Waukegan Public Library - anthology

Have You Heard About... Hex Appeal

Fran J — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:41:52 +0000

… the hottest hexes money can buy? Hex Appeal, edited by P. N. Elrod, brings together nine stories by some of the top urban fantasy authors of our time. From the University of Oklahoma to London’s Nightside, an intriguing collection of vampires, zombies, witches, wizards, demons, and other supernatural creatures deal with spells to help and hurt them.

While the tone of the stories varies, all have at least dark humor and a touch of mystery, and most also feature love, lust, or romance. These are all new stories, not reprints or excerpts from other works. A few feature characters from longer series, but they stand alone perfectly well. This collection has something for everyone: betrayal, retribution, innocent mistakes, and salvation; worlds much like ours and worlds where magic is crushing technology; gritty noir, true love, and epic fight scenes. Give it a try if you like Ms Elrod’s other anthologies, such as Dark and Stormy Knights or Strange Brew.

Reviewed by Fran (staff)

Have You Heard About... Welcome to Bordertown

Fran J — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:49:18 +0000

…the hidden city on the border between our world and the Realm of the elves? Welcome to Bordertown, edited by Holly Black and Ellen Kushner, brings readers back to one of the first shared worlds of urban fantasy. This new anthology includes works by some of the biggest names in fantasy and science fiction – Terri Windling (who created Bordertown and edited the first collections of stories about it), Cory Doctorow, Patricia McKillip, Catherynne M. Valente, Jane Yolen, Tim Pratt, Neil Gaiman, Charles de Lint, and many others. In addition to short stories, there are poems, song lyrics, and a graphic novel.

Bordertown is a difficult, confusing city caught between the World of technology and the Realm of magic. It is hard to reach under the best of circumstances, although a route can usually be found from almost any urban area. However, the way there was closed completely for thirteen years. At least, it was thirteen years in the World; only thirteen days passed in Bordertown itself, and no one knows how much time went by in the Realm. Magic and technology work only intermittently in Bordertown, so those who live there learn to rely on both and neither – strange mishmashes of spells and batteries and engines that run when you whisper a charm over them. Newcomers bring new technology, dreams, and ideas to the city, but they have to adjust to a world without the internet or cell phones or instant access to everything.

Bordertown is a world of fairy tales, but it is far more Grimm than Disney. Many of the stories feature runaways and young people looking for adventure, from both sides of the border. Frequently, they find both more and less than they expected – gangs, cheap squats in rundown buildings, strange plants and animals (and people), music, art, the chance to live their dreams, and the chance to starve to death. Life on the border is not easy, but it can be beautiful.

Reviewed by Fran (staff)

Have You Heard About... Miracle

Fran J — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:36:47 +0000

… Christmas with a twist? Connie Willis collects eight of her short stories to make Miracle, and other Christmas stories. These stories take a slightly twisted look at the holiday season, both religious and secular. Mary and Joseph take a wrong turn through a modern church on the way to Bethlehem. People get what they truly want for Christmas, whether they know it or not. A self-centered, impatient, manipulative man gets what he deserves. An odd trio has their own epiphanies and search for the second coming of Christ.

Most of the stories have a fantasy, horror, or science fiction angle, although where the line between magic and miracle falls will depend on the reader. Connie Willis ends the collection with her recommendation of twelve things to read and twelve things to watch this Christmas. This is one of the books I frequently re-read in December to remind myself of what Christmas is really about, what it should be about, and how much worse my family and work-place gatherings could be (even without alien invaders).

Reviewed by Fran (staff)

Have You Heard About... Kitty’s Greatest Hits

Fran J — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 06:03:58 +0000

… Carrie Vaughn’s vampires and werewolves and bounty hunters (oh, my)? Kitty’s Greatest Hits is a collection of short stories by the author of the series about Kitty the werewolf*. Many of the stories focus on Kitty Norville, Cormac Bennett, and other characters from the series. Some look at the possible effects vampires and shape-shifters may have had at different points in history.

This collection has a mix of previously-published and new material. I particularly liked the stories that filled in background information on Rick the vampire, Kitty’s werewolf friend TJ, and Cormac the bounty hunter. Most of the stories could probably stand alone, although some familiarity with the series certainly helps. I found all of the stories to be consistently well-written and entertaining, with Ms Vaughn’s characteristic mix of humor and depth.

* The books in that series are Kitty and the Midnight Hour, Kitty Goes to Washington, Kitty Takes a Holiday, Kitty and the Silver Bullet, Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand, Kitty Raises Hell, Kitty’s House of Horrors, Kitty Goes to War, and Kitty’s Big Trouble.

Reviewed by Fran (staff)

Have You Heard About... Dewey’s Nine Lives

Fran J — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 06:49:40 +0000

… Dewey the library cat? Try Dewey’s Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions by Vicki Myron!

If you like cats, then this book of short stories is for you. Nine heartwarming tales about cats that make you laugh, cry, and wish you had a cat. Each story is very different. Two of the stories are about Dewey the library cat (made famous in Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron). I highly recommend both of these feel good books.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Songs of Love and Death

Fran J — Thu, 05 May 2011 06:02:14 +0000

… what happens when you mix romance with fantasy, science-fiction, and horror? You get Songs of Love and Death: Tales of Star-Crossed Love, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois.

The course of true love never does run smooth in this collection of seventeen stories. The lovers must deal with spells, curses, ghosts, superheroes, demons, and their own pasts. In most cases, love does win out, but not always. The settings range widely – including modern day America, 18th century England, an alien space station, and much more – and the styles and genres used in these stories are almost as varied. Many of the authors are familiar as writers of fantasy, horror, and science fiction, as well as romance. Overall, this is an excellent anthology, with something for nearly every taste.

Reviewed by Fran (staff)