Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions - Softcover

Gaiman, Neil

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0380789027 ISBN 13: 9780380789023

Publisher: William Morrow, 2020

Synopsis

In the deft hands of Neil Gaiman, magic is no mere illusion... and anything is possible. In this, Gaiman's first book of short stories, his imagination and supreme artistry transform a mundane world into a place of terrible wonders -- a place where an old woman can purchase the Holy Grail at a thrift store, where assassins advertise their services in the Yellow Pages under "Pest Control," and where a frightened young boy must barter for his life with a mean-spirited troll living beneath a bridge by the railroad tracks. Explore a new reality -- obscured by smoke and darkness, yet brilliantly tangible -- in this extraordinary collection of short works by a master prestidigitator. It will dazzle your senses, touch your heart, and haunt your dreams.

About this title

Review:

Best known for his Sandman graphic novels about Morpheus, Lord of Dreams, Neil Gaiman has also written the standalone books Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett), Never Where from his BBC TV series revealing a fantastic realm under London, and Star Dust, a poignant fairy tale. His shorter fantasies are regularly picked for Year's Best collections. Smoke and Mirrors assembles 36 of his favourite stories, prose poems, and verse pieces. Among the imaginative inventions here are a murder mystery set among angels in heaven; the discovery of the Holy Grail at Oxfam; warped retellings of fairy tales and folklore, including a Snow White that's black beyond belief; several clever variations on vampirism; a firm of contract killers with a very remarkable discount scheme; homages to Michael Moorcock and H.P. Lovecraft (one splendidly funny) that avoid mere pastiche; an SF world of rapid and reversible sex changes; Beowulf retold as a Baywatch episode; a tasty amalgamation of computers and black magic; a new final book of the Bible; and the grim wedding present that's simply a manuscript telling a bleakly different story of the recipients' unfolding marriage. SF/fantasy professionals themselves envy Gaiman's perpetual flow of new ideas and ability to put a fresh spin on old ones. Smoke and Mirrors is a dazzlingly varied and rewarding collection. --David Langford

Review:

"[Gaiman] is, simply put, a treasure house of story, and we are lucky to have him in any medium."--Stephen King"An exhilarating display of the work of one of our most entertaining storytellers." --"Kirkus Reviews (starred)"A box of bonbons for dark fantasy fans." --"Booklist"Short stories guaranteed to excite the senses and inflame the imagination . . ." --"Book Alert"Poe would love him." --"Booklist"The intriguing world behind these pages is indeed smoke and mirrors, just a step or a word or a story away from our own."--"Publisher's Weekly"Highly imaginative . . . readers will find echoes of H.P. Lovecraft, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, but the voice is all Gaiman.""Dallas Morning News

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow
• Publication date: 2020
• ISBN 10: 0380789027
• ISBN 13: 9780380789023
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 368