Tag Archives: Westward Weird

The Flower of Arizona by Seanan McGuire

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
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Title: The Flower of Arizona
Author: Seanan McGuire
Series: InCryptid #0.01
In: Westward Weird (Martin H. Greenberg & Kerrie Hughes)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 11th August 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Daw Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: “I’m going to die out here,” Jonathan muttered, tightening his hold on Fran’s waist.

Synopsis

Jonathan is monster hunting… on circus grounds. But, the woman he expects is the perfect villain might actually be something else entirely…

Thoughts

I did read the Fran and Jonathan short stories a little out of whack. Or at least, I read Stingers and Strangers before I read The Flower of Arizona and so there were a few steps in that story that were missed. The Flower of Arizona however filled in those gaps. It was a great way to show how Fran and Jonathan were introduced and how their relationship first began…

One of the things I absolutely adore about Fran is that she has a great passion and love for life. She’s lively and completely irrepressible. Which completely lit up the pages of this short story and drew me in from the very first moment it was fun and seriously cute. A great meet-cute and beginning of a whole new relationship, written with McGuire’s sense of humour and pizzazz.

Love that the beast in this is a Chupacabra. Well… probably not, but it was something akin to a Chupacabra… they seem to be popping up more and more in the stories I read, and I’m really loving them. They’re a little bit weird, definitely unique and I just want one as a pet… partner this with the Aeslin mice… and two of my favourite paranormal creatures seem to be present.

<- LowstoneOne Hell of a Ride ->

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Lowstone by Anton Strout

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: Lowstone
Author: Anton Strout
In: Westward Weird (Martin H. Greenberg & Kerrie Hughes)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Cyborgs, Weird westerns, Zombies
Dates read: 28th July 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Daw Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: The gunslinger looked at Alice.

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Synopsis

This small mining town is about to have a gunslinging visitor. She’s not what they’d normally expect or want in their little town. But she might just be their saviour.

Thoughts

I love that this story is a final stand… Wild West Style. The fact that it involves zombies and cyborgs just makes it so, so, so much better. And more enjoyable. And just all-round amusing.

This short story had both a great, happy ending. And a kind of tragic one. In one part, there were survivors and hope for a future. But, in the other. It was seriously a story of a last stand. One which almost had that comfort and bitter sweetness of death featured. In a way that makes you wonder if death wasn’t actually the worst thing.

One of my favourite things about this short story though, aside from the great writing and the fun storyline… it was the fact that somehow Strout was able to mix cyborgs and zombies in with a story of the wild west. And gunslingers. And just, in general, a great and slightly unexpected journey.

<- The Last Master of Aeronautical WintersThe Flower of Arizona ->

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The Last Master of Aeronautical Winters by Larry D. Sweazy

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: The Last Master of Aeronautical Winters
Author: Larry D. Sweazy
In: Westward Weird (Martin H. Greenberg & Kerrie Hughes)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Weird western, Westerns
Dates read: 29th June 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Daw Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: It was like they were real, burrowing into my own eyes with anger and resentment or maybe doubt of my fortitude.

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Synopsis

They’ve been friends and companions for years. But it isn’t until his secret identity gets out that their friendship is truly tested in this fun little Weird Western story.

Thoughts

This is a fun little short story which features an illegitimate heir and cowboys. Demon hunting and secrets. It’s an interesting mix that features your ideas of a western cowboy. But also partners that with ideas of the monarchy, which kind of took me a little bit by surprise. A good read and one that I would probably pick up again.

I really liked the idea of cowboys going demon hunting on the mean streets. That the gunslingers are the ones who are bringing down creatures from hell. It made for a fun little diversion and journey that I really wasn’t expecting and thoroughly enjoyed.

I seriously enjoyed this story. It may not be one of those that is crazy, rich with detail and intense. But it was most definitely an enjoyable journey. One that I look forward to embarking on again in the future.

<- The Temptation of Eustace Prudence McAllenLowstone ->

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The Temptation of Eustace Prudence McAllen by Jay Lake

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: The Temptation of Eustace Prudence McAllen
Author: Jay Lake
In: Westward Weird (Martin H. Greenberg & Kerrie Hughes)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Weird western, Westerns
Dates read: 16th June 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Daw Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: His shout smoked the air blue and called dark clouds into swirling overhead.

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Synopsis

Eustace Prudence McAllen is being blamed for the fires being set in his town. So he goes on a ride to find out what is starting the fires in Hell’s Kitchen….

Thoughts

I really liked the way that this story was told more in the traditional oral style. It was like a conversation with the narrator. Even including some not-so-veiled insults throughout for interrupting the flow of narration. It was really quite clever, and whilst not out and out hilarious, it was quite entertaining. And left me smiling throughout.

This story combines fires, the devil and cattle. Cattle rustling and cattle farming. It had all the elements of what I picture when I think Western… but included with that is also Lucifer and the problems that a conversation with The Devil come with. Actually, throughout this whole story, all I could think about was stories of deals at crossroads and the song The Devil Went Down to Georgia. There was just this great, hauntingly familiar feel to the story line. One that felt a little like coming home.

This wasn’t a hilarious short story. But it was an entertaining and slightly funny one. Mostly through the voice of the narrator – the narrator added an extra sense of flair and humour to the story line that I really wasn’t expecting. And honestly, I just really enjoyed this unique take on a Western story.

<- Westward WeirdThe Last Master of Aeronautical Winters ->

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