The Further Adventures of Xena: Warrior Princess

Xena: Warrior Princess

by Martin H. Greenberg (Editor), Mary Morgan (Contributor), Gary A. Braunbeck (Contributor)

This ultimate collection for fans of the syndicated TV series "Xena: Warrior Princess", ending after six seasons in August, 2001, features 15 all-new original stories by 17 of fantasy's best-known authors who bring Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, Ares, and a host of Olympians back to life in these adventures. Authors include Jennifer Roberson, Diane Duane, Melissa Good, Greg Cox, and others.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Adventure, Mythology

309 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

About the author

Martin Harry Greenberg was an American academic and speculative fiction anthologist. In all, he compiled 1,298 anthologies and commissioned over 8,200 original short stories. He founded Tekno Books, a packager of more than 2000 published books. In addition, he was a co-founder of the Sci-Fi Channel.

For the 1950s anthologist and publisher of Gnome Press, see Martin Greenberg.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an original anthology of fifteen stories featuring everybody's favorite warrior princess and her pals. Some good ones that would have been good episodes of the show, a couple of clunkers, but all in fun. I remember especially liking the stories by Keith R.A. DeCandido, Esther Friesner, Tim Waggoner with Russell Davis (even though it didn't have a sword in it), and Gary A. Braunbeck and Lucy A. Snyder. A book with lots more action than Bulfinch.

[Shadowdenizen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a reasonable start in my effort to read through the Xena fiction-verse. I enjoyed this book; not as much as I wanted to, but enough to continue with the quest.

Most of the stories here capture the unique feel and sensibilites of the show and the characters well enough, but, as with many anthologies it's a bit uneven in quality (especially given the caliber of some of the writers involved.)

However, the stories that excel really do succeed, and lift this book from "Mediocre" to "Fairly Decent."

[stormhawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories about established characters are tricky. Even when they are written by a group of established fantasy writers. these are all good stories, but every now and again, you hit something that takes you out of the story, a description or action that's out of tune. Fortunately these moments are few in this collection.

[Gabriel Mero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! I love all of the stories, and have re-read it numerous times!

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

I'm finally going through my physical tv, film etc. tie in library owned book list, to add more older basic reviews. If I liked a book enough to keep then they are at the least a 3 star.

I'm only adding one book per author and I'm not going to re-read every book to be more accurate, not when I have 1000s of new to me authors to try (I can't say no to free books....)


First time read the author's work?: Yes

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a bunch of short stories. They vary in nature quite a bit and include things like an attempt to find a princess for Joxer; a supposedly abandoned temple with a dark secret; a story from Argo's point of view; a chamber of human bones along with a lamia and a cyclopes, a really funny story about a tavern owner, Athena punishing Xena, an amazingly funny about Salmoneus and his idea for a professional wrestling idea with Xena competing but finding out something she really doesn't like and a story about Xena later in her life, all this with stories.

I like the way the stories vary from very serious to very funny with a wide variety of characters and villains. Definitely worth reading.

[Scott Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most anthologies, this is uneven. There are a few stories that are pretty terrible and also a few that are really excellent. I really liked the pieces by Greg Cox and Keith R.A. DeCandido. They clearly know the Xenaverse well and their stories add something to it. Honourable mentions go to Diane Duane and Josepha Sherman. The collection finishes strong with Melissa Good’s simple but charming story.

[Leon · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are entertaining stories but there's only a few of them that I feel actually capture the essence of Xena and Gabrielle. A lot of the Xena's and Gabrielle's in these stories just don't feel like the Xena and Gabrielle we watched on TV. That said there were some good ones in here. I really loved the last one by Melissa Good. It felt like it could have actually been a moment in the show.

[Nancy Weiner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skip

A book to pass up. I was a fan of the television show and enjoyed the tongue in cheek. The on screen sarcasm did not translate to the stories which are disjointed and don't hold any real humor or interest.

[Connie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed my look into the continuing journeys of Xena and Gabrielle. I was a fan of the series and this brought back my remembrances of it. The authors captured the feel of the stories.A good read for those who like sword and sandal stories. This book does this very well. Long live Xena!

[Melissa Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun to read. Just like the show was fun to watch.

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eclectic and varied, for an anthology. The authors clearly have different levels of engagement with the source material but overall it vibes.

[Lindsey G · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up. If you're a Xena fan, then it tracks. Each chapter is like reading an episode. Some stories are better than others. It'll do. I can dig it.

[Debra Petersen (Queen of Historical Fiction) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing read! I picked up this book after I began rewatching Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and I am so glad that I did. It is like reliving all of these amazing adventures you had with Xena and Gabrielle only to find out that there are so many more amazing tales that have yet to have been told and have yet to have been learned. I have so many favorites, but my top 3 favorite short stories are: "A Weapon of Flesh and Bone", "Leaving the Past Behind", and "Bard and Breakfast". There are all the classic adventures with the characters we all know and love: Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, Salmoneus, Ares, Aphrodite, and Eve. There are adventures with the Olympian Gods, creatures, there are stories of comedy, love, fate, life and death, and stories that bring you full circle to where one began. I love stories and I have always loved this show as it doesn't just stay at the surface level of our existence but it digs deep to remind us what is amazing about being human, how important it is to have faith and hope, friendship and love. If you love Xena, if you love Gabrielle, and if you love this show than read it, because it is just another step you will make in an adventure with them and another step to them being more engrained into your heart.

[Troy Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like any anthology, it's uneven. But the stories that shine really lift up the effort. Diane Duane's .... When They Bear Gifts really has the voices of Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer and Aphrodite down, and puts it together in a story that really comes together. Greg Cox's Bard and Breakfast is a scary adventure in which Gabrielle's ability to talk her way out of trouble is put to the test. Josepha Sherman's Argonaut is a pithy tale with Argo as the hero. And David Bischoff's The Tenth Wonder of the World gives us the meddling gods and a pro wrestling match at the center Xena's exploits.
I confess, the closing piece, Leaving the Past Behind, was unexpectedly charming. Melissa Good shows her writing chops with by sharing with us Xena's softer side, without being maudlin at all.
It's a shame this the only collection of this nature. There are a lot more Xena and Gabrielle stories to tell. Maybe it's time for another anthology based on the Xena Warrior Princess TV series.

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I stopped about 2/3 of the way through when I got to a story that read like a Superman/Stargate/Xena crossover. Also, the library book happened to be due. But it was a seriously weird story. Some egg capsule thing falls out of the sky with a baby in it that Xena and Gabrielle grab and then they have to get it to the top of some mountain and all of a sudden there's flying pyramids and Egyptian gods. And it was just trippy. There were a few interesting stories in here, but mostly they were pretty mediocre to bad. Some of them might have benefited from being on the screen, but some were just not salvageable.

[Sarah Corbett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok I originally gave this 5 stars but that was based on the show, but in truth I wasn't impressed. Some were better than others but for some reason it didn't seem authentic to me. The characters were different, I mean only in little nuances of character but that's enough for me. I liked the Ru Emerson ones better. I'm a perfectionist though, I guess I wouldn't completely accept anything unless it was from Rob Tapert himself or at least more from the writers of the show. Good not excellent.
P.s the show itself is like a million stars out of 5:)

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book I bought back in 2001, and apparently I never read it. How silly of me, to have missed out on Jennifer Roberson (whose Sword books I adore) and Diane Duane and Ester Friesner writing Xena stories? It's like a collection of fan fic, but better!

[Evelyne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5/5

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical anthology some good stories, some mediocre stories, and at least one that stands out from the rest.