Rating: 
Summary: One of the best books I've read in a long time
Review: Almost every collection of novellas is met with a preface that says something along the lines of "Novellas are great to write but impossible to sell" which might be a good thing, because when novellas get published they are some of the best work of the particular writer.These five novellas are some of the most intense literary experiences going. The first one is a simple father-daughter outing colored by the fact that one of his children is dead. Everything in the story is tinged with the father's fear. The second story "Dying in Bangkok" is ostensibly an AIDS story, but AIDS plays a small part of it. The demonic prostitutes could be a metaphor for the dangers of unchecked sexuality or they could just be the attraction of death itself. It's a grimy story that keeps you reading. The Teeth WOman story proves that some of the best writing is done angry. After the requisite slam on Dances with Wolves, this story gets going with Sioux legend and mythology given its due. The gee shucks romanticism of Dances with Wolves (and several other "Indian" books) cannot compare to the oft-times disturbing tale of sex and redemption. Reading this book is like reading Singer after watching romanticized crap like Fiddler on the Roof. "Flashback" is an interesting take on memories and reliving them, but it's too cyberpunk. Making the Japanese the villains tends to date this story as well. The depressing ending is just kind of a wash. But "The Great Lover" really makes up for it. WWI horror told with precision and gut-wrenching detail. It makes you feel like you are there in the trenches watching people die by the thousands, waiting for the machine gun blast that will turn you into a pile of rotten meat. The best war stories leave the reader shell-shocked, and this is one of the best. The only other book by Dan Simmons I've read was SOng of Kali and I find this one to be far superior.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece.
Review: As Simmons states in the foreword, a collection of novellas is a great way for a writer to display his range. And LOVEDEATH is ample proof that Simmons can soar with the best of them. From the (John) Irvingesque opener, "Entropy's Bed At Midnight" (whose structure reflects the title), to the horrific AIDS fable, "Dying In Bangkok," to the western folklore style of "Sleeping With Teeth Women" and the SF-cum-thriller of "Flashback" and the metaphysical, ghostly romance of "The Great Lover" (quite possibly one of the best WWI fictions ever written), Simmons dazzles with his wide-ranging story-telling styles and keen eye for detail. A masterpiece.
Rating: 
Summary: Stick to 'Broken Stones' for short fiction.
Review: Dan Simmons is no doubt a great writer... 'Hyperion', 'Carrion Comfort', and 'Song of Kali' are all great books, but this collection of novellas is a total disappointment. I think the problem lies in the fact that Simmons is moralizing here on subjects that he cares about (like the horrors of AIDS) and it's getting in the way of his usual magical style of storytelling. With the story subservient to the moral, we the readers are left to consider Simmons' ethical point of view, which in the case of "Dying in Bangkok", is downright offensive. It's not hard to understand why this book is out of print. Stick with 'Prayers To Broken Stones' if you want to experience Simmons' shorter works of fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Sensuous, enigmatic, romantic...
Review: Dying in Bangkok is my absolute favorite. The book is worth purchasing for this one story only! Drenched in spooky ennui, it is also the most intensely romantic short story I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Stick to 'Broken Stones' for short fiction.
Review: For those wanting to get into the fiction of Dan Simmons without running into the science fiction of Hyperion and the like, this is just about perfect for them. It hits all his other styles in one fell swoop, and at the same time gives them to you in small digestible doses, so if you don't like one, well there's four others to choose from. This is basically five novellas with the common theme of either love or death. Now, neither are very original themes for fiction (or anything) but the way Simmons tackles them makes them infinitely memorable. Most of this stuff is probably considered horror, though only story is truly creepy, that being the sublimely frightening "Dying in Bangkok" one of the few stories that gave me a sick feeling while reading it (though the fact I was barrelling down the highway in a car didn't help, I'm sure) and if you like horror, that one alone makes the book worthwhile. However there are others. You've got a fairly authentic Native American story, told by a slightly sardonic narrator that never ceases to fascinate. The lone science fiction story is fairly touching as it shows a world where everyone keeps reliving the past for lack of anything else to do (and some people live in the past's of others . . . go read the book to find out what I mean). This one actually benefits the most from the short format, since he gives enough detail about this world, but not so much that you're bored and it overwhelms the story. You want to know more, but you know enough to be entertained. There's a small story of a father and daughter that shows off his skill with words and makes some nice points about life and love and death and where they all fit together. The centerpiece of the novel is probably the WWI story, written as a diary of a man fighting in the trenches, interspersed with poetry from the front. Simmons obviously spent the most time on this one, it's the longest and best researched and the work shows. This one shines in its poignancy and humanity, there are touches of humor and horror and everything that makes a great story. So, chances are you're going to like at least two of these stories and you'll like them enough so that it'll make the book worthwhile. Simmons deserves to be explored in other areas other than science fiction and this is by far the best place to experience that. Without a doubt.
Rating:
Summary: Great introduction
Review: For those wanting to get into the fiction of Dan Simmons without running into the science fiction of Hyperion and the like, this is just about perfect for them. It hits all his other styles in one fell swoop, and at the same time gives them to you in small digestible doses, so if you don't like one, well there's four others to choose from. This is basically five novellas with the common theme of either love or death. Now, neither are very original themes for fiction (or anything) but the way Simmons tackles them makes them infinitely memorable. Most of this stuff is probably considered horror, though only story is truly creepy, that being the sublimely frightening "Dying in Bangkok" one of the few stories that gave me a sick feeling while reading it (though the fact I was barrelling down the highway in a car didn't help, I'm sure) and if you like horror, that one alone makes the book worthwhile. However there are others. You've got a fairly authentic Native American story, told by a slightly sardonic narrator that never ceases to fascinate. The lone science fiction story is fairly touching as it shows a world where everyone keeps reliving the past for lack of anything else to do (and some people live in the past's of others . . . go read the book to find out what I mean). This one actually benefits the most from the short format, since he gives enough detail about this world, but not so much that you're bored and it overwhelms the story. You want to know more, but you know enough to be entertained. There's a small story of a father and daughter that shows off his skill with words and makes some nice points about life and love and death and where they all fit together. The centerpiece of the novel is probably the WWI story, written as a diary of a man fighting in the trenches, interspersed with poetry from the front. Simmons obviously spent the most time on this one, it's the longest and best researched and the work shows. This one shines in its poignancy and humanity, there are touches of humor and horror and everything that makes a great story. So, chances are you're going to like at least two of these stories and you'll like them enough so that it'll make the book worthwhile. Simmons deserves to be explored in other areas other than science fiction and this is by far the best place to experience that. Without a doubt.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed!
Review: I did not enjoy these short stories at all. Some were rather vulgar and I felt like I was reading porn. Not all the stories were like that, but some just didn't make any sense. However, Dan Simmons is a great writer (except for "Lovedeath") and I will continue to purchase his books.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful storytelling
Review: I have recommended this book to many people; some had read Simmons's horror or Sci-fi novels, but hadn't been drawn by the concept of shorter stories. Well, don't miss it; this is one of the most compelling and memorable collections of fiction I've read in many years. Simmons doesn't miss often, and he is dead on target here. Yes, some of the themes are strong, and some imagery is less than pleasant, but the test of truth is met and these tales will resonate for a long time...
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece.
Review: If you have ever read a story that continues to haunt you well after you have finished it, and you like that feeling. This book is for you. I felt a need to share stories from this book with people I know.
Rating:
Summary: Dan Simmons is a master story teller.
Review: If you have ever read a story that continues to haunt you well after you have finished it, and you like that feeling. This book is for you. I felt a need to share stories from this book with people I know.
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