Across the Wall is Nix’s first short-story anthology. Engagingly eclectic, it highlights Nix’s talents in areas that many might not expect.

The star entry is a novella, “Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case” (previously published alone, in 2005, as a limited release titled simply “The Creature in the Case”) which is set in the same world as the Abhorsen books, and follows them closely, chronologically. Less dramatic in scope than the previous entries in the series, the novella finds Nicholas (who will be familiar to readers of the trilogy) in his homeland, Ancelstierre, a parallel-world version of Britain. However, he is eager to somehow once again get ‘across the wall’, to the Old Kingdom, where the main power is that of magic, and rejoin his friends, who are doubtless caught up in weighty and exciting events. However, when his uncle drops him off for a weekend party at a wealthy eccentric’s manor, little does he guess he will be caught up in a necromantic plot...

“Under the Lake” and “Heart’s Desire” are both stories influenced by the Arthurian legend. Although Nix professes to rather dislike Arthurian fiction, he admits that he finds himself in an “odd position” having not one but two such stories in this volume. “Under the Lake” gives us a new (and rather menacing) insight into the motivations of the Lady of the Lake, while “Heart’s Desire” explores the relationship between Merlin, Nimue, and their magic.

“Charlie Rabbit” is a non-fantasy story, which was written to benefit the WarChild charity, which exists to aid children affected by war. It brings the plight of two young brothers trapped int he rubble of their bombed-out home vividly and emotionally to life.

“From the Lighthouse” is a morbidly funny science-fiction tale that could easily have taken place on our world as well. An egotistical entrepreneur arrives at an isolated island, bent on convincing the inhabitants that he has bought their land and is now their ruler. He would be laughable – if he weren’t potentially so genuinely dangerous to the islanders’ quiet, peaceful way of life. But a resourceful woman takes the situation in hand. Similar themes are dealt with in “The Hill,” where a boy teams up with his grandfather to stop his father from selling their ancient, unspoiled land to a ruthless developer.

“Lightning Bringer” falls more into the horror genre, with an evil biker who seduces and kills beautiful young women with a strange electric power and charisma. But a young man learns that power is not always evil, especially when paired with love...

“Down to the Scum Quarter” is a spoof of the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books that were popular in the 80s. As such, it’s quite funny... though if you “play the game” without cheating, you’ll miss some of the funniest bits.

“Hansel’s Eyes,” as one might guess from the title, is a re-telling of “Hansel and Gretel.” It was originally published in Terri Windlings excellent YA anthology of re-told fairytales, “A Wolf At the Door,” and was one of the best entries into that book. Much creepier and more disturbing than the original Hansel and Gretyl! In a contemporary (or futuristic) setting, a stepmother and her weak-willed husband try increasingly more drastic ways to be rid of his children from a previous marriage. Hansel and Gretyl are resourceful, but eventually they are kidnapped by a witch who lures them into a videogame store, then locks them in the basement to try to corrupt Gretyl and prepare Hansel for illegal organ transplants...

“Hope Chest” was also originally published in another excellent anthology, “Firebirds,” edited by Sharyn November. In a parallel-world Western setting, it features a foundling girl who grows up to become a mystical gunslinger who, in a bloody shootout, protects her people from fascist collaborators. A very dark piece with obvious references to Naziism, and how totalitarianism can make ordinary people “slaves to some awful and insidious poison that changed their very natures and made them capable of committing... dreadful crimes.”

“My New Really Epic Fantasy Series” purports to be an essay introducing the author’s upcoming works. In actuality, it pokes gentle fun at several currently popular authors and trends in the fantasy field. Brief, but amusing.

“Three Roses” is a brief, but memorable fairy tale in the classic vein. Beautiful and emotional, it tells the story of a gardener who plants roses in memory of this late wife – and the king who repeatedly lays claim to them.

The last story, appropriately titled “Endings” is also an allegorical-type, brief and classic story, this time in the vampire sub-genre.

Overall, an entertaining and inspired anthology, diverse enough that many readers will take something memorable away with them from this book.