Deep Magic August 2017

Jeff Wheeler

Rating: really liked it
I'm still enjoying the new writers that we continue to discover for Deep Magic. In this issue, I was really happy to read Maria V Snyder's story (she's the author of POISON STUDY) called 'Mongrel'. My second favorite was Brendon Taylor's sci-fi tale 'Levi's Problem' which had a great twist. Even though I saw it coming, I still enjoyed it, especially the banter between grandfather and grandson. Some other really good stories in the issue as well, plus two novel excerpts (my favorite was Daughter of a Pirate King). Good issue!

Casie

Rating: really liked it
So, since I can’t quite bring myself to rate a collection of short stories of such varied subjects and by such varied authors as this with just one rating overall, I decided to do it for each story on its own here in the review. The standard Goodreads rating is an average calculated from the individual ones below, for completion purposes.

What He Offered the River—by Aimee Ogden : Bittersweet and heartrending. This one speaks to me more right now because of my current study of Celtic history and myth. River maids and votive offerings with a touch of the Sidhe... Such a lovely piece.
(3 stars)

If a Man Falls in the Forest—by Tyler Young: This one is highly reminiscent of a few of Orson Scott Card’s novels—most of which I enjoyed immensely—but the ones written like this, I didn’t enjoy as much. This story is written well, but it remains mostly tension-driven throughout, and comes with a rather hopeless climax. Almost my cup of tea, but just a bit too final, too dour and destructive to entirely suit my taste.
(2 stars)

The Most Reasonable House in Faerie—by Dafydd Mckimm: Absolutely delightful from the very first sentence. Well-to-do gentlemen fae, well-constructed satire, and a surprise ending. Delicious.
(5 stars)

Levi’s Problem—by Brendon Taylor : This just left me disappointed. It felt aimless and rushed, and there were quite a number of times when I was lost entirely and had to backtrack to make sure I was on the right page. The twist at the end was well done, I suppose, but by the time I got there I was just sort of frustrated that there wasn’t more to it.
(1 Star)

Mongrel—by Maria V. Snyder: Oh, how I wish there were a series about Mongrel and her pack of mongrels! I’ll be coming back and reading this one again someday, I’m sure. Not to mention imagining fanfic in my head for the rest of her adventures…
(4 stars)

Interview with Matt Sugarman: Interesting reading…but the main thing I gathered from this was that I don’t ever want to release my own future novels for screenwriting, thanks very much. (And now I have a bit more sympathy for authors whose books have made it to the screen...) It could just be me, but the way this man talks about novel writers as apposed to those in the movie business came across as pretty danged condescending.
(No rating for interview)

Excerpts:
Daughter of a Pirate King—by Tricia Levenseller
And The Fire Queen—by Emily King:
Since I plan to perhaps one day read the books that these excerpts are from, I only skimmed a few pages of each to get a grasp of each author’s writing style, and decide if I felt like reading a whole book by them. Both seemed fairly well written, and what little I read only made me want to read them more than I did to start with. In fact, I liked Daughter of a Pirate Queen so well that it's already on the way to me from my library. So we shall see!
(No rating—since the books will get their own ratings when and if I read them)

Quite a nice selection of short stories and excerpts, this was. The only complaint I had in general was that they were all too short, and I found myself wanting a whole series based on each one (particularly Mongrel). xD But definitely worth checking out more Deep Magic issues later on.

Greg Garguilo

Rating: really liked it
A "transformative" issue, not in style, but rather in theme, each of the stories are linked by a thread of change. Oddly, my Kindle edition places "Mongrel" by Maria V. Snyder under a Science Fiction heading, where I'd have called it Fantasy (Urban Fantasy, but "clean", atypically for the genre), and I found "If a Man Falls in the Forest" (beginning with mention of an APC, and later, genetic engineering) under Fantasy, where I'd have called it Sci FI. Like all anthologies, quality varies among the short stories. Deep Magic's offerings are always at least good, but every issue, one or two stories stand above the rest.

For me, those two are "Mongrel" (which also has pride of place in the issue), and "If a Man falls in the Forest" by Tyler A Young. Of the two, I found the writing style of Mongrel to be easier, a smooth cadence that sucked you in, but it was relatively straight forward in the telling, and thus the more predictable of the two. "If a Man..." is a short story to leave you thinking, and thus my favorite even if the writer's style wasn't my preference.

A good interview with Matt Sugarman about adapting books to other formats, which I found interesting - even if not the reason I look forward to Deep Magic every other month. For those with question about why beloved books are often adapted in ways that differ from the Author's vision, this is a helpful look behind the curtain at the way sausage is made.

Finally, two book excerpts - "Daughter of a Pirate King", which didn't really grab me - its not my preferred genre so (like Country Music) I'll leave it to someone more qualified (and more fair) to opine on. The second excerpt, "The Fire Queen" is the continuation of Emily R King's "The Hundredth Queen" series, which I was first introduced to via excerpt in a prior Deep Magic. Again, not my preferred genre, but her choice of setting and pacing were such that I enjoyed and appreciated in spite of my bias. I'll be picking this book up on release for my reading pleasure.

Overall? Not the best Deep Magic issue this year, in my not at all humble opinion, but still quite good. I recommend.***


***About the reviewer - I like Epic Fantasy and Epic Science Fiction of a thoughtful sort. - something with some twists, believable characters who develop across the pages, a message that leaves the reader thinking, questioning assumptions, and a consistent, cohesive world - whether based technology, magic, or both. As a practical matter, that means I am not predisposed to short stories, and don't much care for romance, either. If my review seems harsh, it is merely the honest impressions of one not inclined to give glowing reviews, and not preferential of the genre.

Kelly

Rating: really liked it
The short stories were fantastic from meat-eating trees to fairy worlds to sentient rivers. LOVED those stories. But the last half of the book had an interview and two 10K excerpts from novels. I have too many full novels to tackle as it is. I can't put the energy into reading the beginning of two books and disrupt my older full shelf to add them and then finish these new additions sometime in the future which means I would have to re-read the first 10K. I would have given the collection a full five stars if it was full of those fabulous short stories. Or if the excerpts at the end were complete novellas instead of only a sample of new novels.

Shirley

Rating: really liked it
Another entertaining Issue of Deep Magic!

Particularly enjoyed Mongrel and the faerie house one! Unfortunately guessed Levi's Problem a tad too soon. Found the interview interesting and the book segment enjoyable. All good!

Bruce Dinsman

Rating: really liked it
Adventure awaits

Now I don’t remember all the stories again, but
I wondered as I read whether I was making assumptions such as Earth and Human. I respect the writers because that all kept me guessing. Good job again

Thea Hutcheson

Rating: really liked it
Lovely magazine. Pick one up. If you like clean fantasy stories, you won't be disappointed.

Sissy

Rating: really liked it
So cool👏 😘

Michele Hermansen

Rating: really liked it
The short story Bad Dog was clever, but didn’t quite grab me. The rest was quite amazing. Quality sci-fi/fantasy short stories plus book excerpts.

Bianca ღ

Rating: really liked it

Michele

Rating: really liked it

Melissa E.

Rating: really liked it

Arun Andhavarapu

Rating: really liked it

Michael Hustead

Rating: really liked it

P S KERSHAW

Rating: really liked it