Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions by Neil Gaiman Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions
Book Review: VERY worth it
Summary: 5 Stars
This is Gaiman at his best, flooding the reader with a confusedly wonderful mass of humor, horror, lust, anger, poignancy, trippy-ness, and love."Snow, Glass, Apples" makes this worth it on it's own (what an AMAZING way to think about Snow White!), as do a dozen or more others, like "Babycakes," the piercing and disturbing commentary on animal rights, and "The Goldfish Pool and Other Stories," which is longest by far and creates an extremely intricate atmosphere that is dear to anyone who's ever lived in (or even visited for an extended period) Los Angeles.
His poetry, in typical Gaiman fashion, draws you in and doesn't let you go (just check out "Nicholas was..." and especially "Cold Colors").
The Sandman proved his narrative skill and sweeping imagination in the realm of comics. Neverwhere proved that he could write a great novel on his own (unlike "Good Omens", which was a joint effort). Smoke and Mirrors proves his skill in every written form not yet mentioned to everyone who hasn't had the privilege of being a longtime fan who collects things like "Angels and Visitations".
The bottom line: get this no matter what, unless you're dying to get some other Neil Gaiman work first. Then get this.
Book Review: Waiting for Gaiman
Summary: 3 Stars
Smoke and Mirrors is, as accurately pointed out by the author, nothing more than smoke and mirrors...if you're into magic, then you believe the illusion. But otherwise... I have to commend Gaiman on The Goldfish Pool and Other Stories which is the best short story by a contemporary author that I've ever read. BUT, most of the other stories seem pointless and even dull at times. Perhaps the story in the introduction set me off on the wrong foot with Gaiman, but through it, and most of the other stories, I was plagued by a constant notion. It felt like characters actually put in these situations would probably not react in the manners portrayed. That is to say, although the scenery, the secondary characters, and even the fantastic elements of the stories all seemed right on, the main characters of many of the stories reacted peculiarly to their surroundings.I do think Gaiman is an author worth checking out (his prose is beautiful and his work IS innovative at times), but for a little more substance, Hawthorne or Gogol probably push the stronger literary tides.
Book Review: the smoke blurs. . .
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to agree: this was one of the best collection of short stories that i've read in a long time. I loved the different variety of stories here and the very weird stuff in each: murdering angels, life eating trolls, werewolves, etc. Gaiman's style is amazing. Just wish there were more. . .can't wait till his next book.Book Review: No illusions: Neil Gaiman is a genius
Summary: 5 Stars
People tend to get snide when you mention Neil Gaiman used to write comic books. Infidels. If your friends mock you and your fascination with the worlds Gaiman creates, just give them a copy of this book and tell them to shut up. It's the best introduction I can think of to everything Neil.Some stories are undoubtedly stronger and more inspired than others, but the collection on the whole is astoundingly good, and makes Stephen King look pathetic, though it's hard to compare the two. Gaiman doesn't write horror stories, he writes magical ones -- stories that wrap you up in what your parents told you for years was impossible or unreal.
"Snow, Glass, Apples" -- this is not your grandmother's Snow White, and Gaiman himself states that he hopes the reader will not read the original faery tale the same way ever again. He succeeds. This story is worth the price of the book alone.
"Chivalry" -- a brilliant, extremely funny look into the mind of an elderly woman who's found the Holy Grail in a secondhand store and think it's just a fabulous mantel pice, never mind that Arthurian knight who keep bothering her for it. I made my dad read this one.
"Nicholas Was..." -- ever wonder how Christmas in the Gaiman household is? Dark, haunting, and achingly beautiful. Possibly my favorite, despite its (sadly) short length.
"The Goldfish Pool and Other Stories" -- the longest, and one of the best hands down, stories in this book. Neil takes the big hypodermic needle of writing and instead of sucking the life right out of what could have been a boring story, injects it with a subtle shadow and oodles of glitter. Very touching.
"The Sweeper of Dreams" -- one word: There's not only stories, but poetry as well, and if I could go door to door and beg people to buy and read this book, I would. Not everyone appreciates Gaiman's mission of reintroducing magic into our world, but I, for one, plan on doing every little bit I can do to help. Smoke and mirrors and illusions...Book Review: Man oh man, do I love pie!
Hooray for books. Especially this one. Not being one to try and make up people's minds for them, I will instead offer mere suggestions of my favorites. I loved "Babycakes" (it's probably my favorite short story of all time). It's tough to find a better story than "We Can Get Them For You Wholesale," and "Looking for the Girl" is top notch. As for the stories that weren't in Angels and Visitations, "The Price" is great, "Changes" is excellent, and "The Goldfish Pool and Other Stories" seems like the type of story I'd read in an English class (which is a good thing). So read the book. Anyone who doesn't like this book should stick with Michael Crichton or someone who writes mindless poop directed at third graders.
Summary: 5 Stars