“William Browning Spencer is one of those rare short story writers who comes along once in a generation—like Saki, Collier, Sheckley—and manages to combine all of the virtues within that restricted format. While they often turn on points of quirky characterization, his plots twist like snakes, with a final flick of the tail to startle, amuse, or touch the reader in some secret place. He may well be the short story writer of the 90s.”

“Every so often a book comes along that deserves to be an instant classic, and this fourth book by William Spencer leaps immediately into that company.”

“A work of great originality and charm from a brilliant writer of fantasy who’s also a very considerable serious novelist.”

“Spencer’s vigorous use of language and strong characterizations contribute to an intriguing story.”

“The word bittersweet was invented to describe Maybe I’ll Call Anna. The story and writing are as bewitching as Anna herself. One of the dozen best fiction titles published in 1990.”

“Spencer’s second story collection is a slim but extraordinary volume of strange and haunting tales beautifully told. Spencer’s stories are scintillating creations, disturbing and beautiful, and his introduction about the perils of being a short story writer is an illuminating diversion, too.”