Lower Myths [Kindle Edition]

Eliza Victoria (Author)

Book Description

Lower Myths features two compelling novelettes of contemporary fantasy from Eliza Victoria, one of the most talented young writers in Asian speculative fiction today. In "Trust Fund Babies," children of two warring witch and fairy families face off in the final round to a centuries-old vendetta.

In "The Very Last Case of Messrs. Aristotel and Arkimedes Magtanggol," an aristocrat and his daughter consult a famous lawyer-sibling pair about a mysterious crime. But in the lawyers' hilltop mansion by the sea, they uncover sinister hints that their reality may not be what it seems.

Eliza Victoria's fiction and poetry have appeared in various publications including High Chair, The Pedestal Magazine, Expanded Horizons, Usok, and the Philippine Speculative Fiction series.

Product Details

• File Size: 674 KB
• Print Length: 87 pages
• Publisher: Flipside Publishing (March 27, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007PC2XF6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #764,942 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Lower Myths on a higher level December 20, 2012

By Tina

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I got this one as a sample first, and this was one of the cases where I loved the sample so much that I had to get the book soon after.To be quite honest, I was not sure what Lower Myths was all about, except that it contains two short stories/novellas and the sample just made me want to read on.Trust Fund Babies is a fun, with and fairy story that totally had that mafia feel. It's violent and can be quite gory, but all done in a tasteful way. I liked the relationship of the families and the idea of the glamour. I can imagine this as a short film with all the effects and the mystery.

The second story, The Very Last Case of Messrs. Aristotel and Arkimedes Magtanggol is kind of confusing because of the shifting realities, but the world building is superb. There's a certain disconnect at first, but when things start falling into place, I found it so engaging that I just have to find out what happened next. While it's not really as fun as Trust Fund Babies (for me, anyway), I liked how this one played out. This is the kind of world that I cannot imagine writing on my own, but I love reading. :)

Lower Myths is a good starter for Eliza's works, if you're into quick, fantasy reads with a local flavor. Of course, it could also be too short for you, but that's why you'd end up looking for her other works just to satisfy that craving. :)

5.0 out of 5 stars This is another book for my son. December 20, 2012

By Carlmarzen

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Very interesting read. I'm sure my son will enjoy it as much as I did. I think the fact that the author comes from a place very similar to where my son grew up makes it even more interesting.

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable romp into the macabre June 4, 2012

By Kristine Ong Muslim

Format:Kindle Edition

Lower Myths is Eliza Victoria's splendid two-story debut collection. I like the second novella better than the first one. "The Very Last Case of Messrs. Aristotel and Arkimedes Magtanggol, Attorneys-at-Law" unfolds at an Elmore Leonard pace - brute, concise, confident. There's a combination of boldness and grace in Lower Myths, making it an enjoyable romp into the macabre. I imagined the two stories, with their distinct Philippine flavor and genre trappings culled straight from the vernacular, would have made excellent graphic novels.

5.0 out of 5 stars Filipino myths, and modern life askew April 1, 2012

By K

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

There's something entirely delicious about stories that swathe the ancient and magical in the humdrum drabness of modernity. For some reason I feel like I'm given a rare opportunity - a sneak peek into a world I have no right to see. It also gives the modern world - something that gets a little too adult and responsible and tiring at times - a bit of glamour and mystery.

Eliza Victoria's Lower Myths does just that, although it interestingly visits both sides of the fence, so to speak. To elaborate is to give away far too much, but suffice it to say that she does a fine job weaving magic into this humdrum world. It's not her first attempt, too. Her short story in the Alternative Alamat collection is both chilling and nostalgic.

That said, it is entirely personal preference that leads me to say that the first story is my favourite. (There are only two stories in this collection, so get back to work, author!) The story is entirely too short, true, but the presence of magic and magical beings in a scenario far too human (so much guns, but this gangster movie addict isn't complaining) cannot be described as anything other than wicked. Fairies versus warlocks sounds like a very Michael Bay movie, but she pulls it off with aplomb and the story never strays from its slightly humorous, slightly askew nature.

It's notable that despite the very Filipino roots, Lower Myths never feels alienating.

More About the Author

Eliza Victoria was born in 1986 and graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines - Diliman in 2007.

Her fiction and poetry have appeared in several online and print publications, including the Philippines Free Press, Expanded Horizons, The Pedestal Magazine, Stone Telling, Story Quarterly, High Chair, Kritika Kultura, Usok, Philippine Genre Stories, and the Philippine Speculative Fiction anthology series.

Her work has been recognized by the Pushcart Prize, the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, and the Philippines Free Press Literary Awards.

She lives and works in Makati City.