Naked City: Tales of Urban Fantasy

Datlow (Digital Domains) adds to her already lengthy list of impressive anthology credits with this compilation of 20 original stories from some of the best-known names in urban fantasy. For newbies, her short but informative intro clearly lays out the boundaries of these works, which combine "the often-dark edge of city living with enticing worlds of magic." Jim Butcher's "Curses," a humorous short story linked to his Dresden Files series, is a nice change of pace from his increasingly grim novels. Ellen Kushner's "The Duke of Riverside" gives the origins of the romance between Alec and St. Vier, heroes of her novel Swordspoint. Lavie Tidhar's "The Projected Girl," set in Haifa, Israel, features a boy's search for the truth behind a legendary magic trick. Other notable contributors include Lucius Shepard, Patricia Briggs, and Melissa Marr. (July)