{Second Firebirds anthology of 3. Anthology, fantasy} (2006)

Each story is followed by a short biography of the author and an author's note about the inspiration for the story.

1. Huntress - Tamora Pierce
A girl whose family worships the old moon goddess discovers what it’s like to run with the pack.
3***

2. Unwrapping - Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Two teenage girls are dressing for Hallowe’en. One is going as a mummy and the other ... you’ll see.
A story of friendship.

3.75****

3. The real thing - Alison Goodman
A story about the first Chorian to study time-jumping at an Earth university. About perceived class and genetic superiority and exclusiveness.

3.5***

4. Little (Grrl) lost - Charles de Lint

Friends come in all shapes and sizes, even when you think the world is against you.

3.75****

5. I'll give you my word - Diana Wynne Jones

About two brothers, whose parents specialise in Occult Services, and lots of words. I love the author’s note too.
I may be biased but:

5*****

6. In the House of the Seven Librarians - Ellen Klages

A little girl grows up in a library. A sweet story. A love story to libraries and librarians.

5*****

7. Wintermoon Wish - Sharon Shinn

A Christmas story about charity with a touch of romance and hope.

4.5****

8. The wizards of Perfil - Kelly Link

Everyone knows that the wizards buy children. This is what happens to one of them.

A story of magic. And hope.

4.75*****

9. Jack o'Lantern / Patricia A. McKillip

There’s still magic in the world, even when it seems ordinary or constrained.

3.5***

10. Quill - Carol Emshwiller

A story of children growing up in the wild and learning how to survive.

4****

11. Blood roses - Francesca Lia Block

Two sisters like to escape from the real world. Somewhat gothic.

2.5***

12. Hives - Kara Dalkey

Technology can be addictive. But what if mean girls use it for dark purposes?

3.5****

13. Perception - Alan Dean Foster

A young apprentice climbing the company ladder is posted to an alien planet where he has to interact with the less evolved natives.

4****

14. The house on the planet - Tanith Lee

This story focuses on the people who live in a certain house on a newly colonised planet at 3 different times over 100 years.
If Lee writes that longer story, I’ll read it.

5*****

15. Cousins - Pamela Dean

Two siblings are sent to their aunts in the country where the way of life is different from what they are used to.

3.5***

16. What used to be good still is - Emma Bull

When a mine levels a mountain, what happens to that mountain?

4****

Averaging: 3.95 stars ( )

Lots of OK stuff - - They've already started to fade... "Hives" stood out for me, the Diana Wynne Jones was cute, but almost cliche for her. ( )

A collection of YA short stories. Yet another clunker from Charles DeLint, another terrifically imaginative story from Diana Wynne Jones, and several stories that felt all too much like snippets from a novel. Francesca Lia Block's story was literally just one of her dreams, transcribed--not a good read. There was no point to Tanith Lee's lackluster "The House on the Planet." Kelly Link's "The Wizards of Perfil" was evocative, if a little too surreal in places. Ellen Klages' "In the House of the Seven Librarians" doesn't delve deep but IS a really fun, comfortable read; it's the tale of seven librarians who shut themselves up in a library and raise a baby, with lots of sensory details and librarian in-jokes. The best story is Kara Dalkey's "Hives." As Oyceter said, it has a modern, truly teen-oriented tone that echoes Scott Westerfeld's Pretties series. In "Hives," a certain kind of cell phone hooks directly to your brain, leading to incredibly powerful, addictive cliques. The concept is chilling, the world-building intense, and I loved the main character. ( )

This novel had taken short passages in other stories and fit them into one story. This person got the other authors' permission to put these articles on the book. This book was to have been based on short fantasy passages that would get people excited. Some were twisted, some were turned, and some were good. The articles had surprises is them that got you confused at first, but you got it later on. The authors might have been English or so because the word realize in the book was realise. The book has many exciting articles that are thrilling and fun.
When I got this book, I thought it would be about a fantasy of firebirds or phoenixes. Turned out when I was reading it that it was not and that it was full of little articles. I got confused in them, but got to know what was going on actually. I liked this book a lot and I had fun reading it. I only hate the part of the twists and title. The title had nothing to do with the book. It has twists, but comes through to you. ( )

An overall good collection of fantasy and sci-fi geared towards the young adult market. My favorites:

Unwrapping by Nina Kiriki Hoffman - A short interesting story about best friends and secrets.

The Real Thing by Alison Goodman – Fairly straightforward sci-fi, but well written and I’ll be looking for more by this author.

I’ll Give You My Word by Diana Wynne Jones – A boy tries to protect his strange big-word using younger brother.

In the House of the Seven Librarians by Ellen Klages – Great story about a young girl being raised in a closed library.

Wintermoon Wish by Sharon Shinn – The reason I bought the collection (I read all of Shinn’s work), a story set in her Safe-Keeper series.

Quill by Carol Emshwiller – Very strange sci-fi tale of a sheltered society of strange beings.

Blood Roses by Francesca Lia Block – Creepy, ephemeral story about two sisters following trouble.

What Used to Be Good Still Is by Emma Bull – Heartbreaking story about young love and the environment. ( )