L. Sprague de Camp was a master in the science fiction and fantasy fields, known both for his adventure-packed, swashbuckling action stories and his humor-laced tales. His unique style inspired any number of today’s greatest writers, and now they’ve come … Continue reading
Is it that time of year again already? No, not prom season. Time for the various “Year’s Best” collections to trickle out. This time, it’s the Year’s Best SF #10, as collected by David Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer. As always, … Continue reading
Coming right on the heels of the SF volume is this lovely collection of, as the title suggests, Hartwell and Cramer’s picks for best fantasy stories of the previous year. Everything I said about the SF collection applies here: it’s … Continue reading
Another collection of original short fiction commissioned by the Science Fiction Book Club, Down These Dark Spaceways brings together half a dozen authors to spin tales of science fiction mystery, murder, and intrigue. They combine the fine art of the … Continue reading
As suggested by the title, this anthology is a collection of thirteen stories all revolving around the age-old concept of the Three-in-One, also known as the Triple Goddess, or the Maiden, Matron (Mother) and Crone. Best associated with Wiccan beliefs, … Continue reading
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
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
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 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
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
