From Publishers Weekly
Those who want to know what's right-and wrong-with contemporary fantasy need look no further than this exemplary series. Editor Yolen (The Devil's Arithmetic) describes this third annual entry as "an all-purpose fantasy melange." It opens with Shira Daemon's "Dairy Queen," which tells of a young runaway whose capture by cruel fairies ironically frees her from her lonely life. In a minimal number of words, the author manages to walk the delicate line between the ancient and the contemporary with grace and skill. Other lesser-known writers also make good showings. Micole Sudberg's "Calliope" delightfully yet frighteningly links fantasy and horror, while Michelle Stone's "The Lizard Queen" is a promising first sale. Elsewhere, a few selections-Nancy Etchemendy's "Mollusk Dreams" and Claire Parman Brown's "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" being the best among them-suffer from presenting any male character as cruel, unless he is an artist, or at least (as in Jo Clayton's "The Man Who Loved the River") claims to be one. There are some unfortunate juxtapositions as well, such as the pairing of Susan Palwick's exquisite "Jo's Hair" with Astrid Julian's "The Hunter and the Stag," a perfectly capable tale that suffers only by comparison. In addition to the stories, Yolen includes several poems, including a nifty bit of doggerel from Lawrence Schimel, making this, despite some flaws, the clearest picture available of the state of the art of modern fantasy.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
The 18 stories and four poems collected here launch a new series dedicated to broadening the bounderies of the genre. They are written by a talented array of fantasy authors, including Tanith Lee, Pamela Dean, Will Shetterly, and Mike Resnick
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
