Classic Gaiman. Dark and twisted, fun, quirky, and interesting. Smoke and Mirrors is still my favorite of the two anthologies he has come out with so far.

Gaiman's short stories are simply great. His capacity for darkness and wonder are displayed here to their full capacity.

I particularily liked "Dark Grounds". It blends Vodoun culture with American, and illustrates modern culture's ability to dampen souls.

In his 2nd collection, Gaiman creates more spell-binding stories to add to his repertoire of classic tales. All of the stories contained here are sheer gems of beauty and perfection. Some are so haunting that they don't leave the mind for days.

The ones in particular are "The Problem of Susan" where he offers an alternative to what happens to Susan Pevensie, the one shut out of Narnia. It's genious lies in the haunting sadness of being the one left behind and what it takes to move on.

The other tale that struck me was the one about the Gargoyle protecting the man's heart. I think when we have been faced with such a bitter heart-break, we all want to or wish to have our own Gargoyle to help us along.

I recommend getting this book because he is a genius in creating perfect and haunting worlds that never fully leave the reader.