Review of A Choice of Endings by Tanya Huff.
Review of A Choice of Endings by Tanya Huff
A Choice of Endings was published in the short story collection He Said, Sidhe Said
I love mythology woven into the urban landscape. I am not religious at all, but myths fascinate me and mythological characters even more so. I love modern twists on them – spinning them into new shapes.
I really enjoyed the little story. The introduction makes it more powerful and it takes a painful subject and lets us imagine the power to stop it.
My review from 2014 of A Choice of Endings by Tanya Huff
Title: A Choice of Endings
Author: Tanya Huff
Genre: Urban Fantasy
This is the part of my 100 Short Stories in 2014 challenge.
This story is about Mrs. Ruth, the Crone, who is a bag lady – yes it makes sense. She is trying to get a little more out of her time on Earth (this time around), because when it is her time to hold the Power again, it will be too late. That is all I will say about the plot, anything more would be spoilers.
I really enjoy the level of snark in Huff’s writing. It is witty and funny and quite often has a dry biting wit to it.
Trouble with common sense was folks had stopped appreciating anything considered common. Granted, they’d stopped some time between coming out of the trees and walking erect, but it still pissed her off.
From what I read off Huff’s writing the power of women seems to be a common theme. It is not physical power, or even often magical power, but power some women have to cut through the crap. The power elder woman have to nag, bully and annoy you into doing what they want you to, because that is just darn easier than not. How they bend the rules to suit their needs. How they plot and scheme. But all to good ends. And how food always seems to be involved.
I love mythology woven into the urban landscape. I am not religious at all, but myths fascinate me and mythological characters even more so. I love modern twists on them – spinning them into new shapes.
I really enjoyed the little story. The introduction makes it more powerful and it takes a painful subject and lets us imagine the power to stop it.
The Stats
Collection: He Said, Sidhe Said
Published: 2013 by Jabberwocky Literary Agency, Inc., originally published in Maiden, Matron, Crone, DAW Books Inc., 2005.
Read: January 22, 2014
Length: short story
Author: Female, Canada resident, white.
Protagonist: Female, homeless
This review was originally posted: January 23, 2014. Updated and edited June 28, 2023
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