Cigar-Box Faust and Other Miniatures

Featuring over 70 stories packed into fewer than 100 pages, this collection showcases Michael Swanwick's inventive storytelling. The title piece creatively condenses a classic Western tale, reimagining characters and themes with whimsical elements like a cigar-cutter as Mephistopheles. Each letter of the alphabet and every planet in the solar system inspires unique narratives, alongside alternate autobiographies and a concise novella exploring decadence and corporate politics in a futuristic Venice. The stories blend humor, chills, and imaginative twists, making for a captivating read.