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Heaven and Hell reviewed by Marge Robbins




Book Image   Heaven and Hell edited by Winifred Halsey   Stars Image
Genre: Humorous Fantasy
Publisher: Speculation Press
ISBN: 0-9671979-8-8
Release date:January 2002
Format: trade paperback
Price: $11.50
Website: www.speculationpress.com
Email:spress@speculationpress.com

Heaven and Hell is a sometimes hilarious, sometimes whimsical, sometimes thought provoking glimpse of heaven and hell with a little magic thrown in. No matter what the reader perceives the afterlife to be, he or she is sure to find something of interest in this collection of well-written short stories by some of the best authors of our time.

In The Fiber of Being, Jody Lynn Nye shows us just how difficult yet rewarding the life of an angel can be.

When I read Prom Night by Shalanna Collins, I didn't know whither to laugh or cry. When the Queen of the Prom summons a demon for no other reason than she wants Power it makes things very interesting for a young man who knows nothing about magic, but has been given the means to intervene.

Who says that Bureaucracy is a mortal institution? In the Department of Prayers and Petitions by Stuart Barrow we get a glimpse of the complexities of Heavenly government.

In The Eternal Reward by Tom Dullemond, a newly deceased Preacher that discovers that Heaven is not at all what he expected.

In Vampire's Friend by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, President and founder of Simegen.com, a vampire tries to help a fallen angel during Yom Kipper.

In A Plum Assignment by Sharon L. Nelson, a newly arrived angel is given a rather difficult job to do back on earth.

Ragnarok Can Wait by Susan Sizemore is a totally hilarious story. A fan of the Vikings football team, totally by accident lands in Valhalla, where he makes quite an impression on the Valkyrie.

Vacation by Jennifer Dunne is funny yet very thought provoking. A very beautiful lady demon takes a vacation on earth. It is her goal to experience the seven virtues of Faith, Justice, prudence, hope, temperance, fortitude and charity.

The Morality Clause by H. David Blalock is one of the funniest tales I've ever read. A lawyer unwisely signs a contract with the Devil. When a demon shows up in his office to foreclose on that contact, the lawyer seeks to use a clause in the contract to prevent this.

If you love cats you will love Demon Puss by Terri Beckett. The main character is a cat whose mother was an angel and whose father was a demon. This makes for very interesting interaction with the humans around him.

In Prize of a Lifetime by Michael J. Mcshay an angel has to compete with a demon for the soul of a teenager. I found this one to be more thought provoking than funny, but still an amusing tale.

In Perhaps by Michele Hauf a young woman steps through a fairy ring and finds herself captured by a demon, leaving her non-magical boyfriend to attempt a rescue.

All in all this anthology provides a nice romp through Heaven, Hell and the magic in between, provoking laughter, and a thoughtful look at some of our preconceptions of the afterlife.

Copyright © 2000 Marge Robbins All Rights Reserved.