Naked City

June 15, 2011

In Jim Butcher's "Curses," practicing magician and PI Harry Dresden takes on a Chicago legend and finds himself involved in the world of Faerie mischief, while in Peter S. Beagle's "Underbridge," a cynical children's literature professor finds a kindred spirit under a Seattle bridge. The 20 stories in this anthology, contributed by Holly Black, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Delia Sherman, Christopher Fowler, John Crowley, Naomi Novik, and others, reflect the diversity and depth of urban fantasy popularized by authors such as Charles de Lint and Tanya Huff. VERDICT These original tales by an impressive array of authors provide a powerful introduction to the genre for the curious and a welcome indulgence for urban fantasy fans.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 15, 2011
This anthology of short fiction affords a superb sampling of urban fantasy, that popular sf/fantasy subgenre defined in the books introduction (which, in all of three pages, is a welcome and helpful, to say nothing of articulate, definition of this subgenre) as a combination of the often-dark edge of city living with enticing worlds of magicwith an urban landscape being absolutely crucial to the story. To put it another way (as also expressed in the introduction, that is), where the story takes place should matter, in some way, to the story. The headliner piece, by virtue of its placement first in the collections presentation and the name recognition of the author, is Curses, by Jim Butcher, creator of the urban-fantasy series Dresden Files. It opens like a noir detective storyMost of my cases are pretty tamebut by page 2, we see this is Dresden Files fiction as well. The premise is a riot: the famous curse upon the Chicago Cubs has supernatural origins here. Priced to Sell, by Naomi Novik, is also very entertaining. Its about vampires buying real estate in Manhattan. But you will have fun with all 20 stories.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)