George Mann

Novels and Anthologies


The Solaris Book of New Fantasy — (2008) Publisher: A collection of original stories from some of the best-loved names and hottest new talents in a wide range of fantasy genres, including new fiction from Janny Wurts, Scott Lynch, Hal Duncan, Juliet E. McKenna, Chris Roberson, Mark Chadbourn and Jeff Vandermeer.

Forthcoming: The Solaris Book of New Fantasy II (2009)

The Solaris Book of New Fantasy

I’m pretty much a novice when it comes to short fiction. Because of my lack of experience in this area, I hope that you will bear with me as I try to provide a thoughtful and comprehensive analysis of The Solaris Book of New Fantasy, even if I don’t always succeed. The plan is to first look at each short story individually providing synopses and commentary, followed by my evaluation of the compilation as a whole. So, let’s look at the stories:

1) “Who Slays the Gyant, Wounds the Beast” by Mark Chadbourn. On Christmas Eve in the year 1598 in a world where England is at war against the Faerie, England’s greatest spy Will Swyfte is on a mission of the greatest import — he has until dawn to prevent the Faerie Queen from crossing over to the other side. If he doesn’t, then the Unseelie Court will gain access to valuable secrets that will turn the tide of the war in favor of the Faerie. Success or failure depends on what’s stronger: love or duty to one’s country. I really liked this one. It was vaguely reminiscent of Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, but more thrilling, and I thought it was an excellent way to open the anthology.

2) “Reins of Destiny” by Janny Wurts. This one was a bit different. Rather than reading like a short, it felt more like a prologue or preview of a much larger story and world. This makes sense though because at the beginning, the tale is designated as story about The Wars of Light and Shadow — her huge fantasy epic. Since I haven't read any of Ms. Wurts' work, I admittedly found the short story a bit confusing at times and the writing style a little jarring. However, I was definitely intrigued by the world, the cultures, and the mythology hinted at and I hope to one day experience this universe in fuller detail.

3) “Tornado of Sparks” by James Maxey. Having read Bitterwood, I probably enjoyed this short more than I would have if this had been my first exposure to Mr. Maxey. After all, “Tornado of Sparks” is essentially a prequel to Bitterwood and features a number of familiar characters including Vendevorex, Albekizan, the hunter Zanzeroth, and the human Jandra as the tale recounts how Vendevorex first became the king’s wizard. For me personally, the short was very rewarding because Vendevorex was a favorite of mine from Bitterwood, but the story’s accessibility should also appeal to readers new to the author.

4) “Grander than the Sea” by T.A. Pratt. Like the previous short, it was easy for me to dive into this story because I was already familiar with Marla Mason and her assistant Rondeau having enjoyed their adventures in the novel Blood Engines. This little tale takes place in Felport — the city that is Ms. Mason’s duty to protect as the Chief Sorcerer — and deals with a criminally insane sorcerer who wants to “raise a dark god from the sea and destroy all human life.” Factor in human sacrifice, doppelganger spirits, homunculi, and Mr. Pratt’s idiosyncratic humor and what you have is a crazily fun, amusing and engaging urban fantasy treat.

5) “The Prince of End Times” by Hal Duncan. Writer Catherynne M. Valente was once accused of “passing off prose-poems as fiction.” That’s what I kept thinking of when reading Mr. Duncan’s short. While the story is beautifully written and wonderfully surreal, the actual plot, what little there is, is pretty hard to follow. About all I could really understand was that it was set in the same universe as the author’s novels Vellum and Ink and that it had something to do with lightprinces, darkartists, and murder. As challenging as the story was though, I have to admit that I loved its language and plan on re-reading the short a couple of times more to further savor the dreamlike experience.

6) “King Tales” by Jeff VanderMeer. It seems like everywhere I look I see Jeff VanderMeer’s name, but strangely, I’ve never actually read anything by the writer/editor apart from his blog and a few articles. So I was pretty excited to check out “Kings Tales” and was surprised when it turned out to be a collection of three short fairy tales about talking bears, cats, and birds that would fit seamlessly in any children’s book. While it wasn’t quite what I was expecting from Mr. VanderMeer, the short was nevertheless delightful and humorous and I hope to discover more of the author’s writings.

7) “In Between Dreams” by Christopher Barzak. I’ve been hearing a lot of great things about Mr. Barzak’s debut novel “One For Sorrow” and his short story definitely lives up to the hype. Elegantly told in the first-person, “In Between Dreams” stars Ai, a Japanese girl working in Tokyo cleaning the apartments of ‘the dreaming man.’ How Ai came to this point in her life, what she’s searching for and who ‘the dreaming man’ is, are all part of the mystery that gracefully unfolds, which includes ghosts, spirits, and a journey of self-discovery and love… Poignant and magical, “In Between Dreams” was a wonderful read…

8) “And Such Small Deer” by Chris Roberson. Like his novel Set the Seas on Fire, Mr. Roberson’s short is a superb blend of historical and speculative fiction that also pays homage to classic literature. For this story the setting is Northern Sumatra in the early 1860s; the characters are doctors Abraham Van Helsing and Francis Arnaud Moreau — narrative alternates between Van Helsing’s journal entries and Francis’ letters; and the plot plays around with evolution, nature and monsters… While this is only the second piece I’ve ever read by the author, I’m extremely impressed by Mr. Roberson and I can’t wait to get started on his next novel The Dragon’s Nine Sons.

9) “The Wizard’s Coming” by Juliet E. McKenna. Set in the world of Einarinn which is the backdrop for Ms. McKenna’s series The Tales of Einarinn, “The Wizard’s Coming” reminded me of Robin Hobb’s Farseer novels because of the conflict between the Caladhrian lords and the coastal raiders of Aldabreshi. Despite the familiarity, the short shines with its lively sword-and-sorcery action, unexpectedly high body count, surprising twists and a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more. A great introduction to the author, Juliet E. McKenna is now firmly on my “To Read” list.

10) “Shell Game” by Mike Resnick. Dubbed a John Justin Mallory Story, you could probably file “Shell Game” under the urban fantasy genre as it features a detective who lives in a contemporary world populated by demons, leprechauns, gremlins, elves, cat-people, et cetera. This particular tale — apparently there are many — finds Mallory, partner Winnifred, and their catgirl Felina searching for the world’s last lamia egg which was stolen…from the one who stole it in the first place. Addictively comical and loaded with great characters and banter, “Shell Game” is tons of fun!

11) “The Song Her Heart Sang” by Steven Savile. Lukas Mey is in love. Unfortunately, men in love don’t always make the brightest decisions which Lukas learns firsthand when a miracle gift becomes instead a curse. To right the wrong, Lukas sets out on a fool’s quest into the haunted remnants of Sahnglain in search of a fabled treasure that would win back Lili’s heart. What he finds there is much more than he ever bargained for… Blending elements of romance, horror and fantasy, “The Song Her Heart Sang” was a bittersweet love story that stayed with me long after I finished reading it…

12) “A Man Falls” by Jay Lake. Through the eyes of Peleppos, a Prince of the Law, we’re introduced to an intriguing world where day is ruled by the terrifying Teratornis and their riders, and night is a sanctuary for the denizens of the Wheeled City. Ridiculed by his betters, the boy prince sets out on his own to form an alliance between the two peoples, and instead discovers a shocking secret… As an author of over 200 published short stories, you get the feeling that this wasn’t one of Mr. Lake’s better efforts. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this short.

13) “O Caritas” by Conrad Williams. Not too long ago I read my first Conrad Williams story and was thoroughly impressed with “The Scalding Rooms” novella. One of the reasons I was anticipating this anthology was because of the author’s inclusion and thankfully I wasn’t disappointed. Embodying elements of Neil Gaiman and Clive Barker with the title taken from a Cat Stevens song, “O Caritas” vividly paints a post-apocalyptic London where an earthquake has created a catastrophic breach between a hidden underworld and the Top. Eloquently composed and atmospherically rich, this short strongly affirms that Mr. Williams is one of the best unknown writers out there today.

14) “Lt. Privet’s Love Song” by Scott Thomas. As the younger brother of Jeffrey Thomas whose writings are noticeably influenced by Lovecraft, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Mr. Thomas and was pleasantly surprised by his story. In a familiar setting that recalls 18th century Britain — apart from the magic users and the extraordinary number of twins — Mr. Thomas’ tale starts out innocently enough with Lt. Privet purchasing a love potion from the Deerfield Sisters in order to make the innkeeper’s daughter fall in love with him. As one might expect, thing don’t work out as planned and before you know it Lt. Privet has been challenged to a sword duel to the death by the finest swordsman in the King’s fleet! Throw in a mysterious red ship that shoots invisible cannon and a plot to assassin the King’ heir, and you can see why this short was one of my favorites.

15) “Chinandega” by Lucius Shepard. Chinandega is an actual town in Nicaragua. How accurately Chinandega is depicted in the short I’m not sure, but for the story it is described as “hot and vile and soulless.” Regardless of its bad reputation, Alvaro Miguez of Mayan descent must go there to rescue his sister Palmira who now lives as a prostitute. Once there he will come face-to-face with the mystical Recluse, the divine Queen of Whores and a truth that will forever change him… More of a contemporary tale sprinkled with a dash of mythology and the spiritual, “Chinandega” was a compelling introduction to another author I had never heard of before.

16) “Quashie Trapp Blacklight” by Steven Erikson. Closing out the anthology in style is a wild tale about a whore, an Irishman, a hairless cat with an Aristotelian outlook, a tarantula spy with x-ray vision, an elephant, the last Bhudo priest, a hungry bushman, and servants of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, all of whom — through a series of inane circumstances including a hurricane — converge on the British Honduras circa 1789, in hilarious fashion. As a huge fan of Steven Erikson I admit that I was a little disappointed that the story wasn’t set in his popular Malazan universe, but there’s no denying how much fun it was to read this short and you have to give the guy an A+ for his sheer outrageousness.

Well there you have it! Sixteen short stories and sixteen overviews. I actually ended up liking each short, which was a nice surprise though obviously there were stories that I personally enjoyed more than others like “Shell Game,” "The Song Her Heart Sang,” “In Between Dreams,” “Who Slays the Gyant, Wounds the Beast,” “Lt. Privet’s Love Song,” “Quashie Trapp Blacklight,”and “Grander than the Sea.”

As far as the anthology as a whole, my heartfelt thanks go out to the editor George Mann, Mark Newton and everyone who was involved in putting the book together. Not only does the compilation masterfully celebrate the rich diversity of the fantasy genre, it also showcases a wonderful array of writers, both new and established, who deserve a much larger audience. In fact, the best part of the anthology I thought was its excellent selection of authors who probably don’t get enough credit and I was grateful for the opportunity to meet writers I had never heard of or was only familiar with by reputation. So in the end, no matter what kind of a fantasy reader you are, I believe there’s something in The Solaris Book of New Fantasy for everyone and I hope that Solaris will continue producing these anthologies for years to come.
—Robert Thompson

Ghosts of Manhattan — (2010) Publisher: 1926. New York. The Roaring Twenties. Jazz. Flappers. Prohibition. Coal-powered cars. A cold war with a British Empire that still covers half of the globe. Yet things have developed differently to established history. America is in the midst of a cold war with a British Empire that has only just buried Queen Victoria, her life artificially preserved to the age of 107. Coal-powered cars roar along roads thick with pedestrians, biplanes take off from standing with primitive rocket boosters and monsters lurk behind closed doors and around every corner. This is a time in need of heroes. It is a time for The Ghost. A series of targeted murders are occurring all over the city, the victims found with ancient Roman coins placed on their eyelids after death. The trail appears to lead to a group of Italian-American gangsters and their boss, who the mobsters have dubbed 'The Roman'. However, as The Ghost soon discovers, there is more to The Roman than at first appears, and more bizarre happenings that he soon links to the man, including moss-golems posing as mobsters and a plot to bring an ancient pagan god into the physical world in a cavern beneath the city. As The Ghost draws nearer to The Roman and the centre of his dangerous web, he must battle with foes both physical and supernatural and call on help from the most unexpected of quarters if he is to stop The Roman and halt the imminent destruction of the city.

Ghosts of Manhattan

I’ve been lukewarm to George Mann’s Victorian steampunk novels set in London, finding them mostly adequate: quick-paced but a bit flat and somewhat too beholden to cinematic cliché. They are intermittently entertaining and lively, but never quite get all the way to good. Mann’s new novel, Ghosts of Manhattan, is similar, but set in America this time. It’s perhaps a step above the London novels in quality.

It’s 1926 and America is in a cold war with a British Empire that still stretches over much of the world. The city of New York is filled with coal-powered cars and rocket-propelled biplanes. It’s also filled with crooks, most notably The Roman: the violent head of a group of gangsters and the person seemingly responsible for a run of targeted murders, each victim left with a pair of authentic Roman coins on their eyelids.

The police seem powerless and so into the fray steps The Ghost, a non-superpowered masked hero who makes it his mission to find and stop The Roman (whose motivation isn’t quite what anybody expected). Also along for the plot are a wealthy, playboy type; the singer with whom he has a relationship; and a cop who refuses to be corrupted by the Roman’s wealth and power.

As with the London novels, the book is fast-paced with few distractions from the main plot. The Ghost’s identity is predictable and I’m hoping it wasn’t meant to be much of a surprise. The character’s past gives him a dark tinge that adds a good deal of depth to an otherwise depth-free story. There’s something pleasantly familiar about the hero, a bit of a nostalgic throwback to pre-superhero days.

The plot moves along familiar tracks until near the end, when it spins off in another direction — and almost into another genre — entirely. There’s little time for either the reader or the characters to think much about what’s going on, and so the plot, while quick-moving, is entertaining but a bit flat and not particularly compelling.

Ghosts of Manhattan suffers from some trite language and scenes as well. In one scene, for instance, the hero’s flechettes “strike home” twice within a few paragraphs, shortly before we get the stock scenario in which the hero is about to be killed but the bad guy intervenes so he can “do it himself” (hint: he doesn’t). There are several instances of these issues throughout the book, as well as some seeming contradictions in character. And while an alternate Jazz Age (complete with a Gatsby-type) seems ripe for some rich description, as in the London books the setting is a bit disappointing.

The book’s quick pace and likable character make up for the flaws to some extent; you’re speeding along so quickly rooting for the good guys that you don’t stop too often to notice the flat aspects. But as with Mann’s earlier books, Ghosts of Manhattan goes down well but doesn’t leave you feeling fully satisfied. —Bill Capossere