Click on image to enlarge.

Category: Science Fiction
Description: What's worse than stealing money or jewelry? Stealing dreams. And now Mike Resnick's beloved fantasy detective, John Justin Mallory, the star of Stalking the Unicorn and a number of novelettes, has to solve the theft in a Manhattan that you can almost see out of the corner of your eye.
eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, 2002 Black Gate #3
Fictionwise Release Date: October 2003

65 Reader Ratings:

Great	Good	OK	Poor

Words: 8136
Reading time: 23-32 min.

"'The Chinese Sandman' by Mike Resnick features the return of detective John Justin Mallory, who first appeared in Resnick's novel Stalking the Unicorn. When Mallory's partner Winnifred reveals that she regrets having traded a cherished memory to the Chinese Sandman, who deals in dreams and won't give it back, Mallory takes along the catlike Felina and sets off to enlist the aid of his arch-nemesis, a demon named the Grundy. This light piece is a nonstop avalanche of quips, puns, comebacks, one-liners, and groaners. "I'm not afraid of detectives," a troll tells Mallory. "I'll be busy disemboweling you with my axe while my comrades are turning your pet [Felina] into a tennis racket." "I don't think they string rackets with catgut anymore," says Mallory. The troll replies, "They do at the Grundy's castle." Mallory is a detective in the Sam Spade mode--unperturbable, and so impressive that even his enemies fawn over him. Thus he is able to team up with the Grundy and turn the tables on the Chinese Sandman. Fans of this type of humor will enjoy the story the most."--Dave Kirtley, Tangent Online (Learn more about Tangent Online, the Internet's leading SF&F short fiction review website)

Mallory put the final thumbtack into his Playmate centerspread, then stood back to admire it as it hung above his desk in all its pneumatic glory.

"Just what the Mallory & Carruthers Detective Agency needed to make me feel at home," he said at last.

"I wish you wouldn't do that, John Justin," said his partner, turning her head away in distaste.

"And I wish you wouldn't keep drawing underwear on them with your magic marker every month," replied Mallory. "We each have to learn to live with disappointment."

"It's indecent," snorted Winnifred Carruthers.

Mallory stared at the centerspread. "You know," he remarked, "I don't think it's silicon at all."

"Certainly it is," said Winnifred.

He shook his head. "Nope. I think it's helium."

He waited for her to smile at his joke. When no smile was forthcoming, he sat down at the desk and picked up a Racing Form.

"I see Flyaway is running again today," he noted.

"How many has he lost now?" asked Winnifred. "Something like 40 in a row?"