M. Jerry Weiss

I was looking forward to reading this book -- there are some great authors represented: Joan Bauer, Charles de Lint, Tamora Pierce, Neal Shusterman, etc. But unfortunately there are a couple of details that are making it very difficult to finish.
First, annoyingly, each story is introduced with a brief synopsis. If I wanted to know what was going to happen before I read the story, I'd read the ending first! This is not a collection of journal articles -- an author blurb is fine, this is overkill. It's as if the editor is stepping in and attempting to sell each story with a sound byte, which should be unnecessary, since presumably to read the blurbs you have to first open the book....

Second, the typeface used for the story blurbs is jarring -- I tried just not reading the intros, but for some reason, it's hard to ignore, like fingernails on a chalkboard. (If it just had to be in there, why not use italics and the same font as the stories?)

Third, and worst of all, none of the stories I've read thus far have been up to par with the quality of writing I've come to expect from authors of this caliber. I'm going to stick the course and finish the book, and then maybe I'll edit this and say something nicer, but for now.... Well, I'm just unimpressed.

**Updated: In spite of the annoyances, there are some gems here:

Patrice Kindl's Depressing Acres is a standout. Wonderful take on the gingerbread house witch of Hansel & Gretel fame. Nancy Springer's The Youngest One is a bit too brief, but a lovely reward-for-kindnesses-done sort of story. Neal Shusterman's Majority Rules -- okay, this one is pretty cool: is it the amount of belief in the world, or is it the role of one true believer to decide the fate of the world and those in it? You decide.... And last but far from least, in Tamara Pierce's The Hidden Girl" a veil becomes a young woman's key to protection and to power rather than a chain to hold her captive.… (meer)