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Behind the Mask: A Superhero Anthology
Behind the Mask is an exciting collection of short stories about the everyday lives of superheroes. Ranging from laugh-out-loud funny to deliciously dark, these stories are about the ordinary day-to-day challenges facing these extraordinary individuals growing up, growing old, relationships, parenting, coping with that age-old desire to fit in when, let s face it, they don't.
“Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut” by Cat Rambo, copyright © 2009 by Cat Rambo, originally published in Strange Horizons (October 26, 2009);
“Destroy the City with Me Tonight” by Kate Marshall, copyright © 2017 by Kate Marshall;
“Fool” by Keith Frady, copyright © 2017 by Keith Frady;
“Pedestal” by Seanan McGuire, copyright © 2017 by Seanan McGuire;
“As I Fall Asleep” by Aimee Ogden, copyright © 2017 by Aimee Ogden;
“Meeting Someone in the 22nd Century or Until the Gears Quit Turning” by Jennifer Pullen, copyright © 2017 by Jennifer Pullen;
“Inheritance” by Michael Milne, copyright © 2017 by Michael Milne;
“Heroes” by Lavie Tidhar, copyright © 2016 by Lavie Tidhar, originally published in Strange Horizons (September 19, 2016);
“Madjack” by Nathan Crowder, copyright © 2017 by Nathan Crowder;
“Quintessential Justice” by Patrick Flanagan, copyright © 2017 by Patrick Flanagan;
“The Fall of the Jade Sword” by Stephanie Lai, copyright © 2017 by Stephanie Lai;
“Origin Story” by Carrie Vaughn, copyright © 2016 by Carrie Vaughn, LLC, originally published in Lightspeed Magazine (April 2016);
“Eggshells” by Ziggy Schutz, copyright © 2017 by Ziggy Schutz;
“Salt City Blue” by Chris Large, copyright © 2017 by Chris Large;
“Birthright” by Stuart Suffel, copyright © 2017 by Stuart Suffel;
“The Smoke Means It’s Working” by Sarah Pinsker, copyright © 2017 by Sarah Pinsker;
“Torch Songs” by Keith Rosson, copyright © 2017 by Keith Rosson;
“The Beard of Truth” by Matt Mikalatos, copyright © 2017 by Matt Mikalatos;
“Over an Embattled City” by Adam R. Shannon, copyright © 2017 by Adam R. Shannon;
“Origin Story” by Kelly Link, copyright © 2006 by Kelly Link, originally published in A Public Space (Winter 2006) and reprinted in Kelly Link’s Get in Trouble (Random House; 2015)
“Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut” by Cat Rambo, copyright © 2009 by Cat Rambo, originally published in Strange Horizons (October 26, 2009);
“Destroy the City with Me Tonight” by Kate Marshall, copyright © 2017 by Kate Marshall;
“Fool” by Keith Frady, copyright © 2017 by Keith Frady;
“Pedestal” by Seanan McGuire, copyright © 2017 by Seanan McGuire;
“As I Fall Asleep” by Aimee Ogden, copyright © 2017 by Aimee Ogden;
“Meeting Someone in the 22nd Century or Until the Gears Quit Turning” by Jennifer Pullen, copyright © 2017 by Jennifer Pullen;
“Inheritance” by Michael Milne, copyright © 2017 by Michael Milne;
“Heroes” by Lavie Tidhar, copyright © 2016 by Lavie Tidhar, originally published in Strange Horizons (September 19, 2016);
“Madjack” by Nathan Crowder, copyright © 2017 by Nathan Crowder;
“Quintessential Justice” by Patrick Flanagan, copyright © 2017 by Patrick Flanagan;
“The Fall of the Jade Sword” by Stephanie Lai, copyright © 2017 by Stephanie Lai;
“Origin Story” by Carrie Vaughn, copyright © 2016 by Carrie Vaughn, LLC, originally published in Lightspeed Magazine (April 2016);
“Eggshells” by Ziggy Schutz, copyright © 2017 by Ziggy Schutz;
“Salt City Blue” by Chris Large, copyright © 2017 by Chris Large;
“Birthright” by Stuart Suffel, copyright © 2017 by Stuart Suffel;
“The Smoke Means It’s Working” by Sarah Pinsker, copyright © 2017 by Sarah Pinsker;
“Torch Songs” by Keith Rosson, copyright © 2017 by Keith Rosson;
“The Beard of Truth” by Matt Mikalatos, copyright © 2017 by Matt Mikalatos;
“Over an Embattled City” by Adam R. Shannon, copyright © 2017 by Adam R. Shannon;
“Origin Story” by Kelly Link, copyright © 2006 by Kelly Link, originally published in A Public Space (Winter 2006) and reprinted in Kelly Link’s Get in Trouble (Random House; 2015)
290 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 9, 2017
In a nutshell: very well-crafted anthology with lots and lots of amazing, thought-provoking stories, both by established authors (Kelly Link and Seanan McGuire for example) as well as authors who are less well-known. I enjoyed this mix of different voices a whole lot.
I have been thinking about this review all morning and still do not know how to write it. I always find anthologies difficult to assess and to review - there are so many things happening and obviously some stories resonate more with me than others. Also, for me the stories tend to blend into each other and I cannot always remember each one enough to even have an opinion about it after finishing the whole collection. That said: this was a pretty brilliant anthology. Tricia Reeks and Kyle Richardson obviously put a lot of thought and love and work into collecting these stories and to fit them into a more or less coherent order.
As you can tell from the title, this is a collection of superhero stories focussing on the maybe less often talked about aspects of being a superhero. Interestingly, most stories focus on female superheroes (and some supervillains) and the specific problems they might face (work/life balance, sexism in the workplace, losing your identity etc) and I obviously loved that to pieces. I don't know if this was on purpose or if those just were the stories the authors wanted to tell, but I appreciate it nontheless.
Every author put their own spin on the superhero genre and mostly they greatly succeeded. I did appreciate the newer voices more than the stories by the more established authors. Some standouts for me were Nathan Crowder's "Madjack" - a wonderful homage to David Bowie; Kate Marshall's beautifully imagined and original "Destroy the City with Me Tonight" (with the absolute best ending of all the stories); Aimee Ogden's "As I Fall Asleep" - sad and poignant and very very great; Carrie Vaughn's playful spin on a romantic comedy "Origin Story" (even villains have meet cutes!); and my absolute favourite of the book: Chris Large's "Salt City Blue" - I loved loved loved this one and its beautifully flawed main character and I do not want to spoil it but you should read it.
_____
I received an arc of this book curtesy of NetGalley and Meerkat Press in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for that!
I have been thinking about this review all morning and still do not know how to write it. I always find anthologies difficult to assess and to review - there are so many things happening and obviously some stories resonate more with me than others. Also, for me the stories tend to blend into each other and I cannot always remember each one enough to even have an opinion about it after finishing the whole collection. That said: this was a pretty brilliant anthology. Tricia Reeks and Kyle Richardson obviously put a lot of thought and love and work into collecting these stories and to fit them into a more or less coherent order.
As you can tell from the title, this is a collection of superhero stories focussing on the maybe less often talked about aspects of being a superhero. Interestingly, most stories focus on female superheroes (and some supervillains) and the specific problems they might face (work/life balance, sexism in the workplace, losing your identity etc) and I obviously loved that to pieces. I don't know if this was on purpose or if those just were the stories the authors wanted to tell, but I appreciate it nontheless.
Every author put their own spin on the superhero genre and mostly they greatly succeeded. I did appreciate the newer voices more than the stories by the more established authors. Some standouts for me were Nathan Crowder's "Madjack" - a wonderful homage to David Bowie; Kate Marshall's beautifully imagined and original "Destroy the City with Me Tonight" (with the absolute best ending of all the stories); Aimee Ogden's "As I Fall Asleep" - sad and poignant and very very great; Carrie Vaughn's playful spin on a romantic comedy "Origin Story" (even villains have meet cutes!); and my absolute favourite of the book: Chris Large's "Salt City Blue" - I loved loved loved this one and its beautifully flawed main character and I do not want to spoil it but you should read it.
_____
I received an arc of this book curtesy of NetGalley and Meerkat Press in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for that!
April 21, 2017
*I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in return for a fair review.*
Holy Angst Batman! This sure is an angsty bunch of stories. Super depressing. Anyone who decides to become a hero is stupid (judging by these stories). These are stories of the lives behind the mask. The mask of superheroes. Turns out superheroes have crappy lives, who knew, eh (maybe anyone who has watched most superhero movies and seen how angsty and depressing superheroes are)?
Cat Rambo: Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut
FF; All Female Super Team
A group of all female superheroes boredly do stuff. Like bicker amongst themselves, interview potential new team members, fight others (and have the fight be basically described in the story in the super exciting way of one liners like 'fought parallel versions of ourselves').
One is a cyborg, another is an alien, another is a shape-shifting blob, another is 'the brain', etc. Two of them flirt with the idea of dating each other and then do. Hence my 'FF' tag.
Rating: 3.21
April 13 2017
Kate Marshall: Destroy the City with Me Tonight
Amnesia; Mental Illness; Forgetfulness
Apparently superheroes and super villains are a disease. A virus. One that can be sexually transmitted. And, as seems to be a common theme in this book based on the few stories I've read so far, being a superhero or villain is a super depressing angsty life to have. A curse, not a benefit.
Rating: 3.12
April 13 2017
Keith Frady: Fool
Super villain; mad scientist; secret lair; Tropical Island; volcano; robots
Just in case you didn't know - superheroes aren't the only ones with crappy, depressing, angsty lives - super villains also are super depressing people. The one here. Dr. Entropy who lives in a volcano on a tropical island building 'death machines' and stuff like that (also robots). He's inches away from pushing a giant red button that may or may not actually be connected to anything, though he believes that if he pushes it he will end all life on earth (well, at least human life). He is weirdly reluctant to push the button, though, and keeps monologuing. And doing even more monologuing. While starring up to see if anyone will stop him. Then more monologuing.
Rating: 3.03
April 13 2017
Seanan McGuire: Pedestal
Paparazzi
Paparazzi really are scum of the earth.
A young superhero attempts to go out in civilian clothing to get some stuff, like ice cream. You know normal human level stuff. She's afraid to go out, though, because, like how I started this mini-review, paparazzi are scum - as in, there are people who will thrust cameras in her face and take her picture.
Well, a blogger stops inches from her in the ice cream aisle and taunts her, then takes her photo. Posts it. Then, because the blogger left 'location' on - a giant squid appears and starts destroying the supermarket and the superhero has to fight the giant squid. Meanwhile the blogger continues to taunt her. Because, well - scum of the earth and stuff. I can seriously see an advantage of being a super-villain in this universe. I wanted to rip the blogger's balls off.
Of note: I believe this story falls within the same universe as McGuire's superhero series (Velveteen vs.).
Rating: 3.45
April 13 2017
Aimee Ogden: As I Fall Asleep
Mental Illness; Background LGBT Character*
A woman destroys a secret lab. Smashing computers and stuff. Beating up her former side-kick who, it appears, has turned traitor.
Story reminded me of one I'd read by Jude McLaughlin, the one where a reporter interviews an old retired superhero. Well no reporters here. Just an old ex-superhero with diminished mental abilities due to aging.
* The other woman in the story mentions how she had been on a date with a cute woman when she had to get involved in the action in this story
Rating: 3.7
April 13 2017
Jennifer Pullen: Meeting Someone in the 22nd Century or Until the Gears Quit Turning
Cyborg
A man meets a woman. Flirts. Dates. Marries. Time passes. Babies attempted to be born - fail. More time passes. Kind of both boring and annoying.
My greatest problem with this story is the part where it is set in the future and there kept being little comments here and there like 'what do you expect, hover-chairs, just because we live in the future?' Um, you don't live in the future; you live in your own present. But, meh, whatever. Close behind that 'greatest problem' would be the blunt style of the story. (Then there's the part where no superheroes are actually characters in the story).
Rating: 3.0
April 13 2017
Michael Milne: Inheritance
PoC, Family
A boy of a failed marriage grows older. His mother is an accountant. His father is . . . a superhero (and mostly absent father). The boy himself has 'inherited' super powers himself and attempts to fit in as best as he can. The mother, divorced from the father, dates others, marries others, many others. The end.
Rating: 3.39
April 13 2017
Lavie Tidhar: Heroes
Berlin, Spies, Cold War
Two superhero powered spies sit around in a room watching one of the gates into/out of East Berlin while waiting for the arrival of 'Medicus' - an ex-NAZI 'superhero' who was still in East Berlin when the Soviets took over back during WWII and then worked for them. The two spies, one from the USA, one from the UK, fight Jewish superheroes to 'help' the ex-NAZI go into US control.
Rating: 3.42
April 14 2017
Nathan Crowder: Madjack
Music; Aliens
A female musician plays on stage, suddenly she just 'knows' her father is dead, and everyone within, if I recall correctly, 30 rows begins crying (for this musician has emo power - sense others emotions/project emotions onto others).
Quite interesting and good story - I want more. So far it is/was the best story in the collection.
Rating: 4.30
April 14 2017
Patrick Flanagan: Quintessential Justice
Sidekick/support
This story is set from the point of view of a sidekick/support person – not a Robin type but more of a Alfred type. The kind of person who help get coffee, not the kind who will help fight bad guys.
Well there’s this superhero dude who is named QED. He goes about his day and the support person follows along behind. Constantly suppressing, and occasionally letting her eyeballs roll hard. For, you see, QED is a pompous type who needs constant reassurance and constant praise – so much so that there are paid ‘plants’ in the crowds who will cheer for QED. Oh, and once, the superhero actually does get into a fight with a villain.
Not a super exciting story but . . . there. And read.
Rating: 3.10
April 17 2017
Stephanie Lai: The Fall of the Jade Sword
Melbourne, Australia, Steampunk
A young Chinese woman grows up in some steampunk like Melbourne in some unknown date. She reads of a hero bouncing around named Jade Sword. She, the young woman, is not Jade Sword. She reads 'Art of War'. She sits on someone else's steam-bicycle and gets chased for her troubles. She falls off a roof. A few confuse her with Jade Sword. The real Jade Sword interacts with her, but it is unclear if the young woman realizes, in both encounters (one 'in costume', one 'in civilian guise'), that she has encountered Jade Sword. Refuses to be trained by Jade Sword. Or doesn't. Bloody confusing story.
Rating: 2.7
April 17 2017
Carrie Vaughn: Origin Story
A woman gets stuck in a bank robbery/hostage situation and unexpectedly recognizes the supervillain.
Nice enough story. Certain issues with it that I can't recall now beyond feeling that I had certain issues with it.
Rating: 3.73
April 17 2017
Ziggy Schutz: Eggshells
Young Adult
A young woman slip and falls, knocks her head against the ice. Has trouble remembering things. This symptoms go on long after they should have 'stopped' but she doesn't tell anyone and just continues on.
Quite a nice story really.
Rating: 4.55
April 17 2017
Chris Large: Salt City Blue
A rich powerful woman likes hanging out at bars. As a consequence, she begins glowing.
Interesting story.
Rating: 3.89
April 17 2017
Stuart Suffel: Birthright
A young woman in something like 2021 A.D. wanders around on motorcycle. Swims. Does stuff. She's elaborately described in the beginning - the thing that makes her a mutant - I couldn't make heads or tails of the description. So . . . she's different. And is the daughter of a 'birdwoman' - both mutated by the 'Darwin bombs' that had been dropped.
And . . . um . . not really sure what all else to say.
Rating: 3.50
April 17 2017
Sarah Pinsker: The Smoke Means It's Working
Sidekicks
A woman you wants to, someday, become a sidekick has gone to a special school so that she can operate a robot. Specifically a robot that helps wander wreckage, find people, and attempt to say to save them (as in, here's someone under debris, lift debris, lift person, carry person to an EMT person).
Neat story.
Rating: 4.15
April 17 2017
Keith Rosson: Torch Songs
Supervillains; carnivals
At a carnival several 'oddities' sit in a tent. People wander and stare at them. One used to be a supervillain, but is now just a shrivaled up thing. The point of view is with this 'thing', this 'Madam' of many names.
Interesting enough story. Deeper than my rating my suggest. But ultimately fails as being just a snippet. A snippet that ends with a cliff-hanger.
Rating: 3.30
April 18 2017
Matt Mikalatos: The Beard of Truth
Superheroes; Slice of life
A man, while driving around one day, suddenly realizes he has a superpower - the ability to, just by existing, get people to tell him the truth. Out-pourings of truth (though it seems more like - 'gets people to tell him super depressing things, while truthful, they are also the darkest things the person thinks is 'the truth').
Apparently people can just suddenly get superpowers. And, as part of that, they have to call a specific number. So he does. And stuff unfolds.
Just a small slice of life type story. Oddly satisfying for all of its shortness.
Rating: 4.15
April 18 2017
Adam R. Shannon: Over an Embattled City
Alternate Timelines/earths
A young woman of about 16 heads into the city, the city of New York, to . . . do many things. It is hard to say without being all spoiler-y.
She remembers another city, another time. She's like a character I read in something else, someone who had reached into their pocket and pulled out a coin. Had that years date on it. But some other guy was the head on the dime, the 10 cent piece. And that was how he knew he had slipped from one reality to another. Just like him, the lead character in this story 'slipped' from one reality to another - unlike him, the reality she came from is slowly disappearing - it's less of an alternate time/world/universe, and more of a reworking/unmaking/remaking of a specific time-line.
Neat story.
Rating: 4.22
April 18 2017
Kelly Link: Origin Story
Waitress
A waitress rolls around some ruins with the guy who she grew up with. Whose name is, apparently, Bisquit. Oh, and he's a superhero. He's in town for a parade. She's there because she lives there with her mom.
Weird and strange story.
Rating: 3.00
April 18 2017
OVERALL
Cat Rambo: Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut: 3.21
Kate Marshall: Destroy the City with Me Tonight: 3.12
Keith Frady: Fool: 3.03
Seanan McGuire: Pedestal: 3.45
Aimee Ogden: As I Fall Asleep: 3.70
Jennifer Pullen: Meeting Someone in the 22nd Century or Until the Gears Quit Turning: 3.0
Michael Milne: Inheritance: 3.39
Lavie Tidhar: Heroes: 3.42
Nathan Crowder: Madjack: 4.3
Patrick Flanagan: Quintessential Justice: 3.10
Stephanie Lai: The Fall of the Jade Sword: 2.7
Carrie Vaughn: Origin Story: 3.73
Ziggy Schutz: Eggshells: 4.55
Chris Large: Salt City Blue: 3.89
Stuart Suffel: Birthright: 3.50
Sarah Pinsker: The Smoke Means It's Working: 4.15
Keith Rosson: Torch Songs: 3.30
Matt Mikalatos: The Beard of Truth: 4.15
Adam R. Shannon: Over an Embattled City: 4.22
Kelly Link: Origin Story: 3.00
Overall ----------------------: 3.5455
April 18 2017
Holy Angst Batman! This sure is an angsty bunch of stories. Super depressing. Anyone who decides to become a hero is stupid (judging by these stories). These are stories of the lives behind the mask. The mask of superheroes. Turns out superheroes have crappy lives, who knew, eh (maybe anyone who has watched most superhero movies and seen how angsty and depressing superheroes are)?
Cat Rambo: Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut
FF; All Female Super Team
A group of all female superheroes boredly do stuff. Like bicker amongst themselves, interview potential new team members, fight others (and have the fight be basically described in the story in the super exciting way of one liners like 'fought parallel versions of ourselves').
One is a cyborg, another is an alien, another is a shape-shifting blob, another is 'the brain', etc. Two of them flirt with the idea of dating each other and then do. Hence my 'FF' tag.
Rating: 3.21
April 13 2017
Kate Marshall: Destroy the City with Me Tonight
Amnesia; Mental Illness; Forgetfulness
Apparently superheroes and super villains are a disease. A virus. One that can be sexually transmitted. And, as seems to be a common theme in this book based on the few stories I've read so far, being a superhero or villain is a super depressing angsty life to have. A curse, not a benefit.
Rating: 3.12
April 13 2017
Keith Frady: Fool
Super villain; mad scientist; secret lair; Tropical Island; volcano; robots
Just in case you didn't know - superheroes aren't the only ones with crappy, depressing, angsty lives - super villains also are super depressing people. The one here. Dr. Entropy who lives in a volcano on a tropical island building 'death machines' and stuff like that (also robots). He's inches away from pushing a giant red button that may or may not actually be connected to anything, though he believes that if he pushes it he will end all life on earth (well, at least human life). He is weirdly reluctant to push the button, though, and keeps monologuing. And doing even more monologuing. While starring up to see if anyone will stop him. Then more monologuing.
Rating: 3.03
April 13 2017
Seanan McGuire: Pedestal
Paparazzi
Paparazzi really are scum of the earth.
A young superhero attempts to go out in civilian clothing to get some stuff, like ice cream. You know normal human level stuff. She's afraid to go out, though, because, like how I started this mini-review, paparazzi are scum - as in, there are people who will thrust cameras in her face and take her picture.
Well, a blogger stops inches from her in the ice cream aisle and taunts her, then takes her photo. Posts it. Then, because the blogger left 'location' on - a giant squid appears and starts destroying the supermarket and the superhero has to fight the giant squid. Meanwhile the blogger continues to taunt her. Because, well - scum of the earth and stuff. I can seriously see an advantage of being a super-villain in this universe. I wanted to rip the blogger's balls off.
Of note: I believe this story falls within the same universe as McGuire's superhero series (Velveteen vs.).
Rating: 3.45
April 13 2017
Aimee Ogden: As I Fall Asleep
Mental Illness; Background LGBT Character*
A woman destroys a secret lab. Smashing computers and stuff. Beating up her former side-kick who, it appears, has turned traitor.
Story reminded me of one I'd read by Jude McLaughlin, the one where a reporter interviews an old retired superhero. Well no reporters here. Just an old ex-superhero with diminished mental abilities due to aging.
* The other woman in the story mentions how she had been on a date with a cute woman when she had to get involved in the action in this story
Rating: 3.7
April 13 2017
Jennifer Pullen: Meeting Someone in the 22nd Century or Until the Gears Quit Turning
Cyborg
A man meets a woman. Flirts. Dates. Marries. Time passes. Babies attempted to be born - fail. More time passes. Kind of both boring and annoying.
My greatest problem with this story is the part where it is set in the future and there kept being little comments here and there like 'what do you expect, hover-chairs, just because we live in the future?' Um, you don't live in the future; you live in your own present. But, meh, whatever. Close behind that 'greatest problem' would be the blunt style of the story. (Then there's the part where no superheroes are actually characters in the story).
Rating: 3.0
April 13 2017
Michael Milne: Inheritance
PoC, Family
A boy of a failed marriage grows older. His mother is an accountant. His father is . . . a superhero (and mostly absent father). The boy himself has 'inherited' super powers himself and attempts to fit in as best as he can. The mother, divorced from the father, dates others, marries others, many others. The end.
Rating: 3.39
April 13 2017
Lavie Tidhar: Heroes
Berlin, Spies, Cold War
Two superhero powered spies sit around in a room watching one of the gates into/out of East Berlin while waiting for the arrival of 'Medicus' - an ex-NAZI 'superhero' who was still in East Berlin when the Soviets took over back during WWII and then worked for them. The two spies, one from the USA, one from the UK, fight Jewish superheroes to 'help' the ex-NAZI go into US control.
Rating: 3.42
April 14 2017
Nathan Crowder: Madjack
Music; Aliens
A female musician plays on stage, suddenly she just 'knows' her father is dead, and everyone within, if I recall correctly, 30 rows begins crying (for this musician has emo power - sense others emotions/project emotions onto others).
Quite interesting and good story - I want more. So far it is/was the best story in the collection.
Rating: 4.30
April 14 2017
Patrick Flanagan: Quintessential Justice
Sidekick/support
This story is set from the point of view of a sidekick/support person – not a Robin type but more of a Alfred type. The kind of person who help get coffee, not the kind who will help fight bad guys.
Well there’s this superhero dude who is named QED. He goes about his day and the support person follows along behind. Constantly suppressing, and occasionally letting her eyeballs roll hard. For, you see, QED is a pompous type who needs constant reassurance and constant praise – so much so that there are paid ‘plants’ in the crowds who will cheer for QED. Oh, and once, the superhero actually does get into a fight with a villain.
Not a super exciting story but . . . there. And read.
Rating: 3.10
April 17 2017
Stephanie Lai: The Fall of the Jade Sword
Melbourne, Australia, Steampunk
A young Chinese woman grows up in some steampunk like Melbourne in some unknown date. She reads of a hero bouncing around named Jade Sword. She, the young woman, is not Jade Sword. She reads 'Art of War'. She sits on someone else's steam-bicycle and gets chased for her troubles. She falls off a roof. A few confuse her with Jade Sword. The real Jade Sword interacts with her, but it is unclear if the young woman realizes, in both encounters (one 'in costume', one 'in civilian guise'), that she has encountered Jade Sword. Refuses to be trained by Jade Sword. Or doesn't. Bloody confusing story.
Rating: 2.7
April 17 2017
Carrie Vaughn: Origin Story
A woman gets stuck in a bank robbery/hostage situation and unexpectedly recognizes the supervillain.
Nice enough story. Certain issues with it that I can't recall now beyond feeling that I had certain issues with it.
Rating: 3.73
April 17 2017
Ziggy Schutz: Eggshells
Young Adult
A young woman slip and falls, knocks her head against the ice. Has trouble remembering things. This symptoms go on long after they should have 'stopped' but she doesn't tell anyone and just continues on.
Quite a nice story really.
Rating: 4.55
April 17 2017
Chris Large: Salt City Blue
A rich powerful woman likes hanging out at bars. As a consequence, she begins glowing.
Interesting story.
Rating: 3.89
April 17 2017
Stuart Suffel: Birthright
A young woman in something like 2021 A.D. wanders around on motorcycle. Swims. Does stuff. She's elaborately described in the beginning - the thing that makes her a mutant - I couldn't make heads or tails of the description. So . . . she's different. And is the daughter of a 'birdwoman' - both mutated by the 'Darwin bombs' that had been dropped.
And . . . um . . not really sure what all else to say.
Rating: 3.50
April 17 2017
Sarah Pinsker: The Smoke Means It's Working
Sidekicks
A woman you wants to, someday, become a sidekick has gone to a special school so that she can operate a robot. Specifically a robot that helps wander wreckage, find people, and attempt to say to save them (as in, here's someone under debris, lift debris, lift person, carry person to an EMT person).
Neat story.
Rating: 4.15
April 17 2017
Keith Rosson: Torch Songs
Supervillains; carnivals
At a carnival several 'oddities' sit in a tent. People wander and stare at them. One used to be a supervillain, but is now just a shrivaled up thing. The point of view is with this 'thing', this 'Madam' of many names.
Interesting enough story. Deeper than my rating my suggest. But ultimately fails as being just a snippet. A snippet that ends with a cliff-hanger.
Rating: 3.30
April 18 2017
Matt Mikalatos: The Beard of Truth
Superheroes; Slice of life
A man, while driving around one day, suddenly realizes he has a superpower - the ability to, just by existing, get people to tell him the truth. Out-pourings of truth (though it seems more like - 'gets people to tell him super depressing things, while truthful, they are also the darkest things the person thinks is 'the truth').
Apparently people can just suddenly get superpowers. And, as part of that, they have to call a specific number. So he does. And stuff unfolds.
Just a small slice of life type story. Oddly satisfying for all of its shortness.
Rating: 4.15
April 18 2017
Adam R. Shannon: Over an Embattled City
Alternate Timelines/earths
A young woman of about 16 heads into the city, the city of New York, to . . . do many things. It is hard to say without being all spoiler-y.
She remembers another city, another time. She's like a character I read in something else, someone who had reached into their pocket and pulled out a coin. Had that years date on it. But some other guy was the head on the dime, the 10 cent piece. And that was how he knew he had slipped from one reality to another. Just like him, the lead character in this story 'slipped' from one reality to another - unlike him, the reality she came from is slowly disappearing - it's less of an alternate time/world/universe, and more of a reworking/unmaking/remaking of a specific time-line.
Neat story.
Rating: 4.22
April 18 2017
Kelly Link: Origin Story
Waitress
A waitress rolls around some ruins with the guy who she grew up with. Whose name is, apparently, Bisquit. Oh, and he's a superhero. He's in town for a parade. She's there because she lives there with her mom.
Weird and strange story.
Rating: 3.00
April 18 2017
OVERALL
Cat Rambo: Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut: 3.21
Kate Marshall: Destroy the City with Me Tonight: 3.12
Keith Frady: Fool: 3.03
Seanan McGuire: Pedestal: 3.45
Aimee Ogden: As I Fall Asleep: 3.70
Jennifer Pullen: Meeting Someone in the 22nd Century or Until the Gears Quit Turning: 3.0
Michael Milne: Inheritance: 3.39
Lavie Tidhar: Heroes: 3.42
Nathan Crowder: Madjack: 4.3
Patrick Flanagan: Quintessential Justice: 3.10
Stephanie Lai: The Fall of the Jade Sword: 2.7
Carrie Vaughn: Origin Story: 3.73
Ziggy Schutz: Eggshells: 4.55
Chris Large: Salt City Blue: 3.89
Stuart Suffel: Birthright: 3.50
Sarah Pinsker: The Smoke Means It's Working: 4.15
Keith Rosson: Torch Songs: 3.30
Matt Mikalatos: The Beard of Truth: 4.15
Adam R. Shannon: Over an Embattled City: 4.22
Kelly Link: Origin Story: 3.00
Overall ----------------------: 3.5455
April 18 2017
May 12, 2017
Edited for mini review:)
*Spread this out a bit by reading a story or two/three each day but not feeling good skewed that a bit haha*
---
Overall, a well done collection with some stories I think would have been/would be great as full length novels or series :). Loved catching the hints and nods to SuperHeroes we all know and love as well.
I hadn't heard of the majority of these authors but I enjoyed getting to know them, so to speak, for the first time in these stories and wouldn't mind reading more of them one day (famous phrase for bookworms hehe).
A couple felt like drafts to me rather than stories but they were still enjoyable.
Would recommend, I had lots of fun :)
Ratings for each:
Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut by Cat Rambo : 2.5 stars.. loved the idea but not-so-great execution.
Writing is good but mostly fell flat for me.Ending felt abrupt too."
"Destroy the City with Me Tonight by Kate Marshall 3.5 stars... bit vague in places but very good overall, love her take on it.. wish it had been longer:)
Fool by Keith Frady 3.5 stars... pretty good, would have liked more
Pedestal by Seanan McGuire 5 stars... I loved how she explored the downside of superhero popularity in here and how some people take it too far sometimes (certain person in here was an idiot in the extreme.. almost sad I don't get to see him get taken down a few pegs).
Personally, I do believe celebs are entitled to their privacy and to spend time without cameras following their every move *shrugs* imho"
As I Fall Asleep by Aimee Ogden Four stars, sad in parts :( Would have loved to see more of what happened to Lian afterward
Meeting Someone in the 22nd Century or Until the Gears Quit Turning by Jennifer Pullen 3 stars, weird but cool..dragged in a couple places
"Inheritance by Michael Milne 3.5 stars
Heroes by Lavie Tidhar 3.5 stars
Madjack by Nathan Crowder 4 stars
This was fun, in a way... few things reminded me of certain Marvel characters:)"
Quintessential Justice by Patrick Flanagan 3 stars
The Fall of the Jade Sword by Stephanie Lai 3.5 stars
Origin Story by Carrie Vaughn 4 stars
Eggshells by Ziggy Schutz 4 stars
Salt City Blue by Chris Large 4 stars.. echoes of Superman, to me anyways
Birthright by Stuart Suffel 3.5 stars
"The Smoke Means It's working by Sarah Pinkser 4 stars
Torch Songs by Keith Rosson 4 stars
The Beard of Truth by Matt Mikalatos 3 stars
Over an Embattled City by Adam R. Shannon 3.5 stars
Origin Story by Kelly Link 2.5 stars
*Spread this out a bit by reading a story or two/three each day but not feeling good skewed that a bit haha*
---
Overall, a well done collection with some stories I think would have been/would be great as full length novels or series :). Loved catching the hints and nods to SuperHeroes we all know and love as well.
I hadn't heard of the majority of these authors but I enjoyed getting to know them, so to speak, for the first time in these stories and wouldn't mind reading more of them one day (famous phrase for bookworms hehe).
A couple felt like drafts to me rather than stories but they were still enjoyable.
Would recommend, I had lots of fun :)
Ratings for each:
Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut by Cat Rambo : 2.5 stars.. loved the idea but not-so-great execution.
Writing is good but mostly fell flat for me.Ending felt abrupt too."
"Destroy the City with Me Tonight by Kate Marshall 3.5 stars... bit vague in places but very good overall, love her take on it.. wish it had been longer:)
Fool by Keith Frady 3.5 stars... pretty good, would have liked more
Pedestal by Seanan McGuire 5 stars... I loved how she explored the downside of superhero popularity in here and how some people take it too far sometimes (certain person in here was an idiot in the extreme.. almost sad I don't get to see him get taken down a few pegs).
Personally, I do believe celebs are entitled to their privacy and to spend time without cameras following their every move *shrugs* imho"
As I Fall Asleep by Aimee Ogden Four stars, sad in parts :( Would have loved to see more of what happened to Lian afterward
Meeting Someone in the 22nd Century or Until the Gears Quit Turning by Jennifer Pullen 3 stars, weird but cool..dragged in a couple places
"Inheritance by Michael Milne 3.5 stars
Heroes by Lavie Tidhar 3.5 stars
Madjack by Nathan Crowder 4 stars
This was fun, in a way... few things reminded me of certain Marvel characters:)"
Quintessential Justice by Patrick Flanagan 3 stars
The Fall of the Jade Sword by Stephanie Lai 3.5 stars
Origin Story by Carrie Vaughn 4 stars
Eggshells by Ziggy Schutz 4 stars
Salt City Blue by Chris Large 4 stars.. echoes of Superman, to me anyways
Birthright by Stuart Suffel 3.5 stars
"The Smoke Means It's working by Sarah Pinkser 4 stars
Torch Songs by Keith Rosson 4 stars
The Beard of Truth by Matt Mikalatos 3 stars
Over an Embattled City by Adam R. Shannon 3.5 stars
Origin Story by Kelly Link 2.5 stars
April 12, 2017
Superheroes. Superpowers. I'm a huge fan. Wasn't quite sure how to rate it, but in the end decide to be generous. Not every story in this anthology was a standout, but the quality was notably consistent and some were surprisingly good. Surprisingly, because with exception of 2 or 3 names, most of the authors were unknown to me and I've only read Vaughn previously. Majority of the stories have a female angle, female protagonists, etc. Don't think I should have read them all in a row in two sittings, this is the sort of thing to sample now and again, when the mood strikes. Also, first couple of stories don't really draw you in as much as the subsequent ones, but there are at least a few tales so original and clever, it makes the book well worth the price of admission. With superheroes' boombastic adventures all over tv and cinema, this anthology offers the obverse of the glitz and glamour, dealing with the actual social and emotional ramifications of donning the tights and, of course, the mask. Thanks Netgalley.
April 21, 2017
An anthology of short stories that show how depressing it is to be a superhero. This book is full of angst and the dark side of doing good.
I have now officially taken Superhero off my bucket list!
I have now officially taken Superhero off my bucket list!
June 22, 2019
I....don’t have a single bad thing to say about this anthology. Sometimes a piece of gold is hidden in an anthology. Sometimes you just find a collection of stories that won’t fit together no matter how they’re forced. And sometimes you find Behind the Mask.
It might not be as wonderful if you’re not already a lover of the strange and outrageous but ultimately still human worlds of comic books. But if you are, these stories will speak to you. Most of them quietly broke my heart. Some of them made me laugh, and some of them made me hope. And I loved every single one.
It might not be as wonderful if you’re not already a lover of the strange and outrageous but ultimately still human worlds of comic books. But if you are, these stories will speak to you. Most of them quietly broke my heart. Some of them made me laugh, and some of them made me hope. And I loved every single one.
November 11, 2020
I ended up enjoying this anthology way more than I thought I would. I was expecting some standard superhero stuff but what we actually get is some really raw and human stories that can be very emotional.
Some of my favorites included:
Fool by Keith Frady – about a villain, Dr. Entropy who finally has the means to destroy the world but may be suffering from a crisis of conscious.
Pedestal Seanan McGuire – about a female superhero who moves to a suburb to try and be anonymous so she can have a normal life. A blogger discovers her, posts a pic, and brings a villain to the store where she’s shopping for ice cream. A great story about how those with fame are treated like they are no longer human and don’t deserve to have a life outside of the public one.
Over an Embattled City by Adam R. Shannon – about a man who has the ability to take reality and turn it into fiction, effectively removing those people or events from reality. And a girl who can remember what things were like prior to those things being turned into fiction.
I really enjoyed this anthology for how much more realistic it is, if superheroes and villains actually existed. What happens to your body in the long run after having a superpower for years? Does it deteriorate you mentally? Physically? How do people react to you? Can you ever have a normal life again?
This was way more enjoyable than I was expecting. I would definitely recommend.
ARC received via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Some of my favorites included:
Fool by Keith Frady – about a villain, Dr. Entropy who finally has the means to destroy the world but may be suffering from a crisis of conscious.
Pedestal Seanan McGuire – about a female superhero who moves to a suburb to try and be anonymous so she can have a normal life. A blogger discovers her, posts a pic, and brings a villain to the store where she’s shopping for ice cream. A great story about how those with fame are treated like they are no longer human and don’t deserve to have a life outside of the public one.
Over an Embattled City by Adam R. Shannon – about a man who has the ability to take reality and turn it into fiction, effectively removing those people or events from reality. And a girl who can remember what things were like prior to those things being turned into fiction.
I really enjoyed this anthology for how much more realistic it is, if superheroes and villains actually existed. What happens to your body in the long run after having a superpower for years? Does it deteriorate you mentally? Physically? How do people react to you? Can you ever have a normal life again?
This was way more enjoyable than I was expecting. I would definitely recommend.
ARC received via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 23, 2017
I would TOTALLY recommend this anthology. While I didn’t love all of the stories (and it is totally normal and fine), they all had their place in here and I feel that the ones I didn’t connect with still have the potential to be someone’s favourite. This will make everyone see super heroes/villains in another light.
Some stories were lighter than others, some were really dark, but they all complement each other on what it must be to be a super-powered person, live in a world with super-powered being or live in the future… As a whole, it mostly showed the dark side of the superhero life, or the aftermath of this life, but it still was a great reading experience.
I also loved the fact that a lot of the stories had a woman or young woman as their main character. Plus it can be noted that there are almost as many women writers in there as men, with almost a 50/50 ratio and I appreciate the effort. AND not every character was white and straight, with settings variating quite a lot. So the diversity aspect of the anthology was another +1 on why I would recommend it!
While I expected to see some of the ideas in there, others totally took me by surprise and I feel this anthology is a beautiful gem, with a lot of original content in the growing theme of superpowered people, whether they are superheroes or supervillains.
A review copy (eARC) of this book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley. Some things might change in the final copy.
My complete review with a little paragraph for each of the 20 stories can be found on my blog!
Some stories were lighter than others, some were really dark, but they all complement each other on what it must be to be a super-powered person, live in a world with super-powered being or live in the future… As a whole, it mostly showed the dark side of the superhero life, or the aftermath of this life, but it still was a great reading experience.
I also loved the fact that a lot of the stories had a woman or young woman as their main character. Plus it can be noted that there are almost as many women writers in there as men, with almost a 50/50 ratio and I appreciate the effort. AND not every character was white and straight, with settings variating quite a lot. So the diversity aspect of the anthology was another +1 on why I would recommend it!
While I expected to see some of the ideas in there, others totally took me by surprise and I feel this anthology is a beautiful gem, with a lot of original content in the growing theme of superpowered people, whether they are superheroes or supervillains.
A review copy (eARC) of this book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley. Some things might change in the final copy.
My complete review with a little paragraph for each of the 20 stories can be found on my blog!
February 28, 2017
A strong, varied anthology about superheroes, supervillains, and their regular lives
tl;dr at Overall, as always
The whole point of an anthology is to bring together wildly different styles and ideas, united by a single concept and see if it works. More often than not, it doesn’t. There’s always a varying ratio of duds to gems and it’s very rare to see a book of this kind that accomplishes the herculean feat of being good all the way through.
And yet here we are.
Behind the Mask presents 20 stories from 20 authors, all about heroes and villains and the way they live or influence normal people or see each other or… There is a wide range of ideas on display here, some more novel than others (The Beard of Truth is a nice story, but “what if your partner couldn’t lie to you?” is far from a fresh take on superpowers), and it is evident that all authors have a deep love of the superhero genre, as they gently poke fun at its conventions or outright skewer the sexist standards set in the last century and upheld out of sheer laziness.
I generally found the stories to be on the same level as a whole, though some stood out with more evocative writing styles and some boasted more unexpected stories that elevated the bland-ish writing. Still, there are some that I’d like to mention specifically, of course.
First, “Madjack”, a touching tribute to David Bowie and the power of music, that manages to evade the dangerous waters of schmaltzy hero worship, viewing its titular rockstar ubermensch through the eyes of his musician daughter. And its all the better for its downbeat, tasteful portrayal of her grief.
Second, “Pedestal”, which is extremely relevant and fun, though I have to admit that it is extremely on the nose at times, but some themes work even when subtlety is lost and this, thankfully, is one of them.
Third, “Salt City Blue”, which suffers only from pretty stale descriptions of sexual encounters that made me feel like the author himself wasn’t too interested in writing them. But the story is stellar and the side of heroes that it explores is new and exciting.
Fourth, “Torch Songs”, which Rosson writes the hell out of, even though the narrative could have used stronger pacing. It’s tough not to love this, as it is one of the better-written tales in the anthology, using vivid imagery and never flinching when the time comes to deliver a description that toes the line between “moody and atmospheric” and “gaudy”, always landing on the right side.
And, lastly, fifth, “Fool”, a tragedy which takes the “loser villain” trope, so often portrayed for laughs in cartoons and more comedic comic books, and plays it straight with a heartbroken man hoping to finally achieve some great dastardly deed and being unable to perform.
That’s not to say that the other stories aren’t good, I greatly enjoyed all of them, with just two stories being not entirely my cup of tea (The Fall of the Jade Sword, Origin Story #2). I would highly recommend this to anybody and everybody.
Overall, versatile and highly creative, this anthology sets some limitations for talented writers and lets us watch them flourish with each new story. A must-read for anybody who even remotely enjoys the concept of superheroes.
ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley
tl;dr at Overall, as always
The whole point of an anthology is to bring together wildly different styles and ideas, united by a single concept and see if it works. More often than not, it doesn’t. There’s always a varying ratio of duds to gems and it’s very rare to see a book of this kind that accomplishes the herculean feat of being good all the way through.
And yet here we are.
Behind the Mask presents 20 stories from 20 authors, all about heroes and villains and the way they live or influence normal people or see each other or… There is a wide range of ideas on display here, some more novel than others (The Beard of Truth is a nice story, but “what if your partner couldn’t lie to you?” is far from a fresh take on superpowers), and it is evident that all authors have a deep love of the superhero genre, as they gently poke fun at its conventions or outright skewer the sexist standards set in the last century and upheld out of sheer laziness.
I generally found the stories to be on the same level as a whole, though some stood out with more evocative writing styles and some boasted more unexpected stories that elevated the bland-ish writing. Still, there are some that I’d like to mention specifically, of course.
First, “Madjack”, a touching tribute to David Bowie and the power of music, that manages to evade the dangerous waters of schmaltzy hero worship, viewing its titular rockstar ubermensch through the eyes of his musician daughter. And its all the better for its downbeat, tasteful portrayal of her grief.
Second, “Pedestal”, which is extremely relevant and fun, though I have to admit that it is extremely on the nose at times, but some themes work even when subtlety is lost and this, thankfully, is one of them.
Third, “Salt City Blue”, which suffers only from pretty stale descriptions of sexual encounters that made me feel like the author himself wasn’t too interested in writing them. But the story is stellar and the side of heroes that it explores is new and exciting.
Fourth, “Torch Songs”, which Rosson writes the hell out of, even though the narrative could have used stronger pacing. It’s tough not to love this, as it is one of the better-written tales in the anthology, using vivid imagery and never flinching when the time comes to deliver a description that toes the line between “moody and atmospheric” and “gaudy”, always landing on the right side.
And, lastly, fifth, “Fool”, a tragedy which takes the “loser villain” trope, so often portrayed for laughs in cartoons and more comedic comic books, and plays it straight with a heartbroken man hoping to finally achieve some great dastardly deed and being unable to perform.
That’s not to say that the other stories aren’t good, I greatly enjoyed all of them, with just two stories being not entirely my cup of tea (The Fall of the Jade Sword, Origin Story #2). I would highly recommend this to anybody and everybody.
Overall, versatile and highly creative, this anthology sets some limitations for talented writers and lets us watch them flourish with each new story. A must-read for anybody who even remotely enjoys the concept of superheroes.
ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley
September 30, 2017
I wrote mini-reviews for all 20 short stories, so enjoy!
Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut by Cat Rambo
I love superheroes. I've made that very clear multiple times. So I was very happy when I started reading this story about a team of SUPERHEROINES. Our protagonist, Ms. Liberty, is a cyborg writer whose creators made her to not really feel anything, just to have a woman to have sex with. Pretty disgusting to me. This is her journey on how she discovers herself and her true meaning, and what doea life mean to her. It's amazing how this story is so short, but Rambo managed to create a character that you feel for and relate to.
Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut is diverse af, since all the heroines don't really have genders, but still decide to call themselves women, because they feel like a woman and feel comfortable as a woman. How they are willing to love anyone who loves them for who they are, but not their looks. How men often treat women like if they were objects, ones they can sweep the floor with.
The whole idea of The Unidentified is great. These women create this group because males put them aside, and under them. They want to feel powerful, and want to escape the judgment of men. They don't include men in this group, because the men in their city are all the same and they won't change anytime soon. Trust me girls, I feel the same.
Basically, if you're feeling down or you have a low self-esteem at the moment, read this. It'll make you realize that you are WORTH it, that no matter what anyone tells you, you are who you are, names, and bodies, and sexualities will NEVER FUCKING MATTER. Be yourself, put others' thoughts behind you, and simply be awesome.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Destroy the City With Me Tonight by Kat Marshall
The first line really drew me in but compared to Ms. Liberty, it was weak in terms of character development & plot. I didn't connect to the main character, and I would've liked a further explanation of the marks on her skin. I know this isn't a novel, but I was confused, and when I ended reading, I had more questions than answers. I guess I didn't like how everything was put together.
I did like the message sent. Because others don't value you, it doesn't mean you aren't worth anything. You don't need other people's opinions to know that you are valuable and meaningful to the world. And if someone ignores you or forgets you, they don't deserve your time.
Rating: ⭐⭐
Fool by Keith Frady
There's not really a hero, there is a villain in this story. And he reminds me too much of Gru. Or maybe I'm too obsessed with Despicable Me. He has created a bunch of androids who are yellow & cute. Wait, wrong description. He humanized them so they could be his servants. He wanted them to help him destroy the planet.
It was never explained what were his motives for this particular desire, which is a bit upsetting. But the story does send a very important message, don't blame your problems on others. They're not guilty of what you're going through. Don't get mad at them because your upset or disappointed. Handle the problem and don't take out your anger on others.
Definitely going to be checking out more Keith Frady's work to devour his exquisite writing style.
Rating: ⭐⭐.75
Pedestal by Seanan McGuire
What a unique short story! This was my most anticipated story from the anthology and it did not disappoint. Seanan McGuire is the author of Every Heart a Doorway, and now I want to read it more than I already do. The writing was so amazing and funny, I loved it. It was the first story we saw an actual fighting scene and it was EPIC! And in a grocery store!
Pedestal sends an incredibly important message: don't judge someone when you don't know them. Being so judgemental won't lead you anywhere. Insulting someone without knowing what they've gone through is simply ridiculous. It also shows the struggles of being famous. And I found it very realistic. Celebrities live complicated lives, why do we need to invade their privacy?
I would've liked Alice's powers to be explored much further and I was very confused at what that purple thing was. Other than that, it was a very unique story I would recommend to every superhero fan out there.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As I Fall Asleep by Aimee Ogden
As I Fall Asleep was very interesting since Cerebrelle's powers very unique. Somehow, she could see every single component and substance in the human body and the atmosphere. The writing was pretty nice and I liked the idea Ogden was going for. But I think it wasn't executed very well. The ending was VERY open and there are a bunch of plot holes waiting to be explained.
I can definitely see this working as a novel, not a short story.
Rating: ⭐⭐.5
Meeting Someone in the 22nd Century or Until the Gears Quit Turning by Jennifer Pullen
This one was cool, because it goes into the lives of a superhero we never see in action. It's about this guy who goes frequently to this bookstore, and he's very attracted to the female cashier. When he finally builds up the courage to ask her out, she reveals she's a cyborg and later that she MAY be a superhero.
We see three stages: dating, marriage, and parenthood. And it's really freaking adorable. Greg and Sandra go through a lot, but this story teaches us that love is powerful enough to survive anything. True love is true love, no matter the person's faults or oddities. Greg is #Goals because he loved and cared for Sandra even though she was a cyborg. Someone else might have just pushed her away because she was different.
It lacked superhero action and I wanted to see her in costume, but that's just personal taste, I guess.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Inheritance by Michael Milne
Throughout Inheritance, we follow Oliver, whose parents are getting divorced, and if you're a distracted reader, you won't catch on to his powers. I guess it was a story about finding yourself and realizing that things are not always going to be the same.
While reading the other stories in this anthology, I've gotten something nice from most of them. But, in my opinion, this story wasn't structured very well, and didn't really have a beginning or end. Probably my least favorite so far...
Rating: ⭐⭐
Heroes by Lavie Tidhar
Unfortunately, Heroes has beaten Inheritance to my least favorite story from the anthology. I hate History and I don't like historical fiction, from movies, to books, to TV shows, etc, etc, etc. It's always been incredibly boring to me. Maybe that's why I didn't like it. Maybe other people will like it better. But is was SO NOT my cup of tea.
I found it confusing and it changed from year to year several times. And the constant talk about the Nazis, Hitler, and the war, was just, ugh. I hated it. I finished reading and was like: "What the hell did I just read? I didn't get a fucking thing."
Rating: ⭐
Madjack by Nathan Crowder
Such an interesting coming-of-age story about coming to terms with who you are and what's ahead in life. Not only were the characters so nicely fleshed out in no-time, the writing was simple but poetic, and it was very diverse. The main character was of Indian heritage and her and her father were rock stars. The characters featured at the beginning weren't really developed and really didn't have a purpose.
I did find it interesting that the author chose rock & roll, since in most novels talking about fame, the music genre is pop. I wanted to see Madjack in action, and like outer space and the aliens, so I didn't love it because of it. But it was still good, and I would definitely re-read it at some point.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.75
Quintessential Justice by Patrick Flanagan
The writing was very funny and clever, but the story itself was boring af. I didn't care for the characters and was very confused the entire time. Lots of words with Q though, and quite some action, but in my opinion, it wasn't executed very well.
Rating: ⭐⭐
The Fall of the Jade Sword by Stephanie Lai
Let's just say, I don't know what I just read. It's a diverse short story with Chinese characters that confused me with its writing and plot. I didn't understand anything, didn't connect to the characters, and the writing style was not my thing.
Rating: ⭐
Origin Story by Carrie Vaughn
Just like the title says, it's the origin story of a twenty-something henchwoman and how she became evil. The writing was very nice. This story was quite short, but I still really connected to the characters. It was interesting to read, the setting was cool, and it just comes to show you that love makes people do crazy things.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Eggshells by Ziggy Schutz
I wasn't really sure what to think of this one, because of the title. I know, ridiculous. But I quite enjoyed it. I was a little bit confused at parts, like I knew Pen was queer and maybe she didn't want to decide on a certain label, and I don't want to jump into conclusions. I mixed up the characters a little bit, and I wanted to know why the concussion affected Penny so much. It was nice to see the relationship with her brother, and I related.
Rating: ⭐⭐.5
Salt City Blue by Chris Large
Definitely one of the funniest stories of this anthology! Helen's humor had me laughing out loud and the story itself was very odd but unique. It was giving me serious Kryptonian vibes. Except Crimson Reign isn't Skyball's cousin. The writing was witty and extremely hilarious, making this story very entertaining.
I would've loved this as a novel, as it had tons of potential and I really liked all the characters and simply wanted more of Salt City. I still have some questions after finishing it, but I can safely say it is one of the best.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Birthright by Stuart Suffel
I don't know how to feel. The introduction was promising and I was sure I was in for the coolest futuristic story, but it felt very anticlimactic. The language was confusing, I couldn't connect with the characters or the story and plot. I was left with a lot of questions and I wasn't impacted whatsover.
Rating: ⭐⭐
The Smoke Means It's Working by Sarah Pinsker
This was such a unique short story. It was definitely intriguing and the robot aspect was super cool. It was a bit confusing to understand the bot's parts but nonetheless, a lot of fun. I wanted a bit more of superhero action, but I feel like this would work wonderfully as a novel.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.75
Torch Songs by Keith Rosson
Carnivals and circuses have become a recent weakness of mine, so I was instantly pulled into the story. It had very poetic and evocative writing, and the setting was incredibly eerie and mysterious, which I loved. This is some great novel material right here, and I'd pay anything to read a bit more. The ending was a bit disappointing and there was a lot of potential in terms of villainy and storyline. But, it was still fantastic.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Beard of Truth by Matt Mikalatos
This was probably one of the funniest short stories from this anthology. Everyone was hilarious and the fact that anyone could get any superpower at any moment was really cool. It seriously got me wishing I lived there, in hopes of getting superspeed.
I got really attached to the story and I really wanted it to be longer. The writing was very witty and fun, so expect me to check more of Mikalatos' work.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Over an Embattled City by Adam R. Shannon
This had to do with comic books, so I was immediately in. But, there was no sense of purpose to this story. Yeah, it was interesting. But, it was shallow and flat. Anticlimactic to the max. I wanted more out of it, something that wasn't confusion.
Rating: ⭐⭐
Origin Story by Kelly Link
I wanted this anthology to close out with a momentum. The best short story of them all. But I couldn't be more disappointed. There was no plot to this, just a boy and a girl blabbering out and about, and it made no sense. At first, I thought it was some short Wizard of Oz retelling. It was confusing and nothing happened. Or maybe it did and I didn't understand.
Rating: ⭐
All in all, for being my first anthology, it was pretty great. It took me the longest time to read, but what matters is that I'm done and I enjoyed it. As a lover of superheroes, I found a couple of new favorites, and some, I'd rather not think about. If you're a fan of anthologies, give this one a go. And even if you're not the biggest fan of short story collections but adore superheroes, it's worth checking out.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.75
Thank you to Meerkat Press for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
Actual rating: 3.75/5
Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut by Cat Rambo
I love superheroes. I've made that very clear multiple times. So I was very happy when I started reading this story about a team of SUPERHEROINES. Our protagonist, Ms. Liberty, is a cyborg writer whose creators made her to not really feel anything, just to have a woman to have sex with. Pretty disgusting to me. This is her journey on how she discovers herself and her true meaning, and what doea life mean to her. It's amazing how this story is so short, but Rambo managed to create a character that you feel for and relate to.
Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut is diverse af, since all the heroines don't really have genders, but still decide to call themselves women, because they feel like a woman and feel comfortable as a woman. How they are willing to love anyone who loves them for who they are, but not their looks. How men often treat women like if they were objects, ones they can sweep the floor with.
The whole idea of The Unidentified is great. These women create this group because males put them aside, and under them. They want to feel powerful, and want to escape the judgment of men. They don't include men in this group, because the men in their city are all the same and they won't change anytime soon. Trust me girls, I feel the same.
Basically, if you're feeling down or you have a low self-esteem at the moment, read this. It'll make you realize that you are WORTH it, that no matter what anyone tells you, you are who you are, names, and bodies, and sexualities will NEVER FUCKING MATTER. Be yourself, put others' thoughts behind you, and simply be awesome.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Destroy the City With Me Tonight by Kat Marshall
The first line really drew me in but compared to Ms. Liberty, it was weak in terms of character development & plot. I didn't connect to the main character, and I would've liked a further explanation of the marks on her skin. I know this isn't a novel, but I was confused, and when I ended reading, I had more questions than answers. I guess I didn't like how everything was put together.
I did like the message sent. Because others don't value you, it doesn't mean you aren't worth anything. You don't need other people's opinions to know that you are valuable and meaningful to the world. And if someone ignores you or forgets you, they don't deserve your time.
Rating: ⭐⭐
Fool by Keith Frady
There's not really a hero, there is a villain in this story. And he reminds me too much of Gru. Or maybe I'm too obsessed with Despicable Me. He has created a bunch of androids who are yellow & cute. Wait, wrong description. He humanized them so they could be his servants. He wanted them to help him destroy the planet.
It was never explained what were his motives for this particular desire, which is a bit upsetting. But the story does send a very important message, don't blame your problems on others. They're not guilty of what you're going through. Don't get mad at them because your upset or disappointed. Handle the problem and don't take out your anger on others.
Definitely going to be checking out more Keith Frady's work to devour his exquisite writing style.
Rating: ⭐⭐.75
Pedestal by Seanan McGuire
What a unique short story! This was my most anticipated story from the anthology and it did not disappoint. Seanan McGuire is the author of Every Heart a Doorway, and now I want to read it more than I already do. The writing was so amazing and funny, I loved it. It was the first story we saw an actual fighting scene and it was EPIC! And in a grocery store!
Pedestal sends an incredibly important message: don't judge someone when you don't know them. Being so judgemental won't lead you anywhere. Insulting someone without knowing what they've gone through is simply ridiculous. It also shows the struggles of being famous. And I found it very realistic. Celebrities live complicated lives, why do we need to invade their privacy?
I would've liked Alice's powers to be explored much further and I was very confused at what that purple thing was. Other than that, it was a very unique story I would recommend to every superhero fan out there.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As I Fall Asleep by Aimee Ogden
As I Fall Asleep was very interesting since Cerebrelle's powers very unique. Somehow, she could see every single component and substance in the human body and the atmosphere. The writing was pretty nice and I liked the idea Ogden was going for. But I think it wasn't executed very well. The ending was VERY open and there are a bunch of plot holes waiting to be explained.
I can definitely see this working as a novel, not a short story.
Rating: ⭐⭐.5
Meeting Someone in the 22nd Century or Until the Gears Quit Turning by Jennifer Pullen
This one was cool, because it goes into the lives of a superhero we never see in action. It's about this guy who goes frequently to this bookstore, and he's very attracted to the female cashier. When he finally builds up the courage to ask her out, she reveals she's a cyborg and later that she MAY be a superhero.
We see three stages: dating, marriage, and parenthood. And it's really freaking adorable. Greg and Sandra go through a lot, but this story teaches us that love is powerful enough to survive anything. True love is true love, no matter the person's faults or oddities. Greg is #Goals because he loved and cared for Sandra even though she was a cyborg. Someone else might have just pushed her away because she was different.
It lacked superhero action and I wanted to see her in costume, but that's just personal taste, I guess.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Inheritance by Michael Milne
Throughout Inheritance, we follow Oliver, whose parents are getting divorced, and if you're a distracted reader, you won't catch on to his powers. I guess it was a story about finding yourself and realizing that things are not always going to be the same.
While reading the other stories in this anthology, I've gotten something nice from most of them. But, in my opinion, this story wasn't structured very well, and didn't really have a beginning or end. Probably my least favorite so far...
Rating: ⭐⭐
Heroes by Lavie Tidhar
Unfortunately, Heroes has beaten Inheritance to my least favorite story from the anthology. I hate History and I don't like historical fiction, from movies, to books, to TV shows, etc, etc, etc. It's always been incredibly boring to me. Maybe that's why I didn't like it. Maybe other people will like it better. But is was SO NOT my cup of tea.
I found it confusing and it changed from year to year several times. And the constant talk about the Nazis, Hitler, and the war, was just, ugh. I hated it. I finished reading and was like: "What the hell did I just read? I didn't get a fucking thing."
Rating: ⭐
Madjack by Nathan Crowder
Such an interesting coming-of-age story about coming to terms with who you are and what's ahead in life. Not only were the characters so nicely fleshed out in no-time, the writing was simple but poetic, and it was very diverse. The main character was of Indian heritage and her and her father were rock stars. The characters featured at the beginning weren't really developed and really didn't have a purpose.
I did find it interesting that the author chose rock & roll, since in most novels talking about fame, the music genre is pop. I wanted to see Madjack in action, and like outer space and the aliens, so I didn't love it because of it. But it was still good, and I would definitely re-read it at some point.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.75
Quintessential Justice by Patrick Flanagan
The writing was very funny and clever, but the story itself was boring af. I didn't care for the characters and was very confused the entire time. Lots of words with Q though, and quite some action, but in my opinion, it wasn't executed very well.
Rating: ⭐⭐
The Fall of the Jade Sword by Stephanie Lai
Let's just say, I don't know what I just read. It's a diverse short story with Chinese characters that confused me with its writing and plot. I didn't understand anything, didn't connect to the characters, and the writing style was not my thing.
Rating: ⭐
Origin Story by Carrie Vaughn
Just like the title says, it's the origin story of a twenty-something henchwoman and how she became evil. The writing was very nice. This story was quite short, but I still really connected to the characters. It was interesting to read, the setting was cool, and it just comes to show you that love makes people do crazy things.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Eggshells by Ziggy Schutz
I wasn't really sure what to think of this one, because of the title. I know, ridiculous. But I quite enjoyed it. I was a little bit confused at parts, like I knew Pen was queer and maybe she didn't want to decide on a certain label, and I don't want to jump into conclusions. I mixed up the characters a little bit, and I wanted to know why the concussion affected Penny so much. It was nice to see the relationship with her brother, and I related.
Rating: ⭐⭐.5
Salt City Blue by Chris Large
Definitely one of the funniest stories of this anthology! Helen's humor had me laughing out loud and the story itself was very odd but unique. It was giving me serious Kryptonian vibes. Except Crimson Reign isn't Skyball's cousin. The writing was witty and extremely hilarious, making this story very entertaining.
I would've loved this as a novel, as it had tons of potential and I really liked all the characters and simply wanted more of Salt City. I still have some questions after finishing it, but I can safely say it is one of the best.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Birthright by Stuart Suffel
I don't know how to feel. The introduction was promising and I was sure I was in for the coolest futuristic story, but it felt very anticlimactic. The language was confusing, I couldn't connect with the characters or the story and plot. I was left with a lot of questions and I wasn't impacted whatsover.
Rating: ⭐⭐
The Smoke Means It's Working by Sarah Pinsker
This was such a unique short story. It was definitely intriguing and the robot aspect was super cool. It was a bit confusing to understand the bot's parts but nonetheless, a lot of fun. I wanted a bit more of superhero action, but I feel like this would work wonderfully as a novel.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.75
Torch Songs by Keith Rosson
Carnivals and circuses have become a recent weakness of mine, so I was instantly pulled into the story. It had very poetic and evocative writing, and the setting was incredibly eerie and mysterious, which I loved. This is some great novel material right here, and I'd pay anything to read a bit more. The ending was a bit disappointing and there was a lot of potential in terms of villainy and storyline. But, it was still fantastic.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Beard of Truth by Matt Mikalatos
This was probably one of the funniest short stories from this anthology. Everyone was hilarious and the fact that anyone could get any superpower at any moment was really cool. It seriously got me wishing I lived there, in hopes of getting superspeed.
I got really attached to the story and I really wanted it to be longer. The writing was very witty and fun, so expect me to check more of Mikalatos' work.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Over an Embattled City by Adam R. Shannon
This had to do with comic books, so I was immediately in. But, there was no sense of purpose to this story. Yeah, it was interesting. But, it was shallow and flat. Anticlimactic to the max. I wanted more out of it, something that wasn't confusion.
Rating: ⭐⭐
Origin Story by Kelly Link
I wanted this anthology to close out with a momentum. The best short story of them all. But I couldn't be more disappointed. There was no plot to this, just a boy and a girl blabbering out and about, and it made no sense. At first, I thought it was some short Wizard of Oz retelling. It was confusing and nothing happened. Or maybe it did and I didn't understand.
Rating: ⭐
All in all, for being my first anthology, it was pretty great. It took me the longest time to read, but what matters is that I'm done and I enjoyed it. As a lover of superheroes, I found a couple of new favorites, and some, I'd rather not think about. If you're a fan of anthologies, give this one a go. And even if you're not the biggest fan of short story collections but adore superheroes, it's worth checking out.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.75
Thank you to Meerkat Press for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
Actual rating: 3.75/5
Read
May 16, 2017A collection of prose short stories themed, sometimes loosely, around superheroes and their worlds. Contributors such as Kelly Link and Lavie Tidhar were what got my attention more than that, though; if anything, I have the same scepticism of SF and fantasy writers doing superheroes as of litfic writers doing SF and fantasy. There can be the same sense of condescension, the notion that 'I've not been keeping up with this field, but I know better anyway', leading to an awful lot of pale retreads of ideas done to death in the field proper, which nonetheless expect to be applauded for their supposed bold originality. All the more so for the way superhero comics have ramified and dug deeper these past thirty years or so; when Larry Niven wrote 'Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex' in 1969, he was looking at stuff you'd never have seen in a Superman comic of the era; nowadays, any similar idea has probably been the subject at least of a dubious miniseries starring an analogue of the character in question. Fortunately, my fears on this count were largely unfounded; I suspect most if not all of these writers are proper superhero fans, and if some of the story engines aren't exactly original (the all-female superteam; the superhero pop star; the world whose heroes are gradually being retconned out of existence) then the treatments generally justify them all the same. Because ultimately, there are things prose can do better than comics. An issue of people sat around talking, or worse, musing to themselves, without any action to liven it up? There are a handful of artists who can sell that, but as a rule you're not playing to the medium's strengths. Whereas those quiet moments in between the big stories are perfect for prose, and that's what a lot of these pieces are; the vignettes, the marginalia, the calm before or after the storm.
(Netgalley ARC)
(Netgalley ARC)
August 31, 2017
I adore superheroes. They are one of my weaknesses and as soon as I saw this book, I jumped on it. It did not disappoint. The stellar line-up of authors have crafted short stories that all approach superpowers differently, and in often unusual ways. Like the story where gaining superpowers means you end up being forgotten. Or the one where a retired superhero doesn't realized she's retired. A number of the stories showed the human side of superheroes, the stories about those who were in their lives or on the sidelines.
There were a lot of stories that seemed to just end, which was a bit frustrating. I wish those had been expanded upon just a bit so that they felt more complete. But overall, a really enjoyable collection of stories. Well worth the read for every superhero junkie.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.
There were a lot of stories that seemed to just end, which was a bit frustrating. I wish those had been expanded upon just a bit so that they felt more complete. But overall, a really enjoyable collection of stories. Well worth the read for every superhero junkie.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.
May 8, 2017
Also reviewed on my blog here
Behind the Mask falls into the category of themed collection in that all the stories are variations on superheroes, or at least people with abilities beyond the normal. Most are about characters that could be called superheroes or supervillains (right down to the mad scientist with a hideout in a volcano), but there are also aliens (or the child of aliens), cyborgs, and even some magic realism. I requested this book from NetGalley mainly because I am a fan of Seanan McGuire, but I was pleased to find that the majority of the stories worked well for me.
Among my favorite stories were:
Ms Liberty Gets a Haircut by Cat Rambo, which was a look at a female superhero who was created as a sex object, trying to take control of her life.
Destroy the City With Me Tonight by Kate Marshall, where random people become city guardians when maps of the city appears etched literally on their bones, and everyone who knew them as individuals forget they ever existed.
Pedestal by Seanan McGuire, where a heroine tries to have a private life in an era of internet stalkers. Set in the world of her short story series about a different heroine named Velveteen
As I Fall Asleep by Aimee Ogden speculates about what if an aging superhero develops dementia
The Fall of the Jade Sword by Stephanie Lai is a steampunk story in Australia with an Asian heroine dealing with prejudice and family expectations.
Eggshells by Ziggy Schutz uses superheroes to look at post-concussion syndrome.
The Beard of Truth by Matt Mikalatos made me laugh in his story of a world where people are randomly developing powers, and a young man learns that if he grows a beard, everyone around him is forced to tell the truth.
Over an Embattled City by Adam R Shannon has the interesting idea of a comic book writer who makes superheroes and villains disappear by finding out their origins and writing them into comic book characters.
By the end of the collection, there were only three stories out of the twenty that didn't work for me, and for a multi-author collection, that is an excellent ratio.
Behind the Mask falls into the category of themed collection in that all the stories are variations on superheroes, or at least people with abilities beyond the normal. Most are about characters that could be called superheroes or supervillains (right down to the mad scientist with a hideout in a volcano), but there are also aliens (or the child of aliens), cyborgs, and even some magic realism. I requested this book from NetGalley mainly because I am a fan of Seanan McGuire, but I was pleased to find that the majority of the stories worked well for me.
Among my favorite stories were:
Ms Liberty Gets a Haircut by Cat Rambo, which was a look at a female superhero who was created as a sex object, trying to take control of her life.
Destroy the City With Me Tonight by Kate Marshall, where random people become city guardians when maps of the city appears etched literally on their bones, and everyone who knew them as individuals forget they ever existed.
Pedestal by Seanan McGuire, where a heroine tries to have a private life in an era of internet stalkers. Set in the world of her short story series about a different heroine named Velveteen
As I Fall Asleep by Aimee Ogden speculates about what if an aging superhero develops dementia
The Fall of the Jade Sword by Stephanie Lai is a steampunk story in Australia with an Asian heroine dealing with prejudice and family expectations.
Eggshells by Ziggy Schutz uses superheroes to look at post-concussion syndrome.
The Beard of Truth by Matt Mikalatos made me laugh in his story of a world where people are randomly developing powers, and a young man learns that if he grows a beard, everyone around him is forced to tell the truth.
Over an Embattled City by Adam R Shannon has the interesting idea of a comic book writer who makes superheroes and villains disappear by finding out their origins and writing them into comic book characters.
By the end of the collection, there were only three stories out of the twenty that didn't work for me, and for a multi-author collection, that is an excellent ratio.
Read
March 5, 2017I started reading superhero comic books when I was a mere sprout in the 1960's. I still love them-especially female superheroes. That's why I immediately jumped at the chance to read and review an ARC of Behind The Mask: A Superhero Anthology from Net Galley.
Sixteen of the twenty stories that appear in this volume are original to the anthology. Only four are reprints. The stories I liked best have never appeared anywhere else. Other stories were well-written but didn't appeal to me. There also were stories that didn't feel complete in themselves. They were probably sneak peeks for upcoming novels.
I think that what the stories that I really loved had in common is that they involved characters with enough stature to be called heroes, characters that I admired because they struggled against becoming villains. That's my motivation for reading about superheroes. I want to believe in heroes. I feel that they represent the best in us. In this world where cynicism and noir are popular, I feel that superheroes are the antidote. I found that hopeful vision in those particular stories of Behind The Mask which makes me glad that I read them.
For my complete review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
Sixteen of the twenty stories that appear in this volume are original to the anthology. Only four are reprints. The stories I liked best have never appeared anywhere else. Other stories were well-written but didn't appeal to me. There also were stories that didn't feel complete in themselves. They were probably sneak peeks for upcoming novels.
I think that what the stories that I really loved had in common is that they involved characters with enough stature to be called heroes, characters that I admired because they struggled against becoming villains. That's my motivation for reading about superheroes. I want to believe in heroes. I feel that they represent the best in us. In this world where cynicism and noir are popular, I feel that superheroes are the antidote. I found that hopeful vision in those particular stories of Behind The Mask which makes me glad that I read them.
For my complete review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
September 5, 2017
A collection of really powerful superhero short stories. These stories are not your run of mill super hero tales - but rather a look at superhero's after the bad guys have been fought. Or at the families of superheroes. Or the tough loses that superhero's face. And maybe a villain tale or two.
Very good read - most are very powerful stories. i wish a coupla could be expanded into full novels.
*I got this book through GoodRead's Giveaways - an excellent source of interesting books!
Very good read - most are very powerful stories. i wish a coupla could be expanded into full novels.
*I got this book through GoodRead's Giveaways - an excellent source of interesting books!
August 18, 2018
Kind of a miss. I liked the idea and I enjoyed some of the stories more than others but I was expecting it to be funny and it had a very somber tone.
April 24, 2017
I'm a fan of superhero stories. I rarely read comics these days, but I seem to enjoy an awful lot of prose novels that take the superhero genre and give it a little twist. In Behind the Mask, there are 20 stories that play with what it is to be a superhero (or supervillain, in some cases). Some could come straight out of the existing comic universes we know, others are far more subtle and different. All are, without exception, highly engaging reads. From stories that are (at least on the surface) played with an edge of humour to those that swing deep into the pits of despair, these stories take on such a variety of aspects that there simply wasn't time to get bored or tired of reading.
It is very unusual for me to immerse in and like (if not love) every single story in an anthology. Statistically, it's unlikely, to say the least. But I genuinely did enjoy each of the stories in this book (16 original works and four reprints, two of them confusingly with the same title!), and can't recommend it enough. But even though I liked them all, I definitely had some favourites.
"Pedastal" by Seanan McGuire - I love Seanan's work, and her Velveteen series is a favourite of mine, so it's no surprise that I really liked this story. It's so very domestic, but still manages to deal with some bigger issues, very gently.
I don't know if I read it with an influenced eye, but "As I Fall Asleep" by Aimee Ogden put me in mind of the journey of Professor Xavier in the recent Logan film. Quite heartbreaking.
In the interests of transparency, I note that I have published stories by Stephanie Lai, but regardless of that, I loved her piece "The Fall of the Jade Sword" - it's very contained, but offers so much to unpack.
Possibly my very favourite story in the anthology was "Eggshells" by Ziggy Schutz. It is definitively young adult in feel and construction, and works just beautifully. Gorgeous characters and a gentle journey of a plot.
Honestly, though I have pulled out just a handful to mention by name, I really did like all the stories, and could go on to discuss each of them! If I have one complaint, it is that I came away from several stories wanting far more than I got! I would love to see novels come out of many of these stories (or at least a series of novellas, ala Tansy Rayner Robert's forays in her Cookie Cutter Superhero world), they were that well built and readable. As complaints go, it's a good one to have about an anthology, I reckon. Kudos to the editors on making a great selection of well rounded, thought-provoking set of stories.
It is very unusual for me to immerse in and like (if not love) every single story in an anthology. Statistically, it's unlikely, to say the least. But I genuinely did enjoy each of the stories in this book (16 original works and four reprints, two of them confusingly with the same title!), and can't recommend it enough. But even though I liked them all, I definitely had some favourites.
"Pedastal" by Seanan McGuire - I love Seanan's work, and her Velveteen series is a favourite of mine, so it's no surprise that I really liked this story. It's so very domestic, but still manages to deal with some bigger issues, very gently.
I don't know if I read it with an influenced eye, but "As I Fall Asleep" by Aimee Ogden put me in mind of the journey of Professor Xavier in the recent Logan film. Quite heartbreaking.
In the interests of transparency, I note that I have published stories by Stephanie Lai, but regardless of that, I loved her piece "The Fall of the Jade Sword" - it's very contained, but offers so much to unpack.
Possibly my very favourite story in the anthology was "Eggshells" by Ziggy Schutz. It is definitively young adult in feel and construction, and works just beautifully. Gorgeous characters and a gentle journey of a plot.
Honestly, though I have pulled out just a handful to mention by name, I really did like all the stories, and could go on to discuss each of them! If I have one complaint, it is that I came away from several stories wanting far more than I got! I would love to see novels come out of many of these stories (or at least a series of novellas, ala Tansy Rayner Robert's forays in her Cookie Cutter Superhero world), they were that well built and readable. As complaints go, it's a good one to have about an anthology, I reckon. Kudos to the editors on making a great selection of well rounded, thought-provoking set of stories.
March 10, 2017
Full review on: http://inkyreviews.blogspot.com.ar/20...
4.5 out of 5 stars
"Superhero" can mean different things depending on who you ask. If you ask your Grandpa, he'll probably recall reading about superheroes in comics when he was your age; if you ask a kid, he'll probably say his Dad is a superhero. The official definition, however, states it is a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers; or an exceptionally skillful or successful person.
I think "exceptionally skillful person" is the perfect definition for the characters in this anthology. Every story shows that whether they're superheroes or super villains, when their masks are off, they're people too.
Masterfully-written, this compilation lets us peek inside these people's ordinary lives, and shows us that they may not be as different as we think.
I want to start off by saying that I've never read a more welcoming introduction in my life. Tricia Reeks' anecdote about her grandson was the perfect way to introduce the 20 stories. I also want to quote Kyle on something every reader can relate to "I found life through the life of others." If that's not why we read, then I don't know what is.
I want to highlight some of my favorites:
Destroy the City with Me Tonight by Kate Marshall
The plot behind this story was so ingenious. To twist the typical "hero who defends a certain city" into a hero that is enslaved to one is fantastic. "She's always wondered why you'd bother with a mask; now she gets it. It's not to be concealed, it's to be seen, to be remembered."
Pedestal by Seanan McGuire
A funny yet realistic story of the struggles to lead an ordinary life when you're a superhero, a celebrity. I loved the casual thoughts she had during the fight: "I enjoy the number of limbs I have and buying jeans is difficult enough without mutating." We've all been there.
Quintessential Justice by Patrick Flanagan
This lighthearted story follows the day of a superhero's assistant. I found the conversations hilarious and loved the eccentric vocabulary. This story is proof that everything is not what it seems, and that we often label people without knowing them. Even Patrick's "about the author" is fantastic!
Eggshells by Ziggy Schutz
It is a heart-warming story about the process of recovery from an injury in which we learn, along the main character, that we shouldn't be ashamed of asking for help.
Final thoughts
I would be writing all night if I talked about every single story in here. I really liked most of them, luckily, but some of them just weren't my cup of tea.
The great thing about these stories is that everyone will find a character to feel identified to. Some of them are revenge-driven, some are angry or afraid, but more importantly, they're human.I think that's something most of us can relate to, right? (If you're an alien please contact me.)
Absolutely recommend it!
4.5 out of 5 stars
"Superhero" can mean different things depending on who you ask. If you ask your Grandpa, he'll probably recall reading about superheroes in comics when he was your age; if you ask a kid, he'll probably say his Dad is a superhero. The official definition, however, states it is a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers; or an exceptionally skillful or successful person.
I think "exceptionally skillful person" is the perfect definition for the characters in this anthology. Every story shows that whether they're superheroes or super villains, when their masks are off, they're people too.
Masterfully-written, this compilation lets us peek inside these people's ordinary lives, and shows us that they may not be as different as we think.
I want to start off by saying that I've never read a more welcoming introduction in my life. Tricia Reeks' anecdote about her grandson was the perfect way to introduce the 20 stories. I also want to quote Kyle on something every reader can relate to "I found life through the life of others." If that's not why we read, then I don't know what is.
I want to highlight some of my favorites:
Destroy the City with Me Tonight by Kate Marshall
The plot behind this story was so ingenious. To twist the typical "hero who defends a certain city" into a hero that is enslaved to one is fantastic. "She's always wondered why you'd bother with a mask; now she gets it. It's not to be concealed, it's to be seen, to be remembered."
Pedestal by Seanan McGuire
A funny yet realistic story of the struggles to lead an ordinary life when you're a superhero, a celebrity. I loved the casual thoughts she had during the fight: "I enjoy the number of limbs I have and buying jeans is difficult enough without mutating." We've all been there.
Quintessential Justice by Patrick Flanagan
This lighthearted story follows the day of a superhero's assistant. I found the conversations hilarious and loved the eccentric vocabulary. This story is proof that everything is not what it seems, and that we often label people without knowing them. Even Patrick's "about the author" is fantastic!
Eggshells by Ziggy Schutz
It is a heart-warming story about the process of recovery from an injury in which we learn, along the main character, that we shouldn't be ashamed of asking for help.
Final thoughts
I would be writing all night if I talked about every single story in here. I really liked most of them, luckily, but some of them just weren't my cup of tea.
The great thing about these stories is that everyone will find a character to feel identified to. Some of them are revenge-driven, some are angry or afraid, but more importantly, they're human.I think that's something most of us can relate to, right? (If you're an alien please contact me.)
Absolutely recommend it!
June 25, 2017
Behind the Mask is a solid collection of short stories that nevertheless left me feeling ambivalent. Since I'm not much of a short story reader, this could definitely be more a reflection of my reading taste than the anthology itself. However, I didn't find myself hurrying back to it.
The stories often focused on the domestic and the personal, which I rather enjoyed. They're less about the big, flashy battles--though those make the occasional appearance, such as in Seanan McGuire's story Pedestal. Instead, the stories use their superheroes as lenses to examine themes such as memory, chronic illness, celebrity, and family dynamics and legacies. These stories are often quite poignant, such as Destroy the City with Me Tonight by Kate Marshall.
It also means this isn't the most up-beat of anthologies. The tone tends towards the melancholy, and while there are notes of hope throughout, they tend to be muted.
I'd like to make special mention of Stephanie Lai's The Fall of the Jade Sword. The story provided an excellent contrast to the fare of standard Western superheroes. Instead, it offers a historical fantasy about a young Chinese immigrant living in Melbourne. Chafing under the confines of social expectations, she sneaks out and attempts to emulate the local superhero--a figure the Chinese community recognises as a skilled practitioner of Wushu. It provided a breath of fresh air in an anthology otherwise fairly uniform in tone.
Disclaimer: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This review first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.
The stories often focused on the domestic and the personal, which I rather enjoyed. They're less about the big, flashy battles--though those make the occasional appearance, such as in Seanan McGuire's story Pedestal. Instead, the stories use their superheroes as lenses to examine themes such as memory, chronic illness, celebrity, and family dynamics and legacies. These stories are often quite poignant, such as Destroy the City with Me Tonight by Kate Marshall.
It also means this isn't the most up-beat of anthologies. The tone tends towards the melancholy, and while there are notes of hope throughout, they tend to be muted.
I'd like to make special mention of Stephanie Lai's The Fall of the Jade Sword. The story provided an excellent contrast to the fare of standard Western superheroes. Instead, it offers a historical fantasy about a young Chinese immigrant living in Melbourne. Chafing under the confines of social expectations, she sneaks out and attempts to emulate the local superhero--a figure the Chinese community recognises as a skilled practitioner of Wushu. It provided a breath of fresh air in an anthology otherwise fairly uniform in tone.
Disclaimer: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This review first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.
June 27, 2017
Thank you to to Xpresso reads for providing this ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.
Overall Rating 8.5/10 Stars
I really enjoyed this anthology. I felt that all the stories were well written and edited. Reading each story was like sampling a fancy cheese tasting plate. Some I liked more than others, but Behind The Mask provided a diverse and enjoyable array of different styles, subject matters and tones. Each story was unique and interesting in it’s own right. My personal favourites included “Destroy the City With me Tonight”, “Torch Songs” and “The Beard of Truth”.
I think that any superhero fan, DC or Marvel, or even neither, can find something to love here.
My Ratings:
Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut - Cat Rambo 4.5/5
Destroy the City with Me Tonight - Kate Marshall 5/5
Fool - Keith Frady - A comical and somewhat heartfelt piece about the super villain Dr. Entropy. 3.5/5
Pedestal - Seanan McGuire - 4/5
As I Fall Asleep - Aimee Ogden 2.5/5
Meeting Someone in the 22nd Century or Until the Gears Quit Turning - Jennifer Pullen 4.5/5
Inheritance - Michael Milne 3/5
Heroes - Lavie Tildhar 3/5
Madjack - Nathan Crowder 4/5
Quintessential Justice - Patrick Flanagan 3.5/5
The Fall of the Jade Sword - Stephanie Lai 3.5/5
Origin Story - Carrie Vaughn 4/5
Eggshells - Ziggy Schutz 3/5
Salt City Blue - Carrie Vaughn 4/5
Birthright - Stuart Suffel 3.5/5
The Smoke Means It’s Working - Sarah Pinsker 4/5
Torch Songs - Keith Rosson 5/5
The Beard of Truth - Matt Mikalatos 4.5/5
Over an Embattled City 4.5/5
Origin Story - Kelly Link 3/5
Overall Rating 8.5/10 Stars
I really enjoyed this anthology. I felt that all the stories were well written and edited. Reading each story was like sampling a fancy cheese tasting plate. Some I liked more than others, but Behind The Mask provided a diverse and enjoyable array of different styles, subject matters and tones. Each story was unique and interesting in it’s own right. My personal favourites included “Destroy the City With me Tonight”, “Torch Songs” and “The Beard of Truth”.
I think that any superhero fan, DC or Marvel, or even neither, can find something to love here.
My Ratings:
Ms. Liberty Gets a Haircut - Cat Rambo 4.5/5
Destroy the City with Me Tonight - Kate Marshall 5/5
Fool - Keith Frady - A comical and somewhat heartfelt piece about the super villain Dr. Entropy. 3.5/5
Pedestal - Seanan McGuire - 4/5
As I Fall Asleep - Aimee Ogden 2.5/5
Meeting Someone in the 22nd Century or Until the Gears Quit Turning - Jennifer Pullen 4.5/5
Inheritance - Michael Milne 3/5
Heroes - Lavie Tildhar 3/5
Madjack - Nathan Crowder 4/5
Quintessential Justice - Patrick Flanagan 3.5/5
The Fall of the Jade Sword - Stephanie Lai 3.5/5
Origin Story - Carrie Vaughn 4/5
Eggshells - Ziggy Schutz 3/5
Salt City Blue - Carrie Vaughn 4/5
Birthright - Stuart Suffel 3.5/5
The Smoke Means It’s Working - Sarah Pinsker 4/5
Torch Songs - Keith Rosson 5/5
The Beard of Truth - Matt Mikalatos 4.5/5
Over an Embattled City 4.5/5
Origin Story - Kelly Link 3/5
May 11, 2017
I received this book from Net Galleyi. Exchange for an honest review.
First let me be straight up and say that short story anthologies aren't always my thing. Their usual unevenness bothers me. I was interested in this anthology because of the A-List of authors involved. It doesn't disappoint but it doesn't enthrall, either. For the most part, the stories are interesting, and some, for example Kate Marshall's "Destroy The City With Me Tonight," and Ziggy Schutz's "Eggshells," have stayed with me days after reading them. All these stories have an undertone of what a pain it is to be a superhero. Whether in Seánan McGuire's "Pedestal," where even going to the grocery store turns into a paparazzi event, complete with social media tagging disaster, to Carrie Vaughn's "Origin Story," where your ex-girlfriend recognizes you during your now-turned-super -villain bank robbery, being super is hard. And I guess that sadness and despair is part of what made the anthology less than enjoyable at times. I read one or two stories a day, and that was fine. That was plenty. Some good craft here. Very little joy.
First let me be straight up and say that short story anthologies aren't always my thing. Their usual unevenness bothers me. I was interested in this anthology because of the A-List of authors involved. It doesn't disappoint but it doesn't enthrall, either. For the most part, the stories are interesting, and some, for example Kate Marshall's "Destroy The City With Me Tonight," and Ziggy Schutz's "Eggshells," have stayed with me days after reading them. All these stories have an undertone of what a pain it is to be a superhero. Whether in Seánan McGuire's "Pedestal," where even going to the grocery store turns into a paparazzi event, complete with social media tagging disaster, to Carrie Vaughn's "Origin Story," where your ex-girlfriend recognizes you during your now-turned-super -villain bank robbery, being super is hard. And I guess that sadness and despair is part of what made the anthology less than enjoyable at times. I read one or two stories a day, and that was fine. That was plenty. Some good craft here. Very little joy.
March 9, 2017
I haven’t read short stories since my teenage years and I must say I have been missing out.
What a great collection this was, we are introduced to a myriad of new superheroes, villains with a range of quirky powers. I especially loved the truth serum beard; this particular one had me laughing out loud. We follow these characters as they not only try to save or destroy the world but also their daily struggles of whether they should change their appearance, listen to their guilty conscience or if their body odour is really that noticeable.
If you’re looking to escape reality for a bit on your daily commute or when you have nothing better to do, you have 20 marvellous worlds to visit where superheroes and villains are the norm and a whole cast of unusual, but likeable characters to meet.
All in all a great read and I look forward to seeing more from all the authors featured in this book.
*I received this ARC from the publisher via LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
What a great collection this was, we are introduced to a myriad of new superheroes, villains with a range of quirky powers. I especially loved the truth serum beard; this particular one had me laughing out loud. We follow these characters as they not only try to save or destroy the world but also their daily struggles of whether they should change their appearance, listen to their guilty conscience or if their body odour is really that noticeable.
If you’re looking to escape reality for a bit on your daily commute or when you have nothing better to do, you have 20 marvellous worlds to visit where superheroes and villains are the norm and a whole cast of unusual, but likeable characters to meet.
All in all a great read and I look forward to seeing more from all the authors featured in this book.
*I received this ARC from the publisher via LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2017
Stunning smorgasbord of super stories
These stories are bite-sized and range from light-hearted to heart-breaking. The superhero genre is an old one by now, but these authors each manage to put their own spin on the people behind the masks. Some of them made me uncomfortable with the angsty 'reality' that superheroes would bring, others were a total mind-screw. My favourites were those that kept the optimism of the genre alive, but through a different lens.
Standouts for me – though others can and will like others – were Madjack by Nathan Crowder (a Bowie tribute), Eggshells by Ziggy Schultz (about asking and needing help), and Salt City Blue by Chris Large (slice of life with sudden superpowers).
Great to dip into or to plough through in a sitting, will almost certainly make you rethink that desire for superpowers.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author via NetGalley in return for an honest review
These stories are bite-sized and range from light-hearted to heart-breaking. The superhero genre is an old one by now, but these authors each manage to put their own spin on the people behind the masks. Some of them made me uncomfortable with the angsty 'reality' that superheroes would bring, others were a total mind-screw. My favourites were those that kept the optimism of the genre alive, but through a different lens.
Standouts for me – though others can and will like others – were Madjack by Nathan Crowder (a Bowie tribute), Eggshells by Ziggy Schultz (about asking and needing help), and Salt City Blue by Chris Large (slice of life with sudden superpowers).
Great to dip into or to plough through in a sitting, will almost certainly make you rethink that desire for superpowers.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author via NetGalley in return for an honest review
March 10, 2017
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I received an ARC of "Behind the Mask: A Superhero Anthology," edited by Tricia Reeks and Kyle Richardson, through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program. As the title advertises, this is an all-original anthology of short stories about superheroes, a few by authors whose names I recognize (Cat Rambo, Lavie Tidhar, Carrie Vaughn, Kelly Link) and most by people I haven’t read before. As with all anthologies, any given reader will like some stories more than others; my favourites here include “Destroy the City with Me Tonight,” by Kate Marshall, in which the “superheroes” are guardians or destroyers of a specific city, which is etched into their skin and bones; “Pedestal,” by Seanan McGuire, which imagines Alice (as in Wonderland) fighting a Venusian Squid Monster while dealing with an obnoxious blogger “fan”; Nathan Crowder’s “Madjack,” a lovely take on Bowie’s star alien in “The Man Who Fell to Earth”; the very funny “Quintessential Justice,” by Patrick Flanagan; the Chinese-Australian steampunk tale from Stephanie Lai, “The Fall of the Jade Sword”; and Ziggy Schutz’s “Eggshells,” about what happens when a superhero has a concussion. There are 20 stories altogether, of generally good quality in terms of the writing itself; whether you will like it or not depends on your capacity for enjoying superheroes. To be published in, I believe, May of 2017.
I received an ARC of "Behind the Mask: A Superhero Anthology," edited by Tricia Reeks and Kyle Richardson, through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program. As the title advertises, this is an all-original anthology of short stories about superheroes, a few by authors whose names I recognize (Cat Rambo, Lavie Tidhar, Carrie Vaughn, Kelly Link) and most by people I haven’t read before. As with all anthologies, any given reader will like some stories more than others; my favourites here include “Destroy the City with Me Tonight,” by Kate Marshall, in which the “superheroes” are guardians or destroyers of a specific city, which is etched into their skin and bones; “Pedestal,” by Seanan McGuire, which imagines Alice (as in Wonderland) fighting a Venusian Squid Monster while dealing with an obnoxious blogger “fan”; Nathan Crowder’s “Madjack,” a lovely take on Bowie’s star alien in “The Man Who Fell to Earth”; the very funny “Quintessential Justice,” by Patrick Flanagan; the Chinese-Australian steampunk tale from Stephanie Lai, “The Fall of the Jade Sword”; and Ziggy Schutz’s “Eggshells,” about what happens when a superhero has a concussion. There are 20 stories altogether, of generally good quality in terms of the writing itself; whether you will like it or not depends on your capacity for enjoying superheroes. To be published in, I believe, May of 2017.
May 21, 2017
Great book
April 12, 2017
Behind the scenes stories of superheroes and villains give readers a view into a world beyond the glamour, action, and drama seen in comics and movies. The tales range from the wry comedy of mundane glimpses into job interviews or the woes of aspiring sidekicks to the more existential questions of what heroes and villains want and need from each other.
The anthology is a great read for anyone who enjoys the superhero genre, and can introduce them to intriguing new authors.
The anthology is a great read for anyone who enjoys the superhero genre, and can introduce them to intriguing new authors.
January 23, 2019
I don't think it really fits as a superhero anthology, as there wasn't much heroic. There was a lot of dysfunction, but it didn't feel like the characters were really heroic, just costumed. The stories involved either deal with some form of dysmorphia, physical or sexual, or some level of existential dread. The more interesting stories dealt more with supervillains than heroes.
April 22, 2019
(This review is for Seanan McGuire's "Pedestal.")
I really loved this one. I'm a huge fan of The Incredibles, so I really enjoy seeing what's "behind the mask." (Yes, the anthology is aptly named.) This story was perfectly crafted and paced and the little snippets of gossip/paparazzi talk were perfect as an opening and closing.
This story nicely addresses the topic of celebrity and access, which is an ever more important issue. It's done in a way that should easily click for most while still being entertaining.
I really loved this one. I'm a huge fan of The Incredibles, so I really enjoy seeing what's "behind the mask." (Yes, the anthology is aptly named.) This story was perfectly crafted and paced and the little snippets of gossip/paparazzi talk were perfect as an opening and closing.
This story nicely addresses the topic of celebrity and access, which is an ever more important issue. It's done in a way that should easily click for most while still being entertaining.
May 24, 2017
I often find short story anthologies uneven, but I was really pleased with this one. The stories are different and distinct but seem to share an overall tone and reflect well off each other.
Read
May 4, 2017Review to follow in the Library Journal.
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