Customer Reviews

Thumbprints

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That collection of short stories displays PS's talent for writing and nothing else. All stories fail to grab the reader's attention. Either they are rehashes or long boring descriptions going nowhere. Yet I plodded through, always expecting the next story to be better than the previous one but never was I rewarded. Being a talentuous writer is not enough when imagination leaves you, indeed.

Pamela Sargent is one of the most gifted writers of speculative fiction and fantasy working today. Her readership is privileged to have this new collection out now, showcasing twelve fine stories. "Thumbprints" spans early work such as the classic love story "If Ever I Should Leave You," right up to the brand-new title tale, a black comedy of literary bad manners. There are several stories from her "Mongolia" tapestry, including the modern-day "Climb the Wind" and the Genghis Khan tales "Erdeni's Tiger" and "Spirit Brother." There is a new "Venus" tale, the prequel "Venus Flowers at Night". There are tales of familiar family dynamics in strange situations -- "Amphibians," "Gather Blue Roses" -- and strange futurities driven by familiar human frailties -- "Originals," "Shrinker." Most of all, there's heart and soul, for Sargent prefers to tell us about people, rather than technology. Sargent's distinctive voice is alive in these stories, and endlessly expressive.

Pamela Sargent is one of today's most imaginative and talented fantasy writers. Thumprints is an anthology of twelve of her short fiction pieces -- each of which is a minor gem of creative story telling. Some of the tales take place in twelfth-century Mongolia; one in present day Mongolia; one follows a charcter from Sargent's "Venus" trilogy; a title story that delves just how far a nearly demonic literary agent will go to ensure that his fees are paid; and several more. Exciting and mystical tales, steeped in the resonance of culture and defying prediction until the last page is turned, Thumbprints is highly recommended, especially for fans of Sargent's other works.