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Deals With the Devil | Rating | |
| A | |||
| Mike Resnick, Martin H. Greenberg, and Loren Estleman | |||
| Series | Related Books | ||
| N/A | N/A | ||
Deals with the devil are an old, old plot. It's been around for at least a century - probably longer - and has become so common, so used, so trite that they're hard to find nowadays. But for those who enjoy the concept, here is an anthology of thirty-two stories on exactly that theme.
Themed anthologies generally are very enjoyable, so long as you enjoy the core idea in the first place. The editor - or editors, in this case - can sift through what is submitted and pick the cream of the crop. And this is the case here. Resnick, Greenberg, and Estleman have made some splendid choices in compiling this volume.
Stories are generally short and easy to read during a coffee break, ranging from three or four pages to twenty or so. The tones and styles run the full gamut, from witty to poignant, from deeply significant to just good for a few minute's entertainment. Even the plots are well varied. In some it follows the standard: man makes a deal with the devil, finds he didn't get quite what he wanted, and the devil gets his soul. In others, however, there are twists. What happens when an AI calls up the devil? What about when the devil is called but the person changes his mind and refuses to sell? And can people ever come out ahead?
If you like short stories with the theme of, well, dealing with the devil, then this is a wonderful book. I myself enjoyed nearly every story between its covers.
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