Medieval History, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Creative Writing

I was in the bookstore the other night and was looking at a copy of Dreamsongs by George R.R. Martin. As a collection of his short stories, it seemed like an interesting read. I guess Dreamsongs: Volume 1 and Dreamsongs: Volume 2 have both been out since last year — I may be wrong about that — and since I’m thinking of writing a few more short stories of my own over the course of the next year (which I plan to post on my site), I thought I would take a look at Martin’s work and see what his short fiction is like. Anybody read these yet?

I’d like to read them but will probably finish A Feast for Crows before moving on to Dreamsongs. I want to be caught up on everything before Dance with Dragons comes out later this year.

Editorial Reviews from Publishers Weekly:

Dreamsongs: Volume I

Martin may be best known for his Song of Ice and Fire epic fantasy, but this mammoth collection of short stories (the first of two volumes) highlights his work in numerous genres, including SF, horror and fantasy. Focusing on Martin’s early output, volume one features The Second Kind of Loneliness, originally published in 1972, which chronicles a man’s insanity-inducing introspection millions of miles from Earth; the 1975 Hugo Award–winning A Song for Lya; The Pear-Shaped Man, a disturbing horror masterpiece about a creepy apartment neighbor; and more obscure works like a 1967 fanzine story starring the Astral Avenger and an unconventional college term paper about the Russo-Swedish War of 1808. An insightful introduction by Gardner Dozois, illustrations by Michael Kaluta and extensive—and candid—author commentary make this much more than just a compilation of stories. Fans, genre historians and aspiring writers alike will find this shelf-bending retrospective as impressive as it is intriguing. (Nov.)
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Dreamsongs: Volume II

Starred Review. Equal parts short fiction collection and candid retrospective, this second and concluding volume of Martin’s shelf-bending compendium highlights a wide variety of his later work, including two stories set in the shared, superhero-laden universe of Wild Cards; The Hedge Knight, a prequel to the epic Song of Ice and Fire fantasy saga (A Game of Thrones, etc.); and Doorways, an action-packed, exceptionally plotted pilot script for a science fiction television series that never aired. Other notable selections include Portraits of His Children, the Nebula-winning story of a self-absorbed writer forced to come face-to-face with the consequences of his own heartlessness, and two outstanding cautionary tales featuring space-faring ecological engineer and savvy opportunist Haviland Tuf. Science fiction, fantasy and horror fans alike will be blown away by the diversity and quality of stories as well as by Martin’s extensive and frank commentary about his life and experiences in the publishing and television industries, backed up by a 24-page bibliography. Both physically and thematically immense, this extraordinary collection is one to cherish. (Dec.)
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Tags: Novel, Fantasy //