McSweeney’s Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories
September 29th, 2004The October 1 Kirkus reviews McSweeney’s Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories, edited by Michael Chabon.
Last year’s McSweeney’s Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales proved that you can actually gather a group of fine writers (or Michael Chabon and the cool folks at McSweeney’s can) and get them to turn in a collection of ghost stories, mysteries, and thrillers without the least dash of condescension. This second volume proves no different, with a superb roster of talent and some creepy, inky illustrations from “Hellboy” creator Mike Mignola, to boot.
We can look forward to strong stories in this “first-rate collection” by Margaret Atwood, Roddy Doyle, Poppy Z. Brite, China Mieville, David Mitchell, and Charles D’Ambrosio. I am disappointed that there will be no continuation of Chabon’s own story from the first volume.
The only other review I’ve come across so far is by Jonathan Strahan, which is much less positive but will not deter me at all from eagerly awaiting the publication date of 11/9.
September 29th, 2004 at 10:16 am
I read Strahan’s review as well but there’s no way I wouldn’t pick this up. Have to read these things for myself, you know? And yeah, I’m sad that we don’t have any Chabon in this volume - perhaps in a third volume?
September 29th, 2004 at 10:19 am
Or maybe he’ll ultimately publish it as a novel or novella, instead of serial form?
September 30th, 2004 at 2:59 am
To be honest, I found McSweeney’s Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales a highly mixed affair, but I suppose I’ll give this a shot as well.
September 30th, 2004 at 10:42 am
I agree, JP, the first Chabon-edited collection was a mixed bag. I’m sure this one will be as well but it definitely has a lineup I find intriguing.
And, LTR, we can only hope we get “The Martian Agent” in another form.