| Title | : | Magic City: Recent Spells |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1607014270 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781607014270 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 480 |
| Publication | : | First published May 7, 2014 |
Magic City: Recent Spells Reviews
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Short stories are perfect for those moments when I know I don’t have much time, and don’t have patience for interruptions (really, is there anything more exasperating than having to stop reading during a denouement? Or during a chase?) I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this collection. As I don’t often read short story collections in the modern UF genre, all were new to me, although a peek at copyrights reveal all were previously published. Still, most people will recognize the authors, not the stories, as many are among the most popular in the UF field. In a couple of cases, I found I liked their short stories better than their full-length books. Ultimately, I count it a win, especially since I found a couple of names new to me.
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Notes on the stories:
The Introduction, by Paula Guran was strange and poorly done. It discusses some of what makes urban fantasy a genre, goes on to point it has evolved, and then neglects to say what it has evolved into. There’s also a disingenious line of “I’m neither learned nor erudite,” thus proving she is, in fact, erudite. Ignore it, because it doesn’t do justice to the quality of the stories.
Street Wizard by Simon R. Green: It’s a vinette “day in the life” of a clean-up wizard and feels like Green just tossed it off as a couple sections seemed repetitive. Still, there was a good line or two: “The streets are packed with furitive-eyed people, hot on the trail of everything that’s bad for them. It’s my job to see they get home safely, or at least that they only fall prey to the everyday perils of Soho.” Overall, mediocre. Green’s short staccato style doesn’t work well for the short, and the tone seems to mock the genre.
Paranormal Romance by Christopher Barzak. Sheila, a witch with a knack for love charms, can’t find a love of her own, but still has a satisfying life with her business and a cheerful gay couple next door. Still, she goes on a blind date and finds an unexpected way out. Rather charming.
Grand Central Park by Delia Sherman. An encounter with the fae in Central Park told by the perspective of a young, awkward teen. Captures the adolescent voice, the feel of the park and the spirit of the fae nicely. Enjoyable.
Spellcaster 2.0 by Jonathan Maberry. A select group of college students are working on a career-building computer database of all known folklore spells, but when one of the women doing data entry brings some irregularities to the attention of the lead programmer, things start to go awry. Very good characterization, heavy on the moralizing and plotting. I’d call it a wash.
Wallamelon by Nisi Shawl. A small group of friends discover watermelons growing in the abandoned house on their street, and ensuing events lead Oneida to connecting with Big Mama. One of the few stories centered around an inner-city African-American. Plotting was unusual and Shawl has a good feel for dialogue. Standout line (about the art museum gift shop): “Smaller versions of the paintings on the walls, of the huge weird statues that resembled nothing on Earth except themselves.” I’ll look for more by her.
-30- by Caitlin R. Kiernan. A story about how a writer seeking help for writer’s block from the fae goes through four gatekeepers to obtain her boon. Adequately done, but feels rather self-indulgent and in need of cutting. Nice line: “Just another wonder in the tedious string of wonders, that she can speak with teeth like that.“
Seeing Eye by Patricia Briggs. An enjoyable PNR about a blind woman who is asked to help save a werewolf’s brother. Rather enjoyable, although there was an uncomfortable angle with family. Briggs doesn’t quite achieve the tone of suspense she seems to be aiming for.
Stone Man by Nancy Kress. A young teen who spends most of his life on the street gets into a car accident and discovers his magic. Unaccustomed to power and trust, he retreats into the life he knows until lured out. Done well, without being condescending.
In the Stacks by Scott Lynch. Completely different from his Locke Lamora series, Lynch has written a delightful story where the year’s passing grade depends on returning a grimoire to the Living Library, a library full of wild magic. Humor, adventure, daring, well-crafted–it has it all. Fun line: “On any other day, that would have required heroic effort, but it was exams week, and the dread magic of the last minute was in the air.” One of my favorites.
A Voice Like a Hole by Catherynne Valente. A runaway muses on fairy tale runaways versus real ones and ends up uses a talent for singing. It’s Valente; what more can one say? Tearful, haunting, hopeful. “Talking to a runaway is a little like talking to a murderer. There was a time before you did it and a time after and between them there’s just this space, this monstrous thing, and it’s so heavy.“
The Arcane Art of Misdirection by Carrie Vaughn. A Vegas card dealer gets the sense something strange is happening at her table. When it occurs two nights in a row, she decides to investigate, and runs into a stage magician who knows more than most about unseen things. I enjoyed it.
The Thief of Precious Things by A.C. Wise. Only minimally urban fantasy, this takes place in a fantastical world. A fox-girl has stolen something from the crow-lords to help the humans. She can’t remember why, until she meets a human who defends her. It has the feeling of age and equivocal endings, as if it is based on an old Japanese folk tale. Beautiful writing: “The crows fold their wings tight, diving for her eyes. She whirls, snapping and snarling at the storm of feathers… She leaps, twists–a war dance. She is all fox now, her animal heart beating hard inside a cage of burning bones, wrapped in fur the color of coal.” I’d read more by Wise.
The Land of Heart’s Desire by Holly Back. A post on a messageboard leads to a notable uptick in business at a cafe. The trouble is that the Lord of the Unseelie Court isn’t amused to have his privacy compromised by his girlfriend’s best friend. Has Black’s usual dark tone, with a nice emotional complexity. A satisfying ending.
Snake Charmer by Amanda Downum. The dying dragon is about to be reborn. Mary Snakbones has her own idea about what should happen, but Simon just wants to finish avenging his dead lover and be done. An air of spooky voodoo magic, done well.
The Slaughtered Lamb by Elizabeth Bear. A drag queen on the streets of New York has another secret. When the fae world intersects our own, she’s moved to act and finds unexpected help. Enjoyable, a little one-trick-ponyish, but well-written.
The Woman Who Walked with Dogs by Mary Rosenblum. While her Mama’s at work, Mari Jane has taken to exploring her neighborhood, realizing that it is a different world at night. Another nicely done inner-city setting, lovely writing: “A cloud slid across the squashed moon like someone covering their eyes with both hands.” I’d look for more by her.
Words by Angela Slatter. A writer wordsmithing in her cottage attracts the curiosity of the children next door. When the parents object, it becomes a lesson on harassment. Moralistic and unsure of its tone.
Dog Boys by Charles de Lint. A recent transplant to New Mexico finds himself targeted by the gangs after standing up for a young woman in school. Pure de Lint. Enjoyable.
Alchemy by Lucy Sussex. Another on the edge of the ‘urban’ definition. A perfumist in ancient Babylon finds a spirit following her. Notable for nicely creating the feel of an ancient culture and time. Immersive.
Curses by Jim Butcher. Dresden takes a case representing ‘a professional entertainment corporation.’ Specifically, are the Cubs losing because of the Billy Goat Curse? Pure Dresden, and done better than usual, although he still manages to work his sexism in.
De la Tierra by Emma Bull. A futuristic L.A., it’s more of the non-explanational fantasy genre. As such, it’s a little rough. A young Salvadoran works as a hit man for the L.A. gods.
Stray Magic by Diana Peterfreund. A local dog rescuer meets an unusual dog who claims to be a witch’s familiar. Charming and cute.
Kabu Kabu by Nnedi Okorafor with Alan Dean Foster. A Nigerian woman catches a cab to the airport, only to find herself made later and later by all the driver’s side passengers. Fun. Another one that brings in mythology from around the world.
Pearlywhite by Marc Laidlaw & John Shirley. A group of homeless children and their personal guides are being hunted. Moving, sad, and done well.
Finally, thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the ebook for review. -
“Street Wizard” by Simon R. Green: MEH. About as exciting as going through somebody's day planner.
“Paranormal Romance” by Christopher Barzak: STRIKE TWO! This one isn't much either. It was just kind of there. Nothing really exciting about it. The main character pissed me off when she ditched her blind date, stiffing him with the bill. That was just plain rude, he wasn't a bad man just not her type so it was really an asshat move. The author also made it abundantly clear that the main character hated dogs for not apparent reason. It was just because, and that made me not like her.
"Grand Central Park" by Delia Sherman: Another MEH installment. It was boring, lackluster, and the conclusion was very weak. There was no punch in the end that I like in the endings of short stories.
"Spellcaster 2.0” by Jonathan Maberry: *shivers* Negative stars for the usage of "Brah" in everyday conversation.
Nope, Nope, Nope...DNF. -
This was in Read Now section on NetGalley.
The main theme for this anthology are various ways magic can be manifested or used in cities, whether it is an ancient Babylon or a modern day New York, or just a nameless city anywhere in the world. Everyone can find something they might like here. The stories don't have the same strength and value, but that all depends on personal preference. Some are really good, others are ordinary and it is not surprising that there are those that are boring. I guess in an anthology with so many stories, it would be surprising there aren't any.
The following aren't exactly spoilers. -
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Before I start, I have to admit I really don't like this book. REALLY.
Which is why I'm going to border on bitchy (assuming, I'll be able to control myself).
You see that line I markered? ( Some of the best stories of urban enchantment from the last few years gathered in one volume full of hex appeal and arcane arts ) That's a total lie, in my very honest and very direct opinion.
This is an anthology with stories about magic. I don;t know what about you (though you might agree with me if you read Harry Potter as a child and fell in love with magic), but as I grew up over the years there were quite a few things that never changed for me. One of them is Magic. If you asked me when I was little kid I'd probably tell you- Magic is awesome(!).
Because what is magic? it's about breaking limits, it's about a strong mind and stronger will, it can be about nature or defying nature, it's tricks of the mind, it can be a full-scale vicious battle, it can heal, it can hurt and kill, it can help, it can be about elemets, it can be science, it can be about the unexplained. Magic can have a terrible price, it can be your savior and your executioner. Magic can be about everything, anything and nothing in particular. The options are unlimited, infinte.
Never have I imagined there would come a day I would say magic could be as boring as watching one of those Baby Mozart DVDs over and over again. Then again, I just said that magic had infinte number of options- maybe I should have seen the boring option coming around the corner chasing it's exciting and lively siblings. But I didn't see that option happening, I didn't think the day would come (I never wanted it to come). This anthology proved me wrong. Magic an be boring, people can be boring (and most times I think people are never boring- they are fascinating creatures).
This anthology proved me wrong. In regards of magic- this anthology is the doomsday of magic and everything magical. [maybe I exaggerated a bit. After all I can count on one hand a few stories that get 3 or 4 stars]
Still, I'm going to side step for a moment. Have you heard of the book Practical Magic ?To cut a long story short it's a book about a family of strong women that casts spells. Their magic is small, subtle and even though Practical Magic is not an action packed book and even though it's very slow paced, I'd rather read any scene from it than read almost any story form this anthology. Yes, I am well aware of the fact I actually loved Practical Magic but even so it had scenes about everyday life- like the scent of carameled apples carried on the wind in a summer noon.
But this anthology? It's boring. At first I thought I'll write about each story. Well, no more. I really don't have the power or the time (to waste) on writing about Charlie boy and his nineteen cousins that are as ugly as him. I'm also not going to talk too much about his four somewhat not ugly cousins. Maybe, just maybe, I'll talk a little his Good Looking cousin.
SO, first of all I'd like to point out the stories written by: Elizabeth Bear, Amanda Downum, Jim Butcher and Holly Black. These stories were midldly interesting and quite well written though nit very original. In comparison to Charlie Boy and the rest of teh cousins they stand out well. But you know what? I give them 3 stars and still feel like I was VERY generous.
Once again I'm going to side step for a moment. So when I was in the 11th grade my whole grade went out to some trip (for five days). You may cal it some sort of camoing trip. They boys and the girls were separated and hardly saw each other during that week- there wasn't any interaction between us. Now, the girls were split to small group of 12, and each had her own guide. All the guides were girls, and there was the guy who was like chief guide. The chief guide was the only guy we saw and had interaction with for a whole five days. He wasn't good looking, he was below avarage. Still, he was the only guy we could see for a mile long, s naturally, most of the girl had a crush on him.
The fact is that when you surround someone with other people that are way more stupid than him, even if that someone isn't a genius suddenly he will be the smartes guy on the block which is why he will be considered as really smart.
So yeah, everything is relative. Fact is, if you're company is stupid it does not mean that you are smart. Which is why I give these stories only 3 stars and I feel it's generous. Because these stories were surronded by stories I would have given minus infinte stars to originally. So in a relative way they are better. But if I take them outside if that scale and put them in my normal everyday scale the fact remains that I wouldn't have given them 3 stars.
Another story is the one written by Scott Lynch, which is also a 3 stars one. But, unlike the others it is a solid 3 stars story. It is well written in a creative world, and the only thing that stopped me form giving it more was the same reason I gave only 2 stars to his latest book in the Locke Lamora series. Because Scott Lynch writes a story that is planned from start to finish, he makes his characters do and say what needs to be done and said in order to achieve the story he wanted, however it feels soemwhat forced. Because he does not let his characters ahve free reign. They do and say things in a way that does not fit them. Yes, I know they are his characters so he probably knows them better. But I can't ignore that sense of wrongness I felt while I read the Locke Lamora books and this Short Story.
The last story I'll talk about is Seeing Eye by Patricia Briggs. This story is a solid 4 stars for me. I'll call it the seventh cousin of Charlie Boy. It's my favourite, it's Mister Hot Guy.Seeing Eye is quite well known, and as well written. But as much as I might praise it (and I could write poems of it's beauty), it is not worth to but this book just to read this shorty. You can read it in other anthologies (as well as the new Mercy Thompson book that would come out soon and contains all the Mercy Universe short stories). Fans of Mercy Thompson would love it. Others would enjoy teh well developed characters, the conflict and the great world that is learned/explained here so effortlessly. Which leads me to the most important thing- I understand what this story is doing will all this boring bunch. You know how sometimes people hang out with the golden, well liked, popular kid hoping that in someway some of his popularity will rub off on them? Well, this is the golden boy, case in point it is puted and teh seventh story- right where you might lose you patience and would like to throw the book out the window, it is so good you'll keep reading afterwards in the hope of uncovering another jem in this aweful anthology. Personally, I think that instead of putting it with this bunch of well meaning but stupid fellows, the teacher should have just required from them the same level of quality. It might sound bad, But hiding behind your Mama's skirt has never made anyone independant.
Now, as for Charlie Boy (the first story and a great example to all the other ugly cousins) is a street wizard that protect humanity from all the things that go bump in the night. Sounds amazing, right? So many possobilities! Well, Charlie thought (for no apprent reason) it was important to tell me that he brush his teeth every night (when he wakes up), that he sees the world as it really is- with demons and other creatures (That are supposedly dangerous, but truth is Charlie would kill you of boredome before any of them will get a chance to even lay a finger on you), he tells us about Red (the working girl). But that's really as exciting as it got. Nothing happens with Red, actually nothing practically happens beside Charlie walking the streets.
And truthfully, When I walk the street it tends to be more interesting.
Some of the boring stories were about Fae- in the TinkerBell, and Shakespear style. Well, if you read Fever by Karen Marie Moning you'll probably understand how boring that is. If you have yet to read Fever, I say- Go read it now instead of wasting you time on this boring excuse of a book.
A review copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. -
From the introduction: "Are these stories 'urban fantasy'? Well, that's a term that started out defining one thing, was accidentally applied to something else, and is now changing yet again..."
The stories here represent the 'one thing,' the 'something else' and maybe have a few extras thrown in. Personally, I prefer the original - but this is a pretty good mix.
** “Street Wizard,” Simon R. Green
Not so much a story as an introduction to what 'urban fantasy' is about. A night in the life of a 'street wizard' - a civil servant tasked with keeping the streets of London's Soho reasonably safe.
*** “Paranormal Romance,” Christopher Barzak
A modern-day witch who specializes in patching up others' romance was never had luck in love, herself. But when her mother insists on setting her up on a blind date, events unroll in a slightly unexpected and rather cute way.
** “Grand Central Park,” Delia Sherman
A modern fairy-tale designed to boost the self-esteem of nerdy young teens. An overweight young woman encounters the Queen of Fairies in Central Park, and relies on her knowledge of fairy lore to get her out of a sticky dilemma.
** “Spellcaster 2.0,” Jonathan Maberry
A team of grad students and their professor plan a dramatic presentation of their new subscription database of information on spells, myth and folklore. However, their academic skepticism is shot to hell by some unexpected phenomena. Not enough story, too much polemic.
**** “Wallamelon,” Nisi Shawl
Just about here, this collection picks up some speed... I believe this is the first story I've read by Nisi Shawl, and it's very nicely done - the characters and setting really come alive. This is a small-scale story of four poor children in a run-down Detroit neighborhood who take on a gardening project when they find some watermelons growing in an abandoned lot. But it shifts into a tale of magic and power - and then again into a story of growing up and the pain & loss of realizing that sometimes best friends are not forever.
*** “-30-,” Caitlín R. Kiernan
A writer sells her 'soul,' in bits and pieces, in return for commercially successful writing. It's a classic theme, and I'm not sure this iteration of it adds anything strikingly new, but it's still well-done, and the details of the setting will be enjoyed by anyone who knows Providence, as I do...
*** “Seeing Eye,” Patricia Briggs
A cop, who happens to be a werewolf, shows up at the door of a witch, asking for help. His brother has been captured by a dangerous coven, and he needs supernatural assistance to try to rescue him. The witch's powers are strong - but she's also blind. Together, however, they make a good team. A short adventure that seems like it could very easily be the start to a series of paranormal adventures.
*** “Stone Man,” Nancy Kress
A re-read; previously read in the 'Wizards' anthology. Under stress, a boy discovers he has heretofore-unknown magical powers. it loses him a friend, but gains him a new group of friends and a mission in life... Not Kress' best, but not bad.
**** “In the Stacks,” Scott Lynch
A renowned school for wizards has the largest collection of grimoires known to man. Strange things happen when you collect that many spells in one place - and the final exam features just one task: return a library book to the shelves. Fun and funny; a must for Scott Lynch's fans.
*** “A Voice Like a Hole,” Catherynne M. Valente
This is supposed to be a 'Borderland' story, but, at least for me, it just doesn't have the feel of the original stories. It's an OK story, but the magic wasn't there. Two runaway girls are on a downward spiral, and make it to the Border. But their transportation is just a bit too deus ex machina, and doesn't fit with the original...
*** “The Arcane Art of Misdirection,” Carrie Vaughn
Nice bit of supernatural adventure here... A blackjack dealer teams up with the casino's performing magician to catch a con using black magic to cheat. Another one that seems like it could be the introduction to a series.
*** “Thief of Precious Things,” A.C. Wise
The world presented here reminded me a lot of Ian McDonald's 'Out on Blue Six' - which is a rather unusual book to be reminded of. A surreal and post-apocalyptic land, where humans attempt to regain technology, and war against vying tribes of creatures of myth...
**** “The Land of Heart’s Desire,” Holly Black
Now, this one technically isn't a 'Bordertown' story - but it's got the feel down pat. It's about perfect. It's set in New York City, with the characters from 'Tithe' - elf/human romance, characters working in a coffee shop, all the drama of trying to find - and more difficult, to believe in - love.
*** “Snake Charmer,” Amanda Downum
A phoenix-like dragon and ancient voodoo powers meet in a modern goth club, at the change of a magical tide. Nice, but it feels a bit like a brief glimpse into a larger world.
*** “The Slaughtered Lamb,” Elizabeth Bear
I'm pretty sure I read this one before. It was originally published in 2012. A drag queen has an encounter with the Wild Hunt in New York City, and events conspire to convince her to accept her werewolf nature - which she's hidden for years. If only the real 'Slaughtered Lamb' pub was as cool as the one here...
**** “The Woman Who Walked with Dogs,” Mary Rosenblum”
Rosenblum is a bit of an underrated author. I was introduced to her by the excellent Del Rey Discovery series, which published two excellent novels by her. Since then, I haven't kept up with her work - and I think I should have! This is a very enjoyable story about a rebellious teenager and a 'crazy' old neighbor woman... and a bunch of invisible dogs. You, too, will want one after you read this.
*** “Words,” Angela Slatter
A writer goes all Pied Piper on the children of her annoying busybody neighbors. A bit of wishful thinking here? I very much like the portrayal of the (here, literal) magic of writing.
*** “Dog Boys,” Charles de Lint
It's DeLint-y. On his first day at a new high school, a boy from out-of-state gets caught up in a gang war between the Mexicans and the Native Americans. Two kinds of traditional magic duke it out, and the kid gets adopted into a mystical tribe, and a date with the cute girl too. Aww.
*** “Alchemy,” Lucy Sussex
Very nice, rather quiet piece, about a brilliant woman perfumer in ancient Babylon, and the powerful immortal who's drawn to her, and offers her assistance in her goals. Strong themes of self-reliance and personal ethics twine through a bittersweet strain of 'what might have been.'
*** “Curses,” Jim Butcher
A Harry Dresden supernatural investigation. One for the baseball fans; but mildly amusing for anyone.
*** “De la Tierra,” Emma Bull
What if aliens had the same prejudices against immigrants that many Americans do? And what if they trained human immigrants to do their dirty work for them? Draws some nice parallels; makes a point without being too preachy.
*** “Stray Magic,” Diana Peterfreund
Previously read in the 'Under My Hat' anthology. A sentimental and cute story with a message - about a kindly animal shelter worker, and the magical dog that comes into her care.
**** “Kabu Kabu,” Nnedi Okorafor
Every have one of those days where everything goes crazy? Ngozi does, when she hails an African gypsy cab to try to get to the airport to get to her sister's wedding in Nigeria. OK, the story has a serious failing in the lead character's unchallenged assumption that one MIGHT, even possibly, be able to show up at an American airport 15 minutes or even half an hour before scheduled takeoff, and have any chance of boarding a flight. But the wild ride through African folklore makes it all worth while.
**** “Pearlywhite” Mark Laidlaw & John Shirley
A long story about some street kids, their 'familiar' spirits, and a serial killer. A well-crafted horror story.
Advance copy provided by NetGalley. Many thanks for the opportunity to read; as always, my opinions are my own. -
Disclaimer: thank you to Diamond Book Distributors and netgalley for giving me a copy of this book!
Magic City: Recent Spells is an anthology based (some more loosely than others) around the theme of cities and urban fantasy. I'm not usually that big a fan of short stories; I'm a fan of long series, and novellas, and the like, tend to end far too quickly! Despite this there were some really enjoyable tales in here. Surprisingly, it was often the stories where the initial character introduction didn't catch my attention, that really drew me into them when they got going.
Here are my favourites of the bunch:
STREET WIZARD by Simon R Green
Street Wizard felt more like an excerpt than a fully fleshed out plot. However the world building fascinated me. Where Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden is a wizard PI, Green's Charlie is a cop on his nightly beat. I enjoyed the glimpses of a grittier, magical London.
I was disappointed to find out that this short story appears to be a one-off, but I'll definitely be moving Green's works towards the top of my 'to read' pile!
SPELLCASTER 2.0 by Jonathan Maberry
Trey LaSalle is an arrogant, intelligent, IT savvy leader of his uni's project cataloging spells. A disbeliever himself, he soon finds things going horribly wrong and he is forced to accept a much darker reality.
Trey is quite an unlikeable character, so I was surprised to find out how much I enjoyed reading from his point of view. The ending felt a tad abrupt, but perhaps fitting for a short story.
SEEING-EYE by Patricia Briggs
An independent witch works with a gruff werewolf, risking everything to save an innocent and get revenge on an evil coven.
This was my favourite story of entire anthology. The characters felt fresh and intriguing. When I got to the end of the story I was desperate to read more (and it prompted me to begin a reread part of Brigg's Mercy Thompson series). I fervently hope Briggs gives this pair their own series!
IN THE STACKS by Scott Lynch
Overdue library books take on a whole other level of peril in this imaginative story.
This world is begging for a book of it's own. Perhaps it already has - I need to do my homework! I felt the story's characters didn't have a chance to truly develop and came across as enervated, but Lynch's library is fraught with possibilities to catalogue.
THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB by Elizabeth Bear
A werewolf drag-queen steps up to protect an innocent from the fae Wild Hunt.
This was another one of the stories where the main character didn't inspire me at first. When she confronts the Wild Hunt, she truly came into her own and began to release that some people could accept her for her true self.
(Just realised as I was typing the title; anyone know why this story was called The Slaughtered Lamb? Did I miss something?!)
DOG BOYS by Charles De Lint
A teenaged boy gets more than he bargained for when he steps up and does the right thing.
Charles De Lint is very talented at describing the 'togetherness' you get in close families - blood related or not - and this came across nicely as his protagonist learns more about his shape shifting self and what it means to have people watching your back. This story felt a little more accessible than some of De Lint's others and I'd definitely read more about this character.
STRAY MAGIC by Diana Peterfreund
A pet rehomer finds a very special dog who needs to be reunited with a very special owner.
This story was equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming. For once I thought the length and shape of this tale was perfectly encapsulated in short story form.
PEARLYWHITE by Marc Laidlaw & John Shirley
Inchy is a homeless child and is protected by his invisible dragon Pearlywhite, who resides in his late Mother's necklace.
At first I found this world a little confusing as you were thrown straight into a story of murder and the perils of being homeless. Once I got my bearings I found this story to be a gem. Inchy is a clever little hero and I would love to read more about him and his companions.
I've given this anthology an average of 3.5 as these favourites were amongst others I didn't enjoy quite as much. -
Антологията е събирана от разкази излизали на други места, а не специално писани за нея. Това съответно, заедно с доста общата тема, е помогнало да стане една доста читава компилация градско фентъзи.
Хареса ми, че има произведения от автори от пет континента, като тези от Австралия, Африка и Южна америка по нищо не отстъпват на врелите и кипели в жанра САЩ и Европа (добре де Англия).
Няколко разказа са чукове, има и пълнеж, но цялостното чувство, което оставя сборника е доста удовлетворително.
Street Wizard на Саймън Грийн – перфектен разказ за откриване на книгата от един от най-добрите в жанра. Историята разказва за една нормална за уличен магьосник нощ в Сохо. Грийн успява да превърне лондон в пано за свръхестественото с лекота.
Paranormal Romance от Кристофър Барзак – Няколко неща ме издразниха в този разказ. Откровено ислишната ЛГБТ насоченост, която не допринася за сюжета, използването на сегашно историческо време, изключително слабия финал, натрапчивото писане като терапия...
Шийла е вещица с изключително нещастен опит в половите взаимоотношения. Майка ѝ – някаква луда на тема контрол кучка и урежда сляпа среща с някакъв гъз, само защото е върколак.
Grand Central Park от Делия Шърман – Приказка прехвърлена в гратска среда, без особена оригиналност. Послесловът показа, че каката не е много на ясно с нещата в жанра.
Едно хлапе попада в лапите на кралицата на феите за Ню Йорк. Следва наддумване.
Spellcaster 2.0 от Джон Мабери – Доста добро произведение.
Група студенти се опитват да направят най-голямата база данни с гримоари. За да бъдат одобрени ще направят презентаяция с призоваване. Проблемите започват още по времето на събирането на текстовете. Демонологията не е нещо с което да си играеш, дори с академична цел.
Wallamelon от Ниси Шау – Як разказ с вуду привкус. Има и дини.
Онеида е едно от хлапетата в Детройтското гето. Те вярват, че всичките им проблеми могат да се разрешат от Синята дама. Бабата на Онеида има на какво да я научи по въпроса.
30 от Кейтлин Киарнан – Разказът е писан във второ лице единствено число, което при това темпо на разказване го прави досаден за четене. Иначе е як.
Една писателка постоянно жертва части от себе си пред няколко приказни същества, за вдъхновение. Тази нощ за пореден път.
Seeing Eye от Патриша Бригс – Това вече съм го чел в друг сборник и е супер.
Stone Man от Нанси Крез – Без да съм особено учуден, Нанси Крез е способна да напише увлекателна история, независимо от жанра. Все пак звучи като част от нещо по-голямо, което е минус за кратък разказ, но се случва и на най-добрите от нас.
Джаред е обикновено хлапе от скапано семейство. След един инцидент разбира, че може да контролира камъните. ��ов аго вкарва в свят на интриги и магии и няма връщане назад.
In the Stacks от Скот Линч – Естествено, разкошен разказ, но не е ърбън фентъзи.
Задачата е в пъти по-тежка от колкото звучи и носи доста опасности, включително за живота на учащите се.
A Voice Like a Hole от Катрин Валенте – Едно завръщане към Бордертаун, изцяло стъпващо в духа на сборниците (за разлика от повечето произведения в последната Бордертаун антология).
Бордертаун все още е мечта на всички бунтари и поттиснати хлапета, само дето вече е само легенда. Но пък ако вярваш достатъчно силно...
The Arcane Art of Misdirection от Кери Вон – Доста читаво ърбънче, развиващо се във Вегас.
Джули е крупие в голямо казино. Няколко вечери подред на масата ѝ за блекджек стават странни работи. Някой мами, но как? Един илюзионист ще ѝ помогне да разбере, или тя ще помогне на него. При всички положения, света на магията няма да ѝ изглежда само ловкост на ръцете и подвеждане на зрителя.
The Thief of Precious Things от А.К.Уайз – Доста атмосферна история, макар и малко претенциозна и отнесена като стил (да, и двете едновременно, не е като да не се случва постоянно в модерната проза).
В едно постапокалиптично бъдеще хората делят земята с Гарвановите господари и Лисиците-момичета. Всеки драпа за контрол над останалите. Една крадла е решила да наруши баланса, който съществува. Проблемът е, че тези ѝ действия ще я променят неузнаваемо.
The Land of Heart’s Desire от Холи Блек – Симпатичен разказ, но определено Холи е показвала, че може много повече.
Ако икате да видите елфи, има едно кафе, където много често пият чай. Те си имат своите проблеми и хич няма да искаш да ги занимаваш, обаче, защото всеки контакт с техния свят има цена.
Snake Charmer от Аманда Даунъм – Дива и доста кървава вуду история.
Каква е цената на отмъщението? Особено ако е срещу вещ във вудото престъпен бос? Вероятно трябва да изгубиш всичко човешко, колкото и малко да ти е останало.
The Slaughtered Lamb от Елизабед Бер – Върколак травестит... добре. Не е лоша историята, просто не е нищо особено.
The Woman who walked with Dogs от Мери Роземблум – Оф, магическият реализъм не е градско фентъзи, колкото и добра приятелка да ти е авторът.
Words от Анджела Слатър – МАГИЧЕСКИЯТ РЕАЛИЗЪМ НЕ Е ГРАДСКО ФЕНТЪЗИ, колкото и добре да пише авторът.
Dog Boys от Чарлз де Линт – Сега вече си говорим, ако някой изобщо е имал съмнения.
Брандън е нов в училището, кварталът, градът. Въпреки, че живее в затворен комплекс, публичното (държавното) училище в което учи е доста пропаднало. Един ден се замесва във враждата между индианците от резервата и мексиканските банди малолетни. Това ще застраши живота му и ще го промени завинаги.
Alchemy от Луси Съсекс – В древен Вавилон алхимията тепърва ще бъде разкрита. Само ако тази с потенциал иска да се обвърже с паранормално същество.
Не знам дали го казах, но магическият реализъм не е градско фентъзи, колкото и добри исторически проучвания да е направил авторът.
Curses от Джим Бътчър – С Хари Дрезден няма как да стане грешка. Бътчър все още куца в кратката форма.
Дрезден е нает от таен комитет да вдигне проклятието от чикагския бейзболен отбор. Това ще го доведе до преговори с един уелски феически двор, чиито същества обичат да се правят на кози. Ще има и доста бейзбол, от който бъкел не отбирам.
De la Tierra от Ема Бул – Както може да се очаква от един от ковачите на жанра – добра история с много подтекст и перфектно изпълнение.
Един имигрант работи като чистач на нежелани феически присъствия в Лос Анджелис. Работодателите му са почти богоравни. Целите...
Stray Magic от Диана Петерфройнд – Стопляща история за едно куче и неговия господар.
Малоу е млада жена, която работи доброволно в приют за кучета. Един ден ѝ докарват невъзможно стар голдън редривър, който може да комуникира с нея. Имат три дни да намерят господаря на Габи, иначе тя ще умре от старост.
Kabu Kabu от Ннеди Окорафор – Шеметно пътуване с нигерийско незаконно такси, само това ще кажа. ПЕРФЕКТЕН.
Pearlywhite от Марк Лейдлоу и Джон Шърли – Най-дългото произведение в книгата. Доста е добро, но има морализираща нотка, която леко дразни и мелодрама, която дразни повече.
Банда улични хлапета са защитени от Невидимите – същества живеещи в определени вещи със сантиментална за хлапетата стойност и помагащи им да оцелеят на улицата. Изведнъж членовете на бандата започват да бъдат избивани един по един. Каква е целта на убиеца? Дали е извратеняк, който трепе деца или е погнал Невидимите? -
Magic City anthology reminds me why I love science fiction/fantasy. This collection features some outstanding stories and authors. It does also contain a few duds which I'll leave unmentioned. There are also a few which are quite forgettable. I will focus on the ones which excited me. When a short story generates an exhilaration which ends abruptly when the last word is typed, I love it.
In STREET WIZARD by Simon Green, the story is tightly written with my kind of humour.
Never even react. It’s hard to tell what a Grey is thinking, what with that long flat face and those unblinking eyes. I wish they’d wear some kind of clothes, though. You wouldn’t believe what they’ve got instead of genitals. (loc. 231-232)
In PARANORMAL ROMANCE Christopher Barzak, Mr. Barzak presents a clever way of describing the six degrees of separation between two people. It's something to remember and use in future conversations. For math geeks like me, I can immediately visualize the Venn diagram. Forcing me to visualize it, helps me connect to the story better.
Trent was the manager of a small software company and Gary worked at an environmental nonprofit. They’d met in college ten years ago, but had circled around each other at the time. They’d shared a Venn diagram of friends, but naturally some of them didn’t like each other. (loc. 286-288)
Mr. Barzak continues with unique imagery associated with emotions. He possesses a way with words which arouses me. It also describes so keenly a feeling I've felt with my own mother. The way Mr. Barzak expresses it, it's sharp and witty.
Then the phone went dead. Sheila looked down at it for a while as if it were a gun that had accidentally gone off, leaving a bullet lodged in her stomach. The bullet sat in Sheila’s stomach and festered for the rest of that night, and the feeling was not unfamiliar. Sheila’s mother had a habit of mugging her with unwanted surprises. (loc. 350-353)
Mr. Barzak continues with his biting commentary in a depressing turn of phrase.
She’d [Mary the client] go home and, for five to six weeks, she’d [Mary the client] love her husband. Sheila couldn’t work a permanent fix for Mary, because Mary had fallen so out of love with her husband that no spell could sustain it forever. Their relationship was an old, used-up car in constant need of repairs. Sheila was the mechanic. (loc. 365-367)
The entire concept of how Sheila uses her magic to help a wife is mind-blowing for me. It's provocative in how a love spell is used and it is also disheartening the lost love between a husband and wife. The scenario fascinates while saddens me. Pulling this much emotion from me is always a good sign for a great read.
GRAND CENTRAL PARK by Delia Sherman is a piece which reminds me of Pan's Labyrinth because of the way the fae are presented. Ms. Sherman's descriptions are vivid. Her story is a dark and gritty film playing in my mind. Thoroughly enjoyable.
SPELLCASTER 2.0 by Jonathan Maberry starts of a bit confusing and I nearly skipped it. After the first few pages, I'm spellbound. Mr. Maberry also invokes strong imagery in his scenes. This story reminds me of the movie Next with Nicholas Cage. The ending is similar and haunting.
Anthem chewed a fingernail. Despite the fact that she painted her nails, they were all nibbled down to nubs. A couple of them even had blood caked along the sides from where she’d cannibalized herself a bit too aggressively, and there were faint chocolate-colored smears of it on the keyboard. (loc. 875-877)
WALLAMELON by Nisi Shawl broke my heart. This is a moving story of childhood friendship and lost innocence. It's hard for me to explain why this story moved me. It's best experienced rather than told. There are too many spoilers to explain why I loved this one.
SEEING EYE by Patricia Briggs is a masterfully written piece. It reminds me again why I love her books. This is a tightly woven story with threads in mythology. Beautiful.
New to me author Nancy Kress pens a fantastic piece, STONE MAN. This little taste of her writing will entice those who have never read her before, to find her books and read it.
IN THE STACKS by Scott Lynch is an absolutely fantastic short story. It takes the simple concept of a library and returning books and making it a terrifying deadly quest. The creatures Mr. Lynch conceives are ingenious and original. The adventure is exciting and a bit exhausting. When it seems as if it is all over, Mr. Lynch nails the reader with a surprise conflict. Truly marvelous and well done. One of my favourite stories in this anthology. A new to me author, Mr. Lynch is one I'd love to read more.
THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB by Elizabeth Bear is another fantastic read. Fans of fae and the Hunt will enjoy this one. What I liked most is the surprise cross dressing werewolf. Ms. Bear is new to me and definitely one to look up and find more of her books.
WORDS by Angela Slatter is an imaginative work of art. It reminds me of the words spoken in speeches in the Phantom Tollbooth. WORDS is a darker story with a macabre twist. Ms. Slatter is also a new to me author who writes in a dark manner I adore. Her character sticks it to those who try to persecute her. I loved the ending.
DOG BOYS by Charles de Lint is a wonderful paranormal piece. Mr. de Lint is a famous name even if I haven't read him before, due to my preference of female writers. After reading this story, I regret passing his books by because if they are all like this, I've missed out. I should have read him years ago.
STRAY MAGIC by Diana Peterfreund is the last story in this robust collection which I really enjoyed. It's a sweet interpretation of a dog's loyalty. This one hit home due to a personal experience with an abandoned dog. The way Ms. Peterfreund writes from the dog's perspective is moving and heartbreaking. The faith the dog keeps despite all odds is why people consider dogs as man's best friends. The hopelessness of the situation and main character's cynicism against humans is counterbalanced by the love and devotion of a dog. It is a story which reminds the jaded, without hope, there are no miracles. Loved the message and the happily ever after.
This magical anthology is highly recommended for those looking to sample authors they haven't read yet. It's a treasure trove of new authors to follow and read.
*provided by
NetGalley -
(I got a copy from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
As usual when anthologies are concerned, there are stories one will like, and stories that won't cut it at all. What I can say about this one, before I ge to the stories individually:
1) Those are reprints. If you're relatively new to urban fantasy as a genre, and/or usually don't read anthologies, I think it should be all right. Otherwise, you may already know quite a few of those stories.
2) It may not be tremendously representative of urban fantasy, depending on how you perceive this genre.
3) The book began with the stories I liked the least, and I almost stopped reading at that point. Therefore, I'd advise not reading them in order.
#1 STREET WIZARD: To be read as an introduction rather than a story with a definite plot and punchline. A kind of "slice of life" story, that gives the reader a glimpse into what urban fantasy may entail, but not particularly exciting.
#2 PARANORMAL ROMANCE: Not convinced. The MC's move (ditching her date) was pretty rude and uncalled for. Because the guy isn't what you expected doesn't mean he doesn't at least deserve a "sorry, not working for me, I'm saying bye". What's with those characters who can't be ballsy enough to enact basic courtesy?
#3 GRAND CENTRAL PARK: Interesting enough, I liked the ending more than the story itself, though.
#4 SPELLCASTER 2.0: Loved the premise, but not the moralistic aspect (nor the intrisic misogyny).
#5 WALLAMELON: I quite liked this one. Its themes are fairly common (the cost of magic, growing up and out of childhood beliefs), but touching nevertheless.
#6 -30-: Not to be read if you're a writer who has hopes for his/her craft: it's rather depressing. Worst, 2nd person POV is definitely a terrible idea. I won't recommend that one.
#7 SEEING EYE: One of my favourites, properly wrapped up, with a definite resolution at the end, but also a couple of openings leaving room to the reader's imagination.
#8 STONE MAN: Another one I liked. While dealing with serious prospects, it also leaves room for hope and fighting back—both for the main character and when it comes to the bigger picture.
#9 IN THE STACKS: A librarian's dream come true... Well... A nightmare, rather? Another winner in my book (pun intended). Nobody ever belittle the job of a librarian now!
#10 A VOICE LIKE A HOLE: I liked the theme, but I felt that the story stopped just where it should've started. Weird.
#11 THE ARCANE ART OF MISDIRECTION: Not so surprising in theme (normal person discovering magic hiding right under her nose), but with an interesting setting (casino, hotel), and with the kind of magical effects I tend to like.
#12 THE THIEF OF PRECIOUS THINGS: I'm not really sure what to make of this story. I liked its atmosphere, eerie with magic, shapeshifting, a sort of lingering despair, and promises of both hope and dark days to come. I didn't get a feeling for the characters, but in a way, it's like it doesn't really matter.
#13 THE LAND OF HEART'S DESIRE: Hard to tell where this one was was going. I didn't really feel any sense of direction in it, and it seemed to lack purpose, despite the theme it dealt with.
#14 SNAKE CHARMER: Classic take on revenge. Not developed enough to my taste.
#15 THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB: Drag queen werewolf protagonist: not something you see everyday. Nice one about accepting people for who they are, no matter how different.
#16 THE WOMAN WHO WALKED WITH DOGS: Shadow dogs, always with their owners, yet never seen by those who don't believe in them... until they're needed. I'd like a Shep, too.
#17 WORDS: Words have power. Words have magic. Is it wise to annoy the ones who wield true words? Not so much. A retelling on the theme of the Rattenfänger, and one that somewhat resonated with me (perhaps because I fancy myself a writer, too?).
#18 DOG BOYS: New boy in school, thrown into gang hostilities. Likeable protagonist, who does what feels right, even though he knows he'll get into trouble.
#19 ALCHEMY: Another one I liked. Quiet, and full of questions regarding knowledge: is the price to pay worth it? And if something is gained through other means than our own, is it really so interesting in the end?
#20 CURSES: Short story with Harry Dresden. Not as powerful as the novel-length stories, but still pretty much in the "Dresden Files" spirit.
#21 DE LA TIERRA: A twist on immigration stories. I liked how it dealt with misinformation, and how the latter can push people to do what they think is right, but isn't necessarily so.
#22 STRAY MAGIC: Cute and moving story. This one should appeal to animal lovers.
#23 KABU KABU: Quite enjoyable, if (like me) you like crazy rides with strange landscapes and creatures from folklore. Also interesting for its take on one's identity, since Ngozi, the protagonist, is somewhat estranged from her own culture.
#24 PEARLYWHITE: More on the horror side. Somewhat weak on the protagonists, because there are several, and a short story isn't the best format to develop them. But I still liked it, as well as the gleam of hope at the end. -
I suspect that I wasn't the only reader who was attracted to Magic City by the popular authors displayed prominently on the cover. In retrospect, I think the collection provides precisely what it advertises: pleasant short stories from some of the biggest names in the genre. At the same time, I simply didn't expect the striking difference from my usual variety of short-story read. I generally stick to "Year's Best" variety of anthology, which tend to go for the most bizarre, imaginative, and memorable stories of the year or decade. In contrast, most of the stories in Magic City are pleasantly ordinary examples of urban fantasy; enjoyable to read, but, to a large extent, rather unmemorable.
My sense of letdown was first triggered by the introduction, which I found to be a peculiar combination of pomposity and simplicity. Guran puts tremendous emphasis on the physical location and the type of magic, to the point that she actually starts each story with a bizarre infobox-style description of "The City" and "The Magic." Personally, I found these to be intrusive and condescending, and they gave me the impression of someone trying too hard to be cute. This also put tremendous emphasis on magic and location, almost suggesting that they are the key elements of each story. Personally, I believe that a story's plot, characters, and underlying message are the important aspects, and perhaps this intrinsic disagreement explains much of my dissatisfaction with the collection.
At the same time, there were quite a few stories that utterly captured my imagination and interest. Some of the outstanding stories:
"The Thief of Precious Things" by A.C. Wise, was, for me, the most outstanding story in the collection. Full of lyrical writing and vibrant imagery, it has that dreamy watercolour texture of a fairy-story while exploring a fascinating world that binds Japanese mythology to a technological dystopia. I will definitely look out for more works by the author.
"Kabu Kabu" by Nnedi Okarafor was another brilliant one: Ngozi, a successful Chicago lawyer, is running late for her flight to Nigeria for her sister's wedding, so she jumps into the first cab she sees. But this cab happens to be run by a fellow Igbo who has a rather interesting clientele. Charming and humorous, the story achieves the greatest feat of urban fantasy, effortlessly binding Igbo mythos to urban life in a thoroughly enjoyable, accessible manner.
"In the Stacks" by Scott Lynch was another of my favourites. The story starts with a group of students who are about to take their fifth year magic exam, which consists of making their way through the library to return one book apiece. The Library itself is rather reminescient of Pratchett's creation (ook), filled to the brim with self-aware texts and creative monsters. The Librarians' motto? "RETRIEVE. RETURN. SURVIVE." In fact, whilst the group doesn't run into a stampeding thesaurus or angry orang-utan, the entire story reminds me quite a lot of a Pratchett yarn, as it involves characters with names like "Inappropriate Levity Bronzeclaw", various "Sword-Librarians" who carry swords, spells, and shields when they venture into the stacks, and hilarious critters such as vocabuvores and other bibliofauna.
While some of the stories may have lacked that inexpressible spark of brilliance, many were still quite enjoyable. "Patricia Briggs' "Seeing Eye" was as engaging and readable as the rest of her stories, with a solid plot and a rather sweet romance that never quite overpowers the story. “Wallamellon” by Nisi Shawl was a bittersweet little vignette of growing up, while “Grand Central Park” by Delia Sherman was a lighter story of leaving childhood, a first-person and heavily dialectic story from an outsider/unpopular girl who discovers that invisible friends aren’t necessarily imaginary.
Unfortunately, I found many of the stories from major authors rather uninspired, even though many were still quite readable. I'd recommend "Curses" by Jim Butcher to only the most hardcore fans of Butcher and baseball, and “Spellcaster 2.0” by Jonathan Mayberry was rather too pompous and preachy to be truly enjoyable. Caitlin R Kiernan’s “30” gave a rather overwrought portrayal of the travails of an author and the lengths they will go for the perfect ending. Amusingly enough, I found it utterly lacking in inspiration.
Overall, I think the collection favours author fame over story brilliance, so while you'll get plenty of examples from some of the biggest names in the genre, the stories themselves may be less exciting than one might wish. One of the greatest aspects of an anthology, is that it's almost impossible to read one without finding at least one story to love.
Excerpted from
my review on BookLikes, where I actually do mention every single story in the collection. (Aren't you glad you got the short[er] version?)
~~I received this ebook through NetGalley from the publisher, Prime Books, in exchange for my honest review.~~ -
eARC provided by Net Galley in exchange for review.
2.5 stars.
Review can also be found on my blog:
http://t.co/sgJX0znjWQ
There are two kinds of anthologies.
The first kind is when a bunch of authors get together to weave new tales around a given theme. The upcoming Rogues, edited by George R. R. Martin, is one of those. The second kind is simply a collection of previously published short-stories linked together only by an introduction.
This is the later.
The stories contained within have been published over the past dozen years or so, dating as far back as 2002. If you're curious about what stories are included, check out
this Good Reads post. Given that all of these stories are reprints, if you're a collector of anthologies and/or you're wanting to pick this up for given author, I'd definitely check the link provided to make sure you aren't picking up something you might already own.
Honestly, something like this is difficult to review. Reviewing 21 stories doesn't really make a lot of sense. Some are better than others and some will interest you more than others. Some stories the magic mixes with the mundane more and some there is a greater sense of parallel worlds. It's an anthology and the variety of the stories does at least make a decent representation of the variety that the genre can provide.
The one thing I feel like I can review is the introduction: the editor provides a short piece about what they were trying to accomplish. Unfortunately, I don't think it really adds much to the volume. It doesn't really provide any insights to the genre, it's feels like it's more explaining what Urban Fantasy is. That would be great, except for one thing: this is a collection of Urban Fantasy short stories. These stories aren't united by theme, they're united by genre. People picking this up are probably already going to know what Urban Fantasy is and don't need it explained to them. It's an explanation that might be better suited for an anthology united by theme that crosses genre, where you have decent odds that it would be new to at least some of the readers who might have picked it up because it contained a story by that science-fiction author that they love. In other words, you can skip the introduction and not really miss anything.
As for a recommendation? If you're looking for some new Urban Fantasy authors to read, or want to dip your toes in the genre, this is worth a pick up, either from the library or maybe the Kindle edition. (I do think the $13+ price tag is a bit pricey given that there is no real new content here) If you're looking for new short stories, you're going to want to keep looking. -
ARC received from NetGalley.
An entertaining anthology of previously released short stories from some of the most popular authors in urban fantasy. I would have liked to have given this collection a higher rating since some of my personal favorites are in this collection.
Editor Paul Guran provides a thoughtful Introduction to the anthology in which she explores the boundaries of the mundane and the magical in the contemporary world; recognizing that as the world has changed, magic has adapted to appear in unlikely places such as a the local chip shop.
Guran’s insightful Introduction is the only new material contained in this collection. The theory of changing magic as raised by Guran would have been better supported with at least one new piece of fiction.
Overall, an enjoyable read but nothing new. -
An anthology about magic in an urban setting, not necessarily all standard urban fantasy (ancient Babylon and fantasy cities are cities too!). Some of the stories are okay, a couple were not for me and I couldn't finish them. Simon R Green's story of a wizard working for the council and Scott Lynch's tale of some students trying to return books to a magical library were my absolute favourites.
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I received an ARC of this book from the Publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This is a collection of previously published short stories, so really the only new information is Paula Guran's introduction and the way they are indexed. Each story is prefaced with the city and the type of magic it has.
It's a little hard to decide just how to rate a collection like this, especially when none of the material is newly published. However, considering how eclectic it is, it's likely only the most rabid of anthology collectors will have read every single story. I'm a bit rabid about anthologies myself, and have probably only read a third of the ones in this collection. It is also has a greater percentage of what I would consider sad stories in it. So, averaging it all out, this collection rates a solid 3 stars, but if you are thinking about picking it up just because it has one of your favorite authors in it, take a closer look and determine if it is a short story you already have in your collection.
Street Wizard by Simon R. Green
2 stars
No real substance or plot, just a night in the life of a street wizard, the magical equivalent of a traffic cop.
Paranormal Romance by Christopher Barzak
3 stars
A witch who specializes in love is set up on blind date by her interfering mother. Short sweet story with a surprise ending.
Grand Central Park by Delia Sherman
3 stars
I'm not quite sure how to describe this story, so I'll just say it didn't initially capture my attention, but the ending makes it worth the reading.
Spell Caster 2.0 by Jonathan Maberry
1 star
This one isn't new to me, I didn't care for it the first time I read it, and a re-read didn't improve my opinion. It's too...moralistic.
Wallamelon by Nisi Shawl
3 stars
This is a lovely, magical story of the costs of growing up and being different.
-30- by Caitlin R. Kiernan
DNF- Didn't hook me and the writing style felt awkward.
Seeing Eye by Patricia Briggs
5 stars
I've probably read this story 100 times and it seems like I enjoy it more with each reading. It's so complete. The characters are fully fleshed and the story itself doesn't take short cuts. It also doesn't hurt that these are integral characters of a large series, so you get to continue their story through other character's eyes.
Stone Man by Nancy Kress
4 stars
Despite the fact that this story is sort of depressing, the world and the characters are well crafted and compelling.
In the Stacks by Scott Lynch
4 stars
"RETRIEVE. RETURN. SURVIVE."
"The inherent magic of all undergraduates-the magic of the last minute. The power to embrace any skein, no matter how insane or desperate."
During grad school it often felt as though the library was out to get me. This just took it to it's logical, magical conclusion. And it's chock full of quotes that will resonate with anyone who has spent too much time in an academic library.
A Voice Like a Hole by Catherynne M. Valente
3 stars
One of the oddest shorts I've read.
The Arcane Art of Misdirection by Carrie Vaughn
2 stars
This is another re-read, it's not bad, but some of the oomph is lost in the repeat.
The Thief of Precious Things by A.C. Wise
3 stars
A strange and fascinating peek at a post-apocalyptic dystopian world full of shifters, magic and defunct technology.
The Land of Heart's Desire by Holly Black
3 stars
A story dealing with the fear that love is ephemeral and how a person (or fairy) deals with it.
Snake Charmer by Amanda Downum
4 stars
Another sad story, this time about revenge and dragons, and maybe getting not what you want, but what you need.
The Slaughtered Lamb by Elizabeth Bear
3 stars
A werewolf drag queen finally finds acceptance.
The Woman Who Walked with Dogs by Mary Rosenblum
2 stars
Nighttime is a strange and magical place for the imaginative mind of a child.
Words by Angela Slatter
2 stars
Wordsmith witch annoys neighborhood parents, who try to annoy her back.
Dog Boys by Charles de Lint
3 stars
New kid in school story with a twist. Kind of cute and sweet.
Alchemy by Lucy Sussex
3 stars
Set in ancient Babylon, this story takes a look at how a person must determine the costs of knowledge.
Curses by Jim Butcher
2 stars
The Harry Dresden series just doesn't lend itself well to shirt stories in my opinion.
De La Tierra by Emma Bull
3 stars
An enhanced mortal hitman learns a lesson. Honestly, I'd like to see more about how this world plays out. The concept is intriguing.
Stray Magic by Diana Peterfreund
3 stars
Sweet, heartwarming story about a very special dog and a very unique volunteer.
Kabu Kabu by Nnedi Okorafor
2 stars
An Igbo, Nigerian, American lawyer takes a hell of a can ride to get to her sister's wedding
Pearlywhite by Marc Laidlaw & John Shirely
3 stars
Another sad story about homeless kids. Well written and imaginative, it's worth the read as long as you aren't looking for happily ever after.
Cross Posted
http://erinsburnsbookshelf.blogspot.c... -
'Curses' (The Dresden Files #10.5) by Jim Butcher. ✓
★★★★/5. -
I didn't like every story in this, but I'll buy anthologies for one or two stories if I love the authors and have enough money, so this is a rather decent anthology by my standards. This is one of Prime Books' Recent Somethingsomethings anthologies, which have been getting beautiful cover art recently. They collect stories the editor likes from anthologies published in the last few years. They always have several stories I've read already, but they generally have several good ones I haven't.
Contents:
Street Wizard - Simon R. Green
Read in
Tales of the Hidden World, thoroughly enjoyed it. Simon R. Green has as terrific an imagination as Neil Gaiman and is good at any kind of snappy writing style. Don't read it for the characters, they're generally just vehicles for the cool stuff to happen.
Paranormal Romance - Christopher Barzak
A bit too melancholy and existentialist for me, as usual for Barzak. Seems good apart from that.
Grand Central Park - Delia Sherman
Read in another anthology, I don't remember much besides the fact I liked it but didn't love it.
Spellcaster 2.0 - Jonathan Maberry
Fun computer programming/magic story.
Wallamelon - Nisi Shawl
Yemaya helps a young African-American girl growing up in Michigan. Points for non-negative/stereotyped view of Afro-Caribbean religions (ex. Vodun, Ife).
-30- Caitlín R. Kiernan
I've never gotten into Kiernan's writing.
Seeing Eye - Patricia Briggs
Mercyverse story. I wish the blind heroine weren't named Keller, but I've liked the story each time it shows up in an antho or collection.
Stone Man - Nancy Kress
A young teenage boy with an affinity for rocks is recruited to fight evil magic. Didn't get into it.
In The Stacks - Scott Lynch
Scott Lynch almost never writes characters I like, but he's witty. This is about a giant, sentient, borrower-killing magic library, so I like it.
A Voice Like A Hole - Catherynne Valente
Valente, like Cory Doctorow, is one of those writers whose adult-marketed stories I can't get into and whose YA stories I like. This is a YA story from the Bordertown shared world.
The Arcane Art of Misdirection - Carrie Vaughn
Urban fantasy poker. Poker doesn't fascinate me any more than chess or baseball or horses.
The Thief of Precious Things - A.C. Wise
Fox and crow shifters. Didn't get into it.
The Land of Heart's Desire - Holly Black
Black revisits the characters from the
Tithe trilogy. Also in her collection
The Poison Eaters and Other Stories. Very much liked it.
Snake Charmer - Amanda Downum
Terrific Amanda Downum noir urban fantasy. I wish she had more books out. Points for non-negative/stereotyped view of Voudou.
The dragon is dying. [...] Someone will eat the dragon's heart and take its power. A lot of people are interested in the dragon's demise.
Some are less patient than others.
The Slaughtered Lamb - Elizabeth Bear
A Promethean Age story. A Faerie Wild Hunt tramples cars in the streets of NYC and only a werewolf drag queen and the Archmage of New York can stop it.
She said, "Turn back into a wolf? Are you kidding? You know we regenerate when we do that? You know how long it takes to wax this shit?"
The Woman Who Walked With Dogs - Mary Rosenblum
A young woman with her imaginary dog. Verged on being precious, but I like it.
Words - Angela Slatter
A fable but still pretty good. I dislike fables. Subgenre: the magic of writing.
Dog Boys - Charles de Lint
Charles de Lint gives excellent talks on folklore but I don't like his prose fiction.
Alchemy - Lucy Sussex
Set in ancient Babylon. Didn't like the writing.
Curses - Jim Butcher
A Dresden Files story. I didn't like book one of the Dresden Files, so I skipped it.
De La Tierra - Emma Bull
LA is dangerous even for Fey illegal immigrants. I support less racist immigration laws, but it's not one of Bull's best stories.
Stray Magic - Diana Peterfreund
A volunteer in a no kill shelter finds a wizard's dog who needs magic to live. I'm a cat person, but I love this story.
Kabu Kabu - Nnedi Okorafor (with Alan Dean Foster)
I have no idea what with in parentheses means. It was a fun story. The carwash and the travelling taxi are very cool.
Pearlywhite - Marc Laidlaw & John Shirley
Liked unexpectedly. The writing isn't bad compared to McKillip or Kushner. Multiple cool, powerful speculative elements. -
Simon R. Green: this story had an interesting premise and I would've loved to have read a full length novel of it but as it stands it's pretty much just a long description of some guys night. If I wanted that I'd read a day planner.
Paranormal Romance - Christopher Barzac
Well the main character was a little bit of a bitch but with a better description of her, perhaps it wouldn't have been so. About the only one who seemed interesting in this particular story was Corrinne. Although I'd read more about Lyle.
Couldn't finish Grand Central Park
Skipped Spellcaster 2.0, Wallamellon (this had promise but then I lost interest but the writing was solid. I'd check Ms. Shawl out on her own) and Caitlin Kiernan.
Seeing Eye -Patricia Briggs
This is what I was waiting for! Substance, action, the appropriate amount of development and great writing!
Stone Man -Nancy Kress
I really want to punch Jared in the face so....I'm out.
Cathrynne M. Valente
wow. Beautiful writing. A sort of free form poem that housed a story that had other tiny stories. Fig. Poor Fig.
The Arcane Art of Misdirection - Carrie Vaughn
yes!!!!! please please please please make this a series. I love Odysseus and it was nice to spend time with him without Kitty.
This had a real Doctor and Rose feel to it with just the right amount of urban fantasy.
Grant is still an enigma but I would love to try and piece some of his personality out.
The Thief of Precious Things - A.C Wise
This wasn't bad but I couldn't pinpoint what it is that was lacking. It was well written but it was devoid of emotion, which seemingly was the point of Ani's character, but it was just too barren of life. I did like Ani and her fight with the crows.
The Land of Heart's Desire - Holly Black
I'm not typically a Holly Black fan but I did try with this. Had to stop because I didn't like the characters.
Snake Charmer - Amanda Downum
This was intriguing as all get out. There were dangerous people, magic, sensuality, revenge and a Dragon!!! Yes please! Felt like a bloody noir novel and I loved it.
The Slaughtered Lamb - Elizabeth Bear
One of my faves but that could be simply be because I'm a New Yorker and have been to the Lamb. Not to mention...the writing was intriguing and the characters interesting. I'll be on the look out for her books.
The Woman Who Walked With Dogs - Mary Rosenblum
Boring.
Words - Angela Slater
The shortest of the stories but full of the fantastical. Very very well written.
Dog Boys - Charles de Lint
Amazing and the perfect length. Brandon is both brave and flexible, good traits to have when your world has just completely lost its axis.
Alchemy - Lucy Sussex
Wow. Sussex painted a beautiful story with both her words and her to be, striking a balance with fantasy and history that would make me seek her writing out.
Curses - Jim Butcher
Eh. It was cute.
De la Tierra- Emma Bull
It was a little confusing at the beginning and then I got bored.
Stray Magic - Diana Peterfreund
Skimmed. Bored me.
Kabu Kabu -
Skimmed. Bored me.
Pearlywhites - skipped.
All in all this isn't a bad anthology, but it's not great. If too ate fans of most of these authors then you'll love this. However, if you are fans of just one or two....wait until you can buy the short.
*provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review -
Anthology - 3.5 average rating
1. Street Wizard by Simon R. Green. The night of a kind of magical beat cop. Good story. 4 stars.
2. Paranormal Romance by Christopher Barzak. A witch who does love charms for a living has an evening of possible changes. 3-1/2 stars
3. Grand Central Park by Delia Sherman. A teenager sees fairies again. 4 stars
4. Spellcaster 2.0 by Jonathan Maberry. A college student has a life changing moment that changes everything. 3 stars
5. Wallamelon by Nisi Shawl. A story about a different kind of magic, almost protection magic and how it changes a girl. 3-1/2 stars.
6. 30 by Caitlin R. Kiernan. So depressing and just for the end of a 30 page story? 2 stars
7. Seeing Eye by Patricia Briggs. I read this previously in the anthology
Strange Brew Moira and Tom meet in bad circumstances but are perfect for each other. I think I've read this short story at least 3 times. I remember it all. 5 stars
8. Stone Man by Nancy Kress. These "kids" come and to another world and make a lot of money, oh and they're the bad guys. I was confused. 2-1/2 stars
9. In the Stacks by Scott Lynch. This story reminded me of Harry Potter except it seemed they were more college age. It was very easy to figure out who had an ulterior motive. 3 stars.
10. A Voice Like a Hole by Catherynne M. Valente. I can't get what a voice like a hole means - round sounds? Good story. 3 stars
11. The Arcane Art of Misdirection by Carrie Vaughn. A blackjack dealer sees cheaters, tries to figure out what's going on and is drawn into a world she didn't know existed. 4 stars.
12. The Thief of Precious Things by A.C. Wise. Fantasy/dystopian world. I'm not exactly sure if the ending was good or bad. 3 stars.
13. The Land of Heart's Desire by Holly Black. This is about a couple and their friends and a coffee house. I'm not sure what the story was itself. 3 stars
14. Snake Charmer by Amanda Downum. I wasn't sure about this story at the beginning but it kind of grew on me. 3-1/2 stars.
15. The Slaughtered Lamb by Elizabeth Bear. You had me at Drag Queen Werewolf. 4 stars.
16. The Woman Who Walked with Dogs by Mary Rosenblum. Your imaginary friends might not be imaginary? 3-1/2 stars
17. Words by Angela Slatter. A really sad story about a woman who gives up little pieces of herself. 3 stars.
18. Dog Boys by Charles de Lint. What a weird and wonderful short story this was. I really enjoyed it and the possible romance. 4 stars.
19. Alchemy by Lucy Sussex. Not read. No rating.
20. Curses by Jim Butcher. Harry is hired to remove a curse and finds out how it originated. Good story. 4 stars.
21. De La Tierra by Emma Bull. A killer starts to question a job. 4 stars.
22. Stray Magic by Diana Peterfreund. A stray who appears one way to people and another way to a woman needs to find his master. 3 stars.
23. Kabu Kabu by Nnedi Okorafor (with Alan Dean Foster). A strange and wonderful cab ride. 4 stars.
24. Pearlywhite by Marc Laidlaw & John Shirley. A homeless boys has a special helper. 4 stars -
***Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy***
Short stories are a difficult form to master in any case, but when it comes to sci-fi and fantasy, the author has an even tougher challenge: building an entire world in just a few pages. As with any short-story collection featuring multiple authors, some of the contributions to MAGIC CITY: RECENT SPELLS, edited by Paula Guran, are more successful than others. Ultimately, I think the anthology does a great job of showcasing many different interpretations of ‘urban fantasy’ and gives readers the chance to discover something new.
Some of the stories that I enjoyed the most were the ones set in cities, but not any cities we’re familiar with. I’d love to dive deeper into the world of “In the Stacks” by Scott Lynch, for example, which features a fantastical university where the final exam is returning a book to the highly hostile Living Library. And A.C. Wise’s “The Thief of Precious Things” builds a suspenseful atmosphere in a world where girls turn into foxes and men have shadows full of crows. Stories built off of folklore and superstition are also very engaging, like “Wallamelon,” “Grand Central Park,” and “The Slaughtered Lamb,” which features a werewolf drag queen named Edie. As an animal lover, “Stray Magic” made me teary.
The organization of the collection doesn’t seem to have much rhyme or reason. Given the wide range of the protagonists’ ages, it might have worked to arrange the stories in a way that emphasized growth and the effect aging has on one’s interactions with the paranormal. Many of the stories in this book with YA protagonists succeed because children don’t need to question magic – when they find it, they accept it with all of their hearts, and so the reader does too, saving precious words and valuable space. -
An anthology of reprints, this anthology shows how magic really sparkles when grounded in reality – without the natural, how can there be no supernatural to juxtapose? A novel needs to have its own reality (limitations, and such) even when different from our own reality, to show the magic, however common it may be in the fantasy world, in order for to be both believable and engaging. In this anthology we see a range of urban fantasy set in Chicago, New York, London… but also in the ancient city of Babylon, and in fantasy worlds, or near-future cities. We meet wizards, faeries, shape-shifters and more. With many well known names, and those not so well known, this anthology will certainly had me heading straight to Goodreads to see what else the not-so-well-known-names had written. Anthologies are always such a curse for the wallet! They’re the best way to try and test authors, to see if you’d love to read more of their work.
“Street Wizard” © 2010 Simon R. Green.
A good opener to the anthology, we meet a street wizard of London, known only as Charlie boy. He wakes at 9pm to patrol his little spot in Soho to perform little spells to keep the unwitting safe from what really lurks in London’s back-alleys and shadows. It has a nice balance of ‘not much happening’ while so much really is – a general night as a street wizard means feral pixies, a golem, and vermin who look like homeless people living in boxes, prostitutes or otherwise – the trick is in being able to tell the actual from the demon. All in a nights work for Charlie boy. First publication: The Way of the Wizard, ed. John Joseph Adams (Prime Books).
To continue reading this review,
please click here. -
This is a collection of short stories that are filled with magic and sure to appeal to lovers of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Whilst I have previously read one or two of the stories here I thought it was a great idea to put so many different authors together as this way the reader can try out different writing styles.
Some of these stories are quite humorous whilst others take a more serious tone. I've long been a fan of Patricia Briggs and had previously read her story but with the exception of just two all the other stories included here were completely new to me. It was a simply divine way to discover new authors that I might otherwise have completely missed so I for one am really happy that this collection has been published.
These stories are certainly an eclectic mix and if honest one or two didn't really strike a chord with me but I always enjoy these anthologies as it means the reader can just dip in when they want . It's such a fabulous way to discover new authors but obviously I would advise checking which stories if any you have previously read as it would be a bitter disappointment if none were new to you. -
3.5 star - pretty good. On the whole this was a pretty decent collection, with lots of little magical tidbits from a wide variety of authors.
This was an open approval on NetGalley, and seeing some of my favorite big name UF authors in this collection I jumped in, only to discover what others have mentioned - all of these stories are previously published some as early as 2002.
Turns out that I'd read the stories from the authors that lured me into this collection, and liked them when I read them, but there actually were a fair number of stories here that I'd never read before and that I liked, and only a few oddball ones that I didn't. -
This anthology's stories were fairly dark, even the few that ended well. All anthologies use a couple of well-known authors to pull in readers (sell books) and several less-known authors writing on some kind of theme. This anthology borrows a Briggs story and a Butcher story that were in separate anthologies several years ago. The "theme" is urban magic, but the stories don't support any other theme at all. Disappointing attempt to sell dead trees.
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Picked it up for the Patricia Briggs short story. It was a reprint of her "Seeing Eye Wolf" short. Wonderful story but not new.
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Only 2 of the stories I liked and the rest were boring. I wouldn't waste my money on this.
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Really enjoyed some of the stories. A good mixture for every taste.
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I read most of them. Good short stories, interesting (all about magic users in a big city). One was two pages, others many. Some great authors I have read, some new to me. Fun stuff.
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Things you should know:
1. I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley for purposes of review.
2. This is a reprint anthology. If you read a lot of anthologies in the field, you will probably have read some of these before. I had read three, though two of them were among the best ones, and I enjoyed reading them again.
3. It still has some worthwhile stuff in it, especially if you're a fan of the big names in urban fantasy (Jim Butcher, Carrie Vaughn, Patricia Briggs) and haven't read these stories before.
4. It isn't just "urban fantasy" by the usual definition (our contemporary world plus the supernatural). There's a sword-and-sorcery story from Scott Lynch, and a story set in ancient Babylon. Mostly, though, it's what is usually meant by urban fantasy.
5. The best stories are not at the beginning. In fact, in my opinion, the worst stories are at the beginning. Push through; from "Seeing Eye" onwards, it starts getting much better (though there are one or two stories earlier than that that are worth reading, and one or two after that that I didn't care for much). I would advise skipping -30-, which I despised.
6. Your taste may well differ from mine.
7. A lot of the characters in these stories - at least 9, by my count - are LGBTQ, so if you're bothered by that (I'm not), this may not be the book for you.
Here's a rundown story by story.
Street Wizard: not so much a story as a slice of life. It's hard to make a civil servant, even a heroic one, interesting, and I should know. Well done for what it is. Soft ending.
Paranormal Romance: again, not much of an ending. LGBTQ character count: 4. Loser main character doesn't really protagonise, makes some progress towards happiness, perhaps, but doesn't really change.
Grand Central Park: finally, a protagonist (a smart one, too) and a story with an arc and an ending. Knowing a bit of fairy lore will help you appreciate it.
Spellcaster 2.0: nasty main character, not a protagonist, railroaded into an obvious decision and seems to escape the consequences of his earlier mistakes unscathed (though, at least, not unchanged). Preachy. LGBT character count: 1. Has two errors of fact that I spotted: there are no Nobel Prizes for social sciences, and 200GB of text documents is a ridiculously large number (about two Project Gutenbergs, if my quick online research is accurate). Uses "council" where it should be "counsel", and "close-minded" instead of "closed-minded".
Wallamelon: interesting window into the lives of poor urban black families. Maybe could have been shorter. Has a protagonist and an ending.
-30-: all sorts of problems with this one. Poorly copy edited (even down to "it's" for "its", not just once, but three times), about a writer with writer's block (worst story idea ever), told in second person for no good reason, main character is hopeless and alienated. A street changes its name from Benevolent Street to Benefit Street and back. A woman is described as blue, then referred to as "the green woman", then she's back to blue again. "Bogarts" for "boggarts". So dark and depressing, and so negative about the life of a writer, that when I read it after a good day's writing which I'd enjoyed I found myself questioning downheartedly whether I'd wasted my time.
It's about an author who does deals with the Fae to get an ending for her story, but by the time the ending of this story came round I didn't care, plus it really just stopped rather than ending. When I read it I thought, "I'm surprised this sold once, let alone twice," but in fact the first publication was in the author's own zine, so it only sold once. I'm still surprised. LGBT character count: 1.
Seeing Eye: I always enjoy Patricia Briggs, and this is no exception. Has a protagonist and an ending. A few copy editing issues, though: Glenda the good witch (it's Glinda), "moral principals", "peaked" for "peeked", a few missing minor words like "a" and "is".
Stone Man: reads more like a first chapter than a self-contained short story. More exposition than a story as such, but a bit of protagonism. I'd read it before.
In the Stacks: I'd read this before too, but enjoyed it enough that I read it again. It stands up to a re-read: both humourous tale and action-packed sword-and-sorcery story at once, well-written, with a bit of moral depth to it. In other words, it's a Scott Lynch story.
A Voice Like a Hole: I think I read this in the Bordertown anthology it originally appeared in. I'm not fond of the Bordertown shared world; too dark and self-consciously anarcho-punk for me, and this is an example of that, albeit not the worst example in that collection. Soft ending. LGBTQ character count: probably at least one.
The Arcane Art of Misdirection: I'm a big Carrie Vaughn fan, and I liked this one, though the (mundane) viewpoint character's protagonism suffers a bit from being partnered with a (magical) established, if minor, character from her Kitty Norville series.
The Thief of Precious Things: I didn't expect to enjoy this, based on the premise and what I know of the author, but it surprised me in a positive way. It's technopessimist, which I don't personally like, but it worked as a story, making a point about how connecting with other people can change you.
The Land of Heart's Desire: I'd already forgotten what this story was about when I came to review it, and had to remind myself from another review. I think that's all I need to say about it. LGBTQ character count: 2 (though the second is only really there to be the first's partner).
Snake Charmer: I'd forgotten this one, too. It's pretty much standard urban fantasy on the dark and gritty streets, so not my favourite thing.
The Slaughtered Lamb: I liked this a lot, and would read a novel or series in the world (which it feels like there might be). It was exciting, while keeping a strong focus on character issues. LGBTQ character count: 1, a sassy drag-queen werewolf, really strong.
The Woman who Walked with Dogs: plenty of tension in this one, and a strong ending. Protagonist possibly lesbian or asexual, or maybe just too young to be interested in boys yet, but it's not clear enough to count.
Words: a more fanciful, fairy-tale-style story, a kind of parable (or wish-fulfilment fantasy?) about the power of words and the people who (unsuccessfully) fight that power.
Dog Boys: potentially a bit problematic, as the white male protagonist not only saves the Native American damsel in distress but is adopted into her tribe in a ceremony which seems to have come straight out of Tom Sawyer, so that he can save the day. Typos: "star" for "scar", "heat" for "feet" (apparently), and "girl's team" for "girls' team".
Alchemy: it was difficult to decide who was the protagonist, the spirit being or the woman he attempts to influence. Given that he fails, maybe it was her. Set in Ancient Babylon, which is different. "Two millennium" for "two millennia".
Curses: I am a truly enormous Jim Butcher fan (I was reading him before it was cool), and this story, while reasonably self-contained, has a lot of callouts to his series which anyone who has only read this story will miss. Not least is the fact that he's being polite, which is very different from his usual snark. I've read it before, of course (twice, in his single-author collection), but enjoyed it again.
De la Tierra: Emma Bull is wonderful, and I really wish she'd written more books like War for the Oaks and Territory. This story of an assassin who discovers his bosses have been lying to him implies a deep, broad world, and I'd read more stories in it. It's dark and violent, but with a purpose and a point, not just as set-dressing.
Stray Magic: I'm a sucker for a cute animal, and I loved this story about a wizard's familiar who turns up lost at an animal shelter. The city plays very little role in this story, so it's only tenuously connected to the theme of the anthology. Typo: "hoses" for "noses".
Kabu Kabu: also a bit of a thin connection to the theme, apart from starting out in Chicago, but I liked it. A crazy ride in a magical cab gives occasion for a daughter of Nigerian immigrants to reflect on issues of identity and culture as she tries to get to her sister's wedding in Nigeria. "Heavy-based" for "heavy-bassed".
Pearlywhite: another one I didn't expect to enjoy, because I don't usually like horror, but I liked it. Plenty of protagonism. There's a bit of telling (about the kids being secretive about their spirit guardians' "homebases") that's later contradicted in showing, but otherwise a good story.
Overall, with some exceptions, particularly towards the start, I enjoyed this collection. There are enough good stories in it that it's worth picking up for urban fantasy fans. -
Most of these stories and authors were new to me. Lots of good UF shorts. I really liked "Curses" by Jim Butcher. I also really liked “Kabu Kabu” by Nnedi Okorafor and "Snake Charmer" by Amanda Downum. And of course anything Mercy Thompson related, no matter how many times I've read it, is a favorite - so add "Seeing Eye" by Patricia Briggs to my list ;) I would love more stories about Moira & Tom!
