I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Warriors
by
Gardner Dozois, George R.R. Martin
It is part of the , series and is a alternative history, apocalyptic, fantasy, historical fiction, military science fiction, paranormal fantasy, urban fantasy in Hardcover edition that was published by Tor Books on March 16, 2010 and has 736 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Down These Strange Streets, Dangerous Women
An anthology of twenty short stories about warriors from every genre — paranormal to historical, western to science fiction to…
In 2011, Warriors won the Locus Award for Best Anthology.
Series:
“Custom of the Army” (Lord John Grey, 2.75)
“Mystery Knight: A Tale of the Seven Kingdoms (The Tales of Dunk and Egg, 3; Hedge Knight, 3)
The Stories
Cecelia Holland‘s “King of Norway” is a heroic look at an honorable Viking warrior who holds his king and his leaders to account. Tricky little ending!
Joe Haldeman‘s “Forever Bound” is a futuristic look at soldiering in the army. Reminds me of John Ringo’s enhanced soldiers in his Posleen series. In this case, Haldeman’s soldiers are a lot more tuned in to each other and the trauma hits harder. Very well done. Another new author for me!
Robin Hobb‘s “Triumph” is truly a different sort of triumph in the proud, very slow death of a Roman Consul seen primarily through the eyes of his friend, an escaped slave who remembers their lives together from their childhood through the defeat of the Roman army. Excellent and so very sad. Another new author for my list.
Lawrence Block‘s “Clean Slate” turns out to be a gruesome glimpse into a psychotic’s mind…a shrink would have a field day with this one!
Tad Williams‘ “And Ministers of Grace” is a look from the other side in a religious war. It was surprisingly easy to empathize with Kane and his religious fervor until Williams turns the tide on us with fresh perspective. The Covenant’s enemies have my favor. Another author to add to my list.
Joe R. Lansdale‘s “Soldierin’” is a snapshot at a group of Buffalo soldiers caught in an Apache attack in the frontier with a snippet about how they got their name — fascinating.
Peter S. Beagle‘s “Dirae” is excellent. An odd beginning and a barely understood ending that kept me reading at speed. I must read more Beagle!
Diana Gabaldon‘s “Custom of the Army” is a mini-adventure for Lord John Grey from the electric eel attack to his brief Indian affair to General Wolfe’s successful attack on Quebec all with the purpose of upholding his old friend, Charlie Carruther’s honor when he is accused of not preventing a mutiny…with cause.
Naomi Novik‘s “Seven Years from Home” was an excellent story incorporating underhanded political maneuvering by a government wanting to colonize a new planet and how one of the sides outmaneuvers them. Go TEAM! Nice bit of ecological underpinning in this.
Steven Saylor‘s “Eagle and the Rabbit” is a tale of honor and betrayal when Carthaginians in hiding are captured by slavers. Their captain plays psychological games with them but honor wins out.
James Rollins‘ “Pit” is the most depressing tale of two puppies kidnapped for a brutal dog fighting fate. Rollins tells this tale from the perspective of the dog and while the ending is good, the bits in between will make you feel murderous.
David Weber‘s “Out of the Dark” has a strong flavor of John Ringo’s Posleen invasion as dog-like beings decide that Earth is ideal for their purposes. Their low-level of development makes them an easy conquest with their emperor able to benefit from the humans’ obvious ingenuity. Hah! I’m wondering if Weber is a Karen Chance fan with his incorporation of Mircea Basarab as the Romanian soldier Master Sergeant Stephen Buchevsky encounters after he and his team are stranded after the invaders initial attack. Great ending!!
Carrie Vaughan‘s “Girls from Avenger” tells of the dreams and frustrations of the WASPs who ferried warplanes for the military during World War II. The focus here is on the death of one of their own and its military coverup. Very good!
S. M. Stirling‘s “Ancient Ways” is an excellent little adventure for Sergey Ivanovitch when he encounters a lone Kalmyk, Dorzha, racing from pursuing Tartars. Turns out Dorzha, bodyguard to the Princess, has lost his charge to Tartars and is attempting to rescue her. Anxious to escape the harangue he faces at home, Sergey joins Dorzha only to go further than he had planned. Nice little surprises at the end! Stirling’s going on my reading list.
Howard Waldrop‘s “Ninieslando” is an odd little twist when a dying soldier knowing Esperanto gets rescued by an unsuspected group of revolutionaries hiding beneath the trenches of World War I.
Gardner Dozois‘ “Recidivist” is a post-apocalyptic tale of men subjugated by machines. While the AI are planning a little earth-shattering entertainment for themselves, a small group of humans are plotting an assassination. Interesting…another new author to explore.
David Morrell‘s “My Name is Legion” is a sad look at how the French Foreign Legion operates and how their honor clashes in World War II as seen through the eyes of one of the legion.
Robert Silverberg‘s “Defenders of the Frontier” is another sad tale. This one of abandonment as we eavesdrop on the conflict between 11 remaining soldiers out of thousands still protecting a fort despite 20 years of no communication from their superiors.
David Ball‘s “Scrolls” is well-written and absolutely disgustingly depressing story of an engineer is forced to take lives by Moulay Ismail in order to save many others. Enslaved, tortured, and tormented until Ismail pushes too far.
George R. R. Martin‘s “Mystery Knight: A Tale of the Seven Kingdoms” is a tale of stumbling good luck by Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, “Egg”. On their way to Winterfell, Ser Duncan decides to try his luck at a tourney being held for the wedding of Lord Butterwell only to discover a plot to overthrow King Aerys.
The Cover and Title
The cover is fairly plain with a central gradient of yellows fading out to golden browns with a sword athwart the front. Nice job on the sword the way it fades in the center to allow the text to show through.
The title is extremely apt as every tale is of Warriors, whatever their sex.
