Tears of the Anaren

by C.W. Longbottom

Behold an unforgettable intergalactic love story, rescued from the mists of time and brought to you by the visionaries behind Mythic Quest, the world-changing video game at the heart of the Apple TV+ Original Series.

What connects tantalizing yet tender alien romance with the biggest multiplayer video game of all time? Seasoned storyteller C.W. Longbottom, the Nebula Award-winning science-fiction and fantasy author and head writer of Mythic Quest. C.W. found literary fame with Inside the Caves of Beneroth and Tears of the Anaren, but even his most loyal fans don’t know that Tears of the Anaren began as a short story he wrote in the early 1970s while interning at Amazing Tales magazine.

This never-before-published draft is now yours to discover, complete with C.W.’s (extremely) colorful commentary and an Introduction and Afterword by Ian Grimm, the iconoclastic creator of Mythic Quest. As sparks fly between heroic scoundrel Zeb and space seductress Merrith, we get a glimpse into the mind of a talented young man yearning for greatness. Like early Mozart, it is raw and green — but also magic.

From Charlie Day, Megan Ganz, and Rob McElhenney, the Apple TV+ original comedy series, Mythic Quest, goes behind the scenes to follow the game’s creators. In a workplace focused on building worlds, molding heroes, and creating legends, the most hard-fought battles don’t occur in the game — they happen in the office. Rob McElhenney stars as Ian Grimm alongside Charlotte Nicdao and F. Murray Abraham.

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction, Fiction, Humor, Science Fiction Fantasy, Ebooks, Audiobook

28 pages, ebook

First published June 1, 2021

About the author

Longbottom is Mythic Quest's seasoned storyteller and Nebula-award-winning author, who desires a game with as much backstory as possible. Amongst his many works prior to the game is the book Inside the Caves of Beneroth, something which, in small measure inspires the marketing team's live streaming efforts.

Reviews

[Mangrii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complementando el episodio 6 de la segunda temporada de Mythic Quest, podemos leer el ESPELUZNANTE la historia corta Tears of Anaren que funciono como germen para la ganadora del Nebula de C.W. Longbottom ya sabemos como todos los que vemos la serie.

Un relato corto intencionalmente MALO, cargado de clichés y descripciones horribles (con alguna que otra idea de ruptura cultural interesante), pero consistentemente divertido gracias a los comentarios del propio CW e Ian Grimm. Una inolvidable historia de amor intergaláctico no apta para todos los paladares.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based off the recent episode of Mythic Quest where we see CW’s back story, this intentionally bad book is very enjoyable with comments added from CW and Ian during the book. A great companion piece to the episode and good fun.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liebe es, wie es sich nicht nur in der Story selbst, sondern auch in den Kommentaren, über viele Tropes lustig macht. Tropes nicht in dem Sinne, wie Fantasy/Sci-Fi-Geschichten erzählt werden, sondern wie Autor:innen erzählen.

[Aled · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intentional bad short story that ties in with mythic quest season 2 episode 6. Doesn’t take it self to seriously.

[mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t seen Mythic Quest but this was fun!

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tears of the Anaren ties into the tv show Mythic Quest, it’s intentionally bad, consistently funny and fans of the show will totally enjoy this short story.

[Javier Atapuerca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un viaje a la mente de C.W. Longbottom

Que una serie intente sacar rédito de merchandising no es algo sorprendente. Que, en cambio, dedique tiempo y esfuerzo a hacer una versión de un relato corto, ¡y un audiolibro! que entrega gratis, eso es otra cosa. Y del cual, además, me enteré casi de casualidad (igual que del juego que crearon para la primera temporada). Es amor a la serie y a sus personajes, eso sin duda.

El relato, bueno, casi lo esperaba peor, la verdad. Las referencias a la Confederación y a los Yankees son referencias algo lejanas (supongo que se podría asimilar con los bandos de la Guerra Civil, salvando las distancias). Y se ven claras las tendencias y los modismos del personaje, lo cual es meritorio.

Eso sí, me quedo con las ganas de poder leer la versión ganadora del Nébula. Bueno, repasaré un poco alguno de mis libros de Asimov, por ningún motivo en concreto…

[Jason Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a fan of Mythic Quest and just adore F. Murray Abraham As such, listening to this audiobook was a delight. Read “by the author”, Abraham’s Longbottom character, gives insight to the story with acted nuances and the included anecdotal interruptions from Longbottom along the way. The story isn’t great, you may question even good, but it’s the production that makes it fun as well as it being an extension of the character from the show. Short read, a definite checkout if you’re a fan of the show

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very humorous and quick read, especially if you're a fan of the show. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone else cause really, it wouldn't make much sense.

After all, the story itself written badly on purpose because that is the development (and insanity) of CW's character in the show before he joins the Mythic Quest team.

This just renewed my faith in being hyped up for season 3 of the show. Can't wait.

[Geoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it be more fun, but it was not. As expected, it was a horrible story, as we knew from the Apple show. It was annotated throughout, but not as much as I would have liked. Because, the story, as bad as it is isn’t that funny, but the interjections were. I just wish there were more of them. Regardless, I’m glad to have read it, as I enjoy the series, and I thought it was a pretty cool idea. And it’s so short it was read in a day. So it was an easy read.

[James Hauenstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you haven’t watched the TV series Mythic Quest you might not understand why this short story was even written. Spoilers: to promote the TV show. The first thing that came to my mind on how to describe this story is to compare it to Rocky. The poorly written date rap movie from an era hopefully long gone. It tries to be funny about it but often misses the mark. I only found it on an audio format

[Jesús · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was hard to read, English is not my first language but I think I’m good enough with it. However, this was the book which had me checking the dictionary the most, ever. I guess it’s part of the comedy of the book.
As part of the Mythic Quest Easter eggs, I think this is a very good book, very funny.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Admittedly a horrible short story but really that’s to be expected. I mean common on its C.W.! However, it’s hilarious when tying it to Mythic Quest (why would you even be reading this if not) and having a little extra to go along with the show is so fun. I am curious to know how the revisions to the story read because this is truly awful in a good, funny way!

[Sarah Castro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve never watched Mythic Quest, which this goes along with, but still thought this short story was fun. Definitely got a few laughs out of it! It was one of the free audiobooks on my iPhone so I had nothing to lose. I would give it 3.5 stars, though I would probably appreciate it more if I watched the show.

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stupid idea as expected. Funny and well read! However, i think they could have gone even more meta!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you rate a story that is meant to be awful? It’s very bad, which is to say that it’s fantastic. Very funny, though unintentionally. I loved/hated it. 1 star, but also 5 stars.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

So bad it’s fantastic.

[Don Jaucian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Showstopping

[Steve Paulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly the greatest story ever written

[Mark Polino · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was aight, I did chuckle a few times.

[Jamila Nujuum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good but too short for my taste,p. But not bad.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious.

[Anthony Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This CW guy has a huge future! It reminds me a lot of the works of Issac Asimov!

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good joke gone too far - this builds on a character and specific episode of Mythic Quest. Written in character, and with meta commentary, this is a real treat for fans of the show.

[Stoner · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I've been told I work best alone, mostly by disgrunted bosses, and a few unfortunate lovers."

You need to watch Mythic Quest before reading this one.

[Abby MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listening to the novella that I heard about in the Mythic Quest show was awesome, it was a hilarious listen. Without the context of the show it would unbearable, but as a fan I got a kick out of it.

[James Hauke]

an enjoyable listen on the cycle

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolute gibberish and absolutely fun.