Strange Candy

This is an exciting collection of fantastical, fascinating, and funny short stories from Hamilton's gifted pen. Cynthia Holloway does an expert job with the many strong female characters that are the author's stock in trade. Each story begins with a short historical vignette from the author, which Holloway delivers so well we feel we're listening to the author herself provide the broad context for the story to come. Holloway also does a skillful job with audio effects, such as a voice from a radio or a public address system or someone on the other end of a phone conversation. An enjoyable listen--even for those not into the more well-known vampire-hunter series from Hamilton. M.C. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

August 14, 2006
Fans will best appreciate the 14 often darkly humorous fictions in bestseller Hamilton's first story collection, which includes several unpublished tales. Stories like "Selling Houses," in which a determined real estate agent faces up to the difficulties of selling a house where a gruesome mass murder has taken place, and "Here Be Dragons," a horrific account of a psychic child whose dreams can kill, show talent but need polish. Anita Blake aficionados, though, will relish the opener, "Those Who Seek Forgiveness," with its early version of a somewhat naïve vampire hunter. Stories set in the sword-and-sorcery world of Hamilton's first novel, Nightseer
—"A Token for Celandine," "Winterkill," "The Curse-maker" and "Stealing Souls"—reveal that she has always had a talent for portraying strong female characters. Brief author introductions to each selection provide context.