Declaring that short stories are the heart and soul of fantastical fiction, prolific and venerable editor Datlow collects 16 impressive original stories in this unthemed anthology. Standout selections include Margo Lanagan's deeply disturbing The Goosle, which eloquently corrupts the Hansel and Gretel fable with bubonic plague, sexual slavery and mass murder; Jason Stoddard's The Elephant Ironclads, which describes an emergent 20th-century Navajo nation struggling to become a world power while staying true to its culture; Elizabeth Bear's Sonny Liston Takes the Fall, a poignant tale about the life, death and sad legacy of the troubled heavyweight fighter; and Pat Cadigan's Jimmy, a strange and supernatural coming-of-age story set in the moments just after John F. Kennedy's assassination. The thematic diversity and consistently high quality of narrative throughout make for a solid and enjoyable anthology. (Apr.)
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Adult/High School—This collection of cutting-edge writing has appeal to older teens familiar with the demands of speculative fiction at its best. The 16 pieces include tales of alien abduction and war, murder, familial abuse, and alternate histories of the world. Many are emotionally charged and most keep readers working hard to keep up with the inventive narrative and leaps of unexpected science and fantasy. There are ghosts and monsters here, and two stories with strikingly different examples of golems. One is a tragic sacrificial figure named Sonny Liston, otherwise known as a famous American boxer; the other is a creation made literally from Hebrew letters and brought to life by a rabbinical student for his own purpose. To the man's surprise, his golem has its own agenda, which is to fulfill its destiny as a vengeful agent of God's Word. Several of these stories are puzzling and lack clear resolutions; they make readers ponder what they mean and how they end-just what speculative fiction should do. An anthology that's thought-provoking and intellectually challenging.—Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA
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