Wrong Train, Right Time (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wrongtrainrighttime) wrote2018-11-17 11:26 pm
wrongtrainrighttime) wrote2018-11-17 11:26 pm
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"In the Stacks" and "The Effigy Engine" by Scott Lynch
I like Scott Lynch’s writing (enjoyed The Lies of Locke Lamora, though I never picked up the sequels, and I still periodically reread "A Year and a Day in Old Theradane") so it was Of Interest to me when he began self-publishing re-releases of his short fiction in ~enhanced~ author’s editions. Here are the ones out so far.
"In the Stacks" - Libraries! I love libraries. I am not a librarian, but I did go to library school, so I have a great fondness of libraries and the work that goes into maintaining them in my heart. I enjoyed this story as an homage to magical libraries.
"The Effigy Engine" - Not about libraries but I liked it anyway. What I really liked is the interjections from Watchdog and Rumstandel, and the way these are framed as historical writings. Fun stuff.
Reading these (and putting them beside "A Year and a Day in Old Theradane"), it feels apparent that Lynch is exceedingly comfortable in the wheelhouse of “stories that were probably someone’s ideas for a D&D campaign.” And I say that not to disparage but as an observation, because I am 100% here for Lynch’s vision of how truly wild magic and those who wield it can be. Lynch doesn’t try to give magic rules, even if it has some internal logic, and as a result the magic in these stories feels wild and expansive and exciting. I love details like Rumstandel's beard and Ivovandas's...everything, details which exist for no apparent reason other than their wizards and they can.
As for the enhanced author’s edition thing… Well, having never read these stories elsewhere, I liked having them available in standalone form. And I’m a fan of seeing the process happen, so for me, Lynch’s added Author’s Notes only enhanced the experience. Current mood: in favor of the idea. I hope more are to come.
"In the Stacks" - Libraries! I love libraries. I am not a librarian, but I did go to library school, so I have a great fondness of libraries and the work that goes into maintaining them in my heart. I enjoyed this story as an homage to magical libraries.
"The Effigy Engine" - Not about libraries but I liked it anyway. What I really liked is the interjections from Watchdog and Rumstandel, and the way these are framed as historical writings. Fun stuff.
Reading these (and putting them beside "A Year and a Day in Old Theradane"), it feels apparent that Lynch is exceedingly comfortable in the wheelhouse of “stories that were probably someone’s ideas for a D&D campaign.” And I say that not to disparage but as an observation, because I am 100% here for Lynch’s vision of how truly wild magic and those who wield it can be. Lynch doesn’t try to give magic rules, even if it has some internal logic, and as a result the magic in these stories feels wild and expansive and exciting. I love details like Rumstandel's beard and Ivovandas's...everything, details which exist for no apparent reason other than their wizards and they can.
As for the enhanced author’s edition thing… Well, having never read these stories elsewhere, I liked having them available in standalone form. And I’m a fan of seeing the process happen, so for me, Lynch’s added Author’s Notes only enhanced the experience. Current mood: in favor of the idea. I hope more are to come.