From Publishers Weekly
Is it possible to publish an anthology of mystery stories without including Joyce Carol Oates? Apparently not, as series editor Otto Penzler says in his foreword to this outstanding compendium: "She has appeared in six of the seven annual volumes.... Nobody makes it into these books based on their fame or popularity, and she is no different. It is about the work, and she simply will not be denied." Oates's "The Skull," a richly mordant, Poe-ish tale of a forensic scientist obsessed with the head bones of a murder victim, might not be the best of the 20 stories, but it's certainly right up there. Other brand names working at their peak include George P. Pelecanos ("The Dead Their Eyes Implore Us") and Scott Phillips ("Sockdolager"), both of whom probe the roots of characters from their respective novels. Writers who deserve to be more famous, like Doug Allyn, O'Neill de Noux and Monica Wood, bring fresh insights to familiar material. By far the oddest entry is Taylor Dilts's "Thug: Signification and the (De) Construction of Self," which manages to combine an essay on deconstruction, complete with footnotes, with an entertaining crime story. As guest editor Connelly says in his introduction, if a novel is an SUV, a short story is a sports car. "I drove seven SUVs before I ever tried a sports car," he admits. "I found the difference amazing." Readers should share that amazement.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From AudioFile
Michael Connelly and Otto Penzler unite for the seventh installment in this mystery anthology. Predictably, the quality of the narrators varies. "The Pickpocket," which features an old pickpocket who explains the tricks of his trade, includes a wonderful surprise ending. The narrator perfectly "sets up" his listeners for a terrific climax. Joyce Carol Oates's "The Skull" is a disturbing story further enhanced by Eric Conger, who seems to take on the persona of the complex main character. Finally, the two most bizarre stories, "Controlled Burn" and "The Jeweler" are presented with just the right amount of creepiness. This series offers a variety of appetizers for short story fans and those new to the mystery genre. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--This text refers to the
Audio CD
edition.
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