Rags & Bones

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
allthingsuf.com

RAGS & BONES is a gorgeously curated collection of short stories, as satisfying for the glimpses of each story’s origin story as the final product. Have you ever wished you could be a fly on the wall when your favorite author pitches an idea? See a little piece of art through their creative lens? As favorite authors distill classic tales to their essence, this anthology was immersive and thought provoking, a masters class in the creative process with an all star attendance list.

Many of the inspirations for these stories were unfamiliar, but that proved as intriguing as the stories themselves. Each author included a short note, offering a connection to the source material show more through their eyes. Updating classic sources with a new perspective and a fresh voice, I found myself enjoying the narrative, contemplating the moral complexities faced by characters, and then mentally retracing how the author’s original experience with a story gave birth to a new perspective. I find myself unable to pick a favorite, these stories are one delight after another. Neil Gaiman’s badass Snow White begs for future adventures, and even the stories without a happy ending leave me haunted and daydreaming. Saladin Ahmed’s heartbreaking brothers, Kami Garcia’s damaged cop or Carrie Ryan’s hapless, hopeless traveler are all so gorgeous, this collection contains so many hits and very few misses.

The narrative style of RAGS & BONES serves as a self contained book club, offering both the pleasure of well written stories and the connective sinew of the author’s own experiences. With these gorgeous illustrations and thought provoking, clever stories, I find myself simultaneously clutching my copy and wishing I could share it with every reader in my life. Maybe I’ll give them their own copy one day, but I can’t bear to part with mine yet.

Sexual Content: Non-explicit references to sex and rape. show less

Even though I haven't read pretty much any of the stories that were reworked in this collection (the King of Elfland's Daughter, "the Monkey's Paw," and the traditional fairytales excepted) I still found the stories to be interesting enough on their own. There are definitely a few base stories that I should have read ages ago - looking at Rudyard Kipling and Edmund Spenser here - and I am surprised that I've never read Le Fanu's Carmilla, but this just serves to prompt me to go back to the classics more often and fill some of the gaps in my favourite genres. Even the stories that I wasn't fond of thematically, such as "That the Machine May Progress Eternally" (post-machine revolutionary sci fi is so not my thing), were well enough show more written that I wasn't tempted to skip them, which is really saying something on the part of the editors' careful choice of authors. I may have not gotten a collection of reworked fairytales like I expected, but the results were still quite pleasing. Charles Vess' illustrations were also nice little treats scattered though out (and the main reason why I'm keeping this book), so even though they may not be actual short stories Vess' talents serve to prove that a picture really is worth 1000 words. show less

This short story collection is an anthology of twelve retellings of fairy and otherwise classic twisted tales by American authors whose names were mostly unfamiliar to me, the exception being Neil Gaiman, who is a) British and b) a well-known author on these shores. The idea behind the collections sounds intriguing: each author was asked to contribute a retelling of a story which has influenced them in their life, with the inspirations ranging from Grimms’ tales of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ to Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s ‘Carmilla’ and Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Man Who Would Be King’ to E. M. Forster’s ‘The Machine Stops’ and Edmund Spenser’s ‘The Faerie Queene’ - eclectic, to say the least, show more but this is half the attraction of the book. As a result, the stories on offer here defy categorisation, with settings in the far distant future, the present day, in fairy-tale land or in the past where people can be transported from one place to another by magic; the one thing they have in common though is generally a little twist that keeps the reader hooked. Not all the stories are successful, in my opinion, but there are more hits than misses, and some outstanding contributions, for example ‘Millcara’ by Holly Black, ‘That the Machine May Progress Eternally’ by Carrie Ryan, ‘The Sleeper and the Spindle’ by Neil Gaiman and ‘New Chicago’ by Kelley Armstrong; these are entertaining and thought-provoking in equal measure. At the end of each contribution the author in question offers a little insight into their creative mind and why a particular tale had been chosen as inspiration and into the creative mind of its author. I think everyone will find something to their liking here, and maybe even seek out some of the originals. The book is complemented by seven original drawings by the American illustrator Charles Vess, based on nowadays obscure but in his view groundbreaking books.

Make no mistake: when I saw the cover I thought this was a book for children, but the content of this book places it squarely into the adult fiction branch. Well worth a read.

(This review was originally written as part of Amazon's Vine programme.) show less

This was a fantastic series of short stories, or retellings of various fairy/folktales, by some of my favorite teen writers. I'm really digging the whole short story collection format for the teen genre. It's a lot less angst to get through.

With anthologies, the reading experience is always going to be a mixed bag. Rags & Bones is one I’ll remember as a favorite anthology. Typically, I struggle a bit with short stories, but the good solidly outweighed the rest in this one. The concept, too, is delightfully original. Rather than retelling fairy tales (for the most part), these authors tackle lesser-known classic tales to great effect.

Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: An amazing collection of retellings with wonderful twists on some amazing classics.

Opening Sentence: It isn’t until he’s nearing the bottom of the ladder that Tavil realizes his sister hasn’t followed him.

The Review:

Rag and Bones, edited by Melissa Marr and Tim Pratt, is an amazing collection of retellings. Twelve authors have given the reader a glimpse into who they are, by retelling a significant classic. Authors such as Carrie Ryan, Garth Nix, Neil Gaiman, Tim Pratt, Holly Black, Rick Yancey, Margaret Stohl, Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong, Kami Garcia, Saladin Ahmed, and Gene Wolfe are some of the famous YA authors to date. Together, they have created this newly reinvented show more collection of classics and I couldn’t wait to dig in.

One thing about retellings is just that. It’s a tale retold. With classics, such as fairy tales, it must be hard to reimagine or reinvent and tell it in a way that grasps new and old readers. For me, I enjoyed reliving these tales from my childhood in a new and different way. Whether it be through new age technology, a strong heroine instead of a charming prince, or even deathly vampires, I enjoyed it all.

There really is nothing like a twisted collection of fairy tales to get you ready for the fall season. Everyone needs to read this, because every story is wonderful. Let me tell you about a few of my favorites.

That the Machine May Progress Eternally – Carrie Ryan

The original, E.M. Forster’s The Machine Stops, talks about how technology overrules our lives. It was written in 1909, predating much of what we know today. In Carrie Ryan’s version, she takes it a step further, fueling fears of those who do not wish to disconnect, and paints a picture of gruesome measures. Tavil is trapped in a world where humanity is reduced to life, automated. I love how Ryan drew out the symbolisms of faith and worship. And without any sort of activity beyond the machine, humans are trapped in a machine in a world “perfectly wrought.”

Losing Her Divinity – Garth Nix

Rudyard Kipling’s “The Man Who Would Be King” is about two travelers who become kings of a remote part of Afghanistan. Nix’s version is much more personal, in my opinion. He changes the narration/voice of the story, bringing it to a first person narrative. I found it to be more enjoyable, like an old friend telling me a tale of travel. There were a few parts that I glanced over, but overall I enjoyed it.

The Sleeper and the Spindle – Neil Gaiman

Everyone knows Sleeping Beauty; the lost princess who struck her finger upon a spindle and caused a whole kingdom to slumber. Neil Gaiman has beautifully retold this story unlike I’ve read before. I won’t spoil the twist, but let me just say that there is an amazing crossover that surprised me. It was easy to get lost in this new version, and every part of my being wished there was more to the story.

The Cold Corner – Tim Pratt

I haven’t read The Jolly Corner since college, so I couldn’t exactly tell you the similarities and differences. I will say that I enjoyed The Cold Corner. This had a very interesting Twilight Zone theme, and it was enjoyable. There are many contemporary, present day, pop culture-esque qualities incorporated and it made it that much more enjoyable.

Millcara – Holly Black

This was an amazing retelling. The original tale, Carmilla, was about a tale of two young girls and their budding friendship. In reality, that friendship was about a vampire’s advances of that young girl. In Black’s version, Millcara, she wrote it from the eyes of the vampire. To hear inside the mind of a vampire has become more engaging than I can express. Black knows just how to lure a reader in, and she has definitely done so with Millcara.

When First We Were Gods – Rick Yancey

Rick Yancey is a very talented author. He has managed to take a classic like Hawthorne’s The Birth Mark and translate it into the present century with When First We Were Gods. Immortality is something that has always been coveted, especially to the rich and wealthy. Yancey’s main character, Beneficent Page (fitting name, right?) covets immortality. It is attainable for the elite and can be purchased on credit. To me, it was like seeing the differences of the “upstairs” and “downstairs” for the technology age. So many topics weaved into this story, and Yancey knows how to make it all interesting.

Sirocco – Margaret Stohl

It’s interesting the point of view that Margaret Stohl has taken for The Castle of Otranto. I always remembered this story as one of darkness and goth. Stohl’s version, Sirocco, has brought a lighter tone to the story. Stohl’s version brings the limelight of Hollywood to the castle. Tolerance plays a huge theme, playing on the stereotypes of famous actors.

Awakened – Melissa Marr

I have never read The Awakening, but I enjoyed Marr’s story. The sea has always been a symbol of eternity; eternal death or eternal life. In this case, Marr showcases a woman trapped, only to enter the sea for freedom. Selchies are normal sexy and seductive, but I found Marr’s main character to be full of melancholy. It was an emotional read, but that is a testament to Marr’s writing.

The Soul Collector – Kami Garcia

Kami Garcia tells a tail of a young girl who ended up in the wrong side of the streets. Slowly, we see where the girl came from, who she is, and who she will become. A man who appeared to help her was a collector. He didn’t steal anything, but instead the helpless souls offered themselves to them. As for the young girl? She was gladly given by someone near and dear to her.

FTC Advisory: Little, Brown BFYR/Hachette Book Group provided me with a copy of Rags and Bones. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less

As previously noted, I hate short stories. But there was a retelling of the Monkey's Paw, which meant I was in.

I skipped the stories that bored me, but I read more than half of them. I approve.