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Pern #17.5
Legends II: Shadows, Gods and Demons
Now in paperback--the first of two volumes celebrating the best in modern fantasy in which bestselling writers return to the fantasy universes they made famous.
NEIL GAIMAN gives us a glimpse into what befalls the man called Shadow after the events of his Hugo Award–winning novel American Gods in “The Monarch of the Glen.”
ANNE McCAFFREY shines a light into the most mysterious and wondrous of all places on Pern in the heartwarming “Beyond Between.”
TAD WILLIAMS explores the strange afterlife of Orlando Gardiner, from his Otherland saga, in “The Happiest Dead Boy in the World.”
ROBIN HOBB returns to the Realm of the Elderlings with “Homecoming,” a powerful tale in which exiles sent to colonize the Cursed Shores find themselves sinking into an intoxicating but deadly dream . . . or is it a memory?
ROBERT SILVERBERG spins an enthralling tale of Majipoor’s early history—and remote future—as seen through the eyes of a dilettantish poet who discovers an unexpected destiny in “The Book of Changes.”
RAYMOND E. FEIST turns from the great battles of the Riftwar to the story of one soldier, a young man about to embark on the ride of his life, in “The Messenger.”
NEIL GAIMAN gives us a glimpse into what befalls the man called Shadow after the events of his Hugo Award–winning novel American Gods in “The Monarch of the Glen.”
ANNE McCAFFREY shines a light into the most mysterious and wondrous of all places on Pern in the heartwarming “Beyond Between.”
TAD WILLIAMS explores the strange afterlife of Orlando Gardiner, from his Otherland saga, in “The Happiest Dead Boy in the World.”
ROBIN HOBB returns to the Realm of the Elderlings with “Homecoming,” a powerful tale in which exiles sent to colonize the Cursed Shores find themselves sinking into an intoxicating but deadly dream . . . or is it a memory?
ROBERT SILVERBERG spins an enthralling tale of Majipoor’s early history—and remote future—as seen through the eyes of a dilettantish poet who discovers an unexpected destiny in “The Book of Changes.”
RAYMOND E. FEIST turns from the great battles of the Riftwar to the story of one soldier, a young man about to embark on the ride of his life, in “The Messenger.”
370 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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489 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 13, 2021
Zbirka(e) priča, dve knjige. Druga (Zmaj, Mač i Kralj) mi se više sviđa.
July 20, 2024
Six novellas by some of the masters of fantasy. Not a bad story in here, all of them are great. My only reservation is that they all take place in the worlds developed by the authors in their main works. I happen to have read books in all these worlds so I had a lot of background I could relate to. I'm not giving this five stars as I 'm not sure how these would stand up as total stand alone.
April 6, 2015
This part of the Legends II anthology is definitely superior to the somewhat dissapointing companion volume. Just a very short list of impressions:
Hobb - the first thing I've read of this author, and I will definitely be returning to her work. I very much enjoyed the story.
Silverberg - I'm a sucker for stories about art it seems, and so I liked this one too very much.
Williams - not having read any other Otherworld stories, I found the premise interesting and the story itself quite good.
McCaffrey - slightly dissapointed with this one, as I was expecting actual revelations of mysteries behind Between (or at least more hints), and not a romantic afterlife yarn.
Feist - not a great fan of Feist's saga, but the story was engaging and threw light on a role in old militaries that I didn't know much about.
Gayman - as usual, Gayman weaves a story with great atmosphere and ok content. I know people worship the guy, but he just doesn't do it for me like for most of the others.
Hobb - the first thing I've read of this author, and I will definitely be returning to her work. I very much enjoyed the story.
Silverberg - I'm a sucker for stories about art it seems, and so I liked this one too very much.
Williams - not having read any other Otherworld stories, I found the premise interesting and the story itself quite good.
McCaffrey - slightly dissapointed with this one, as I was expecting actual revelations of mysteries behind Between (or at least more hints), and not a romantic afterlife yarn.
Feist - not a great fan of Feist's saga, but the story was engaging and threw light on a role in old militaries that I didn't know much about.
Gayman - as usual, Gayman weaves a story with great atmosphere and ok content. I know people worship the guy, but he just doesn't do it for me like for most of the others.
January 3, 2008
This is actually 2 books (this site treats them as one). The books are divided by theme. One (purple)is darker with ghosts, paranormal, and other fantasy elements. The second (gold) is a little more traditional fantasy with kings, dragons, magic, and warfare.
Similar to first Legends book, but not all the authors are as well known. I think I enjoyed the purple covered book better personally, but I enjoyed them both.
Similar to first Legends book, but not all the authors are as well known. I think I enjoyed the purple covered book better personally, but I enjoyed them both.
July 24, 2019
Overall I enjoyed this series of stories. I have to admit I preferred its counterpart of "Legends II: Dragon, Sword, and King" a bite more. Both books do a nice job of introducing you to some awesome authors and the worlds they have created. Good fodder for finding additional reading materials in modern fantasy.
Homecoming by Robin Hobb
A wonderful forage into the Realm of the Elderings. Written from the perspective of Lady Carillion Waljin Carrock. Her transformation from the haughty woman to the strong introspective woman she is at the end of the story is simply amazing. You hate her and then you find the compassion for her as she grows as a person. This is the quintessential story of how the land can mold us into something else. I loved the horror of this tale.
The Book of Changes by Robert Silverberg
The tale of hapless cursory poet from Majipoor. Another story of the transformation of a a person. The question becomes what is Furvain truly prisoner too? Where in does his freedom reside? Perhaps my love of reading about wordsmiths biased me to enjoying this story. I found a beauty to this story much like I would in a poem.
The Happiest Dead Boy in the World by Tad Williams
A trip into the Otherworld. This was probably my least favorite of the book. In its defense though, I believe reading the full novels of the world would bring more to the table. The concept is certainly interesting. Entering and being able to live in modules of the internet. Gaining a whole new life within some very classic tales.
Beyond Between by Anne McCaffery
Pern and its dragons. I have to admit I have been remiss in reading her series. Something I intend on correcting soon. A petty item is I hate that a dragon was named Duluth. I live in Duluth and it just doesn't seem like a great dragon name. Especially when you consider how important this dragon was in the world....well the Between. It still was a great story about a mysterious place.
The Messenger by Raymond E. Feist
An interesting tale within the Riftwar. The battle Terrance goes through to complete his mission is engaging and keeps you reading. I particularly enjoyed the ending and his refusal to brag or dramatize what happened...even though he could easily had done so.
The Monarch of the Glen by Neil Gaiman
The main reason I bought this book was to read this story. A total fan of the American Gods series. Gaiman is great at the short story. I plan to read more of his shorter works. There is something that is just simply warmly identifiable with Shadow. He lives by simple rules and always seems to get himself into a mess. This story was no exception.
Homecoming by Robin Hobb
A wonderful forage into the Realm of the Elderings. Written from the perspective of Lady Carillion Waljin Carrock. Her transformation from the haughty woman to the strong introspective woman she is at the end of the story is simply amazing. You hate her and then you find the compassion for her as she grows as a person. This is the quintessential story of how the land can mold us into something else. I loved the horror of this tale.
The Book of Changes by Robert Silverberg
The tale of hapless cursory poet from Majipoor. Another story of the transformation of a a person. The question becomes what is Furvain truly prisoner too? Where in does his freedom reside? Perhaps my love of reading about wordsmiths biased me to enjoying this story. I found a beauty to this story much like I would in a poem.
The Happiest Dead Boy in the World by Tad Williams
A trip into the Otherworld. This was probably my least favorite of the book. In its defense though, I believe reading the full novels of the world would bring more to the table. The concept is certainly interesting. Entering and being able to live in modules of the internet. Gaining a whole new life within some very classic tales.
Beyond Between by Anne McCaffery
Pern and its dragons. I have to admit I have been remiss in reading her series. Something I intend on correcting soon. A petty item is I hate that a dragon was named Duluth. I live in Duluth and it just doesn't seem like a great dragon name. Especially when you consider how important this dragon was in the world....well the Between. It still was a great story about a mysterious place.
The Messenger by Raymond E. Feist
An interesting tale within the Riftwar. The battle Terrance goes through to complete his mission is engaging and keeps you reading. I particularly enjoyed the ending and his refusal to brag or dramatize what happened...even though he could easily had done so.
The Monarch of the Glen by Neil Gaiman
The main reason I bought this book was to read this story. A total fan of the American Gods series. Gaiman is great at the short story. I plan to read more of his shorter works. There is something that is just simply warmly identifiable with Shadow. He lives by simple rules and always seems to get himself into a mess. This story was no exception.
January 27, 2019
I read the first 4 stories, and I may read another later.
Robin Hobb - amazing, as always.
Robert Silverberg - okay, but it didn't leave me inspired to seek out his other works.
Tad Williams - a very intriguing tale. I am now feeling more motivated to get to this series. I've read several other books by him, but not these. My brother bought me these books several years ago, so I will have to pull them off the shelf.
Anne McCaffrey - this was a different, but well-written story. It was nice revisiting this series and getting to read a new-to-me Pern story.
Raymond Feist - I should come back and read this one someday.
Robin Hobb - amazing, as always.
Robert Silverberg - okay, but it didn't leave me inspired to seek out his other works.
Tad Williams - a very intriguing tale. I am now feeling more motivated to get to this series. I've read several other books by him, but not these. My brother bought me these books several years ago, so I will have to pull them off the shelf.
Anne McCaffrey - this was a different, but well-written story. It was nice revisiting this series and getting to read a new-to-me Pern story.
Raymond Feist - I should come back and read this one someday.
Read
April 8, 2021moreta and her borrowed dragon holth become trapped in the 'between' after delivering the last packet of vaccine against the plague. there she encounters marco and his dragon duluth. he helps her figure out how to contact the regular world to get a message to her dragon orlith, and dragon holth's rider leri.
-short story read in the anthology legends II: shadows, gods, and demons. only read this story.
-short story read in the anthology legends II: shadows, gods, and demons. only read this story.
December 10, 2021
My rating: ★★★
ROBIN HOB Kraljevstvstvo predaka ★★★★ 4/5
ROBERT SILVERBERG Knjiga promena ★★ 2/5
TAD VILIJEMS Najsrećniji mrtvi dečak na svetu ★★★✫ 3.5/5
EN MEKAFRI Iza međuprostora ★★★ 3/5
REJMOND E. FAJST Glasnik ★★ 2/5
NIL GEJMEN Vladalac udoline ★★★★ 4/5
ROBIN HOB Kraljevstvstvo predaka ★★★★ 4/5
ROBERT SILVERBERG Knjiga promena ★★ 2/5
TAD VILIJEMS Najsrećniji mrtvi dečak na svetu ★★★✫ 3.5/5
EN MEKAFRI Iza međuprostora ★★★ 3/5
REJMOND E. FAJST Glasnik ★★ 2/5
NIL GEJMEN Vladalac udoline ★★★★ 4/5
January 19, 2023
Not at all useless especially if you love fantasy. Ignore my useless review
April 26, 2025
For a detailed review and chat check out
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC82t...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC82t...
September 1, 2021
Summer 2021-Read only "Beyond Between" of Anne MacCafrey's Pern series. It was an interesting take on taking between to the afterlife for dragons. This is set in Moreta's time and has her as a major player along with... the first dragon rider that disappeared between, from the first books (cannot remember the name). He comes to guide Moreta to beyond but she is stuck as she is not on the correct dragon. She appears to a runner beast master holder as a ghost and tries to get a message to him to pass on.
I never really like Moreta as it has a romance and ending that ends and I really don't do well with non HEA though some are good enough but Moreta wasn't, at least for me. This kind of helped that but still not enough for me to reread it.
I never really like Moreta as it has a romance and ending that ends and I really don't do well with non HEA though some are good enough but Moreta wasn't, at least for me. This kind of helped that but still not enough for me to reread it.
September 7, 2007
Realm of the Elderlings: Homecoming by Robin Hobb
Majipoor: The Book of Changes by Robert Silverberg
Otherland: The Happiest Dead Boy in the World by Tad Williamns
Pern: Beyond Between by Anne McCaffrey
The Riftwar: The Messenger by Raymond E. Feist
American Gods: The Monarch of the Glen by Neil Gaiman
This book's subtitle is New Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy. In fact, all of them are new segments of existing series that these authors have written. If you have read the other stories in these "worlds" these stories would be more enjoyable. Although each of them was a good read, there were many "back story" concepts that were assumed.
My favorite of these is Homecoming. It is told from a woman's point of view. She is part of a privileged, male-dominated society. Her "Robinson Crusoe" approach to settling a new, isolated, area is great. Her ultimate triumph over the domineering husband and the love of a real man is classic.
The World's Happiest Dead Boy is a strange mix of sci-fi and fantasy, with alternative worlds and web-based life.
In all, these were all enjoyable diversions. It's always good to read of heros.
Majipoor: The Book of Changes by Robert Silverberg
Otherland: The Happiest Dead Boy in the World by Tad Williamns
Pern: Beyond Between by Anne McCaffrey
The Riftwar: The Messenger by Raymond E. Feist
American Gods: The Monarch of the Glen by Neil Gaiman
This book's subtitle is New Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy. In fact, all of them are new segments of existing series that these authors have written. If you have read the other stories in these "worlds" these stories would be more enjoyable. Although each of them was a good read, there were many "back story" concepts that were assumed.
My favorite of these is Homecoming. It is told from a woman's point of view. She is part of a privileged, male-dominated society. Her "Robinson Crusoe" approach to settling a new, isolated, area is great. Her ultimate triumph over the domineering husband and the love of a real man is classic.
The World's Happiest Dead Boy is a strange mix of sci-fi and fantasy, with alternative worlds and web-based life.
In all, these were all enjoyable diversions. It's always good to read of heros.
January 11, 2009
I am reading the anthology partly to try new to me fantasy authors.
Finished: Neil Gaiman's The Monarch of the Glen. It's typical Gaiman. Do I want to read American Gods? Maybe.
Robin Hobb's The Homecoming. Really good! a self contained novella, it works, even though I know nothing of the author's world. I will look for more.
Robert Silverberg's Majipoor The Book of Changes. Pretty good, Majipoor seems like an interesting enough place. Unfortunately, this novella reads like a thinly disguised ad for a series.
Tad Williams Otherland, The Happiest Boy in the World. Pretty good, likeable characters, shades of Tron?. Maybe I'll try more.
Anne McCaffrey, Pern Beyond Between. about dragons, but different and pretty good.
Finished: Neil Gaiman's The Monarch of the Glen. It's typical Gaiman. Do I want to read American Gods? Maybe.
Robin Hobb's The Homecoming. Really good! a self contained novella, it works, even though I know nothing of the author's world. I will look for more.
Robert Silverberg's Majipoor The Book of Changes. Pretty good, Majipoor seems like an interesting enough place. Unfortunately, this novella reads like a thinly disguised ad for a series.
Tad Williams Otherland, The Happiest Boy in the World. Pretty good, likeable characters, shades of Tron?. Maybe I'll try more.
Anne McCaffrey, Pern Beyond Between. about dragons, but different and pretty good.
Want to read
March 23, 2011Right now I am only reading the Tad Williams story since I recently finished the Otherland series.
If you have not read the Otherland series, I recommend it. It was wonderful and engaging. There characters seem so lifelike. The short story The Happiest Dead Boy in the World was just average though. It begins three years after the events of Sea of Silver Light and describes things are are happening to the network that one of the characters is in. Though the story gives the reader an interesting aspect of what is happening, it just wasn't that interesting. The turmoil that the main character is going though has nice depth and really makes the reader care about him and what is going on in his life, er...death. 3 out of 5.
If you have not read the Otherland series, I recommend it. It was wonderful and engaging. There characters seem so lifelike. The short story The Happiest Dead Boy in the World was just average though. It begins three years after the events of Sea of Silver Light and describes things are are happening to the network that one of the characters is in. Though the story gives the reader an interesting aspect of what is happening, it just wasn't that interesting. The turmoil that the main character is going though has nice depth and really makes the reader care about him and what is going on in his life, er...death. 3 out of 5.
August 8, 2019
A good collection of short stories/novellas. My favourites were Homecoming and Beyond Between.
Homecoming (Robin Hobb): I really enjoyed this story and the diary entry style of telling. Even though it was written as a diary I still felt like I experienced the world first hand. A great addition to the Realm of the Elderlings - I would recommend reading it after you have read the Liveship Traders trilogy.
Beyond Between (Anne McCaffrey): I really enjoyed this story. I got caught up in the plight of the dragon and rider and feel like I learned a lot about the world of Pern as well. I would definitely like to read more of this series.
Homecoming (Robin Hobb): I really enjoyed this story and the diary entry style of telling. Even though it was written as a diary I still felt like I experienced the world first hand. A great addition to the Realm of the Elderlings - I would recommend reading it after you have read the Liveship Traders trilogy.
Beyond Between (Anne McCaffrey): I really enjoyed this story. I got caught up in the plight of the dragon and rider and feel like I learned a lot about the world of Pern as well. I would definitely like to read more of this series.
July 10, 2011
I read this book for Robin Hobb's short story, and I absolutely adored it. I also very much enjoyed Gaiman's contribution (Monarch of the Glen), but I am not as familiar with other authors in the book and their stories were OK, but without the background of their previous writings, I wasn't as sucked into the stories.
December 17, 2013
I enjoyed the beginning of the first story and the whole of the last story however everything in the middle I didn't find too interesting. I know that they're short stories but really given that they had 50-80 pages for each story, it was surprising just how little happened.
December 22, 2008
Great new stories from great authors in great worlds. I had to save the Neil Gaiman story until after I'd read American Gods.
October 4, 2009
There was only one story that I wanted to read in this book. The story was very good. It is by Anne McCaffrey. It is called "Beyond Between".
November 28, 2009
All the stories were great, I especially liked the ones by Robert Silverberg, and Tad Williams. Again all the stories were well told.
November 26, 2011
Read Homecoming by Robin Hobb
July 5, 2014
Actually more of a 2.5, but since Goodreads refuses to add a half-star option, I thought I would round down this time as I did not enjoy this quite as much as I did the other book I just finished.
September 13, 2015
Dobar izbor autora, priče različitog kvaliteta. Nekim ljudima prosto ne leži kratka forma.
April 25, 2016
Half the stories are 4* plus and half are about 3*. The good stories are very good. It was worth the time spent.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews