I am a bit new to the party of Naomi Novik, so felt a good way to start was with this short story anthology.”Buried Deep and Other Stories” is an anthology that certainly spans many genres, from fantasy to science fiction, myth, and even dipping its toes into historical fiction.
The anthology boasts a range of stories many of which have humour but are also thought-provoking. There are several stories that seem set in her other novel continuities or in nrext door realities and I enjoyed was an alt version of Pride & Prejudice with Elizabeth Bennet as a dragon captain obviously, whilst I have never read Novik’s Temeraire series it has put me in mind to add them to my ever expanding TBR pile.
The collection also offers a sneak peek into Novik’s upcoming new series. The stories, while varied, are unified by a theme of wrestling with destiny, exploring how characters from different times and places strive to fulfill their fates.
For fans of Novik, this anthology I can only assume this would be a treasure trove of short stories as it not only revisits familiar worlds but also introduces new ones, with each one feeling distinct but never alien. For me I wonder If I got more out of the stories not connected to her established series as I didn’t need to know any backstory and they were just compelling narratives that stood on their own merit.
However, I think depending on your history with the author you may get more out of certain stories, as a newcomer to the author though I found plenty to enjoy and whilst sometimes I wondered what I might be missing by not being as familiar with the world, I never felt shortchanged as there was enough to enjoy!
In conclusion, “Buried Deep and Other Stories” is recommended for both dedicated fans of Naomi Novik and newcomers to her work looking for an introduction to her work. It’s a collection that whilst every story might not land 100% for you the majority I think will and there’s something to enjoy in all of them as she has a nice easy to read style. I think if you’re looking to try Naomi Novik, this shirt story anthology is a great place to start!