CHICKS KICK BUTT

Chicks are awesome, declares editor Caine in her introduction to this anthology of 13 original stories in the supernatural/urban fantasy mode.

Some of the contributions read less like short stories and more like excerpts from longer works in progress: Susan Krinard's tale of a world where the Norse gods and villains, banished after Ragnarök, return to wreak havoc; Nancy Holder's promising but tantalizing tale of the Great Hunt and the secret society that defends against it; and Elizabeth A. Vaughan's violent and rather abrupt sword and sorcery tale. Others are additions to previously established series: Rachel Caine's tale of a Weather Warden, her Djinn lover and a brash newcomer teaming up to foil terrorists; a Night Tracker yarn from Cheyenne McCray; and a Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator story from Carole Nelson Douglas. Also on the agenda: Karen Chance's half vampire, half human "dhampir" tackles Chinese gangsters; Rachel Vincent's inexperienced young werecat fights off some bigoted hunters; Lilith Saintcrow's vampire on a mission pausing to rescue a tortured werewolf; in 1937, P.N. Elrod's nightclub dancer with a vampire boyfriend outwits an ancient predatory vampire; in Jenna Black's unusual world, white-hat demons possess humans to their mutual fun and profit, while defeating religious-fanatic extremists intent on burning the possessed alive; Jeanne C. Stein's chief vampire must battle the creatures of her past; and L.A. Banks' vampire power struggle. These chicks kick butt indeed, though one could have wished for more subtlety, and only Black's yarn shows any signs of true originality.

Generally flat, possibly reflecting overly narrow editorial requirements.