A first edition of a 1968 book of poems, with a sonnet that appears in no other copy -- a mysterious girl with a special fountain-pen, who needs a special favor -- and an old woman who warns used-book dealer George Sydney that helping the girl he's fallen in love with will mean that he will never have fallen in love. Hollywood Boulevard, with its bars and used-book stores and the legendary Chinese Theater, is the psychic killing ground where Sydney must learn the rules of an old supernatural rivalry -- and choose to save either the woman he loves, or his soul.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Tim Powers,
This review is from: A Soul in a Bottle (Hardcover)
Not only does Tim Powers know how to pull off a great novel (see his latest "Three Days to Never"), he is also a master of the short story. And he does ghosts better than any author I've read. Put those two together and you have "A Soul in a Bottle". This is a "haunting" tale of love, revenge... and old books. Nicely done. The Subterranean Press edition is a very fine volume. I've always been pleased with their work.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bottled Powers,
By Theo Logos (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Soul in a Bottle (Hardcover)
`A Soul in a Bottle' is a Tim Powers ghost story. That sentence should send shivers of delight through any Powers' fan, for he is the absolute master of the ghost tale. The ghosts that inhabit his various works of speculative fiction are practically his signature, giving his stories a disturbing, "through the looking glass" quality that set them apart from anything else out there. His ghosts sometimes seem to be the connecting link forming the cosmic glue of the Powers' universe, tying together his widely varied works - they are the brushstrokes of a master. All of which makes me ponder why this Powers' ghost story is so - how shall I say, spiritless?
`A Soul in a Bottle' is more an idea than a story. It is a mere sketch. The editorial review calls it a novella, but that is inaccurate - it is a short story, and not a very long one at that. Why it was sold as a stand alone book (with a mere 82 pages of extra large print) is a mystery, as this story wouldn't even feel finished as part of a collection. Had it been given room to grow, to mature, to stretch out a bit, it may have become another eerie Powers' masterpiece. The elements are there - I can see the ghost of a brilliant idea in it, but it never grows into its potential. Powers shows us the relationship between the protagonist and the ghost, but he never really makes us feel it, and what is the point of a ghost story that you cannot feel? If you are a Tim Powers fan as I am, you may still want to read this one to glimpse what might have been in this stillborn attempt of a fine idea. Check it out of a library, though, and save your money for Powers next effort. Theo Logos
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Short and Complete,
By
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This review is from: A Soul in a Bottle (Hardcover)
More a short story than anything else. It's a good distillation of Powers' style, but leaves out too much character and background. Good twist, but more for the Powers devotee than a casual reader. Go with his full-length novels to get the best sense of Powers' capability with fantasy.
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