School Library Journal Starred Review (Tue May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

This compendium of 18 short stories pit robots against fairies in order to determine which are the supreme beings in the universe. The supporters of Team Robot and Team Fairy ensure that whichever species becomes the new overlords, humans will have the means to understand how to best relate to them through this humorously styled guidebook. There is a retelling of Pinocchio and the Pied Piper, a hilarious conversation among three robots, and more. The anthology comes together well, using clever wordplay and balancing humor with tragedy, and the sinister with the silly, while delighting readers, who must ultimately decide to be on Team Robot or Team Fairy. Particular standouts include John Scalzi's, Seanan McGuire's, and Kat Howard's contributions. VERDICT A fabulous addition to short story collections. Kristen Rademacher, Marist High School, Chicago

ALA Booklist

Will our future overlords be magical or mechanical? These 18 imaginative authors seek to answer this tantalizing question by cleverly pitting stunning and terrifying robots against ethereal and ferocious fairies. Each tale has its own unexpected twist, and readers will cheerfully switch allegiances throughout these epic battles as science shows its mysterious side, and magic becomes logical. "Build Me a Wonderland," by Seanan McGuire, humorously brings immortal fairies into conflict with amusement-park marketing ploys; Jonathan Maberry's "Ironheart" explores both the horror and amazement of human-cyborg transplants; and "Ostentation of Peacocks," by Delilah S. Dawson, catapults fey magic into a Wild West gamble for dark survival. The stories range from hilarious to spine-tingling, and each one has its own enchanting qualities. The authors portray the future as either a supernatural or technological wonder but still filled with very human desires, hopes, and failings. This is a cinematic and well-paced collection and will please both science-fiction and fantasy readers with its variety. Team Robot or Team Fairy? Definitely both.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Distinguished authors take sides in battles between robots and fairies by crafting serious (and seriously weird) reflections on whether magical or mechanical might would prove the stronger. In -Build Me a Wonderland,- Seanan McGuire envisions a Disney-styled playland where fae folk infiltrate and eliminate animatronic illusions to make a place where they can survive the coming climate apocalypse. Ken Liu creatively takes on big cities, rats, and unforeseen consequences in -Quality Time.- Madeline Ashby-s -Work Shadow/Shadow Work- is a poignant take on dealing with elders- need for assistance as they become forgetful. Sarah Gailey-s -Bread and Milk and Salt- is a horrific rumination on the true natures of robots, fairies, and humans. Editors Parisien and Wolfe (The Starlit Wood) have cannily chosen a variety of stories that offer individual, distinctive insights into both living machines and magical creatures, along with glimpses of how humans might react to their face-off. (Jan.)