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Tales of Valdemar #11
Pathways
The eleventh anthology of short stories set in Mercedes Lackey's beloved Valdemar universe features stories by debut and established authors and a brand-new story from Lackey herself
The Heralds of Valdemar are the kingdom's ancient order of protectors. They are drawn from all across the land, from all walks of life, and at all ages--and all are Gifted with abilities beyond those of normal men and women. They are Mindspeakers, FarSeers, Empaths, ForeSeers, Firestarters, FarSpeakers, and more. These inborn talents--combined with training as emissaries, spies, judges, diplomats, scouts, counselors, warriors, and more--make them indispensable to their monarch and realm. Sought and Chosen by mysterious horse-like Companions, they are bonded for life to these telepathic, enigmatic creatures. The Heralds of Valdemar and their Companions ride circuit throughout the kingdom, protecting the peace and, when necessary, defending their land and monarch.
Now, twenty-three authors ride with Mercedes Lackey to her magical land of Valdemar, adding their own unique voices to the Heralds, Bards, Healers, and other heroes of this beloved fantasy realm.
Join Janny Wurts, Elisabeth Waters, Michele Lang, Fiona Patton, and others in twenty-four original stories, including a brand-new novella by Mercedes Lackey, all set in Valdemar, where:
A young woman without any of the Heralds' Gifts must see a Companion safely delivered to Haven....
A Herald must revisit the mysteries of his childhood to save his own young family and combat a threat at the very heart of Valdemar....
A Hawkbrother flees for his life, trailed by a mysterious bird that prophesizes a dire future....
A mage must choose whether to steal a priceless artifact and be branded a thief and traitor, or let his country fall to magic that could prove far more deadly....
The Heralds of Valdemar are the kingdom's ancient order of protectors. They are drawn from all across the land, from all walks of life, and at all ages--and all are Gifted with abilities beyond those of normal men and women. They are Mindspeakers, FarSeers, Empaths, ForeSeers, Firestarters, FarSpeakers, and more. These inborn talents--combined with training as emissaries, spies, judges, diplomats, scouts, counselors, warriors, and more--make them indispensable to their monarch and realm. Sought and Chosen by mysterious horse-like Companions, they are bonded for life to these telepathic, enigmatic creatures. The Heralds of Valdemar and their Companions ride circuit throughout the kingdom, protecting the peace and, when necessary, defending their land and monarch.
Now, twenty-three authors ride with Mercedes Lackey to her magical land of Valdemar, adding their own unique voices to the Heralds, Bards, Healers, and other heroes of this beloved fantasy realm.
Join Janny Wurts, Elisabeth Waters, Michele Lang, Fiona Patton, and others in twenty-four original stories, including a brand-new novella by Mercedes Lackey, all set in Valdemar, where:
A young woman without any of the Heralds' Gifts must see a Companion safely delivered to Haven....
A Herald must revisit the mysteries of his childhood to save his own young family and combat a threat at the very heart of Valdemar....
A Hawkbrother flees for his life, trailed by a mysterious bird that prophesizes a dire future....
A mage must choose whether to steal a priceless artifact and be branded a thief and traitor, or let his country fall to magic that could prove far more deadly....
380 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 5, 2017
207 people are currently reading
745 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,527 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
December 11, 2017
I found these stories a mixed bag. Some, I liked a lot, others not so much. I guess the truth is that no one tells Valdemar stories quite as good as Mercedes Lackey does.
November 4, 2017
PATHWAYS gathers stories from all over Valdemar in this eleventh collection. Many of the authors have contributed to some of the earlier anthologies too. All of the stories were entertaining and well written. My only complaint is that they were too short. I would have been eager to read longer stories with the same characters.
I especially enjoyed the stories that included Companions because I'm a fan of white horse-like creatures with silver hooves and blue eyes. I also enjoyed the stories that took place away from Haven from the Pelagris Hills to Karse.
Readers who want to go on a quick tour of Valdemar won't want to miss this anthology.
I especially enjoyed the stories that included Companions because I'm a fan of white horse-like creatures with silver hooves and blue eyes. I also enjoyed the stories that took place away from Haven from the Pelagris Hills to Karse.
Readers who want to go on a quick tour of Valdemar won't want to miss this anthology.
January 1, 2018
Mercedes Lackey seems to release a new Valdemar anthology every year just before Christmas, and 2017 was no exception. Which means that one of my solstice presents was an ebook of the latest volume, Pathways.
This year’s collection is, as always, a balance of stories about heralds or would-be Heralds and stories about people from other parts of Valdemar’s world, some human and some not. Because this is an ongoing series of anthologies, there are some familiar characters, as authors write new tales about old friends. These are for the most part optimistic stories, in which problems get solved, wrongs are righted, plots are foiled, lessons are learned, people find their place in the world.
I sometimes wonder about the reasons behind my deep affection for Lackey’s created country of Valdemar. It’s more than just the enjoyment of good hero stories, or the fact that she was writing women protagonists, and even putting queer characters into her stories, back when there was much less of that going around. I think it hinges on two things.
First, the Valdemarian insistence that there is no one truth, one right form of worship, no state religion. I like the idea of real religious tolerance, and I like that Lackey wanted to write about a society that makes no official windows into people’s souls.
Second, but probably more important, is the idea of the Heralds - and the requirement that the head of government and their chief advisor be Heralds. Living in this world where both the leaders and the agents of the state are so often corrupt, and lack any notion of social justice, it’s a fine fantasy indeed to escape into Valdemar, where Heralds can be trusted to, at the very least, have good intentions.
I’m glad to have spent the last hours of a very rotten year - both personally and globally - reading something light and full of hope that there are good people, and that not only do they sometimes win, but they get to be happy for a while.
*There are 20 short stories in this anthology, 17 written by women, two written by men, and one written by a person who chose not to indicate their gender.
This year’s collection is, as always, a balance of stories about heralds or would-be Heralds and stories about people from other parts of Valdemar’s world, some human and some not. Because this is an ongoing series of anthologies, there are some familiar characters, as authors write new tales about old friends. These are for the most part optimistic stories, in which problems get solved, wrongs are righted, plots are foiled, lessons are learned, people find their place in the world.
I sometimes wonder about the reasons behind my deep affection for Lackey’s created country of Valdemar. It’s more than just the enjoyment of good hero stories, or the fact that she was writing women protagonists, and even putting queer characters into her stories, back when there was much less of that going around. I think it hinges on two things.
First, the Valdemarian insistence that there is no one truth, one right form of worship, no state religion. I like the idea of real religious tolerance, and I like that Lackey wanted to write about a society that makes no official windows into people’s souls.
Second, but probably more important, is the idea of the Heralds - and the requirement that the head of government and their chief advisor be Heralds. Living in this world where both the leaders and the agents of the state are so often corrupt, and lack any notion of social justice, it’s a fine fantasy indeed to escape into Valdemar, where Heralds can be trusted to, at the very least, have good intentions.
I’m glad to have spent the last hours of a very rotten year - both personally and globally - reading something light and full of hope that there are good people, and that not only do they sometimes win, but they get to be happy for a while.
*There are 20 short stories in this anthology, 17 written by women, two written by men, and one written by a person who chose not to indicate their gender.
January 5, 2018
Really enjoyed the short stories it's nice to see some of my favorite character's from the previous anthologies make reappearances.
August 14, 2019
This collection of short stories by various writers was mediocre at best, although a couple stories rose above the rest.
May 22, 2020
Twelfth in the Tales of Valdemar short stories series for middle-grade readers with 21 short stories revolving around Mercedes Lackey's fantastical world of the Heralds of Valdemar, the kingdom's ancient order of protectors drawn from across the land.
The Series
"Reborn" (Reincarnation, 2)
"Unexpected Consequences" (Lady Cera of Sandbriar, 2)
"Patterns" (Deira the Weaver, 2)
"Out of the Pelagiris" (Nwah the Kyree, 2)
"Discovery" (Perran, 2)
"An Ostentation of Peacocks" (Lena, 2)
"Cobblestones" (Dann Family of Haven, 8)
"Cloud and Sparrow" (Sparrow and Brock, 2)
"Bootknife" (Wil and Leila, ??)
If you're interested in the characters in the following stories, check out my review at KD Did It.
The Stories
Brigid Collins' "Silent Storms"...
...made me work to understand what the issue was, which took away from my enjoyment of it.
Kristin Schwengel's "Traded Places"...
...was a bit confusing at the start. Using Capin for someone's name did NOT help. Why would the duke not be used to a large household? It's a cute enough story, and I enjoyed the LGBT angle but Schwengel needed more time to develop this to make it believable.
Jennifer Brozek's "Reborn"...
...embraces reincarnation as well as a current-day rescue.
Janny Wurts' "The Girl Who Rejected the Ordinary"...
...finds Kaysa alternating between worry over her disability and her belief that something isn't right. I gotta say these Heralds don't seem to be all that competent with their dismissal of the dangers of the Pelagiris.
Elizabeth A. Vaughan's "Unexpected Consequences"...
...is a sweet follow-on tale of a merchant's daughter who took on the challenge of helping her late husband's estate to survive. It's but a peek-in, but I do love the protagonist.
Phaedra Weldon's "A Herald's Duty"...
...is a complicated story filled with anger, confused help, and a major lack of charity that causes great tragedy.
Dayle A. Dermatis' "Woven Threads of Love and Honor"...
...finds a widow who's gift for Empathy burst out six months ago. A gift that comes in very handy when a Trainee is caught looking at a test's answers. It's the truth that emerges that makes my blood boil.
Diana L. Paxson's "Patterns"...
...was a fun tale of rescue, bigotry, and spellcasting to protect the city. It involves two families, one had been refugees and the second are refugees who are helped who, in turn, help their new city.
Ron Collins' "Out of the Pelagiris"...
...finds Nwah conflicted over her own hypocrisy when it comes to the differences in mating between kyree and human and must explore her dislike of her magic. It's a cute enough story with good tension and drama, but rather lame. When does a commander outrank a sergeant-at-arms?
Dylan Birtolo's "Trust Your Instincts"...
...is one big betrayal, well, one after another. And incredibly sad... It was really annoying as there's no reveal as to why this happens.
Nancy Asire's "Discovery"...
...finds us in a court case in Zallow's Fork in Karse where the judge must determine the guilt or innocence of two children. I do love this story, if only because justice is sought.
Elisabeth Waters' "An Ostentation of Peacocks"...
...finds poor Lena forced to appear more often at court where she encounters Jasper who wants his dogs back...now that his mother is entering a convent. I did enjoy No True Way: "A Wake of Vultures", and I like finding out how that story ends. Of course, it's a bit convoluted what with the circus and peacocks, but I did enjoy Meri entering into the spirit of things.
Fiona Patton's "Cobblestones"...
...is politics and who's gonna pay. It's a tale of who knows who and what the history is behind street repair and who pays for it, all set against the Dann family and their dynamics.
Louisa Swann's "Boggles and Spies"...
...finds a young boy who empathizes too strongly with the fish to be able to eat them. In this tale, he'll have to conquer his fears and perform a desperate rescue that'll save him from being a fisherman.
Anthea Sharp's "The Hidden Gift"...
...finds poor Tarek having to go back to the beginning of his schooling...since his dratted gift appeared so late. It means rearranging his whole life...and giving him the empathy to understand what Lyssa is going through and how desperate she is to make her family happy.
D Shull's "Secrets and Truths"...
...is a tale about loyalty, to family, to friends. I THINK it's also a very disguised story about being different, as in gay or transgender. I do wish Shull had committed to his story and laid it out.
Rebecca Fox's "Ordinary Miracles"...
...tells a story of a lack of charity in religious hearts as a young orphan struggles to survive the family who took him in and his fears about his gift. It's a sweet story that was easy to follow.
...was horrible. I could not figure out what species these two were or what is going on.
Angela Penrose's "Clay and Fire"...
...is a sad one about losing family to a jealous man.
Stephanie D. Shaver's "Bootknife"...
...finds a desperate Herald Wil trying to get back to Haven with a traitorous prisoner.
Mercedes Lackey's "To Catch a Thief"...
...is cute if a bit dumb. It's Arville questioning his worth, and it takes Pelas and Ryu to point out the truth.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a deep blue and gold background of suns with squiggly rays. On top of it in the center is a triangular shield with a riveted steel band framing a marbled lilac background. A close-up of a rearing and angry white horse's head is in profile with a pale blue bridle edged with bells and a rein with a cut-out border of blue edged in silver. Another triangular shield in a lighter deep blue background features a white pegasus against a starry background at the very top of the primary shield. A third triangular shield is at the pointed bottom of the primary with a black background and a red phoenix standing exposed with its wings out. At the top is a deeper blue rectangular box, edged in gold, with the title in the same blue with silver outline as the bridle and an epigraph in white below it. At the bottom of the cover is another similarly colored and edged box noting the editor's name, in white.
The title is Pathways for all the routes that people follow in their lives.
The Series
"Reborn" (Reincarnation, 2)
"Unexpected Consequences" (Lady Cera of Sandbriar, 2)
"Patterns" (Deira the Weaver, 2)
"Out of the Pelagiris" (Nwah the Kyree, 2)
"Discovery" (Perran, 2)
"An Ostentation of Peacocks" (Lena, 2)
"Cobblestones" (Dann Family of Haven, 8)
"Cloud and Sparrow" (Sparrow and Brock, 2)
"Bootknife" (Wil and Leila, ??)
If you're interested in the characters in the following stories, check out my review at KD Did It.
The Stories
Brigid Collins' "Silent Storms"...
...made me work to understand what the issue was, which took away from my enjoyment of it.
Kristin Schwengel's "Traded Places"...
...was a bit confusing at the start. Using Capin for someone's name did NOT help. Why would the duke not be used to a large household? It's a cute enough story, and I enjoyed the LGBT angle but Schwengel needed more time to develop this to make it believable.
Jennifer Brozek's "Reborn"...
...embraces reincarnation as well as a current-day rescue.
Janny Wurts' "The Girl Who Rejected the Ordinary"...
...finds Kaysa alternating between worry over her disability and her belief that something isn't right. I gotta say these Heralds don't seem to be all that competent with their dismissal of the dangers of the Pelagiris.
Elizabeth A. Vaughan's "Unexpected Consequences"...
...is a sweet follow-on tale of a merchant's daughter who took on the challenge of helping her late husband's estate to survive. It's but a peek-in, but I do love the protagonist.
Phaedra Weldon's "A Herald's Duty"...
...is a complicated story filled with anger, confused help, and a major lack of charity that causes great tragedy.
Dayle A. Dermatis' "Woven Threads of Love and Honor"...
...finds a widow who's gift for Empathy burst out six months ago. A gift that comes in very handy when a Trainee is caught looking at a test's answers. It's the truth that emerges that makes my blood boil.
Diana L. Paxson's "Patterns"...
...was a fun tale of rescue, bigotry, and spellcasting to protect the city. It involves two families, one had been refugees and the second are refugees who are helped who, in turn, help their new city.
Ron Collins' "Out of the Pelagiris"...
...finds Nwah conflicted over her own hypocrisy when it comes to the differences in mating between kyree and human and must explore her dislike of her magic. It's a cute enough story with good tension and drama, but rather lame. When does a commander outrank a sergeant-at-arms?
Dylan Birtolo's "Trust Your Instincts"...
...is one big betrayal, well, one after another. And incredibly sad... It was really annoying as there's no reveal as to why this happens.
Nancy Asire's "Discovery"...
...finds us in a court case in Zallow's Fork in Karse where the judge must determine the guilt or innocence of two children. I do love this story, if only because justice is sought.
Elisabeth Waters' "An Ostentation of Peacocks"...
...finds poor Lena forced to appear more often at court where she encounters Jasper who wants his dogs back...now that his mother is entering a convent. I did enjoy No True Way: "A Wake of Vultures", and I like finding out how that story ends. Of course, it's a bit convoluted what with the circus and peacocks, but I did enjoy Meri entering into the spirit of things.
Fiona Patton's "Cobblestones"...
...is politics and who's gonna pay. It's a tale of who knows who and what the history is behind street repair and who pays for it, all set against the Dann family and their dynamics.
Louisa Swann's "Boggles and Spies"...
...finds a young boy who empathizes too strongly with the fish to be able to eat them. In this tale, he'll have to conquer his fears and perform a desperate rescue that'll save him from being a fisherman.
Anthea Sharp's "The Hidden Gift"...
...finds poor Tarek having to go back to the beginning of his schooling...since his dratted gift appeared so late. It means rearranging his whole life...and giving him the empathy to understand what Lyssa is going through and how desperate she is to make her family happy.
D Shull's "Secrets and Truths"...
...is a tale about loyalty, to family, to friends. I THINK it's also a very disguised story about being different, as in gay or transgender. I do wish Shull had committed to his story and laid it out.
Rebecca Fox's "Ordinary Miracles"...
...tells a story of a lack of charity in religious hearts as a young orphan struggles to survive the family who took him in and his fears about his gift. It's a sweet story that was easy to follow.
Michele Lang's "Cloud and Sparrow"..."If it weren't our bounden duty to Vkandis Sunlord to shelter the orphan and destitute, I'd have turned you out to starve years ago."
"Why go to the trouble of turning me out when you can starve me right here?"
...was horrible. I could not figure out what species these two were or what is going on.
Angela Penrose's "Clay and Fire"...
...is a sad one about losing family to a jealous man.
Stephanie D. Shaver's "Bootknife"...
...finds a desperate Herald Wil trying to get back to Haven with a traitorous prisoner.
Mercedes Lackey's "To Catch a Thief"...
...is cute if a bit dumb. It's Arville questioning his worth, and it takes Pelas and Ryu to point out the truth.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a deep blue and gold background of suns with squiggly rays. On top of it in the center is a triangular shield with a riveted steel band framing a marbled lilac background. A close-up of a rearing and angry white horse's head is in profile with a pale blue bridle edged with bells and a rein with a cut-out border of blue edged in silver. Another triangular shield in a lighter deep blue background features a white pegasus against a starry background at the very top of the primary shield. A third triangular shield is at the pointed bottom of the primary with a black background and a red phoenix standing exposed with its wings out. At the top is a deeper blue rectangular box, edged in gold, with the title in the same blue with silver outline as the bridle and an epigraph in white below it. At the bottom of the cover is another similarly colored and edged box noting the editor's name, in white.
The title is Pathways for all the routes that people follow in their lives.
December 12, 2018
This book is short stories by various authors set in Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar universe. For once, just about all of the stories were well written and entertaining. The last few were hit and miss for me. You do have to read the other books in the series of short stories because some of the stories were continuations of tales in the other books. I like that Lackey gives both established and new authors a chance to play in the universe she and her husband started. However, these books are definitely for fans of the Valdemar series, because there are things referenced that you'll only know if you have read the rest of the series.
March 5, 2020
A collection of short stories set in Valdemar. You don't have to have read the previous books, but several feature returning characters, so you get more out of them if you do. Heralds, Bards, Healers, and more ordinary folk on various adventures--uncovering a thief, preventing fires, revealing truth, and saving lives. Plenty of magic and heroism.
November 9, 2017
Originally published to my blog: Nonstop Reader.
I remember reading the original Valdemar books in the late 1980s. I have been a lifelong reader of speculative fiction, so it was delightful to me to read about a society where difference was often a strength rather than a reason to be judged and despised. Mercedes Lackey occupied a space in my library with Ursula LeGuin, Anne McCaffrey, Sheri Tepper, Zenna Henderson, Evangeline Walton, and many others (Heinlein, Bradbury, Clarke, Atwood, Bester, Ellison, etc etc).
Throughout the years, I've always loved anthologies. Whether or not they share a thematic cohesiveness, I like the inevitable variation of having a group of stories from which to choose, and have never yet been disappointed in finding a story to fit whatever reading mood I'm in.
Pathways, due out 05 Dec 2017, is a collection of 21 short works set in the Valdemar universe, including a novella by Mercedes Lackey herself. The stories are varied, but editorially cohesive and all of them, in my opinion, are true to the spirit of the Valdemar books. The author list is a nice blending of established writers and unfamiliar-to-me authors, which brings me to another reason I love anthologies. I've yet to read an anthology (and I read a lot of them) that didn't increase my reading list at least a little bit and introduce me to authors with whom I was previously unacquainted.
The general quality of the stories in this anthology is high, with several standouts. I enjoyed seeing familiar characters in new roles and totally new characters.
The cover art is by Jody Lee who will be familiar to readers from earlier volumes (and many other covers in the original novels and collections).
There is something here for Valdemar fans old and new as well as fans of fantasy.
Four stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
I remember reading the original Valdemar books in the late 1980s. I have been a lifelong reader of speculative fiction, so it was delightful to me to read about a society where difference was often a strength rather than a reason to be judged and despised. Mercedes Lackey occupied a space in my library with Ursula LeGuin, Anne McCaffrey, Sheri Tepper, Zenna Henderson, Evangeline Walton, and many others (Heinlein, Bradbury, Clarke, Atwood, Bester, Ellison, etc etc).
Throughout the years, I've always loved anthologies. Whether or not they share a thematic cohesiveness, I like the inevitable variation of having a group of stories from which to choose, and have never yet been disappointed in finding a story to fit whatever reading mood I'm in.
Pathways, due out 05 Dec 2017, is a collection of 21 short works set in the Valdemar universe, including a novella by Mercedes Lackey herself. The stories are varied, but editorially cohesive and all of them, in my opinion, are true to the spirit of the Valdemar books. The author list is a nice blending of established writers and unfamiliar-to-me authors, which brings me to another reason I love anthologies. I've yet to read an anthology (and I read a lot of them) that didn't increase my reading list at least a little bit and introduce me to authors with whom I was previously unacquainted.
The general quality of the stories in this anthology is high, with several standouts. I enjoyed seeing familiar characters in new roles and totally new characters.
The cover art is by Jody Lee who will be familiar to readers from earlier volumes (and many other covers in the original novels and collections).
There is something here for Valdemar fans old and new as well as fans of fantasy.
Four stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
January 5, 2018
I enjoy these roughly annual Valdemar anthologies. Author Mercedes Lackey's fantasy realm lends itself well to the short story format. Also, I gave up on Lackey's current Valdemar series years ago, so this is the only new material I really read.
Of course, none of the anthologies (this is the 11th and counting) get above 3 stars from me because of the range of short stories within each volume. There are always a few I really don't care for and one or two that I really like. Still, this one was one of the better volumes in my opinion, since most of the stories were quite good.
It was also refreshing that nearly all of the stories had hopeful or even happy endings. Many of the previous anthologies had a fair share of grim and depressing tales. Even when those sad stories are well written, it's kind of discouraging, so I was glad of the change in this volume. In my opinion, Lackey (and by extension the other people who write about Valdemar) is at her best when she is writing something light-hearted and fun -- when she goes dark, it's grimmer than what I want from what is really popcorn fantasy.
Nearly all of these short stories are actually part of a series within the greater set of volumes. The same authors are writing about the same characters from previous anthologies. I actually think everyone does a good job of making it so you don't have to read all that came before in order to understand a particular story. There were several characters in this volume who also had a story in the previous one, but I didn't realize it until I flipped through it after completing this book.
I was a little disappointed to see that Tanya Huff did not have a story in this anthology. She was a regular contributor in the past, and her stories are almost always my favorite within the volume. Neither did she have a story in last year's anthology. I hope she'll return someday.
Recommended if you're a fan of Valdemar.
Of course, none of the anthologies (this is the 11th and counting) get above 3 stars from me because of the range of short stories within each volume. There are always a few I really don't care for and one or two that I really like. Still, this one was one of the better volumes in my opinion, since most of the stories were quite good.
It was also refreshing that nearly all of the stories had hopeful or even happy endings. Many of the previous anthologies had a fair share of grim and depressing tales. Even when those sad stories are well written, it's kind of discouraging, so I was glad of the change in this volume. In my opinion, Lackey (and by extension the other people who write about Valdemar) is at her best when she is writing something light-hearted and fun -- when she goes dark, it's grimmer than what I want from what is really popcorn fantasy.
Nearly all of these short stories are actually part of a series within the greater set of volumes. The same authors are writing about the same characters from previous anthologies. I actually think everyone does a good job of making it so you don't have to read all that came before in order to understand a particular story. There were several characters in this volume who also had a story in the previous one, but I didn't realize it until I flipped through it after completing this book.
I was a little disappointed to see that Tanya Huff did not have a story in this anthology. She was a regular contributor in the past, and her stories are almost always my favorite within the volume. Neither did she have a story in last year's anthology. I hope she'll return someday.
Recommended if you're a fan of Valdemar.
May 25, 2024
My review is broken into pieces following each individual story in the order I read them in. I read 5 stories from this anthology.
“Reborn” by Jennifer Brozek: Interesting little tale of literal rebirth. Interesting and a bit funny that even Companions have a “oh, you’re not old enough yet” thing. Amused me.
“To Catch a Thief” by Mercedes Lackey: A light little mystery. Enjoyable.
“Trust Your Instincts” by Dylan Birtolo: I like getting a peek into Rethwellan. The Valdemar world is so much bigger than just Valdemar, so peeks outside are fun. Not that this is much of an actual peek; it’s more of an piecing-things-together piece. Not bad but a little depressing.
”Ordinary Miracles” by Rebecca Fox: I liked it. Nice little tale of a Karsite Kip and his cat Spot meeting a Companion inadvertently. Clearly a precurser to stuff to come.
“Patterns” by Diana L. Paxton: Another Deira tale. Spinning magic yarn protection for Haven. Interesting… little Alberich cameo here, too. I kind of hate it though. Too rushed and just… meh. The yarn element makes no sense as an actual deterrent of anything and too much like actual magic to actually work during this time period.
“Unexpected Consequences” by Elziabeth A. Vaughan: That Withen/Emerson meet cute tho. I liked this one. I like that Cera decided to distract the bandits, even if it wasn’t really needed.
“Reborn” by Jennifer Brozek: Interesting little tale of literal rebirth. Interesting and a bit funny that even Companions have a “oh, you’re not old enough yet” thing. Amused me.
“To Catch a Thief” by Mercedes Lackey: A light little mystery. Enjoyable.
“Trust Your Instincts” by Dylan Birtolo: I like getting a peek into Rethwellan. The Valdemar world is so much bigger than just Valdemar, so peeks outside are fun. Not that this is much of an actual peek; it’s more of an piecing-things-together piece. Not bad but a little depressing.
”Ordinary Miracles” by Rebecca Fox: I liked it. Nice little tale of a Karsite Kip and his cat Spot meeting a Companion inadvertently. Clearly a precurser to stuff to come.
“Patterns” by Diana L. Paxton: Another Deira tale. Spinning magic yarn protection for Haven. Interesting… little Alberich cameo here, too. I kind of hate it though. Too rushed and just… meh. The yarn element makes no sense as an actual deterrent of anything and too much like actual magic to actually work during this time period.
“Unexpected Consequences” by Elziabeth A. Vaughan: That Withen/Emerson meet cute tho. I liked this one. I like that Cera decided to distract the bandits, even if it wasn’t really needed.
December 7, 2017
I'm just over half way through this anthology and will finish it by tonight or tomorrow. I couldn't wait to do the review.
I found this anthology to be a wonderful continuation of the previous Tales of Valdemar anthologies. I only wish that each new one would come with a "history" of the stories by each author as most of the authors are carrying on continuing story lines that send me back and forth between the current book and previous offerings.
It was good to read the latest of the watchmen stories by Fiona Patton and the current installment of Lena's experiences at the temple of Thenoth by Elisabeth Waters to mention two of my favorites.
It has almost reached a point with some of the story lines that a compilation of the stories would be good for rereading purposes (I have started making a flowchart of the storylines)
I found this anthology to be a wonderful continuation of the previous Tales of Valdemar anthologies. I only wish that each new one would come with a "history" of the stories by each author as most of the authors are carrying on continuing story lines that send me back and forth between the current book and previous offerings.
It was good to read the latest of the watchmen stories by Fiona Patton and the current installment of Lena's experiences at the temple of Thenoth by Elisabeth Waters to mention two of my favorites.
It has almost reached a point with some of the story lines that a compilation of the stories would be good for rereading purposes (I have started making a flowchart of the storylines)
December 8, 2017
While I usually call out two specific stories in anthologies, my favorite and the one I'd most like to see expanded into a novel, I'm unable to do that with this Valdemar collection. I enjoyed most of the stories, but none of them jumped out to me as amazing. A few of the stories also dragged, and one I stopped reading altogether.
One thing this anthology did well was the fantastic representation of diversity in sexual orientation and even gender identity. I'd love future anthologies to explore farther beyond the realm of Valdemar for more representation of people of color (beyond Karsites being a little more brown).
On a final note, did Lackey even write her submission? I liked the Herald, but kyree was a ridiculous Scooby-Doo caricature. Overall, it was very disappointing.
One thing this anthology did well was the fantastic representation of diversity in sexual orientation and even gender identity. I'd love future anthologies to explore farther beyond the realm of Valdemar for more representation of people of color (beyond Karsites being a little more brown).
On a final note, did Lackey even write her submission? I liked the Herald, but kyree was a ridiculous Scooby-Doo caricature. Overall, it was very disappointing.
January 31, 2021
I'm loving these anthologies, and this one is no different.
It's wonderful to be able to open a new book - for me - and find so many familiar characters to enjoy. They have become as familiar, and much loved, as all of the 'official' Valdemar ones, to the point where I'm hoping that particular ones will have full length books written about them!
There was a couple of new writers here in the book, and I enjoyed their take on Valdemar storied, too, so it'll be interesting if they become as regular writers as the rest in the anthologies 😊
In the meantime, I've still more books to read but, until then, be assured that THIS one is as good as all the rest that I've read, so far!
It's wonderful to be able to open a new book - for me - and find so many familiar characters to enjoy. They have become as familiar, and much loved, as all of the 'official' Valdemar ones, to the point where I'm hoping that particular ones will have full length books written about them!
There was a couple of new writers here in the book, and I enjoyed their take on Valdemar storied, too, so it'll be interesting if they become as regular writers as the rest in the anthologies 😊
In the meantime, I've still more books to read but, until then, be assured that THIS one is as good as all the rest that I've read, so far!
December 2, 2017
Pathways takes us back to the fabulous world of Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar, a place I love to visit and revisit as often as I can. It’s a world of magic and fantasy where there is no one true way. This anthology has 23 stories and there isn’t a bad one in the book. Enjoy these stories of heralds, healers, bards and regular folks in extraordinary conditions. I did. I love that these stories are true to the feeling of Valdemar and have to admit that they left me a bit nostalgic. If you are a fan of the Valdemar series you are going to enjoy this book.
December 12, 2017
A collection of 21 short stories inspired by Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series- including one short story written by Lackey herself. Most of the stories in "Pathways" leave something to be desired. Short and often missing a few pieces that would make them much more interesting (or coherent), "Pathways" could have benefitted from fewer and longer stories than the brief pieces we see. Very few of the stories contained enough of the taste of the world of Valdemar that would draw in new readers or satisfy old ones. Even die-hard Valdemar fans will probably be disappointed in this collection.
February 2, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This was a nice return to Valdemar. I haven't read anything set there for probably...9-10 years? It was nice to read a wide variety of stories, and I appreciated how short some of them were; it was refreshing after reading a lot of looong novels in a row, and many of the stories still got pretty deep. Ultimately, it was disappointing that there wasn't more by Mercedes Lackey, but I guess I'll go read some of her other new books! This was 3.5 stars for me.
This was a nice return to Valdemar. I haven't read anything set there for probably...9-10 years? It was nice to read a wide variety of stories, and I appreciated how short some of them were; it was refreshing after reading a lot of looong novels in a row, and many of the stories still got pretty deep. Ultimately, it was disappointing that there wasn't more by Mercedes Lackey, but I guess I'll go read some of her other new books! This was 3.5 stars for me.
November 23, 2021
Considering other reviews
In reading reviews of Valdemar books recently, I came across the idea that all of these stories "have a happy ending" and are thus unrealistic. That is not true in general, and not true here. Heralds die, regular people suffer, and protagonists make heartbreaking decisions. 💔 the widower of a bard goes to visit his father who lost both of his children to companions. A mother must choose between her husband's path and her child. Real issues. Real people.
In reading reviews of Valdemar books recently, I came across the idea that all of these stories "have a happy ending" and are thus unrealistic. That is not true in general, and not true here. Heralds die, regular people suffer, and protagonists make heartbreaking decisions. 💔 the widower of a bard goes to visit his father who lost both of his children to companions. A mother must choose between her husband's path and her child. Real issues. Real people.
January 3, 2018
Twenty one short stories by a variety of authors. Mercedes Lackey wrote the last story. It has been at least a decade since I read anything in the Valdemar series and I was not sure I'd remember enough to enjoy this. All of the authors did a wonderful job evoking the world with stand-alone stories. The downside is that now I'm tempted to go back & re-read some of the books.
Bottomline: if you like any of the Valdemar books, I think you will enjoy these stories.
Bottomline: if you like any of the Valdemar books, I think you will enjoy these stories.
January 4, 2018
Wow. I have been a huge fan of Mercedes Lackey for a long time, and for her to bring together an array of authors to provide a collection of stories is no small feat. She has done it again. These authors breathe amazing life into the short stories included within this book. From vivid imagery, scenes gripping with emotion, and events that will have you at the edge of your seat. I absolutely loved this selection and look forward to the next installment.
February 7, 2019
Typically, I really don't like reading short story anthologies. The stories, when good, are always too short for my taste. Sometimes, you find only a few good, few not so good in the anthology. Valdemar anthologies are always the exception for me--I drink in the tales full of familiar (and not so familiar) characters eagerly. They're always a treat, and this one is no exception. Excepting only in the wish for the stories to all be much, much longer.
May 8, 2018
Another solid entry in the anthologies of Valdemar. One of the things I love best about these is that a good half of the contributing authors keep coming back; there are now several different names I automatically look for in the newest anthologies, because I'm interested to know what's new with the characters they've brought into Lackey's world.
October 14, 2019
Although overall I enjoyed this, as usual most of the stories lacked oomph. Mercedes Lackey's was the best, to be expected. Fiona Patton's new Hektor Dann story was a bit disappointing - her previous ones were much better, this one lacked punch at the end though it started out well. Still it was nice as always to visit Valdemar again.
November 9, 2020
I like the books Mercedes Lackey writes, she is good at creating a believable world and people to populate it. While her writing is not the strongest I do find it engaging ang and enjoyable. I like a series I can live inside of and her books are ones that have characters I feel invested in and a world I believe could exist.
November 11, 2021
So Scooby and Shaggy, uh . . . Ryu and Herald Arville are back and out on their first Circuit, looking for a thief. The rest of the gang are off on their first Circuits as well. And suddenly Arville and Ryu have to solve a mystery without the help from the others that they've come to depend on. Great story!
The other tales in the collection are great as well.
The other tales in the collection are great as well.
December 23, 2017
3.5 stars None of the stories in this anthology are bad, but there are few remarkable standouts either; for the most part they are well-written and entertaining without lingering in the reader's mind. Review to come.
December 5, 2017
Pathways (Valdemar)
I love all things Valdemar and have since I first read Magic 's Pawn. These anthologies have expanded that universe a lot. I found these tales a bit darker and more melancholy than usual but fine stories nonetheless.
I love all things Valdemar and have since I first read Magic 's Pawn. These anthologies have expanded that universe a lot. I found these tales a bit darker and more melancholy than usual but fine stories nonetheless.
December 20, 2017
Another hit
Great collection of stories in the Valdemar world. Each author spins their own tale but they all feel connected and some are continuing storylines by author's who have appeared before. Some are so good I wish they were longer.
Great collection of stories in the Valdemar world. Each author spins their own tale but they all feel connected and some are continuing storylines by author's who have appeared before. Some are so good I wish they were longer.
December 28, 2017
I like the short stories, I get another persons view of this world. That being said it seems like the bulk of the stories were continuations of previous stories. Why don’t the authors write their own books? It’s really hard trying to remember year to year what’s happened
January 6, 2018
Good collection of Valdemar stories, though as always, I prefer novel length. However, several of these captures my imagination, and the book overall held my interest. A good choice if you are snatching reading time between prepping for the holidays and attending events, as I was.
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