Rating: 
Summary: Shorter work from a master of the fantasy epic
Review: Stephen R. Donaldson, probably best known for his fantasy epic "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever", delivers his second collection of shorter work in "Reave The Just And Other Tales". Although uneven in quality, there are a lot of goodies here for Donaldson fans.Apart from the duology "Mordant's Need", Donaldson's work is often serious in tone, dealing with moral/ethical questions. Likewise, the stories in this collection seem to focus mostly on themes like justice, sin and redemption. Donaldson likes to draw his moral dramas with broad strokes and wide settings. When using the shorter form, the intensity of the moral drama becomes so strong that the tales resemble parables rather than short stories. Specifically in "The Djinn Who Watches Over The Accursed" and in the title story, the protagonists resemble incarnations of ideas, not so much real people. Combined with Donaldson's formal, stately prose style, this often leads to a "processional pace and mood", to quote another reviewer. Favorite stories are "Penance", one of the most moving and psychologically insightful vampire stories I ever read, and "The Djinn Who Watches Over The Accursed", an interesting and fable-like meditation on being cursed. Other very strong entries: "The Kings of Tarshish Shall Bring Gifts" and "The Woman Who Loved Pigs". The only real clunker in this collection is "What Makes Us Human". It's the only science fiction story in this predominantly fantasy collection. Apart from that, the lighter style makes it seem a bit of a throw-away story. Not surprisingly, this is the oldest story in the collection. Over all, this is a strong collection. Donaldson, a master of the long form, demonstrates that he can condense his style effectively in shorter works.
Rating:
Summary: Shorter work from a master of the fantasy epic
Review: Stephen R. Donaldson, probably best known for his fantasy epic "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever", delivers his second collection of shorter work in "Reave The Just And Other Tales". Although uneven in quality, there are a lot of goodies here for Donaldson fans. Apart from the duology "Mordant's Need", Donaldson's work is often serious in tone, dealing with moral/ethical questions. Likewise, the stories in this collection seem to focus mostly on themes like justice, sin and redemption. Donaldson likes to draw his moral dramas with broad strokes and wide settings. When using the shorter form, the intensity of the moral drama becomes so strong that the tales resemble parables rather than short stories. Specifically in "The Djinn Who Watches Over The Accursed" and in the title story, the protagonists resemble incarnations of ideas, not so much real people. Combined with Donaldson's formal, stately prose style, this often leads to a "processional pace and mood", to quote another reviewer. Favorite stories are "Penance", one of the most moving and psychologically insightful vampire stories I ever read, and "The Djinn Who Watches Over The Accursed", an interesting and fable-like meditation on being cursed. Other very strong entries: "The Kings of Tarshish Shall Bring Gifts" and "The Woman Who Loved Pigs". The only real clunker in this collection is "What Makes Us Human". It's the only science fiction story in this predominantly fantasy collection. Apart from that, the lighter style makes it seem a bit of a throw-away story. Not surprisingly, this is the oldest story in the collection. Over all, this is a strong collection. Donaldson, a master of the long form, demonstrates that he can condense his style effectively in shorter works.
Rating:
Summary: Flawed humanity very well portrayed
Review: The author does not disappoint in these stories with characters so poignant as a result of being intrinsically flawed. It is the characters are definitely not heroes, but manage to become just that through by being less than perfect. Worth mentioning is Penance, The killing stroke and Reave the just. This book is an enjoyable read.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing follow up to Daughter of Regals
Review: The man who penned the Covenant Chronicles (one of the most lyrical, haunting, and powerfully gripping fantasies ever written) returns, and yet for me Reave the Just is a disappointing 'sequel' to Daughter of Regals. There is no story here which continues to shimmer in the imagination once the book is closed, whereas Daughter of Regals and Unworthy of the Angel live on in the mind fifteen years later. The worst inclusions here are What Makes Us Human and The Djinn Who Watches Over the Accursed, which Donaldson comes close to admitting himself in the foreword. Unlike this author's epic novels, the prose is actually quite clear and lucid. The best inclusion is probably The Killing Stroke, but to be honest even this is rather quickly forgettable. The truth is that Donaldson excels at novels, but is not a 'natural' in the field of short story writing, as is Ray Bradbury for example. Come back Thomas, you Unbeliever you! All is forgiven!!
Rating: 
Summary: A Mixture of Stories and Quality
Review: This is a collection of Stephen R. Donaldson short stories, and there is considerable variance here in quality of content. Many of the stories are dry and subtle to the point of meaninglessness. There is also a dreary, depressive tone to the book. Now comes the "however". However, two stories stand out in my mind. "The Djinn Who Watches Over the Accursed" appeared in an earlier anthology, and deserved to be reprinted. It is both lighthearted and deep. The bigger part of my "however" is in the story "Penance". This story gives a sympathetic view of a vampire, who did not ask to be what he is and is trying to redeem himself for a sin he did not choose to commit (being what he is). He faces prejudice, suspicion, and the constant threat of ostracism, but has an ally who has recognized his basic goodness, even more so than the vampire himself has. He does not want to hate what he is, but sometimes cannot avoid it, no matter what he has become. I sold this book eventually, and regret it because of this one story. Most gems are buried amongst unvaluable material, and here is a prime example.
Rating:
Summary: A Mixture of Stories and Quality
Review: This is a collection of Stephen R. Donaldson short stories, and there is considerable variance here in quality of content. Many of the stories are dry and subtle to the point of meaninglessness. There is also a dreary, depressive tone to the book. Now comes the "however". However, two stories stand out in my mind. "The Djinn Who Watches Over the Accursed" appeared in an earlier anthology, and deserved to be reprinted. It is both lighthearted and deep. The bigger part of my "however" is in the story "Penance". This story gives a sympathetic view of a vampire, who did not ask to be what he is and is trying to redeem himself for a sin he did not choose to commit (being what he is). He faces prejudice, suspicion, and the constant threat of ostracism, but has an ally who has recognized his basic goodness, even more so than the vampire himself has. He does not want to hate what he is, but sometimes cannot avoid it, no matter what he has become. I sold this book eventually, and regret it because of this one story. Most gems are buried amongst unvaluable material, and here is a prime example.
Rating: 
Summary: Best Short Story/Novella Author
Review: Without a doubt one of the best long-form authors out there (admission: I haven't yet read "The Gap into Power" series), Donaldson is even better in the short-form. Unfortunately, he's not that prolific in the realm of short stories, novellettes, or novellas. What he does produce is routinely magnificent however. As with his first collection of short-form stories, there is not a dog in the bunch. While his first collection was a mix of science-fiction and fantasy, this collection is solely fantasy, but what a collection of well-written, involving, and unusual fantasy it is. Highly recommended.
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