Legends II

Legends II (2004) edited by Robert Silverberg

I picked up this book just for the Neil Gaiman Shadow story, so the fact that I found it in the bargain bin means that any stories beyond ‘The Monarch of the Glen’ were an added bonus.

And ‘Monarch of the Glen’ was good. Very good. It made me want to go back and reread ‘American Gods’ Right Now. Which I have not done, but may very well do. Because I really like Shadow, and I liked reading more about him, as well as learning more about his past. I’m not sure what it is about Neil Gaiman’s writing that I love so much, but it’s there, and I read his on-line journal for the moments when his day to day bits turn into one of his small tales that draw me in.

Besides ‘Monarch of the Glen’ there were three other stories I read: ‘Homecoming’ by Robin Hobb, ‘The Messenger’ by Raymond E. Feist, and ‘Threshold’ by Elizabeth Haydon. All three stories had the same effect on the that ‘Monarch of the Glen’ did. I wanted to go back and reread that authors’ other books. The Riftwar Saga, the Farseer Trilogy, and the Rhapsody Trilogy.

Robin Hobb’s ‘Homecoming’ was especially good–the main character started out particularly unlikable, yet she managed to keep me reading despite that. It also gave back-story for an area of her world I knew little about.

Of the other stories in the book, there were three stories that I have no interest in reading (the stories by Card, McCaffrey, and Brooks) and stories that are from books that we have, but I have not yet read: George RR Martin, Tad Williams, and Robert Silverberg. Michael has read two of the three series, and loved them, so I should read them, but just haven’t gotten around to them yet.

I’ll let you know when I do.

• Browse the archives:
  
• The Tawny Man Series » »
• « « Thieves’ World: Enemies of Fortune