Mike Allen (1)Recensioni

This is a well laid out book, I'm still unsure of what the truth is. I'm left with more questions than answers, but I say that's the sign of a good physiological book. It's a warped read, with 3 - 4 different views that could all be the truth of the situation.

An exceptionally creepy collection of cosmic and body horror.

I'd never heard of Mike Allen before, but I read a comment on Goodreads comparing him to other authors I like so I took a chance, and I'm glad I did.

This collection demonstrates a really strong, unique voice. Allen's stories hover somewhere near the border between Lovecraft and Cronenburg, where horror is rooted within our own bodies, our dreams, and the possibility that we ourselves could be the gateways to something vastly more dangerous. However, he takes what could be familiar tropes and twists them to fit his own ends.

The real standout stories to me are THE BLESSED DAYS, BUTTON BIN, and THE QUILTMAKER.

The first is the most explicitly Lovecraftian story, dealing with dreams as a gateway between worlds, but with a truly grotesque conceit: everyone, all over the world, stops dreaming and instead, wakes up covered in blood.

The other two, BUTTON BIN, and THE QUILTMAKER, are linked stories about secrets, family, and the skin we live in. They are some of the most original stories I've read in years.

The collection is overall well-written, in a direct, clear style. It isn't excessively gory or violent.

I'll be looking for more from Mr. Allen for sure!

Dark speculative fiction that makes you think.

I quite enjoyed these stories; I didn't expect them to be so original and well-written. This was my first foray into this Allen's writing, and it definitely won't be my last. Just a great collection of short stories!

An e-mail between colleagues, inviting them to a series of weekly get togethers in which their group works to further the careers of its members… by summoning occult dark powers. Funny, but the premise of why this person was sending the e-mail in the first place didn’t quite work.

I enjoyed these stories tremendously. My top two favorites remain "Braiding the Ghosts," by C.S.E. Cooney (which wins for most imaginative spells, most appealing heroine, and an unusual and satisfying story) and "Murder in Metachronopolis," by John C. Wright (which wins for its great use of nonlinear storytelling, which manages to be both complex and perfectly comprehensible), and the one that made me ache because I wish I had written it--wish I was capable of writing like that--was "Crow Voodoo," by Georgina Bruce. Full disclosure: I did copyedit one story in this anthology--but it's not one of the three I mentioned here.

I enjoyed these stories tremendously. My top two favorites remain "Braiding the Ghosts," by C.S.E. Cooney (which wins for most imaginative spells, most appealing heroine, and an unusual and satisfying story) and "Murder in Metachronopolis," by John C. Wright (which wins for its great use of nonlinear storytelling, which manages to be both complex and perfectly comprehensible), and the one that made me ache because I wish I had written it--wish I was capable of writing like that--was "Crow Voodoo," by Georgina Bruce. Full disclosure: I did copyedit one story in this anthology--but it's not one of the three I mentioned here.

The overall theme of Clockwork Phoenix 4 tends towards the weird, and features some very experimental structures and voices. Some of these stories struck me as very strong--even bringing tears to my eyes--while a few others left me more confused than anything. To highlight some of my favorites:

- "The History of Soul 2065" by Barbara Krasnoff depicts a drastically changing world, as shown in family and friends as they gather for seder. The ending of this is stunning.

- "Lilo Is" by Corinne Duyvis explores the depths of a mother's love for a most unusual child. The thing that struck me most about the story is how real the relationships felt.

- "Selected Program Notes from the Retrospective Exhibition of Theresa Rosenberg Latimer" by Kenneth Schneyer uses a very unusual format, which is usually a major turn-off for me. However, this one works for me because of the familiar format of a museum guide to an exhibit, and the magical subtext that grows with the story.

- "Beach Bum and Drowned Girl" by Richard Parks takes on some genre tropes with a new spin. I really liked the awareness of the characters.

Poem / flash fiction about a time disruption and its aftermath.

Weird cyberpunk/fantasy milieu in which powerful individuals clash. Tries too hard.

Clockwork Phoenix 4 is a collection of 18 stories edited by Mike Allen. Who, I will tell you now, is a master editor. And the authors, all masters as well. This collection is really fantastic. I took my time reading it and was rewarded each time a new story began. You can call it speculative, fantasy, science fiction, but what it is, is good reading. After each story, I was left thinking of the characters and settings which were believable and yet unbelievable at the same time. I’m not always a fan of short stories, and soon after the book arrived, I become a little apprehensive and worried I wasn’t going to enjoy it. I shouldn’t have worried. There are stories in this collection that I’ll go back to again and again. They are so rich and detailed I know I’ll find something new each time I pick up a story.

Not to give away anything, I’ll do a short sentence or so about each because I feel each story deserves a mention. You’ll note I have many favorites.

Our Lady of the Thylacines by Yves Meynard - A Girl learning the value of life from the Lady. A slightly dark tale containing that all important lesson of the value we place on life. This is a great story to start the collection.

The Canal Barge Magician’s Number Nine Daughter by Ian McHugh - Behra is the ninth daughter of the Canal Barge Magician and she is full of the magic her father harnesses for his use. When she finds her magic and learns to use it, all bets are off and she wants out. Fantastic piece --- I love stories like this. Blood magic is used in cruel and vicious ways in this story and the world building is amazing. A favorite of mine.

On the Leitmotif of the Trickster Constellation in Northern Hemispheric Star Charts, Post-Apocalypse by Nicole Kornher-Stace - A post-apocalyptic world full of ghosts and the person who collects and catalogs them. I had a bit of trouble following this one but it’s such an interesting concept that I think I will go back and re-read it. A world ravaged yet full of ghosts is appealing.

Beach Bum and the Drowned Girl by Richard Parks - Do the dead get lonely? A drowned girl floating away her days wonders much about the world after meeting the beach bum. There’s a creepiness to this story but not the creepy you think of when you think of ghosts. I think it’s the idea of floating around, never knowing where you’ll land or what will happen that’s creepy. Maybe it’s just the great unknown and how scary it can be or maybe it’s just me. It’s a wonderful story though.

Trap-Weed by Gemma Files - A heart-broken selkie running from loneliness is captured by a collector. I love tales of sea creatures and the magic infused in this story is perfect. It rocks you slowly along bringing you to a bittersweet end that’s a strange metaphor for life and where we should place our trust. A favorite.

Icicle by Yukimi Ogawa - A half human, half snow-woman leaves the only home she’s ever known to look for her father and finds a love she can’t have. Oh, is this one a hard lesson of family life. Heartbreaking and yet wonderful. A favorite.

Lesser Creek: A Love Story, A Ghost Story by A.C. Wise - Two hungry ghosts haunting the world in the only way they know how. This is such a sad story but instead of disliking the ghosts, I just pitied them. When you open yourself to love, you open yourself to heartbreak. So good.

What Still Abides by Marie Brennan - Throw some Norse gods and the undead together and what do you get? This story. It’s told using Germanic derived words, according to the author’s website. Yes, I looked that up. I needed to know. In fact, the language makes this one. It brings it to a whole other level. Reading this one is an experience.

The Wanderer King by Alisa Alering - A post-apocalyptic world of the dead and dying and two women looking for a way out and the king that can get them to a new world. Oh, what a wonderfully sad, terrifying world. It’s brutal and full of menace. A favorite.

A Little of the Night by Tanith Lee - Fleeing from a murder, a man comes upon an evil place, and instead of continuing to run, he feels compelled to search for the source of that evil. He becomes drawn to it. A great, great story. A favorite.

I Come From the Dark Universe by Cat Rambo - Sex in a far off place. A brothel manager takes in a woman who says she came from the dark universe but offers no more. She’s quiet, mysterious, and maybe just the right bit of love needed for another lonely soul. Love in a whore house is so complicated. Eventually, what we come to learn is that there’s a love for all of us, if we’re willing to be patient. It’s hard to describe this as romantic (brothel and all) but it’s the best way to describe this so I’m going with it. It’s my absolute favorite in this collection. It’s one I will read again and again.

Happy Hour at the Tooth and Claw by Shira Lipkin - A witch who can switch between realities and is happy to play around with the boundaries of love but shies away from her own heart. Zee, the witch, is such an intriguing character and I love how she plays around with everyone else’s heart and ignores her own. It’s a keeper and by that I mean it’s another favorite.

Lilo Is by Corinne Duyvis - Being a single mother of a spider-girl can be interesting, to say the least. Oh, my god. So wonderful. I laughed my way through this one thankful I didn’t need to deal with a spider-girl. Mostly I laughed nervously because spiders completely freak me out. Love it. You’re tired of reading this, I know, but, a favorite.

Selected Program Notes from the Retrospective Exhibition of Theresa Rosenberg Latimer by Kenneth Schneyer - A critic takes us on review of an artist’s work. It’s such a strange story but very interesting. The descriptions make you see not just the artwork but the artist. A good read.

Three Times by Camille Alexa - Do you know what it means to be alive? An entity takes human form to learn what it feels like. Sweet, sad, than utterly heartbreaking. A lovely little gem of a story.

The Bees Her Heart, the Hive Her Belly by Benjanun Sriduangkaew - A universe of replicated humanoids each with a role. When one being begins to die, she undergoes surgery only to wake with a chest full of bees where a heart should be. This reminded me of The Wind-Up Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. A strange world that not only confuses but fascinates. A great story.

The Old Woman With No Teeth by Patricia Russo - A scribe attempts to note the life of the Old Woman, who constantly interrupts and berates him. It’s amusing, warmhearted, and slightly sad. A good story.

The History of Soul 2065 by Barbara Krasnoff - An extended family gathers for a Seder, and in doing so bring together the universal soul. The history of soul 2065 evolves, and in turn, becomes a most wonderful story. Spanning 70 years, the soul changes but never forgets. An amazing way to end the collection. A favorite.

Ask me what this collection is about and I’ll tell you it’s about life, it’s about love, it’s about tragedy, it’s about the alluring nature of sex, it’s about the feeling of belonging. There’s so much more to these stories than you think there will be. Go and read them. That’s all I have left to say.½

7 of 15 stories I really enjoyed, 3 were okay, and 5 were just not to my taste. Definitely unique stories and ideas. Some talented writers. I have not read the two previous books in the series and have no basis for comparison. See my detailed review at www.tangentonline.com

Mike Allen's collection of oddities by authors both known and unknown came highly recommended to me, since it's right up my alley. I tend to be leery of shorts/ anthologies though. It's a lot harder to get twenty stories right than it is to just get one, in my opinion.

Allen does a nice job of picking stories that deliver- at least in mood if not always other areas. All of the stories of this anthology have something to recommend them to readers of my admittedly eclectic tastes. I also found it interesting that the one person who seemed to agree with my choices regarding the best stories in this anthology is the person who recommended it to me in the first place; other reviewers seem to have disagreed. So, a few words on the ones I liked most and why:

- All the Little Gods We Are- This is the kind of bittersweet I like in my fiction, and the premise, while having been done before, is beautifully pulled off by the author.
- Oblivion by Vandana Singh- What I liked most about this story was the sheer amount of information I received about the universe, a sort of science fantasy type deal heavily influenced by Indian culture, while enjoying a well-told and complex plot.
- The Woman by Tanith Lee- This went well with the previous books I've read this last month, with a slight dystopian flare and a tinge of sadness at the edges.

I would recommend this to anyone with a similar library to mine, especially if you like lyrical or strange prose and characters.½

'tales of beauty and strangeness' is right, but it's rather like walking through a literary curio cabinet. I'm just visiting, and strangely untouched.

Clockwork Phoenix 2: More Tales of Beauty and Strangeness is a stronger collection than was Clockwork Phoenix 1, which is good news for those who love original short fiction anthologies. A few of the stories included are very strong indeed, and the weaker stories are stronger than many you'll find in an original anthology.

See the remainder of my review at http://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=9068

This is one of the better anthologies I've read. The stories are imaginative and often quite thoughtful. My favourites were Leah Bobet's "Bell, Book and Candle", about three people who are tied into a rite, and who do not particularly enjoy this; Vandana Singh's "Oblivion: A Journey", about a person pursuing revenge across a future heavily informed by Indian mythology, mapping their journey to that of Ram in the Ramayan; Joanna Galbraith's "The Moon-Keeper's Friend", about a café owner who protects the moon; Cat Rambo's "The Dew Drop Coffee Lounge"; Catherynne M Valente's "The City of Blind Delight"; Michael J DeLuca's "The Tarrying Messenger", which is about what it means to tarry, and to deliver a message. And I rather liked most of the others, such as those by David Sandner, Marie Brennan, Deborah Biancotti, Ekaterina Sedia and Jennifer Crow.

Very few anthologies have a success rate this high.

One thing I particularly liked about it is the diversity of influences. These stories are not all about North America and Western Europe, and the anthology is considerably strengthened by this fact.

There were some stories I liked less. Rape as a plot device pretty much immediately turns me off a story, and the instance in this anthology was no exception. Tanith Lee's had some distractingly hilarious sexual euphemisms, and the rest of the story didn't particularly engage. Two others were just boring. But I think most of my complaints lie closer to personal preference than indicating weakness with the story; overall, I really enjoyed this anthology, and I recommend it.½

Normally, in book reviews, I give you the premise. With short story anthologies, that's a bit trickier, and even reading the whole book doesn't really tell me the idea or theme that gels these tales together. They're mostly fantasy (some are more horror, some have an SF-nal touch), and they're all written well. And as I usually do for anthologies, I'll give each story it's own review (at my journal, that is), and then review the book as a whole at the bottom of the entry.

My Rating

Worth the Cash: of the 18 stories, I really enjoyed 12, and even the ones I wasn't crazy about weren't horrible or anything, but more or less not to my personal taste. I'm surprisingly impressed with the quality of stories and writing in this anthology, and it's an easy book to recommend, especially when you consider my biggest complaints are the cover and the intro, which in the total package, is completely superficial (go me!). My absolute favorites of the book are Grant's, Brennan's, Singh's, and Hoffman's. This book is definitely worth the cash to those readers who enjoy spec-fic shorts, and to those readers who may be tired of the stories offered by the Big Three, especially in regards to fantasy. And this might be random, but I was very impressed with the story order and how the stories sometimes fit together and led into each other. That was very nice. :)

The full review, which does include spoilers for the various stories, may be found at my LJ. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Clockwork Phoenix: Tales of Beauty and Strangeness

Anthology contributors are:

Catherynne M. Valente
David Sandner
John Grant
Cat Rambo
Leah Bobet
Michael J. DeLuca
Laird Barron
Ekaterina Sedia
Cat Sparks
Tanith Lee
Marie Brennan
Jennifer Crow
Vandana Singh
John C. Wright
C.S. MacCath
Joanna Galbraith
Deborah Biancotti
Erin Hoffman

Not a review. Includes my story "The Souls of Horses."

Not a review. Includes my two poems "Nisei" and "Seeds."