By Sandy Amazeen Feb 26, 2007, 2:37 GMT
This anthology of six fairy tales is reprint of a 2005 Science Fiction Book Club release that includes the imaginative work of Craig Shaw Gardner, Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder to name a few. The collection opens with a fun piece by Tanith Lee entitled “UOUS” about a young woman trapped in a Cinderella type situation. After the death of her father, Lois ends up caring for her stepfamily who regard her as little more then a slave. Fed up by her circumstances, Lois makes a demand for three wishes…to bad she wasn’t just a bit more specific in her request as she soon finds herself on the wrong end of the bargain. “Grace Notes” penned by Megan Lindholm reveals what happens when a cleanliness obsessed brownie moves into the apartment of a total slob. At first, Jeff doesn’t notice the little changes taking place in his flat but before long, he’s quite certain someone is breaking in while he’s at work and cleaning, decorating and even leaving dinner in the fridge. Just when Jeff decides to sit back and enjoy this unexpected turn of events he discovers there is indeed, no free lunch. Patricia McKillip’s “The Kelpie” focuses more upon the personality conflicts between groups of aspiring painters then on anything otherworldly which is disappointing.
If you missed the hardback version then now is a good time to add this collection to your fantasy library. The stories are generally entertaining but leave the reader feeling as though the authors hurried through the endings.
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