Vengeance Fantastic

by Denise Little (Editor), Alan Rodgers (Contributor), Jody Lynn Nye (Contributor)

Vengeance is a theme that runs through some of the world's most memorable literature--and thoughts of revenge have most likely crossed everyone's mind at some time or another. But what if it was actually within your power to get even with the people who had snubbed you, with someone who'd used dirty tricks to get a job that should have been yours, or someone who had sullied your reputation, or been unfaithful to you? What if you thought you could right much larger wrongs done by an enemy of humanity itself? Would you do it? Just what would you be ready to do? And would you be willing to pay whatever price gaining that vengeance required?

These are some of the questions answered and challenges taken by the seventeen highly creative talents included in this volume. From a young woman who would betray her own faith to save her people from marauding Vikings . . . to a goddess willing to pull down the very heavens to bring justice to a god . . . to a deal struck between Adam and Eve and Lucifer himself . . . to a 'woman' who must decide how to rework the threads of life . . . here are spellbinding tales that will strike a chord with every reader. But remember, vengeance is only sweet if you don't get caught!

Devil Drums by Mickey Zucker Reichert
A Quiet Justice by Michelle West
Knotwork by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
The Capo of Darkness by Laura Resnick
The Astral Outrage by P. N. Elrod
MarySue at Forty by Alan Rodgers
Even Tempo by Jody Lynn Nye
Nothing Says ‘I Love You' Like the Kiss of Cold Steel by Von Jocks
Listen to the Cat by Janet Pack
Boon Companion by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
Punkinella by Deb Stover
Smoker by Mel Odom
Matchbook Magic by Bill McCay
Sometimes It's Sweet by Susan Sizemore
The Wedding Present by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Have a Drink on Me by Gary A Braunbeck
Exits and Entrances by Tim Waggoner

Genres: Anthologies, Fantasy, Horror, Short Stories

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Denise Little is an editor for Tekno Books.

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the better DAW anthologies, this collection improved dramatically in the final third. Revenge is an interesting theme by itself and each author’s creativity enhanced the notion with strong characters in short tales. Gary Braunbeck, Susan Sizemore, and Tim Waggoner contributed particularly excellent stories. Recommended as a library or Kindle journey.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Perhaps it is because of my own (never executed) desire to seek revenge on others, but the stories were well-written and even humorous. It is difficult to pick a favorite. There was so much originality in the collection that, as soon as I finished one story, I dove right into the next. I was not disappointed with any of the stories. Maybe we can look forward to a Volume Two?

[Braveharlot · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overall solid anthology, with a few very good stories and only one that I just couldn't slog through. (Mary Sue stories are too painfully self-aware and tedious for me.)

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good stories, some meh. Vengeance/revenge is definitely one of the more interesting topics for an anthology book since it allows for a dive into the emotions of the characters.

Annoyingly though, there were lots of little typos of missing or wrong letters, which pulled me out of some of the stories.

[Amélie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michelle West story is about Olympus gods and goddesses and in particular Hera and her life nowadays.