Customer Reviews

SANDKINGS

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I first read 'Sandkings' in the annual Best of SF edition of OMNI magazine when I was in 8th grade oh so many years ago... I am STILL in awe of this story. When I saw the book at a store several years ago I figured maybe George had taken his amazing short-story and lengthened it to novel-size...or had simply written a sequel or well I didn't really care as long as it was built upon the best short-story I had ever read. I am sorry to say that it was just a collection of short stories

with 'Sandkings' being one OF them. This in NO WAY dimishes how utterly original this story is, though. I'm telling you the last written line of 'Sandkings' is worth the price of the book alone...but please, please do NOT spoil the surprise by skipping ahead and doing so. The main character is flawed in that he loves to be sadistic with these tiny adaptable creatures that learn to revere him as deity. But what happens along the way is horrific...and amazing. Spend an hour or two and read this short story and get to know one of the best novelists of the past 20 years. George R.R. Martin is fast becoming one of THE prominant names in the fantasy field (just check out his 'Song of Ice & Fire' series beginning with 'A Game of Thrones') but he was first a sci-fi author...he's not just good at both, he's fantastic...

George R. R. Martin is not just one of the best fantasy or science fiction writers of our time, it is hard to pin him down into any genre. Some of the stories in this volume could better be described as horror rather than fantasy or science fiction.

Sandkings, the title story and easily the best of the lot falls into this category. Simon Kress, a rather unpleasant character, acquires as pets these exotic, quasi insect creatures comprised of a physically distinct body (with brain and alimentary functions) and a number of dispersed mobile units who serve as foragers and warriors. Picture an ant-nest or a beehive, except that the queen is of a vastly higher level of consciousness and intelligence and can command her mobiles to undertake more complex projects. Kress' selfishness and sadism wreak havoc on his pets till they transform from loyal subjects (almost disciples in a way) to something beyond scary. It is as if a people long oppressed finally turn on their master. This is just the bare outline, the story itself is compelling and left me gasping by the end (which I am not going to spoil for you - take my word that it is one of the most gripping finales you will read).

The other stories are shadowed by Sandkings but are excellent in themselves. I particularly liked The Way of Cross and Dragon, a searing look at religion and the religious hierarchy. Also Star Lady, a tale of the loss of innocence on a planet with no rule of law, and then in a way, a strange redemption as well.

The mood throughout the book is dark and this is not a book you want to read in a low mood. I strongly recommend it however as a superb example of storytelling and a sample of the versatility and imagination of George R. R. Martin.

The other reviewers had it right: I picked up a copy of this book in a used bookstore because I wanted to get a taste of George R.R. Martin before embarking upon his lengthy epic, "A Song of Ice and Fire." The title story was wonderful, one of the best short stories I've read in years. (I'd put it right up there with Kafka's "The Metamorphosis.") "In the House of the Worm" was quite enjoyable, and of the others the only one that I found disappointing was "The Stone City." All in all this is a strong collection of short fiction that deserves to be back in print, and I'm looking forward to spending some more time with Martin's imagination in the near future.

It's only a collection of short stories, and an overlooked one at that. You have to scrounge around used book stores to find a copy, but it is worth the trouble. The rest of the stories are okay, but the kicker is the title story. With a moving plot, plenty of action, and irony that has made me read it again and again, it's the best 60 page story I've read. Sandkings tells of one man whose intrest in savage and ruthless pets goes too far when he purchases the quasi-psionic haveminds that are sandkings. Sandkings are insect like creatures with a combined mind nearly as intelligent as a human's. They war, make alliances, call truces, and worship their owner. Despite the warnings to the contrary from the merchant, the main character artificially sets up war by starving the sandkings, and in doing so twists them to hatred against him.

This book is probably one of my favorites of all time. Although dark it is not without heart and is full of what i found to be absolutely wonderous places and filled with interesting people. These are stories about people who, for the most part, are not heroes but simply people who are trying to make it in a world filled with wonder and darkness. Mr. Martins imagination is wonderful to me and his stories fill me with an intense appreciation for his ancient wonders and future visions of incredible color. It is a bit of a minefield though and people who are not quite careful may fall into the philosophical traps present in it and become just as troubled as many of the characters are. I hope that it is reprinted in the wake of his recent success and if you are reading this Mr. Martin, as I have told you before, you have brought great love to my life and I thank you deeply for it!

Note that the Kindle download is for the single novelette, "Sandkings", which was a Hugo and Nebula award winner. It's around 50 paper pages.

Simon Kress likes to collect exotic alien pets. His latest acquisition is a large terrarium hosting four separate colonies of "sandkings". He has been told that these are semi-sapient, weakly-psionic hive minds which will happily accept him as their god and which will wage chivalrous war within their terrarium. But Kress is no benevolent overlord and he starves and abuses the sandkings for his own entertainment. Which begins to seem much less wise when the sandkings escape the limits of their terrarium and start developing further...

This is a tightly written tale with a number of surprises. It sets a distinctive mood somewhere between traditional sf and horror and well deserves its awards.

I'm sure that most of you reading this review know Martin from the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series and have probably decided to look into his more obscure work, and possibly to see his roots; if this is the case this book makes for a cheap way to do just that and an excellent one at that.

I should admit at this point that (sacrilege that it is) I haven't read the books currently out in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series; this book is my introduction to Martin's work. And I must say, what an introduction it is! This effectively shows his diversity and ability to write in different idioms and consistently come up with quality material. The primary focus in most of the reviews has been (understandably) on the title story "Sandkings"; however, while this is the best story the other material is all of very high quality, too. It runs the gauntlet from sci-fi, to horror, to fantasy and has some philosophical ideas laid down in the under current of a few of the stories. A few details on each of them will follow; however, each description will be short so as not to give away any plot details.

The Way of Cross and Dragon -- As someone mentioned earlier this story takes a searing look at religion. It's told through the eyes of a priest that's turning into a skeptic and manages to cover a lot of ground despite being only twenty-two pages long, possibly the second strongest story contained in the book despite the brevity of it (albeit, this is a volume of short stories...).

Bitterblooms -- A mysterious fantasy tale based around primitive tribes, or rather, a particular member from one of the tribes.

In The House of the Worm -- A chilling horror tale that manages to evoke a very claustrophobic atmosphere, it's set underground in a realm where humans live underground and worship a worm god.

Fast-Friend -- A wonderful sci-fi tale about two romantic dreamers that want to live among the stars that's actually rather moving. (Believe me; it's not anywhere near as cheesy or saccharine as it sounds) I would probably rank this story third.

The Stone City -- A mysterious piece of sci-fi that takes place on a planet outside the 'human' realm; the main character is a man trapped on the planet.

Starlady -- Another piece of sci-fi; this one is about a couple that land on a planet unknown to them and are trapped there.

Sandkings -- Much has been said about this already so I'll attempt to say even less than I have with the other stories: It's a very strong horror story designed to make you think (it's one of the aforementioned stories with philosophical undertones). I can only think of one flaw, which is that the main character is such a [...]that some of the potential horror is taken away from the story as you have a hard time caring what happens to him, however, the truly chilling ending makes up for this.

This book is out of print so you'll have to pick it up used. I managed to get mine for $1 in a used bookstore; however, I doubt any here will have such luck. It's worth the current asking price(s) to get it used, though, so I highly suggest grabbing a copy while you still can, if you do prepare to be terrified, mystified, saddened, and very pleased.

Probly George's best collection of short stories. 4 stories here are flat-out brilliant: the award-winning "Sandkings" & "Way of Cross and Dragon," the gorgeous "The Stone City" (which has everything U could ever want from a Martin story Xcept 4 a real Nding), & the overlooked "In the House of the Worm" (a sequel of sorts to George's earlier "Dark, Dark Were the Tunnels") which is well worth its 60+ pages. The other 3 stories R merely average. But the 4 great 1s R some of George's best work ever.

So, I was a young man sitting in a movie theatre waiting for "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (with Donald Sutherland) to begin. I happened to overhear two people raving about this story they had read in Omni magazine called "Sandkings." I was so impressed by their reaction to the story that I made a mental note to seek it out myself.

A few months later, I found the back issue of Omni magazine and rushed home to read it. After assimilating the last glorious line of "Sandkings," I decided right then and there that it was my favorite short story of all time.

Nearly twenty years later, it remains my favorite short story.

Admittedly, I'm more of a horror fan than sci fi or fantasy fan, so Sandkings is closer to my heart that his other works. However, if sci fi and fantasy is YOUR cup of tea, you'll also enjoy the other very well written stories in this collection (including "Way of Cross and Dragon" and "In the House of the Worm.")

But I can honestly say that "Sandkings" is worth the price of admission alone. It's a true modern masterpiece.

Fans of George R. R. Martin's current fantasy bestsellers almost universally say that the highlight in his writing is the characters. Martin does craft some of the most captivating and complex characters in genre fiction, but equally important is his skill for gripping plots. He constantly raises the tension and stakes for his protagonists with shocking but completely plausible escalations on nearly every page. This breakneck plotting was just as finely honed almost thirty years ago in the Hugo and Nebula award-winning the novella Sandkings. Along with fascinating science-fictional zoology and a captivating unsympathetic protagonist who keeps digging himself deeper into jeopardy, the tense plot makes Sandkings still as gripping a read today as it was thirty years ago.