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In the Shadow of the Gargoyle
For centuries, they have watched over us. Leering from the arches and peaks of ancient cathedrals. Spreading their wings across hallowed doorways. Even decorating our homes in stony, silent elegance. Are they angels or demons? Sacred or profane? In the Shadow of the Gargoyle features fifteen original stories and two classic tales of the legendary gargoyle. The contributors range from bestselling masters to the hottest newcomers--award-winners, artists, musicians, and, yes, gargoyle collectors. Each of them experts at drawing blood from a stone... Contributors include:* Harlan Ellison * Neil Gaiman * Katherine Kurtz * Brian Lumley * Jane Yolen * Charles L. Grant * John Mason Skipp * Nancy Holder * Alan Rodgers * Lucy Taylor * Jo Clayton * Don D'Ammassa * Christa Faust * Robert J. Harris * Brian Hodge * Caitlin R. Kiernan * Marc Levinthal * Melanie Tem * Wendy Webb
274 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 9, 2021
This is an anthology of seventeen stories pertaining to gargoyles. Three of the stories are reprints and the rest appear here for the first time. The three reprints are by Charles de Lint (a very short story about a lonely child from the Borderlands series), Brian Lumley (an excerpt from a longer story that didn't make much sense on its own; I've no idea why they included it), and Harlan Ellison (his 1972 story Bleeding Stones, a good one which would have been called bizarre-extreme-splatterpunk-flash or somesuch if there had been such a need for labels back then.) The new stories include a very good, traditional Charles L. Grant cerebral horror story; a short and well-written modern urban horror from Neil Gaiman that he probably wouldn't his children to stumble upon casually; a very amusing, cute, and Irish story by Katherine Kurtz; another well-written story about a lonely child that's perhaps the closest to the book's theme by Don D'Ammassa; another amusing Irish fantasy by Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris; a typical late-20th-century psychological horror by Melanie Tem; a story by Nancy Holder that's like the Tem but even more dark and confused; and Alan Rodgers contributes an okay story about the dangers of being alone in a crowd. The best story in the book may be Found Angels by Christa Faust and Caitlin R. Kiernan, a very chilling short shocker that's quite powerful. It's followed by a long, confused, and confusing story by Jo Clayton; I kept looking at it, but it didn't go anywhere. It's followed by a very good one, a Southern Gothic, Poe-influenced, spooky, creepy, nifty story by Wendy Webb, with whom I was previously unfamiliar. Next up is the only science fiction story in the book, a fun romp by Marc Levinthal and John Mason Skipp called Now Entering Monkeyface. Gargoyles on Mars, you betcha! Lucy Taylor has an unpleasant story about obsession and children, and then the last new story in the book is by Brian Hodge, who provides a good story about a haunted church. It's very moody and very English and quite worthwhile. Overall, it's a rather uneven anthology, but has some definite standouts. The editors didn't stick too closely to the theme or tradition, but I mostly enjoyed the read.
December 16, 2021
Overall I enjoyed this collection, however it wasn’t one that I could sit down and rip through story after story in one sitting.
There was a gravity with each one that begged for me to take a moment to digest what it was I had just read. By and large, that’s an enjoyable outcome to have from a good short story.
I think the best way I can describe a book like this, as well as the best reason I can recommend it, is this. While it’s NOT a book you’re going to want to chew through in one sitting, it’s full of thoughtful, wonderful writing that gives you a multitude of different story styles to enjoy.
As such, it’s the perfect type of anthology book to have on the shelf just to pull out time and again to read a single, specific story or two when the mood strikes. Almost as if it were a dark fiction and horror short story version of the coffee table photo book.
It’s worthy of a spot on your shelf and I think you’ll find at least a handful of stories you enjoy if you are a fan of dark fiction, horror, and beautiful prose in your writing.
Full review can be found on the AIC Stories website at:
https://aicpod.com/2021/12/16/in-the-...
There was a gravity with each one that begged for me to take a moment to digest what it was I had just read. By and large, that’s an enjoyable outcome to have from a good short story.
I think the best way I can describe a book like this, as well as the best reason I can recommend it, is this. While it’s NOT a book you’re going to want to chew through in one sitting, it’s full of thoughtful, wonderful writing that gives you a multitude of different story styles to enjoy.
As such, it’s the perfect type of anthology book to have on the shelf just to pull out time and again to read a single, specific story or two when the mood strikes. Almost as if it were a dark fiction and horror short story version of the coffee table photo book.
It’s worthy of a spot on your shelf and I think you’ll find at least a handful of stories you enjoy if you are a fan of dark fiction, horror, and beautiful prose in your writing.
Full review can be found on the AIC Stories website at:
https://aicpod.com/2021/12/16/in-the-...
June 4, 2016
I like anthologies. I own over 40 anthologies of various types and themes. So seeing a collection that I've never heard of, features authors I enjoy, and was themed gargoyles - it seemed like a natural good choice.
The first story was a little odd, but that happens. So was the second. And on and on, until there was a story that I still can't make heads or tails of. I'm not a huge speculative fiction fan, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt most of the time. I give a lot of books the benefit of the doubt.
I can't argue with a lot of the religious themes and undertones in the stories - gargoyles are usually found on churches, so it makes sense. Ditto for the European locations, though a high number seem to be in the British Isles. I don't know how many of the authors are British or Irish, but I kind of wonder why there wasn't a more visible effort to either have every story over there or to spread them out more.
Most of the stories are fairly short, even for short stories. I can't even say that it would be a product of the 'zine era, because the vast majority of the dates indicate these stories were written for this anthology. I could see it being a factor if this book had been written 10-20 years earlier.
So, we've got stories that don't always give you an anchor, stories that are so short they never give you something to relate to, stories with some very perverted and violent undertones, and stories that are meant to unsettle the reader in general. Not the most satisfying reading.
I'd say that of the book, I did enjoy Cenotaph by Brian Hodge. Some of the other tales made impressions, a few of them positive, but aren't worth looking up. Overall, I was fairly disappointed by the quality of this anthology. Tanya Huff has a great gargoyle short story that I keep returning to time and time again. I guess I was hoping that these stories would have more in common with that one.
The first story was a little odd, but that happens. So was the second. And on and on, until there was a story that I still can't make heads or tails of. I'm not a huge speculative fiction fan, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt most of the time. I give a lot of books the benefit of the doubt.
I can't argue with a lot of the religious themes and undertones in the stories - gargoyles are usually found on churches, so it makes sense. Ditto for the European locations, though a high number seem to be in the British Isles. I don't know how many of the authors are British or Irish, but I kind of wonder why there wasn't a more visible effort to either have every story over there or to spread them out more.
Most of the stories are fairly short, even for short stories. I can't even say that it would be a product of the 'zine era, because the vast majority of the dates indicate these stories were written for this anthology. I could see it being a factor if this book had been written 10-20 years earlier.
So, we've got stories that don't always give you an anchor, stories that are so short they never give you something to relate to, stories with some very perverted and violent undertones, and stories that are meant to unsettle the reader in general. Not the most satisfying reading.
I'd say that of the book, I did enjoy Cenotaph by Brian Hodge. Some of the other tales made impressions, a few of them positive, but aren't worth looking up. Overall, I was fairly disappointed by the quality of this anthology. Tanya Huff has a great gargoyle short story that I keep returning to time and time again. I guess I was hoping that these stories would have more in common with that one.
November 13, 2008
I liked this collection of stories, though a few dragged a bit. I really liked the story by Neil Gaiman, but I love Neil Gaiman:-)
September 11, 2022
This collection of short stories centered around the theme of gargoyles. It has at least one story to capture the whimsy of whoever picks it up. A lot of the stories I did not too much care for but the ones that I did, I had a good time with.
Definitely an adult fiction compilation
Definitely an adult fiction compilation
November 4, 2022
Quite a vast range of stories. From barely a hint of the gargoyle theme to being a main character. I enjoyed most of the stories. Only one was too weird, one too bloody, and one too boring for my taste. The rest were pretty cool and enjoyable. Good read all in all.
July 17, 2019
Some good stories by strong authors in this one.
September 28, 2013
For my full-length review and reviews of each story, please visit Casual Debris.
Though the anthology gives its contributors a wide range of possibilities with the idea or image of the gargoyle, re-imagining the concept of a gargoyle or simply re-defining it, there is still less than inspirational material here, and the three reprints selected for inclusion, beside the fourteen originals, do little to heighten the book. I cannot think of a mostly original anthology so diverse and at the same time so disappointing. Most of the stories are straightforward fantasy, and though it was part of Ace Books's Dark Fantasy series, few of the stories are all that dark. The ones worthy of a read are those by Charles L. Grant, Don D'Ammassa, Wendy Webb, Lucy Taylor and Brian Hodge. The rest are altogether forgettable.
Though the anthology gives its contributors a wide range of possibilities with the idea or image of the gargoyle, re-imagining the concept of a gargoyle or simply re-defining it, there is still less than inspirational material here, and the three reprints selected for inclusion, beside the fourteen originals, do little to heighten the book. I cannot think of a mostly original anthology so diverse and at the same time so disappointing. Most of the stories are straightforward fantasy, and though it was part of Ace Books's Dark Fantasy series, few of the stories are all that dark. The ones worthy of a read are those by Charles L. Grant, Don D'Ammassa, Wendy Webb, Lucy Taylor and Brian Hodge. The rest are altogether forgettable.
February 26, 2010
While reading the author biographies, I had to check the publishing date for this book. 1998! Wow, 12 years have passed since the authors wrote these stories and since then have received some big accolades.
I particularly liked the stories by Neil Gaiman, Don D'Ammassa, Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris, Alan Rodgers, Christa Faust and Caitlin R. Kiernan, Wendy Webb, Lucy Taylor, Brian Hodge and Harlan Ellison (for all it was quite violent). Some of these stories were somewhat explicit about sexuality, but that made it all the more powerful (and a bit daunting/memorable). There were some stories that I didn't understand at all or much of. For example, I don't get why Brian Lumley's excerpt "The Luststone" was included.
It is a good anthology, and the genres and moods ranged within and between the stories.
I particularly liked the stories by Neil Gaiman, Don D'Ammassa, Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris, Alan Rodgers, Christa Faust and Caitlin R. Kiernan, Wendy Webb, Lucy Taylor, Brian Hodge and Harlan Ellison (for all it was quite violent). Some of these stories were somewhat explicit about sexuality, but that made it all the more powerful (and a bit daunting/memorable). There were some stories that I didn't understand at all or much of. For example, I don't get why Brian Lumley's excerpt "The Luststone" was included.
It is a good anthology, and the genres and moods ranged within and between the stories.
January 3, 2013
This was a great anthology with an electic mix of stories ranging from light-hearted and fun to the horrific with a couple of downright strange/puzzling/ambiguous stories thrown in. I enjoyed every story in this anthology (to varying degrees).
December 5, 2009
Some rare gems in this anthology, but not every story is the best. Still worth reading.
June 24, 2020
An original collection of stories all centered around gargoyles, each representing a different perspective on them.
April 20, 2017
A collection of shorts stories that have varying degrees of focus on gargoyles.
Some are directly focused on gargoyles and others are a bit of a stretch to feel that they have anything at all to do with them apart from the word being used somewhere within their pages.
A nice range from whimsical and silly to demented and horrifying.
Unfortunately also quite the range in skill of storytelling and writing. One is nearly incomprehensible in its attempt at being obscure.
A few are rather boring and others are quite riveting.
Overall, patience is likely required to get through the entire set. Is best taken intermittently over time.
Some are directly focused on gargoyles and others are a bit of a stretch to feel that they have anything at all to do with them apart from the word being used somewhere within their pages.
A nice range from whimsical and silly to demented and horrifying.
Unfortunately also quite the range in skill of storytelling and writing. One is nearly incomprehensible in its attempt at being obscure.
A few are rather boring and others are quite riveting.
Overall, patience is likely required to get through the entire set. Is best taken intermittently over time.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews