It’s been a week since Game of Thrones went to the great TV show graveyard behind the Hollywood Sign, and I know some of you out there are going to be mourning its loss even more than the loss of [Redacted]. To ease the pain a bit, I’ve culled the Short Story Showcase archive to find some that might appeal specifically to fans of that series.
If you like realistic stories of war, what can go wrong in war, and how to lose a war in an amazingly intelligent manner, I recommend Arthur C. Clarke’s “Superiority.” The story is heavily informed by Clarke’s experience helping the U.S. win WWII despite the best efforts of some of his colleagues.
On the other hand, if you prefer brutal deaths, clever stratagems, and ancient, inhuman evil, check out Alter S. Reiss’s “The Spark Will Travel.” It also has SCIENCE!, for you Girl Genius fans out there.
For those of you interested in difficult stories involving oppressed characters freeing themselves from their circumstances at horrifying cost, consider “The Herb Wife’s Apprentice,” by Story Boyle. It’s disturbing at times, but powerful, which is why I think it fits in this list.
Finally, if you just want some inventive fight scenes and exploitative local lords getting creatively murdered, my own story “The Touch of Iron” might be just what you’re looking for. In any case, I hope you enjoyed this list! Please let me know if there are any other such stories that you’d like me to review for a future edition.