Transcendancing says: “These are stories that move you, they are important stories in a world of stories. The way they speak, where their concerns are situated, how the story flows is important. It is different in many ways to other things I’ve read – particularly short stories, and even collections. I feel that this collection by Marianne is a significant and important contribution to the field of speculative fiction.” Read the whole review here.
The Australian Literature Review gives an analysis of Glitter Rose.
Domestic Extremist reflects on Glitter Rose. “Marianne de Pierres, Glitter Rose, 2010
I picked this up in Sydney’s Galaxy Bookshop and spent a very relaxed 50th birthday reading it. There are four linked short stories about a small, imaginary Australian island which has been colonised by strange spores from the ocean deeps, organisms that can bathe the beach in a pink light, create giant sandcastles that are impervious to water and subtly alter the bodies and minds of the infected island residents. There’s a small ensemble cast of characters (reminding me often of The Last Tobacco Shop in the World) in which a new arrival to the island is constantly out of her depth and learning the hard way, plus there are deaths and strange goings on of a mystical and earthy nature. De Pierres was clearly inspired by J.G. Ballard’s Vermillion Sands and these tales share a Ballardian atmosphere of languorous decay; undoubtedly the best story is ‘Mama Ailon’, a deftly composed tale about a strangely cathartic birth which brings the stories to a kind of conclusion – in her notes De Pierres says this story cycle is probably complete, but no – she absolutely must write more of these, and I must read more from her.”
Amy Parker reviews Glitter Rose at Parrish’s Patch
“Strange, deep, haunting … the stories in Glitter Rose will challenge you, and you may find some of the remarkable and vivid imagery creeping into your subconscious. I definitely recommend this worthwhile collection. Just be aware that these may look simple, but they’re not casual reading. You’ll need to bring something to the table, too.” Geek Speak Magazine
Falcata Times says, “Brought together in this compendium for the first time, a collection of short stories that helped to launch Marianne’s writing career which demonstrate beautifully the talent behind her work. All appeared in print in various compendiums over the years and yet when you read them back to back you get an eerie sense of beauty as well as the lovingly crafted characters that inhabit this world. Each individual tale builds upon the previous making it pretty hard to put down and whilst this offering is quite short there is a bonus title at the end that demonstrates an almost Poeish twist to the author that allows the reader to wonder where her talents end. A seriously delightful collection and one that I can’t recommend enough to the reader. Great stuff.”
“… I loved this quartet: the stories are quietly intriguing, evoking a sense of dread, being creepy and sinister without being exactly horrific (although there is a bit of that as well) and they would be enough to recommend this collection but there is still the cherry on top: the last, unrelated story In the Bookshadow in which a nameless narrator works at a book shop selling fantasy novels to different types of people and it stock filled with ironic observations about then genre and those who read it …” Read the whole review at Book Smugglers
“After reading Marianne de Pierres’s short story collection, I realized that the book’s packaging was apt. Glitter Rose is small hardcover that’s compact and gives off the vibe that it’s elegant and reliable. Pierres’s prose is similar: it’s concise, fast-paced, and quite atmospheric. Arguably it’s the latter that is the author’s strength. Four of the five stories included here focus on her fictional Carmine Island and what immediately grabs you in the sense of foreboding and eeriness.
Looking at it objectively, there’s nothing remarkable when it comes to the plot of Pierres’s stories and neither is the language fanciful nor precious. Instead, the author focuses more on characterization and developing her setting without being overt when it comes to the details. Take for example the protagonist Tinashi. It’s clear that she’s haunted but it isn’t until the third story, “The Flag Game”, that the specific nature of her crisis is revealed. Yet in the initial short story, “Glimmer-by-Dark”, we already realize that she’s running away from some tragedy. Another character that shines through the text is Carmine Island. It takes a skillful writer to make the setting a unique individual and Pierres succeeds here. This is a good example of how a writer can conjure images in the reader’s mind without ramming description down our throats.” Read the rest of the review at Charles Tan’s blog here.
“Marianne de Pierres is a favourite author of mine. I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed her Sentients of Orion series and, despite never having read any of her short fiction, was very eager to read Glitter Rose. I didn’t know what to expect other than the stories shared a common setting, but what I found was wonderful, even exceptional…” Read the rest of the review at Walker of the Worlds
Glitter Rose 