Review: Laughter at the Academy by Seanan McGuire

About the Book

From fairy tale forest to gloomy gothic moor, from gleaming epidemiologist’s lab to the sandy shores of Neverland, Seanan McGuire’s short fiction has been surprising, delighting, confusing, and transporting her readers since 2009. Now, for the first time, that fiction has been gathered together in one place, ready to be enjoyed one twisting, tangled tale at a time. Her work crosses genres and subverts expectations.

Meet the mad scientists of “Laughter at the Academy” and “The Tolling of Pavlov’s Bells.” Glory in the potential of a Halloween that never ends. Follow two very different alphabets in “Frontier ABCs” and “From A to Z in the Book of Changes.” Get “Lost,” dress yourself “In Skeleton Leaves,” and remember how to fly. All this and more is waiting for you within the pages of this decade-spanning collection, including several pieces that have never before been reprinted. Stories about mermaids, robots, dolls, and Deep Ones are all here, ready for you to dive in.

This is a box of strange surprises dredged up from the depths of the sea, each one polished and prepared for your enjoyment. So take a chance, and allow yourself to be surprised.

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Seanan McGuire is one of my favorite authors, so I was beyond excited to dive into this collection. It was awesome! Each story was unique and different, yet still contained McGuire's creative genius and signature style. If you're new to McGuire's work, then Laughter at the Academy is an excellent place to start.

I usually find that most short stories are just too short and lack the depth they need to make a good story. But that's not the case with McGuire. She's near-flawless in her ability to take just a few words and weave them in such a way as to create a full and meaningful experience that lacks for nothing.

There were a few stories that weren't really to my tastes, but the vast majority of them were awesome. Here are some of my favorites.

Laughter at the Academy: A Field Study in the Genesis of Schizotypal Creative Genius Personality Disorder (SCGPD) - This story takes a rather interesting look and approach to the term “mad scientist” where it's treated like a disease of the worst order. I liked it. It raised some good questions.

The Tolling of Pavlov's Bells - The Tolling of Pavlov's Bells was an absolutely terrifying read for this hypochondriac. An author/microbiologist has created something with the potential to wipe out all of humanity. It was so scary because it was so realistic! Thanks to this story, I'll be having nightmares for weeks to come.

Crystal Halloway and the Forgotton Passage - This was an emotional portal fantasy. Crystal was torn between two worlds, The Otherways where she was a champion and hero to the realm, and the world she was born in, the reality that felt less and less real each time she left.

Emeralds to Emeralds, Dust to Dust - This was a grittier take on Oz. Dorothy, or Dot as she prefers now, is not the sweet, innocent little girl we remember, but a bitter and angry woman. She's a Princess of Oz. The Wicked Witch of the West. I was a little unsure about this story in the beginning, but once the mystery really got going I was sold and really, really enjoyed it. I'd love more stories set here.

Frontier ABCs: The Life and Times of Charity Smith, Schoolteacher - This was a space opera that had a bit of a western flair to it. Neither one of those genres are my favorites, but I LOVED this story. It was so much fun and I'd love more stories about Miss Cherry.

We Are All Misfit Toys in the Aftermath of the Velveteen War - AI toys go rogue and start a war. This story was disturbing, terrifying, and heartbreaking. It shines a light on the dangers of what might happen with artificial intelligence. Truly horrifying, and yet, I want more.

Office Memos - Office Memos was a hilarious story that followed the wacky lab incidents of a gremlin scientist. This was one of my absolute favorites. I loved it and wished it would've kept going. I didn't want it to stop.

#connollyhouse #weshouldntbehere - Follow alongside a character as she live tweets her experience inside a haunted house. I really liked this one. The fact that it was told only in tweets was a fun twist. Just a little warning though, it's VERY creepy! Gave me quite a fright!

NOTE: This book does contain some strong language.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

Four Stars