Lucy A. Snyder proves once again that she is fearless in mapping every
corner of the literary landscape. Not content to be confined to any
single region, she guides readers through dark realms of fantasy into
the churning industry of steampunk, from the dizzying heights of science
fiction down to the most desolate depths of horror. The strength of the
tales that make up this quiet cataclysm-for example "Magdala Amygdala,"
winner of the 2013 Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Short
Fiction-do not compete. Instead they overlap to create a vista of
ethical armageddons at once thorny and hopeful. Snyder's irresistible
prose and stunning eye for detail bind together a collection that defies
expectation but delivers deep satisfaction.