Jean Rabe and Martin H. Greenberg, Pandora’s Closet

Pandora's Closet

Jean Rabe and Martin H. Greenberg (editors)

Daw, Aug 2007, $7.99

ISBN 9780756404376

The underling connective thread between these nineteen new tales is items worn like garments and jewelry found in fantasy realms. Think of classic accouchements like Superman's cape, Green Lantern's ring, and Dorothy's slippers. Thus the tales focus on the garb mostly with a humorous vent. The stories are well written, but there is only so many ways that one can find magic in rings, hats, and slippers oh my. Thus the audience will enjoy the contributions but should spread out reading the anthology over a few weeks to avoid ennui caused by a somewhat repetitive narrow theme as the enchantment can only go so far even with trips to historical Japan, WW II, and Oz changing the locale.

Harriet Klausner