Status Updates From Fantasy: The Best of the Ye...

The Cambist and Lord Iron by Daniel Abraham: Completely by accident, I ended with this thoroughly satisfying story from the middle of the book. Could have been trite, but the protagonist was utterly..."real" is the best word, I think.

Brother of the Moon by Holly Phillips: ...Huh. There was a lot going on here that I would have liked expanded, but I don't know if it would have improved this story, which was a perfectly gauged slice of the larger possibilities.

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz Go to War Again by Garth Nix: I assume that this is part of a larger series? It definitely feels like it. I might be interested in these characters or this world in a different story, but the "extra-special oh-so-nice-guy" angle here didn't move me.

A Diorama of the Infernal Regions by Andy Duncan: Holy cow this is good.

The Master Miller's Tale by Ian R. MacLeod: Long for a short story, almost a novella, so it had time to be lovely, frustrating, boring, weird, and disappointing.

Bufo Rex by Erik Amundsen: Excellent!

Save Me Plz by David Barr Kirtley: I can't decide if this is brilliant, trite, or horrifyingly creepy. It is definitely funny, at least.

Singing of Mount Abora by Theodora Goss: Now this is fantastic! Smart *and* clever and funny to boot.

Heartstrung by Rachel Swirsky: Obvious metaphor is obvious, not to mention depressing and frustrating.

Public Safety by Matthew Johnson: I feel like this was trying too hard to set up a world in order to knock it down again. Smart, but too smug.

Something in the Mermaid Way by Carrie Laben: Huh. Is this a horror anthology?

The Last Worders by Karen Jay Fowler: The language and character-building are incredible, but I just don't like the characters that are built.

Stray by Benjamin Rosenbaum & David Ackert: This is *brilliant* use of fantasy and humanity.

Buttons by William Alexander: ...Why?

The Rope by Noreen Doyle: Oh, yes: this is fantastic!

Unpossible by Daryl Gregory: a mix of kitschy and very moving; I think I like it, but I'm not entirely sure.

Teashop by Zoran Zivkovic: Oooh, nice.

Light by Kelly Link. Wacky in a really good way!

Comb by Marly Youmans: Eh. Pretty, but not very moving.