Two "Best Of" Anthologies from 2005

Fantasy: The Best of 2004, edited by Karen Haber and Jonathan Strahan (iBooks, 2005) Science Fiction: The Best of 2004, edited by Karen Haber and Jonathan Strahan (iBooks, 2005) That’s right, it’s that time of the year already, and the … Continue reading

Crossroads, edited by F. Brett Cox and Andy Duncan (Tor, 2004)

This is actually something of an interesting mixed bag. Crossroads was an attempt to invoke a certain sense of style and atmosphere by collecting stories and short pieces about the American South, honoring authors such as William Faulkner, Mark Twain, … Continue reading

Renaissance Faire, edited by Andre Norton and Jean Rabe (DAW, 2005)

There’s nothing quite like a Renaissance Faire. The crowds, the jousting, the meat on a stick, the mangled accents, the lovely costumes and chainmail bikinis, the people playacting at a fantasized, idealized past. In this imaginative anthology, sixteen authors turn … Continue reading

Cloaked In Shadow, edited by W.H.Horner (Fantasist Enterprises, 2004)

Cloaked in Shadow is the first themed anthology offering from the relatively new Fantasist Enterprises (www.fantasistent.com). With almost two dozen stories featuring the darker side of elves and fairies, it definitely has a little something for everything, though in general, … Continue reading

Rotten Relations, edited by Denise Little (DAW, 2004)

Just in time for the holidays, we have this lovely anthology, which puts the matter of family into a whole new perspective. Think you might have trouble with your drunken Uncle Gary, who retells the same old stories every year? … Continue reading

Sword and Sorceress XXI, edited by Diana L. Paxson (Daw, 2004)

With this volume, the groundbreaking anthology of feminist fantasy created by Marion Zimmer Bradley reaches twenty-one, thus making it one of the longest-running anthology series in the field, as well as allowing it to drink legally in the United States. … Continue reading

Turn the Other Chick, edited by Esther Friesner (Baen, 2004)

I find it fitting that I review this particular book in the same column as the newest Sword and Sorceress, given that the Chicks series is, in some ways, a direct response not only to the feminist focus of S&S, … Continue reading

Murder by Magic, edited by Rosemary Edghill (Aspect, 2004)

As with Powers of Detection, which I covered several months ago, Murder by Magic mixes the fantasy and mystery genres for some interesting results. Twenty authors present their characters with magical, murderous dilemmas to solve, divided into five categories: modern, … Continue reading

The Faery Reel, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling (Viking Children’s Books, 2004)

It’s taken me several months just to try and figure out what I want to say about this book. Mainly because it’s one of those rare occasions where I’m afraid that whatever I have to say won’t live up to … Continue reading