The Book of Swords

ReviewI'm not much of a short story person, but I keep being drawn to picking up these Gardner Dozois anthologies. After having mixed results with some of his others, this one may be my favorite. It's likely due to theme. I love sword stories. Most of these are fantasy stories, but not all of them. I liked the vast majority of them, and only really disliked one of them. My favorites of the bunch are The Mocking Tower by Daniel Abraham and Hrunting by C.J. Cherryh.I enjoyed the Scott Lynch story, though not as much as his story in [b:Rogues 20168816 Rogues George R.R. Martin https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1404616147s/20168816.jpg 27565413]. I haven't been a fan of the George R.R. Martin “history” Song of Ice and Fire stories, so I went into this one with low expectations. It was probably the best of three I've read. I didn't find myself bored, but I'd still have preferred a style closer to the novels.Overall I give this anthology a ★★★½☆ (which is simply the average of all my ratings below)Ratings The Best Man Wins by K.J. Parker - ★★★★☆Her Father's Sword by Robin Hobb - ★★★★☆The Hidden Girl by Ken Liu - ★★★★☆The Sword of Destiny by Matthew Hughes - ★★★½☆“I am a Handsome Man,” said Apollo Crow by Kate Elliott - ★★★★☆The Triumph of Virtue by Walter Jon Williams - ★★☆☆☆The Mocking Tower by Daniel Abraham - ★★★½☆Hrunting by C.J. Cherryh - ★★★½☆A Long, Cold Trail by Garth Nix - ★★★★☆When I Was A Highwayman by Ellen Kushner - ★★★☆☆The Smoke of Gold is Glory by Scott Lynch - ★★★★☆The Colgrid Conundrum by Rich Larson - ★★★★☆The King's Evil by Elizabeth Bear - ★★★½☆Water falling by Lavie Tidhar - ★★★½☆The Sword Tyraste by Cecilia Holland - ★★★☆☆The Sons of the Dragon by George R.R. Martin - ★★★☆☆

I've been reading various anthologies by Gardner Dozois since I was about 9 years old. He has a well deserved reputation as one of the best editors in modern fantasy. I was thrilled with this collection of sword and sorcery stories.

I have to admit that I didn't read all of the stories in this collection. I'm holding off on the Robin Hobb story until I finally get around to reading her books.

My favorite stories in this collection are “The best man wins” by KJ Parker, “The Mocking Tower” by Daniel Abraham, and “The Smoke of Gold is Glory” by Scott Lynch. I'm a fan of rogues and mentors and trick endings.

While I enjoyed most of these stories, these were my favorites:
“The Best Man Wins” by K. J. Parker
“‘I Am a Handsome Man,' Said Apollo Crow” by Kate Elliott
“The Sword Tyraste” by Cecelia Holland,
and, my pick for the best story because I love, love, love this series:

“The Sons of the Dragon” by George R. R. Martin. I love to read anything that has to do with this series, and this was no exception.