The Graphic Classics series has released a second edition of its Ambrose Bierce volume with significant updates. Bierce was a Civil War veteran, short story writer, journalist, and satirist whose most famous work, The Devil's Dictionary, is filled with humorous, sharp-tongued definitions and sardonic scraps of wisdom. The mandate of this edition is similar to others in the series (Edgar Allan Poe, 2006; Mark Twain, 2007): enlist both rookie and seasoned illustrators to adapt a selection of a classic author's short stories for both adults and teens. This edition succeeds on many levels, providing awesome illustrations as well as a fabulous introduction to the strange, satirical, and horrific writings of an almost forgotten American author. Ambrose Bierce stands out as one of the best titles in an already strong series, sure to appeal to readers looking for insight into a most unusual mind.

Adult/High School-In these volumes, works by Bierce and London are illustrated by various artists, including "Classics Illustrated" vets Gahan Wilson and Rick Geary. Bierce retells, gleefully and morbidly, significant portions of the author's cynical, epigrammatic oeuvre, including "The Devil's Dictionary" and "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." London offers readers a chance to examine some of the author's lesser-known works, and fans will be fascinated to see his themes-the great outdoors, the icy north, social injustice-woven into these Twilight Zone-esque tales. As an enlightening record of an author and his work, this is the more interesting of the two, although the stories are formulaic, often ending in a macabre twist. In "Just Meat," two thieves poison one another in a dispute over their loot; in "The Leopard Man's Story," a lion tamer's enemy finally gets the best of him, etc. In both books, the sheer variety of artistic styles, all in black and white, is both a strength and weakness. While the diversity of techniques is intriguing, individual tastes will draw readers to some stories more than to others. Older readers may enjoy the black humor and wit of these books; their violence (however comical), un-PC views, and severely pessimistic nature will limit their appeal with younger readers.-Douglas P. Davey, Guelph Public Library, Ontario, Canada Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.