdry by Mark Will is therefore a success by my measure. While these Bukowski-esque shorts may offend a few readers, I think most will recognize the originality and unique perspective of these tales.
There’s the one about the wrong number and awkward phone sex. Then some explorations kinky fetishes of classical philosophers, ape-men on LSD, kids torturing lizards, and youthful baseball memories from an intellectual who hates sports.
Common themes include degenerate scholars with loser jobs and advanced degrees, and the occasional window into the lives of sex workers. There’s also the anti-religious sentiment written with much expertise and knowledge of the subjects.
Often these short stories have a “where are they now” epilogue as the narrator reflects on the past’s promises his circle once had, contrasting with the banal mundane of the present. It’s melancholic, but simultaneously kind of funny in a somewhat dark way.
There is a sense of autobiography in the different stories, about the kind of person who didn’t fit in the America of the previous century and had to escape. Something people from many different backgrounds can probably relate to, regardless of the specific demographics of one’s circumstance.
Readers interested discovering new voices and who enjoy quick, literary short stories can’t go wrong by checking out Jigs & Tales of Bawdry....more
Readers who've ever spent any time in China will get it
Rhinos by Kevin McGeary is a short story that offers a quick taste of modern China. It feels unReaders who've ever spent any time in China will get it
Rhinos by Kevin McGeary is a short story that offers a quick taste of modern China. It feels unfinished, but with what's there one can certainly get a sense of the landscape. Hopefully, there will more.
It starts off introducing a middle-aged Westerner named Lari who is tamed by his Chinese wife. Of course, she hopes to start a family while he's always off karaoking late into the night. Then it gets into MIng over at their real estate business where the focus is on a lame competition. At last, the satire is complete as the company head gives an extremely uninspiring speech about how it's better to be a rhino than a cow and something about "people buy people buy people."
Nice treatise on Chinese work culture, with very truthful criticisms therein. Readers who’ve ever spent any time in China will get it....more
Pretty fun audio comedy if one is into that sort of thing.
It's a treat to hear Offerman and so many other great comedians tell these cynical fairy taPretty fun audio comedy if one is into that sort of thing.
It's a treat to hear Offerman and so many other great comedians tell these cynical fairy tales. They are all talented and good actors so the narration and presentation is very well-done. As for the content, all X-ratedly offensive takes on various fairy tales and poems. Mostly too short to be groundbreaking in any way, just quality laughs without trying too hard to make any kind of brilliant statement.
Bedtime Stories for Cynics is short, entertaining, and worth listening to if you're a fan of anyone in the cast.
All that said... this collection is pretty good, but not great. ...more
Horror Bites’ latest issue at number nine contains a variety of cleverly-written short stories that aficionados of this genre will enjoy.
Many of them Horror Bites’ latest issue at number nine contains a variety of cleverly-written short stories that aficionados of this genre will enjoy.
Many of them deal with the running theme of childhood. The first, Playland by T. Thomas Gray is about the unknown terrors beneath a fast food restaurant’s ball pit. In Only Cold, by W.C. Jones, a tornado warning is the premise behind a legitimately scary time that some of us really do relate to experiencing as a kid. Cairn Shore showcases a sort of pre-Disney fairy tale back before these “children” stories weren’t so family friendly.
The dead wait below. by Travis Lee stands out as it is very much adult, about voyeurism on a navy ship as a sailor goes mad from frustrated sexuality. However, like Ezekial Kincaid's short story about pizza as demonic metaphor, there is still a consistent theme which includes the childhood ones: that of the absurd. Sometimes, the absolutely absurd and ridiculous makes for a haunting telling indeed.
I really enjoyed this short story collection of some of PK Dick's finest and weirdest or short stories. Of course, as we all know, he was a genius andI really enjoyed this short story collection of some of PK Dick's finest and weirdest or short stories. Of course, as we all know, he was a genius and predicted the anxiety and reality confusion of the modern world like no one else! Etc. etc., you've heard it all before.
What is unique about this anthology is that it ties into the Amazon television series. Now, it is true that this series has it's highlights but it's frankly not as good as Black Mirror. But it's still solid science fiction, which should always be embraced, and it's most interesting to watch the adaptation with all their choices in rewrites, and then go to the original source material to read what else could be.
At the same time, PK Dick's prose was sloppy here and there but that's not the point. The powerful ideas are incredible enough that these stories are worth the legendary hype of this important author.
I particularly got a lot out of Human Is, a love story about how the alien that possesses a woman's husband is actually the good guy, and Sales Pitch which with its obsessive salesrobot is probably one of the most biting satire of consumerism you'll ever read.
I imagine these stories will resonate for decades, if not centuries, to come. Nothing as timeless as the great Philip K. Dick!...more
This anthology features a broad spectrum of short stories about Taiwan, usually focusing on the expat angle but with a myriad of different genres whicThis anthology features a broad spectrum of short stories about Taiwan, usually focusing on the expat angle but with a myriad of different genres which keeps the entire book fresh. Some are of the more familiar variety, expat teacher boy meets girl etc, while others can very creatively infuse ideas ranging from high fantasy dragon-talkers to post-apocalyptic of the science fictional type. The strongest stories are those told with much expertise, from the point of view of locals (such as, for example, a heartfelt description of being gay in the conscriptioned-military). With eight to choose from, even if a story about a baseball player doesn't suit then one can find a Chinese ghost tale to enjoy. Definitely worth giving the whole book a chance for Asia/China readers!...more
Loading...
