I’ve become a bit more accepting towards short story collections recently due to their ability to introduce me to new authors, but the one type of collection that I’ve always adored are those by Charles de Lint which focus on his fictional town of Newford. Each of the stories is set within a shared setting and often characters weave in and out through various narratives, so even though each story stands alone it feels more like reading a very disjointed continuous story, assuming that by the end (somewhere far off in the future, many novels along the way) everything will come together. My evaluation of Muse and Reverie is really no different than any of his other works, since I adore journeying back to Newford and seeing the lives of its many colourful citizens play out on the page. Here we play witness to shenanigans from the Crow Girls (no such thing as too many candy canes), see many of the artistic inhabitants practise their craft (albeit in new ways occasionally), and watch journeys into the Old City play out (what lurks in the darkness may not be what you think) - making for an entertaining pastiche that is heightened further by the moments where de Lint weaves magic into the stories. It’s almost disappointing that Newford (and its magic) don’t exist in the real world, but then again, these stories are here to remind us to see the magic in the everyday. Afterall, it might just be closer than we think! ( )

De Lint has about had it with Newford and is taking a break. I don't blame him, this story collection was swept up from the past decade and contains a few ghost stories and a strange cross-over. There's almost always music. ( )

This wasn't my favorite of the Newford books, but four separate stories brought me to tears nonetheless. ( )

While I've many of these stories in other collections or chapbooks, it's always a comfort to return to de Lint's work--like an evening with an old friend with no pressures, expectations, or judgements.

If only all urban fantasy work were this welcoming and comfortable.... ( )

To read my review of Muse and Reverie by Charles de Lint please go to:

http://www.myshelf.com/scifi_fantasy/10/museandreverie.htm ( )