Martin H. Greenberg and Kerrie Hughes, Fellowship Fantastic

Fellowship Fantastic

Martin H. Greenberg and Kerrie Hughes (editors)

Daw, Jan 2008, $7.99

ISBN: 9780756404659

The underlying connecting concept between these thirteen short stories is the bond of fellowship usually found on an impossible quest as defined by Tolkien although can be as simple as friendship. The key is that each willingly risks their life for the other(s). Although there have been a ton of theme anthologies of late some edited by Martin h. Greenberg, they remain fresh and fun if one reads it over a few weeks. A one sitting experience leads to overdosing. FELLOWSHIP FANTASTIC contains thirteen new tales of bonded individuals going beyond the distance (even through portals into another world or an alternate earth) for their pal. The tales are well written and entertaining while the various settings keep the collection from becoming stale as brothers and sisters in arms protect one another. The best tales in my opinion are those that occur on this earth like Alan Dean Foster's "Overcast" that has a cloud follow a hiker and Arizona's "Scars Enough by Russell Davis. Still from Serbia to finding your best friend on another world to understanding that "Revenge is a Dish Best Served with Beers" (I disagree with author Fiona Paxton - make it wine), this is an enjoyable theme oriented anthology.

Harriet Klausner