The most important characters don't always get top billing.
Sidekicks: We know them, and we ignore them. They sit courtside, they wait in the shadows, they ride on the coattails. They have nothing to offer.
Or do they?
What I Liked About It:
It's true, isn't it? The superheroes always get the limelight. But who doesn't like a good underdog story? The stories in this anthology aren't just the traditional sidekicks and superheroes. They range from tales of evil overlords and their minions, to the traditional fantasy "hero" and his lackey, to a couple of bloodthirsty serial killers (who can't decide which one is the sidekick). There was nothing in this anthology that was stale or dry, nothing I'd seen before. Each story was completely unique and exciting enough to keep me turning the pages.
Some of my favorites included...
After the Party, by Graham Storrs, which I found disturbing, which means it was well done.
In the Shadow of His Glory, by Bill Bodden, which had a surprise ending that actually surprised me.
Relic of the Red Planet, by Neil F. Litherland, which featured a terrifying, ass-kicking alien warrior.
The Gold Mask's Menagerie, by Chante McCov, which left me wanting more of the characters.
A Recipe for Success, by Alana Lorens, which started out with the line "The wedding went exactly according to plan, until Gina ended up dead" and hooked me in completely.
What I Didn't Like About It:
I usually pride myself on being able to say something constructive. But honestly, I don't really have anything to say on this one. Personally I thought Sidekicks was well edited. I didn't come across any spelling or grammar issues. If there were any, I was clearly too engrossed to notice.
In Conclusion:
I give Sidekicks a 9 out of 10 and recommend it for anyone who enjoys creative and unusual short stories. Also, for anyone who wants to read about "the little guy". Why should we let the heroes have all the fun?
Note: A free copy of Sidekicks! was provided to the Muses' Library by Alliteration Ink.
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