Impressive collection
357130
This book provides the reader with an interesting collection of photographs that span from the mid 19th Century to the mid 1960s. Excellent compilation for any Cuban who wants to remember or, who wants to know how Cuba was back then. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys taking a look at the past through good quality photos.
518884
I could not be happier with this two volume collection of Tennessee Williams plays.  The set is much more than just a chronological collection.  There are notes by the playwright with many of the plays, a superb chronology of his life and work, early and obscure one act plays later expanded, and textural notes.

The price of the books is more than fair for what the reader gets.

I have never owned The Library of American edition of anything before, though I recognize the series distinctive black and white covers.  The book production is scrupulous and careful.  The books are sturdy, made to last, and come in a thick protective box that fits well on any bookshelf.  I noticed another reviewers complaint about the paper being thin, fragile, and transparent.  Ive been reading these volumes for several days now and had no difficulties.  The pages turn easily, without tearing, and while there is a degree of transparency, it never entered my consciousness while reading. The paper is intentionally lightweight since these two volumes contains 2,053 pages in a very manageable size.

A sincere thank you to The Library of America and the editors of this set.
585602
This compilation is a great effort at both defining "sudden fiction" by example and at displaying the broad scope of the work that's out there, including pieces from all over the globe. The work, according to the editors, was collected over a set period in the early 00's from what has been getting published in journals and magazines around the world. In that regard, this collection truly succeeds in capturing what the current flavor/definition is for the short-short story (not to be confused with "flash fiction," which is even shorter) (and collected in a different companion book by the same publisher) (I also admittedly plan to read it eventually) and ensures that there won't be (m)any repeats in here from other anthologies you may have read.

What is slightly disappointing about this collection is that the quality (for this reviewer) is a bit uneven. While all the stories are of rather similar lengths (3 to 5 pages for the most part), some simply go nowhere, reflecting on a moment or character in detail and arriving at very little in the way of stimulating conclusions. Others, such as Tobias Wolfe's or Sam Shepard's (two of the best in the bunch), nicely portray real conflicts, draw very real characters, and maintain forceful narratives throughout, with endings that satisfy.

If you enjoy short fiction, this is certainly worth reading, then perhaps selling back if you find only a little that you like (I'll probably keep my copy, as I think I like the parts I like enough to want to read them again later on). If you're trying to get into what's going on in contemporary short(-short) fiction, there is no better place to start. Author bios in the back will give you other book titles and such as launching points for further reading as well.
1372624
Excellent Collections At A Incredible Price. Beyond Hot Dvds.
177985
This is a marvelous collection, featuring a series that I didn't watch as closely when it was first printed.  There is some amazing Walt Simonson artwork here, along with side stories by a host of major comics artists.  A real feast for the eyes.
567120
This is the most elegant, beautifully produced boxed set I have ever seen. The 120 page hard cover book is lavishly illustrated and rich with high-quality photographs and essays.  The 6 discs have their own, very slick book with individual sleeves. Really a high end presentation. The music itself is wonderfully diverse, covering must-have Mingus masterpiece albums - Pithecanthropus Erectus, The Clown, Blues and Roots, Oh Yeah, and Mingus at Antibes.

Considering the amount of great music this compilation contains, it's actually a buy. While the music is uniformly wonderful, I am particularly fond of disc 3, which features a nonet, disc 5, because Mingus and Kirk is a match made in heaven, and disc 3 - live at Antibes. The Anitibes concert is a real take-no-prisoners affair, everybody's working up a sweat. There is some truly astounding interplay between Dolphy, Ervin, Richmond, and of course, the maestro - there's even a celebrity cameo by Bud Powell. I expected the Ertegun interview to be a throwaway but found it very engaging and interesting - this is precisely the kind of added tidbit one expects to receive when going the full distance and purchasing a boxed set.  Couldn't be better.
1967581
Impressive collection! The absolute Best as selected by one of the greatest artists in the genre itself, Mr. Ray Douglas Bradbury.
I have much respect for Mr. Bradbury's work. He was an accomplished writer in fiction and nonfiction and a fine poet as well.
There are some adaptations of his stories here in this collection and they are well done.
Track 1 is a forward by Ray Bradbury describing his personal interest in classic radio drama. Very historical and informative. It's enjoyable to hear him speak of his love for it.
Track 2 is the original classic The War Of The Worlds with Orson Welles.
Track 3 is a well produced excerpt of The Martian Chronicles by Bradbury. Very poetic.
Track 23 is the Murray Leinster (1896-1975) masterpiece A Logic Named Joe (1946), one of the most prophetic stories of all time. It accurately predicted our current lifestyle and The Internet Of Things.
Eerily clairvoyant and delightfully dark humor...excellent science fiction.
Each track, all 61, are listed onscreen by story title. At least they are by my player the SONY DVP-SR210P. Great for MP3s.

This is a great item for Ray Bradbury and old radio fans but it suffers from careless or indifferent manufacturing.
My DVD-R arrived with scratches and moderate surface wear but plays okay so far.
Sound quality is very good overall, some tracks are excellent.

Recommended.
4074055
I've really enjoyed Mad Scientist Journal's anthology series of historical accounts, I eagerly backed the last two on Kickstarter, and I think this is the strongest one to date. Every story in this urban fantasy collection is at least loosely connected by the idea of the outsider, whatever that means for the story, and they managed to put together a great variety of quality pieces. Definitely check this out! A few standout stories:

The Woman from Kisthene  J. C. Stearns
Home by Halloween  Michael Jones
Someones Checking You Out Right Now!  S. Qiouyi Lu
The Face on the Wall, and the Chainsaw  Erin Sneath
A Good Head on His Shoulders  Stuart Webb
2628517
This is a stunning collection and I cannot put it down. All of the stories that I remember and loved from my childhood are here. The books are not as small as I was lead to believe from the other reviewers although I am considering purchasing a large magnifying glass so I can better appreciate the artwork. The printing quality is fantastic and the pages are thick and glossy with high end ink. I certainly recommend this collection to fellow enthusiast.
4770039
When I picked up Phantazein it was the exquisite cover by Kathleen Jennings that first drew me in, knowing what an incredible publishing professional Tehani Wessely is upon seeing her name, and the recognition of several of the contributors.

What I didn't realise was that this wonderful collection, that surprised Ms Wessely in the way it came together, was the antidote to my frustration at the lack of womens voices and stories promoted in our genre.

Each and every one of the stories in Phantazein leapt off the page at me with a vivacity and clarity of storytelling. Theres no doubt of its unintended fantastical theme, though theres a little steampunk snuck in with some myth.

Its really hard to detail what I enjoyed best about this collection. That the women were warriors, holding the world together, integral to their communities, as they are in life? That each protagonist and supporting female characters were whole, more than a shadow or a spectre, flawed and different? Or even how several different cultural styles of storytelling were given the nod in this collection.

It was a thrill to have Wollongongs Nan Tien temple peek out from Cat Sparks story, The Seventh Relic. The tussle of shifting of relationships between mothers and daughters was almost too real in S.G. Larners, Kneaded, and the sacrifice of letting go covered in Thoraiya Dyers Bahamut. How the Jungle got its Spirit Guardian turned gender roles on their heads, eloquently through Vida Cruz story. Each wonderful tale spoke to some struggle of life.

But most of all, each of these stories spoke to me of freedom.

The only piece that seemed out of place in the collection was Scales of Time by Foz Meadows and Moni, a very short piece of prose with illustrations brimming with beautiful heart. Not for its lack of substance, but only by the virtue that it wasn't a short story, though very emotive.

There wasn't a single weakness in Phantazein, and its a credit to Ms. Wessely and the authors. Each and every characterisation and narrative spun a different world view, and the collection is stronger for it. The book is a well-crafted product, from its striking cover to the engaging stories inside.

This is one of the best (largely) Australian collections I have ever had the pleasure to read. Phantazein is my first Fablecroft reading experience, but I can guarantee you it will not be my last.

Find the review at: http://sqmag.com/2015/04/30/edition-20-book-review-phantazein-edited-by-tehani-wessely/
1569722
With its striking cover and impressive collection of artists, Robot is sure to draw quite a bit of attention, and for the most part it lives up to expectations.

The only reason you should be buiying this collection is for the art, and it certainly delivers on that aspect. Most of the artists have backgrounds in animation, and it shows. While I'm not a huge fan of anime art, it's undeniable that every story in this is stunningly drawn. With a wide range of styles and techniques, there's something in here for everyone. Each style lends to the story, and some of the atmospheres created (particuarly in the second story and third) are breathtaking.

As for the stories themselves, the fact that many of the artists have little background in manga shows. Most of the stories really aren't worth mentioning. Some don't even attempt to have a coherent narrative, instead focusing strictly on the atmosphere. There are several tales that really leave an impression on the reader, in particular the wonderful slice-of-life story set in the future as well as the haunting "Bitting Summer Play". Even if most of the other tales don't reach this level of exellence, none are particuarly horrible. Besides, you shouldn't be buying this collection for the writing; it's stricktly eye-candy.

So while it doesn't break any new ground in terms of narrative or storytelling, Robot fufills its promise of providing gorgeous visuals. As of October, it looks like this is the best manga artbook of 2005.

*Concerning the other reviewers complaint that the binding came loose, DMP has fixed this issue in time for the first printing.
1684360
I've enjoyed flash fiction for a long while now, but it has been more than awhile since I've visited the form.

This was an excellent collection to dive back in with, as most every story hit me in some way.

The preface discusses how this length and form just seems to "work," as many shorter stories can feel too incomplete or ambiguous, and longer works can start to get bogged down. However, this length of story packs a hell of a punch, and many of these stories are perfect examples of that punch.

What I liked best, though, is the range of when these were written. I had originally assumed that all were recent stories. However, upon checking out the contributor's notes, I saw how many had copyright dates decades ago. I never would have guessed. These writer's have all done what we should strive to: they touch on something that resonates throughout the years and contexts.

That, to me, makes this more than worth the read, and--even more--makes this collection one to study, if you want to learn the short form.
4692003
I kept putting and removing this item into my shopping cart because of its price. Had I known just how extensive and complete the collection really is, I would not have hesitated.
What's in this collection?
* Five CDs in total, packaged in a very nice box set format
* About 100 songs from every musical ever written by Webber on three CDs.
* The fourth CD includes different versions of some of the more popular songs (sung by different artists). It also includes Madonna's rendition of "You Must Love Me" (from the movie version of Evita).
* A bonus CD (so five CDs in total) with some never released stuff (very cool)
* A 64 page booklet with plenty of color photos, and information on the musicals and the songs in the collection.
Overall, a wonderful addition to any Webber fan's collection.
4132312
great collection although some are redundant with others in my collection
4430528
An amazing collection. Ben Bova really showed some class here. Beyond the popular Who Goes There?, and Call Me Joe, this volume contains 3 "stealth" novellas: Baby Is Three (by Sturgeon: you should read the whole thing: More Than Human, but Baby Is Three will knock your socks off); With Folded Hands(have robots made humans obsolete?) and the creepy little "period piece" Vintage Season, worth the price of admission almost by itself.
4140186
This entire contemporary classical compilation is enjoyable and well worth exploring.  Its evident that each piece was composed and played by a different artist, yet somehow- a lovely tonality ties one track to the other.  A lonely wisp of a note here, a counterpoint there and BAM you're in the venue of amazing talent.  Want a contemporary angle on classical music?  Then, this is the collection.
1602185
Anyone looking for ideas for their home or business would do well to check out this remarkable collection.  I was especially enthralled by the work of Benjamin Hall.