Paying the Piper at the Gates of Dawn and Other Stories (Five Star First Edition Speculative Fiction Series)

Rating:
Summary: A story to please every appetite
Review: "Paying the Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is one of the best short story anthologies I've ever read -- and every story here, every delightful one of them, has been written by one woman, Rosemary Edghill. It's very difficult to believe at first that one person can write in so many different styles, as there are quest stories here, fantasies, humorous fantasies, alternate historicals (of a sort), and many more. The earthshattering fantasy of "Prince of Exiles" and "Scandal" makes way for the more lighthearted "The Maltese Feline," stopping for the extraordinary fairy tale "The Fairy Ring." And there's much, much more; the Aesopian "Two Gray Horses," the alternate-history (personal) "The Intersection of Anastasia Yeoman and Light," the alternate-history overtones in "May Eve," and even a return to the Boscobel League (featured in Ms. Edghill's novels with Andre Norton, "Leopard in Exile" and "Shadow of Albion"), where Silver Stick in Waiting makes the biggest mistake of his career, in trying to prevent . . . well, you'll see. Ms. Edghill's writing career has spanned several genres, including Regency romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and probably more I'm forgetting at the moment. And her short story collection reflects the same broad-based appeal as her novels, being as there are several wonderful stories almost too tough to classify except as the general, "Read this!" Now, I've read this collection at least four times so far (one of these days, I might share, but not just yet), and I enjoy it more every time. All I can say is, "Read this book! You won't regret it!"

Rating:
Summary: A story to please every appetite
Review: "Paying the Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is one of the best short story anthologies I've ever read -- and every story here, every delightful one of them, has been written by one woman, Rosemary Edghill. It's very difficult to believe at first that one person can write in so many different styles, as there are quest stories here, fantasies, humorous fantasies, alternate historicals (of a sort), and many more. The earthshattering fantasy of "Prince of Exiles" and "Scandal" makes way for the more lighthearted "The Maltese Feline," stopping for the extraordinary fairy tale "The Fairy Ring." And there's much, much more; the Aesopian "Two Gray Horses," the alternate-history (personal) "The Intersection of Anastasia Yeoman and Light," the alternate-history overtones in "May Eve," and even a return to the Boscobel League (featured in Ms. Edghill's novels with Andre Norton, "Leopard in Exile" and "Shadow of Albion"), where Silver Stick in Waiting makes the biggest mistake of his career, in trying to prevent . . . well, you'll see. Ms. Edghill's writing career has spanned several genres, including Regency romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and probably more I'm forgetting at the moment. And her short story collection reflects the same broad-based appeal as her novels, being as there are several wonderful stories almost too tough to classify except as the general, "Read this!" Now, I've read this collection at least four times so far (one of these days, I might share, but not just yet), and I enjoy it more every time. All I can say is, "Read this book! You won't regret it!"

Rating:
Summary: fine short fantasy collection
Review: Fans of short fantasy will appreciate this fine collection consisting of seventeen tales, all except one written in the last seven years. The stories run a wide gamut (as expected from an author who has entries in several genres) in the field so they are aimed more at a generalist. Each of the contributions is well written and fun to follow, as in most cases the fantasy elements seem real in spite of the relative size of the story. However, "The Prince of Exiles" was particularly fascinating as the narrator tells the tale of his family in Ancient Britannia especially once the reader understands who he is. Rosemary Edghill keeps her audience on the edge of their seat with this delightful anthology that will send fans seeking her novels and other works.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: fine short fantasy collection
Review: Fans of short fantasy will appreciate this fine collection consisting of seventeen tales, all except one written in the last seven years. The stories run a wide gamut (as expected from an author who has entries in several genres) in the field so they are aimed more at a generalist. Each of the contributions is well written and fun to follow, as in most cases the fantasy elements seem real in spite of the relative size of the story. However, "The Prince of Exiles" was particularly fascinating as the narrator tells the tale of his family in Ancient Britannia especially once the reader understands who he is. Rosemary Edghill keeps her audience on the edge of their seat with this delightful anthology that will send fans seeking her novels and other works.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely wonderful
Review: I've already tried once to write a review for this terrific book, "Paying the Piper at the Gates of Dawn," but maybe it was swallowed up somehow.

No matter. This is a terrific, fabulous, absolutely wonderful book, in which just about every possible fantasy genre is represented, and quite a few different styles are, too.

There's "The Maltese Feline," humor and a detective send-up, all in one. There's "The Intersection of Anastasia Yeoman and Light," which shows how one woman's life could have been -- and could have been _again_. Very, very powerful, as well as oddly moving.

And yet, there's more!

There's "The Fairy Ring," truly an inspirational love story, as well as an unusual quest story/fairy tale; the Aesopian "Two Gray Horses," in which a young man does the right thing and is rewarded -- but not as much as you'd think; "Scandal," a story of swords and men -- but not quite the way you'd expect; and even a Boscobel League story, which harkens to the world "The Shadow of Albion" set up, where Silver Stick in Waiting makes the biggest mistake of his life, all to prevent his King from marrying a totally unsuitable woman.

And there's much more than this!

Let me put it this way; since receiving this book, I have read it four times. I've enjoyed it more every single time. And I think Ms. Edghill is one of the best s/f writers extant.

Go read this book already!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely wonderful
Review: I've already tried once to write a review for this terrific book, "Paying the Piper at the Gates of Dawn," but maybe it was swallowed up somehow.

No matter. This is a terrific, fabulous, absolutely wonderful book, in which just about every possible fantasy genre is represented, and quite a few different styles are, too.

There's "The Maltese Feline," humor and a detective send-up, all in one. There's "The Intersection of Anastasia Yeoman and Light," which shows how one woman's life could have been -- and could have been _again_. Very, very powerful, as well as oddly moving.

And yet, there's more!

There's "The Fairy Ring," truly an inspirational love story, as well as an unusual quest story/fairy tale; the Aesopian "Two Gray Horses," in which a young man does the right thing and is rewarded -- but not as much as you'd think; "Scandal," a story of swords and men -- but not quite the way you'd expect; and even a Boscobel League story, which harkens to the world "The Shadow of Albion" set up, where Silver Stick in Waiting makes the biggest mistake of his life, all to prevent his King from marrying a totally unsuitable woman.

And there's much more than this!

Let me put it this way; since receiving this book, I have read it four times. I've enjoyed it more every single time. And I think Ms. Edghill is one of the best s/f writers extant.

Go read this book already!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely wonderful
Review: I've already tried once to write a review for this terrific book, "Paying the Piper at the Gates of Dawn," but maybe it was swallowed up somehow.

No matter. This is a terrific, fabulous, absolutely wonderful book, in which just about every possible fantasy genre is represented, and quite a few different styles are, too.

There's "The Maltese Feline," humor and a detective send-up, all in one. There's "The Intersection of Anastasia Yeoman and Light," which shows how one woman's life could have been -- and could have been _again_. Very, very powerful, as well as oddly moving.

And yet, there's more!

There's "The Fairy Ring," truly an inspirational love story, as well as an unusual quest story/fairy tale; the Aesopian "Two Gray Horses," in which a young man does the right thing and is rewarded -- but not as much as you'd think; "Scandal," a story of swords and men -- but not quite the way you'd expect; and even a Boscobel League story, which harkens to the world "The Shadow of Albion" set up, where Silver Stick in Waiting makes the biggest mistake of his life, all to prevent his King from marrying a totally unsuitable woman.

And there's much more than this!

Let me put it this way; since receiving this book, I have read it four times. I've enjoyed it more every single time. And I think Ms. Edghill is one of the best s/f writers extant.

Go read this book already!