TOMBS

A thematic anthology consisting of 21 original tales, a poem, and an utterly deranged introduction from Forrest J. Ackerman. Most unusually, all the stories here have a significant association with the collection's title. As another fillip of interest, one editor (Kramer) is American, the other British, and they selected their material accordingly; the upshot has a pleasingly transatlantic flavor. The standard of craftsmanship and imagination is high, and while there are no real standouts, there aren't any duds either. Famous names include: Ben Bova (cryogenics), Ian Watson (a glider pilot and a mysterious amber room), Michael Bishop (burial in a jukebox), Michael Moorcock (a desert saga), Lisa Tuttle (a tumulus as a doorway to Faerie), S.P. Somtow (opera), Charles de Lint (Halloween), Neil Gaiman (the poem), Brad Linaweaver (papal secrets), and William F. Buckley (computers). The remainder show the same staggering range of ideas—from virtual reality, submarines, Lazarus, whales, and prophets, to space stations, a weird Addams-like family, voyeurs, the London Underground, and mirror magic. Splendidly eclectic, some with a reassuring humorous streak, and on the light side of middleweight. Enjoyable.