This is a terrible collection. The stories chosen are each so incredibly awful--so casually offensive, clunkily written, and devoid of imagination--that I cannot believe a single one of them was published, let alone all of them. There is one good story in this entire collection--Nina Kiriki Hoffman's piece. I've always enjoyed her work, but generally find it a little too bouyantly surreal. But this story, an emotionally powerful take on Wagner's Ring, is possibly the best she's ever written. For her story alone, this collection is worth checking out of the library. But don't waste a cent on it. ( )