This is a collection of the best fantasy prose written in 2004, by some of the genre's greatest writers, and selected by two of SF's most respected editors. Honestly I just bidded for this on Ebay just because I'm collecting all of Neil Gaiman's works (what SF/Fantasy collection be complete without featuring him, right?) but I was pleasantly surprised to find myself rediscovering fantasy genre once more.

Now, I would normally expect to find some stories I liked and some I didn't, but I found all of these stories to be great (with the exception of "Pat Moore" where I found my eyes glazing over).

Each of these eleven stories were written by a different author, and they range far and wide in style and subject matter:

"Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless House of the Night of Dread Desire" by Neil Gaiman >> (looong title, eh? *lol*) Writing realistic fiction can be so dreadful...especially when reality is so unreal! "Aye, welcome--on this night of all nights." The story deserves another reading.

"The Word That Sings the Scythe" by Michael Swanwick >> Will has much that he wishes he could forget, but he can't. And then he meets a charming little girl, one who can't remember anything. Watch out for that twist at the ending--certainly didn't see that one coming!

"The Little Stranger" by Gene Wolfe >> There once was a little old lady who lived by herself in the woods, and such strange things happen around her. But, is she really a witch? There are some allusions to Hansel & Gretel but it didn't spoil the story.

"The Faery Handbag" by Kelly Link >> Genvieve's grandmother jealously guarded her handbag, her magical handbag. But, now that she is dead, Genvieve prepares for an adventure. Too badit wasn't her who thought of the idea of how to get "inside" first ;p Oh, and Scrabble fans will like this story

"Quarry" by Peter S. Beagle >> A young man, fleeing for his life, meets an old man who will help him and teach him what he needs to survive. But, it soon becomes apparent that the old man is fleeing something himself. Reminds me of LOTR's Aragorn as Hunter, for obvious reasons.

"The Enchanted Trousseau" by Deborah Roggie >> When a wizard comes to woo her wayward daughter, Gerinet, Alrea knows what she must do. And so, like her mother and grandmother before her, she begins to sew spells into her daughter's trousseau. Poor wizard--he sadly underestimated the peasant folk!

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice" by Robert Silverberg >> When Gannin Thidrich becomes apprentice to a sorcerer, he did not expect his teacher to be a sorceress, and a beautiful one at that. Things are going to get very complicated for Gannin, especially when one's longings are obviously rebuffed again & again.

"The Annals of the Eelin-Ok" by Jeffrey Ford >> There is a species of fairy that lives in children's sandcastles on beaches, and they live as long as the castle exists. This is the story of the life of Eelin-Ok and Castle While Away. Makes you want to stay & try to determine if there are fairies living in your sandcastle after you've made it. Be sure to use blue bottle glass, the Twilmish will love you for it.

"Pat Moore" by Tim Powers >> Pat Moore never questioned how common his name was...until he started meeting ghosts with the same name. Got bored with this, or maybe I just didn't like the author's writing style.

"The Angel's Daughter" by Jay Lake >> Once upon a time, in a magical desert city, there lived an angel's daughter who could only be freed by a man who could win her heart. A short & sweet fairytale type of a story.

"The Silver Dragon" by Elizabeth A. Lynn >> In the land of Ryoka, an evil lord prepares for war against his neighbors, including the Silver Dragon. In order to neutralize the dragon, the lord steals his wife. But, the dragon will stop at nothing to get his wife back. This is my fave! I think the only dragon tale I ever liked :)

Book Details:

Title Fantasy: The Best of 2004 (Neil Gaiman, Gene Wolfe, Michael Swanwick)
Author Edited by Karen Haber & Jonathan Strahan
Reviewed By Purplycookie ( )

I do love fantasy anthologies in general, and this one isn't bad at all. Sure, there were a few that didn't really stick, but most are pretty good. I especially liked Gaiman's piece (but then I always do!), with a subversive message on the perception of fantasy literature. ( )