Rating: 
Summary: A tease from one of the greatest modern authors
Review: He may not churn out the books at one per year but whenever they re released it is worth the wait - unfortunately his first release since the absolutely brilliant Gap series is only short stories which is not his forte - however well worth the read.Please Mr Donaldson, when is the next novel going to be released...
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent short stories
Review: I am no fan of short stories, but Donaldson's book is really something special. The stories are engrossing and well-written. Some are written in the first-person, from the viewpoint of a vampire, a djinn, etc., and the common thread of the stories is that virtue will triumph over corruption. Donaldson's preface invites the reader to guess which story is about his unpleasant experience in a stressful lawsuit. Well, my guess is that this is a trick question, and that the answer is, all of them, to some degree.
Rating: 
Summary: Lackluster collection disappoints
Review: I don't have the style and eloquence of many of the other reviewers, so I'll be blunt. Most of the stories in this book are boring. Perhaps a literary scholar can appreciate them, but not a casual reader. Nearly all of the stories are set in the Middle East (or a reasonable facsimile thereof), with lots of sand and heat. The one story that stands out is 'Penance', whose undead hero strives for mortality..and even 'Penance' drags for the first 20-30 pages. The sci-fi 'What Makes Us Human' is intriguing but in the end pointless. It has no moral, no lesson..it's just a retelling of a fictional incident. Which in the end is what all stories are.
Rating:
Summary: Stories to take the breath away and leave you pondering.
Review: I found Reave the Just and Other Tales to be a fine collection of stories from one of fantasy's best authors. The stories held me in thrall and left me thinking. I have rarely found so much meaning in any short story. The talent which lies withing this one collection of stories astounds me.
Rating:
Summary: Not disappointed
Review: I had not read a Donaldson book in years, but decided to buy this one after reading the author's preface. In the preface the author points out when he wrote the stories, mentions how a few of them were written during important times of his life, and even notes that at least one of them really isn'tthat good. I wanted to read for myself just how an author's craft influenced his own life, and perhaps wonder how his life influenced his written word. I was not disappointed. Some reviewers have moaned how the stories are slow or boring. Look elsewhere on Amazon and note how often that charge is leveled. I charge those reviewers with forgetting how to enjoy buildup, foreshadowing, and anticipation. Few others have mentioned The Woman Who Loved Pigs. I thought, at first, it was very slow, but then got caught up in wondering where it was all going. I grew more interested in it as I went along. Most reviewers probably think the payoff was the confrontation near the end of the story. That is not the payoff---that is the climax. The payoff, which is pure Donaldson, is at the very end, when he describes how things slowly returned to the way they were at the beginning. Some have charged That Which Makes Us Human as not being very good. Well, Donaldson himself beats you to the punch. Look in the preface. He practically admits it is not very good. I still liked the story. I liked how two people beat a beserker; I liked how they refused to surrender int he face of overwhelming odds. I especially liked how they turned back at the end. As the cover notes mention, these aren't action stories; these are human stories, tales about the power and might of the individual. If you want to race to/from work, race to/from vacation, and are hooked on fast-paced computer games, then this book is not for you. If you want to experience story-telling and the fine art of short stories, then this book IS for you.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good, but not his best work
Review: I raced to get this upon release, being an avid fan of Donaldson's work. I was somewhat disappointed... the stories are good, pretty much building in quality until "Penance" (my personal favorite), but the last couple "What Makes Us Human" and "By Any Other Name" just weren't up to par. "...Human" goes nowhere, and "By Any Other Name", while OK, is at times confusing, at times dull. Read the stories in reverse order: you'll enjoy the book as a whole more for having ended with a strong story
Rating:
Summary: Donaldson masters short fiction
Review: I was reluctant to look for more Donaldson material after my experience of seeming endless waiting for the next Gap novel. (I was interested to see in the intro to "Reave" that SRD admitted a horrible writers block in the middle of "Gap") "Reave the Just" is a positively delightful anthology of classic fantasy. My favorites were "Pennance", "The Woman who loved Pigs", and "By Any Other name". Donaldson's ability to take seemingly overdone themes (i.e. Vampires) and put amazing new twists to them is great. I believe he deserves to be named among the heroes of fantasy writing such as Tolkein, Lewis, Leiber, et al. One disturbing story was "What Makes Us Human" which was neither fantasy nor did it seem to make it's point. It's inclusion can only be justified by the way it made the other stories shine. I am looking forward to more fantasy from Donaldson and hope to see him in person some day at Kent State University, home of the definitive SRD collection.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT COLLECTION!!
Review: I'll admit that I will read anything by Donaldson, but that is simply a testament to his skill as a writer. His stories have so much more meaning and depth than those produced by the countless hack sci-fi/fantasy authors around today. Perhaps Donaldson's greatest strength is his willingness to break the standard conventions of the genre. As in his other works, Donaldson manages to make the reader experience the pain of his characters. Some of these stories deal in dark themes: watch out for "Penance" and "Reave the Just."
Rating: 
Summary: getting too dark for me
Review: I've been a long time defender of Donaldson but I was expecting another Daughter of Regals. Although Donaldson still displays talent his vision gets darker, the hope is disappearing in his stories.
Rating:
Summary: More of the World of Thomas Covenant
Review: I've read this book and it is absolutely brilliant. It answers all sorts of unanswered questions. Another Great read by Donaldson. I must asmit that I'm extremely surprised that amazon isn't selling this book yet as it is on all the Book shelves in all the book shops in Perth. How Curious!!!!!!!
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