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A Stark And Wormy Knight (2012)

by Tad Williams(Favorite Author)

3.57 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1596064617 (ISBN13: 9781596064614)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Subterranean

review 1: Not a bad book, but I didn’t love it as much as I expected, either. I think Tad Williams might be one of those writers that (for me) does epic tales a bit better than short stories. Still, some of these were very, very good, although others weren’t for me. There’s an introduction by the author, but no introductions or notes on the stories – reading the cover flap is helpful, for some of them – that’s the only place you’re going to find out what’s going on for a couple of them!Contents:‘And Ministers of Grace’ – Really well done. From the point of view of a future religious terrorist/assassin who sees the ubiquitous advertising of the future as evidence of our sinful ways. As Williams notes, it could work well as the opener to an epic story. I especial... morely like that the Christians and Muslims are working together against the science/technology-based society – makes sense. ‘A Stark and Wormy Knight’ – A humorous dragon story, full of playful language.‘The Stranger’s Hands’ – A re-read – this also appeared in the ‘Wizards’ anthology, edited by Jack Dann. Probably my favorite story in this book. A village takes in two wanderers - a man who seems to have lost his wits in an injury, and his caretaker. Soon, it is discovered that some who touch the disabled man's hands have their heart's desire magically granted. Soon, the needy flock to the town in hopes of having their wishes granted. But with greater exposure comes the revelation that the village's miracle man is (or was) actually one of the most powerful, dangerous, and evil wizards around. Is there some trick here? A well-crafted and thought-provoking tale.‘Bad Guy Factory’ – This is an outline for a comic book featuring a number of costumed superheroes. The cover notes say it was a proposal for DC. I would much rather read a comic book than a text outline for a comic book; and superheroes just aren’t my thing.‘The Thursday Men’ – This is a ‘Hellboy’ story. (In text format, not comic-outline). I suspect I might have enjoyed it a little more if I were more familiar with the back story. A rather noir-ish tale of saving the world from an incursion from other dimensions.‘The Tenth Muse’ - A battles-in-space story. A low-ranking crewmember relates the story of how a condescending and annoying passenger stepped up to the plate and saved his ship (and, possibly, a whole lot more) from a mysterious alien ship that unexpectedly popped out of a wormhole, guns blazing. Some nice twists.‘The Lamentably Comical Tragedy (Or the Laughably Tragic Comedy) of Lixal Laqavee’ – If you are attracted by that title, you will probably like this story. According to the cover notes, it’s an homage to Vance’s Dying Earth novels –which I’ve never been a fan of, despite trying. A travelling mountebank buys/extorts some spells from a real wizard. Unfortunately, one of them rebounds with unexpected effects, and he finds himself bound to a dangerous, man-eating monster. How to extract himself from this unenviable situation?‘The Terrible Conflagration at the Quillers Mint (from the diaries of Finn Teodoros)’ – As the title suggests, a man relates the story of a terrible fire that burned down an inn. He doesn’t really know who (or if anyone) set the fire, although he has suspicions. It’s set in the ‘Shadowmarch’ world, but I have to admit it’s been long enough since I read those that I’m missing the connections. (I suspect there are some important clues here to unexplained events in that story.)‘Black Sunshine’ – This is a screenplay for what would be a really-not-very-good (and rather short) B-movie based on our social paranoia about drugs. ‘Ants’ – A horror story about a man who kills his wife and tries to cover up the crime. In a house infested by ants. Well done, if fairly standard.
review 2: It always surprises me looking back that I only ever remember reading the epics of Tad Williams and not his shorter works. And that is a crime as here is a collection of his short stories and there are some truly brilliant pieces. There is a great selection with introductions and explanation - ok you don't have to read them but it does help colour them and for me helps me understand the mind from which them came. And personally I feel it suggest there are still plenty more brilliant stories to come. less

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