My most read author in 2025 has been Alastair Reynolds, so I was pretty excited to see a novella from him available on Netgalley. Thanks to the publishers and author for the eARC!

THE DAGGER IN VICHY is a slim story about a band of traveling performers that come across a dying man holding a mysterious wooden box. In his final act, he gives them instructions to deliver this box - the successful completion of this delivery being of upmost importance. But the contents of the box have a different idea...

While the story in THE DAGGER IN VICHY draws you in quickly, I found it to have none of the big scope/ideas that I've come to associate with Reynolds' works. The setting felt more historical than futuristic (but having read EVERSION recently, this didn't throw me off). My biggest issue was that I think novellas need strong endings - some of my favorite short stories usually end in a punch. But THE DAGGER IN VICHY just kinda.... fades away... and this is frankly my #1 critique for Reynolds' books in general - he rarely sticks the landings cough cough HOUSE OF SUNS and REVELATION SPACE. Usually there are all these big ideas and concepts to offset any feeble conclusions, but not so much in the case of THE DAGGER IN VICHY

Overall, an intriguing start but this won't stick with me long term. I will, however, keep reading Reynolds books! Next up ELYSIUM FIRE!

4.5/5

A short and sweet fantasy with an interesting premise and delectable prose reminiscent of 19th century adventures. I really appreciated the world it was set in and wish I could learn more. So many questions about the world were left unanswered, which wasn't a problem for me but would love more stories/novellas set in this futuristic medieval era.

Thank you to NetGalley Subterranean Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Dagger in Vichy takes place in a world that has passed through many eras of technology and advancement all the way back to medievil ages, with wreckages of old technology and hints of magic scattered throughout. We follow a theatre troupe made up of a wide cast of characters as they perform throughout this new-old France. On their way to their next performance the come upon a knight who will die to complete a task - to transport a box that contains an ancient intelligence to the Imperitor.

I was immediately struck by the sense of place that the story created, giving me a sort of darker Princess Bride vibe. I was intrigued by the characters of the story, especially those of the troupe that we did not interact with much, which I was sad to miss out on. I appreciated that the story was told from the point of view of a Rufus far in the future, with hints as to what he was currently up to and how the story would end. I also enjoyed the unexpected AI moment, though I wish it had been expanded upon as well (this is currently one of my favorite plot devices). Overall, The Dagger in Vichy landed a bit flat for me, it was missing a depth of story that I think is often hard to capture in a novella. This was my first work from this author and I am interested in checking out more!

Thanks to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for the advanced copy.

This novella is told in first person by a young thief who was saved by a playwright in a medieval seeming world that is post-technological apocalypse. The players come across a box that they are to deliver to the Imperator but the playwright questions their plans.

It was hard for me to place this novella in a time. I’m a reader that pictures I am reading and there wasn’t enough world-building for me to really make full sense of the society. There are references to a world with much greater technology, and it appears to have been within the lifetime of some of the characters, but society seems to have completely reverted to something resembling medieval times. Or maybe that’s just what I pictured.

The characters were interesting, and there seemed to be a lot of backstory on the narrator and Bernard that could have added to the story. There was one instance near the beginning where the first person narrator discusses something he did not see but not how he knew it happened. That was jarring to me and I had to reread a few times. Overall, it was an intriguing novella but left too much unexplained.

The Dagger in Vichy is a blend of post-apocalyptic sci-fi and medieval fantasy, and just the right mix of the two. This story follows a travelling theater troupe headed by the aging screenwriter Master Guillaume and the retired soldier Bernard. Late one night while traveling they come across a dying soldier who makes them swear to deliver his precious cargo to the head of the Imperium, but warns them to not look in the box no matter what. As the troupe continues their season route to Avignon the box seems to take a hold on Guillaume, and with the help of former thief Rufus he picks the lock of the box, unleashing the glories within.

There seems to be some pretty surface level criticism of AI as a producer of art, which seems to be spot on but not very subtle. Also a fun thought experiment on what it is to be human if every part has been replaced. I really like the world building, especially the realization in the end that Rufus makes. It really gives a perspective shift to the whole rest of the story.

This is the first work I've ready by Alastair Reynolds but certainly won't be the last. If he ever expands on this world I'd jump at the opportunity to read more.

Ever find yourself in the mood for something short & fast paced? The Dagger in Vichy is a quick and easy read, full of action and mystery.

I find it fascinating that the world Reynold’s builds is both medieval and somehow futuristic—he transforms the notion of what a future time & place could look like. I love the weirdness of the story that added to this odd new world, but also made me keep thinking, what could come next?

I did find myself wishing there was a bit more to each character, feeling like I couldn’t really connect on a deeper level. There are general stories about the character’s lives, but I feel like there could be a bit more substance. I think I tend to get bored with technological-oriented fantasy, and ideas of sort of odd advanced technology that can’t be explained, so some aspects were a little drab for me. Nevertheless, I recognize that it suits a certain audience and definitely has its place as a work of science fiction.

The book kept me entertained, and I definitely recommend to people who want something quick, and who enjoy science fiction that melds eras!

This novel works on so many levels. First, let me admit that I am a fan of his work and his outlook. My favorite Reynolds novels are Century Rain which I've read twice and Permafrost which I intend to read again. Also, I'm a devoted fan of many of his short stories. My favorite is the compact and oh-so philosophically rich, Understanding Space and Time. Most recently a delightful short titled, 'Things to do in Deimos When You’re Dead, features a delightful use of the metaphysical artist, De Chirico.

So Vichy Dagger is historical fiction? Not at all. Think Jack Vance and the Dying Earth subgenre where ancient technologies are hardly distinguishable from magic. Think of the best Science Fantasy, works by Wolf, Harrison, and McCauley. It's that good!

Utterly engaging. An excellent story featuring his signature humanism. Reynolds encourages us to live decently in hostile situations. This is why I read him. There's something so attractive about his genial stoicism.

The Dagger in Vichy just slaps, friends. Telling you too much about it spoils the weird creepy vibes. Have you ever watched some of A24's movies, especially the Green Knight? It's spooky and strange like that, and despite its short length of about 120 pages, it packs a heck of a punch. Dagger in Vichy is coming out on Halloween and I can't think of a better time to pick this one up. It's a horror-fantasy-scifi rolled up nice and neat in a small package you can read in an hour or two.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this early copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Subterranean Press for the ARC!

Altogether I found this an interesting story, particularly in how it blended futuristic sci-fi elements with archaic medieval story. A traveling theater group end up transporting a mysterious while they perform their plays, the contents on the box exerts its influence on one of the players and the story goes on from there. I was disappointed by the extreme lack of characterization in this book. The characters were all bland and boiled down to 1-2 character traits. I enjoy novellas when they tell a full fledged story in a short page count, however this told part of a story without showing us much more than a few 2 dimensional characters. The writing style was a tad bland for my taste, I was hoping for something more whimsical and descriptive with the promise of a medieval landscape from the start. The story itself has potential but ultimately let me down in its execution.

Alastair Reynolds’s The Dagger in Vichy is an engaging novella that blends medieval intrigue with subtle science fiction elements. Set in a distant future where civilization has regressed to a medieval-like state, the story follows a troupe of traveling actors as they embark on a mission to deliver a mysterious relic to the Imperator in Avignon. This journey is filled with secrets and hidden motives, adding layers of mystery to the narrative.

Reynolds excels at building an atmospheric and immersive world that feels both familiar and otherworldly. The characters are complex and reveal their secrets gradually, enhancing the story’s depth. The brisk pacing keeps the narrative moving quickly, making it an absorbing and satisfying read.

Overall, The Dagger in Vichy demonstrates Reynolds’s skill as a storyteller, offering a distinctive and memorable tale that leaves a lasting impression.

The Dagger in Vichy is a tense, atmospheric novella that blends medieval intrigue with subtle sci-fi elements. Alastair Reynolds crafts a world that feels both familiar and alien, following a troupe of traveling actors who become entangled in a dangerous mission. The story unfolds with an eerie sense of inevitability, balancing slow-burning suspense with sharp, efficient prose. While the character work is solid and the worldbuilding compelling, the ending feels a bit abrupt, leaving certain threads unresolved. Still, it’s an engaging, thought-provoking read that lingers after the final page.

Throughly enjoyed, would recommend to others!

I really liked the writing style and how the story was told. I also enjoyed how the book goes over the greed of men when it comes to power and how it changes you so much. The sci-fi aspect of the book was mixed with medival and dystopian vibes that was very enjoyable. Having it be in France of their time made the understanding of how far they were traveling more obtainable as well. Honestly the story kept me guessing and I did like the slight thriller vibes of the mysterious box. The sci-fi wasn't too over the top and understandable. The overall dystopian/sci-fi vibes kind of reminded me of Seven Black Blades. I plan to recommend this book because it's unlike most books I have read and I'm happy I got the chance to. I'm hoping the author plans to write more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for the E-Arc copy of The Dagger in Vichy in exchange for my honest review!

The Dagger in Vichy by Alastair Reynolds is an eerie novella that mixes fantasy and sci-fi, and it grips you right from the start. Set in the far, far future—think medieval times, but way more twisted—the story pulls you into a world that feels both ancient and otherworldly. What really stands out here is the atmosphere. Reynolds does an amazing job creating a vibe that’s tense and unsettling, making you feel like you’re walking through a dream (or a nightmare) where nothing is quite what it seems. The mix of futuristic tech and old-school mythology gives it a unique edge, and the story itself keeps you on your toes.

It’s a short read, but if you’re into speculative fiction that plays with different genres and likes to keep you guessing, The Dagger in Vichy is definitely worth picking up. It’s dark, mysterious, and totally immersive—just the kind of read for fans who like a little weirdness with their adventure.

Rating: 5/5

A ragtag troop of traveling actors stumbles upon a stranger while en route to their next destination and they make a bargain that changes all of their lives forever.

This novella was a quick read that left a lasting impression. A creepy tale about the morality of a weighty decision; I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The only drawback was that it was not longer.

Thank you to Subterranean Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I think that anybody who has any anxieties about the numerous artificial intelligence large language models, and what that could mean for books, the publishing industries, movies, television shows, and all the creative fields, should pick up this book regardless if they like novellas and/or sci-fi, or they don't. The reason is, that this is the first work of fiction that I have personally read that deals with these anxieties in a raw and tangible way. While I am sure this won't be the last of this theme in the years to come, I am willing to say this is one of the firsts. And because of this, when it comes out, I need you to pick up a copy and digest and sit with what this book is trying to communicate.

In this book, we follow a young man named Rufus in an entertainment troupe in a far future, post-industrial and post-technological France which has practically reset to the medieval times, retaining very few technological advancements from the previous ages and civilization. The entertainment troupe leader helped Rufus escape the death penalty, granted that he reformed his criminal ways. Because of this, Rufus feels a debt is owed to the leader. However, when the leader gets ahold of some old technology, Rufus must contend with his morals or the man who saved his life.

Again, I cannot express enough how much I want you guys to read this book if you have even the slightest anxieties about the future to come with websites like DeepSeek, Copilot, and ChatGPT, especially in the creative fields. Once again, while I am 1000000001% this won't be the last book with these themes, this is one of the first books with this theme that I can discern and I think everyone should read it.

I’m not a fan of short stories but felt the novella length gave enough time to develop the story. The story focuses on a traveling band of actors who perform plays. The main characters are Guillaume, the playwright, Bernard, an actor and retired military man, and Rufus, a young boy saved from the noose a by Guillaume after being caught stealing. Guillaume is entrusted by a knight on the road with delivering an urgent package and it is there that their troubles begin. The story was well written and enjoyable. Happy reading!

An amalgamation of horror, thriller, fantasy, and Sci-fi, The Dagger in Vichy was a crazy 120 pages. The story follows a travelling theatrical troupe through various cities in France as they perform their Shakespeare-esque plays. Their journey is quickly hijacked when they find themselves rerouted on a mysterious quest involving an Imperator, a playwright, a young apprentice and a menacing box they are warned should not be opened. I could not put this down. The characters are both loveable and despicable, the pacing is sharp and the story is pleasantly weird and unique. The setting was not exactly pinpointed, but it felt like a medieval renaissance following a semi-apocalyptic war where magic and advanced technology were previously prevalent. Maybe? I'm honestly still not sure. Once I stopped trying to figure out the juxtaposition of centuries, it was too easy to enjoy the precarious whimsicality of not knowing. It kept the story fresh and me, as the reader, on my toes. Just when i thought I knew where I was and what was possible, I'm thrown for a loop and back to square one. It felt familiar yet refreshing different; like history, but a history I didn't know existed. I don't know, something about this book kept me fully engaged and smiling the whole time. One minor star off for the way it ended. It felt a little abrupt and I wish we'd gotten a few more details. Even with that minor issue, it still felt satisfying and cohesive. 4 stars.

A dagger in Vichy gives an eerie and shadowy vibe. In this old fashioned novella, a group of traveling actors in France come across a dying soldier on the road. With his last breath, he gives them a sealed box and asks them to deliver it to the Imperato. Their leader promises to complete the task and never open the box. But the master's curiosity gets the best of him.
The journey takes an unexpected turn filled with secrets, manipulation, and betrayal to the masters companions.
I enjoyed this fast-paced read. I loved the vibe from the beginning which kept me hooked. The authors writing style was smooth and easy to follow. The story had a great balance of mystery and tension. While I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, it was still well-crafted and entertaining read that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a quick, immersive story.

What an interesting French-medieval ‘fantasy’ novella by one of science fiction’s most important writers of the last 30 years! A Dagger in Vichy is set in humanity’s far future after an apocalyptic event has left the world without much technological advancement, no cars, no phones - just limited, to almost medieval, means. We follow a troupe of performers who are tasked with returning an important religious artifact to the Imperator in Avignon. As the story unfolds, we learn more about the narrator, the youngest member of the troupe, the master writer of the group, and the artifact itself. Wonderfully written and a nice distinction from Reynolds’ typical space-faring stories. Reminiscent in some ways of Mark Lawrence’s Broken Empire trilogy - with the far-future setting and the left-over technologies, but not quite as dark. Reynolds leaves this world at the end of the story with potential future tales as an apparent option. I would certainly enjoy seeing more stories in this world. Reynolds is an excellent storyteller and has created a wonderful setting and characters. Highly recommended!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-ARC! 3 ⭐️


This is a fun mishmash of genres, definitely a romp. I don’t have a whole lot of insight; the note I wrote down while reading was: “If the Rust filming accident happened in a medieval Futurama episode.”

It was a quick, fun time. I found myself being more drawn in by the atmosphere and the lore of the world, and in that sense it left me wanting more. Those bits grabbed me more than the plot, which is pretty easy to follow but ultimately fairly archetypal.

Anyway it was a good, if not unchallenging read.