4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!, July 30, 2005
This book is a collection of eleven of the best Fantasy short stories to appear in 2004. Each of these stories was written by a different author, and they range far and wide in style and subject matter. Now, I would normally expect to find some stories I liked and some I didn't, but I found all of these stories to be great. (Though I will say that I thought that the stories got better as the book advanced!)
Yep, this is a very nice anthology, and a great read. If you are a fan of Fantasy literature, like me, then you must get this book, it is great!
In case you are interested, the eleven stories are:
Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless House of the Night of Dread Desire by Neil Gaiman - Writing realistic fiction can be so dreadful...especially when reality is so unreal!
The Word That Sings the Scythe by Michael Swanwick - Will has much that he wishes he could forget, but he can't. And then he meets a charming little girl, one who can't remember anything.
The Little Stranger by Gene Wolfe - There once was a little old lady who lived by herself in the woods, and such strange things happen around her. But, is she really a witch?
The Faery Handbag by Kelly Link - Genvieve's grandmother jealously guarded her handbag, her magical handbag. But, now that she is dead, Genvieve prepares for an adventure.
Quarry by Peter S. Beagle - A young man, fleeing for his life, meets an old man who will help him and teach him what he needs to survive. But, it soon becomes apparent that the old man is fleeing something himself.
The Enchanted Trousseau by Deborah Roggie - When a wizard comes to woo her wayward daughter, Gerinet, Alrea knows what she must do. And so, like her mother and grandmother before her, she begins to sew spells into her daughter's trousseau.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Robert Silverberg - When Gannin Thidrich becomes apprentice to a sorcerer, he did not expect his teacher to be a sorceress, and a beautiful one at that. Things are going to get very complicated for Gannin.
The Annals of the Eelin-Ok by Jeffrey Ford - There is a species of fairy that lives in children's sandcastles on beaches, and they live as long as the castle exists. This is the story of the life of Eelin-Ok and Castle While Away. [Actually, I think that this is my favorite.]
Pat Moore by Tim Powers - Pat Moore never questioned how common his name was...until he started meeting ghosts with the same name.
The Angel's Daughter by Jay Lake - Once upon a time, in a magical desert city, there lived an angel's daughter who could only be freed by a man who could win her heart.
The Silver Dragon by Elizabeth A. Lynn - In the land of Ryoka, an evil lord prepares for war against his neighbors, including the Silver Dragon. In order to neutralize the dragon, the lord steals his wife. But, the dragon will stop at nothing to get his wife back.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
I bought a second copy., April 23, 2010
Browsing through a used book store, I glanced at this in passing and saw Gaiman's name on it. ...so, what the heck, I needed a book I could read and leave behind while traveling, and short stories are good for that.
The Gaiman story was conceptually strong and adequately executed. The rest of the stories, on the other hand, were mostly breathtaking. I had to buy a second copy. An example of Gene Wolfe's best work is included, and some of the other stories, by authors I mostly don't know or remember, indicate that I need to find out more. I'm a fantasy lover, and I'm surprised and gratified that 2004 had this many stories of this caliber. I'm going to pick up books from more recent years, but this book has my highest recommendation to any fantasy fans.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Not Free SF Reader, May 10, 2008
A little better than I expected, averaging 3.59. I guess Gaiman, Swanwick, Beagle and Silverberg is a pretty fair batting order.
A brief overview at the beginning talking about difficulties of pinning down fantasy, referencing Cluteian Encyclopedias, etc. Also going over where the stories were from: all over the place.
Fantasy Best of 2004 : Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless House of the Night of Dread Desire - Neil Gaiman
Fantasy Best of 2004 : The Word That Sings the Scythe - Michael Swanwick
Fantasy Best of 2004 : The Little Stranger - Gene Wolfe
Fantasy Best of 2004 : The Faery Handbag - Kelly Link
Fantasy Best of 2004 : Quarry - Peter S. Beagle
Fantasy Best of 2004 : The Enchanted Trousseau - Deborah Roggie
Fantasy Best of 2004 : The Sorcerer's Apprentice - Robert Silverberg
Fantasy Best of 2004 : The Annals of Eelin-Ok - Jeffrey Ford
Fantasy Best of 2004 : Pat Moore - Tim Powers
Fantasy Best of 2004 : The Angel's Daughter - Jay Lake
Fantasy Best of 2004 : The Silver Dragon - Elizabeth A. Lynn
Writing supposed to be less funny, have less monsters.
4 out of 5
Mid-life memory crisis.
4 out of 5
Witchybread woman.
3 out of 5
Accessory home hunt.
4 out of 5
Pursuit of rejection showdown vegie trap.
4 out of 5
How we stitched up the wife-beating wizard, I don't see.
4 out of 5
Bugged by being otterly in love.
4 out of 5
Mini sandkings.
3 out of 5
Ghost namesake Hold'Em, mushroom ante like a demon.
3 out of 5
Changing tune suit.
2.5 out of 5
Dragon besieges, sneaks, server and scarpers.
4 out of 5
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