Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions (1998)

This collection is a mixed bag, but definitely worth reading. There are some real gems in here. I especially liked the very last story. ( )

As much as I love Neil, this was difficult for me to read in parts.
Some stories read better than the others. ( )

I just love Neil Gaiman's work so much. I couldn't put down this book. Especially, since I was also listening to Neil Gaiman, who read it to me. Which I think is the best way to read any of his work. His voice is just amazing to listen to, and listening to him read his own work just adds a whole different aspect to his books. Fully recommend this to people. ( )

I don't usually read short stories. I don't usually read anthologies or single-author gatherings of short stories. But, I must admit, I am a Neil Gaiman fanboy, so I had either purchased this, or was given it as a gift. *scratches head* It's been on the shelf for a while.

Switching from his novels or his comics to his short stories was a bit of cold water to the face. Writing in brevity requires a severe modification to one's style, but all of the stories were so entirely Gaiman that there was no doubt.

There was a surprising amount of adult material in the stories, but it was done so naturally that I didn't even notice until those scenes were behind me. It was a matter of "well, of COURSE she would do that in that situation."

The only reason I'm giving four starts instead of five... each story left me wanting more. What can I say, I love novels. :) ( )

Vampires. Frogs. Angels. Apples and a Black Cat. ( )