Hot off the critical success of Anansi Boys
, Gaiman offers this largely disappointing medley that feels like a collection of idea seeds that have yet to mature. Among the ground covered: an old woman eats her cat alive, slowly; two teenage boys fumble through a house party attended by preternaturally attractive aliens; a raven convinces a writer attempting realism to give way to fantastical inclinations. A few poems, heartfelt or playfully musical, pockmark the collection. At his best, Gaiman has a deft touch for surprise and inventiveness, and there are inspired moments, including one story that brings the months of the year to life and imagines them having a board meeting. (September is an "elegant creature of mock solicitude," while April is sensitive but cruel; they don't get along), but most of these stories rely too heavily on the stock-in-trade of horror, sci-fi and fantasy. Gaiman only once or twice gives himself the space necessary to lock the reader's attention.150,000 announced first printing.
(Oct.)
Details
Reviewed on: 07/17/2006
Genre: Fiction
Compact Disc - 9 pages - 978-0-7927-4526-6
Compact Disc - 9 pages - 978-0-06-114237-6
Downloadable Audio - 978-0-06-279199-3
MP3 CD - 978-0-7927-4561-7
Mass Market Paperbound - 384 pages - 978-0-06-051523-2
Open Ebook - 1 pages - 978-0-7927-4589-1
Other - 384 pages - 978-0-06-180416-8
Paperback - 400 pages - 978-0-06-269954-1
Paperback - 400 pages - 978-0-06-307570-2
Paperback - 416 pages - 978-0-06-125202-0
