With thanks to netgalley and the author

Sadly I didn't download this title in time.

So can't really give a review

The Mammoth Book of the Mummy, edited by genre stalwart Paula Guran, collects together 19 stories (in which we get a decent variation on the book’s theme) about mummies – Egyptian and otherwise – including three new tales. There is a mouth-watering array of authors on display, including Karen Joy Fowler, Kim Newman, Stephen Graham Jones, Joe Lansdale, John Langan, Helen Marshall, and Angela Slatter.

Of all the genre tropes – or themes to base an anthology on – mummies is probably the one that I have the least interest in. Much as I’m interested in history, the Egyptian era feels a little too distant to appeal, and I’ve never found the mummy films particularly frightening or engaging. So I went into the book with low expectations and not a great deal of enthusiasm. And to its credit, the book was a pleasant surprise, containing several great stories and wide enough variation to prevent them theme from becoming boring.

The book opens with a very interesting introduction from the editor. Guran sets out her intentions and gives us a fascinating overview of the history of the mummy, both in fact and fiction. She even illustrates how the transition occurred from fact to fiction, and what triggered the public’s interest in Egyptian mummies. The introduction also sets out Guran’s justification for choosing the stories, and her attempts to offer tales not just focused on Egyptian mummies, and she also generously provides an overview of other mummy anthologies and offers recommendations for further reading. However it’s fair to say that there is a rather uneven quality to the stories. Some simply did not work for me at all. But I’d put that down to my tastes, rather than the stories themselves, because there was nothing particular wrong with them, and they were originally published in auspicious magazines and anthologies. My favourites were from John Langan, Stephen Graham Jones, Helen Marshall, Joe Lansdale, Kim Newman, Norman Partridge, and Steve Duffy. The book is worth it for the SGJ story alone. It’s difficult to say that this collection is an essential entry into the already extensive genre anthologies that are published each year, but the stories that really worked for me really worked, and there were only one or two that I had previously read, so you may enjoy this is you’re looking for something quite different to the usual fare.

Loved this book. Mummys, as monsters, are quite often forgotten about compared with vampires and werewolves. Such a find to have so many great tales in one place!

Love this book. It was so much more than I was expecting. Well, so different from what I was expecting. I was thinking I was getting an anthology of horror stories. I mean, what other genre do you expect from a fiction book that’s all about mummies?

This book had a little bit of everything in terms of genre. You’ve got your Horror, your Urban Fantasy, your Mystery, some Romance, some…Historical Fiction? Yep, you get a lot for one book. And I found that pretty much every story warranted being printed, though one of my least favorites was the very first one. I’ve seen this happen a lot with anthologies, and I don’t know if my taste is just different than most or what.

Anyway, for sure worth the read for anyone who has mixed interests in genre and loves a good anthology. I would even like to have this one on my shelf to read over a few more times.

A fun collection of mummy stories. If you're into things like The Curse of the Mummy, you'll love this collection.

So, I'll say the thing that made me immediately request this without actually reading more about it was the fact that there is a story by Gail Carriger. I will literally read everything she writes. And I was not disappointed! She was in top form with her story - it combined everything that I love in all her work - it was a hoot. And I enjoyed the other stories too! Particularly Karen Joy Fowler's story.

I recommend! There aren't enough stories about mummies!

Recommended to anyone interested to read a good fantasy and sci-fi book!

This is a wonderful collection of short stories. As the title says all of these stories involve mummies but it will change your mind about what mummies are. These stories include historical fiction, historical mysteries, as well as more contemporary and very real mummies. Not all mummies are Egyptian either. Favorites of mine include Egyptian Revival, On Skua Island, Ramses on the Frontier, Fruit of the Tomb and The Mummy's Heart. Some of these authors were new to me but I will be reading more by them. Enjoy this unique collection.

The book is full of excellent mummy stories. The editor has outdone herself in choosing the stories for this anthology. I knew some of the authors and some I didn't. I always enjoy reading anthologies as I usually find new authors that I will want to read more of. I think that this is a great book of mummy stories. Don't expect it to be the usual mummy story. It isn't. Read it.

Mummies don't get enough attention in the horror genre. This is a great collection of stories. I recommend it for those who are stuck in the horror rut and want other monsters to get their time!

I'm not typically a sci-fi fan BUT.......I love MUMMIES!!!!!

This book is a collection of stories about mummies--past, future, romantic, plain old MUMMY MAYHEM! They're all stories from this century, so don't think this is a book about mummies from "olden times" I thoroughly enjoyed most of the stories, there were only about 2-3 that I personally was a little underwhelmed, but majority was great " mumminess" ( my own made up mummy word)

If you're in love with mummies, this is the book for you. I enjoy mummies the way many people enjoy zombies. This is a unique collection of stories with no repetitive type stories. Each unique in many ways. I never thought I'd read a story about romance & mummies, this is just one example of how different each story is told. You won't become bored with this selection. Plus, since this is a collection, most stories can easily be finished for a little fright night before bedtime, or while commuting to work ( as long as you're not the driver of course)

I'd highly recommend this book for those like myself that are in love with mummies, horror, sci-fi, or just for something different, perhaps

I received a digital copy from Net Galley and Diamond Book Distributors. In return I've written an honest, and maybe mummified, review. Happy mummy reading to all!!

The Mummy. What does that noun, “Mummy”, conjure in your mind? In my very strange mind, I get side by side pictures. One is the mummy I saw in the Smithsonian when I was in 7th grade (many, many years ago). The other is of the fantastic, wonderful Boris Karloff so very expressive while wrapped in linen. The new mummy movies have not changed that second image for me.

When the reader thinks about mummies in literature, the reader has to put effort into it. There just are not a plethora of mummy stories, not like vampires, werewolves or zombies. That may be because not many writers tried to work with them. Thank goodness Paula Guran collected nineteen short stories that expand and twist the typical mummy in such a way that while preserving the time honored concept allows a creative spin that leaves the reader hanging on for dear life.

The authors and stories in the book are:

* That I May Speak (Introduction to collection), Paula Guran - Guran does an excellent job of navigating the world of mummies both in film and literature.

* “Private Grave 9”, Karen Joy Fowler

* “The Good Shabti”, Robert Sharp - This story cuts between Ancient Egypt and the not too distant future. The sense of dread builds in both ages until there is a clash that I did not see coming. Great story.

* “Egyptian Revival”, Angela Slatter - This was one of my favorites. Imagine a strong, feminine Private Investigator in the Ancient Egyptian religion is proven to be real. Antiquities are now not just collectibles, they are possible gateways to immortality. A fun story. I will be adding the author to my list of new authors to check out.

* “The Queen in Yellow”, Kage Baker - Mummies and time travel. Oh and cyborgs.

* “On Skua Island”, John Langan - This one was creepy in a “they need to make this into a movie” creepy. Very good non-Egyptian mummy.

* “Ramesses on the Frontier”, Paul Cornell - I have read several books by Paul Cornell and he never disappoints. His Ramesses trip through the underworld is funny and unique and an excellent story.

* “The Shaddowes Box”, Terry Dowling

* “Egyptian Avenue”, Kim Newman - This one was really cool. I have read several of Kim Newman’s books involving his Diogenes Club. This story has that wonderful blend of supernatural and Scotland Yard. A very enjoyable story.

* “The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn’t, the Mummy That Was, and the Cat in the Jar”, Gail Carriger - My favorite of the collection. It does have a werewolf who isn’t, a mummy and a cat in the jar. It also has a character that I haven’t decided what he is and an author who I already put one of her books on hold at my local library.

* “The Night Comes On”, Steve Duffy - I enjoyed this one also. I will check out the author’s other work.

* “American Mummy”, Stephen Graham Jones - This was a good story set in the modern day southwestern USA.

* “Bubba-Ho-Tep”, Joe R. Lansdale - I did not see the movie that was based on this story. It did not really do anything for me but then again I am not an Elvis fan.

* “Fruit of the Tomb”, Carole Nelson Douglas - I loved this story. Having become a first time cat owner seven months ago, I can truly appreciate the worship of cats. Heart of Night is worthy of that worship.

* “The Chapter of Coming Forth by Night”, Lois Tilton & Noreen Doyle

* “The Mummy’s Heart”, Norman Partridge

* “The Emerald Scarab”, Keith Taylor

* “The Embalmer”, Helen Marshall - Not your typical mummy and two children I never want to cross paths with.

* “Tollund”, Adam Roberts

* “Three Memories of Death”, Will Hill - Another one of my favorites. A beautiful, touching story.

The Mammoth Book of the Mummy, which I received from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review, blew up the all my previous conceptions of what a mummy is. I discovered several new authors and broaden my imagination. I highly recommend The Mammoth Book of the Mummy. I hope to see other authors try their hand at this neglected beautiful genre.

This was a collection of stories about mummies from various authors. I tried several stories but I wasn’t able to get into any of them. The book just wasn’t for me.

As the characters flag up in John Langan's "On Skua Island" (one of the short stories collected here), the mummy has never been subject to the same level of interpretation as the vampire, the werewolf or even the zombie. Despite its longevity, it has never managed to be much more than a stock monster.

So what a treat this was. Through the small mountain of stories collected here, we get various takes on the mummy as a cultural object; as a representation of colonialism, of the uncanny, of revenge and redemption, of science, and maybe even of love and obligation.

Like any short story collection, there are better entries and worse ones, but the best here are worth the cover price by themselves. For me those include Kim Newman's "Egyptian Avenue" (a "Jason King" style pastiche of 60s Victoriana that's got me excited for the promised reissue of "The Man from the Diogenes Club", the aforementioned "On Skua Island" (possibly the most genuinely horrific story in the collection), and "Tollund"by Adam Roberts (a brilliant alternative history tale in which a group of Egyptian archaeologists travel to colonial Jutland and fall foul of a bog mummy).

Highly recommended for horror fans, Egyptophiles and those in need of a weighty read to get them through a few docile millennia.

This book was not what I was expecting but it i thoroughly enjoyed it. A collection of Mummy stories but more aimed at archeology/Egyptian style mummies rather than the ones you will see in films. A fantastic read.

The Mammoth Book of The Mummy is a collection of mummy stories but not the kind you see in the movies. This is not mummies that get out of coffins and chase people around moaning. These are fiction archeology stories/mysteries or Egyptian historical fiction stories with twists and turns. All exciting and many very suspense-filled, some just thought provoking. All are excellent. Great collection all dealing with mummies in some fashion. The beginning of the book gives a brief history of mummies. Large selection of various authors and types of stories. Thanks NetGalley, great read!

A nice collection of 19 stories that deal with mummies. Some of these stories are reprints and others are new. Some stories, as you'd expect are built around an Egyptian theme, but there are also stories about other kinds of mummies. All in all, a nice variety with a fascinating introduction by Paula Guran on mummies in film and literature.

As with any anthology, some stories pleased me more than others. My favorite was "Egyptian Revival" by Angela Slatter; I loved the Noirish 1950s alternate universe setting and the female PI - Evie Donnelly. The story involved a shady client hunting an Egyptian artifact. It left me wanting more - of both Evie Donnelly and any other stories by Angela Slatter.

Other stories from the collection that stood out to me were:

"On Skua Island" by John Langan was an interesting tale of bog mummy discovered on the island. It was a nice change of pace to have a story about a different type of mummy. The story opens with a dinner party discussing the merits of vampire and mummy stories, and then one of the guests offers his own account of what happened on a Skua Island expedition.

"Private Grave 9" by Karen Joy Fowler. The story is narrated by an American photographer documenting a dig funded by Lord Wallis. Wallis is displeased that they aren't turning up more spectacular finds like Howard Carter and dissent gradually spreads among the team.

Terry Dowling, "The Shadowwes Box" was my second favorite tale and also left me eager to find more stories by the author. It is a revenge story embellished with both supernatural and steampunk themes.
"The Mummy's Heart" by Norman Partridge is a novella that's a little hard to describe. It's an intriguing mashup of elements from the Halloween movies and mummy movies. The story begins on a Halloween night in 1963 with three boys who fight a mummy-obsessed murderer.

Recommended for readers who like mummies.

Sadly no Kindle friendly version of this is available.