Clockwork Phoenix: Tales of Beauty and Strangeness (Paperback)

~ Mike Allen (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Author and editor Allen (Mythic) has compiled a neatly packaged set of short stories that flow cleverly and seamlessly from one inspiration to another. In The City of Blind Delight by Catherynne M. Valente, a man inadvertently ends up on a train that takes him to an inescapable city of extraordinary wonders. In All the Little Gods We Are, Hugo winner John Grant takes a mind trip to possible parallel universes. Modern topics make an appearance among the whimsy and strangeness: Ekaterina Sedia delves into the misunderstandings that occur between cultures and languages in There Is a Monster Under Helen's Bed, while Tanith Lee gleefully skewers gender politics with The Woman, giving the reader a glimpse of what might happen if there was only one fertile woman left in a world of men. Lush descriptions and exotic imagery startle, engross, chill and electrify the reader, and all 19 stories have a strong and delicious taste of weird. (July)
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Product Description

You hold in your hands a cornucopia of modern cutting-edge fantasy.

The first volume of this extraordinary new annual anthology series of fantastic literature explodes on the scene with works that sidestep expectations in beautiful and unsettling ways, that surprise with their settings and startle with the manner in which they cross genre boundaries, that aren't afraid to experiment with storytelling techniques, and yet seamlessly blend form with meaningful function. The delectable offerings found within these pages come from some of today's most distinguished contemporary fantasists and brilliant rising newcomers.

Whether it's a touch of literary erudition, playful whimsy, extravagant style, or mind-blowing philosophical speculation and insight, the reader will be led into unfamiliar territory, there to find shock and delight.

Introducing CLOCKWORK PHOENIX.

"Author and editor Allen (Mythic) has compiled a neatly packaged set of short stories that flow cleverly and seamlessly from one inspiration to another.... Lush descriptions and exotic imagery startle, engross, chill and electrify the reader, and all 19 stories have a strong and delicious taste of weird."
-- Publishers Weekly

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Norilana Books; 1 edition (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934169986
• ISBN-13: 978-1934169988
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #457,753 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing collection, November 19, 2008

A Kid's Review

These stories stuck in my mind for weeks after I read them. Better than Kelly Link's "Magic for Beginners," which was my favorite short story collection before I read this one. I found myself searching out other stories by the authors, some of whom I'd never heard of before but are now my favorites. Looking forward to Clockwork Phoenix 2.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aptly named, May 27, 2009

By	Anastasia (Staten Island, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Tales of beauty and strangeness indeed. Mix of fantasy and science fiction, all of them quite accomplished and lovely. Two that stand out the most in my mind are "The Woman" by Tanith Lee, a melancholy tale of how it would feel to be the last woman left on earth, and "All the Little Gods We Are" by John Grant - completely unexpected, a memorable, moving story about a boy meeting his soul-twin.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating visions, January 19, 2009

By	J. Cheney (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The subtitle of this anthology, "Tales of Beauty and Strangeness," is a fitting one. The anthology joins the differing styles of many authors. Some tales are crafted with complex and poetical language while others are leaner. Each story, though, takes us inside an author's fantastical vision. Some are very close to home, and others utterly foriegn.

I suspect that every person who reviews this will pick different stories as their favorites. I loved Cat Rambo's "The Dew Drop Coffee Lounge," the story of a place where assignations go awry, and how the universe seeks to ease the pain of broken dreams. Joanna Galbraith's "The Moon-Keeper's Friend" is a charming tale of two friends that brings the fantastic (and the moon) within man's reach. And Catherynne M. Valente's "The City of Blind Delight" mesemerized me with its lush imagery and fascinating possibilities.

If you're looking for well-written and thought-provoking stories, this is a wonderful place to start.