THIRD ANNUAL BEST FANTASY STORIES OF THE YEAR

This fine selection of magical stories, generally upbeat in tone, invites reading aloud. The readers serve them up with unobtrusive virtuosity which keeps the listener's attention on the story rather than the performance. In particular, both are capable of narrating in an assumed dialect and making it sound natural. Terms like "fantasy" or "magical" may suggest Disney's Aladdin. Not so. These stories have seriousness of purpose, discipline, charm and intelligence. They're a fine introduction to the genre. J.N. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: NOV 93]