The stories in _Earth, Air, Fire, Water_ generally fall into the category of quickly read, easily forgotten. The collection is good for a little light reading, but not for the serious-minded. The "eternal archives" thread that attempts to bring the stories together comes off as stiff and formal rather than stately and grand, evoking annoyance instead of awe. The stories are categorized by element; air is sadly lacking, with only one tale to its credit.

Two stories stand out from the pack: "Dvergertal" by Nancy Varian Berberick and "Strange Creatures" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Berberick's tale draws heavily upon Norse mythology to give the reader a tale of a strong woman trapped in her brother's household (with his shrewish wife) until the arrival of a mysterious stranger. Rusch's entry brings Irish lore to the present day in a small coastal town plagued by a series of animal killings. The remainder of the stories are equally mixed between the standard fantasy settings and modern day locales.

_Earth, Air, Fire, Water_ is a nice collection of stories, but it's nothing earth-shattering.