Many of the stories end ambiguously with the hint of something dreadful about to occur. Others could easily be a chapter in a novel and perhaps they were originally planned as such. They tend toward the darker side of storytelling; but, other than that, have very little in common with one another.
My favourites stories were:
- "The Sleeper and the Spindle" - a reimagining of a classic fairy tale with an unexpected crossover into another fairy tale.
- "The Thing About Cassandra" - a story about a man who encounters the imaginary girlfriend he made up while in school.
- "The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains" - a dark tale of revenge.
Gaiman also included a Sherlock Holmes story, a Doctor Who story, and a story about Shadow Moon, the protagonist of "American Gods".
I strongly related to "The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury" - a first-person narrative from someone losing his memory as he grows older. It reminded me that both my parents struggled through this frustration at the end of their lives; and I sometimes feel it happening to me. Plus, it is a tribute to one of the great writers of the 20th century, who undoubtedly influenced Gaiman.
This is a strong collection of works for anyone who enjoys mystery and horror and any fans of Mr. Gaiman's writing.