Kilas Buku: Songs of Love and Death

Title: Song of Love and Death

Authors: Neil Gaiman, Diana Gabaldon, Jim Butcher, and many more.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Editor: Georde R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois

Published: Simon and Schuster, November 2011

Edition: Pocket Book paperback, 644 pages

Summary:

IN this star-studded cross-genre anthology, seventeen of the greatest modern authors of fantasy, science fiction, and romance explore the borderlands of their genres with brand-new tales of ill-fated love. From zombie-infested woods in a postapocalyptic America to faery-haunted rural fields in eighteenth- century England, from the kingdoms of high fantasy to the alien world of a galaxy-spanning empire, these are stories of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate.

Award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman demonstrates why he’s one of the hottest stars in literature today with “The Thing About Cassandra,” a subtle but chilling story of a man who meets an old girlfriend he had never expected to see.

International blockbuster bestselling author Diana Gabaldon sends a World War II RAF pilot through a stone circle to the time of her Outlander series in “A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows.” Torn from all he knows, Jerry MacKenzie determinedly survives hardship and danger, intent on his goal of returning home to his wife and baby—no matter the cost.

New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher presents “Love Hurts,” in which Harry Dresden takes on one of his deadliest adversaries and in the process is forced to confront the secret desires of his own heart. Just the smallest sampling promises unearthly delights, but look also for stories by New York Times bestselling romance authors Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, and by such legends of the fantasy genre as Peter S. Beagle and Tanith Lee, as well as many other popular and beloved writers, including Marjorie M. Liu, Jacqueline Carey, Carrie Vaughn, and Robin Hobb. This exquisite anthology, crafted by the peerless editing team of George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, is sure to leave you under its spell. (Goodreads)

What do you expect when you hook up with a beautiful vampire like Edward Cullen and tough vampire like Angel? Will you get crushed on them or you just pass them by? Then what if you find strange case related dark magic? Will you testify it to those who obviously don't believe such a thing? It's your call.

Love and death are dark romance. I, myself, cannot imagine whether I would fall in love and get along with a lover from different world. But I guess some people, especially fiction character, do that.

'Song of Love and Death' consists of 17 short stories from New York Times bestselling authors. One of them is Neil Gaiman which because of him I picked up this book. Then, you don't have to read all of the stories. You can pick some of them that make you're interested in. Believe me, if you are fond of paranormal romance and you think that you're a Gothic person, you're match with this book. Absolutely you'll like it. But if you're not, I bet you can't stand with the stories.

'All Thing About Cassandra' by Neil Gaiman won 2011 Locus Award for Best Short Story. It's about a young painter named Stuart. He imagined having a girlfriend, Cassandra. He dated her 4 times before breaking up. The thing was Stuart made his story up about Cassandra. She was a fake girlfriend and would never been exist. Then that day came; this Cassandra showed her face. So, who is this Cassandra? Then I think you can guess how the story would end. :)

2 out of 5 stars for this anthology.