The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy: Sixteen Original Works by Speculative Fiction's Finest Voices (Paperback)

by Ellen Datlow (Editor)
Key Phrases: little god, shrinking ray, Miss Charlie, Sonny Liston, Great James (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Declaring that short stories are the heart and soul of fantastical fiction, prolific and venerable editor Datlow collects 16 impressive original stories in this unthemed anthology. Standout selections include Margo Lanagan's deeply disturbing The Goosle, which eloquently corrupts the Hansel and Gretel fable with bubonic plague, sexual slavery and mass murder; Jason Stoddard's The Elephant Ironclads, which describes an emergent 20th-century Navajo nation struggling to become a world power while staying true to its culture; Elizabeth Bear's Sonny Liston Takes the Fall, a poignant tale about the life, death and sad legacy of the troubled heavyweight fighter; and Pat Cadigan's Jimmy, a strange and supernatural coming-of-age story set in the moments just after John F. Kennedy's assassination. The thematic diversity and consistently high quality of narrative throughout make for a solid and enjoyable anthology. (Apr.)
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From School Library Journal
Adult/High School—This collection of cutting-edge writing has appeal to older teens familiar with the demands of speculative fiction at its best. The 16 pieces include tales of alien abduction and war, murder, familial abuse, and alternate histories of the world. Many are emotionally charged and most keep readers working hard to keep up with the inventive narrative and leaps of unexpected science and fantasy. There are ghosts and monsters here, and two stories with strikingly different examples of golems. One is a tragic sacrificial figure named Sonny Liston, otherwise known as a famous American boxer; the other is a creation made literally from Hebrew letters and brought to life by a rabbinical student for his own purpose. To the man's surprise, his golem has its own agenda, which is to fulfill its destiny as a vengeful agent of God's Word. Several of these stories are puzzling and lack clear resolutions; they make readers ponder what they mean and how they end-just what speculative fiction should do. An anthology that's thought-provoking and intellectually challenging.—Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (April 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345496329
• ISBN-13: 978-0345496324
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #678,382 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong refreshing all over the genres collection, May 3, 2008

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This sixteen story anthology runs the gamut of speculative fiction, which makes it in many ways a fresh throwback before themed restraints became the name of the short story game for especially fantasy and horror but to a lesser degree science fiction and alternate history too. The contributions are all well written with several spectacular entries. "Renaissance" readers will enjoy the compilation from the opening alternate history act (The Elephant Ironclads" by Jason Stoddard) to the closing collaboration "Prisoners of the Action" by McCauley and Newman and points in between. The tales include contemporary urban ("Ardent Clouds" by Lucy Sussex), fairy tale revision ("The Goosle" by Margo Langan), and an alternate historical fictional account of why "Sonny Liston Takes the Fall" in his bout with Ali then Clay by Elizabeth Bear. Sci fi is present with "Special Economics" in China by Maureen F. McHugh and changing urban geography too ("AKA St. Marks Place" by Richard Bowes). Barry Malzberg provides a change of pace with plenty of humor with his talking goat golem in "The Passion of Azrael". With supernatural entries ("Jimmy" by Pat Cadigan and "The Lagerstatte by Laird Barron)) to round out the anthology, this is a strong refreshing all over the place collection though a strong alternate history (to include "Shira" by Lavie Tidhar) presence is throughout.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, intelligent, mind-bending speculative fiction, January 18, 2009

By	Nancy O. Greene "Author of Portraits in the Dark" - See all my reviews

THE DEL REY BOOK OF SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY edited by Ellen Datlow is a very different kind of speculative fiction anthology. As Ms. Datlow indicates in the preface, you won't find a lot of space opera or sword and sorcery in this book.

It opens with a superb alternate history by Jason Stoddard. In "The Elephant Ironclads" two young friends, Niyol and Wallace, come across two men seeking plutonium, which is considered "the heart of the mountain" in Dinetah. In a short span of time, the boys learn that life is about tough choices, progress may also mean sacrifice, and being a hero requires more than either of them imagined. It's a story that questions the values of contemporary society: What if our cultural myths are true? How would we view our current lifestyles if directly faced with the values of the past?

Lucy Sussex's "Ardent Clouds" is an interesting soft science fiction story about a young woman's self-destructive tendencies and thirst for adventure, and the repercussions of her disregard for her own safety. It comes across as a dramatic peek into the lives of volcanologists and adventurers. The characters are real, and the story ends with an expected dose of reality that seems to be a challenge to the standards of typical action/adventure stories.

One of my favorite stories in the collection is "The Lagerstatte" by Laird Barron. It's a chilling, non-linear ghost story that starts off slowly, giving the reader some necessary background information. But there is a gradual pull as it begins to wrap the reader in a tight blanket of the main character's darkness and suffering. Danni is a woman on the edge after losing her husband and son to a tragic accident. Her best friend encourages her to seek help, first in the form of an anti-suicide twelve-step program, then in the form of one-on-one therapy. Neither seems to help, and when one of the women in her twelve-step program introduces her to mystical forces, she unlocks a door that she can't -- or won't -- close. The writing style is dense and allows you to feel how the character is steadily suffocating beneath the weight of guilt, grief, and the invitations of death. It's a powerful story, sure to please.

"Special Economics" by Maureen F. McHugh is an engaging tale about two young women in China trying to make a living after the bird flu wipes out a large part of the population. Corporations like New Life exploit the situation and use people essentially as slaves, putting those that work for them in debt. The main character, Jieling, is savvy and finds a loophole in the rules. This is another soft science fiction/alternate history tale that deals with the politics of the day, and it's a very good read.

There are also many other fine stories in the anthology. Jeffrey Ford's "Daltharee" deals with the familiar subject of the Scientist-as-God and the potential consequences. "Jimmy" by Pat Cadigan is an interesting coming-of-age fantasy/science fiction tale about what it's like for people who are different, people who know too much. It revolves around two young friends growing up during a turbulent time in the 60's and the events that force them to grow up too fast. "Shira" is a fascinating and controversial fantasy/science fiction/alternate history story by Lavie Tidhar. "The Goosle" by Margo Lanagan is a brutal, horrifying fairy tale based on Hansel and Gretel. Although well-written, it is a graphic depiction of violence and child abuse at its worst. Elizabeth Bear's "Sonny Liston Takes the Fall" is a fantasy that deals with the real-life problems and possible sacrifices of those on the outskirts of history. "North American Lake Monsters" by Nathan Ballingrud is a fantasy that deals with the fragile relationships and flaws of a cruel man trying to connect with a family he doesn't know. In "All Washed Up While Looking for a Better World," Carol Emshwiller creates a curious tale about a dissatisfied young woman that finds out the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the shore.

Other stories include "Aka St. Mark's Place" by Richard Bowes, a fantasy that revolves around the lives of runaways and private investigators; Christopher Rowe's "Gather" features a child-like man's fascination with coins and God; Judaism, reincarnation and revenge take center stage in "The Passion of Azazel" by Barry N. Malzberg; a man is obsessed with finding the perfect bone specimen in Anna Tambour's "Gladiolus Exposed"; and "Prisoners of the Action" by Paul McAuley and Kim Newman is a science fiction tale with a political theme.

All of the stories in the anthology are well-written, and many readers are also sure to recognize some nods to the masters of speculative fiction, like Philip K. Dick. But if you're looking to read great, well-written escapist fiction -- even if you're looking for thought-provoking but light entertainment -- this book is not for you. If you want to read a well-written anthology of deep stories that will disturb you, break your heart, wrap your mind in nightmarish visions, and introduce you to new and subtly strange worlds just around the corner, then The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy is the kind of work you've been looking for.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Speculative Anthology, May 19, 2008

By	ardentdelerium "nerdy nerd" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This short story collection is a treat for science fiction and fantasy fans alike (I must confess to a stronger pull to the latter, generally). The first four and final two stories particularly are incredibly engaging, enchanted tapestries that bespell the reader into turning the page again and again. "All Washed Up While Looking for a Better World" and "Special Economics" are the weakest stories, but still hold a fascination. The Lagetstatte was the most difficult to read due to its emotional storyline. Overall, a well-crafted anthology with the stories obviously ordered in a way that connects them without making them seem like they should be actual continuations of each other.