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octavia_cade's review
4.0
An anthology of speculative fiction themed around mythic beasts, and including stories on creatures such as mermaids, centaurs, and dragons. There's 13 stories in here, for 13 different beasts, and as a collection it's better, I think, than a companion book based around magic spells that I also read recently. This particular anthology is one I received as a child, and I've just reread it. Strange how some of the stories have stuck with me through the years, while others I've blocked out entirely as being of very little interest... and as an adult rereading, my judgement on each remains the same. The stand-outs here are Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" and two of the sci-fi offerings: Jack Vance's "The Kragen" and F.A. Javor's "The Triumph of Pegasus". My absolute favourite, however, and one of my favourite short stories of all time, is Tanith Lee's "The Gorgon", which is strong and sad and memorable - together these stories are enough to merit this anthology 4 stars. Unfortunately the book as a whole could use a stronger ending - the last 3-4 stories are distinctly the weakest of the bunch.
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