Geektastic, edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci (Little, Brown and Company, 2009)

My name is Michael, and, to no one’s surprise, I am a geek. While the manner in which I express my geekitude has changed over the years, from theatre, to writing, to gaming, I’ve always embraced my geekdom. And so … Continue reading

Warrior Wisewoman, by Roby James (Norilana Books, 2008)

Meant in part as a science fiction companion to the long-running (and recently-resurrected) fantasy anthology series Sword and Sorceress, Warrior Wisewoman is . . . well, a complex creature, if one reads the note of explanation in the back. There, … Continue reading

Wild Cards: Inside Straight, edited by George R.R. Martin (Tor, 2008)

Sixty years ago, the world was transformed by the accidental release of a deadly alien virus over New York City, which forever altered the human potential. For most who contract Xenovirus Takis-A, also known as the wild card, all they … Continue reading

Who Can Save Us Now? by Owen King and John McNally (Free Press, 2008)

When I sat down to try and describe this anthology, I found myself at a loss for words. I tried to be witty, but nothing was working. I tried to be ironic, but that failed. I even tried to be … Continue reading

Sword and Sorceress XXII , edited by Elisabeth Waters (Norilana Books, 2007)

In 1984, the first Sword and Sorceress anthology came out, edited by the notoriously feminist writer and editor, Marion Zimmer Bradley. Her goal: to breathe new life into the roles of females in the fantasy field, to encourage strong new … Continue reading

Lace and Blade, by Deborah J. Ross (Norilana Books, 2008)

In Lace and Blade, editor Deborah J. Ross has brought together a number of stories which look to convey a sense of romantic fantasy, as inspired by authors like Oscar Wilde or Tanith Lee, or classic characters like Zorro, the … Continue reading

Strange Candy, by Laurell K. Hamilton (Berkley, 2006)

When you think of Laurell K. Hamilton, you probably think first of her Anita Blake series of books, and of highly-sensualized vampires and werewolves. Or perhaps you think of her Meredith Gentry series of even more sexualized faeries and related … Continue reading

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror #15, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling (St. Martin's Griffin, 2002)

If someone were to assign awards to the roundup of Year’s Best books that invariably grace the shelves during the middle of each year, those volumes edited by Silverberg or Hartwell or Datlow and Windling or other sundry people, then … Continue reading

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror #14, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling (St. Martin's Press, 2001)

As I may have noted before, to put together a collection of stories, or what have you, and call it the best, you’re really making a certain subjective statement. Everyone’s opinion about the best differs. Some of the most critically … Continue reading

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror #13, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling (St. Martin's Griffin, 2000)

“Good evening, Ms. Datlow, Ms. Windling. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to compile a volume dealing with the best of the fantasy and horror genres for the year 1999. Not only must you pick out the … Continue reading