Fantasmas: Supernatural Stories by Mexican American Writers
These two works are similar in origin but different in genre.  Bierhorst's features over 100 stories in a more traditional  style from Mexico, Central America, the American Southwest, and  South America. Many read like traditional European fairy tales,  which should not be surprising since they reflect a strong  Spanish Colonial influence, even though they have sprouted from  the seedbed of indigenous folklore. The first part of this book  contains Aztec and Inca legends but not very ancient ones; most  date from the time just prior to or during the Conquest. The  second part of the book features dynamic tales reflecting all  short story or folktale genres: comic, anecdotal, moral, heroic,  and religious. The tales are short and pithy and often pack a  surprise punch line, making for extremely interesting reading.  Fantasmas is a collection of stories by 19 well-known or  emerging Mexican American writers whose inspirations seep from  the cuento de fantasmas literally "ghost stories" but more a  unique blend of folklore and faith, superstition and the  supernatural. These tales and urban legends are modern, with a  nod make that a bow to current pop culture's fascination with  horror and the paranormal. They run the gamut from the grotesque  ("Cantinflas," "Lilith's Dance") to those displaying gracia,  that elusive, heart-lightening quality that divides art from  craft ("Beyond Eternity," "Michelle's Miracle"). Still others,  such as "The Gift," would make excellent X-Files material,  although a strong moral is attached. Fascinating but disturbing,  these tales may reflect the authors' need to purge themselves of  personal or cultural fears. Public library patrons will enjoy  the richness of the folktales and the sheer thrills transmitted  by the fantasmas. And academic library patrons will have  materials for cultural and ethnic studies now compiled into two  convenient anthologies. Recommended for both types of  libraries. Nedra C. Evers, Sacramento P.L.Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.