Chicks and Balances

Chicks in Chainmail #6

by Esther M. Friesner (editor), John Helfers (Editor)

ORIGINAL ANTHOLOGY featuring rollicking, tongue-in-cheek tales of women warrior fighting against the stodgy and in the name of freedom of expression, Chicks in Chainmail style!

Continuing a great tradition, Chicks and Balances is not what you might think (or it is what you think, depending on which way your mind runs). What we have here is a bunch of perfectly healthy women who happen to be of the brass-bra-wearing and chain-link bikinis sort. Each is fighting in her own way for the freedom to express herself--often by thrusting sword through a censor's black heart! Be glad, the chicks in chainmail are back, and they will not be oppressed, repressed, or depressed!

All new adventures of fearless women warriors by Eric Flint, creator of the Ring of Fire alternate history series; Nebula-winning author Harry Turtledove; Jody Lynn Nye, co-author of the national best seller The Ship Who Won; Campbell Award-winner Wen Spencer, and many more, including the inimitable Esther Friesner herself, as fantasy adventure takes a turn for the lighter side.

Contributors:
Esther Friesner
Jody Lynn Nye
Jim C. Hines
Elizabeth A. Vaughan
Harry Turtledove
Kerrie L. Hughes
Steven Harper Piziks
Wen Spencer
Julie S. Mandala
Esther Friesner
Jean Rabe
Alex Shvartsman
Sarah A. Hoyt
Robin Wayne Bailey
Laura Resnick
Lee Martindale
P.C. Hodgell
Dean Wesley Smith
Laura Frankos
Louisa Swann
Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
Kristine Kathryn Rusch

The Series:
Chicks in Chainmail
Turn the Other Chick
The Chick's in the Mail
Chicks 'n Chained Males
Chicks Ahoy
Did You Say Chicks?!
Chicks and Balances

At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Esther Friesner is a winner twice over of the Nebula Award (for the Year's Best Short Story, 1995 and 1996), and is the author of twenty-nine novels and more than one hundred short stories. She has also edited six anthologies, including the popular Chicks in Chainmail series for Baen. Her works have been published in the UK, Japan, Germany, Russia, France, and Italy. She lives in Connecticut.

Genres: Fantasy, Anthologies, Short Stories, Humor, Fiction, Ebooks, Urban Fantasy

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 16, 2015

About the author

Esther M. Friesner was educated at Vassar College, where she completed B.A's in both Spanish and Drama. She went to on to Yale University; within five years she was awarded an M.A. and Ph.D. in Spanish. She taught Spanish at Yale for a number of years before going on to become a full-time author of fantasy and science fiction. She has published twenty-seven novels so far; her most recent titles include Temping Fate from Penguin-Puffin and Nobody's Princess from Random House.

Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in Asimov's, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Aboriginal SF, Pulphouse Magazine, Amazing, and Fantasy Book, as well as in numerous anthologies. Her story, "Love's Eldritch Ichor," was featured in the 1990 World Fantasy Convention book.

Her first stint as an anthology editor was Alien Pregnant By Elvis, a collection of truly gonzo original tabloid SF for DAW books. Wisely, she undertook this project with the able collaboration of Martin H. Greenberg. Not having learned their lesson, they have also co-edited the Chicks In Chainmail Amazon comedy anthology series for Baen Books, as well as Blood Muse, an anthology of vampire stories for Donald I Fine, Inc.

"Ask Auntie Esther" was her regular etiquette and advice column to the SFlorn in Pulphouse Magazine. Being paid for telling other people how to run their lives sounds like a pretty good deal to her.

Ms. Friesner won the Nebula Award for Best Short Story of 1995 for her work, "Death and the Librarian," and the Nebula for Best Short Story of 1996 for "A Birth Day." (A Birth Day" was also a 1996 Hugo Award finalist.) Her novelette, "Jesus at the Bat" was on the final Nebula ballot in the same year that "Death and the Librarian" won the award. In addition, she has won the Romantic Times award for Best New Fantasy Writer in 1986 and the Skylark Award in 1994. Her short story, "All Vows," took second place in the Asimov's SF Magazine Readers' Poll for 1993 and was a finalist for the Nebula in 1994. Her Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel, Warchild, made the USA TODAY bestseller list.

She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two children, two rambunctious cats, and a fluctuating population of hamsters.

Reviews

[Laura Bone · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Overall I like the premise of this collection. It was fun to read short stories that all contain at least one strong "warrior" woman. The stories ranged from classic DnD style settings/narratives, to modern, and even Lewis Carroll's nonsensical. Also, the types of warrior women ranged from full armor, to chainmail bikini, to everyday clothes. It was a nice mix of different types of strong women.

As with any anthology some stories are better than others. I particularly enjoyed The Girls from the Hood, The Mammyth, A Warrior Looks at 40, and Second Hand Hero.

After reading Chicks and Balances, I am interested in exploring the other titles of the Chicks in Chainmail series. I enjoy reading short story anthologies.

[Karen Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all the previous "Chicks" books and enjoyed them for their fun romps and humor around women warriors in chain mail. This newest volume lived up to its predecessors. I think the weakest story was the first one in the volume, and it put me off for a bit, but I'm happy I returned. One of the strengths is that the stories stretch from modern tales in a big city ("A Girl's Home is Her Rent-Controlled Castle", "Second Hand Hero") to science fiction on alien planets ("Saving Private Slime") to fantasy with scheming wizards ("Burying Treasure"), all while maintaining the theme. Editors Esther Friesner and John Helfer did an excellent job, so if you like humor around strong women warriors, this book is for you.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome collection of short stories that take the stereotypical "chicks in chainmail" idea that so many fantasy book covers have and turns it on its head. Stories full of three-dimensional women warriors of all shapes and sizes, some of whom do end up in chainmail bikinis, yet they do so by choice.

All of the stories are humorous in tone, and I greatly enjoyed all but one, which I couldn't get into and subsequently skipped.

Standouts include Harry Turtledove's "The Mammyth," which is full of hilarious puns that make you groan (the "Lamb Bow Leap" comes to mind).

This is an awesome anthology that I'm really happy I read.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this as part of a Baen Monthly bundle deal and immediately started reading it. As with any anthology of stories there are stories you like and some you tolerate. But with returning heroines, new authors and new heroines by authors who have appeared in previous Chick anthologies, I wallowed in the fun. My favorites included "Smackdown at Walmart", "Knot and the Dragon", "Dark Pixii", and "One Touch of Hippolyta". I will say that I enjoyed the whole collection. Now I will have to get out my collection and reread them.

[CatBookMom · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual with an anthology, some stories are much more to my liking than others, so the 3 stars is a compromise; there's not quite enough ones I liked a lot to make this a 4-star. Either I am more jaded in my tastes, or this just isn't as funny as the first books in this anthology series. I still remember bits of a couple of those stories.

There's a very nice dedication to Terry Pratchett, who died not long before the book was published. I'm quite sure he enjoyed Chicks in Chainmail stories.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best of the Chicks anthologies by a long shot.

It seemed to me that too many of the authors were trying to be funny at the expense of a decent plot.

Stand out story was by Sarah A. Hoyt. Will be looking for anything she has written to further my acquaintance with her work.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of short stories about women warriors. Most are of a humorous bend. Recommended

[Rindis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This latest book of the Chicks in Chainmail anthology series (with an 11-year gap between the last two, the next one is due in 2026) holds to the same general theme and sense of humor.

It leads off with Jody Lynn Nye's "A Chick Off the Old Block", is weakened by punching up the drama with overreactions from the viewpoint character, but is otherwise a solid, somewhat by the numbers adventure. Competently done, but the strengths don't entirely make up for the weaknesses. At the other end, Kristine Kathryn Rusch's "Fashion and the Snarkmeisters" is a lot more inventive, and I think she's getting something off her chest.

In between, we get the wide mix of styles and genres, including one truly SF story ("Saving Private Slime" by Louisa Swann, which was a good reminder of why I really should be reading more SF short stories).

I would normally list the other highlights as part of this review, but frankly I'd list about half the stories here. I have generally enjoyed all the stories in this series, but while there's no obvious standouts here, part of the reason seems to be I overall enjoyed them more, so it'd have taken even more to rise up from the pack.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, an excellent read. If you haven't read any of the previous chicks in chainmail series, then you can't possibly know how enjoyable they all are. In fact, you should go get them now, and read them, yes, all of them. Great stuff there, and this latest volume in the series just keeps adding to the fun, howls of laughter, witty commentary, and of course, dragons (Did I mention dragons?) Each chicks in chainmail books seem to have at least one dragon story, and unlike the first one I read ("Shut up crystal") being the funniest line in it, this one ends with the best line of all. "Next time, I want to be the dragon.") Can't beat that. So, if you are looking for a great time, fun for the whole family (well, mostly), I do recommend you keep out of reach of little children, more because they're likely to chew on the paper rather than read the stories, and that would ruin the book for you, but if you have some time, by all means, sit down, pick up a copy, and dive right in, You'll be glad you did.

[John Smythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

An uneven collection (as are most anthologies) ranging from really, really good to Meh. Dean Wesley Smith's Poker Boy story is fun, Alex Shvartsman's fairy tale is clever, and the closing Krystyn Kathryn Rusch story is brilliant and the most important story in the book. There are any number of other good stories too. I was particularly impressed at how literally most authors were able to take the over-top-theme of the anthology, and yet produce such original and varied work.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this edition of an annual anthology because there is a story by Wen Spencer in it. That story wasn't awesome, but there were enough chuckle-worthy stories that I finished the book. The humor is low-brow, but it was still entertaining.

[Claudette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series is awesome.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some real treasures in here...as well as the comedy, puns, and contemporary allusions we've come to expect from these anthologies.

[Joel Tone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A number of funny stories in this one.

[Pat Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I read my first 'Chick' tract in April of 2002. I was hooked from that point on.
I must confess that at first I thought they were stretching the pun-title idea past the breaking point. 'Chicks and Chained Males?' Got it. 'The Chicks in the Mail?' Got it. Even 'Chicks Ahoy!', although that might have been a stretch.
But: Chicks and Balances? I didn't get it.
Then I realized that Sarah Hoyt's contribution, entitled 'Calling the Mom Squad,' featured an every day mom, who had been drafted earlier into the super-hero group. And, just as in the case of the other moms, she had to BALANCE the demands of family with those of membership in the group. Furthermore, in the course of her exploit, she has to BALANCE on top of a robot horse, while holding her son, and attempting to kill a dragon with a laser-lance. So: BALANCE.
Do the other stories nicely fit the model? Well, maybe. Harry Turtledove's doesn't, though; it's just one continuous string of puns. Nothing balanced about it. Kristine Kathryn Rusch's story, 'Fashion and the Snarkmeisters,' has as the beginning, and denouement, the toppling over of a giant statue - loses its' balance, get it?
The other stories? Well, they are all at LEAST very good, and some are excellent, but I didn't find 'balance,' of any kind, to be a recognizable theme. HOWEVER< THAT MAY BE BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET THE JOKE! For example, Jean Rabe's character in 'Second Hand Hero' doesn't have much money. (not much balance in the bank account?) But, if they do, or if they don't contain any reference to the concept of 'balance,' it's still worth your time and money to get the book.

[I.G. Frederick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear fellow feminists and readers of fantasy:

Ignore the cover (especially the zombies grabbing her legs while she looks and aims her sword elsewhere). Set aside your (appropriate) prejudices against the series concept (Chicks in Chainmail). Allow yourself to enjoy this tongue-firmly-in-cheek, lampshaded collection of short stories that (except for one, since apparently they were required to include one story from the male gaze) will leave you giggling at the very least and quite possibly laughing out loud.

As the back cover says, there's "something to offend everyone". There's also enough delightful genre deconstruction to put you in stitches. The stories are clever, the characters are engaging, and the twisted tropes will leave you twittering.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

better than great

WOW not a story I didn't like a lot!!! There is past,future,now,and not quite here or there stories! And all are award worthy! A can't miss volume of the Chicks series!

[ButterAndSalt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of hits and a few misses. A worthy addition to this long-running series! Funny, clever, silly, cute and biting all at the same time.

[Freyja · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, this series delivers a batch of fun women in various sorts of battles. It's hard to pick a favorite. I certainly didn't lack for candidates, though. This is one of my rereads.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun is the best descriptor of this edition of the Chicks in Chainmail anthologies. My favorites were Calling the Mom Squad (Hoyt), A Girl’s Home is Her Rent-Controlled Castle (Resnick), One Touch of Hippolyta (Frankos), Unearthing the Undying Armor (Scarborough), and Fashion and the Snarkmeisters (Rusch).

[John Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked most of the stories in this anthology. The latest in the series, this is an overall good book, with some genuinely great stories that leave you wanting more of the story, and most of them having a satisfying conclusion. The only one I didn't particularly enjoy was Harry Turtledove's. It may have been because I didn't get all of the "in" jokes, or because it was a non-uniform style of writing, but I just didn't think it was that good. (or, to be honest, a story that completely fitted the rest of the stories in the book)

[AliceAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did it, I finally finished this anthology. ::jazz hands:: I don't know why it took me so very long to read it. I know I flew through previous volumes of the 'Chicks' anthologies and loved them. I was rarely in the mood to read short stories, plus some of them made me not want to pick the volume up again. However, there were some stories I really enjoyed, so the rating is based more on my reading tastes than on the actual stories. Totally unfair, but I'm just glad to be done with this. Maybe some day I'll be in the mood to give this a reread, but it won't be anytime soon.