[ezchaos]

This collection of novellas and short stories by M. John Harrison was recently released in the US. I picked it up in the fall, but am now just starting it again after an aborted first try.
I'm curious as to your thoughts on these stories. I've seen the Viriconium stories cited as some of the best classic fantasy around by authors and members on this board.

[Lowlander]

I read the British edition, published by Gollancz in their Fantasy masterworks series. It hast the following content :

-2 short novels (Pastel City and Storm of Wings)
-1 novella (In Viriconium)
-7 short stories (Viriconium Knights, Lords of Misrule, Strange Great Sins, Dancer from the Dance, Luck in the Head, Lamia & Lord Cromis, Young Man's Journey to Vir.)

For me this was a very strange/mixed reading experience.
I really liked the first novel (Pastel City). It's written in the early Michael Moorcock tradition : short, fierce, pulpish, dark, powerful. The second novel (Storm of Wings) is one of the most difficult/incomprehensible books I ever read. Compared to this novel Gene Wolfe writes kindergarten stories. The long novella (In Viriconium) is very well written, rather poor on plot but easy to read compared to Storm of Wings.

The same mixed feeling I had with the stories : I thought 2 of them were wonderful, 3 okay and I really hated the last two. So like you can see : a mixed bag.

It must be said Harrison himself is very negative nowadays of his first novel The Pastel City. He considers this book to a minor effort, best to be forgotten. Ironically it is still the most popular of his Viriconium stories.
Harrison is of course just like Michael Moorcock very critical about the state of modern fantasy fiction.

He's by no account a jolly fellow but his influence on many modern British science/fantasy writers like Mieville, Swainston, KJ Bishop etc... is considerable.

[Brys]

I personally think it's one of the best fantasy series ever written. Harrison's prose and imagination are almost unmatched (Peake comes just ahead in prose, Vandermeer in imagination). Sometimes the characters or the plot seems a little lacking, but those moments are rare. I also like how he manages to subvert traditional fantasy stories so well - particularly evident in the Pastel City and A Storm of Wings.
My favourite of them though was the short story Viriconium Knights.

[Sean Wright]

I recently read In Viriconuim, buying the UK Fantasy Masterworks collection by Gollanzc, mainly because my own work has been compared in some respects to Harrison. I was intrigued, having never read him before. Here's what I had to say in my official review (http://seanwrightblog.blogspot.com/2006/01/review-of-m-john-harrisons-in.html) at the Sean Wright site.

[Lowlander]

For those who want more M. John Harrison : his best short fiction has been collected in a Gollancz paperback : Things that Never Happen.

Bought it myself recently but since I read a review saying none of the 24 stories have anything resembling a happy ending I'am waiting for a moment in my life when I want to subject myself to an endless stream of gloom and doom.

BTW mr. Wright, I read some interesting reviews about your own novel (Jaarfindor). Looks weird, but that's the kind of story I like so I've put it on my to read list.

[Sean Wright]

For those who want more M. John Harrison : his best short fiction has been collected in a Gollancz paperback : Things that Never Happen.

Bought it myself recently but since I read a review saying none of the 24 stories have anything resembling a happy ending I'am waiting for a moment in my life when I want to subject myself to an endless stream of gloom and doom.

BTW mr. Wright, I read some interesting reviews about your own novel (Jaarfindor). Looks weird, but that's the kind of story I like so I've put it on my to read list.

Hi Lowlander - good stuff. I hope you enjoy it. ;)

[Rob B]

I've got this on my increasingly growing TO READ Pile. When I get a chance to dive into it, well that is another story.

[Pug]

I recently read In Viriconuim, buying the UK Fantasy Masterworks collection by Gollanzc, mainly becuase my own work has been compared in some respects to Harrison. I was intrigued, having never read him before. Here's what I had to say in my official review (http://seanwrightblog.blogspot.com/2006/01/review-of-m-john-harrisons-in.html) at the Sean Wright site.

So you liked it? ;)

Nice review. I think I'll have to spend a bit more time at your blog and also see if my library has your book.

[Murrin]

All the way through, left me thinking there was something I was missing. Beautiful, but perplexing. Its biggest fault in my eyes was that The Pastel City and A Storm of Wings both seemed to drag a little toward the end. In Viriconium was definately the best story in the collection. A Young Man's Journey To Viriconium was completely lost on me, and yet, as with all Harrison's work, I get the sense it was somehow brilliant.

I'm currently working my way, slowly, through the stories in his collection Things That Never Happen.

[Sean Wright]

So you liked it? ;)

Nice review. I think I'll have to spend a bit more time at your blog and also see if my library has your book.

Hi Pug - thanks. And you welcome to sepnd at much time there as you like. Except don't forget to come back to SFF World, ill ya? ;)