Hooray! You have added the first book to your bookshelf. Check it out now!
[−]
  • Search Digit-count Valid ISBN Invalid ISBN Valid Barcode Invalid Barcode
Blog this item

Smoke and Mirrors

Short Fictions and Illusions

By Neil Gaiman

(165)

| Mass Market Paperback | 9780380789023

Like Smoke and Mirrors?
Join aNobii to see if your friends read it, and discover similar books!

Sign up for free

Book Description

In the deft hands of Neil Gaiman, magic is no mere illusion ... and anything is possible. In this, Gaiman's first book of short stories, his imagination and supreme artistry transform a mundane world into a place of terrible wonders -- a place where an old woman can purchase the Holy GrailContinue

In the deft hands of Neil Gaiman, magic is no mere illusion ... and anything is possible. In this, Gaiman's first book of short stories, his imagination and supreme artistry transform a mundane world into a place of terrible wonders -- a place where an old woman can purchase the Holy Grail at a thrift store, where assassins advertise their services in the Yellow Pages under "Pest Control," and where a frightened young boy must barter for his life with a mean-spirited troll living beneath a bridge by the railroad tracks. Explore a new reality -- obscured by smoke and darkness, yet brilliantly tangible -- in this extraordinary collection of short works by a master prestidigitator. It will dazzle your senses, touch your heart, and haunt your dreams.

Critics

  • Gaiman Week – Book Review: Smoke and Mirrors

    Smoke and Mirrors is a collection of short fiction written by Neil Gaiman that were originally published in different venues (and some never even published before) and created for a different purpose – all brought together in this volume. The fun beg ... (read full critics)

    thebooksmugglers published on Tue, 14 Sep 2010

  • Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions

    I've been a fan of Neil Gaiman's writing since issue #1 of Sandman first appeared on the shelves of my local comic store. And that's high praise from me, because I've only ever found 3 comic titles that had writing of a calibre to keep me interested ... (read full critics)

    sfsite published on Fri, 3 Sep 2010

6 Reviews

Login or Sign Up to write a review

  • 1 person find this helpful

    Some of them would not be my cup of tea, but others... others would strike me.
    Their atmosphere would linger in my mind, not letting me go. That is the magic of Gaiman's work: it creates an atmosphere, even in a few sentences, that remains, even when you cannot remember the exact story plot any ... (continue)

    Some of them would not be my cup of tea, but others... others would strike me.
    Their atmosphere would linger in my mind, not letting me go. That is the magic of Gaiman's work: it creates an atmosphere, even in a few sentences, that remains, even when you cannot remember the exact story plot anymore.
    Certain images are stuck in my mind - Santa Claus' punishment, the Jack in the box waiting, some of the 15 Painted Cards From a Vampire Tarot, the Seeper of Dreams, the atmosphere in Cold Colours, the Vampire Sestina, and the introduction, when he talks about smoke & mirrors.

    Is this helpful?

    Poyel said on Jul 8, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • The best stories of the collection were: The Wedding Present (found in the introduction), Troll Bridge, Queen of Knives, We Can Get Them for You Wholesale, and Snow, Glass, Apples. All of them are sufficiently creepy and really make you think. Don't Ask Jack and The Sweeper of Dreams were short, but ... (continue)

    The best stories of the collection were: The Wedding Present (found in the introduction), Troll Bridge, Queen of Knives, We Can Get Them for You Wholesale, and Snow, Glass, Apples. All of them are sufficiently creepy and really make you think. Don't Ask Jack and The Sweeper of Dreams were short, but quite good. The less important (but entertaining) stories are Chivalry, The Goldfish Pool, and Shoggoth's Old Peculiar. The rest of the stories I could have done without. If you're a Gaiman fan, definitely check this one out.

    Is this helpful?

    Moirne Stark said on Jan 2, 2009 | Add your feedback

  • Very interesting short stories

    This collection of short stories is fascinating - really don't know where Neil Gaiman gets all his ideas from.

    Is this helpful?

    Yee Szeto said on Aug 13, 2007 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Book Details

Improve data of this book

Prices Change currency & sellers

ISBN Edition List Sale Seller
9780380789023 Mass Market Paperback $7.99 $7.19 bn.com
-- $9.99 ebooks.com
$7.99 $7.09 The Book Depository
Other editions →
+ 1 copy tradable: →
Added to Shelf Added to Wish List

Inline Translation Mode

Left click to navigate, right click to translate.

inline translation guide

or close

Inline translation is not ready for this page yet.

Inline translation mode.

Share this page with your friends.

The viewport has not loaded.