New York Fantastic: Fantasy Stories from the City That Never Sleeps

Although not all of the 20 fantastical stories in this anthology could only have happened in New York (Elizabeth Bear’s moving “The Horrid Glory of Its Wings,” about an HIV-positive teenager’s encounter with a harpy, never mentions New York and could have been set in any city), most make creative use of the Big Apple’s varied communities and cultures. New Yorkers in search of suitable housing will appreciate Naomi Novik’s funny “Priced to Sell,” featuring a vampire who disdains condos because they “let anybody in.” Karl Bunker demonstrates his imagination in “Caisson,” in which the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge leads to a surprising discovery. The standout entries are Peter S. Beagle’s tale of centaurs in Van Cortlandt Park, “The Rock in the Park,” and Peter Straub’s moody and haunting “Pork Pie Hat,” about the search for the dark truths behind a jazzman’s music. Guran mixes horror with gentler fantasy to keep the volume from being monotonous. (Nov.)