Deeply thought provoking, beautiful stories. This collection provides a varied view of the art of the storyteller. Unique voices and compelling plots make this a must read. If you enjoy science fiction and fantasy, this just may wind up on a list of favorite reads. It reminded me of the work of Connie Willis, which is high praise indeed. ( )

It may be review copy, but EDGE logos is EVERYWHERE. Pdf is all pictures so I cannot even read on any ereader device. I cannot read any book on monitor.

As a result, one star. I need file in form I can actually read! Considering apparently paranoia, I'm pretty sure that bought for version isn't much better. ( )

*Elements* is billed as a collection of "speculative fiction." I'm not entirely sure what makes it such as opposed to a sci-fi-fantasy collection, which is what I'd call it, but no matter. This is a collection of fairly short — some quite short — stories in a variety of moods that range from the whimsical to the bleak. As with any collection, there are bound to be some items that appeal to a reader more than others. I tend to favor the whimsical myself, and so the "Couch Teleporation Universe" mini-series stands out as the best of the lot for me. Most of the stories I enjoyed, however, as an assortment of bite-sized pieces of ... well, of speculation, if you like. Good stuff. ( )

I generally don't enjoy short story books so this was a pleasant surprise. I have already recommended it to a friend and look forward to Church's future works.

I've always enjoyed being a member of a book discussion group just because of this kind of book. That is a book that I enjoyed and discovering and author I didn't know that I wouldn't have been likely to have found on my own. This is a collection of some twenty stories. Most of them stand-alone stories, although three of them are linked in a common world. Like most short story collections that I've read, I've enjoyed some of them, others I haven't - but that's how it is. There is a story of a girl who is being bullied at school who gets some unexpected help, and a story of a medical aid worker in a terrible epidemic of blindness, and then a few creepy stories of ghosts. A bit of something for most everyone. if you enjoy discovering new authors, then I would recommend this collection of stories. ( )