Rating: 
Summary: The Astonishing Mr. Gaiman
Review: Smoke and Mirrors collects 30+ Neil Gaiman stories and poems from the past decade. Gaiman's work is usually categorized as fantasy, and most of these pieces have appeared previously in genre publications, yet the best of them, in their combination of wit, ferocity, and wisdom, seem timeless, transcending not only genre but period.A few pieces are merely funny, the Lovecraft riffs and more self-consciously post-modern bits, yet these are good enough to beg comparison with Kim Newman, the master of the post-modern genre cuisinart tale. Most cut deeper: has there been a better evocation of Los Angeles and its relation to creativy than 'The Goldfish Pool and Other Tales'? A more poignant literary appreciation than 'One Life, Furnished in Early Moorcock'? 'Troll Bridge' casts an old fairy tale into the modern world with haunting results, while 'Snow, Glass, Apples' vividly and viciously upends Snow White in period, putting most such pastiches to shame. The shimmering 'Murder Mysteries' is undoubtedly the finest celestial noir whodunit of the past decade. Yet I think my favorite tale here is 'The Wedding Present,' hidden within the book's introduction. Funny, disturbing, and deeply moving, it is itself a perfect introduction to Gaiman's gorgeous short fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: hmm.
Review: i don't know about this one. admittedly, i am fairly new to gaiman's work. but stardust and neverwhere enchanted me duely, whereas smoke & mirrors has left me unimpressed. a few of the stories had me enthralled until they were through, but most i found myself quite bored with.
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Summary: Post Modernism in its most enchanting
Review: If nothing else did, Smoke and Mirrors will break down any prejudice you might have had about Neil Gaiman. He is one of the finest, most innovative English writers of the past few decades, not only in comics, not only in fantasy or horror, but in any medium. Though his stories are usually fantastical, or perhaps strange in nature, most of them are also very real in a much deeper sense, his writing is original and beautiful. This fantastic collection of short stories and poems show the full range of his powerful writing and the development of his style from the early 80s to today, including stories that are not, in any way, fantastical ('The Goldfish Bowl and Other Stories'). 'Post Modern' is the rather odd label that would probably fit his writing best; a review in 'Cinemascape' called him 'a post modern Brother Grimm', which I think is a wonderful description. Neil's work is post modernism in its finest, most enchanting, the way it should have been. He smashes old mythes and taboos, and the stories are often shocking, possibly offending to some; his treatent of myths like Santa Claus ('Nicholas Was...'), Snow White ('Snow, Glass, Apples') or God ('Murder Mysteries') are extremely bold, and never what you would expect. He walks on the edge of pornography ('Tastings'); but he rarely misses his point. The stories are sharp, powerful, with a great sense of irony and social insight. Smoke and Mirrors has something for most readers; some stories, like 'Shaggoth's Old Peculiar' and 'Chivalry', would probably be enjoyed by all, some may be more difficult. But while the stories are often very subtle and sophisticated, they are also painfuly crystal clear. 'Babycakes', one of my favorites, is one of many in the collection that are shockingly effective. Even if you're not a big fantasy fan, read Smoke and Mirrors and get to know an author who is one of a kind.
Rating:
Summary: Don't read alone at night
Review: This was a wonderful anthology of Neil Gaiman's work. I've been incredibly impressed with his comics and his novels, and this didn't let me down. Dark, humourous and disturbing... scared the crap out of me, in a good way. I recommend it highly, but not alone when it's dark outside.
Rating: 
Summary: just read it
Review: This is the first book that I have read from this author and I am highly impressed. Finally, a book where you can get a glimpse of how an author comes up with his stories and what they may mean. The best story has to be the "Murder Mysteries." You will want to read it more than once to locate the clues hidden in the story. I am looking forward to reading more of his works.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Gaiman at Best
Review: Neil Gaiman, famous for his Sandman comic books and the greatly original and imaginative novel Neverwhere, comes to us with a collection of short stories and poems that he wrote for different publications/compilations over the years. Some of these stories are classic Gaiman (see list below); they are dark, funny and very ironic all at once. Unfortunately, too mamny of the stories in this collection lack the wit and cynicism that makes Gaiman such a unique writer. As a matter of fact, some of the stories feel a little dry, as if Gaiman wrote them without really wanting too. And I found myself skipping through some of the poems; Gaiman is great at writing prose and he should stick to what he's good at. Still, this collection offers many great stories. Don't miss Troll Bridge, Looking for The Girl, We Can Get Them For You Wholesale, Tastings, Murder Mysteries, One Life Furnished in Early Moorcock and especially Snow, Glass, Apples, a fun, twisted vampire story.
Rating:
Summary: More hits than misses, and the hits are bullseyes
Review: This anthology is a testimony to the fabulous abilities of Neil Gaiman. Masterful storytelling fills this volume, with such short stories as "We can get them for you wholesale," "Goldfish pond and other stories", and "Snow, Glass, Apple." I feel the only shortcoming of the book is the inclusion of a few poems, which I found to be either ineffectual or uninteresting. But I'm not a big fan of poetry either, so others may enjoy this more easily than I. All in all though, this is a very fulfilling read, and you'll marvel at the depths of Gaiman's imagination.
Rating: 
Summary: Gaiman at his worst... terribly disappointing.
Review: I once thought that Neil Gaiman, the master of story-telling, could do no wrong. I have been corrected. This collection of short stories leaves the reader unfullfilled. Gaiman is known for creating fantastic characters and places. Gaiman does not seem to be able to build these characters and places within the few pages of a short story. The stories in this book range from a werewolf/Baywatch story to poems about vampires to murder mysteries in the heavens. There were a few rare gems in this book, but overall, I recommend reading 'Good Omens' or 'Neverwhere' to get a good taste of Gaiman's talents. These stories were consistently disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: Gaiman-the new master of the short story
Review: Every now and then a reviewer uses the words "every now and then" to start a review. It usually is followed by a glimmering review of a very artsy, very bad book. With this book, though, it is completely appropriate. It is appropriate to say that every now and then a story collection comes along that will, in the end, change the way we read short stories. The last time this happened was, perhaps, King's "Night Shift." Before that, pick any Ray Bradbury collection. But Gaiman's collection is both and more put into one. "Smoke and Mirrors" is absolute masterpiece and seems like it would satisfy almost any avid reader's tastes. There is the humor, social commentary, poetry of all kinds and even a few examples of remarkably tasteful erotica included in this timeless collection. The dark side of the reader is revealed in a reassuring and, at the same time, frightening way. Reading Gaiman is not mere recreation, it is experience. This reviewer did not take long to complete these pages, despite a relatively busy work schedule. When it was over, it leaves disappointment that stems from the fact that the book was over, finished. Yet it is a fulfilling, and wonderful experience. It is not bogged down by "trying to make a point," despite the points it does make on the reader. It is simply telling a story, and the reader takes it as he or she wishes. This, in the end, is the essence of writing, and Gaiman has mastered it perfectly. The stories are diverse; humor and dark, poetry and prose. However, no matter which story you read one thing remains constant: Gaiman's superb ability in the art of storytelling. Writing short stories is an art of the most refined form, and Gaiman has done more than lead the art form or change the art form. He has transcended it and made it his own. Every now and then a story collection comes along that will, in the end, change literature. Here and now, that collection is "Smoke and Mirrors."
Rating:
Summary: An amazing collection of stories
Review: Gaiman is a master at telling stories. He showed it in the comic series Sandman, and shows it here as well. Not confined to one single story, Gaiman is able to explore various different storylines, each as intriguing as they are different. Perhaps the thing that really draws the reader in is the atmosphere that Gaiman creates in each story. Confined by the 'short' nature of each story, it's amazing that he is able to do this so well with the limited space that he has. The natures of these stories vary from fantasy to horror, but most often they contain elements of each, mixed seamlessly. This is one of the best collections of short stories I've read and it's made even more astounding because each story is by the same person, but each story is different.
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