The Darker Mask: Heroes from the Shadows

by Gary Phillips, Christopher Chambers

Overview

Wildly fantastic superhero stories by a cross section of today's cutting-edge urban fantasy and crime writers.

Expanding on the concept behind Byron Preiss's Weird Heroes from the 1970s, George R. R. Martin's Wild Card series, and Michael Chabon's McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales, The Darker Mask is a collection of original prose stories recalling the derring-do of the beings we call Superheroes and the worlds they fight to save.

But unique to The Darker Mask stories is that these plots and characters color a literary universe outside of what has been predominantly white, idiosyncratic, and male in previous homages to pulp. This is the stuff of urban legends, new mythos, and extraordinary folks who might live in a soon-to-be-gentrified ghetto, the dreary rust-belt of the city, or in another dimension.

The Darker Mask offers an eclectic mix of popular fiction writers exploring worlds gritty, visceral, and fantastic.

Includes contributions from L. A. Banks, Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due, Lorenzo Carcaterra, Christopher Chambers, Reed Farrel Coleman, Michael A. Gonzales, Gar Anthony Haywood, Naomi Hirahara, Mat Johnson, Victor LaValle, Walter Mosley, Ann Nocenti, Gary Phillips, Jerry A. Rodrigues, Alexandra Sokoloff, Peter Spiegelman, Wayne L. Wilson, and Doselle Young.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780765318510
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/19/2008
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Gary Phillips contributed to The Darker Mask from Tom Doherty Associates.

CHRISTOPHER CHAMBERS is the author of Sympathy for the Devil and A Prayer for Deliverance. He is currently working on a historical novel titled Yella Patsy's Boys, about the African-American experience during the American Revolution.

Table of Contents

Dream Knights; L. A. Banks

Trickster; Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due

The Strega's Last Dance; Lorenzo Carcaterra

Avatar; Christopher Chambers

Accidentally, Like a Martyr; Reed Farrel Coleman

The Whores of Onyx City; Michael A. Gonzales

Heatseeker; Gar Anthony Haywood

Tat Master; Naomi Hirahara

Henchman; Mat Johnson

The Angel of Loneliness; Victor LaValle

The Picket; Walter Mosley

Switchback; Ann Nocenti

And What Shall We Call You?; Gary Phillips

Dred; Jerry A. Rodrigues

The Edge of Seventeen; Alexandra Sokoloff

In Vino, Veritas; Peter Spiegelman

The Messenger; Wayne L. Wilson

Housework; Doselle Young

Editorial Reviews

"A solid and interesting collection that should appeal to fans of the superhero genre, especially those willing to explore the subject from a new and darker perspective." —Booklist

From the Publisher

Themed along the grayer areas of superhero fiction, this anthology of 18 original stories nonetheless covers a wide spectrum. One standout is "Switchback," by Ann Nocenti (Daredevil), in which teenage Mimi must try to cope with both her strange mind-control powers and the shards of familial ties that still bind her to her broken family. In "Tat Master," Edgar award-winner Naomi Hirahara (Snakeskin Shamisen) introduces tattoo artist Eye, who discovers the ability to bring her designs to life while on the run from her abusive boyfriend. Shamus winner Peter Spiegelman (Black Maps) pulls off a classic tale of superheroics meeting reality with "In Vino, Veritas," delving into a simple tale of ethics and love through the viewpoint of lie-detecting Veritas. Deceptively simple and entertaining while never skimping on serious topics, this tight anthology will satisfy any superhero enthusiast. (Aug.)

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Publishers Weekly

Phillips (Violent Spring) and Chambers (A Prayer for Deliverance) edit this anthology wherein the superhero origin tale meets the mean streets. Transients and junkies, abuse victims and prostitutes, tattoo artists and bounty hunters are among the folks (mostly of color) who use their edgy superpowers to retaliate against their victimizers. Many of these stories would work better in a graphic format, but each does get a first-rate illustration. After a slow start, patient readers will be rewarded and transported by strong work from Gar Anthony Haywood, Naomi Hirahara, Mat Johnson, Victor LaValle, Walter Mosley, Ann Nocenti, Jerry A. Rodriguez, and Peter Spiegelman. A solid choice for libraries where speculative anthologies circulate but especially recommended for inner cities and libraries with diverse readership.
—Neil Hollands

Library Journal