Assassin Fantastic

The Queen's Necklace

by Martin H. Greenberg (Editor), Fiona Patton (Contributor), Josepha Sherman (Contributor)

A collection of original fantasy tales follows the exploits and adventures of trained assassins and killers for hire in works by Tanya Huff, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Josepha Sherma, P. N. Elrod, Mickey Zucker Reichert, Rosemary Edghill, Jane Lindskold, and other notable authors. Original.

Genres: Fantasy, Anthologies, Short Stories, Fiction, Collections, Science Fiction

308 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2001

About the author

Martin Harry Greenberg was an American academic and speculative fiction anthologist. In all, he compiled 1,298 anthologies and commissioned over 8,200 original short stories. He founded Tekno Books, a packager of more than 2000 published books. In addition, he was a co-founder of the Sci-Fi Channel.

For the 1950s anthologist and publisher of Gnome Press, see Martin Greenberg.

Reviews

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I'm kind of weird. I am fascinated with assassins in fiction. This book is a great collection of fantasy stories about people who make their living as assassins. Not all of these characters are bad people, and some of them aren't very admirable. They all have different motivations and different methods. Some are very businesslike, some probably enjoy what they do a little much for comfort. For a fun collection of fantasy short stories about people who kill to live, check this one out.

[Anna Nesterovich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually read short stories collections and don't really know how to rate them. Reading one short story at a time, I'm giving the book a grand total of 2.8 stars, which is the average of the 15 stories and gets rounded to 3.
Death Rites by Tanya Huff - 4 stars - An ok story, but nothing too special.
Green Stones by Stephen Leigh - 5 stars - I maybe, possibly, probably found a new author I want to read.
Coin of the Realm by Kristine Kathryn Rusch - 3 stars - Or even less than 3 stars.
The Svedali Foundlings by Fiona Patton - 3 stars - Marginally interesting.
History and Economics by Anna Oster - 2 stars - Boring.
Never Say... uh... Die? by Josepha Sherman - 4 stars - Why did it have to be Koshchei?
Dying by Inches by Teresa Edgerton - 1 star - More than boring.
Darkness Comes Together by Mickey Zucker Reichert - 1 star - Hmm. That wasn't even mediocre.
Raven's Cut by Lynn Flewelling - 3 stars - A good story that would get 4 stars from me, if only it wasn't the reason I picked this book. I was waiting for so much more, but what I got was Rhiminee with a distinct Ankh-Morpork-ish flavor.
Myhr's Adventure in Hell by P. N. Elrod - 4 stars - Not overly well written, but I'm interested to get to know Myhr and Terrin better.
He by Leyte Jefferson - 1 star - Exemplary bad.
War of the Roses by Rosemary Edghill - 4 stars - There was at least some suspense, which is always good in a short story.
On my honor by Bernie Arntzen - 2 stars - Off to a very good start, but ends without a resolution.
A touch of Poison by Jane Lindskold - 3 stars - A reasonably interesting read.
Echoes by Michelle West - 2 stars - Kind of interesting, but I'n not sure I understand half of it and it seems I'd need to read a few other books about this character to understand.

[Susan]

♦ "Death Rites" by Tanya Huff collected in Relative Magic read 14/15/2001 re-read 3/30/2015
♦ "Coin of the Realm" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch read 12/16/2001
♦ "Never Say ... Uh ... Die?" by Josepha Sherman read 12/17/2001
♦ "Darkness Comes Together" by Mickey Zucker Reichert read 12/18/2001
♦ "Myhr's Adventure in Hell" by P.N. Elrod read 12/19/2001
♦ "War of the Roses" by Rosemary Edghill 12/21/2001
♦ "A Touch of Poison" by Jane Lindskold read 12/20/2001

Green Stones by Stephen Leigh
The Svedali Foundlings by Fiona Patton
History and Economics by Anna Oster
Dying by Inches by Teresa Edgerton
Raven's Cut by Lynn Flewelling
He by Leyte Jefferson
On My Honor by Bernie Arntzen
Echoes by Michelle West

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably would in a perfect world (in which there were half-stars on Goodreads) be 3.5; the scattering of really excellent stories were enough that they make the book a keeper, but not enough to boost it to 4 stars. Nice cover, though, especially considering it's Jody Nye - but I need the burk on the right explained to me.

[Lala]

Note: I only read one story in this collection, so that will be the only one that I am reviewing.

Raven's Cut by Lynn Flewelling

Mijar tells his companions about his humble beginnings, which led to him joining a guild of assassins in Rhíminee. While still a boy, he discovers a man called Raven, who relishes murder.

Although this does take place in Rhíminee, and has a character that was very briefly in the Nightrunner series, these were just cameos, adds nothing to that series, and this story can be considered a stand-alone. While an assassin's guild was intriguing, the story was very disturbing and disgusting.

Personal history: Purchased a used copy.

Skalan short stories (spin-off series from Nightrunner)

2. Perfection

[Thalla Rothach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, just general f.y.i.: "Darkness Comes Together," Mickey Zucker Reichert, is another prequel story to the novel Legend of Nightfall, guess that makes it 0.4? Don't know why it's not on the series' page.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of assassin-oriented short stories fills this small book. Several stories deal with existing characters/worlds, but this wouldn't impede a new reader. I still feel sad when I think about the one with the puppy.

[Oyceter · Rating 1 out of 5]

http://oyceter.livejournal.com/451360...

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple of the stories were very good, most mediocre. I didenjoy the premise of various types of assassins though.

[Brett]

Anthology,Horror

[Linda O · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the Nightfall story (having already read the Legend of Nightfall.) Other than that, I am not much for short stories because they leave me unsatisfied.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mix of authors.

[David]

The short story "History and Economics" from Assassin Fantastic has a nasty Karma Houdini

[pml]

Death Rites (Tanya Huff)
Echoes (Michelle West)