K Ryn

"Calling the Beasts" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 31st December 1999 (2)

Strangely enough, my suspension of disbelief got unsuspended in this one. Dreams and visions are cool, but this one went a little beyond dreams and visions, so it lost me. Otherwise the writing is the good stuff I've come to expect from this author - the suspense and tension were well-crafted, and the plot was concrete in its detail.

"Death Song" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 2nd January 2000 (4)
Zine: ?The Sentry Post
Issue: Special Edition

Okay. Not your usual random psycho. I expected more of this author, but I shouldn't have because she admits this was her first story.

"Endurance" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 2nd January 2000 (2)
Zine: ?The Sentry Post
Issue: Special Edition

Ah, vat a tvist. Ve haf vays of making you... listen. (smile)

"The Gift" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 26th December 1999 (3)
Zine: ?The Sentry Post
Issue: Special Edition

The author takes the time to set up this story properly (even though it's short), with care, and with detail. And it's worth it.

"Judgments" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 10th April 2001
Zine: ?The Sentry Post
Issue: 3
(339K)

When I saw that one of K. Ryn's zine stories was now on the net, naturally I read it. And I wasn't disappointed. I love her Jim and Blair, and the way she manages to weave a theme into her story seamlessly -- in this case a theme of prejudices, snap judgments. Not to mention the hurt, angst, and the way Jim and Blair have to depend on each other to survive. And the faith, don't forget the faith. It's also lovely and long. I can't help it, if it's a good story, it's even more enjoyable if it's long, because there's more of it.

Addendum: nominated for favourite long story in the 2001 Cascade Times Awards.

"Set-Up" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 2nd January 2000 (3)
Zine: ?The Sentry Post
Issue: Special Edition

Well, I am not sure of the scene to which the author refers... This was okay, but it didn't hook in for me.

"Smoke and Mirrors" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 4th January 2000
Zine: ?The Sentry Post
Issue: Special Edition
(361K)

This was great! Tension, plot, character, mysticism, style, poetical quotes, and cool thematic symbols - of smoke... and mirrors. Oh I love it when it all comes together. I wish I could write like that.

Addendum: nominated for favourite long story in the 2001 Cascade Times Awards.

"Who Shall Guard the Guardians Themselves?" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 2nd January 2000 (1)
(315K)

Good. Well set up (on many levels).

Addendum: this story won the 2000 Cascade Times Awards in the Dramatic category.

Another addendum: (22/7/2000) re-reading this, there was one thing that bothered me; the bad guy being so omnipotently Machiavellian in the sense of how far back he'd started planning things. It was too unbelievable to me. He made Brackett look like Mr. Bean. But it was cool to see the guys in action, working together like they did, picking up the clues, besting the bad guys.

"Wired" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 31st December 1999 (1)
Zine: ?The Sentry Post
Issue: Special Edition
(65K)

Well! Well indeed. That was really cool. Plonk you "in the woods" with a what-the-heck-is-going-on-here? and then when you find out, well, it ain't what you expect.

Harm's Way

(1) "Out of Harm's Way" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 26th December 1999 (1)
Zine: ?The Sentry Post
Issue: Special Edition
(166K)

Ah, I like this. The ordinary and the extraordinary, blended in a subtle mix. Good Jim and Blair, Jim denying the strangeness but still acting, and Blair being Blair.

(2) "False Mirrors" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 26th December 1999 (2)
(545K)

Set after Out of Harm's Way and even better. I really liked the interaction of the nightmare, the senses, the current crime, the reason for the nightmare, and the way both Jim and Blair reacted, even unto getting their wires crossed because they're both trying to look out for the other person. I liked all the echoes and ripples of the symbols, darn, I just liked it. This was really good, well-written, and satisfyingly loooong.

Addendum: this story was nominated in the 2000 Cascade Times Awards in the Long Story category.