Dreams and Visions: Fourteen Flights of Fantasy

by M. Jerry Weiss (Editor), S.L. Rottman, Neal Shusterman

Let your imagination soar and take flight with these fourteen original tales of fantasy and science fiction by a distinguished line-up of award-winning children's and young adult authors.

Joan Bauer gives us Chloe, a fantasy writer trying to tell a new story--but her characters won't cooperate.
Suzanne Fisher Staples introduces us to the powers of djinn in her magical tale set in Pakistan.
Charles de Lint offers a romantic tale set during the Summer of Love in his mythical city of Newford.
A witch's son seeks revenge in a chilling murder mystery by Michael O. Tunnell.
Craig and Jessica, two high school runners, star in this story of transformation by Rich Wallace.
Patrice Kindl's mysterious Mrs. Duck moves into the boring town of Refreshing Acres--and nothing is ever the same again.
In S.L. Rottman's action-packed tale, the world is on fire, and it's a race to the water's edge.
David Lubar thrills us with his story of Deborah, an aspiring magician.
Mel Glenn shares a conversation between Ryan and an Angel in the afterlife.
Jessie's encounter with a toad changes her life in this uplifting tale by Nancy Springer.
A soldier meets the ghost of Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, in John Ritter's thought-provoking story.
An oracle makes an unsettling prediction in Sharon Dennis Wyeth's tale.
Neal Shusterman introduces us to a young thief who holds the fate of the universe in his hands.
Tamora Pierce's story takes us to the land of Hartunjar, where women are subservient to men--but not for long…

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Fantasy, Anthologies, Young Adult

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 21, 2006

About the author

M. Jerry Weiss is Distinguished Service Professor of Communications Emeritus, New Jersey City University. A teacher, writer, and lecturer, he has won numerous awards and honors, including the 1997 International Reading Association Special Service Award and the National Council of Teachers of English Distinguished Service Award. He lives in Montclair, New Jersey.

Reviews

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant collection of stories with far ranging themes, from an old lady called Mrs. Duck who is reenacting the story of Hansel and Gretal, a warty old toad with mysterious powers, a magic contest, a girl spreading the power of the written word in a world where knowledge to women is forbidden and many more.
All stories are touched with a hint of magic and fantasy, a great read.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I thought some of these short stories were creative and amusing, but they weren't all amazing.
I've always been a bigger fan of reading full novels of a story rather than excerpts. :/

Ratings of the short stories I read:
(I skipped around and I never got to finishing the book.)

BLOCKED - Funny and amusing enough; since when are hallucinations not entertaining? (4/5 stars)
JAMEEL AND THE HOUSE OF DJINN - (2/5 stars)
DHARMA - Bit odd and spooky.. (2/5 stars)
DEPRESSING ACRES - Compared to the other short stories I had to read, it was interesting. I like reading about fairytale remakes anyways. (5/5 stars)
RED SKY - Spooky and mysterious; it was interesting in a fanatical way. (3/5)

[Lia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The introduction had me wary (it hardly made sense), but some of the stories were gems. Loved the feminist flavor of some of the stories. Some were daring, like "Baseball in Iraq", but I loved it!

deLint and Pierce I already knew, and loved their stories, of course. Others I will have to check out.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book is a short story called Baseball in Iraq. ONE OF THE BEST SHORT STORIES I'VE EVER READ...leaves you speachless and with a sense of understanding the why.