Why do I even attempt these short story anthologies any more? ( )

Review: Something Magic This Way Comes Edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Sarah A. Hoyt

This book is a compilation of stories that all have some kind of magical element in them. I enjoy compilations because I get to experience several different authors’ writing styles. It’s always a mixed bag with compilations as you get some tales you really love, some that are ok, and some you don’t particularly enjoy all that much. I also like the fact that I can get a whole story read in short snippets of time here and there. All in all I enjoyed this book and most of the stories in it.

There are 21 stories included with authors such as: Irene Radford, Harry Turtledove, Laura Resnick, etc. A few tales that were memorable were Houdini’s Mirror by Russell Davis, and Winds of Change by Linda A.B. Davis. Only one tale struck me as just plain dumb, I guess I just did not get the author’s humor because I think he was trying to be funny,(The Flood was Fixed by Eric Flint), just plain bad. ( )

Most of the stories are sub-par. A few cute stories, but most of them seem a bit amateurish.

More to Truth than Proof - Irene Radford. One of the better stories in this collection. Gypsy prediction comes true.

In a Dark Wood, Dreaming - Esther Friesner. I expected a lot better from this author. Young kid battles evil for little bro's soul.

The Thing in the Woods - Harry Turtledove. Cute Story with a cheap twist at the end.

The Star Cats - Charles Edgar Quinn. Cats, end of space program, sadness. Pointless story.

Lighthouse Surfer - Daniel M. Hoyt. All over the place, unremarkable characters, not sure where the magic is in this one.

Something Virtual Comes This Way. Laura Resnick - One of the better stories in this anthology. Imp takes over computer.

Tears of Gold - Paul Crilley. Angel Story. Predictable.

Houdini's Mirror - Russel Davis. Annoying Story about aging.

Angel in the Cabbages - Fran LaPlaca. Fairy saves lonely grocery store girl find confidence. Not too bad, not too good either.

Raining the Wild Hunt - Kate Paulk. Healing from an abusive husband. All over the place.

Still Life, With Cats - Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Started out okay, but went progressively downhill. War Journalist comes home.

The Case of the Allergic Leprechaun - Alan L. Lickess. Dumb detective story that doesn't make much sense.

The Flood Was Fixed - Eric Flint. God makes a bet, rewrites world. It started slow, then became interesting. Ending made no sense in context of first part of story.

Visitor's Night at Joey Chicago's - Mike Resnick. One of the better stories of the collection. Take on the kids song "The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly".

A Midsummers Nightime - Walt Boyes. Another random story with evil. Not very well written.

Winds of Change - Linda A. B. Davis. Story has potential. Girl uses power to help brother in male dominated world.

Firebird and Shadow - Darwin A. Garrison. I liked this one. Girl on the streets survives.

Night of the Wolf - John Lambshead. First page makes no sense with rest of story- Ancient brooch causes girl to turn into werewolf.

Opus No. 1 - Barbara Nickless. Return of good fairies with music - Not well written.

Regency Sprite - Dave Freer. Not a bad story, just boring with inane characters. ( )