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Chicks in Chainmail #1
Chicks in Chainmail
A collection of stories follows the conquests of a band of warrior women, and includes the writings of Esther Friesner, Elizabeth Moon, Jody Lynn Nye, Harry Turtledove, and Margaret Ball
344 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
15 people are currently reading
1352 people want to read
About the author
Esther M. Friesner
264 books707 followersEsther M. Friesner was educated at Vassar College, where she completed B.A's in both Spanish and Drama. She went to on to Yale University; within five years she was awarded an M.A. and Ph.D. in Spanish. She taught Spanish at Yale for a number of years before going on to become a full-time author of fantasy and science fiction. She has published twenty-seven novels so far; her most recent titles include Temping Fate from Penguin-Puffin and Nobody's Princess from Random House.
Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in Asimov's, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Aboriginal SF, Pulphouse Magazine, Amazing, and Fantasy Book, as well as in numerous anthologies. Her story, "Love's Eldritch Ichor," was featured in the 1990 World Fantasy Convention book.
Her first stint as an anthology editor was Alien Pregnant By Elvis, a collection of truly gonzo original tabloid SF for DAW books. Wisely, she undertook this project with the able collaboration of Martin H. Greenberg. Not having learned their lesson, they have also co-edited the Chicks In Chainmail Amazon comedy anthology series for Baen Books, as well as Blood Muse, an anthology of vampire stories for Donald I Fine, Inc.
"Ask Auntie Esther" was her regular etiquette and advice column to the SFlorn in Pulphouse Magazine. Being paid for telling other people how to run their lives sounds like a pretty good deal to her.
Ms. Friesner won the Nebula Award for Best Short Story of 1995 for her work, "Death and the Librarian," and the Nebula for Best Short Story of 1996 for "A Birth Day." (A Birth Day" was also a 1996 Hugo Award finalist.) Her novelette, "Jesus at the Bat" was on the final Nebula ballot in the same year that "Death and the Librarian" won the award. In addition, she has won the Romantic Times award for Best New Fantasy Writer in 1986 and the Skylark Award in 1994. Her short story, "All Vows," took second place in the Asimov's SF Magazine Readers' Poll for 1993 and was a finalist for the Nebula in 1994. Her Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel, Warchild, made the USA TODAY bestseller list.
She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two children, two rambunctious cats, and a fluctuating population of hamsters.
Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in Asimov's, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Aboriginal SF, Pulphouse Magazine, Amazing, and Fantasy Book, as well as in numerous anthologies. Her story, "Love's Eldritch Ichor," was featured in the 1990 World Fantasy Convention book.
Her first stint as an anthology editor was Alien Pregnant By Elvis, a collection of truly gonzo original tabloid SF for DAW books. Wisely, she undertook this project with the able collaboration of Martin H. Greenberg. Not having learned their lesson, they have also co-edited the Chicks In Chainmail Amazon comedy anthology series for Baen Books, as well as Blood Muse, an anthology of vampire stories for Donald I Fine, Inc.
"Ask Auntie Esther" was her regular etiquette and advice column to the SFlorn in Pulphouse Magazine. Being paid for telling other people how to run their lives sounds like a pretty good deal to her.
Ms. Friesner won the Nebula Award for Best Short Story of 1995 for her work, "Death and the Librarian," and the Nebula for Best Short Story of 1996 for "A Birth Day." (A Birth Day" was also a 1996 Hugo Award finalist.) Her novelette, "Jesus at the Bat" was on the final Nebula ballot in the same year that "Death and the Librarian" won the award. In addition, she has won the Romantic Times award for Best New Fantasy Writer in 1986 and the Skylark Award in 1994. Her short story, "All Vows," took second place in the Asimov's SF Magazine Readers' Poll for 1993 and was a finalist for the Nebula in 1994. Her Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel, Warchild, made the USA TODAY bestseller list.
She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two children, two rambunctious cats, and a fluctuating population of hamsters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
April 18, 2009
While the stereotypical image of the warrior in our culture tends to be male, warrior women were not unknown in the world of antiquity; they left their mark on classical, Celtic, and Norse-Teutonic legend, and found a literary prototype in the "lady knight" Britomartis, who rides through the pages of Sir Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queen. The creators of the sword-and-sorcery fantasy tradition in the early pulps drew on this background to create a few sword-swinging heroines such as C. L. Moore's Jirel of Joiry and Conan's comrade-in-arms Valeria in Robert E. Howard's "Red Nails." With the rise of women's liberation, their ranks have been considerably swelled in contemporary fantasy, and two anthology series of original short stories have appeared to showcase them: the Sword and Sorceress collections begun by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and the Chicks in Chainmail series begun with this volume. Having read the first volumes of both, I'd say they're both quality work; to the extent that they have a difference, it would be that the tone of the stories in this collection tends to be more on the light-hearted and humorous side than that of the stories in the Bradley collection --though there are exceptions in both groups. (It should be noted that the term "chicks" in the title here isn't used in any disrespectful sense, any more than "gal" is in the parlance of an older generation.)
Twenty authors are represented with stories in this volume, some of them well-known in speculative fiction circles, such as Roger Zelazny, Harry Turtledove, Josepha Sherman, George Alec Effinger (who contributes a story featuring his series heroine, Muffy Birnbaum, "barbarian swordsperson") and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. The great majority of the stories are quite entertaining, and they not infrequently have good messages (like much of the fiction in this genre, they tend to extol heroic qualities of character). My personal favorite is "The New Britomart" by Eluki Bes Shahar (her real name --she also writes as Rosemary Edghill), set in England in 1819, where a country baronet, inspired by Ivanhoe, decides to stage a medieval-style tournament. (Toss in a powerful closeted sorceress with no scruples, a couple of visitors from Faerie, an Ivanhoe character brought to life by magic, a genuine dragon, a girl who wants to compete as a knight and a guy who wants to be a librarian, and anything may happen. ;-) ). Other especially good selections are Sherman's "Teacher's Pet," Elizabeth Waters' "Blood Calls to Blood" (I'd welcome seeing her heroine as a series character!), and David Vierling's spoof of old-time pulp fantasies, "Armor/Amore." Margaret Ball's "Career Day," despite its invidious portrayal of its only Christian character (who's a stereotype lifted from Hate Literature 101), manages to be a strong story about personal growth, where the heroine learns some worthwhile lessons. But almost all of the stories are well worth reading, not just these.
Any collection of 20 stories is likely to have one or two that not every reader cares for, and this one is no exception. Susan Schwartz' bizarre "Exchange Program," in which Hillary Clinton is killed in an Amtrak accident and winds up going to Valhalla (or a grotesque parody of Valhalla) falls flat, in my estimation. And Lawrence Watt- Evans' "The Guardswoman," whose heroine finally becomes "one of the boys" when she's able to join her male colleagues in traipsing to the local brothel for sex (she falls into an affair with the male bouncer) sends all the wrong messages about what sex, and camaraderie, is about. But in general, the other sword-wielding ladies in this book display commendably high morals --they respect themselves, and insist on being respected.
Twenty authors are represented with stories in this volume, some of them well-known in speculative fiction circles, such as Roger Zelazny, Harry Turtledove, Josepha Sherman, George Alec Effinger (who contributes a story featuring his series heroine, Muffy Birnbaum, "barbarian swordsperson") and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. The great majority of the stories are quite entertaining, and they not infrequently have good messages (like much of the fiction in this genre, they tend to extol heroic qualities of character). My personal favorite is "The New Britomart" by Eluki Bes Shahar (her real name --she also writes as Rosemary Edghill), set in England in 1819, where a country baronet, inspired by Ivanhoe, decides to stage a medieval-style tournament. (Toss in a powerful closeted sorceress with no scruples, a couple of visitors from Faerie, an Ivanhoe character brought to life by magic, a genuine dragon, a girl who wants to compete as a knight and a guy who wants to be a librarian, and anything may happen. ;-) ). Other especially good selections are Sherman's "Teacher's Pet," Elizabeth Waters' "Blood Calls to Blood" (I'd welcome seeing her heroine as a series character!), and David Vierling's spoof of old-time pulp fantasies, "Armor/Amore." Margaret Ball's "Career Day," despite its invidious portrayal of its only Christian character (who's a stereotype lifted from Hate Literature 101), manages to be a strong story about personal growth, where the heroine learns some worthwhile lessons. But almost all of the stories are well worth reading, not just these.
Any collection of 20 stories is likely to have one or two that not every reader cares for, and this one is no exception. Susan Schwartz' bizarre "Exchange Program," in which Hillary Clinton is killed in an Amtrak accident and winds up going to Valhalla (or a grotesque parody of Valhalla) falls flat, in my estimation. And Lawrence Watt- Evans' "The Guardswoman," whose heroine finally becomes "one of the boys" when she's able to join her male colleagues in traipsing to the local brothel for sex (she falls into an affair with the male bouncer) sends all the wrong messages about what sex, and camaraderie, is about. But in general, the other sword-wielding ladies in this book display commendably high morals --they respect themselves, and insist on being respected.
April 6, 2008
How can you possibly resist a short story collection entitled Chicks in Chainmail? In fact it's actually a feminist short story collection, edited by Esther Friesner, vaguely inspired I suppose by Xena Warrior Princess (it came out in 1995, at the height of Xena Fever). The stories all involve warrior women with swords, but while some could be described as sword & sorcery and/or epic fantasy, others are closer to science fiction, with some even verging on magic realism. The main fault of the collection is that there are perhaps too many stories that try too hard to be all very self-referential and post-modern and transgressive and subversive. On the other hand some of the stories are rather amusing, and some are genuinely very clever. Overall it’s an odd little collection, but then I’m an odd little person so I got a certain amount of enjoyment out of this book.
May 25, 2022
Some of the stories in here are pretty entertaining, along with some good writing. However, the collection as a whole is a hit-or-miss of some truly clever stories, and some other stories that relied far too heavily on the cliches one often sees in fantasy. Busty women in chain-mail bikinis, you get the idea... hell, the cover and title of this book make the contents pretty clear, and I have no issue with that most of the female main characters are smart AND strong. But after a while, seeing the same cliche over and over gets old.
I mean, sure, this collection is meant to be light-hearted and fun, with some parodies of said tropes in the fantasy genre, but I feel that some of these stories fell somewhat flat. It could be a matter of personal taste, but I can still recommend this book because there's some great lines and jokes in here.
A solid 3.5/5 stars, and worth a look if you like fun sci-fi and fantasy. One thing to note is this was published in 1995, so some of this felt to me a wee bit dated in 2022.
I mean, sure, this collection is meant to be light-hearted and fun, with some parodies of said tropes in the fantasy genre, but I feel that some of these stories fell somewhat flat. It could be a matter of personal taste, but I can still recommend this book because there's some great lines and jokes in here.
A solid 3.5/5 stars, and worth a look if you like fun sci-fi and fantasy. One thing to note is this was published in 1995, so some of this felt to me a wee bit dated in 2022.
March 27, 2016
No. This lameass gathering of short stories basically claims to turn female tropes of sword and sorcery fiction on their ears. Instead, it perpetuates just about every stereotype there is and is insulting beyond belief. Only one of the stories is remotely challenging, and even that one features a bitchy jealous queen, and "isn't it funny when chicks are jealous of each other?" Ugh. All the others feature simpering or airheaded women "warriors" overwhelmingly concerned with fashion, their nails, shopping, makeup, their appearance and whether or not it's sexy enough, landing a man, and shiny objects. Literally. Shiny objects. This book features a story where the Valkyries of Norse mythology are giggling dimwits who exist solely to literally serve the men in Valhalla's dining hall and whom Odin keeps placated by distracting them with shiny bits of jewelry or just plain old shiny objects while their brother Thor stomps around insulting and abusing them. I can't even. I cannot frigging believe anyone in 1995 actually thought this was at all appealing or a good idea. Unless they were *trying* to alienate female readers. In which case, good job. None of the stories are even well-written. They all feel slapped together for the collection, and most go absolutely nowhere. This thing just fails on about 100 different levels. Do yourself a favor and pass.
April 26, 2018
4/2018 - the original. Still funny. The one about Hillary Clinton re-organizing Valhalla, supervising the young Valkyries, etc., has good memories of those days of Bill's administration.
7/15/15 - The newest addition to the series just came out, and I had to go back to re-read the first books, from the late 90s. I still love the stories, funny and thought-provoking.
I'm a feminist from way back, but Friesner's chicks rock! They make me laugh, they kick butt and take names. More, more!
7/15/15 - The newest addition to the series just came out, and I had to go back to re-read the first books, from the late 90s. I still love the stories, funny and thought-provoking.
I'm a feminist from way back, but Friesner's chicks rock! They make me laugh, they kick butt and take names. More, more!
March 15, 2012
Settings intrigue, but action and surprise weak. Some are engaging with fights and magic, but go nowhere. Could be rated higher, but not compared to Fredric Brown's From these Ashes Complete
http://aneyespy.blogspot.com/2012/03/...
1 Lady of Steel, Roger Zelazny
Nickname proves growing fame of Cora, alter identity so former cook Corak, now taken seriously as warrior.
3* (Spoiler: Older Edwina cleanses his thigh wound, "respects" what she sees, will keep secret.)
2 And Ladies of the Club, Elizabeth Moon
To thwart king's new tax on extra female upper armor, Sophora Segundiflora, towering in body and intellect, contracts plastic wizard at tuppence each per temporary reversible reduction mammoplasty.
4* (King yields because treasury medical budget drained, prince's face needs fixing for arriving fiancee.)
3 Exchange Program, Susan Shwartz
Hilary Rodham Clinton in train wreck taken to Valhalla by Valkyries.
1* (She uses her First Lady experience to argue with Odin and get home.)
4 Goddess for a Day, Harry Turtledove
Peisistratos dresses farmer Phye as Athena on chariot, fools Athens accepts his rule.
1* (Forgotten in background, Phye has to kick horny satyr in swollen parts for safety.)
5 Armor-Ella, Holly Lisle
Big beautiful Ella falls for greedy handsome prince, enlists Little Folk of Enchanted Forest to fool him.
3* (He falls for her too, and trickery, and shapes up.)
6 Career Day, Margaret Ball
Narrator mercenary takes daughter's fourth grade class and assisting math teacher Dennis on tour of magic planet where she works, but cheating hunky Vordo, warrior thews she lusts for, wants to beat her in fight.
4* (Calculus and geometry defeat wizard illegally helping hunk win; Dennis cuter too.)
7 Armor/Amore, David Vierling
Cromag the Barbarian rescues lovely Edaina according to the Barbarian Code.
2* (She resists with the help of a cast-iron frypan, until he agrees to marriage.)
8 The Stone of War and the Nightingale's Egg, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
Narrator queen Boadecia appointed maid to dainty spoiled Lotus, tries to help them both, as newest harem additions, to survive king and first wife Tai Tai politics. She switches girl's jewel gift with Sun Zoo's hypnotic head stone he uses to train fighters, when he tries to kill Lotus.
3* (Boadecia uses stone and trickery to train harem girls to take down royal guard in six weeks to win bet against Sun Zoo and save all their lives. Happy ending = all unified and faithful.)
9 The Growling, Jody Lynn Nye
Periods all coincide for women of Hee Kwal tribe when men gone over a year so berserker rage combats Abbs, Delts and Pex of Ma Cho and Buh Bah invading to Par Tee.
1* (I did not get all the puns - equal vs muscled macho partyers.)
10 The New Britomart, eluki bes shahar
Titania Queen of Fairies wants Feb 1821 tournament to eliminate Rowena and Wilfrid so she can marry Sir Arthur Mallory at Camelot Court, but Rowena magics in Templar Sir Brian de Bois-Gulibert and blacksmith's daughter enters to win Wilfrid.
1* (I do not know what Britomart is or other references like Brian. Happy ending puts all - Rowena, Wilfred to catalog books for Titania's dragon instead of serving as the virgin sacrifice - back in Brian's book.)
11 On the Road of Silver, Mark Bourne
Fired by the new Planetarium boss, garden destroyed by slugs, Mrs Batchett is reminded she gave up warrior's life for love of human by a fairy, elf, and gnome.
1* (Trio reveal her absent-minded professor husband is her beloved.)
12 Bra Melting, Janni Lee Simner
Narrator sells chain mail for women, but thongs and bikini offer no protection, thinks no problem, even when dissatisfied customer staggers in wounded.
3* (Many unhappy clients join opposing side for full-coverage armor. Not sure about "thong bikini codpiece".)
13 The Old Grind, Laura Frankos
Giant Fenia tired of grinding salt, leaves home, joins Vikings for battles.
2* (Half blind Odin mistakes her for Valkyrie, takes her to Valhalla; she asks to go home.)
14 The Way to a Man's Heart, Esther Friesner
Since witches changed so many princes to frogs and killed them for special potion, school claims best swordmaiden win competition. Amaryllis fibs to get Prince Destino from dragon and engagement to sister Princess Dimity of Yither.
3* (Sister does want school, gives credit and Destino to Amar.)
15 Whoops!, Nancy Springer
Guardian angel Opal dislikes bumps when angry drivers give her cowardly 45mph slow Meggie the finger on the beltway commute.
2* (Encouraged when Opal slices off bumpkins' gesturing hands, "Mags" speeds up 5 mph.)
These were in the days of 70+mph freeways.
16 The Guardswoman, Lawrence Watt-Evans
Narrator Shannar, first and only female city guard, writes letters to Mother, feels left out when other fellows regularly visit Whore Street together.
3* (Shannar joins them to find why they all go, befriends bouncer -> baby, marriage congratulations)
17 Teacher's Pet, Josepha Sherman
Guard Vassilia chases kidnappers of her Duke's son, when teacher Semyan accidentally changes them, not the attacking criminals, into cats, then mice.
3* (Finally as talking wolves they frighten away crooks, rescue boy, stay partners in human form.)
18 Were-Wench, Jan Stirling
Decades after rejected on her wedding day for fairy by Feric, now uptight Terion brings him magic books hoping he can lift curse that turns her into slut on full moon.
2* (Feric convinces Terion to accept her wild side, and they go off together.)
19 Blood Calls to Blood, Elisabeth Waters
Cop Lucy, with complicated fairy parentage, goes under Hill to rescue son Michael.
2* (Daughter Cynthia makes holy water for drinking and toy pistols with sea salt, their bodies are so bright the fairies give up Michael.)
20 Maureen Birnbaum in the MUD, George Alec Effinger
All in italics excepts CAPITALS, narrator Bitsy, now rich divorced mother, hears best bestest ever friend Muffy, like you know natter, like pre-teens. She applies face make-up and quest in Multi User Dungeon buys supplies, kills gooey globs, gains ultimate treasure.
2* (Few hours later, taxi to rich Mars prince gone, Muffy offers to buy meal with jewels.)
Why were there no other "multi" users?
I kept hoping something important would interrupt. No.
In my young and foolish days, I had stages for frivolous luxuries - facial cosmetics and computer games - to wait for meaning to life, when I observed others happy even more committed in lifestyles and industries, and alternative death. This babble questions waste of time, regret, but I could only make same choices.
Typos:
8 p112 & 118 empire for emporer
http://aneyespy.blogspot.com/2012/03/...
1 Lady of Steel, Roger Zelazny
Nickname proves growing fame of Cora, alter identity so former cook Corak, now taken seriously as warrior.
3* (Spoiler: Older Edwina cleanses his thigh wound, "respects" what she sees, will keep secret.)
2 And Ladies of the Club, Elizabeth Moon
To thwart king's new tax on extra female upper armor, Sophora Segundiflora, towering in body and intellect, contracts plastic wizard at tuppence each per temporary reversible reduction mammoplasty.
4* (King yields because treasury medical budget drained, prince's face needs fixing for arriving fiancee.)
3 Exchange Program, Susan Shwartz
Hilary Rodham Clinton in train wreck taken to Valhalla by Valkyries.
1* (She uses her First Lady experience to argue with Odin and get home.)
4 Goddess for a Day, Harry Turtledove
Peisistratos dresses farmer Phye as Athena on chariot, fools Athens accepts his rule.
1* (Forgotten in background, Phye has to kick horny satyr in swollen parts for safety.)
5 Armor-Ella, Holly Lisle
Big beautiful Ella falls for greedy handsome prince, enlists Little Folk of Enchanted Forest to fool him.
3* (He falls for her too, and trickery, and shapes up.)
6 Career Day, Margaret Ball
Narrator mercenary takes daughter's fourth grade class and assisting math teacher Dennis on tour of magic planet where she works, but cheating hunky Vordo, warrior thews she lusts for, wants to beat her in fight.
4* (Calculus and geometry defeat wizard illegally helping hunk win; Dennis cuter too.)
7 Armor/Amore, David Vierling
Cromag the Barbarian rescues lovely Edaina according to the Barbarian Code.
2* (She resists with the help of a cast-iron frypan, until he agrees to marriage.)
8 The Stone of War and the Nightingale's Egg, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
Narrator queen Boadecia appointed maid to dainty spoiled Lotus, tries to help them both, as newest harem additions, to survive king and first wife Tai Tai politics. She switches girl's jewel gift with Sun Zoo's hypnotic head stone he uses to train fighters, when he tries to kill Lotus.
3* (Boadecia uses stone and trickery to train harem girls to take down royal guard in six weeks to win bet against Sun Zoo and save all their lives. Happy ending = all unified and faithful.)
9 The Growling, Jody Lynn Nye
Periods all coincide for women of Hee Kwal tribe when men gone over a year so berserker rage combats Abbs, Delts and Pex of Ma Cho and Buh Bah invading to Par Tee.
1* (I did not get all the puns - equal vs muscled macho partyers.)
10 The New Britomart, eluki bes shahar
Titania Queen of Fairies wants Feb 1821 tournament to eliminate Rowena and Wilfrid so she can marry Sir Arthur Mallory at Camelot Court, but Rowena magics in Templar Sir Brian de Bois-Gulibert and blacksmith's daughter enters to win Wilfrid.
1* (I do not know what Britomart is or other references like Brian. Happy ending puts all - Rowena, Wilfred to catalog books for Titania's dragon instead of serving as the virgin sacrifice - back in Brian's book.)
11 On the Road of Silver, Mark Bourne
Fired by the new Planetarium boss, garden destroyed by slugs, Mrs Batchett is reminded she gave up warrior's life for love of human by a fairy, elf, and gnome.
1* (Trio reveal her absent-minded professor husband is her beloved.)
12 Bra Melting, Janni Lee Simner
Narrator sells chain mail for women, but thongs and bikini offer no protection, thinks no problem, even when dissatisfied customer staggers in wounded.
3* (Many unhappy clients join opposing side for full-coverage armor. Not sure about "thong bikini codpiece".)
13 The Old Grind, Laura Frankos
Giant Fenia tired of grinding salt, leaves home, joins Vikings for battles.
2* (Half blind Odin mistakes her for Valkyrie, takes her to Valhalla; she asks to go home.)
14 The Way to a Man's Heart, Esther Friesner
Since witches changed so many princes to frogs and killed them for special potion, school claims best swordmaiden win competition. Amaryllis fibs to get Prince Destino from dragon and engagement to sister Princess Dimity of Yither.
3* (Sister does want school, gives credit and Destino to Amar.)
15 Whoops!, Nancy Springer
Guardian angel Opal dislikes bumps when angry drivers give her cowardly 45mph slow Meggie the finger on the beltway commute.
2* (Encouraged when Opal slices off bumpkins' gesturing hands, "Mags" speeds up 5 mph.)
These were in the days of 70+mph freeways.
16 The Guardswoman, Lawrence Watt-Evans
Narrator Shannar, first and only female city guard, writes letters to Mother, feels left out when other fellows regularly visit Whore Street together.
3* (Shannar joins them to find why they all go, befriends bouncer -> baby, marriage congratulations)
17 Teacher's Pet, Josepha Sherman
Guard Vassilia chases kidnappers of her Duke's son, when teacher Semyan accidentally changes them, not the attacking criminals, into cats, then mice.
3* (Finally as talking wolves they frighten away crooks, rescue boy, stay partners in human form.)
18 Were-Wench, Jan Stirling
Decades after rejected on her wedding day for fairy by Feric, now uptight Terion brings him magic books hoping he can lift curse that turns her into slut on full moon.
2* (Feric convinces Terion to accept her wild side, and they go off together.)
19 Blood Calls to Blood, Elisabeth Waters
Cop Lucy, with complicated fairy parentage, goes under Hill to rescue son Michael.
2* (Daughter Cynthia makes holy water for drinking and toy pistols with sea salt, their bodies are so bright the fairies give up Michael.)
20 Maureen Birnbaum in the MUD, George Alec Effinger
All in italics excepts CAPITALS, narrator Bitsy, now rich divorced mother, hears best bestest ever friend Muffy, like you know natter, like pre-teens. She applies face make-up and quest in Multi User Dungeon buys supplies, kills gooey globs, gains ultimate treasure.
2* (Few hours later, taxi to rich Mars prince gone, Muffy offers to buy meal with jewels.)
Why were there no other "multi" users?
I kept hoping something important would interrupt. No.
In my young and foolish days, I had stages for frivolous luxuries - facial cosmetics and computer games - to wait for meaning to life, when I observed others happy even more committed in lifestyles and industries, and alternative death. This babble questions waste of time, regret, but I could only make same choices.
Typos:
8 p112 & 118 empire for emporer
February 26, 2021
I love that there's basically an entire series of anthologies that came about because a group of authors finally said ENOUGH with the chainmail bikinis. Absolutely incredible. As with all anthologies there were some stories I liked more than others, but this was overall really great and challenged and poked fun at a lot of really annoying stereotypes that have unfortunately invaded fantasy books in the last century. It's definitely not at all subtle, but it IS hilarious. I mean it literally starts with a story about a man who has to disguise himself as a woman to be taken seriously as a warrior. Amazing.
It is also just SUPER 90s, which I guess might be off-putting for some younger readers but I absolutely loved it. Like, there's a story in here about Hilary Clinton and the Valkyries [which is totally the name of my new punk band]. Love it! I would definitely recommend this for anyone who has wanted to throw certain fantasy books across the room because of how horribly female characters are treated, it's very vindicating.
[edit 2/26/21: Despite really enjoying this first volume I think I have to accept that I won't be continuing with this series. I've just really fallen off anthologies hard in the past few years and I think I've put it off long enough that I should just mark this as abandoned series]
It is also just SUPER 90s, which I guess might be off-putting for some younger readers but I absolutely loved it. Like, there's a story in here about Hilary Clinton and the Valkyries [which is totally the name of my new punk band]. Love it! I would definitely recommend this for anyone who has wanted to throw certain fantasy books across the room because of how horribly female characters are treated, it's very vindicating.
[edit 2/26/21: Despite really enjoying this first volume I think I have to accept that I won't be continuing with this series. I've just really fallen off anthologies hard in the past few years and I think I've put it off long enough that I should just mark this as abandoned series]
July 9, 2013
I've read several of the anthologies in this series, and I always really *want* to like them - I like the concept, and I very much appreciate the attitude... but then I seem to never really love the stories. I'm just not a big fan of the tongue-in-cheek humor that the series focuses on.
Lady of Steel - Roger Zelazny. A three-page send up relying on reversing gender stereotypes. It doesn't really give itself time to do much with the idea.
And Ladies of the Club - Elizabeth Moon. When they try to start taxing women warriors on their breastplates, the women decide to use their health insurance to have their breasts magically removed - much to the distress of the menfolk.
Exchange Program - Susan Shwartz. Hilary Clinton is mysteriously zapped into a Wagnerian fantasy land, and teaches the Valkyries to demand their rights.
Goddess for a Day - Harry Turtledove. A Greek peasant girl coerced into masquerading as the goddess Athena receives the approbation of the divine.
Armor-Ella - Holly Lisle. A real-estate centered, money-grubbing prince meets his match in a shrewd and deceptive sword-swinging maid. I liked this one's positive cynicism.
Career Day - Margaret Ball. A world-hopping mercenary gets roped into escorting her daughter's whole class on a trip to see what parents do at work all day...
Armor/Amore - David Vierling. A send-up of "barbarian" tropes. Doesn't do much with it.
The Stone of War and the Nightingale's Egg - Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. "Legend has it that [Sun Tzu] served the Wu dynasty after being challenged by the emperor to make an effective army out of his concubines. Sun-tzu placed the emperor's two favorites at the head of two different files of concubines and when they failed to discipline their charges he cut their heads off despite the protests of the emperor. After that the concubines drilled effectively." This story is based on that legend, except no one gets their head cut off, and it's a warrior concubine doing the drilling...
The Growling - Jody Lynn Nye. A very annoying story based on the idea that women who are menstruating are short-tempered. You can send up stereotypes in a funny way, but this just contributes to a false generalization.
The New Britomart - eluki bes shahar. A faux-tourney, put on my some 19th-century-esque aristocrats, becomes the occasion for quite a lot of planning and magical scheming on the parts of several young people. Reminded me a bit of Gordon Dickson.
On the Road of Silver - Mark Bourne. A dedicated but elderly educator about to have her job taken away and her programs replaced with Lazer Light Shows, finds inspiration in her past lives as a warrior woman.
Bra Melting - Janni Lee Simner. A female blacksmith & warrior, tired of having to wear impractical armor, decides to turn the tables on male warriors with an ingenious idea.
The Old Grind - Laura Frankos. A young giantess, eager to see the world, joins a human army.
The Way to a Man's Heart - Esther Friesner. When young women wish to catch a princely husband, and princes are gaga for swordswomen, schools to train young ladies in the martial arts may - or may not - be the answer.
Whoops! - Nancy Springer. A deceased prudish spinster is assigned to be the Guardian Angel of a painfully timid woman. They might actually be good for each other.
The Guardswoman - Lawrence Watt-Evans. The only female member of the City Guard figures out a way to be one of the crew - even on their off-duty trips to the brothels.
Teacher's Pet - Josepha Sherman. A warrior woman and a travelling tutor are thrown together unexpectedly by a shape-shifting spell gone wrong.
Were-Wench - Jan Stirling. A cold and aloof warrior woman is cursed to become a horny wench at the full moon.
Blood Calls to Blood - Elisabeth Waters. The drama of mixed familes with issues to deal with are complicated when there's faerie blood involved.
Maureen Birnbaum in the MUD - George Alec Effinger. A ditzy and make-up obsessed woman tells her friend a far-fetched tale that clearly seems to be based on a video game, not reality. But was it actually true? (Probably the best story in this book.)
I've read several of the anthologies in this series, and I always really *want* to like them - I like the concept, and I very much appreciate the attitude... but then I seem to never really love the stories.
Lady of Steel - Roger Zelazny. A three-page send up relying on reversing gender stereotypes. It doesn't really give itself time to do much with the idea.
And Ladies of the Club - Elizabeth Moon. When they try to start taxing women warriors on their breastplates, the women decide to use their health insurance to have their breasts magically removed - much to the distress of the menfolk.
Exchange Program - Susan Shwartz. Hilary Clinton is mysteriously zapped into a Wagnerian fantasy land, and teaches the Valkyries to demand their rights.
Goddess for a Day - Harry Turtledove. A Greek peasant girl coerced into masquerading as the goddess Athena receives the approbation of the divine.
Armor-Ella - Holly Lisle. A real-estate centered, money-grubbing prince meets his match in a shrewd and deceptive sword-swinging maid. I liked this one's positive cynicism.
Career Day - Margaret Ball. A world-hopping mercenary gets roped into escorting her daughter's whole class on a trip to see what parents do at work all day...
Armor/Amore - David Vierling. A send-up of "barbarian" tropes. Doesn't do much with it.
The Stone of War and the Nightingale's Egg - Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. "Legend has it that [Sun Tzu] served the Wu dynasty after being challenged by the emperor to make an effective army out of his concubines. Sun-tzu placed the emperor's two favorites at the head of two different files of concubines and when they failed to discipline their charges he cut their heads off despite the protests of the emperor. After that the concubines drilled effectively." This story is based on that legend, except no one gets their head cut off, and it's a warrior concubine doing the drilling...
The Growling - Jody Lynn Nye. A very annoying story based on the idea that women who are menstruating are short-tempered. You can send up stereotypes in a funny way, but this just contributes to a false generalization.
The New Britomart - eluki bes shahar. A faux-tourney, put on my some 19th-century-esque aristocrats, becomes the occasion for quite a lot of planning and magical scheming on the parts of several young people. Reminded me a bit of Gordon Dickson.
On the Road of Silver - Mark Bourne. A dedicated but elderly educator about to have her job taken away and her programs replaced with Lazer Light Shows, finds inspiration in her past lives as a warrior woman.
Bra Melting - Janni Lee Simner. A female blacksmith & warrior, tired of having to wear impractical armor, decides to turn the tables on male warriors with an ingenious idea.
The Old Grind - Laura Frankos. A young giantess, eager to see the world, joins a human army.
The Way to a Man's Heart - Esther Friesner. When young women wish to catch a princely husband, and princes are gaga for swordswomen, schools to train young ladies in the martial arts may - or may not - be the answer.
Whoops! - Nancy Springer. A deceased prudish spinster is assigned to be the Guardian Angel of a painfully timid woman. They might actually be good for each other.
The Guardswoman - Lawrence Watt-Evans. The only female member of the City Guard figures out a way to be one of the crew - even on their off-duty trips to the brothels.
Teacher's Pet - Josepha Sherman. A warrior woman and a travelling tutor are thrown together unexpectedly by a shape-shifting spell gone wrong.
Were-Wench - Jan Stirling. A cold and aloof warrior woman is cursed to become a horny wench at the full moon.
Blood Calls to Blood - Elisabeth Waters. The drama of mixed familes with issues to deal with are complicated when there's faerie blood involved.
Maureen Birnbaum in the MUD - George Alec Effinger. A ditzy and make-up obsessed woman tells her friend a far-fetched tale that clearly seems to be based on a video game, not reality. But was it actually true? (Probably the best story in this book.)
I've read several of the anthologies in this series, and I always really *want* to like them - I like the concept, and I very much appreciate the attitude... but then I seem to never really love the stories.
November 23, 2022
I'm not normally a fan of humorous fantasy and after reading this collection...I maintain my stance. There are some good stories here, and some that are definitely humorous, but somehow I felt like I was wasting my time while I could have been reading other stuff.
The premise of this book and its sequel collections is, of course, the ludicrous idea of female fantasy warriors performing their deeds of daring do in nothing but chainmail bikinis. Okay, it's a good launching pad for funny take-offs on that concept. The best stories of the lot are by the big names of the genre, including Roger Zelazny, Elizabeth Moon, and Lawrence Watt-Evans. They were very enjoyable. I also like the last one in the collection (mostly) even though it poked fun at my own D&D role playing past.
I've read two books now in this series, both acquired free of charge, but doubt I'll return for more.
The premise of this book and its sequel collections is, of course, the ludicrous idea of female fantasy warriors performing their deeds of daring do in nothing but chainmail bikinis. Okay, it's a good launching pad for funny take-offs on that concept. The best stories of the lot are by the big names of the genre, including Roger Zelazny, Elizabeth Moon, and Lawrence Watt-Evans. They were very enjoyable. I also like the last one in the collection (mostly) even though it poked fun at my own D&D role playing past.
I've read two books now in this series, both acquired free of charge, but doubt I'll return for more.
April 22, 2008
A must have...the whole series a must have
January 25, 2016
Collection of short stories about women warriors. Most are of a humorous bend. Recommended
January 4, 2016
Overall I loved this book. Most of the stories were fantastic, but there were a couple that were disappointing. I'm definitely looking forward to digging up more in this series.
"Lady of Steel by Roger Zelanzy. A short scene of a man pretending to be a warrior women. Other than the role reversal there isn't much here. It's not that it's bad, it's just that it's so short there's no meat there. I expect more from Zelanzy. 3 Stars."
"And Ladies of the Club by Elizabeth Moon. Oh this one was great. Quite funny and flowing well, a story about women warriors conniving to evade a stupid tax and a wizard with a demon computer. Quite well done. 5 stars."
"Exchange Program by Susan Schwartz - not bad, but slightly offputting. Thor and Odin (Wotan) came of as rather whiny little pussies and Hillary Clinton was actually a sympathetic character. Considering what we've found out about her in the last 20 years it's like a DNC wet dream. 4 Stars."
"Goddess For A Day by Harry Turtledove - A wonderful little tale that left me wanting more. Pretending to be a goddess, skirting the bounds of false witness but yet honoring the goddess all the same. I want more of Phye's story. 5 Stars"
"Armor Ella by Holly Lisle - Cinderella retold, with Ella convincing her prince to chase her and accede to all her demands. Quite good and funny. 5 Stars."
"Career Day by Margaret Ball - OMG, that was a great story. I have GOT to get a copy of Mathemagics. Magic = math, and swordplay pays the bills. 5 Stars."
"Armore/Amore by David Vierling - pretty funny. I kept picturing Rapunzel (from Tangled) catching Arnold Schwarzenegger. 4 stars."
"The Stone of War and the Nightengales Egg by Elizabeth Ann Scarsborough - I found it quite interesting if a little sad. A slave trains the emperor's harem in combat by using the Sun Zoo's art against him. It makes me sad to read of slaves, particularly sex slaves, even if they are nominally happy. 4 stars"
"The Growling by Jody Lynn Nye - Oh my. Never let a woman get into a fight during _that_ time of the month. I took me a moment before I recognized the names, but once I did I had a good laugh. 5 stars."
"The New Britomart by Eluki bes Shahar - Didn't really grab me. Don't know if it was the writing or that I just lost interest in reading for a couple of weeks, but this one was a struggle for me to finish. The end was better than the beginning. 2 stars"
"On the Road of Silver - Mark Bourne. Overall not bad, but I had a little trouble getting into the story at the beginning. Very much liked the concept though. 4 stars."
"Bra Melting - Janni Lee Limner. A very short story about warrior women not being satisfied with skimpy armor. Good idea with the divergent views on armor among the two main characters, but not long enough to come to fruition. 2 stars"
"The Old Grind by Laura Frankas - A young giantess leaves home to go A Viking with Rollo Who Walks. During battle she gets mistakenly picked up by Odin and taken to Valhalla. He then returns her to her home. I liked the characters, it was well paced and entertaining. 4 Stars."
"The Way To a Man's Heart by Ester Friesner - appearances can be deceiving. A spoiled and petulant sword maiden storms out of school to go seek her prince, but ends up with unexpected help. Well written and entertaining for a short work. 4 Stars."
"Whoops! by Rachel Springer - a guardian angel tries to impart self confidence on a shrinking violet, which causes some interesting events along the freeway. Very funny. 5 Stars."
"The Guardswoman by Lawrence Watt-Evans - A young, rather naive, but very large and strong woman joins the city guard. Eventually she joins the men on their weekly off night excursion to the red light district and finds herself a man. Told as letters home to her mother, it's quite funny. 5 Stars."
"Teacher's Pet by Josepha Sherman - a cute little story about a female warrior finding a helpful traveler in the woods who's more than he appears. 4 Stars"
"Were-Wench by Jan Stirling - when a warrior woman is cursed and needs help she returns to her old bethrothed friend. Unfortunately in order to break the curse she must voluntarily give herself over to passion, otherwise she'll be whoring it up every full moon. Well done and rather funny, I cared for the two main characters. 5 stars."
"Blood Calls To Blood by Elisabeth Waters - just your ordinary everyday case of elves kidnapping your son and spiriting him off to another realm to be held for ransom. Nothing a cop can't handle. Very entertaining, wouldn't mind seeing it expanded into a novel of it's own. 4 stars"
"Maureen Birnbaum in the MUD by George Alec Effinger - Muffy recounts her experiences in what is essentially an RPG to Bitsy while spending a few hours getting herself ready to head to Mars and her Prince. Wonderfully hilarious. 5 Stars."
The paperback was well formatted with no obvious spelling or grammatical mistakes.
"Lady of Steel by Roger Zelanzy. A short scene of a man pretending to be a warrior women. Other than the role reversal there isn't much here. It's not that it's bad, it's just that it's so short there's no meat there. I expect more from Zelanzy. 3 Stars."
"And Ladies of the Club by Elizabeth Moon. Oh this one was great. Quite funny and flowing well, a story about women warriors conniving to evade a stupid tax and a wizard with a demon computer. Quite well done. 5 stars."
"Exchange Program by Susan Schwartz - not bad, but slightly offputting. Thor and Odin (Wotan) came of as rather whiny little pussies and Hillary Clinton was actually a sympathetic character. Considering what we've found out about her in the last 20 years it's like a DNC wet dream. 4 Stars."
"Goddess For A Day by Harry Turtledove - A wonderful little tale that left me wanting more. Pretending to be a goddess, skirting the bounds of false witness but yet honoring the goddess all the same. I want more of Phye's story. 5 Stars"
"Armor Ella by Holly Lisle - Cinderella retold, with Ella convincing her prince to chase her and accede to all her demands. Quite good and funny. 5 Stars."
"Career Day by Margaret Ball - OMG, that was a great story. I have GOT to get a copy of Mathemagics. Magic = math, and swordplay pays the bills. 5 Stars."
"Armore/Amore by David Vierling - pretty funny. I kept picturing Rapunzel (from Tangled) catching Arnold Schwarzenegger. 4 stars."
"The Stone of War and the Nightengales Egg by Elizabeth Ann Scarsborough - I found it quite interesting if a little sad. A slave trains the emperor's harem in combat by using the Sun Zoo's art against him. It makes me sad to read of slaves, particularly sex slaves, even if they are nominally happy. 4 stars"
"The Growling by Jody Lynn Nye - Oh my. Never let a woman get into a fight during _that_ time of the month. I took me a moment before I recognized the names, but once I did I had a good laugh. 5 stars."
"The New Britomart by Eluki bes Shahar - Didn't really grab me. Don't know if it was the writing or that I just lost interest in reading for a couple of weeks, but this one was a struggle for me to finish. The end was better than the beginning. 2 stars"
"On the Road of Silver - Mark Bourne. Overall not bad, but I had a little trouble getting into the story at the beginning. Very much liked the concept though. 4 stars."
"Bra Melting - Janni Lee Limner. A very short story about warrior women not being satisfied with skimpy armor. Good idea with the divergent views on armor among the two main characters, but not long enough to come to fruition. 2 stars"
"The Old Grind by Laura Frankas - A young giantess leaves home to go A Viking with Rollo Who Walks. During battle she gets mistakenly picked up by Odin and taken to Valhalla. He then returns her to her home. I liked the characters, it was well paced and entertaining. 4 Stars."
"The Way To a Man's Heart by Ester Friesner - appearances can be deceiving. A spoiled and petulant sword maiden storms out of school to go seek her prince, but ends up with unexpected help. Well written and entertaining for a short work. 4 Stars."
"Whoops! by Rachel Springer - a guardian angel tries to impart self confidence on a shrinking violet, which causes some interesting events along the freeway. Very funny. 5 Stars."
"The Guardswoman by Lawrence Watt-Evans - A young, rather naive, but very large and strong woman joins the city guard. Eventually she joins the men on their weekly off night excursion to the red light district and finds herself a man. Told as letters home to her mother, it's quite funny. 5 Stars."
"Teacher's Pet by Josepha Sherman - a cute little story about a female warrior finding a helpful traveler in the woods who's more than he appears. 4 Stars"
"Were-Wench by Jan Stirling - when a warrior woman is cursed and needs help she returns to her old bethrothed friend. Unfortunately in order to break the curse she must voluntarily give herself over to passion, otherwise she'll be whoring it up every full moon. Well done and rather funny, I cared for the two main characters. 5 stars."
"Blood Calls To Blood by Elisabeth Waters - just your ordinary everyday case of elves kidnapping your son and spiriting him off to another realm to be held for ransom. Nothing a cop can't handle. Very entertaining, wouldn't mind seeing it expanded into a novel of it's own. 4 stars"
"Maureen Birnbaum in the MUD by George Alec Effinger - Muffy recounts her experiences in what is essentially an RPG to Bitsy while spending a few hours getting herself ready to head to Mars and her Prince. Wonderfully hilarious. 5 Stars."
The paperback was well formatted with no obvious spelling or grammatical mistakes.
April 21, 2014
I just got Chicks in Chainmail in the mail today, I ordered it after reading Tansy Rayner Roberts great post On Influence. I wanted to read some of the older works in the genre (this is 20 years old by now) so I decided to order it. I am reading the stories as part of my 100 Short Stories in 2014 challenge.
Don't let the cover fool you, this is a feminist book, but it is is feminism with a big smile on it's face and a wink. It is clever and it is funny.
The stories take the stereotype of the Strong Confident Never-budging female warrior to task and make us laugh about the silliness of some of the stereotypes, while it makes me sigh that some of the stupid crap still prevails in fiction now almost twenty years later. The warrior women of today in large still have no chinks in their armor and never shows any weakness or humanity really. That stereotype makes the characters less interesting, so join me in laughing at it and support better female protagonists going forward.
Oh yeah, and the stories are read out loud funny! I am giggling and eating my way though the stories so fast!
Most of the stories were really good, funny and clever. I have already brought the next volume and I have read a few stories in it. But this first volume is definitely worth reading. It is clever and funny and the women in it kick ass! Go find it - you can buy it used online!
Read my reviews of the individual stories here: http://wp.me/p40HVI-me
Don't let the cover fool you, this is a feminist book, but it is is feminism with a big smile on it's face and a wink. It is clever and it is funny.
The stories take the stereotype of the Strong Confident Never-budging female warrior to task and make us laugh about the silliness of some of the stereotypes, while it makes me sigh that some of the stupid crap still prevails in fiction now almost twenty years later. The warrior women of today in large still have no chinks in their armor and never shows any weakness or humanity really. That stereotype makes the characters less interesting, so join me in laughing at it and support better female protagonists going forward.
Oh yeah, and the stories are read out loud funny! I am giggling and eating my way though the stories so fast!
Most of the stories were really good, funny and clever. I have already brought the next volume and I have read a few stories in it. But this first volume is definitely worth reading. It is clever and funny and the women in it kick ass! Go find it - you can buy it used online!
Read my reviews of the individual stories here: http://wp.me/p40HVI-me
December 2, 2015
Ok, I found this funny as heck, probably because I also read my way through the Sword and Sorcery genre as a kid. But who could resist: And Ladies of the Club, Elizabeth Moon, where a selective tax on women warriors' armor is combatted with
'reversible reduction mammoplasty'; or the less funny and more charming Goddess for a Day, Harry Turtledove; or Career Day, by Margaret Ball, where a multidimensional mercenary warrior is suborned into taking her daughter's mundane world class on a Career Day field trip to a single combat; Whoops! by Nancy Springer, where a Guardian angel, frustrated by the repeated assaults of drivers annoyed by her charge and giving the finger, takes accidental action; The Guardswoman, by Lawrence Watt-Evans, where a female guardswoman in an all-male guard finds a solution to what to do while her compatriots visit the street of ill-repute for bonding purposes; or Blood Calls to Blood, Elisabeth Waters, where a complicated revenge case involving fairies and foster care leads to a rescue Under the Hill.
Jody Lynn Nye's "The Growling" was a bit of a feminist National Lampoons story, and Armor/Amore by David Vierling just didn't engage me; Armor-Ella, Holly Lisle had good moments but not my style.
So, overall, a keeper. (Even if there was a lot of inflating stereotypes to puncture them.)
'reversible reduction mammoplasty'; or the less funny and more charming Goddess for a Day, Harry Turtledove; or Career Day, by Margaret Ball, where a multidimensional mercenary warrior is suborned into taking her daughter's mundane world class on a Career Day field trip to a single combat; Whoops! by Nancy Springer, where a Guardian angel, frustrated by the repeated assaults of drivers annoyed by her charge and giving the finger, takes accidental action; The Guardswoman, by Lawrence Watt-Evans, where a female guardswoman in an all-male guard finds a solution to what to do while her compatriots visit the street of ill-repute for bonding purposes; or Blood Calls to Blood, Elisabeth Waters, where a complicated revenge case involving fairies and foster care leads to a rescue Under the Hill.
Jody Lynn Nye's "The Growling" was a bit of a feminist National Lampoons story, and Armor/Amore by David Vierling just didn't engage me; Armor-Ella, Holly Lisle had good moments but not my style.
So, overall, a keeper. (Even if there was a lot of inflating stereotypes to puncture them.)
April 3, 2016
Ugh, what an awful waste of my time. I kind of expected there to be some action as opposed to a lot of blah, blah, blah. And humor. I didn't find this funny. At all. I must have misplaced my sense of humor. (I should have known to quit after the story with Hilary Clinton in Valhalla. *rolls eyes*)
I think this was supposed to be uplifting or empowering or some other shit, for women, instead it was rather insulting AND boring.
And I'm probably just being super pissy but it seems really...
*searches for correct word, doesn't find it*
...lame that the first story of this anthology is about a guy who has to pretend to be a woman to make it as a warrior. I'm guessing that was to show how silly gender stereotypes are, but it was a super shitty way to start off this anthology, in my opinion("let's do an anthology on women and make the first story about a man"). On the other hand, I guess I could see it as a good way to start this anthology, let's you know right off that you should stop reading.
disappointing - don't know that I will bother with any of the other books
I think this was supposed to be uplifting or empowering or some other shit, for women, instead it was rather insulting AND boring.
And I'm probably just being super pissy but it seems really...
*searches for correct word, doesn't find it*
...lame that the first story of this anthology is about a guy who has to pretend to be a woman to make it as a warrior. I'm guessing that was to show how silly gender stereotypes are, but it was a super shitty way to start off this anthology, in my opinion("let's do an anthology on women and make the first story about a man"). On the other hand, I guess I could see it as a good way to start this anthology, let's you know right off that you should stop reading.
disappointing - don't know that I will bother with any of the other books
June 14, 2013
A collection of short stories that play in the general space of 'humorous riffs on the fantasy warrior woman' trope. Some are written by big names, some are not. Shortest is a couple of pages, longest nearly 30.
As with all collections of short fiction, this is a very mixed bag in terms of quality of ideas and quality of writing. Unfortunately I have to say that there is more not so good than there is of good, at least in my view, and I certainly was not made to sit up and think, which is one of the main purposes of short fiction ad far as I'm concerned.
A useful book to have for stop-start moments where you don't want to commit to long periods of reading time. Commuting, for instance.
Rated M for frequent scenes of fantasy violence, adult themes and occasional frightening images. 2/5
As with all collections of short fiction, this is a very mixed bag in terms of quality of ideas and quality of writing. Unfortunately I have to say that there is more not so good than there is of good, at least in my view, and I certainly was not made to sit up and think, which is one of the main purposes of short fiction ad far as I'm concerned.
A useful book to have for stop-start moments where you don't want to commit to long periods of reading time. Commuting, for instance.
Rated M for frequent scenes of fantasy violence, adult themes and occasional frightening images. 2/5
May 15, 2012
The title says it all: an anthology of tough ladies decked out in armor, whether it be leather or metal, who kick butt and take no names. It is also indicative of something lacking in a book like “Warrior Enchantresses”—a sense of humor. There is plenty of tongue-in-cheek action, whether in wordplay, unexpected twists (like a First Lady accidentally winding up in Valhalla) or the reversal of gender roles. The stories are surprising, excellently written and filled with unforgettable characters. And, yes, there is plenty of fighting to titillate the fancy of anyone who’s dreamed of hot women in battle gear, gleefully creating carnage and mayhem and getting the guy they adore.
June 21, 2008
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Yes, babes in bronze bras wielding broadswords. And YOU better not laugh, or you’ll get something cut off!
Esther Friesner edits these collections of short stories (yep, there is more; Chicks ‘n Chained Males, The Chick is in the Mail, Did you say Chicks?, etc. You get the idea). Hilarious, sassy, crass, rarely serious, but sometimes a tiny bit thought provoking. Mostly the authors switch out every book… but there are a couple that have a story in almost every one. Margaret Ball and Elizabeth Moon are two of my favorites.
Yes, babes in bronze bras wielding broadswords. And YOU better not laugh, or you’ll get something cut off!
Esther Friesner edits these collections of short stories (yep, there is more; Chicks ‘n Chained Males, The Chick is in the Mail, Did you say Chicks?, etc. You get the idea). Hilarious, sassy, crass, rarely serious, but sometimes a tiny bit thought provoking. Mostly the authors switch out every book… but there are a couple that have a story in almost every one. Margaret Ball and Elizabeth Moon are two of my favorites.
May 2, 2010
I read this on the airplane and it was the perfect setting for the book. All of the stories are amusing and a couple are downright hilarious. My favorite was Elizabeth Moon's story about the tax on chain mail bras. These stories are at their best when they show down-to-earth, tough, heroines up against all the problems a fantasy setting can provide. Not tough or meaningful literature but it makes for great escapism.
December 12, 2012
That title stands out, don't it?
I like this for the same reason I like http://thehawkeyeinitiative.com/ it pokes fun of all the little things that men do with fantasy and fiction, in regards to women - and getting it mostly wrong along the way.
Oh, I'm not saying women don't do it too - in some cases, we do it better (or worse). Still, it's good to have a laugh and not to take things so seriously.
I like this for the same reason I like http://thehawkeyeinitiative.com/ it pokes fun of all the little things that men do with fantasy and fiction, in regards to women - and getting it mostly wrong along the way.
Oh, I'm not saying women don't do it too - in some cases, we do it better (or worse). Still, it's good to have a laugh and not to take things so seriously.
October 27, 2015
Does exactly what it says in the title - anthology of fantasy tales about chicks in chainmail. Mixed bag. Highlight is Elizabeth Moon's And the Ladies of the Club about a king who puts a tax on metal bras. We also have have Hilary Clinton manifesting in Odin's hall, a were-wench, female warrior cursed to become a slut during a full moon and the only female guards woman who has to find something to do whilst all her male companions go to a brothel. Great fun.
October 28, 2012
I can't complain about any collection edited by Esther Friesner. Lots of good stories. My favorites were Exchange Program by Susan Shwartz, with Hillary Clinton and the sisterhood of the Valkyries, and Maureen Birnbaum in the Mud, a fun romp through a gamer's world of monsters and magic weapons and treasure. Made me want to revisit the Legend of Zelda.
September 22, 2011
An interesting cultural artifact. One gets homesick for the particular brand of 80's tongue-in-check ironic swords and sorcery that one grew up with. I imagine that by the time I finish the second collection in this series, I will be mightily sick of it.
January 24, 2015
There's something bad,
in your fantasy.
Who're you going to call?
Trope busters...
A lighthearted roasting of all those hoary fantasy cliches by Chrome!
Not for fans of Gor or the humor-impaired.
in your fantasy.
Who're you going to call?
Trope busters...
A lighthearted roasting of all those hoary fantasy cliches by Chrome!
Not for fans of Gor or the humor-impaired.
January 6, 2008
Not really what it sounds like. It's actually fantasy short fiction with female protagonists and usually written by female authors.
July 27, 2008
Needed a break from the heavy stuff -
A collection of short stories - sword and sorcery with the protagonist being a woman.
A couple of good stories, a couple of poor stories and a few in between.
A collection of short stories - sword and sorcery with the protagonist being a woman.
A couple of good stories, a couple of poor stories and a few in between.
July 10, 2010
Years ago but loooooved this book.
July 9, 2012
Assorted short stories with strong women characters, and a lot of laughter! Highly recommend.
keep-in-mind
August 25, 2012Added 8/24/12.
short stories / fantasy
short stories / fantasy
April 17, 2023
Chicks in Chainmail, Esther Friesner, editor, 1995, 341 pages, ISBN 0671876821
Anthology of swords-and-sorcery stories with female protagonists and a humorous modern twist. All were first published in this volume. First in a series of 6 books: https://www.goodreads.com/series/2396...
Lady of Steel, Roger Zelazny. Impostor. ***
And Ladies of the Club, Elizabeth Moon. Tax time. ***
Exchange Program, Susan Schwartz. Hillary Rodham Clinton! Anna Russell https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_... ***
Goddess for a Day, Harry Turtledove. Phye with Peisistratos, 546 BCE https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phye ***
Armor-Ella, Holly Lisle. Sometimes a girl needs to fight for happily ever after. ***
Career Day, Margaret Ball. ***
Armor/Amore, David Vierling. ***
The Stone of War and the Nightingale's Egg, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. ****
The Growling, Jody Lynn Nye ***
The New Britomart, eluki bes shahar. Ivanhoe (1819). Set in 1821. ***
On the Road of Silver, Mark Bourne. Portland, Oregon. ****
Bra Melting, Janni Lee Simner. ***
The Old Grind, Laura Frankos. Orkney. ****
The Way to a Man's Heart, Esther Friesner. ***
Whoops!, Nancy Springer. **** Highway. Hilarious.
The Guardswoman, Lawrence Watt-Evans. ****
Teacher's Pet, Josepha Sherman. ****
Were-Wench, Jan Stirling. ***
Blood Calls to Blood, Elizabeth Waters. Elf defense. ****
Maureen Birnbaum in the MUD, George Alec Effinger. ****
Anthology of swords-and-sorcery stories with female protagonists and a humorous modern twist. All were first published in this volume. First in a series of 6 books: https://www.goodreads.com/series/2396...
Lady of Steel, Roger Zelazny. Impostor. ***
And Ladies of the Club, Elizabeth Moon. Tax time. ***
Exchange Program, Susan Schwartz. Hillary Rodham Clinton! Anna Russell https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_... ***
Goddess for a Day, Harry Turtledove. Phye with Peisistratos, 546 BCE https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phye ***
Armor-Ella, Holly Lisle. Sometimes a girl needs to fight for happily ever after. ***
Career Day, Margaret Ball. ***
Armor/Amore, David Vierling. ***
The Stone of War and the Nightingale's Egg, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. ****
The Growling, Jody Lynn Nye ***
The New Britomart, eluki bes shahar. Ivanhoe (1819). Set in 1821. ***
On the Road of Silver, Mark Bourne. Portland, Oregon. ****
Bra Melting, Janni Lee Simner. ***
The Old Grind, Laura Frankos. Orkney. ****
The Way to a Man's Heart, Esther Friesner. ***
Whoops!, Nancy Springer. **** Highway. Hilarious.
The Guardswoman, Lawrence Watt-Evans. ****
Teacher's Pet, Josepha Sherman. ****
Were-Wench, Jan Stirling. ***
Blood Calls to Blood, Elizabeth Waters. Elf defense. ****
Maureen Birnbaum in the MUD, George Alec Effinger. ****
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