Tales Spun from Stardust and Shadows
There’s something magical about short stories. Like intricate clockwork mechanisms or delicate origami creations, they pack entire worlds into compact spaces, inviting us to unfold them with care and wonder. Naomi Novik, already renowned for her ability to weave sprawling fantasy epics, proves herself equally adept at this more intimate art form in “Buried Deep and Other Stories.”
This collection feels like opening a curiosity cabinet filled with gleaming treasures from across time and space. Dragons perch alongside spaceships, Regency heroines rub elbows with Roman generals, and through it all runs a golden thread of destiny—characters seizing their fates with both hands, consequences be damned. It’s a heady brew, at turns thrilling, poignant, and utterly captivating.
A Tapestry of Worlds: The Stories Within
Echoes of Familiar Realms
Fans of Novik’s longer works will find much to delight in here. “After Hours” offers a tantalizing glimpse into the post-revolution Scholomance, where the rules may have changed, but danger still lurks in shadowy corners. “Dragons & Decorum” gleefully mashes up Jane Austen and Novik’s Temeraire series, giving us an Elizabeth Bennet who’s as comfortable commanding a dragon as she is navigating social niceties. These stories feel like reunions with old friends, albeit friends who’ve picked up some surprising new tricks.
Journeys to Uncharted Territories
The collection truly shines, however, in its wholly original tales. “Seven Years from Home” plunges us into a richly imagined far-future, where humanity has spread across the stars but still grapples with age-old conflicts of imperialism and cultural preservation. “Castle Coeurlieu” transports us to a medieval world teetering on the edge of plague, where a young noblewoman must navigate both courtly intrigue and otherworldly forces. Each story feels like a seed that could easily sprout into a full novel, leaving the reader hungry for more.
Highlights: Stories That Linger
“Buried Deep”
The title story is a masterclass in mythic reinterpretation. Novik takes the familiar tale of Theseus and the Minotaur and flips it on its head, centering Ariadne’s perspective and exploring themes of family, duty, and the sometimes terrible cost of heroism. The labyrinth becomes a metaphor for the twisting paths of fate, and Novik’s prose shimmers with an almost dream-like quality that perfectly suits the mythic setting.
“Spinning Silver”
This story, which later expanded into Novik’s acclaimed novel of the same name, showcases her talent for breathing new life into fairy tale tropes. The Rumpelstiltskin-inspired tale follows Miryem, a moneylender’s daughter with an unexpected gift for turning silver into gold. Novik deftly weaves in themes of antisemitism, female agency, and the power of words, all while maintaining a propulsive plot and richly drawn characters.
“Seven”
Set in a world where magic and mathematics intertwine, this story follows a young woman who must navigate the treacherous waters of fate, destiny, and an unsettling tower that defies comprehension. Novik’s world-building shines here, hinting at a vast and complex society with its own rules and rituals. The ending leaves us pondering questions of free will and the nature of reality itself.
Themes: Threads That Bind
Destiny’s Call
Throughout the collection, characters grapple with the weight of destiny. Some, like Miryem in “Spinning Silver,” seize their fate with both hands. Others, like Ariadne in “Buried Deep,” find themselves caught in webs of prophecy and expectation. Novik explores how our choices shape our destinies, even in worlds where fate seems predetermined.
The Power of the Outsider
Many of Novik’s protagonists are outsiders in some way—whether it’s Elizabeth Bennet as a female dragon captain or Miryem as a Jewish moneylender in a hostile world. These characters often find strength in their outsider status, using their unique perspectives to solve problems and challenge the status quo.
Magic in the Mundane
Even in her most fantastical settings, Novik grounds her stories in relatable human experiences. The magic feels like an extension of the everyday world rather than something entirely separate. This approach makes even the most outlandish concepts feel achingly real and immediate.
Craftsmanship: The Art of the Tale
Worldbuilding in Miniature
Novik’s ability to create fully realized worlds in such limited space is nothing short of remarkable. Each story feels like a window into a vast universe, with its own rules, histories, and complexities. She achieves this through carefully chosen details and a knack for implying much more than she explicitly states.
Character-Driven Narratives
While the plots are engrossing, it’s the characters who truly drive these stories. Novik has a gift for creating complex, flawed individuals who feel startlingly real, even in the most fantastical settings. We root for them, worry for them, and ultimately, care deeply about their fates.
Prose That Sings
Novik’s writing is a joy to read. Her prose shifts effortlessly from lyrical descriptions to snappy dialogue, always serving the needs of the story. She has a particular talent for sensory details that make her worlds come alive—you can almost smell the sea air in “Araminta, or, The Wreck of the Amphidrake” or feel the oppressive heat in “Seven Years from Home.”
For Fans and Newcomers Alike
A Welcoming Entry Point
For those new to Novik’s work, “Buried Deep and Other Stories” serves as an excellent introduction. The variety of settings and styles showcases her range as a writer, while the shorter format makes for a less daunting entry point than her doorstop novels.
Easter Eggs for the Devoted
Longtime fans will find plenty to love here as well. The stories set in familiar worlds offer new perspectives and expand on beloved universes. There are also subtle connections between some of the original stories that reward close reading and speculation.
In Comparison: Novik’s Place in the Fantasy Landscape
Novik’s work often draws comparisons to other fantasy heavyweights like Neil Gaiman and Susanna Clarke. Like Gaiman, she has a knack for reimagining myths and fairy tales in fresh, often subversive ways. Her attention to historical detail and love of intricate magic systems recalls Clarke’s “Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.”
However, Novik’s voice is distinctly her own. Her focus on outsider perspectives, her blend of the fantastical and the deeply human, and her talent for creating complex female characters set her apart in the crowded fantasy field.
Conclusion: A Treasure Trove of Wonder
“Buried Deep and Other Stories” is a testament to Naomi Novik’s versatility and imagination. From reimagined myths to far-future space operas, each tale is a finely crafted gem. The collection showcases Novik’s ability to create richly detailed worlds and compelling characters in both short and long formats.
While some stories inevitably shine brighter than others, the overall quality is remarkably high. Readers will find themselves lingering over favorite passages, rereading stories to uncover hidden depths, and speculating about the broader universes these tales hint at.
For fans of Novik’s work, this collection is essential reading. For those new to her writing, it’s an ideal starting point that will likely leave them eager to dive into her novels. “Buried Deep and Other Stories” reminds us of the enduring power of short fiction and cements Novik’s place as one of the most exciting voices in modern fantasy.
The only downside? It leaves you wanting even more.