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Haunting Shadows: A Wraith 20th Anniversary Fiction Anthology
Remember those nice stories they told you about what’d happen after you died? They were wrong. There is no Heaven and there is no Hell. There’s only the Underworld, with the ravening maw of Oblivion at the bottom and the impossible dream of Transcendence at the top. And, somewhere in between, are scores of Restless Dead. Are you ready to join them? This collection of stories is inspired by the Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition. You’ll explore the Underworld, roam the streets of Stygia, the eternal city, visit a haunted museum, and walk new and exciting locales. This anthology includes tales by classic and new Wraith authors such as Richard Lee Byers, Jackie Cassada, Rich Dansky, Monica Valentinelli, Catherine Lundoff, Joe Nassisse, and more!
- GenresHorror
122 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 26, 2020
3.5 stars.
Of all the White Wolf lines, Wraith was my favorite (followed by Changeling). The setting spoke to me, and the whole line oozed with existential angst, as it gave a nuanced look at life-after-death, and how even the dead are challenged by forces both internal and external.
The line produced some of the greatest supplements created for a role-playing game, and the metaplot aided rather than hindered the ongoing story and setting.
To be able to come back and revisit this setting with some new fiction is a great treat. Which is why
it is, with a heavy heart, that I found this book to be slighly underwhelming. Not BAD, just mediocre. While the continuation of the "Immortal Eyes" saga captivated me, this title just left me feeling sad.
I think a large function of that sadness is caused by the passage of years, as I grew older, wiser, and perhaps a bit more cynical and jaded (and ever closer to joining Charon and his Legions.) Meeting up with beloved characters and seeing how they have changed and evolved (as with the "Cup of Dreams") is both charming and yet oddly melancholy. But this book left me honestly feeling a little dessicated after reading it; my headspace is not where it was 20+ years ago, and, while I still appreciate the genius of the original books and the setting, this title didn't speak to me now as it might have years ago.
As with all things, some things are best seen with hindsight intact....
Of all the White Wolf lines, Wraith was my favorite (followed by Changeling). The setting spoke to me, and the whole line oozed with existential angst, as it gave a nuanced look at life-after-death, and how even the dead are challenged by forces both internal and external.
The line produced some of the greatest supplements created for a role-playing game, and the metaplot aided rather than hindered the ongoing story and setting.
To be able to come back and revisit this setting with some new fiction is a great treat. Which is why
it is, with a heavy heart, that I found this book to be slighly underwhelming. Not BAD, just mediocre. While the continuation of the "Immortal Eyes" saga captivated me, this title just left me feeling sad.
I think a large function of that sadness is caused by the passage of years, as I grew older, wiser, and perhaps a bit more cynical and jaded (and ever closer to joining Charon and his Legions.) Meeting up with beloved characters and seeing how they have changed and evolved (as with the "Cup of Dreams") is both charming and yet oddly melancholy. But this book left me honestly feeling a little dessicated after reading it; my headspace is not where it was 20+ years ago, and, while I still appreciate the genius of the original books and the setting, this title didn't speak to me now as it might have years ago.
As with all things, some things are best seen with hindsight intact....
July 25, 2021
Another great anthology centered on one of the most avant-garde RPGs ever created. Here is the whole gamut of tales you can have from that amazing setting: from the deep personal horror, to the over the top and over powered crossovers, including stories from the antagonist’s perspective. It’s something impossible to avoid on an anthology of such a vast game; but this in particular manages it very well.
March 16, 2021
Great collection
I have been a Wraith fan since 1st edition and really enjoyed this. "Scritch
Scratch was definitely my favorite of all of them
I have been a Wraith fan since 1st edition and really enjoyed this. "Scritch
Scratch was definitely my favorite of all of them
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews