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Title: Dreams of Distant Shores
Series: ———-
Author: Patricia McKillip
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 290
Format: Digital Edition
| Synopsis: |
A collection of short stories and a novella showcasing McKillip’s writing style and preferred story content.
| My Thoughts: |
The majority of this book is taken up with the novella, Something Rich and Strange. I read that back in ’05 and wasn’t very impressed then and this time around nothing improved. That is the reason for the 1 Star deduction.
Now, the rest of the stories, they were excellent. They were what I EXPECT from McKillip. My favorite was about an artist who draws the Gorgon’s mouth and it becomes his muse, until it convinces him to fall in love with a real life girl who then becomes his true muse. Not being an artsy guy myself, most of the time I poo-poo stories dealing with art. However, this story, appropriately entitled The Gorgon in the Cupboard, drew me in and made the artist character sympathetic enough that even I was able to like him. The counter-story about the woman who becomes his muse, is poignantly sad and heartwrenching and provides a sad canvas upon which a happy story is drawn.
The Forward by Peter Beagle I could have done without. I am not a fan of Beagle, so his musings on meeting McKillip at various times came across as self-serving and very faux-humble.
If I ever read this again, I’ll just skip the novella and concentrate on the short stories.
★★★★☆
Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road 
I love short stories and even novellas. They help keep me out of slumps and fill those nice little empty spaces of time. I may have to look this up!
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If you don’t have time for a full McKillip novel, these shorts are a great way to experience her writing…
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I have been exploring a lot of authors this way until I have more time to tackle the larger stories 🙂
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Nice, another worthy McKillip. Good to know she writes shorts as well as novels. Writers that so versatile are usually well worth reading. I still haven’t picked up Ombria in Shadow, but if you keep reviewing her stuff I might have to Lol. Thanks for the review!
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I’ll probably get to another McKillip in 6-8 weeks. Would you prefer I read Ombria, to give you a kick in the pants, or to stay away from it [I have 15 McKillip books to read overall] until you’ve gotten motivated enough to read it?
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Hah! Well it’s awfully nice of you to ask. I’ll never say “no” to incentive towards a great book! I’d be happy to hear your thoughts on it.
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Consider it the next McKillip book then…
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I’m a fan of McKillip, but I hadn’t heard of this. I’m definitely going to have to pick this up if I get a chance. Nice review!💁🏻
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It’s her newest book. Or at least, the paperback was released in June ’16, while Kingfisher came out in February ’16.
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Ooh! Paperback. I may be able to fit that in next months budget. Thanks!💁🏻
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Always glad to help people spend money 😀
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😁
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I’ve never been a McKillip fan.
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I have to admit, I find myself surprised at that. Considering how poetical her writing is, I’d have thought she’d be right up your alley.
And that is why I appreciate when you tell me straight out, “Author/Series X” doesn’t do it for me. It helps shape my, previously misconceived, perception of you 🙂
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Ah this looks like fun!! I actually really love artsy stories- so if someone that isn’t into that liked it, then I think I’ll have to check it out!
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Painting plays a huge part in the story I liked, and in the novella, which I was just “meh” about…
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hehe ok I’ll bear that in mind for that too!
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A novella with short stories? That’s a curious format with.. different “paces”.
– Lashaan
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Yep, I think it was meant to get several of her short stories into a book of her own. Most of them have been in other anthologies, but nothing that was strictly a McKillip book.
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