From Publishers Weekly
In his introduction to this collection, Aldiss discusses the lack of clear definition of "fantasy." These 23 stories reflect this ambiguity, falling into seven different sub-genres. "Old Hundreth," the best known work, is conventional science fiction. Half a dozen others, including the title story, are tales of the supernatural, verging on fairy tales. Several, such as "The Blue Background," are still-lifes: a verbal painting of a plotless scene. Another half-dozen are surrealistic. "Castle Scenes with Penitents" has one minor character with wings, but otherwise is an historical fiction along the lines of "Day of the Doomed King." The best of the collection is "The Small Stones of Tu Fu"; set in ancient China and the far future, it resonates with a quiet wisdom. All of the stories are carefully crafted word pictures that should be read slowly and savored.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
