Review – Anthology 1: The Far Corners by Frank Tuttle (4/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 87 pages
Publisher: Sizzling Lizard Press
Release Date: May 1, 2010
ASIN: B003K16TUG
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: Bought for Kindle
Rating: 4/5 stars
Previous to reading this book I read Tuttle’s The Wistril Complete and really loved it. Right after reading The Wistril Complete I purchased this anthology by Tuttle for my Kindle. I just finally got around to reading it. Overall I enjoyed it; these are great classic fantasy stories with some humor and irony in them.
Tuttle does an amazing job of creating characters and settings that really come alive in a very short page space. My favorite of the bunch were The Harper at Sea(I loved Jere the Harper and loved the message and humor in the story) and Tinker Bell, Cannon Dale, and the Wheeling Nick of Time (I loved this world and characters and would absolutely love to see a longer novel about it).
All the other stories were well done. The settings are creative and lush fantasy settings. The characters are all very unique and fun to read about. I will definitely be picking up more Tuttle books to read in the future. In fact I have All the Paths of Shadow on my Kindle to read as well.
Overall I would recommend to those who enjoy creative traditional fantasy stories with unique and fun characters. I have written brief descriptions of the different stories included in the anthology below.
Keeping the Peace (4 stars)
A short story about a sorcerer who tracks down a traitorous general in Troll Territory and decides that maybe peace is better than the truth. I enjoyed the description of the Troll territory and how interesting these two characters were in such a short amount of time.
The Harper at Sea (5 stars)
About a Harper stranded at sea who meets a mermaid and has to make a choice; comfortable living or fulfilling his vow to become a true Bard. I enjoyed the banter between the characters and the discussion of how we sometimes lose sight of dreams and choose comfort instead. It was a lot to pack into a short story.
Waking the Master (4 stars)
About a House that is trying to maintain itself but cannot seem to wake it’s master. Creative and ironic, I enjoyed this story a lot.
The Truth About Arphon and the Apple Farmer’s Daughter (4 stars)
Another story about Jere the Harper who has to spend a night charming wraiths in order to escape soldiers. I really enjoyed the characters in this one and would like to read more about them.
One Such Shore (4 stars)
Another story about choice. A young woman is journeying to a job as tutor to a nobleman’s child, but this new job means she will have to give up the poetry she loves so much. One of the SeaFolk on the ship she travels on helps her to see her choices and choose the option that fits her heart best.
Tinker Bell, Cannon Dale, and the Wheeling Nick of Time (5 stars)
Very well done creative story about a bike dealer who has a bike shop that straddles the world between ours and Tir Na Nog. He goes to battle with some evil fey on his magic bicycle and helps fey buy and repair their bicycles. This was very creative and a little bit silly; I really loved it. I would love to read about more adventures with Cannon Dale and Tink.
This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– Mount TBR Reading Challenge
