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I have always been a fan of monsters and horror films, so this book of short stories particularly held my interest.
Each story is interesting, imaginative, and unique. Although not as explicitly graphic as certain horror novels released today, this is definitely not a "children's book." The stories contain supernatural imagery and suspense that might not sit well with younger (< 10 years) readers. I particularly liked and was scared by "Precious Bodily Fluids" by Mario Martin, Jr. and found myself checking my basement for vampires. The other stories are equally compelling.
Unfortunately, it appears this book is no longer in print. I recommend purchasing it if you happen upon a copy...I know I will.
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If you enjoy the _Science Fiction Hall of Fame_ collections, you'll enjoy this one too. At the time of its publication, it was one of very few collections of all-new SF. And Robert Silverberg and Roger Elwood selected (almost) nothing but the best. (There are a couple I don't particularly care for, but at least none of them are real stinkers.)
There is, for example, Harry Harrison's "Run From the Fire," a great parallel-universe tale. There's Clifford Simak's bittersweet "The Ghost of a Model T," which just drips with nostalgia. There's R.A. Lafferty's "For All Poor Folks at Picketwire" (and if you know who R.A. Lafferty is, the mention of his name is all you'll need here). There's a full novella by Jack Vance.
There's also my personal favorite in the book, and one of my favorite SF short stories ever: George R.R. Martin's ". . . for a single yesterday." This is one of the most haunting pieces of fiction you're ever going to read. It takes place on a rural hippie commune after The Blast has destroyed the cities. The title is, of course, a line from the Kris Kristofferson/Fred Foster song "Me and Bobby McGee," which figures into the tale. I won't spoil it for you by telling you anything more; just read it. (It was memories of this particular story that led me to hunt down a used copy of this book in the first place.)
If you like good SF, scare up a copy of this collection. It's one of the best ever assembled.
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Sure, on the surface it has all the trappings of a romance novel: successful woman with a tough exterior that covers her pained interior, a painful past that continues to haunt her, a handsome suitor that comes in the midst of tragedy.
But in Elwood's hands they become something else. They become parables of Christ's love for humanity. They become examples of forgiveness. And they also become set-ups for some bizarre and intriguing plot twists.
This is the first of two Steeple Hill Angelwalk books. Both of these titles (the other is Survival in the Wilderness) depend much more on plot and characterization than any of the other Angelwalk books. The Angelwalk series (especially the original trilogy) is based more on episodes and short stories that are tied together through a single observer. In Wendy's Phoenix, Elwood still uses the episodes to advance the plot, but this time in the form of flashbacks and characters testimonies. In fact, most of the book's plot is found IN the flashbacks. (This can be a bit confusing at first.)
What sets this far above you average "romance" novel, is the hard questions it asks. In the beginning of the book, the reader is subjected to some terrible examples of evil. (Some I even found hard to read.) The novel starts by examining the evils that go on in the world around us, through the eyes of Wendy, who, as a public defender, sees the victims of evil and at the same time the doers of evil. But the focus of the book shifts in part two, when the question asked seems to become more, "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?"
The characters and the plot found in Wendy's Phoneix are some of the best I've read in Elwood's writing. It's safe to say that Roger really shines when he is allowed to "stretch his wings" (so to speak). There's a lot of plot, character, and theology packed into this little book. I was expecting a simple romance helped along by angels in the background, carefully orchestrating things as a portrait of God's care for his creation. And that can be found, although it's hardly "simple". Instead, I found a dense book that is easy to read and is packed to the brim with spiritual lessons.
Recommended for readers who want thought provoking material that asks the hard questions.
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