THE FIRE WHEN IT COMES

Nine fantasies, 1975-82, from the author of Firelord and The Masters of Solitude series (with Marvin Kaye). The title piece, a ghost story about a dead actress who haunts an apartment whore a naive young couple have taken up residence, is exactor Godwin's best. Also noteworthy is an amusing and touching yarn wherein the devil turns out to be dedicated to improving history: he arranges for talented people to live longer than they were scheduled to do, to the annoyance of God and his angels (who dislike having their records messed up). The rest, though, meander unconvincingly through a range of stock ideas: Isolde returns to Earth in search of the secret of life; a mystery writer plans a series of perfect crimes; a young American in 1806 Paris is haunted by visions of future battles; a New York mugger gets his comeuppance; an intelligent bull defeats his matador; the fairies outwit a grasping bishop looking for the holy grail; and a dead restaurant reviewer returns as a purveyor of poisoned junk food. Mediocre, insipid work, then--with two dandy exceptions.