The Oracle Lips

Rating:
Summary: Dark, Wondrous Visions
Review: I'd set my sights on The Oracle Lips once I realized I had at long last read all of Storm's novels (but for the unfindable Aleph, alas). Having read a few of Storm's stories beforehand (the short Three Heralds of the Storm chapbook, "Paragenesis" in The Crow anthology and several posted to her web site), I had some idea of what to expect, but at the same time, I started out my reading curious what other strange new worlds and characters I might discover.

One of the things which surprised me was the fact that not all the worlds and characters were new. A half a dozen stories were directly related to novels I had already read! Three of the book's 24 selections are tales of Grigori. "Heir to a Tendency" is a peek at the exploits of one Peverel Othman, years before his fateful appearance at Little Moor -- an arrival described in another story appearing, "A Change of Season." Written for an anthology and with the twins in Little Moor being not Grigori but something else, "A Change of Season" is essentially a draft version of the first chapter of Stalking Tender Prey. The book's third Grigori story, "The Feet, They Dance," is a lyrical story of a museum curator who falls into the sort of "remembered life" experiences that come up so often in the third book of Grigori, Stealing Sacred Fire. Any reader and fan of Grigori cannot afford to miss these stories.

Other Storm novels also have relatives appearing. "Blue Flame of the Candle" is an exotic Magravandias tale of temple idols and mysterious strangers. (It also reminded me strangely of an E.M. Forster novel set in a cross between ancient Mesopotamia and Southeast Asia.) A Wraeththu story Storm once had on her web site, "By the River If Only, in the Land of Might Have Been," also makes an appearance, offering a poignant glimpse at what it means when a people loses touch with its roots and wander unquestioningly in darkness and confusion. And finally, just to tantalize me, there's a story set (so Storm's intro note explains) on the same world as Aleph, the (for me) impossible-to-find sequel to The Monstrous Regiment. "God Be With You" is a bitter account of how religious fanaticism and "born again" zeal can split apart families and turn friends into enemies.

Beyond these jaunts into more familiar territory, however, are many more virgin journeys where Storm has created people and places out of nothing and presents them for the length of a short story. Included within this are stories from various genres, from Storm's own brand of science fiction (where space is much more scary and grim than exciting and glamorous), dark fairy tales, fantasies, and strange (but wonderful) unclassifiables like "The Oracle Lips" (a Moebius strip of a story) to "Of a Cat, but Her Skin," a tale of one woman's liberation.

I found my favorite stories split among all the genres. One of the most dearly enjoyed was "The Vitreous Suzerain," the story that opens the anthology. This is one of Storm's forays into science fiction, with a new governor arriving on one of his empire's conquered planets and discovering there is much more to the planet's inhabitants (and more satisfaction to be had) than he or his fellows ever suspected. For me, this story captured my conception of an inter-species encounter far better than any episode of Star Trek.

Other favorites of mine were two dark fairy tales ("Sweet Bruising Skin" and "Remedy of the Bane"), another sci-fi tale ("As It Flows Into the Sea," very much a Twilight Zone episode set in outer space), Storm's fantasy-parody "The Deliveress," a story ("Return to Gehenna") that was like a one-chapter Thin Air, and just about every other story in the book. I made a good choice with this book!

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing for fans of her novels
Review: Maybe I'm just not a short-story person. But I was disappointed in this book---especially given its hefty price. I fell in love with SC through Wraeththu, and bought this book mainly because there was a Wraeththu story in it. Unfortunately, the story, although it had potential, simply lacked the emotional impact that I'd come to associate with the Wraeththu series. I cared nothing for the protagonist, nor for his people, nor for his lost lover, and I was just resigned, not pleased, by the end of the tale. I will say that the story did have a fascinating ethereal atmosphere... but that's the only positive thing I can say about it. Perhaps if I'd had a longer time to get to know the protagonist, I might have liked him better. (And I'll admit---I'd been hoping to see familiar characters in this story, from the Wraeththu trilogy, not a new chara.)

There are other stories in here which have potential, but it seems as if many of them are early treatments of what eventually became her finished novels. There's a proto-Calenture story in here, and a proto-Grigori one, etc. Given that these were the best stories in the book, I'm tempted to suggest that anyone who's interested in this anthology should skip it and just find a way to get the finished novels. Especially given the price. (The Wraeththu story is available on her website, anyway.)

But I'll stop short of not recommending it. The stories *are* well-written---more than enough to please someone not familiar with what SC is capable of. SC still proves herself to be far and away the best and most original fantasy writer out there, hands down. But for those who have read Wraeththu, or Calenture, or the Thorn Boy, and who know just how hypnotic and powerful her writing can be... it's just not enough.

Rating:
Summary: A storm of ideas
Review: Storm Constantine is a very eclectic writer.She goes from the Cyberpunk,to classic Science Fiction,to evocative fantasy,to religious satire. This book's a bountiful!

Rating:
Summary: Possibly the greatest collection of Gothic fantasy...
Review: This book was absolutely incredible; the finest collection of Gothic literature I have ever had the pleasure to read. Forget Anne Rice and Edgar Allen Poe; Storm Constantine is the definitive author for us Goths.