Michael Swanwick has won Hugo Awards and Nebula Awards and is considered one of the best Science Fiction writers. I’ve been a fan of Swanwick’s Darger and Surplus short stories and now Subterranean Press has collected them and published this wonderful collection.
Aubrey Darger is a con artist who can blend into any group. His partner, Sir Blackthorpe Ravenscairn de Plus Preieux (aka, Surplus), is a genetically modified dog with a keen intelligence–and talks. This unlikely duo might remind you of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (without the swords) given their tendencies toward larceny and adventures. The setting is the Future where the survivors of a brutal war between Artificial Intelligences and humanity live in a steampunk world where technology is feared (with good reason).
In these stories, Darger and Surplus scheme their way into Buckingham Palace and create havoc, fall in love (with disastrous consequences), and are captured by a living hotel. If you’re in the mood of something completely different, THE POSTUTOPIAN ADVENTURES OF DARGER AND SURPLUS delivers escapist fun. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction:
- Mother Goose’s Errant Sons 9
Stories:
- The Dog Said Bow-Wow 15
- The Little Cat Laughed to See Such Sport 39
- Girls and Boys, Come Out to Play 63
- Tawny Petticoats 99
- There Was An Old Woman 139
- Appendix:
- Introduction to Appendix: A Little Smoke and a Mirror or Three 175
- Smoke and Mirrors: Four Scenes from the Postutopian Future 181
I read the first three stories in his previous collection, THE DOG WENT BOW-WOW. I thought they were OK, if not really my thing, and I don’t think I want to read any more.
Jeff, right now I’m reading a Darger and Surplus novel, DANCING WITH BEARS, and I’m enjoying Swanwick’s clever plotting and unusual characters.
A talking dog sounds interesting, but I’m just not a SF or fantasy reader.
Maggie, the Darger and Surplus tales are more like steampunk than anything else.
What Maggie said. But as always I admire the breadth of your reading.
Patti, I love to read a variety of books. I’m at the other end of the spectrum from Art Scott and Steve Stilwell who have read the entire Nero Wolfe series over 50 times!
I have THE DOG SAID BOW-WOW that Jeff mentioned, but have not yet read it.
Rick, the Darger and Surplus stories were published in various magazines, anthologies, and on web sites. I applaud SUBTERRANEAN PRESS for bringing them all together in one wonderful volume.
Loved these stories. Swanwick is one on my favorite sf writers.
Steve, I’m almost as big a fan of Swanwick as you are! I would guess we’re pretty close in the appreciation we have for the Darger and Surplus stories. I’m loving DANCING WITH BEARS. Within a couple of weeks I’ll post my review.
I’m happy Subterranean Press is still going strong. I hadn’t been to their site in over a year, but popped on the other day and of course had to make a purchase. It just seemed like the right thing to do. 🙂
These sound fun. I’ve read some Swanwick, but not these shorts. I saw him speak at a convention several years ago and he was really interesting.
Carl, I’m a big fan of SUBTERRANEAN PRESS. I’ve been ordering from them for years. Now is a good time to order books from independent presses so they can stay in business.
I agree, which is why I ordered the Aliette de Bodard short story collection and will be pre-ordering the new book of hers that is supposed to be coming out soon.
Carl, I have that Allette de Bodard collection. I’ll be posting a review of it on this blog in a week or two.
Nice!
Carl, THE POSTUTOPIAN ADVENTURES OF DARGER AND SURPUS is another wonderful SUBTERRANEAN PRESS book. Michael Swanwick has praised the quality of this format and I agree with him.