The Sword and Laser discussion

New anthology by G.R.R. Martin out today contains a story set in the realm of A Song of Ice and Fire.


http://www.amazon.com/Rogues-George-R...

So I borrowed this from the library and only plan to read the stories by:

Rothfuss
Lynch
Abercrombie
Gaiman
Martin
Abraham

Any others that are really good I should read before returning it?

Why read only those authors? One of the great things about anthologies is finding cool authors you haven't read before. Martin thinks this is a "really kickass lineup of contributors".

Because I am borrowing it and I have other things to read. Not to mention how disapointed I was with Dangerous Women.

Well, you're missing out to skip a Hap & Leonard story by Lansdale.

I don't know who that is, so probably not. :-)

Bottom line, most people read for enjoyment, and I assume you do as well, so there's no need to read things you don't want to.

Now, to try to answer your actual question. I haven't read the anthology, but I'm generally a fan of Bradley Denton and Connie Willis, so maybe try a snippet of each of their stories.

Yeah, that's the main reason I borrowed it.

I just figure there may be some stories by authors I haven't read I'd enjoy, but I don't want to read the whole thing to find out which.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Rob, if you don't know who Joe R. Lansdale is, or who Hap Collins & Leonard Pine are, then you are indeed missing out.

I read his story in Dangerous Women. It was OK. I don't recall either of those characters being in it. Plus a friend of mine has read both of the stories, and said this one isn't as good as that one.

I should add though that the Hap & Leonard story had the same problem all the stories in this anthology (and its earlier installments) do: Too dependent on having read the main series novels by the author. I loved The Lightning Tree, for example, but if you haven't read The Name of the Wind (and really, the Wise Man's Fear, as
well), I imagine it would be both confusing and unsatisfying.

ETA recommendations:
Mucho Mojo
The Two-Bear Mambo

And that may be why he liked this story less than the other.

I agree about the Lightning Tree story.

I haven't read the Lynch story yet. Saving it, because his short stories are usually so awesome, and not tied in at all to his Gentleman Bastards universe. I wish one could edit on this phone app.

The Lynch story is the one I've liked the most so far. I hope he writes more stories with those characters.

Rob wrote: "The Lynch story is the one I've liked the most so far. I hope he writes more stories with those characters."

Seriously every single Lynch short story I've read has been awesome, and made me wish he'd write more in that world or with those characters. That's so rare.

Rob, Do. Not. Miss. the Walter Jon Williams story.

I've only read the first six stories in the book so I can't address anything else yet, but my favorite so far has been 'What Do You Do?' by Gillian Flynn. It is neither fantasy nor science fiction but the rogues have been the most interesting so far. I think my least favorite is 'Tawny Petticoats' by Michael Swanwick.

Clyde wrote: "Rob, Do. Not. Miss. the Walter Jon Williams story."

Haven't heard anything about the WJ Williams story. I'll keep that one in mind.

Margit wrote: "I've only read the first six stories in the book so I can't address anything else yet, but my favorite so far has been 'What Do You Do?' by Gillian Flynn. It is neither fantasy nor science fiction ..."


I've already added Flynn to the list based on a recommendation in another group. They really seemed to love it too. Thanks.

I'm only 4 stories in now, but I intend to read all of them. Loved the Abercrombie story, loved the writing and humor in the Gillian Flynn story (if not so much the story itself), didn't love the Matthew Hugues story at first but it got much better, and I've only just started the Joe R. Landsdale one (not enjoying his writing much so far, but a lot of story left to go). I agree with Ben - I enjoy these anthologies as much for the exposure to new writers as I do for the ones I'm familiar with.

Andy wrote: "Loved the Abercrombie story"

Am I the only one who was let down by the Abercrombie story? He's used the "pass the viewpoint" stylistic device a few times now; most strongly in The Heroes. I enjoyed it before, but here it just felt like him trying to be clever. I enjoyed seeing Friendly, and of course was interested in characters like Javre, but it felt like a tease, more than a story.