I had intended to ration Eugie Foster's stories to make them last longer. Instead, I found myself bingeing on them this weekend, finishing two collections and her Nebula Award-winning novella. On one hand, I have no regrets; the stories were amazing. On the other hand, this means my ability to read all of Eugie's stories for the first time is that much closer to its end.

This series of short stories are all influenced by, based on, or retellings of Chinese or Japanese folktales, mythologies, and history. I much prefer novels to short stories, and it is the odd short story that I end up enjoying. Most short story collections or anthologies contain a handful of pieces I enjoy, with the majority feeling a bit ho-hum. It is the rare collection where I enjoy almost every story. It is nearly unheard of where I loved each one.

So it is very high praise that I give this collection five stars, because each story was a lovely, nuanced gem. These are stories which reminded me of the tales I read when I was a child, comforting in their familiarity, but with an added edge of darkness and sensuality that held adult-me enthralled. Without really meaning to, I sped through each story because I wanted more. And when I finished, I fell into a post-book depression that only hits after finishing a really good book. ( )

Eugie Foster has a talent for spinning a tale that leaves one hungry for more, while at the same time leaving the reader relieved at being released from the cage of emotion formed by her words. An excellent show of good form. ( )

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2185027.html

Returning My Sister’s Face is a collection retelling various Chinese, Japanese and Korean folk stories - legends, ghost stories, what you will - in contemporary idiom and often with a slightly different take, at least according to the (very helpful) afterwords for each story. This isn't a part of the world whose cultures I know much about, but there is a certain universality of narratives of love, family, betrayal and the blurred boundary between human, animal and spirit. I was particularly struck by her two different takes on the Yuki-onna legend, bringing some agency to this enigmatic figure. In one or two cases I did feel a chime of familiarity - "The Raven's Brocade" (from the Japanese original about a crane) is not far from European animal wives, though with some unfamiliar twists. But mostly these were insights into a new legendarium for me, lucidly and passionately told. ( )

A really lovely collection of adapted Chinese, Japanese, and Korean fairy and folk tales. These are well-written. My favorite is the gruesome title story. I wish I could find more collections by Foster; I guess I should start subscribing to sci-fi mags again. ( )