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Pandora's Closet
Nineteen original tales of the pandora legend-as no one has ever imagine it before.
When Pandora's Box was opened, so the ancient tale goes, all the evils that would beset humanity were released into the world. When the box was all but empty, the only thing that remained was hope. Now some of fantasy's finest writers have taken on the task of opening Pandora's closet. It is naturally chock full of an assortment of items, including a ring that can bring its wearer infinite health, a special helmet found in the most unlikely of places, a mysterious box that holds a legendary piece of cloth, and a red hoodie that transforms a woman's world. These stories are of items claimed by people, but only at their own peril. After indulging in these stories, readers will certainly look at their own closets in a whole new light.
When Pandora's Box was opened, so the ancient tale goes, all the evils that would beset humanity were released into the world. When the box was all but empty, the only thing that remained was hope. Now some of fantasy's finest writers have taken on the task of opening Pandora's closet. It is naturally chock full of an assortment of items, including a ring that can bring its wearer infinite health, a special helmet found in the most unlikely of places, a mysterious box that holds a legendary piece of cloth, and a red hoodie that transforms a woman's world. These stories are of items claimed by people, but only at their own peril. After indulging in these stories, readers will certainly look at their own closets in a whole new light.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 7, 2007
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About the author
Martin H. Greenberg
910 books163 followersMartin Harry Greenberg was an American academic and speculative fiction anthologist. In all, he compiled 1,298 anthologies and commissioned over 8,200 original short stories. He founded Tekno Books, a packager of more than 2000 published books. In addition, he was a co-founder of the Sci-Fi Channel.
For the 1950s anthologist and publisher of Gnome Press, see Martin Greenberg.
For the 1950s anthologist and publisher of Gnome Press, see Martin Greenberg.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 14, 2010
This anthology collects 19 stories from various authors -- some famous, some I never heard of -- that take the idea of Pandora and capture items from various places - some items magical, some terrifying, some fun -- and mix the characters' ideas, societies and sometimes shocking sensibilities as pertain to these items.
You can find a complete list elsewhere, but the following are what grabbed me (as with any anthology, some just didn't make the cut):
Timothy Zahn, best known for his Star Wars novels, wrote The Ring, an item found in a pawn shop that actually feeds off the greed of a broke stocktrader and immediately makes him extremely wealthy -- as long as he stays greedy -- but is saved by his lady love.
Louise Maley's "Technicolor" was a fascinating peek at Dorothy from Oz, now a degraded middle-aged woman in Kansas, who longs for her ruby slippers.
The best one was about a magical wedding dress, handed down the generations, that made their wearer's beautiful and stunning. But what would it do to a cross-dresser?? Here's a guy who has always loved cross-dressing. One day he needed a job and they were particularly wanting a female employee, so he dressed up as one! Surprisingly, someone fell in love with him. How will he admit to his fiance that Stephanie is really Stephen? Oh my! The twist ending was a lot of fun. [The Travails of Princess Stephen by Jane Lindskold.:]
The stories I did not like were either political or created worlds that were so secondary to plot that they did not make a lot of sense. A mouse during World War II fighting against Adolph and his Ratzi's? Sounds cute but it wasn't. Or a pair of John Lennon's glasses in an apocalyptic future and its affect on a spy -- droll. And Seebohm's Cap, A Clean Getaway and others were a bit boring. Maybe it's because the same theme is repeated over and over, it might be best to take breaks between stories, LOL.
You can find a complete list elsewhere, but the following are what grabbed me (as with any anthology, some just didn't make the cut):
Timothy Zahn, best known for his Star Wars novels, wrote The Ring, an item found in a pawn shop that actually feeds off the greed of a broke stocktrader and immediately makes him extremely wealthy -- as long as he stays greedy -- but is saved by his lady love.
Louise Maley's "Technicolor" was a fascinating peek at Dorothy from Oz, now a degraded middle-aged woman in Kansas, who longs for her ruby slippers.
The best one was about a magical wedding dress, handed down the generations, that made their wearer's beautiful and stunning. But what would it do to a cross-dresser?? Here's a guy who has always loved cross-dressing. One day he needed a job and they were particularly wanting a female employee, so he dressed up as one! Surprisingly, someone fell in love with him. How will he admit to his fiance that Stephanie is really Stephen? Oh my! The twist ending was a lot of fun. [The Travails of Princess Stephen by Jane Lindskold.:]
The stories I did not like were either political or created worlds that were so secondary to plot that they did not make a lot of sense. A mouse during World War II fighting against Adolph and his Ratzi's? Sounds cute but it wasn't. Or a pair of John Lennon's glasses in an apocalyptic future and its affect on a spy -- droll. And Seebohm's Cap, A Clean Getaway and others were a bit boring. Maybe it's because the same theme is repeated over and over, it might be best to take breaks between stories, LOL.
November 22, 2008
A young widow who was rejected by her husband's family falls in depression at his death; Grandmother gives her a magic pair of pearl earrings that helps her heal.
Merged review:
The only two authors' stories I truly enjoyed enough to re-read were "Cake and Candy" by Elizabeth Swails and "Off the Rack" by Elizabeth Vaughn, and I did like AM Strout's "Lady in Red" -- I know I'm more of a romantic (although Vaughn & Strout's are not exactly romantic) this just wasn't quite my thing, even though I'm usually a huge fan of shorts.
Merged review:
The only two authors' stories I truly enjoyed enough to re-read were "Cake and Candy" by Elizabeth Swails and "Off the Rack" by Elizabeth Vaughn, and I did like AM Strout's "Lady in Red" -- I know I'm more of a romantic (although Vaughn & Strout's are not exactly romantic) this just wasn't quite my thing, even though I'm usually a huge fan of shorts.
November 8, 2009
This is one of the best short story anthologies I've read. I usually don't keep anthologies, but I'm keeping this one! Many excellent tales in here- from funny to serious and creepy.
June 12, 2011
I picked this book because it featured a short story from one of my favorite authors, Anton Strout.
Taking the myth of Pandora's Box, the editors asked for contribution of stories on what Pandora's closet might have contained. The items include a pair of ruby red shoes that now belong to a middle-aged Dorothy, a red hoodie purchased by a girl on her way to visit her grandmother, and cap that belonged to a Nazi communications specialist. Some of the authors used characters from their novels and that could be a little awkward if you weren't already familiar with them. My favorite was a story about a gift of earrings to a young widow from her grandmother, herself a widow three times over. The good thing about reading an anthology is that if the story is lame, it's over quickly enough and you can continue on to something better.
Taking the myth of Pandora's Box, the editors asked for contribution of stories on what Pandora's closet might have contained. The items include a pair of ruby red shoes that now belong to a middle-aged Dorothy, a red hoodie purchased by a girl on her way to visit her grandmother, and cap that belonged to a Nazi communications specialist. Some of the authors used characters from their novels and that could be a little awkward if you weren't already familiar with them. My favorite was a story about a gift of earrings to a young widow from her grandmother, herself a widow three times over. The good thing about reading an anthology is that if the story is lame, it's over quickly enough and you can continue on to something better.
September 17, 2013
A good collection of short stories surrounding the theme of enchanted items. Favorites include: "Loincloth" by Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta, "Jack's Mantle" by Joe Masdon, "Technicolor" by Louise Marley, "The Travails of Princess Stephen" by Jane Lindskold, and "Irresistible" by Yvonne Coats. However, all the stories are fun and a delightful romp of subject matter and style.
owned-unread
May 9, 2010I bought this in ebook format at fictionwise.com, but the publisher decided they wanted more money, so I couldn't download it.
Fictionwise refunded my money after a few weeks, so now I have to decide if I'll ever buy this again.
Unlikely.
Fictionwise refunded my money after a few weeks, so now I have to decide if I'll ever buy this again.
Unlikely.
November 24, 2007
It was okay. None of the stories really stood out and there were a few that were mediocre. Not one I feel a need to hold onto.
October 23, 2010
The stories can't make me suspend my disbelief long enough. I love fantasy but... nope, not this compilation.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews