Description:Awards
World Fantasy (nominee)
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature (nominee)This
is a homey fantasy, almost excessively so. Doughnuts, family tensions,
relatives who arrive in a Winnebago, Christmas decorations, business
worries, Uncle Henry's womanizing, and pyramid schemes wrap Walt
Stebbins in layers of detail and distraction. Walt runs a small catalog
business out of his garage, and he has no notion of a demonic presence
in his town until a package is mistakenly delivered to him. The contents
are not the inexpensive Chinese toys and novelties he deals in. The
nasty-looking pickled bluebird of happiness ("Best thing come to you.
Speak any wish.") piques Walt's interest, and he keeps it when he