Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author!)
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| Good, but he does best with a larger canvas | 3 | 5 | 02/26/2008 12:20PM |
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
Vampires
A note: I expect more than I should from this author. I find him to be a brilliant idea man with little substance.
-Suggested Reading Order:
Murder Mystery
Tastings
Snow, Glass, Apples
Only the End of the World Again
Shoggoth’s Old Peculiar
We Can Get Them for You Wholesale
Chivalry
Cold Colors
The Price
Chivalry- an old woman buys the Holy Grail. A full-armored knight comes to seek the Grail. Cute, long-run and dry. The most wonderful thing about this story is that it ...more
-Suggested Reading Order:
Murder Mystery
Tastings
Snow, Glass, Apples
Only the End of the World Again
Shoggoth’s Old Peculiar
We Can Get Them for You Wholesale
Chivalry
Cold Colors
The Price
Chivalry- an old woman buys the Holy Grail. A full-armored knight comes to seek the Grail. Cute, long-run and dry. The most wonderful thing about this story is that it ...more
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Read in March, 2006
Obsession, identity, werewolves, trolls, Hollywood corruption, distorted fairytales, sex, irony, angels, illusions: such is the mix of Neil Gaiman. A master of scenarios, Gaiman is terrifically imaginative and evocative in the stories and poems of Smoke and Mirrors.
Gaiman manages to integrate elements of fantasy into the real-life settings of dirty streets and motel rooms. Ninety-five percent of the time, he does this without being corny. In one story, a woman finds the Holy Grail in a thrif...more
Gaiman manages to integrate elements of fantasy into the real-life settings of dirty streets and motel rooms. Ninety-five percent of the time, he does this without being corny. In one story, a woman finds the Holy Grail in a thrif...more
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Read in April, 2008
So I *finally* read this in preparation for Clarion 2008 -- and wish I'd done so earlier. This is a wild mix of short stories, poems, vignettes/flash fiction...twists on fairytales, satire, surrealism, a mystery, and, of course, humor.
The first couple of stories were a bit too "simple" for my taste, at least compared to the novels (however, don't miss out on the great story "hidden" in the introduction!), but when I read "Goldfish Pond" (? don't have the book w...more
The first couple of stories were a bit too "simple" for my taste, at least compared to the novels (however, don't miss out on the great story "hidden" in the introduction!), but when I read "Goldfish Pond" (? don't have the book w...more
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6 comments
Read in August, 2006
after reading american gods, i wanted to read some more of gaiman's work, so i picked up this book of short stories. i was actually a little underwhelmed. he writes some sci-fi/fantasy poetry stories that really didn't work for me. i still like his style, i just don't think he is as good of a short story writer, as a novel writer.
that said, i loved two of the stories. the final story, called "murder mysteries", about raguel, the angel of vengeance, and the murder of an angel. gaima...more
that said, i loved two of the stories. the final story, called "murder mysteries", about raguel, the angel of vengeance, and the murder of an angel. gaima...more
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Read in July, 2008
Having read M is for Magic and Fragile Things I have encountered some of the short stories that Mr. Gaiman has written. I found this collection to be one of the most eclectic. Happy stories, sad stories, chilling stories, and erotic stories, but as he introduces them - all a product of smoke and mirrors. We're not to believe any of this, as it is all just an illusion. So why do I walk ...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
Gaiman fans, people who like dark lit
This is a collection of short stories/poems, mostly with a "it's not what it seems" type theme. Because it's a collection, it's always difficult to rate. Most of the stories rate a strong 5 stars, but a few were only so-so, which dropped the rating.
Some of my favorite stories were "Murder Mysteries," "Snow, Glass, Apples," "Changes," "We Can Get Them for You Wholesale," and "The Sweeper of Dreams." Not necessarily in that order.
...more
Some of my favorite stories were "Murder Mysteries," "Snow, Glass, Apples," "Changes," "We Can Get Them for You Wholesale," and "The Sweeper of Dreams." Not necessarily in that order.
...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
everyone. except children.
Smoke and Mirrors is a diverse journey through the mind (and times) of Neil Gaiman. I recommend not reading the introduction until you are finished, as it contains a bit of background on the origins of each selection included in the collection, which has short stories, poetry, and even the text from one of Gaiman's own Christmas Cards. Also, as it includes some of the very earliest of Gaiman's published short stories, and some of his later works, it is also a wonderful way to see the progressi...more
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Read in July, 2007
I enjoyed this collection very much; no suprise, as I have enjoyed everything I've read by him thus far ("American Gods" is one of my all-time favorites).
It looks as tho SqueakyChu and I share some of the same "favorites" from this compilation;
Chivalry was ironically funny. I luved the final line.
Troll Bridge was a fresh & interesting take on an old well-known tale, as was Snow, Glass, Apples ...I'll never think of those fairy tales the s...more
It looks as tho SqueakyChu and I share some of the same "favorites" from this compilation;
Chivalry was ironically funny. I luved the final line.
Troll Bridge was a fresh & interesting take on an old well-known tale, as was Snow, Glass, Apples ...I'll never think of those fairy tales the s...more
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Read in October, 2007
This is a collection of Neil Gaiman short stories, and most of them I didn't care for. They are usually dark, and often unpleasant, gory, or bizarre--fans of dark fantasy would probably enjoy them, but they weren't to my taste.
However, there were a few stories that I enjoyed, and two ("Shoggoth's Old Peculiar" and "We Can Get Them for You Wholesale") which I really, really liked. I also found Gaiman's sense of humor quite funny, and his introduction--in which he describe...more
However, there were a few stories that I enjoyed, and two ("Shoggoth's Old Peculiar" and "We Can Get Them for You Wholesale") which I really, really liked. I also found Gaiman's sense of humor quite funny, and his introduction--in which he describe...more
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Gaiman's talent astounds me, and while not every story in this collection grabbed me, it started out magnificently and was steadily impressive, though pretty consistently depressing and dark in tone. The story of the troll and the bridge was a highlight. And the story of the woman who bought the Holy Grail at a thrift store ("Chivalry"). Also "Murder Mysteries," which is the story of a murder in Heaven that I once heard in the first days of the internet as a story read, th...more
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Read in July, 2007
With a lot of poetry and some very twisted stories we get this collection of Neil Gaiman's shorter stories. I'll be the first to admit my disdain for the poetry genre and will confess that after the first poetry styled story, I skipped the rest.
Gaiman always reminds me of the Grimm brothers for the adult audience. I forget how vivid and real his stories are after reading Stardust, a much more PG embodiment of his imagination.
I had a few definite favourites in the novel, "Troll Br...more
Gaiman always reminds me of the Grimm brothers for the adult audience. I forget how vivid and real his stories are after reading Stardust, a much more PG embodiment of his imagination.
I had a few definite favourites in the novel, "Troll Br...more
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Read in June, 2008
Sorry to put this book into so many categories, but it's a book of short works (poetry, stories, descriptions, and other word-based oddness). Some of the stories are brilliant... there's a truly creepy 100-word riff on Santa Claus that has just about forced me to embrace the Jewish side of my faith, and a 10-page story on that danged creepy Snow White, and a Swiftian story about eating babies that's tight and strong as a punch in the face.
Unfortunately, there are also a couple of stories that...more
Unfortunately, there are also a couple of stories that...more
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Read in July, 2008
It's a bit difficult to review a collection of short stories. Some of them were much more fantastic than others. There's shades of awesome, not one uniform color of awesome. And they are all over the place. A few are retellings of classic tales, through a different perspective, or with some sort of twist. A few are more adequately described as sci-fi than anything else, including a quite memorable story about the guy who finds the cure for cancer. Some are perhaps at least partially autobi...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
those who like dark short stories
There was a lot less substance in this book than I expected. However, the stories are short and full of brilliant imagery. There are even a number of poems. The stories are not bright and happy. Just the opposite. There are few if any happy endings. Life is dark and full of monsters (there are at least two Cthulhu stories).
Even with its loosely organized structure and haphazard connections, the intense imagery in some of the stories really spoke to me. There are some great moments tha...more
Even with its loosely organized structure and haphazard connections, the intense imagery in some of the stories really spoke to me. There are some great moments tha...more
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Read in January, 2005
A collection of Gaiman's best short stories, Smoke & Mirrors is a fantastic introduction to the breadth and depth of this author's talent. I often loan this book to folks who've heard of Gaiman but haven't had the chance to read some of his other well-known works, such as The Sandman, Neverwhere or American Gods.
The stories range from horror to fantasy to sci-fi, from brief poems to chapters-long tales. The variety helps make this a more-than-pleasant read.
Some particular favorites i...more
The stories range from horror to fantasy to sci-fi, from brief poems to chapters-long tales. The variety helps make this a more-than-pleasant read.
Some particular favorites i...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
people who prefer short stories, lovers of fantasy
I was quite disappointed. I first fell in love with Gaiman's writing when I picked up Anansi Boys a couple years ago... And American Gods was good. I just didn't enjoy this collection that much. He's much better as an epic writer. That being said, there were a few really decent stories in here. The best by far were "Murder Mysteries" and "Snow, Glass, Apples." The former is an enchanting story--I couldn't stop reading about the death of an angel. And if you care...more
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I really wanted to like this book. I really wanted to enjoy his writing. I tried very long and very hard to enjoy these. I've heard so many good things, about his writing style and ideas- and some of his ideas were pretty cool concepts- but in the end it was way he told them that threw me. Almost all of the stories (and they're pretty short, some of them) started dull, or became dull quickly, and I found myself wishing he'd make a point and stop messing around. It doesn't help that I appare...more
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An admittedly-fairly-random mish-mash of stories and styles, but an insight into the breadth and scope of the tales Mr. Gaiman tells.
The very first "murder mystery", told by the former angel of vengeance to a stranded traveler who may need to have vengeance served upon him. Gets into the nature of god, the questions of faith, the meaning of free will (even among angels), and the nature of good and evil. How... and why... is there evil, if god created everything?
A re-spinning ...more
The very first "murder mystery", told by the former angel of vengeance to a stranded traveler who may need to have vengeance served upon him. Gets into the nature of god, the questions of faith, the meaning of free will (even among angels), and the nature of good and evil. How... and why... is there evil, if god created everything?
A re-spinning ...more
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Read in January, 2004
recommends it for:
Gaiman Fans, Eccentrics, Oddballs
This is a collection of Neil Gaiman short stories, some of which are OK while others will floor you. A particular favorite of mine was one called Shoggoth's Old Peculiar, which recounts a man's tale of backpacking along the coast and discovering a town of folk tied with the elder gods of the Cthulhu Mythos. Another good one is Troll Bridge, which recounts the tales of a child who has regular run ins with a troll guarding a local bridge in his small town and the results there of.
The book is g...more
The book is g...more
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Possibly one of the best books I've ever read. Gaiman manages to open complete worlds for your imagination to run through, or completely re-write parts of this one ("Nick Was..." is the best example of this), in ten pages or less, and have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen next by the end of the first page.
Gaiman also shows his ability to use something he called "white knowledge" in "Neverwhere," which he calls "like whit...more
Gaiman also shows his ability to use something he called "white knowledge" in "Neverwhere," which he calls "like whit...more
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 4.03 (3128 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 4.02 (2731 ratings) number of reviews: 210popular shelves
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quote
"When I was a child, adults would tell me not to make things up, warning me of what would happen if I did. As far as I can tell so far, it seems to involve lots of foreign travel and not having to get up too early in the morning."
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