BIBLIO is the largest independent book marketplace in the world, with over 100 million books.

Skip to content

Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions
Stock photo: cover may vary

Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions Mass market paperbound - 2005

by Neil Gaiman

Add to wish list

Now available in mass market is the definitive collection of short stories that reveals one of the world's most gifted fantasy writers at the peak of his form. Includes a sneak peek at Gaiman's new hardcover "Anasi Boys," available in September.

Summary

E-book exclusives stories: "Fifteen Painted Cards from a Vampire Tarot"; "Eaten"; "Apple."In Neil Gaiman's richly imagined fiction, anything is possible. And the proof is in the telling in this extraordinary collection of short stories. Discover within these pages miraculous inventions and curious characters: an elderly widow who finds the Holy Grail tucked beneath an old fur coat in a thrift store; a terrified boy who barters for his life with a mean-spirited troll living beneath a bridge by the railroad tracks; a young couple who receives a wedding gift that gradually reveals a chilling alternative history of their marriage. Smoke and Mirrors will dazzle your senses, touch your heart -- and haunt your dreams.

Reader reviews for Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions

Write a review for this book

There are no reviews for this book yet. Be the first to write a review!

Your review will be anonymous unless you login or create an account first.

Overall rating
Remember: You’re rating the book as a work, not the seller or the condition of the specific copy you purchased!

Important Terms and Guidelines

  • Please focus on the book’s content and context. Also, add any personal comments as to how you enjoyed the book. Substantiate your likes and dislikes. You may make comparisons to other books.
  • Reviews must be at least 140 characters in length.
  • Please do not reveal critical plot elements.
  • This is not a help line. Contact customer support if you need help.
Your review must not include:
  • Obscenities, discriminatory language, or other insulting language not suitable for public domain
  • Advertisements, “spam” content, or references to other products, offers or websites.
  • Email addresses, URLs, phone numbers, physical addresses or other contact information.
  • Overly critical comments about other reviews or reviewers
  • Time-sensitive material (i.e. promotional tours, seminars, lectures, etc.)
  • Availability, price, or alternative ordering/shipping information

From the publisher

The astonishing and impressive first collection of short stories from New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman

An elderly widow finds the Holy Grail beneath an old fur coat in a second-hand store . . .

A stray cat fights and refights a nightly battle to protect his adoptive family from an unimagiable evil . . .

A young couple receives a wedding gift that will reveal a chilling alternate history of their marriage . . .

Beneath a bridge by the railroad tracks, a frightened little boy bargains for his life with a most persistent troll . . .

Such miraculous inventions and more await within Neil Gaiman's first collection of short fiction, a gift of wonder and delight from one of the most unique literary artists of our day. In his capable hands, magic is no mere illusion, but a powerful means to reveal the nature of our humanity obscured in the smoke of our fears and anxieties . . . and reflected in the funhouse mirrors of our dreams.

First line

Mrs. Whitaker found the Holy Grail; it was under a fur coat.

From the rear cover

In the deft hands of Neil Gaiman, magic is no mere illusion... and anything is possible. In this, Gaiman's first book of short stories, his imagination and supreme artistry transform a mundane world into a place of terrible wonders -- a place where an old woman can purchase the Holy Grail at a thrift store, where assassins advertise their services in the Yellow Pages under "Pest Control," and where a frightened young boy must barter for his life with a mean-spirited troll living beneath a bridge by the railroad tracks. Explore a new reality -- obscured by smoke and darkness, yet brilliantly tangible -- in this extraordinary collection of short works by a master prestidigitator. It will dazzle your senses, touch your heart, and haunt your dreams.

Details

  • Title Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions
  • Author Neil Gaiman
  • Binding Mass Market Paperbound
  • Edition Later Edition
  • Pages 368
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher William Morrow & Company, Dresden, Tennessee, U.S.A.
  • Publication date 2005-08-30
  • ISBN 9780380789023 / 0380789027
  • Weight 0.44 lbs (0.20 kg)
  • Dimensions 6.78 x 4.26 x 1.04 in (17.22 x 10.82 x 2.64 cm)
  • Themes
    • Demographic Orientation: Urban
  • Category Fiction - General
  • Library of Congress subjects Fantasy fiction, Horror fiction
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

Media reviews

Citations

  • Ingram Paperback Advance, 09/01/2005, Page 25
Back to top↑

More Copies for Sale

Show all copies
Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions
Stock photo: cover may vary

Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions

by Gaiman, Neil

  • Used
  • Good
Condition
Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780380789023 / 0380789027
Quantity available
1
Seller
Evergreen Goodwill
Item price
A$2.31
A$5.66 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
William Morrow Paperbacks, 8/30/2005 12:00:01 A. mass_market. Good. 1.0236 in x 6.6929 in x 4.1339 in.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$2.31
A$5.66 Delivery to USA
Smoke and Mirrors : Short Fictions and Illusions

Smoke and Mirrors : Short Fictions and Illusions

by Neil Gaiman

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780380789023 / 0380789027
Quantity available
1
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.07
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
HarperCollins Publishers, 2020. Mass Market Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.07
Free Delivery to USA
Smoke and Mirrors : Short Fictions and Illusions

Smoke and Mirrors : Short Fictions and Illusions

by Neil Gaiman

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780380789023 / 0380789027
Quantity available
1
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.07
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
HarperCollins Publishers, 2020. Mass Market Paperback. Like New. Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.07
Free Delivery to USA
Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions
Stock photo: cover may vary

Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions

by Gaiman, Neil

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780380789023 / 0380789027
Quantity available
1
Seller
BooksRun
Item price
A$9.70
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
William Morrow Paperbacks. Very Good. It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.70
Free Delivery to USA
Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions
Stock photo: cover may vary

Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions

by Gaiman, Neil

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780380789023 / 0380789027
Quantity available
2
Seller
BooksRun
Item price
A$9.74
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
William Morrow Paperbacks. Acceptable. The item might be beaten up but readable. May contain markings or highlighting, as well as stains, bent corners, or any other major defect, but the text is not obscured in any way.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.74
Free Delivery to USA
Smoke and Mirrors : Short Fictions and Illusions
Stock photo: cover may vary

Smoke and Mirrors : Short Fictions and Illusions

by Gaiman, Neil

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780380789023 / 0380789027
Quantity available
1
Seller
Better World Books
Item price
A$10.51
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
HarperCollins Publishers. Used - Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.51
Free Delivery to USA
Smoke and Mirrors : Short Fictions and Illusions
Stock photo: cover may vary

Smoke and Mirrors : Short Fictions and Illusions

by Gaiman, Neil

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780380789023 / 0380789027
Quantity available
1
Seller
Better World Books
Item price
A$10.51
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
HarperCollins Publishers. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.51
Free Delivery to USA
Smoke and Mirrors : Short Fictions and Illusions
Stock photo: cover may vary

Smoke and Mirrors : Short Fictions and Illusions

by Gaiman, Neil

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780380789023 / 0380789027
Quantity available
2
Seller
Better World Books
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$10.51
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
HarperCollins Publishers. Used - Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.51
Free Delivery to USA
Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions
Stock photo: cover may vary

Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions

by Gaiman, Neil

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780380789023 / 0380789027
Quantity available
2
Seller
BooksRun
Item price
A$10.71
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
William Morrow Paperbacks. Very Good. It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.71
Free Delivery to USA
Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions
Stock photo: cover may vary

Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions

by Gaiman, Neil

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780380789023 / 0380789027
Quantity available
1
Seller
Ergodebooks
Item price
A$11.48
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
William Morrow, 2005-08-30. mass_market. Used: Good. 4.19x0.92x6.75. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$11.48
Free Delivery to USA
Show all copies
Back to top↑

Please wait a moment while we load the requested page.