Fabled Journey

by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Elizabeth Xifaras, Richard Webb

This collection of fantasy short stories are from the three winners of Remastered Words 2016 audio anthology, including a tale from one of our judges, Adrian Tchaikovsky with "The Groppler's Harvest", which was first published in the British Fantasy Society's 2013 anthology. Listen as our bards regale you with treacherous journeys and fables worthy of the smallest campfire to the most renowned taverns, where sometimes only the ultimate price is enough. So charge your tankards, goblets, and mugs, sit back and enjoy a fabled journey or two.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published October 27, 2016

About the author

ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY was born in Lincolnshire and studied zoology and psychology at Reading, before practising law in Leeds. He is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor and is trained in stage-fighting. His literary influences include Gene Wolfe, Mervyn Peake, China Miéville, Mary Gently, Steven Erikson, Naomi Novak, Scott Lynch and Alan Campbell.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neh

[Andra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly I don't really understand the abysmal score, it wasn't THAT bad. In fact, I only actively disliked the middle story, "The Weight on Your Shoulder", which read like metaphoric drivel (is it an actual monster or is it grief or depression or or), but the others were fine, I thought.

Sure, the first one was a bit over the top with its graphic descriptions but it worked in the end. The second story was good too, so melancholic. And of course Tchaikovsky's was the best.

All in all, a short but interesting read.

[Amy Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this anthology in a fit of Adrian-Tchaikovsky enthusiasm. Unsurprisingly, then, his is the story I most enjoyed. There seems to be a theme of "atypical protagonists" going all the way through (most at least somewhat villainous). I enjoyed the latter two stories the most, and recommend the anthology primarily for them. If you like gross-out-humor, you'll probably enjoy the first story more than I did. If you like sort of Greek-epic-battles-with-pathos-and-gods things, you'll probably enjoy the second story more than I did.

The narrators do a nice job on all the stories (though the male sometimes gets carried away with his accents).

Unsung by Pardeep Aujla(2 stars) - Has its moments, and is somewhat amusing, but I'm not really big on vomit-as-humor-device, or bodily "humor" in general. I was rooting for the Nightgaunt, honestly.
A God's Mercy by Richard Webb (2.5 stars) - Well-crafted, but not really to my taste. A god comforts one of her dying warriors in battle.
The Weight on Your Shoulder by Elizabeth Xifaris (3 stars) - This one was at least interesting. Phantom spider (vampire?) latches onto its prey until they have nothing left to give.
The Groppler's Harvest by Adrian Tchaikovsky (5 stars) - Ah, this one made the collection worth it. Sorcerers' slaves rebel in their own ways. Some ways are more effective than others. ...I have to point out that, despite the narrator's best intentions, the people he "mercy killed" would have been better off left to the Groppler. Of course, he had no way of knowing that, but it bugged me, after the reveal.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

The narration quality was incredibly variable, some stories sounded like they were recorded in someones bathroom, others a studio.

Unsung by Pardeep Aujla (⭐️⭐️) - I liked it as a set up for something more than what it was...like, there could have been many different endings to this but the way it went wasn't satisfying.

A God's Mercy by Richard Webb (⭐️⭐️) - A god comforts one of her dying warriors in battle, and again, I wanted the story to do more, it just landed flat.

The Weight on Your Shoulder by Elizabeth Xifaris (⭐️) - A spider latches onto its prey until they have nothing left to give, aaaannndd that's it.

The Groppler's Harvest by Adrian Tchaikovsky (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) - So this is why ppl read this, and its last because its the best. In a strange purgatory or hell, sorcerers' slaves rebel in their own ways. It was interesting, didn't feel like it was too short, and found the struggle compelling.

[Tammy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high hopes for at least the Adrian Tchaikovsky story. I was disappointed in all of them. I wouldn't even have noted this book in my Goodreads account, but I need to make sure that I never accidentally pick it up again.

I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to read anything good this year.

[Marcus Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ended up listening to this because of the Adrian Tchaikovsky story which did not disappoint. Each story got better. Overall his was the best one. The audio could have been better all around though.

[Astrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* I loved Tchaikovsky’s story, but the others were just ok.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short fantasy sword and sorcery wherein death plays a starring role.

[Stinne Larsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fine historier men irriterende oplæst

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so okay

Second story was the best

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only listened to the Adrian Tchaikovsky

[Twainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four short stories that increase in value from 3 to 4.25 stars.

Tchaikovsky wrote the last story. It’s the best! A sorcerer has slaves that rebel in multiple ways, the reveal left me wondering. Good story. The Gropplers Harvest.

BUT number 3 … SPIDERS!

3.5 stars