Tara Prescott

As an academic who has done research on Gaiman's works and taught them to my students, I enjoyed the discussions the editors selected for this collection. Essays that really resonated with me and my interests were Fairest of All: Snow White and Gendered Power in "Snow, Glass, Apples" and The Power of the Perky: The Feminist Rhetoric of Death.

If you are looking for a thoughtful look at Gaiman's works (cutting across his graphic novels, short stories, and poetry, this collection is one you should check out.… (mehr)

Literary criticism is a dry and dusty subject for most folks, but when those techniques are applied to a popular author, and to his work in several forms of media, suddenly the value appears. While these essays varied in quality, almost all provided insight into familiar stories which I may never have noticed on my own.

The audience for this book is clearly the avid (if not rabid) fan, who has already engaged in late night discussions with like minded people, either in person or online. In fact, many of the selections read like the edited and cleaned-up version of just such a discussion. Many raise topics suitable for convention panels, and are discussion worthy in their own right.

Three stars for the content, plus as extra for my interest in the subject matter.… (mehr)

I enjoyed this collection of essays and always find it fascinating the relationship to previous works or classics that I might not have initially seen. And, although essays can be drab or pedantic, some essays were written with the reader's pleasure in mind. When it becomes a chore to get through someone's thoughts concerning Gaiman's works, it takes effort to stay with them. And there are many interesting thoughts and insights that are worth reading.

I would recommend it to really diehard Gaiman fans who have a good base of his work under their belts.… (mehr)