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Busy week + training + overtime=forgettable review. Sorry, guys.
These stories/poetry were pretty dark. But then it’s been a while since I read any Gaiman, so maybe I’ve just forgotten how dark he can be. I would really put this on a dark fantasy/horror lite shelf, but that’s fine by me.
As in all short story collections, some of these were winners and some were okay. Some that stood out were
“A Study in Emerald”–A fun take on the classic Sherlock Holmes format.
“October in the Chair”–Memorable more for the framework than the actual story, although that was pretty good too.
“Bitter Grounds”–Pretty creepy
“Other People”–I’m surprised I didn’t have nightmares after reading this one. But that really has more to do with my own buttons than the story.
“The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch”–Just might be my favorite. He stops in just the perfect place and tells just enough. Loved it.
“The Problem of Susan”–Should have come with a warning a la Stephen King and The Dark Tower. He has a point, but I will never look at Aslan the same way again.
“Feeders and Eaters”–I hate to pick on The King again, but I really think this one would have done him proud. Super creepy.
“Goliath”–Absolutely perfect for what it was written for
“The Monarch of the Glen”–I can’t honestly say that I remember all that much about American Gods, except that I liked it. Still, it was fun to check in on Shadow.
One last thing. There are a few poems scattered throughout the book. I did not care for the earlier ones, but as I continued reading, they improved, and I genuinely enjoyed “The Day the Saucers Came” and a few others.
Highly recommended for Gaiman fans.
Read an excerpt.
Find author Neil Gaiman on his website, his blog, Facebook, and Twitter.
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Friday Flashback Reviews are an occasional feature here on The Introverted Reader. These are old reviews I wrote on GoodReads. Thanks to Angieville and her Retro Friday Reviews for the inspiration and encouragement!
I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop’s, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and Better World Books. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site. My opinions are completely my own.
