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Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy #1
Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy
Fantasy comes in all shades, from gentle tales of elves and fairies, to the blackest of horrors. Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy tends toward the darker edges, where the fantastic mixes with the horrific. With all original tales by a number of SubPress favorites, and writers new to our stable, we ve aimed to illuminate these shadowed corners, to bring into the light the creatures that venture forth from the sea, those that alter our reality to suit their sinister needs, and others who head into territory so bleak it s best left undescribed.
Table of Contents:
- Caverns of Mystery by Kage Baker
- The Gulf by Poppy Z. Brite
- Face by Mike Carey
- Thumbprint by Joe Hill (a separate chapbook)
- The Steam Dancer by Caitlin R. Kiernan
- It Washed Up by Joe R. Lansdale
- The Hour of Babel by Tim Powers
- Alastair Baffles Emporium of Wonders by Mike Resnick
- The Road to Levinshir by Patrick Rothfuss
- The Lunatic Miss Teak by Darren Speegle
- Penguins of the Apocalypse by William Browning Spencer
- Monstrous Embrace by Rachel Swirsky
Table of Contents:
- Caverns of Mystery by Kage Baker
- The Gulf by Poppy Z. Brite
- Face by Mike Carey
- Thumbprint by Joe Hill (a separate chapbook)
- The Steam Dancer by Caitlin R. Kiernan
- It Washed Up by Joe R. Lansdale
- The Hour of Babel by Tim Powers
- Alastair Baffles Emporium of Wonders by Mike Resnick
- The Road to Levinshir by Patrick Rothfuss
- The Lunatic Miss Teak by Darren Speegle
- Penguins of the Apocalypse by William Browning Spencer
- Monstrous Embrace by Rachel Swirsky
225 pages, Hardcover
First published July 31, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 24, 2021
Alastair Baffles Emporium of Wonders — Mike Resnick
É a primeira vez que leio algo do Mike Resnick, nunca tinha ouvido falar dele antes de dar de cara com esse conto aleatoriamente. Ele é famoso pelos prêmios que ganhou, dezenas de indicações e vitórias no Hugo e no Nebula, dá para se dizer merecidamente.
É um conto fantástico bem escrito, simpático e cheio de sentimento. Não consigo não pensar que a fantasia e a ficção científica que surgia e papava prêmios há dez, vinte anos atrás era tão diferente das de hoje em dia. A narrativa corre por diversos temas: envelhecimento, memória, crença, desejo. Nessa história, dois garotos, Silver e Gold, se encontram na loja que dá título ao livro: O Empório das Maravilhas de Alastair Baffle. Eles testemunham truques baratos de mágica por alguns centavos e tornam-se amigos inseparáveis. Agora, velhos de noventa anos em um asilo, com os ossos estalando e órgãos falhando, decidem revisitar a loja uma última vez aquele lugar tão importante na vida deles (que está sempre mudando de endereço). A primeira parte do conto, relativamente longo, é a vida dos homens no asilo e a escapada para procurar pela loja.
Como era de se esperar, eles conseguem encontrá-la, e surpreendem-se quando Alastair, o mágico, parece não ter envelhecido nem um fio de cabelo desde a última visita — quase meio século atrás. Só pode ser um parente, pensam. Ele ainda performa seus truques por alguns centavos, mas os idosos não se impressionam tão fácil quanto quando eram crianças, então Alastair precisa recorrer a truques mais extraordinários. A partir daí, os dois velhos começam a ter reações diferentes sobre tudo que experimentam, e se dá início um embate entre a credulidade e a incredulidade, com ambos, os velhos amigos, seguindo caminhos diferentes.
Além do pacing agradável e o contraste entre a interação dos dois, o Alastair é um personagem incrível, memorável e com certeza um dos destaques da história. A inflexibilidade de um dos velhos perante aos acontecimentos é um pouco chata de se ler, mas é algo inerente a ele, trata-se de velhos de noventa anos, ranzinzas e presos num asilo.
O final não é surpreendente nem extremamente inspirado, mas é leve e casa perfeitamente com a atmosfera da história; não é excepcional, mas, ao mesmo tempo, é legal de ler e facilmente integraria qualquer antologia mais leve de fantasia. É uma boa apresentação do gênero.
“I already told you,” answered Baffle with a smug smile. “You live in a changing universe, Master Silver. You must never assume that all things change at the same pace.”
"Seriously, how did you pull that off?” I persisted.
“Seriously?” he repeated, arching an eyebrow and seeming to look right through me to some interior spot that nobody was ever supposed to see. “You take two well-meaning but unexceptional lives, stir in all the might-have-beens and never-weres, baste lightly with the optimism of youth, the cynicism of maturity, and the pessimism of age, add a soupaon of triumph and a cup of failure, heat the oven with vanished passion, sprinkle with just the tiniest pinch of wisdom, and there you have it.” He smiled, as if totally pleased with his explanation. “Works every time.”
É a primeira vez que leio algo do Mike Resnick, nunca tinha ouvido falar dele antes de dar de cara com esse conto aleatoriamente. Ele é famoso pelos prêmios que ganhou, dezenas de indicações e vitórias no Hugo e no Nebula, dá para se dizer merecidamente.
É um conto fantástico bem escrito, simpático e cheio de sentimento. Não consigo não pensar que a fantasia e a ficção científica que surgia e papava prêmios há dez, vinte anos atrás era tão diferente das de hoje em dia. A narrativa corre por diversos temas: envelhecimento, memória, crença, desejo. Nessa história, dois garotos, Silver e Gold, se encontram na loja que dá título ao livro: O Empório das Maravilhas de Alastair Baffle. Eles testemunham truques baratos de mágica por alguns centavos e tornam-se amigos inseparáveis. Agora, velhos de noventa anos em um asilo, com os ossos estalando e órgãos falhando, decidem revisitar a loja uma última vez aquele lugar tão importante na vida deles (que está sempre mudando de endereço). A primeira parte do conto, relativamente longo, é a vida dos homens no asilo e a escapada para procurar pela loja.
Como era de se esperar, eles conseguem encontrá-la, e surpreendem-se quando Alastair, o mágico, parece não ter envelhecido nem um fio de cabelo desde a última visita — quase meio século atrás. Só pode ser um parente, pensam. Ele ainda performa seus truques por alguns centavos, mas os idosos não se impressionam tão fácil quanto quando eram crianças, então Alastair precisa recorrer a truques mais extraordinários. A partir daí, os dois velhos começam a ter reações diferentes sobre tudo que experimentam, e se dá início um embate entre a credulidade e a incredulidade, com ambos, os velhos amigos, seguindo caminhos diferentes.
Além do pacing agradável e o contraste entre a interação dos dois, o Alastair é um personagem incrível, memorável e com certeza um dos destaques da história. A inflexibilidade de um dos velhos perante aos acontecimentos é um pouco chata de se ler, mas é algo inerente a ele, trata-se de velhos de noventa anos, ranzinzas e presos num asilo.
O final não é surpreendente nem extremamente inspirado, mas é leve e casa perfeitamente com a atmosfera da história; não é excepcional, mas, ao mesmo tempo, é legal de ler e facilmente integraria qualquer antologia mais leve de fantasia. É uma boa apresentação do gênero.
“I already told you,” answered Baffle with a smug smile. “You live in a changing universe, Master Silver. You must never assume that all things change at the same pace.”
April 17, 2009
I was really excited to read this book. In no small part because of a new William Browning Spencer story. Called "Penguins of the Apocalypse." That was nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award. But also because I like Subterranean Press, I liked the angle that the anthology seemed like it was taking, and it had a pretty impressive lineup of other writers besides Spencer.
Well, "Penguins of the Apocalypse" is just as good as I could've hoped, but the rest of the book turned out to be something of a disappointment. Not because the stories are all bad. In fact, I don't think any of them are bad, and a couple are pretty good, but the whole production just seems a lot more bland than I would have expected.
Well, "Penguins of the Apocalypse" is just as good as I could've hoped, but the rest of the book turned out to be something of a disappointment. Not because the stories are all bad. In fact, I don't think any of them are bad, and a couple are pretty good, but the whole production just seems a lot more bland than I would have expected.
October 1, 2014
A rather weak collection of stories of which some barely qualify as fantasy. I like anthologies and have read my share and I know going in I will not like all the stories but at least one or two will be worth a read. If more than that are good it's a bonus. Unfortunately this book is on the low side. There were two stories that were interesting: "Alastair Baffle's Emporium of Wonder by Mike Resnick and "Face" by Mike Carey. The only story I really liked was the last one, "The Road to Levinshir" by Patrick Rothfuss. The rest were medicare at best and a couple just totally uninteresting.
Based on this volume I will pass on the Volume 2 of this series.
Based on this volume I will pass on the Volume 2 of this series.
January 13, 2009
I only checked-out this collection of short stories because one of them was by Patrick Rothfuss. His was good. It exists in the same world and with at least one of the same characters as his trilogy I have reviewed above.
The rest of the short stories were either downright depressing, or so borringly existential that I had no desire to spend the time necessary to decide what the authors were really trying to say. I don't really recommend this book to anyone unless you want some further insight into Kvothe's character from "Name of the Wind."
The rest of the short stories were either downright depressing, or so borringly existential that I had no desire to spend the time necessary to decide what the authors were really trying to say. I don't really recommend this book to anyone unless you want some further insight into Kvothe's character from "Name of the Wind."
July 29, 2008
Well, by marking this book "read" I mean that I read the one short story in it that led to me purchasing the book. The story is a teaser chapter from "A Wise Man's Fear" by Patrick Rothfuss, sequel to "The Name of the Wind" which I've grown to love. The story in here is what won him the "Writer of the Future" award that led to him becoming a published author.
November 1, 2009
Mostly, these were straight-up fiction, and not so much dark as sad. Some were excellent though, and many had a weird connection to the ocean.
Oh, and "Penguins of the Apocalypse"? Best. Title. Ever.
Oh, and "Penguins of the Apocalypse"? Best. Title. Ever.
May 7, 2010
admittedly i only read patrick rothfuss' story which is at the very end of the book, but i enjoyed it thoroughly i CANNOT wait (but alas i will have to) for his second book to come out, such a phenomenal fantasy writer, the best in the business right now IMHO.
February 1, 2011
Some interesting and some odd. One tale ("The Gulf") seemed more like a simple fiction story, than having any fantastical elements. My personal favorite, the last("The Road To Levinshir"), seemed like the most developed.
October 4, 2011
A very nice collection of stories. Entertaining, quick read. I was a little disappointed that the Rothfuss story was only a chapter from "Wise Man's Fear" (which I just read) but otherwise I enjoyed the book quite well.
March 8, 2017
I'll give it three stars for Rachel Swirsky, Caitlin R. Kiernan, William Browning Spencer, Kage Baker, and Patrick Rothfuss. Mike Resnick's story wasn't particularly dark, but it was interesting. The rest range from bland to really terrible.
September 14, 2009
Kage Baker's story was all right; Mike Carey's really grabbed me. There are a few others that started out in an interesting way but sort of fizzled out.
February 12, 2023
Though a few of the authors were a bit too quick with the orientalism and child death for my tastes, the collection is, as a whole, very strong.
Personal favourites:
1. "Alastair Baffle's Emporium of Wonders," which focuses on two crotchety 90 year olds on a search for their boyhood magic shop,
2. "It Washed Up," a musical interlude starring a Something from the depths,
3. "Monstruous Embrace," a beautifully crafted love story between a handsome prince and the concept of ugliness itself,
4. "Penguins of the Apocalypse," an alcoholic divorcee's battle against a strange, blurry-faced man who'll do anything to free the penguins at the zoo,
5. "Caves of Mystery," in which a girl who can see ghosts meets a mysterious boy with a slashed throat, and
6. "Face," a fascinating meditation on law and culture in which a judge must choose whether a man of another species must return his daughter's face to her.
Definitely a good addition to any short story lover's collection!
Personal favourites:
1. "Alastair Baffle's Emporium of Wonders," which focuses on two crotchety 90 year olds on a search for their boyhood magic shop,
2. "It Washed Up," a musical interlude starring a Something from the depths,
3. "Monstruous Embrace," a beautifully crafted love story between a handsome prince and the concept of ugliness itself,
4. "Penguins of the Apocalypse," an alcoholic divorcee's battle against a strange, blurry-faced man who'll do anything to free the penguins at the zoo,
5. "Caves of Mystery," in which a girl who can see ghosts meets a mysterious boy with a slashed throat, and
6. "Face," a fascinating meditation on law and culture in which a judge must choose whether a man of another species must return his daughter's face to her.
Definitely a good addition to any short story lover's collection!
January 18, 2018
Not the best collection, not the worst. Just sort of odd works for Subterranean to put in a collection.
Read
June 28, 2023The page total includes 7 blank sheets at the end
This is a second reading of the collection.
This is a second reading of the collection.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews