Rating: 
Summary: An Ace Anthology that Lives Up to Its Title
Review: Unlike so many Ace anthologies, this one actually lives up to its title. Villains of all sorts triumph here, from familiar fiends such as Moriarty or the Evil Queen from fairy-tale legends to previously unheard of crooks, criminals, and cranks. Not every story is a rousing success. Rosemary Edghill's "The Mould of Form" is an extremely dull account of the beginning of Captain Hook's career, for example. But many are quite good, including Tanya Huff's "All Things Being Relative" (starring the aforementioned Evil Queen), Kristine Kathryn Rusch's "Doubting Thomas" (which will prevent you from ever seeing Santa the same way again), and Pauline Dungate's "Nina" (reminiscent of a dark Bend It Like Beckham). Particularly powerful is Tim Waggoner's
"Horror Show" featuring a washed-up horror movie actor coming literally face to face with his career.This is the first Ace paperback anthology in a long, long while I intend to actually keep for future reading. It is well worth the time of any and all fantasy and horror fans.
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