satyajit reviewed Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman
Review of 'Smoke and Mirrors' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Audiobook version.
Softcover, 339 pages
English language
Published June 18, 2001 by Harper Perennial.
4 stars
(92 reviews)
In the deft hands of Neil Gaiman, magic is no mere illusion. . . and anything is possible. In this, Gaiman's first book of short stories, his imagination and supreme artistry transform a mundane world into a place of terrible wonders—a place where an old woman can purchase the Holy Grail at a thrift store, where assassins advertise their services in the Yellow Pages under "Pest Control," and where a frightened young boy must barter for his life with a mean-spirited troll living beneath a bridge by the railroad tracks. Explore a new reality—obscured by smoke and darkness, yet brilliantly tangible—in this extraordinary collection of short works by a master prestidigitator. It will dazzle your senses, touch your heart, and haunt your dreams.
江（阅读引用版） reviewed Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman
骑士精神
5 stars
Content warning 内有剧透
建议改为：气运之女
jellybeyreads reviewed Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman
Review of 'Smoke and Mirrors' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
How do you give a rating to a collection of short stories and poems? A single rating obscures that I feel very differently about the different pieces in this book. Of 33 pieces (plus 1 hidden in the introduction, most were ok or pretty good (3-4 stars, maybe?) but there were a handful of standouts that were just stunning (5 stars all the way).
In the introduction, Gaiman gives a quick background to each story -- the origin of the story, some aspect of the writing process, or a note on themes or intent. It's an interesting window into the writing process that readers don't usually have access to. (Also interesting because some of the stories are actually about the writing process.) I have to say I enjoyed this, but it's not something I would want all the time.
My favorite pieces in the collection:
Chivalry. An elderly woman …
How do you give a rating to a collection of short stories and poems? A single rating obscures that I feel very differently about the different pieces in this book. Of 33 pieces (plus 1 hidden in the introduction, most were ok or pretty good (3-4 stars, maybe?) but there were a handful of standouts that were just stunning (5 stars all the way).
In the introduction, Gaiman gives a quick background to each story -- the origin of the story, some aspect of the writing process, or a note on themes or intent. It's an interesting window into the writing process that readers don't usually have access to. (Also interesting because some of the stories are actually about the writing process.) I have to say I enjoyed this, but it's not something I would want all the time.
My favorite pieces in the collection:
Chivalry. An elderly woman finds a rather valuable object in a charity shop and consequently meets a rather interesting young man. Aging, generosity, fortune, memory.
The Goldfish Pool and Other Stories. Fictionalized Neil writes a film treatment for one of his novels optioned by a film studio. He befriends an old groundskeeper who has amassed many stories in his time at the infamous Hollywood hotel where Fictionalized Neil is staying. The film industry, pop culture, fame, transience, memory vs. cultural memory, writing, illusion.
Changes. A scientist develops a cure for cancer with an unexpected and very popular side effect. As Gaiman points out in the introduction, this could be a novel (and it would be a really interesting one). Sex and gender, motivation, technological progress, cultural change.
Only the End of the World. fantasy noir. Larry, an "adjuster", just happens to be a werewolf, and it gets him in trouble with the locals of (HP Lovecraft's) Innsmouth. the Dark City, noir heroics, social anomie, fate.
We Can Get Them For You Wholesale. Peter Pinter seeks retribution against someone who wronged him, and finds a bargain too good to pass up. vengeance, sales, psychological pricing, control of self, tragic flaws.
The Sweeper of Dreams. No plot, really. dreams, manners and retaliation, madness
When We Went to See the End of the World, by Dawnie Morningside, Age 11 1/4. A girl writes about her family's day trip to a local attraction, inadvertently revealing a tragic family dynamic. power, family dynamics, domestic abuse, escape.
Murder Mysteries. A myterious man asks a young man for a cigarette and repays him with a story about the creation of the universe, love, and death. love, death, forgiveness, memory, freedom. This one was my very favorite, and I immediately went back and re-read it.
One last thought: after 4 Neil Gaiman books in a row, I think I am finally Gaiman-ed out for the time being. However, it makes me want to go back and reread American Gods and Sandman sometime soon-ish, because my tastes have changed and I apparently like Neil Gaiman now.
Kyrylys reviewed Humo y espejos by Neil Gaiman
Review of 'Humo y espejos' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
Lo malo de una antología de relatos es que añgunos te encantan y otros no tanto. De mis preferidos Misterios de un Asesinato (que ya leí en novela gráfica) y Nieve, cristal, manzanas
willhopkins reviewed Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman
Review of 'Smoke and Mirrors' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
I loved Fragile Things and Smoke and Mirrors is even better. Gaiman's peculiar way of seeing the world comes through especially well, and it makes you think about reality and those little somethings flitting at the edges of your vision.
LindseyB reviewed Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman
Review of 'Smoke and Mirrors' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I'm a fan of Neil Gaiman's novels and decided to give his short stories a try and I wasn't disappointed. They're short enough that I can read one before bed every night. There were only a select few stories / pieces of prose in the collection that I found myself not liking. The last 2 stories ended up being my favorite of a set so I was happy to read the entire collection in order.
Subjects
- Mystery & Detective - General
- Fiction - General
- Fiction
- Short Stories (single author)
- Fiction / General
- Fantasy fiction
- Short stories