Visitants

October 4, 2010
Jones lines up heavy hitters for this anthology of reprints dating back to 1914 as well as original tales about decidedly non-Hallmark angels. In Neil Gaiman's "Murder Mysteries," an angel is charged with solving a murder in Heaven before the Word creates our universe. Peter Crowther's "Things I Didn't Know My Father Knew" has a Twilight Zone feel, while Chelsea Quinn Yarbro places avenging human-angels on Earth in "Thy Spinning Wheel Compleat." Robert Silverberg's angels enter the digital age in "Basileus." All blend modern takes with traditional elements, though not always where one might expect. This wide-ranging anthology has something for every taste, from the light to the horrific, and is nicely completed by Jones's introduction, which traces the history of angels in religious lore and modern fantasy.

November 15, 2010

A man with fractured memories tells a story of murder in Heaven--and on Earth--in Neil Gaiman's eerie "Murder Mysteries," while in "Beautiful Men," by Christopher Fowler, the nature of heavenly messengers takes on a new interpretation. Including contributions by Jane Yolen, Arthur Machen, Lisa Tuttle, and other fantasy authors, this collection of 27 stories, some original to this volume, displays a broad array of angelic beings. VERDICT The popularity of the subject matter should attract many readers and libraries should consider adding this volume to their collection.

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