From the Publisher
Nix’s collection of richly imagined short fiction is a feast for speculative fiction fans of all ages.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Deft characterization and virtuoso worldbuilding with tones that range from creepy dread to grisly violence to poignant heartbreak to wry humor (sometimes within the same tale!). A tasty buffet for Nix fans and a comprehensive sampler for new readers.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Nix has a very imaginative and wild mind, and his characters come to life. An enjoyable read for fantasy and science fiction fans.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
“Invariably well-written and featuring engaging characters throughout, these stories are all a pleasure to read. Nix’s fans will treasure this collection.” — Publishers Weekly
“Nix’s talents for characterization, description, and plotting render each story in this work a pleasure to read. Readers of speculative fiction, whether teens or adults, should find much to enjoy in this collection.” — School Library Journal
Booklist (starred review)
Nix’s collection of richly imagined short fiction is a feast for speculative fiction fans of all ages.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Nix has a very imaginative and wild mind, and his characters come to life. An enjoyable read for fantasy and science fiction fans.
Kirkus Reviews
2015-03-17
A collection of short speculative fiction showcases a hugely popular author. Nineteen previously published fantasy, horror, and science-fiction stories are here grouped loosely by theme and united by deft characterization and virtuoso worldbuilding. Their tones range from creepy dread to grisly violence to poignant heartbreak to wry humor (sometimes within the same tale!), and they exhibit Nix's favorite tropes: absent or abusive parents, found families, conflict and combat, sacrifice for the greater good, and the dangerous fluidity between animate and inanimate, the living and the dead. Unusually for this author, almost all the protagonists are male, and many are middle-aged or elderly. Three stories (the most noteworthy being the title novella) stand as prequels to earlier novels, and another three explicitly borrow iconic characters from other genre writers; while clever and occasionally moving, these will probably work best for readers already familiar with the sources. The independent tales, while still drawing liberally from pop culture and pulp literature, take fresh vitality from their atmospheric subtleties, unique twists, or striking characters—most memorably the bully-defying role-playing gamer in "The Quiet Knight"; the downtrodden yet determined student witches in "A Handful of Ashes"; and the broken, weary occultist in the dreamlike "Ambrose and the Ancient Spirits of East and West." Not a necessary purchase, but a tasty buffet for Nix fans and a comprehensive sampler for new readers. (Fantasy/horror/science-fiction short stories. 12 & up)
