Jacques Barcia of POST-WEIRD THOUGHTS reviews PAPER CITIES.  It’s a very long and in-depth review.  He says:

“But just like there are different neighborhoods within a city, with different architectures, demographics and all subtle details that give or take away comfort or the notion of being at home, there are all sorts of stories within this anthology. Some excellent, many good, and just a few that didn’t work for me. But stories so different among them that readers may find most of them interesting in some level.”

And in summary, he says:

“Paper Cities is an amazing anthology that will be cited as one of the definitive of the urban fantasy subgenre.”

Read the full review here.

Ekaterina Sedia, editor of Paper Cities, has an interview up at Bookgasm.

BOOKGASM: What draws you to write urban fantasy?

SEDIA: A combination of real concerns of real people and crazy and fantastical stuff. I like the juxtaposition of the real and the myth, the mixing of the two. Urban fantasy is almost forced to be relevant — that is, it takes modern-day people and makes them interact with their cultural baggage, be it mythological or paranormal. As a result, I think it is important for urban fantasy to stick to the specific rather than generic, since myth and culture are so place-dependent.

Read the full interview here. 

It’s spreading, the Ekaterina Sedia interview meme. Ekaterina Sedia, editor of Paper Cities, and author of The Secret History of Moscow, will be releasing her second novel, Alchemy of Stone at the end of the month. To help spread the word, several people have been asking her five questions. Then they tag someone, and s/he has to ask Ekaterina five more. If this keeps up, we may soon know the answers to all things. (About Ekaterina, at least).

So far the meme has entered the consciousness of:

Matt Stags

Paul Jessup

Johnathan Wood

Mark Teppo

and Mary Robinette Kowal

Who will the meme target next? It could be YOU.

That’s right. You read the title correctly. I will mail you a free copy of Paper Cities, An Anthology of Urban Fantasy, edited by Ekaterina Sedia, if you post on your blog or website a review of Sybil’s Garage No. 5.*

Alternatively, if you mention Sybil’s Garage No. 5 on your site and link back to us (http://www.sensesfive.com/sg5.php) I’ll send you a coupon code worth 50% off everything Senses Five Press sells.

Please spread the word!

* Due to the high cost of postage overseas, I have to limit the free copy of Paper Cities to the US and Canada only. If you are overseas and still want to write a review, please contact me and we can work something out. The review should be thorough and not necessarily positive. I will send a free copy to the first five individuals who do this.

OF Blog of the Fallen reviews Paper Cities. Among praises of Forrest Aguirre’s, Hal Duncan’s, Catherynne Valente’s, Ben Peek’s, and other stories, they say:

“Paper Cities is an excellent anthology whose stories ought to appeal to a wide range of readers, especially those curious about “urban fantasy” but who may be uncertain if any of the authors who write in this amorphous field might be worth reading. Like real cities, each city presented has its own facets, its own charms, and its own dangers that the characters come to experience. Highly recommended.”

Read the full review here »