Tag Archives: Westerns

The Atmosphere for Miracles by David Boop

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
A Fantastic Holiday Season

Title: The Atmosphere for Miracles
Author: David Boop
In: A Fantastic Holiday Season (Kevin J. Anderson & Keith J. Olexa)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Fantasy, Westerns
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: World Fire Press
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: That is, until Sheriff Theodore Patrick walked into town.

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Synopsis

A town is cursed with horrible luck, but a new sheriff in town and a big problem on the eve of Christmas might be just what’s needed to change it all.

Thoughts

I really liked this story. I kind of wish that it was part of a greater series… a small town that is perpetually cursed. Especially on a Wednesday. That in and of itself is a great premise for a novel or series. And then there’s the sheriff who came to drink himself to death. And the Indian man who is running around in a tuxedo… they don’t entirely fit into the Western theme.

I didn’t really get a Christmas spirit vibe or feeling from this story. The only thing that is Christmassy about this tale is the fact that it all takes place just before that special day of the year. And the fact that there is briefly snow. Because apparently snow means Christmas. For me, snow means… well, no point of the year. Because it never snows where I’m from…

 <- Christmas Eve at Harvey Wallbanger’s ReviewA Sufficiently Advanced Christmas Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Reluctance by Cherie Priest

Book Review, , ,
Overview
The Mammoth Book of Steampunk

Title: Reluctance
Author: Cherie Priest
In: The Mammoth Book of Steampunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves:  Steampunk, Westerns
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: He moved like a compass pinned to a map.

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Synopsis

A regular pit stop to change his aircraft and swap over his loads in Reluctance becomes something far more sinister and worrying in this fantastic short story.

Thoughts

When I finally sat down to write this review a few days after finishing Reluctance, it took me a little while to recall what it was about. It isn’t one of those stories that glaringly sits in my mind. And that’s mostly because it was just a fun and easy read. It’s very good, but it’s not the sort of story that I usually read, and, unlike many of the other books in this collection, it didn’t have an overwhelming message that I took away when I’d turned the last page.

Having said that, when I remembered which story this was. I remembered how much I enjoyed it at the time. Actually, it kind of made me think of Firefly. Which I miss. And I’m annoyed that it was only one season… but I digress. It had that great western cowboy feel to it. partnered with the futuristic spaceships and steampunk machinery. A fantastic little world to lose yourself in for ten, fifteen minutes.

 <- Lady Witherspoon’s Solution ReviewA Serpent in the Gears Review ->
Image source: Amazon