This is very hard to give a star rating to, since I absolutely loved some of the stories, but the ones that were attempting to be "deep" or something just fell short. ( )

I enjoyed these stories. The Henghis Hapthorn stories were great and filled in a lot of back story and character development before Magistrum. Prior to reading these I felt a bit as if I'd missed a novel. It was nice to fill in those gaps.

The Guth Bandar stories were fun. Though Bandar is not as sympathetic a character as Hapthorn (or his integrator), the Commons are intriguing, especially if you are interested in fables. I've read other Guth Bandar stories elsewhere, including his first foray into the commons, which is why I think they seem a little patchy-- these were not as complete and orderly as the Hapthorn stories.

The remaining stories, not set in the Archonate, were a mixed batch. Meh.

I'd like more Filidor! ( )

I enjoyed Majestrum so much, I decided to also read The Gist Hunter..., a collection of stories by Matthew Hughes. A few of them act as prequel adventures to Henghis Hapthorn, a few are stories of the Noonaut Guth Bandar, and a couple of non Archonate stories in the bargain...

The Gist Hunter has six stories of Henghis, which cover his early career, and up to the point just before the start of Majestrum. We find out how he becomes a Discriminator ("Thwarting Jabbi Gloond"), see him at the full height of his powers ("Relics of the Thim"), see him when his mind has been ensorcelled ("Mastermindless") and more. The title story explains just how his AI gets converted into a fruit eating familiar.

The Guth Bandar stories introduce a character new to me (I've not yet read *his* novel, The Commons). Guth's stories take place in what I think of in SB terms as the Dreamlands, the collective unconsciousness of mankind made manifest. So he finds himself in archetypal situations and locations ranging from the story of the Three Little Pigs to Judgement Day.

I think these stories are a bit rougher than the Henghis ones (the first one, for example, suggests that at the end Guth loses his job; subsequent stories have him returning to the position without an explanation). There are a few mysteries about the Commons not clarified well, and I think Guth needs a little more seasoning as a character. Still, the Commons are an intriguing separate universe which I probably will want to read about more in the titular novel.

The non Archonate stories Hughes has in this novel are all right, and I mainly think of them as a bonus to the Hapthorn and Bandar stories. I particularly liked "Go Tell the Phoenicians."

I think, overall, though, that the volume is definitely a must for fans of Hughes. I don't think its the right volume for people new to this author who treads in Vance's footsteps, but its certainly a good "second book". ( )