In 2007, Lucius Shepard (1943-2014) was guest of honor at Readercon, the science fiction convention that Lois and I have long attended and worked for. PS Publishing produced this signed "Special Readercon 2007 Edition" of his then-upcoming collection - same as the regular version except for the labelling and signature page.

To me, most Shepard stories follow the same pattern, closely following a man's point of view. The man is usually marginal in some way, and moves through a dark, uncertain landscape; weird events happen, often bringing a glimpse into the world's secret, terrible heart. Women are only present as companions or foils. I don't see misogyny here, just a recognition that he can't write women's interior experience. But in these nine stories, published 2002-2007, women seem to have more presence, and are more central to events, than in his earlier stories, or that's my impression. But the men still narrate.

In "Emerald Street Expansions", a man receives a sort of personality implant, and finds himself becoming the reincarnation of Francois Villon. The people around him have plans for him - especially the woman therapist who gave him the implant. Like many Shepard stories, this one doesn't really end. At the conclusion the protagonist is deep in his Villon role, perhaps doomed to reenact the poet's life and work.

"Limbo" gives us a petty criminal on the run from his former mob buddies. He's smarter than most killers, but not smart enough to avoid getting involved with the ghost of a woman, eventually joining her in a hell in which they perpetually must flee demonic tormentors. He thinks he may see a way out...

"Liar's House" is one of Shepard's Dragon Griaule stores, to be reviewed as part of his [The Dragon Griaule] collection someday.

"Dead Money" is a sequel to Shepard's excellent first novel Green Eyes, about a treatment that can turn the recently dead into zombies, sort of, with green-glowing eyes and extraordinary abilities. Those abilities can include reading the "tells" of poker players with amazing clarity. A small-time criminal, working for an erratic crime lord, is tasked with minding such a zombie, plus the zombie's beautiful nurse. He begins to suspect that the three of them will be eliminated after a big poker game.

In "Dinner at Baldassaro's" we gradually realize that the protagonist and his fellow diners are unaging vampires, controlling the mere humans around them and plotting how to continue their secret rule of Earth.

In "Abimagique", our man meets a woman of that name. She foresees the end of the world, and is performing weird magical rituals aimed at forestalling that end. Most of her recent lovers may have been put in wheelchairs by her lovemaking, so he'd be well advised to stay away. Of course he doesn't.

An old man in a bar recounts his long-ago meeting with "The Lepidopterist", who worked with some peculiar butterflies, and the far more peculiar products of the cocoons they spun (yes, butterflies spinning cocoons - very peculiar butterflies).

"Dagger Key" is original to this volume, appearing only here and in The Best of Lucius Shepard, Vol. 2 as i write. Fredo Galvez lives in poverty on a Caribean island. He is descended from the pirate Ann Bonny, and haunted by her ghost. Outsiders come, seeking Bonny's treasure. Is this an opportunity for him and his family? Pirate Annie was violent in life, and is still so in death.

The story that might be most congenial to a newcomer to Shepard is "Stars Seen Through Stone". Years ago, a car breakdown left Vernon and Andrea in the dying town of Black William, Pennsylvania. They made a life there, together and, later, apart. Now, eerie lights are occasionally visible, seen somehow through the stone of the town courthouse, lights that seem to be far away and approaching with great speed. Meanwhile, an epidemic of creativity breaks out among the townspeople; new solutions to issues in business and art. Vernon, a small-time music producer, finds himself coaching the most talented young musician he's ever managed - if also the most sleazy and personally repellent. This story supplies one of Shepard's rare endings that are other than tragic or fearful.

Shepard's darkness is not something I want all the time, but I enjoyed this visit to his late-career writing. ( )