The book was an excellent showcase for some of the most famous fantasy series out there. Perfect for me to get a glimpse and decide a ”to read next” list, since many have not been translated into my language and I knew only their names. The average would be 3/5, but it gets an extra star for that great idea and for the enthusiasm with which I read through them like opening mysterious Christmas presents.
Stephen King tells a tale of Roland, the Gunslinger, in the world of The Dark Tower, in "The Little Sisters of Eluria." - I already knew I hate the series, but this story I loved, so that says a lot about SK's writing super-powers. 5/5
Terry Pratchett relates an amusing incident in Discworld, of a magical contest and the witch Granny Weatherwax, in "The Sea and Little Fishes" - I like some of Pratchetts series, and some I do not. I found Granny Weatherwax to be not funny but an annoying old, well, witch, so this one is not for me 2/5
Terry Goodkind tells of the origin of the Border between realms in the world of The Sword of Truth, in "Debt of Bones." - boring, overlong, incoherent, uninteresting. 1/5
Orson Scott Card spins a yarn of Alvin and his apprentice from the Tales of Alvin Maker, in "Grinning Man." Man, I loved this kind of humor! I thought the ending was cruel and too much, but I will definitely look for the books. 5/5
Robert Silverberg returns to Majipoor and to Lord Valentine's adventure in an ancient tomb, in "the Seventh Shrine." Loved the world settings and the writing, but the policier part of the story is very weak. - so not a good story, but probably a good series 3/5
Ursual K. Le Guin adds a sequel to her famous books of Earthsea, portraying a woman who wants to learn magic, in "Dragonfly." I disliked the Earthsea cycle for being too childish, but, to my surprise, this story was not. It was not that great either, unfortunately, for the end (and twist) felt unbelievable and poetic, not in a good way. Great writing as usual, though 3/5
Tad Williams tells a dark and enthralling story of a great and haunted castle in the age before Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, in "The Burning Man." Read this one in another anthology 2 yeas ago. Cannot remember anything good or bad about it (I have a great memory with the books I do like), so it is a 3/5 and not a series to interest me.
George R.R. Martin sets his piece a generation before his epic, A Song of Ice and Fire, in the adventure of "The Hedge Knight." 5/5 Nothing needed said here, it is just as good and realistic as the incredible series which I have already read and loved.
Ann McCaffrey, the poet of Pern, returns once again to her world of romance and adventure in "Runner of Pern." Wow, this was bad. I could force myself to read only 2 pages, and still was more bored than I imagined I could be by an entire book. How could people read an entire series of this borefest torture?? 0/5
Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar Saga is the setting of the tale of "The Wood Boy." Loved the Tsurani, definetely want more of them; also greatly enjoyed the writer s skill in starting with the end and leading the story to unsuspected paths. Also loved the realism of the officer s decision. 5/5
Robert Jordan, in "New Spring," tells of crucial events in the years leading up to The Wheel of Time. 5/5 I already read the series and loved it, so no surprise here, either. ( )

I read this for The Dunk and Egg Tales by George R. R. Martin, which is what I'll be reviewing from it while I'm playing GRRM catch-up this week for the last four years of being lax, due to the new series and previous to the new book release.


This tale really didn't interest me at all. Which has to say something about it ending up at three. Because even though I could really take or leave Dunk all together, Mr. Martin still made me tear up with a single line about "being a knight remembering his vows." And really one can not forget Egg in all of this or his brothers.

I'm so intrigued about more things in his house. And presently reading it's sequel, to a more hopeful note at present. ( )

Based on the quality of the writing this is mostly 4 stars at least, these are experienced writers who all know their business. However there are a couple of other things to consider.

Firstly there are only 11 tales in this very thick book, so these are quite long short stories, longer than i prefer.
But the more substantial issue is that, while all anthologies are to some degree, advertising for an authors work, this collection goes a step further.
Each tale is set in a particular world, so LeGuin does an Earthsea story, King, a Dark Tower one, Martin a game of thrones one etc. So the whole things feels like a set of trailers for, or random episodes of some long running shows.

This doesn't seem like a book you buy so much as something you borrow when your looking for your next big fantasy epic to get into.
So at the end of the day i have to ask myself, do any of these stories make me want to commit to reading the 5, 10, 20 volumes etc. of the franchise they’re promoting? And the answer for me was... nah! ( )

gave me some new authors to try out, but when i went to read their regular books they were way too long for me which must be why i had never read anything by them. but i liked the short stories of quite a few in this collection. ( )

gave me some new authors to try out, but when i went to read their regular books they were way too long for me which must be why i had never read anything by them. but i liked the short stories of quite a few in this collection. ( )