Publisher's Weekly, September 2003.

This impressive collection showcases an unusual diversity of styles, settings, and tone. November, editor of Penguin's Firebird imprint, has chosen wisely: each of these 16 tales has literary merit strong enough to transcend its respective micro-genre (heroic fantasy, fairy tale, magic realism, "feline fantasy," etc.). Highlights are many: Lloyd Alexander eschews his usual epic fantasy setting in "Max Mondrosch," a darkly intriguing quasi-Edwardian nightmare about a man whose job hunt is literally the end of him; Diana Wynne Jones and Garth Nix offer robust tales likely to satisfy their respective legions of fans (Jones in familiar territory, Nix less so); Nancy Farmer, in "Remember Me," relays a bittersweet tale of a girl born into the wrong body and into the wrong family, and her journey back to where she belongs; and the highlight, Megan Whalen Turner's "The Baby in the Night Deposit Box," shares much of the sly morality-play structure of the best Twilight Zone episodes. Uniformly mature and thoughtful, these stories are likely to appeal not only to imaginative children but adults as well. Ages 12-up. (Sept.)

Mike Jones, Chronicle, November, 2003.

In January 2002, Firebird Books was launched, an imprint specifically devoted to young adult and children's fantasy and science fiction, the very same material this column covers. In that short space of time, they've released dozens of reprints and originals from some of the best names in the business, stamping their logo on everything from Charles de Lint's The Riddle of the Wren to Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword to William Sleator's Interstellar Pig. Now, however, Firebird turns its attention to short stories with this extraordinary collection of all-new material from seventeen A-list creators. Notable or familiar names include Diana Wynne Jones's "Little Dot," Laurel Winter's "The Flying Woman," Lloyd Alexander's "Max Mondrosch," and Patricia McKillip's "Byndley." Of special interest is the contribution from Emma Bull, a retelling of the ballad "The Black Fox" accompanied with full comic illustrations by famed artist Charles Vess. With other contributors including Nancy Farmer, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Delia Sherman, and Garth Nix, it's a roundup of some excellent writers, with stories that range from the fantastic to the poignant, or even the subtly comic, such as Megan Whalen Turner's "The Baby in the Night Deposit Box." I was up late sampling new offerings from the authors I grew up with, and rediscovering ones I'd almost forgotten. As with all anthologies, there's enough to appeal to everyone, but not all stories will appeal to every reader. However, it's rare you'll get this much quality in one place. Firebirds isn't just recommended, it's practically essential reading for people who love this genre.

Locus, September 2003.