Review - Songs of Love & Death by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois

TITLE:    Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Editors George R. R. Martin & Gardner Dozois
INFO:    Hardcover, Fiction, 468
PUBLISHED:   Gallery Books, 2010
ISBN#:   978-1-4391-5014-6
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Gallery Books for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  In this star-studded cross-genre anthology, seventeen of the greatest modern authors of fantasy, science fiction, and romance explore the borderlands of their genres with brand-new tales of ill-fated love. From zombie-infested woods in a postapocalyptic America to faery-haunted rural fields in eighteenth- century England, from the kingdoms of high fantasy to the alien world of a galaxy-spanning empire, these are stories of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate.

Award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman demonstrates why he’s one of the hottest stars in literature today with “The Thing About Cassandra,” a subtle but chilling story of a man who meets an old girlfriend he had never expected to see.


International blockbuster bestselling author Diana Gabaldon sends a World War II RAF pilot through a stone circle to the time of her Outlander series in “A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows.” Torn from all he knows, Jerry MacKenzie determinedly survives hardship and danger, intent on his goal of returning home to his wife and baby—no matter the cost.


New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher presents “Love Hurts,” in which Harry Dresden takes on one of his deadliest adversaries and in the process is forced to confront the secret desires of his own heart.


Just the smallest sampling promises unearthly delights, but look also for stories by New York Times bestselling romance authors Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, and by such legends of the fantasy genre as Peter S. Beagle and Tanith Lee, as well as many other popular and beloved writers, including Marjorie M. Liu, Jacqueline Carey, Carrie Vaughn, and Robin Hobb. This exquisite anthology, crafted by the peerless editing team of George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, is sure to leave you under its spell.


Discover the many realms of the heart with this extraordinary cast of acclaimed authors:


PETER S. BEAGLE
JO BEVERLEY
JIM BUTCHER
JACQUELINE CAREY
DIANA GABALDON
NEIL GAIMAN
YASMINE GALENORN
M.L.N. HANOVER
ROBIN HOBB
CECELIA HOLLAND
TANITH LEE
MARJORIE M. LIU
MARY JO PUTNEY
LINNEA SINCLAIR
MELINDA SNODGRASS
LISA TUTTLE
CARRIE VAUGHN

MY TAKE:   This book was a must-read for me as soon as I read that Diana Gabaldon had contributed a new story for this collection.  Her "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" was well worth the wait.  It ties up some unanswered questions about Roger Mackenzie's father Jeremy as well as opening up some more lines from "An Echo in the Bone".

Many other favorite authors added their all-original tales of star-crossed love for this happy, sad, tear-jerking, smile-making group of shorts.  While there were a couple of stories that I didn't really care for (as happens with any collection), most of them have reaffirmed my enjoyment of the authors' writing or introduced me to a few new-to-me writers that I will seek out in the future.

Two of my top picks along with Diana Gabaldon would be Jo Beverly with her inventive tale "The Marrying Maid" inspired by Tatiana and Oberon's continual toying with humankind and "Blue Boots" from Robin Hobb which follows the lingering love story of a minstrel and a kitchen girl.

I highly recommend this collection and I think it would be a great gift idea for the avid reader on your gift list.
   
MY RATING:    4.5

WHERE TO BUY IT:   Amazon, The Book Depository, Powell's Books

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.