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Selected Stories of Tanith Lee #2
Hunting the Shadows: The Selected Stories of Tanith Lee, Volume Two
Volume two of the magical short story collection by Nebula and World Fantasy Award winner Tanith Lee, author of The Silver Metal Lover and The Birthgrave. "Gothic poetess, comic young-adult author, robust adventure-fantasy novelist: Tanith Lee has more writing personas than Sybil. But in her short fiction, all these aspects come gloriously together. Such stories as 'Antonius Bequeathed' or 'The Persecution Machine,' with their death-defying mixture of prose poetry, genre trope reversals and ominous wit, could be written by no one else." - WEIRD TALES magazine Stories include: "The Woman in Scarlet," "One For Sorrow," "Unlocking the Golden Cage," "Antonius Bequeathed," "Doll Skulls," "Queens in Crimson," "Flower Water," "The Persecution Machine," "All the Birds of Hell," "Vermilia."
260 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Tanith Lee
585 books1,786 followersTanith Lee was a British writer of science fiction, horror, and fantasy. She was the author of 77 novels, 14 collections, and almost 300 short stories. She also wrote four radio plays broadcast by the BBC and two scripts for the UK, science fiction, cult television series "Blake's 7."
Before becoming a full time writer, Lee worked as a file clerk, an assistant librarian, a shop assistant, and a waitress.
Her first short story, "Eustace," was published in 1968, and her first novel (for children) The Dragon Hoard was published in 1971.
Her career took off in 1975 with the acceptance by Daw Books USA of her adult fantasy epic The Birthgrave for publication as a mass-market paperback, and Lee has since maintained a prolific output in popular genre writing.
Lee twice won the World Fantasy Award: once in 1983 for best short fiction for “The Gorgon” and again in 1984 for best short fiction for “Elle Est Trois (La Mort).” She has been a Guest of Honour at numerous science fiction and fantasy conventions including the Boskone XVIII in Boston, USA in 1981, the 1984 World Fantasy Convention in Ottawa, Canada, and Orbital 2008 the British National Science Fiction convention (Eastercon) held in London, England in March 2008. In 2009 she was awarded the prestigious title of Grand Master of Horror.
Lee was the daughter of two ballroom dancers, Bernard and Hylda Lee. Despite a persistent rumour, she was not the daughter of the actor Bernard Lee who played "M" in the James Bond series of films of the 1960s.
Tanith Lee married author and artist John Kaiine in 1992.
Before becoming a full time writer, Lee worked as a file clerk, an assistant librarian, a shop assistant, and a waitress.
Her first short story, "Eustace," was published in 1968, and her first novel (for children) The Dragon Hoard was published in 1971.
Her career took off in 1975 with the acceptance by Daw Books USA of her adult fantasy epic The Birthgrave for publication as a mass-market paperback, and Lee has since maintained a prolific output in popular genre writing.
Lee twice won the World Fantasy Award: once in 1983 for best short fiction for “The Gorgon” and again in 1984 for best short fiction for “Elle Est Trois (La Mort).” She has been a Guest of Honour at numerous science fiction and fantasy conventions including the Boskone XVIII in Boston, USA in 1981, the 1984 World Fantasy Convention in Ottawa, Canada, and Orbital 2008 the British National Science Fiction convention (Eastercon) held in London, England in March 2008. In 2009 she was awarded the prestigious title of Grand Master of Horror.
Lee was the daughter of two ballroom dancers, Bernard and Hylda Lee. Despite a persistent rumour, she was not the daughter of the actor Bernard Lee who played "M" in the James Bond series of films of the 1960s.
Tanith Lee married author and artist John Kaiine in 1992.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 18, 2015
**** The Woman In Scarlet
Here, Lee uses classic sword-and-sorcery tropes, but adds a new twist to the genre, in this tragic tale of a Sword's Man, and the weapon that is also his dream lover. Definitely one that would appeal to fans of the Elric saga.
**** Zelle's Thursday
A humanoid household robot maid becomes the focal point of a wealthy family's multiple dysfunctions. Deceptively banal, and a harsh critique of human nature.
**** Unlocking The Golden Cage
Nice style here - it begins with a very 19th-century feel, but as the supernatural elements gradually appear, so do Lee's signature,lush phrases. Due to the strange requirements of a will determining the disposition of a large inheritance, an unpopular and asocial former governess is thrust into the home of her cousin and co-inheritor: a self-centered young woman who loves to be the center of every party; who behaves with casual cruelty. But there's a second part to this inheritance: an exotic bracelet which turns out to be cursed.
**** The Eye In The Heart
An overtly feminist and absolutely horrifying tale of a cult religion which has come up with a way, they believe, to ensure that 'love' remains in every marriage.
**** Vermilia
There's an interesting twist in this tale of a predatory vampire, used to charming his prey - who in turn, becomes uncontrollably obsessed with one that he perceives as a kindred spirit.
****Flower Water
Unending youth, beauty, and happiness? What could go wrong? (In this type of story, of course, it's practically a given that something will.) A handsome young playboy offers a run-down whore more than she's ever dreamed of, in the form of a potion from a legendary spring. My one quibble with this story? I don't believe for a second that hundreds of people would ever have turned down the offer...
*****Doll Skulls
It may lack some logical sense, but it's aesthetically and emotionally perfect. A poor mother, struggling to raise her daughter, buys her a gift for the turn-of-the-century - a pair of dolls from a spooky vendor. The girl becomes obsessed with her new toys. This is a Paradis story - one of my favorite settings that Lee's created. Lovely.
**** Queens In Crimson
This one would've fit in very well in Lee's 'Fatal Women' volume. A woman is on a vacation with her wealthy but condescending husband. An unexpected ending.
*****All The Birds Of Hell
A post-apocalyptic Russia with a very Cold War-feel. A bureaucrat is assigned to be the watchman and caretaker of a remote estate, preserved for viewing - the site of a lovers' suicide. Their bodies, in-situ in cold storage, may be a symbol of the collapse of the nation and a world, of the death of hope. Or are they? This symbol of death is contrasted with the life, energy and fertility of the guard dog and a wild wolf that prowls the grounds. And then things play out in a very surreal way. Very nice.
*** The Persecution Machine
Dedicated to Edward Gorey - but I had to say, 'hmm... this isn't really how I perceive Gorey.' A nephew stalker-ish-ly follows around his reputedly insane uncle, who believes he is being followed by a bizarre and sinister steampunk-style gang on a dangerous machine. Delusion of reality?
**** Antonius Bequeathed
Disturbing and almost-sweet. A young woman is left, in her aunt's will, an old man. She takes him into her home, where he becomes exceedingly annoying. After many attempts to rid herself of him (with varying degrees of ethical justifiability), she finally succeeds in getting him placed in a home. But once she gets old herself, she looks back and sees things differently.
**** One For Sorrow
A woman is compelled to buy a strange dress from a vintage clothing store, and in dreams, is drawn into not one but two ghostly tragedies - one concerning a Jack-the-Ripper-style serial killer in 1911, and another concerning a medieval nun's ill-fated lust for her confessor. I'm not sure how well the two (actually three) different stories meshed, but there are still some lovely and scary moments here.
4.1 average
Here, Lee uses classic sword-and-sorcery tropes, but adds a new twist to the genre, in this tragic tale of a Sword's Man, and the weapon that is also his dream lover. Definitely one that would appeal to fans of the Elric saga.
**** Zelle's Thursday
A humanoid household robot maid becomes the focal point of a wealthy family's multiple dysfunctions. Deceptively banal, and a harsh critique of human nature.
**** Unlocking The Golden Cage
Nice style here - it begins with a very 19th-century feel, but as the supernatural elements gradually appear, so do Lee's signature,lush phrases. Due to the strange requirements of a will determining the disposition of a large inheritance, an unpopular and asocial former governess is thrust into the home of her cousin and co-inheritor: a self-centered young woman who loves to be the center of every party; who behaves with casual cruelty. But there's a second part to this inheritance: an exotic bracelet which turns out to be cursed.
**** The Eye In The Heart
An overtly feminist and absolutely horrifying tale of a cult religion which has come up with a way, they believe, to ensure that 'love' remains in every marriage.
**** Vermilia
There's an interesting twist in this tale of a predatory vampire, used to charming his prey - who in turn, becomes uncontrollably obsessed with one that he perceives as a kindred spirit.
****Flower Water
Unending youth, beauty, and happiness? What could go wrong? (In this type of story, of course, it's practically a given that something will.) A handsome young playboy offers a run-down whore more than she's ever dreamed of, in the form of a potion from a legendary spring. My one quibble with this story? I don't believe for a second that hundreds of people would ever have turned down the offer...
*****Doll Skulls
It may lack some logical sense, but it's aesthetically and emotionally perfect. A poor mother, struggling to raise her daughter, buys her a gift for the turn-of-the-century - a pair of dolls from a spooky vendor. The girl becomes obsessed with her new toys. This is a Paradis story - one of my favorite settings that Lee's created. Lovely.
**** Queens In Crimson
This one would've fit in very well in Lee's 'Fatal Women' volume. A woman is on a vacation with her wealthy but condescending husband. An unexpected ending.
*****All The Birds Of Hell
A post-apocalyptic Russia with a very Cold War-feel. A bureaucrat is assigned to be the watchman and caretaker of a remote estate, preserved for viewing - the site of a lovers' suicide. Their bodies, in-situ in cold storage, may be a symbol of the collapse of the nation and a world, of the death of hope. Or are they? This symbol of death is contrasted with the life, energy and fertility of the guard dog and a wild wolf that prowls the grounds. And then things play out in a very surreal way. Very nice.
*** The Persecution Machine
Dedicated to Edward Gorey - but I had to say, 'hmm... this isn't really how I perceive Gorey.' A nephew stalker-ish-ly follows around his reputedly insane uncle, who believes he is being followed by a bizarre and sinister steampunk-style gang on a dangerous machine. Delusion of reality?
**** Antonius Bequeathed
Disturbing and almost-sweet. A young woman is left, in her aunt's will, an old man. She takes him into her home, where he becomes exceedingly annoying. After many attempts to rid herself of him (with varying degrees of ethical justifiability), she finally succeeds in getting him placed in a home. But once she gets old herself, she looks back and sees things differently.
**** One For Sorrow
A woman is compelled to buy a strange dress from a vintage clothing store, and in dreams, is drawn into not one but two ghostly tragedies - one concerning a Jack-the-Ripper-style serial killer in 1911, and another concerning a medieval nun's ill-fated lust for her confessor. I'm not sure how well the two (actually three) different stories meshed, but there are still some lovely and scary moments here.
4.1 average
January 21, 2010
This is such a perfect mix of stories. In it you can see the whole spectrum of Lee's talent, and she touches on nearly every genre. "The Woman in Scarlet" is about a warrior married to his sword and the woman whom it embodies; "Unlocking the Golden Cage" and "Flower Water" are both stories of magical realism and how one's desires will change them; "Zelle's Thursday" is a sympathetic view through a robotic maid's eyes; "Vermilia" is a vampire tale with a clever twist; "Doll Skulls" is a story in the "Paradys" series (I thought the story was a break from the style of the four Paradys books, and surprising in that good things happen to good people); "Queens in Crimson" (which is original to this collection) and "One for Sorrow" are modern stories in which the past stubbornly insists on repeating itself ("One for Sorrow" is a great ghost story).
Things get weird--as if they weren't already--in the last few stories. A man is chased by a monstrous machine that only he can see; people make a life for themselves in the frozen post-apocalyptic wastes; and a woman inherits a strange old man in what has to be the strangest story I've read in a while. "Antonius Bequeathed" reads like a children's picture book; you can almost imagine seeing the colorful spreads of pictures as you read, which makes it all the more disturbing because the story is really damn weird. Just how I like it.
Things get weird--as if they weren't already--in the last few stories. A man is chased by a monstrous machine that only he can see; people make a life for themselves in the frozen post-apocalyptic wastes; and a woman inherits a strange old man in what has to be the strangest story I've read in a while. "Antonius Bequeathed" reads like a children's picture book; you can almost imagine seeing the colorful spreads of pictures as you read, which makes it all the more disturbing because the story is really damn weird. Just how I like it.
March 8, 2015
While lots of people go ga-ga over Tanith Lee's writings, I am slowly realising that those impressions must have got developed during late 70-s and early 80-s. Unfortunately, Wildside Press has, in a rather wily ploy, seems to have decided to dispose off the boring and drab stories of 90-s and thereafter, in the first two collections of her stories. Consequently, almost all these stories, while displaying the author's trademark prose & imagery, often reach nowhere at their end. Nevertheless, I would like to express my thoughts with respect to the stories, as under: -
1. "The Woman in Scarlet": Freud would have made it a chapter in his books. As a mere mortal, I simply felt disgusted.
2. "Zelle's Thursday": Evoked a few chuckles (or were they groans?). Reading stories like this makes me really nostalgic for Asimov.
3. "Unlocking the Golden Cage": Good, but so darned predictable that it could have been included in a book of fables.
4. "The Eye in the Heart": Horrible, yet exquisite.
5. "Vermilla": Good. Neat.
6. "Flower Water": Good, but entirely formulaic.
7. "Doll Skulls": Reading 'The Happy Prince' would have been more profitable!
8. "Queens in Crimson": Readable feminist stuff, that seemed to be contrived towards an ending that could be seen from the beginning.
9. "All the Birds of Hell": Exactly what the author sought to convey through this piece, beats me. Perhaps there would be more receptive readers, who were intended at the time of its birth.
10. "The Persecution Machine": And this is the (mandatory) soporific that would draw Morpheus to anybody!
11. "Antonius Bequeathed": Another weird, pointless, well-written, and utterly vapid story.
12. "One for Sorrow": And just as I was practically sharpening the knives inside my mind to slash this collection into ribbons, the last story simply stunned me. No, I won't summarise it. You just have to read it.
And with that, Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe that I have come to the end of my reading of Tanith Lee. I would continue my search for a readable copy of "Cyrion", but except that one book, I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
1. "The Woman in Scarlet": Freud would have made it a chapter in his books. As a mere mortal, I simply felt disgusted.
2. "Zelle's Thursday": Evoked a few chuckles (or were they groans?). Reading stories like this makes me really nostalgic for Asimov.
3. "Unlocking the Golden Cage": Good, but so darned predictable that it could have been included in a book of fables.
4. "The Eye in the Heart": Horrible, yet exquisite.
5. "Vermilla": Good. Neat.
6. "Flower Water": Good, but entirely formulaic.
7. "Doll Skulls": Reading 'The Happy Prince' would have been more profitable!
8. "Queens in Crimson": Readable feminist stuff, that seemed to be contrived towards an ending that could be seen from the beginning.
9. "All the Birds of Hell": Exactly what the author sought to convey through this piece, beats me. Perhaps there would be more receptive readers, who were intended at the time of its birth.
10. "The Persecution Machine": And this is the (mandatory) soporific that would draw Morpheus to anybody!
11. "Antonius Bequeathed": Another weird, pointless, well-written, and utterly vapid story.
12. "One for Sorrow": And just as I was practically sharpening the knives inside my mind to slash this collection into ribbons, the last story simply stunned me. No, I won't summarise it. You just have to read it.
And with that, Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe that I have come to the end of my reading of Tanith Lee. I would continue my search for a readable copy of "Cyrion", but except that one book, I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
July 23, 2010
Great collection of dark short fiction
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews