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New World of Darkness
The God-Machine Chronicle Anthology
In 2004, the World of Darkness Rulebook introduced a concept that intrigued, tantalized and inspired readers and players, and left them with the question: What is the God-Machine?
You hold in your hands the book that might answer that question... or might simply complicate it.
The God-Machine Chronicle Anthology contains new fiction by Justin Achilli, Eddy Webb, Stew Wilson, David A Hill Jr, and many others, as well as previously published stories by Chuck Wendig, Ray Fawkes, Rick Chillot and Matthew McFarland. All of these tales feature encounters with the God-Machine, and serve to pave the way for the God-Machine Chronicle itself.
What rises may fall. What has fallen may rise again.
You hold in your hands the book that might answer that question... or might simply complicate it.
The God-Machine Chronicle Anthology contains new fiction by Justin Achilli, Eddy Webb, Stew Wilson, David A Hill Jr, and many others, as well as previously published stories by Chuck Wendig, Ray Fawkes, Rick Chillot and Matthew McFarland. All of these tales feature encounters with the God-Machine, and serve to pave the way for the God-Machine Chronicle itself.
What rises may fall. What has fallen may rise again.
154 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 23, 2015
Releído con más calma y sigo opinando lo mismo: algunos relatos están bastante bien y reflejan el rollo God-Machine como más me gusta (Prodigal, Road Gospel, The Upstairs Tenant, Diamonds) y otros no hay por dónde cogerlos. Hay unos pocos que acaban y no tienes ni idea de lo que ha pasado pero todavía tienes que pensar UUUUUUUH han pasado cosas CHUNGAS. Flojito flojito.
January 4, 2018
A good collection of horror stories, some better than others. Definitely worth the price.
March 11, 2014
To begin with: I love the God-Machine setting and the main Chronicle book has continued to inspire me. The God-Machine Chronicle Anthology didn't inspire me as much as I'd hoped, but I did like most of the book. There's a good assortment of stories and it's nice to have the previously published fiction gathered in one place to view as a whole. The layout is attractive enough, and consistent.
Some highlights: Road Gospel and Residents brought Damnation City to mind in a good way, giving specific examples of how statistics actually play out in a place. Stories Uncle Don Told Me reminded me of Stephen King pleasantly, with the kind of entertaining sit-down-and-listen-to-character that can be difficult to pull off. Along with M.R.E., it brought the figure of the veteran into horror (and with respect), something that I appreciate.
A couple of issues: A few stories, such as Prodigal and Quality of Life, took prototypical movie-style situations and didn't really do anything new with them. They weren't necessarily bad; they were just too pat and could have been less obvious. Their characters also felt less real all around, so it was harder to invest in them.
One thing that really bothered me was the number of grammatical and typographical errors that were present and scattered throughout the book. It isn't a very long anthology, so the sheer number of errors stands out and should be taken into account in future fiction releases. The covers also have the annoying habit of curling upward and wanting to stay that way, so keep the book pressed between others in your bookshelf.
Some highlights: Road Gospel and Residents brought Damnation City to mind in a good way, giving specific examples of how statistics actually play out in a place. Stories Uncle Don Told Me reminded me of Stephen King pleasantly, with the kind of entertaining sit-down-and-listen-to-character that can be difficult to pull off. Along with M.R.E., it brought the figure of the veteran into horror (and with respect), something that I appreciate.
A couple of issues: A few stories, such as Prodigal and Quality of Life, took prototypical movie-style situations and didn't really do anything new with them. They weren't necessarily bad; they were just too pat and could have been less obvious. Their characters also felt less real all around, so it was harder to invest in them.
One thing that really bothered me was the number of grammatical and typographical errors that were present and scattered throughout the book. It isn't a very long anthology, so the sheer number of errors stands out and should be taken into account in future fiction releases. The covers also have the annoying habit of curling upward and wanting to stay that way, so keep the book pressed between others in your bookshelf.
June 2, 2014
This is a collection of short stories with the common theme of the God-Machine, an elusive entity (?) from the (new) World of Darkness game setting. What is the God-Machine? That's a question I don't know the answer to even after reading the book. The damn thing is not only elusive but wrapped around layers of mystery, plus this is only the appetizer for the actual game book World of Darkness The God Machine Chronicle, which I have yet to read.
But did I give it two stars because I didn't understand what was going on? That could be, although honestly I just thought most of the stories were not that good. There were only 3 or 4 which I can say I really liked, in a total of 20. The rest were either boring, didn't make sense or appeared to be just silly. I'm hoping the game book will make them work better, the only problem is that now I'm not that eager to start reading it...
But did I give it two stars because I didn't understand what was going on? That could be, although honestly I just thought most of the stories were not that good. There were only 3 or 4 which I can say I really liked, in a total of 20. The rest were either boring, didn't make sense or appeared to be just silly. I'm hoping the game book will make them work better, the only problem is that now I'm not that eager to start reading it...
December 29, 2012
A couple of stories were sublime ("Voice of the Angel," "Stories Uncle Don Told Me," "Concession," "Diamonds"), but most of them were alright, and a couple were simply awful. All in all, an adequate anthology of metaphysical horror stories organized around the theme of The God-Machine.
March 25, 2013
The stories are ok, in a very "twilight zone" sense.
I enjoyed a number of them, while others are merely ok. The problem is there is little connecting them, and I've never been a huge fan of short story anthologies.
But if you like short stories, and horror, you will love these.
I enjoyed a number of them, while others are merely ok. The problem is there is little connecting them, and I've never been a huge fan of short story anthologies.
But if you like short stories, and horror, you will love these.
February 12, 2014
Very good horror/weird fiction anthology.
November 12, 2014
Meh. Good writing. Chaotic anthology.
December 7, 2014
There are definitely some five star stories in here. There are also some that... aren't. :P
August 25, 2015
Entertaining read. :)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews