Rather than reading this whole book, I chose to read just the stories written by authors I already know and like, which was such an enjoyable experience it might have to be my new way of treating anthologies.
This story was: Really fun! It’s about engineer fairies who are secretly using the theme park they work at as a cover story for the fact that it actually really is full of magical creatures. This was much lighter than the other Seanan McGuire stories I’ve read and I loved it, which makes me think I should check out some of her lighter novels.
Ostentation of Peacocks by Delilah S. Dawson aka Lila Bowen
Read because: I read an arc of Kill The Farm Boy and loved it so much.
This story was: Very cool and beautifully written. This magical Old West setting has a lone shapeshifter face down wicked fairies in four competitions to save a life. I’m missing some of the context for this one, but it was wonderful anyway. It absolutely worked to hook me in this world, I want to read Wake of Vultures now!
A Fall Counts Anywhere by Catherynne M. Valente
Read because: I have loved EVERYTHING I’ve ever read by Catherynne M. Valente. Her fairyland books, Six-Gun Snow White, various short stories and poems, and the essays on writing from her patreon. They’re all mesmerizing.
This story was: Just as amazing as everything mentioned above. It has the humor (and capslock) I haven’t seen outside her exclusive writing advice essays in the robot dialogue, and the mesmerizing language and imagery in the fairy dialogue. Not to mention that only Catherynne M. Valente would literally write fairies and robots throwing down in a wrestling ring, AND somehow turn that into a wider view of the alternative history of earth she’s created for this story, AND end it in a beautifully unexpected and fiery way. I love this, I love her, and I love these fairies and robots.
octoberspirit 