Product Description
From the publisher of "Chicks in Chainmail" and "Did You Say Chicks?!" comes a new anthology starring babes in brass bras and chain-link bikinis, bearing broad swords and filled with good intentions--chicks who are here to rescue those poor chained males, those victims of male-abuse, from any number of Fates Worse Than Death . . . Right here. Right now. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

In the continuing series on this theme, this was very good
My order came quickly and was in perfect condition. I have purchased many books by the author and or editors, and enjoyed them all.

Maybe they were just trying a little too hard
I checked out this book for the one story about the chain letter. I guess, yes, if I lived in a world where magic was commonplace (or, I should say, remotely plausible) then the scare factor of the "forward this or else" clause would be much higher. Because then it might actually be able to curse you, unlike here on Earth. Where it's forwarding the chain letter that will get you cursed... at by everyone you send it to!

But the book itself was adolescent and cliché and boring, something I might have read in middle school. In fact, it did seem very dated. One or two of the stories were cute, but mostly it wasn't worth the time.

Much Better than Chicks in Chain Mail
Having not liked, in general, Chicks In Chain Mail I'm happy to be able to report that I actually enjoyed this follow up. The stories are definitely of a higher caliber and much more amusing.

In particular I found "Leg-Irons, the Bitch and the Wardrobe" laugh out loud funny due to the theater jokes. As opposed to Chicks in Chain Mail, this entry in the series manages to have a wide variety of stories within the constraints of the rescuing men plot dictated by the title. The definition of rescue may be stretched quite a bit in some of the stories, but it is all to the good and creates a better range of stories.

chix

Cute!I like the concept.

Men need to be rescued and then spanked for making us go to the trouble.

FUNNY
Eighteen stories of warrior women who come to men in distress. The tables have been turned! This is the second in, what I hope will be, a series. These women may look like "babes" in very little chain mail, but they show themselves to be able to take care of themselves...and other men. My husband and I enjoyed it thoroughly! ... Read more

Product Description
One good turn deserves another and those unpredictable amazons are back, swords sharpened, chainmail polished, and makeup in place, ready to fight the good fight on the field of battle (and also on the bookstore shelves). And if you think they're just male wish-fulfillment fantasies, you'd better say it under your breath and out of their earshot, because these barbarian babes were born to battle. All new adventures of fearless women warriors by Eric Flint, author of 1632; Nebula-winning author Harry Turtledove; Jody Lynn Nye, co-author of the best selling The Ship Who Won; Campbell Award-winner Wen Spencer, and many more, including the inimitable Esther Friesner herself, as fantasy adventure takes a turn for the lighter side. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good Stories

It has taken a long time for this volume to come out and make it to mass market paperback.I have mixed feelings about this fifth collection of Chicks in Chainmail stories.

This series takes the artists' ideas of women warriors, mainly chainmail bikinis, and pokes fun at the whole concept.Or it used to.In this volume the reader is treated to a very nice selection of stories involving women warriors.They are very-well written and quite entertaining.But the humor aspect is missing.A couple of the stories are a little lighter but most lack the digs of the early collections.

If you are looking for more of the type of humor found earlier in this series, you might be disappointed.But you won't be disappointed in the quality of the writing presented here.An excellent collection of stories but I miss the humor.There were some jokes (some even repeated by more than one author) but not like there used to be.There was also a larger percentage of transgender and transvestite issues than in previous volumes.I personally did not find this as a flaw but was just surprised at some of the similarities of issues amongst the stories.

I'm forced to give this 5 stars simply because it's so good.
Thestory Mightier Than the Sword by John G. Hemry alone is worth the price of the book. As usual a great series of short stories. A BUY and KEEP book at any price.

Quite funny
I got the original "Chicks in Chainmail" in high school, and it is one of my favorite fantasy books."Turn the other Chick" is also quite good, continuing one or two stories from the original.This is "amazon humor" with strong women, tons of puns and some sexy scenes (making some of the stories PG).I had a lot of fun with it. ... Read more

Product Description
She is beautiful, she is a princess, and Aphrodite is her favorite goddess, but something in Helen of Sparta just itches for more out of life. Not one to count on the gods—or her looks—to take care of her, Helen sets out to get what she wants with steely determination and a sassy attitude. That same attitude makes Helen a few enemies—such as the self-proclaimed "son of Zeus" Theseus—but it also intrigues, charms, and amuses those who become her friends, from the famed huntress Atalanta to the young priestess who is the Oracle of Delphi.

In Nobody's Princess, author Esther Friesner deftly weaves together history and myth as she takes a new look at the girl who will become Helen of Troy. The resulting story offers up adventure, humor, and a fresh and engaging heroine you cannot help but root for.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Tougher than heck Princess
Nobody's Princess
I absolutely love the new Helen. Before when I heard Helen I thought of a beauiful women held captive or sailing to Troy not really putting up a fight, just sitting and waiting. I will never think that again as long as I live. Helen is tougher than me which I love and she doesn't put up with the prejudice towomen one bit. She wants to learn how to fight in a time when she's not supposed to even watch fighting so she does it in secret and could probably ends up able to kick most people now's butt.
When her feternal twin sister leaves from there unexpectedly to her aunt's court when a monstrous boar appears. When she arrives she meets the legendary huntress Atalanta. What happens next? get it and find out.
This book shows how they would have viewed their myths without becoming about mythology. It's more of a Historical Fiction than Fantasy with a great new view on "the Face that launched a thousand ships" but now I think she was very unwilling and probably killed a few of then trying to take her.
I would reccomend it for any girl or women who has a boyfriend or husband who thinks girls are week because odds are she'd make him feel week. I know she makes me feel that way

an ok one.
it was a good story,but the author could have written it more animatedly.......
kinda boring in some parts.

A short and sweet review
I grabbed this book and decided to read it based on the cover and after reading the first page.

This is the kind of book where even if you stop reading it for a couple weeks and start again, you'll still remember what's going on.It's level of difficulty would be almost medium. The wide range of characters made the book interesting and fun to read.I think that it would be a good book to do a book report on if you're in middle school (6th-8th grade) but it may be a little to simple for high school+.

I like greek mythology but even if you don't it won't ruin the book for you.There enough mythology to make it interesting but it's not crammed into the book so it's overflowing with it...It's spaced out so it doesn't get annoying or tough to read.

To me, this book is a little forgetable after you finish reading it but I enjoyed it at the time. I recommend you go out and get this book to read :)

A different take on Greek Mythology
Helen of Troy was the most famous pretty face in history, but Ellen Friesner gives her an attitude adjustment you won't find elsewhere. Other depictions of Helen tend to show her as stuck up or vacuous, but here she's adventure-seeking hunter and fighter, and finds her good looks more of a handicap; one of the themes Friesner explores is how women (in any culture) are judged by their appearance. Though this book is obviously targeted toward young teenager girls--the Helen here is barely 14 years old--as an adult I found myself enjoying it. Something else I liked: Greek mythology is not presented as a series of monsters and fantasy battles (see Jackson, Percy) but religious stories--which is how they would have been treated by the ancient Greeks themselves. Gods and heroes are definitely around, but nothing supernatural is happening in real life. Helen has a bit of a jaundiced view of myths, and she obviously dislikes Theseus (the book ends before the "hero" abducts her). If you want a page-turner full of cliffhangers, go somewhere else, but if you like Greek mythology and character-driven fiction with a dash of adventure, go for it.

Girl power! Unique look on Helen of Troy
The story of Helen of Troy, like I'd never seen before.

When I think of Helen I think of a beautiful girl who caused one of the greatest wars of all time. I don't think I ever really thought of her as a person. But let me tell you-- Helen is sassy and she rocks! It was great to see her grow up and her thoughts.

This book read a little choppily for me. Jumping from event to event and not really flushing out any of them. It seemed to me that the ending of this book was more of a beginning, which makes me eager for the sequel, Nobody's Prize.

Great girl-power book. Enjoyable read. ... Read more

Product Description
Ancient Egypt springs to life in this enthralling sequel to Sphinx’s Princess. As she did in Nobody’s Princess and Nobody’s Prize, author Esther Friesner offers readers a fresh look at an iconic figure, blending historical fiction and mythology in a heady concoction.

Hunted . . . Overnight, every aspect of Nefertiti’s life has changed. She is no longer living at the royal palace as the intended bride of the crown prince. Instead, she is being chased by the prince and his soldiers for a crime she did not commit.

Hidden . . . Traveling with two of her dearest friends, including the crown prince’s brother, who helped her escape, Nefertiti takes shelter in the wild hills along the Nile’s west bank. She must rely on her own resourcefulness and skills (all those secret archery lessons prove very useful) as the fugitives fight to survive.

Haunted . . . But the need for justice gnaws at Nefertiti. She is determined to plead her case to the Pharaoh and set things right. As she begins to question long-held sacred beliefs—a questioning that could alter the fabric of Egyptian society—her extraordinary journey from commoner to royalty brings adventure, intrigue, and romance. ... Read more

Product Description
She was far more than just a pretty face. . . .

Although Nefertiti is the dutiful daughter of a commoner, her inquisitive mind often gets her into situations that are far from ordinary, like receiving secret lessons from a scribe. And her striking beauty garners attention that she'd just as soon avoid, especially when it's her aunt, the manipulative Queen Tiye, who has set her sights on Nefertiti. The queen wants to use her niece as a pawn in her quest for power, so Nefertiti must leave her beloved family and enter a life filled with courtly intrigue and danger. But her spirit and mind will not rest as she continues to challenge herself and the boundaries of ancient Egyptian society. With control of a kingdom at stake and threats at every turn, Nefertiti is forced to make choices and stand up for her beliefs in ways she never imagined.

As she did in Nobody's Princess and Nobody's Prize, author Esther Friesner offers readers a fresh look at an iconic figure, blending historical fiction and mythology in a heady concoction.


... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Gold Star Award Winner!

Nefertiti is not a princess but her father is the brother of the Royal Wife to the Pharaoh. When Queen Tiye hears about Nefertiti's beauty, she's determined to make her a Princess in order to marry her firstborn son. She orders Nefertiti's family to her side, where she manipulates the family into giving Nefertiti's hand in marriage.

There is a catch, of course.Nefertiti will not marry for three years, but in that time she must reside in the royal household. Sadness overwhelms her as she says goodbye to her family, not knowing when she'll ever see them again.

She moves into the women's suite where she's given a comfortable room. The other women in the suite are junior wives of the Pharaoh. Due to Queen Tiye's paranoia, she's not allowed to communicate with any of them. Instead, her loneliness threatens her state of mind.

Before long, she begins to take secret scribing lessons again. While Nefertiti rarely spends any time with her betrothed, a cold man, she enjoys his brother's company greatly. He teaches her how to drive a chariot and shows her around the city. But when Nefertiti's betrothed learns of this, he threatens his bride-to-be.

When the Pharaoh leaves the palace for an extended period of time and leaves his firstborn son in charge, the change in him is overwhelming. Nefertiti can't believe the difference, and she just might fall in love with him.But when an accusation comes her way, can he save her?

An enchanting beginning tale of the strong feisty character of Nefertiti left me wanting to read more; the cliffhanger ending leaves me anxiously awaiting the next installment about this fascinating woman.

Reviewed by:Jennifer Rummel

loved it/hated it
I absoutly LOVED the book! it had a wonderful story that hade me captivated. which is why i gave it 3 stars, the book was so so so good but then you get to the end and it just leaves it hanging. whih made me sooooo mad! so thats why i took 2 stars away.

Captivating!
Even though this book does not match up with the little know historical facts about the Great Queen I still found the book very delightful. It's very hard to find any stories of the childhoods of the Great Kings and Queens of ancient Egypt, let alone their actual reign. So I thank the author very much for this treasure.

Hungry for More!
Sphinx's Princess is a fantastic read set in Ancient Egypt narrated by Nefertiti, one of the most beautiful and mysterious Egyptian queens known to the public.

The background and historical references made in this book are enormous, and as far as I know (with my limited knowledge of Egyptian history and culture) were surprisingly accurate and interesting. The one area that I was disappointed in was the music and dancing that were are so much a part of this book. Egyptian music and dancing is not anything like what we would imagine them to be and I felt that without additional descriptions the reader was given a false idea of what the dances and music were really like.

Otherwise, the clothing and household systems were beautifully described in fascinating detail. Knowing the abstact story of Nefertiti I was somewhat confused until at least halfway through the book when I began to see the strings of a plot. The plot did occasionaly wander and then suddenly reach a climax at the very end of the book. However, the timeless tale of court intrigue (Egyptian or otherwise) kept me interested and on track. The character of Nefertiti was lovingly and brightly crafted into a believable person. At times I wanted to shake her for her bold and often quick temper and at other times loudly congradulate her. This made her all the more real to me and really brought the story alive.

The ending left me feeling cheated, and I anxiously await a sequel, I also caution the reader to pace themselves as they reach the end or they will end up feeling as lost and impatient as I did (and still do). Overall, Sphinx's Princess was an interesting historical read with a believable plot that kept me excited and upbeat. It was an informative and fascinating book that I would recommend to anyone with a love of Egypt and court intrigue.

Egyptian Historical Fiction
Sphinx's Daughter is historical fiction based in Egyptian culture with the central figure being Nefertiti, the future queen. Nefertiti is the Queen's choice for the Royal Wife of her first born son, Thutmose.Through Nefertiti, the reader explores the royal women's chambers, the power and gossip of the court, and the dangers that lurk behind a royal facade. A younger reader must have quite a bit of background knowledge of Egyptian culture and history to understand the many gods of the religion, the many wives of the Pharaoh, and the restraints on women's freedom.For that reason, I would recommend the book for 8th grade and up.Once past the beginning pages, the book reads well.The mystery and intrigue of the palace life is fast-paced.The way the book ends makes me think that this is the first book of a series (along the lines of the author's series Nobody's Prize and Nobody's Princess). Nefertiti isn't out of danger when the story ends. ... Read more

Product Description
Esther Friesner offers a collection of 12 of her best pieces of short fiction including brand new story, "Ilion", as well as two Nebula award-winning stories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Don't know what originally drew me to this
I wish I could recall which of Friesner's stories got me interested in her works to begin with, because having read 'Death and the Librarian,' I can't imagine why a story written along the lines of the ones presented would have encouraged me to seek out more.

In particular, the story "Love, Crystal and Stone" particularly grated me; the story is written just about entirely using metaphors as opposed to any sort of direct explanation.This seemed to be a rather weak way of telling what turned out to be a rather poor story as it was.

With the exception of "Chanoyu" - which I couldn't even bring myself to finish - and "Ilion" (a take on the 9/11 tragedy) the rest of the stories are more or less somewhat humorous.Some of said humor got too caught up in the concept to really be entertaining, as it was in "True Believer" and "Jesus at the Bat."

Overall I wouldn't say that it was a bad read, but I certainly won't be looking any further to track down more of Friesner's work.

ironic or satirical or both, and mostly amusing fantasies
The twelve stories that make up DEATH AND THE LIBRARIAN AND OTHER STORIES are, for the most part, either ironic or satirical or both, but with one exception, always amusing fantasies.Esther Friesner is at her irreverent best skewing the universe with classic short stores like "How To Make Unicorn Pie", "In the Realm of Dragons", and "Jesus at the Bat", etc.The only new story "Illion" is atypical of Ms. Friesner as this takes a more somber tone than usual as the author provides her perspective to 9/11.The uniqueness of this collection is the writer's ability to wink at the genre for its excessive rigid formulaic characters and themes yet also parody modern society in the same story.With the well written reverent "Illion" aside, fans who relish humorous skewing of fantasy stereotypes that also encourage the audience to "thine own self be true" will delight in this swift reading anthology. Just because the woks are a parody, one must not think for a moment that the author does not take her work seriously. Each story is finely crafted and appeals to something primal in the reader. This is a great introduction for someone not familiar with the works of Esther Friesner.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent
This book is an anthology of twenty short stories, each something of a retelling of a classic fairytale. The stories are all very well written, with the leadoff story being written by the sensational Tanith Lee. As a matter of fact, my absolute favorite story is Tanith Lee's reworking of the story of Repunzel.

These stories run the gamut between humorous and upsetting. Some of the storylines are too much for young children, but none are unnecessarily violent or sexual. Overall, I was very impressed with the quality of these stories, and I recommend it without reservations. ... Read more

Product Description
In this rousing sequel to Nobody’s Princess, young Helen of Sparta is not about to be left behind when her older brothers head off to join the quest for the Golden Fleece. Accompanied by her friend Milo, and disguised as a boy herself, Helen sets out to join the crew of heroes aboard the massive ship known as The Argo.

Helen quickly faces all sorts of danger. There are battles to be fought, as well as an encounter with a terrifying murderous princess. With her beauty blossoming, Helen’s journey takes her beyond the mythology of the Golden Fleece to Athens, where her very future as Queen of Sparta is threatened.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

YA book review
Received product quicker than I anticipated.A nice book to continue with the learning of the Greek gods at a younger age similar to Rick Riordan and the Percy Jackson series.Not as action paced.

Nobody's Prize
My daughter loved the previous books in the series.After reading reviews I decided to purchase this book with the confidence that she would like this as well.Well the subject matter was more advanced for my daughter.Beware if your daughter is not ready for discussions about sexuality and alternative life styles.

A must-read :)
I picked this book up from the library and I realized that I was lucky and got it when I did because it's been gone every time I've gone back.

I really liked this book because I felt I could realate to it well. The introduction restates who Helen is and why she's doing what she's doing without going on for a whole chapter that retells the first book (since this is the sequel). Even if you haven't read the first book (which I recommend!) this book will still make sense. It's an easy read but it's not easy enough to make it unenjoyable...I completed it in about 5 hours.

It never got boring but I felt like some of the events in the book were kept at a slow pace just to make the story longer....I didn't really mind but I got a bit tired of reading some of it in one sitting.

Maybe greek mythology isn't your thing but I still think this is a great story about a young woman fighting for her identity, rights, and freedom.

And Another Book Read's Reviews
Helen of Sparta returns for yet another adventure. This time she disguises herself as a guy and along with her best friend Milo sets off to join the quest for the Golden Fleece. Aboard the Argo though Helen and Milo quickly run into trouble. Not only do they have to avoid Helen's brother's detection, but Helen also has to keep her feelings held back for the adorable guy on board. Then there is the fact that Hercules has fallen in love with Helen's boy self, Milo's becoming a tad jealous of Helen's new crush, and there are many battles to be fought in order to reach the Golden Fleece. As Helen starts to become more of a women it becomes harder and harder to mask her identity. Her journey doesn't stop with the fleece though as she continues beyond the myth and into a story completely her own.

Well, I have to say I was expecting a lot from this book, but it just did not deliver. The writing made it hard to get into the story and I just could not get into it. Once events picked up though I enjoyed the adventurous nature of the plot and the twist of the classic Golden Fleece myth. I also really enjoyed the continuation of Helen's journey and the return of some fun characters from the preceding book NOBODY'S PRINCESS. I did find though that at many points there was a lot going on in the book and it all got very confusing.

As for the characters, I felt they were underdeveloped. None of the characters felt real at all, but they did have some personality. Helen was a fun heroine who was always up for an adventure, while Milo was extremely cute and I wish he had been more present in the story.

Overall though it was a likeable book that fully concluded Helen's story. I loved the author's originality in her creation of the story and look forward to reading more of her work.

Very good read
Esther Friesner did an amazing job creating three dimensional characters and an interesting plot, but it got a little bit repetitive during this book because it was adventure after adventure after adventure. Yes, we get the idea that Helen is a girl with extreme determination and confidence, and not only that but beautiful as well. She's growing up during the voyage and discovering new things. The plot does have s twists and turns, which keeps the story interesting, but what irked me the most was the her best friend Milo suddenly vanishes from the story. The ending is where things got a bit choppy and convoluted. She totally forgets about her old adventures and just moves on too quickly.

I was kind of annoyed by the fact that Milo, whom you can pretty much tell has a huge crush on Helen, suddenly disappers, and when he reappears in the story he's suddenly with this character whose not really so important, and all the while you're wishing that he's still in love with Helen. It was a huge twist for me and threw me off. I was kind of T.O.'d. But nevertheless, the story was, overall, a fun and entertaining read. ... Read more

Product Description
Until she stumbled upon the Divine relief temp Agency, ilanaNewhouse was having a hard time finding a summer job. Apparently,a t-shirt that reads "orC: the other green Meat" isn’tappropriate for an interview. but when she reports for her first dayas a temp, ilana discovers why Divine relief isn’t shy about hiringsomeone a little left of ordinary. ilana is temping for the extraordinarygreek mythological goddesses, the Fates. the three Fates areresponsible for spinning, measuring, and cutting all the life-threadson the planet. ilana will be working—literally—with life and death.Now her summer is going to be less about surviving a stuffy officeand more about avoiding a catastrophe! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Missing pages 219-250 :(
I would have rated this book a 5 but there an issue with the book, after page 218, the book has pages 187-218 reprinted again, then it picks up again at page 251. So pages 219-250 are missing from the book, which left me wondering what happened and ruined the reading experience for me. If you order this book be make sure that the copy that you received does not have the problem that mine had. :(

Story Great!Physical Book Sucks!
Esther Friesner has always been one of my favorite authors.She's a great writer and story teller.The books she's written tell thoroughly satisfying stories.The anthologies that she's edited are always interesting and include some really great authors.Temping Fate?It seems like a good YA novel.The plot is interesting and geared toward a young adult female.Despite it being about mythology, it was a very grounded book.In fact, I feel the story itself was worth five stars.At least, what I could read of it.I sent the book back twice.The pages were out of order.There were repeated chapters.There were missing chapters.The ending was missing in both copies.The middle chapters were mixed up.Both books were brand new.

The publisher was SPEAK, an imprint of Penguin Group.I've never read anything else published by SPEAK, but if this is an example of their work, then woe betide the authors who deal with them.I think they should take back unsold copies of Temping Fate, reprint them correctly and then reissue the books with lots of fanfare and advertising.The author and the cover artist both deserve nothing less than that.

Temping Fate Review
The concept of this book is very interesting and that is what got me to buy the book in the first place, but the main character, Ilana is mean! I got through more than half of the book when I couldn't stand her anymore. She constantly made mean, sarcastic remarks, and her personality can be described in one word "unpleasant". Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to any of my friends- or to strangers.

from missprint.wordpress.com
Ilana Newhouse is desperate for a summer job. Any summer job. So, she doesn't worry too much when the temp agency that hires her proves to be a little . . . strange. It turns out that Ilana is temping for The Fates of ancient Greek fame.

Chaos ensues as Ilana tries to navigate the complexities of her new job with the Fates while helping prepare for her Bridezilla-sister's upcoming wedding. Add in some fun co-workers, spastic gods and goddesses and this book has all the makings for an entertaining read. Happily, at the same time, the story does have some twists and turns to keep things interesting.

This book gets major points for putting ancient Greek gods (and some other myths from other countries) into a modern setting and preserving their integrity. The gods that we meet in the story are convincing characters and they work perfectly in the modern environment. It's the first book I have read in a while that can claim as much.

Furthermore, the story is hysterical. Ilana is a true oddball and following the plot through her point of view is a lot of fun. Friesner had me laughing out loud several times during the reading of this story. Some of the characters come off more like cartoons than "real" people, but that's probably to be expected of a story like this. Friesner introduces some great characters in a fun, upbeat story that readers will definitely want to see again.

Mediocre fluff
Derivative pseudo chick-lit. The idea of Greek gods as air-headed Americans is neither new nor, in this case, amusing. The humour is unfunny slapstick and the more serious points are hammered in as crudely as if to an audience of six-year-olds. Even as a young adult novel it is condescending and shallow. If this were the work of some incompetent first-timer I might be more forgiving, but Friesner is capable of far, far better work than this. ... Read more

Product Description
Werewolves and the suburbs are a natural go-together. Okay, so they’re not the Obligatory/Iconic Suburban Golden Retriever or Chocolate Labrador, but they’ve got a much better chance of taking home the Best in Show ribbon than their Undead rivals, the vampires. In some suburban households, if it brings home a trophy, who cares if it also brings home bloody chunks of the neighbors every time the full moon shines? And let’s not forget one more advantage to the suburban werewolf: If his lupine side does something nasty on your lawn, his human side can come by later with the Pooper Scooper. In your face, Dracula!

Therefore, welcome to the fur-sprouting, mall-browsing, moon-howling, latté-sipping world of Strip Mauled. You’ll like what you find.

Sit.

Stay.

Good reader.

Stories of suburban lycanthropy by Sarah A. Hoyt, Dave Freer, K. D. Wentworth, and more—including Esther Friesner herself.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Strip Mauled
This is a collection of short stoies with rather unique way of looking at werewolves.As werewolves settled in suburbia, they live as normal people, except for their tendency to become a little hairy during full moons.I really, really, enjoyed this book.There is another book by Esther Friesner, "Witch Way to the Mall", with short stories of suburban witches as the theme.I recommend both of these books as good fun reading.

She wolves are nice!
Most of the stories are very good and it was very nice to see that many of the Lycanthropes in this book were female, not to mention only a few were evil in any way. I was also pleased that more than a few human to wolf transformations actualy had more than a few words or a single sentance devoted to them.

Strip Mauled
In this anthology, editor Esther Friesner has collected twenty-one hilarious stories of werewolves in suburbia. Soccer moms, angst-ridden teenagers, mid-life crisis dads, annoying little boys, and even a hardboiled detective find their way into these very funny stories. Of particular note are: Jody Lynn Nye's "Howl," which gives a man in a dead-end job a new lease on life; "Blame It on the Moonlight" by Tim Waggoner, recounts a most unusual first date; Esther Friesner's "Isn't That Special" turns the tables on a manipulative soccer mom; "Prowling for Love" by Linda L. Donahue shows that finding love, for a werewolf, is not an easy prospect; Dave Freer's dwarf detective solves the crime in "Wolfy Ladies"; K. D. Wentworth redefines the term "Special Needs" in her tale, and Jim C. Hines takes a ubiquitous childhood TV show and writes a diabolically funny new script. //Strip Mauled// cleverly mashes up the funniest aspects of suburban life with the troublesome nature of the wolf. Each of these stories is entertaining and fans of paranormal or comic fantasy will want to be sure to add this book to their collections.

Reviewed by John Ottinger

A mixted bag of shor stories
This is a compilation of short stories about werewolves in a modern sub-urban setting. Some stories are touching, some funny, and some flat. If you love supernatural stories about wereworlves I recommend this book. Otherwise, pass.

Urban, 0r in this Case, Suburbian Fantasy
I really like this author,and have read most of her stuff, so I figured anything she edited would be fun read. It was, and I enjoyed the stories, but not enough to keep the book. Still, I'm sure that whoever reads it after me will enjoy it too. ... Read more

Product Description
 Having inflicted the smug homes of suburbia with witches and werewolves. Esther Friesner now unleashes the undead to tap a vein of blood and humor, and drain the suburbs dry of both.

Vampires and the suburbs are a match made in heaven, or maybe Levittown. Remember Dracula? He didn’t run into any real problems until he took his act on the road and traveled to the Big City. But in the suburbs, everyone is polite and respectful of their neighbors’ right to privacy. And if your neighbors happen to have kids selling gift-wrap, magazine subscriptions, cookies, or other school fundraising ploys, and little Emily or Jason happen to come peddling their wares after sundown . . .  Who says you have to stay in the city if you want good take-out meals delivered right to your door? There’s no one quite like a vampire for saying, “All of you kids get off of my lawn!” and putting some teeth  into it.

The stories in these pages—by Sarah A. Hoyt, K.D. Wentworth, Dave Freer and more, including Esther Friesner herself—will convince the reader that vampires and suburbs go together like wine and cheese, gin and tonic, desperation and housewives, marriage and pre-nups. Enter freely and of your own will . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Vampire Next Door
Fangs for the Mammaries (2010) is the third Fantasy anthology in the Supernatural Suburbia series, following Strip Mauled.The previous volume covered Werefolk in the suburbs.This collection looks at Vampires outside the cities.

- Introduction by Esther M. Friesner announces the winner of the title contest and provides a little more information.

- Overbite by Jody Lynn Nye tells of a human passing as a vampire.

- "In Music Be the Food of Love" by David Freer relates the trials of a vampire with a wayward daughter.

- Soccer Mom SmackDown by Julia S. Mandala confronts a vampire mother with a girl who bullies her son.

- Tecate for Hecate by Kevin Andrew Murphy takes a magician to Hecate for help, but he is a little short on the bottles of beer.

- Miss White-Hands's Class Goes Shopping by K. D. Wentworth reveals the events of a night class field trip to a shopping mall.

- A Matter of Blood by Sarah A. Hoyt provides Agnes with a greater understanding of her boss.

- Sarah Bailey and the Texas Beauty Queen by Lee Martindale shows the advantages of a good double kick.

- Family Matters by David D. Levine involves Julian with a Romanian vampire, which irritates Liz.

- Sappy Meals by Hildy Silverman explains the problem of groupies leaping into the arms of confused vampires.

- Fruit of the Vein by Lucienne Diver presents an engagement party with a dead body in the coat room.

- Stick or Treat by Daniel M. Hoyt introduces a divorcee to Halloween in a vampire community.

- Food Quart by Selina Rosen regards a vampire security guard who is a little late in his rounds.

- Dazed and Confused by Susan Sizemore puts a vampire father in the power of a human extortionist.

- Trampire by Robin Wayne Bailey places a blues magician in a very exciting situation.

- Vampless by Sarah Zettel frustrates a closely guarded girl looking for a vampire of her own.

- The Goth Girl Next Door by Linda L. Donahue has a retired monster hunter moving into the neighborhood.

- Long in the Tooth by Esther M. Friesner deals with a man who prefers older women, but is snared by a conniving golddigger.

- Bella and the Flying Lugosi by Laura J. Underwood brings a new family of vampires into the mansion next door to a Van Helsing.

- Bait and Switch by Steven Piziks concerns a private investigator who specializes in vampire beaus.

These tales explore the field pioneered by the Addams Family.Most of the puns are contained in the Introduction, but a few more are squeezed in here and there.And the humor shines within each story.

Unfortunately, this is the last volume in the series (notify the publisher if you want more).Still, Chicks Ahoy is coming out soon.Read and enjoy!

Recommended for Friesner fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of preternatural creatures, suburban intrigue, and fangy folks.

-Arthur W. Jordin ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Majyk by Accident
Wonderful book! Funny, witty, interesting and I couldn't keep my hands off it.

This is one of the funniest books I ever read!
I read this book during my freshman year of high school and I immediately fell in love with it.How could you not fall in love with a book which can boast such characters as the hopelessly gullible and naive (not to mentionfailing) magic student Kendar Gangle, a.k.a. "Ratwhacker" and acat with an attitude from Earth named Scandal whoconstantly talks aboutmovies and other things that only someone from Earth would understand andthoroughly confusing all the other characters.In fact, the only otherbook I have read which comes even close to being equal to Majyk by Accidentis the sequel!

Extremely funny fantasy
You like humor?You like fantasy?You'll like this book.Much of the humor in this story lies in the first person perspective.Kendar has a way of accenting his good moments and downplaying his bad ones that just reflects on Friesner's great sense of humor.Besides being funny, this book does not let you put it down.Friesner's style and ability to bring humor into a situation will leave you wondering how long it will take you to get a few more of her books. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Witty and warm
There are at least two kinds of fantasy writing -- one where the author takes the "pritee" and "bedamned" stuff seriously, and the kind where the author is wry and funny. This book is about a demon who slowly realizes humans are pretty cool. Of course, that's not PC demon belief. There's a love story here and wit.

The start of a great series...
Excellent book...funny and it even makes you think a bit about religion. Good characters...keeps you guessing how the demons will try to corrupt the mortals who rediscovered them. If you can find this book, get it!!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Harpy High
We purchased this book for our teenage son in an airport on a trip to Aruba. By Aruba we all three had read it! It is fast moving, enough plot to keep an adult reader entertained, but most of all it was hillarous. Enjoy

If Only My High School Had Been Like This!
Continuing the story begun in Esther Friesner's _Gnome Man's Land_, _Harpy High_ is another twisted, warped, and thoroughly comic treat for the lover of humorous fantasy.Timothy Desmond is back with a new cast of characters as well as our old favorites, set to battle Baba--pardon, *Bambi*--Yaga for the sake of all humanity.Oh, and to keep her from producing her own line of fitness videos, too.

It's possible to view these books as simple (if delightful) brain candy, but they're really much more than that:_Harpy High_ is educational in the sense that it can introduce the reader to several figures out of myth and literature; sure, Friesner's take on them might be a bit... unusual, but there's something to be said for a story that whets the curiousity.Further, there's a valuable lesson to be learned from every book in this series--and this one is no exception.

In short, Esther Friesner has concocted a bizarre and wonderful mix of comedy, myth, and meaning in this book and its fellow trilogy-members, _Gnome Man's Land_ and _Unicorn U._All three are most definitely worth reading--and buying--if you can find them. ... Read more

Product Description
Inexperienced as a wizard, Kendar Gangle nevertheless takes on the investigation of Orbix's foremost male model, Curio, when Curio's chief competitor disappears, and runs straight into the detestable Zoltan Fiendlord, his old rival. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Amazing!!!
This is the end of an amazing Satirical series, and it came to me in great shape!

Great laughs!
I just love the Majyck series.They're a great humor-relief in a hard world!

Absolutely, Wonderfully Hillarious!
I loved it! An ingenious mix of comedy and mystery. This book kept me laughing and reading long past the time I sould have been sleeping. Wondurfully fulfills the other two books, but hopefully is not the end of the series? ... Read more

Product Description
Carl Sherwood, a computer whiz who lives in a dream world to escape his geekiness, becomes more and more wrapped up in the new Virtual Reality program that he is designing, until the Reality starts becoming more than Virtual. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Characters Are Escaping
The Sherwood Game (1995) is a standalone SF novel.It is set in the near future within the environs of Austin, Texas.

In this novel, Carl Sherwood is a software programmer who specializes in artificial intelligence.Carl had no friends as he was growing up and his father was an anti-feminist.His mother usually gave in to his father, but sometimes his father would leave the house muttering about feminists.For some reason, Carl did not do well with the female sex.

Robin Hood is the lead character in a video game developed by Carl.He is a very complex software character.

Laurie Pincus is a Jewish American Princess.She rules Carl with a mind of steel and a tendency to cry.Carl keeps fighting, but he has never learned to deal with women.

In this story, Carl has developed a VR game on his own time, but with company computers and power.The game is based on the legends of Robin Hood in the Sherwood forest.The Robin character is sophisticated enough to talk back to Carl and to even interrupt the game at times.

One day, Robin has stopped the game prematurely and Carl is trying to discover the reason.Robin makes a bargain with Carl, but Laurie enters the office just at the wrong time.She learns about his game and manipulates Carl into transferring it into her project computer area.

When Carl tries his game with the more versatile VR equipment, he finds that a few enhancements have been added.He feels pain and gets drunk.While he is fading away, Robin admits that he has been tweaking things a bit.

As Carl recovers his consciousness, he finds Robin standing before him.Laurie has transferred the character software into an andromech.In fact, it is a sex mech and has all the essential equipment.

After getting Robin properly dressed, Laurie goes home to sleep off the all-nighter.Carl gets to take Robin out to see the town.Laurie had promised Robin three hours of sightseeing, but Carl gives him a couple of extra hours.

This tale makes you wonder who has the most intelligence, artificial or otherwise.Carl and Laurie are maneuvered by Robin into more trips to town.Then Robin wises up Little John and Carl takes him along also.

This story is another hilarious romp by the author.When Robin meets the big boss and says all the right things, you tend to forget that he has a backdoor into the company computer and access to the internet.Read and enjoy!

Recommended for Friesner fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of computer games, sapient software, and geek relationships.

-Arthur W. Jordin

the dark side
I have read "The wishing season" by the same author and loved it.
Sadly, this book, though is has a great premis, is not as good at all.
The main Characters were either not likeable. Some were like people you would cross to the other side of the street to avoid, others were plain annoying. Often the language was offensive. What is interesting about characters that are constantly mean and rude to each other? The crude sexual references were supposed to be funny but seemed out of place in a book like this. It was entirely unnecessary for there to be the topic of pedophillia in a book aimed by it's very premis at young adults. As an adult, I was really turned off by the thought of what adults might want with anatomically correct android children who are self aware. This could have been a light hearted fantasy, but it turned out to be depressing

VI reality adventure
i loved this book and the whole idea of full body VI RPG adventure andcoporate shennaigans. especially as a programmer.the plot turned andtwisted all the time, so i was never bored. friesner is always coming upwith yet another weird and amusing tale that kicks off my imagination intonewrealm.good job. sequel? wheres the sequel?

For Shame - For Shame
This work is a BIG disappointment for Friesner afficionados. Her wild and wacky sense of plot is nowhere in evidence in this hackneyed tale of a Virtual Reality AI gaining full sentience and escaping the confines of the game.Whoop-de-doo, the whole schtick has been done before, and better. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

demonic homour away!
This book was hilarious, and the plot was as good as the humour. The demons (unintentionally at some points) fill the whole book with action, sarcasm, and a lust for their funky lifestyles. I loved this book, but then I'm a sucker for a laugh, especially when it's in my favourite genre. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Serious Arthurian Entertainment
Yes, that's both Serious and Entertainment. This books meets the humor quotient you'd expect from Friesner, but it's not all fun and games. There is a depth to both the characters and to the stories themselves that I hadn't expected to find. She starts off with frumpy queens in housedresses reminiscent of Tanya Huff's dysfunctional Olympians and a goofy drinking song from Queen Gwen's Bar & Grail; she moves on to the more serious matters of Nimue waking Merlin and Mordred's version of Camelot's endgame. Throughout, these stories give us a revisionist history of the periphery of the Arthurian legends. Seek no Grails here -- this is the marginalia in a provocative new light. The Mists of Avalon becomes the canonical history from which some of these retellings deviate! Touching and thoughtful, witty and wry, this collection is probably the best Arthuriana I've read since Marion Zimmer Bradley. One note: the title, "... & other tales of King Arthur and his knights" is a bit misleading. These tales are barely about King Arthur and almost entirely not about his knights. Main characters include Nimue, Guinhwyfar, Morgan, Vivian, Mordred, Cai and several characters you never knew were involved at all. We've had enough knights anyway. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Ragnarok and Roll!
I was given a battered copy of this book by a friend of mine in sixth grade.Just two pages in, and I knew I was hooked.

Words really cannot describe what an amazing gift Esther Friesner has for humorous fantasy--and this trilogy, of which this is the third volume, is her most side-splitting work._Unicorn U._ is arguably the best of the three.The chapter titles alone are memorable; the puns are *awful*, and if the plot doesn't have you laughing out loud at least five times, I'll eat a bug.The characters are funny enough that they'd be worth reading about if they did nothing but sit around all day... and, of course, they have considerably more to keep them busy than that.There's an Apocalypse to stop, after all.

And as if these qualities weren't recommendation enough, _Unicorn U._ is quite possibly the novel of the trilogy that's richest in meaning, moral, and message--all without spoiling the mood or missing a beat.While I might not put it into the hands of a child (a lot of swearing happens), I'd certainly say that it would be a worthwhile read for young adults.It's funny enough to hold attention without lacking substance beneath the laughs.

If you can find a copy of this book anywhere, buy it.Even if you haven't read the first two, buy it.And then spend years hunting for the others if you must.This is definitely my favorite comic fantasy series, and Esther Friesner deserves all commendations for being able to mesh serious issues with humor in a manner unmatched by anyone else. ... Read more