Everybody Has Somebody In Heaven
Essential Jewish Tales of the Spirit

For science fiction lovers - especially those who have followed the career of Avram Davidson - this is a special treat. Everybody Has Somebody In Heaven is a posthumous collection of the award-winning science-fiction writer's complete Jewish works. It includes some of his most famous short stories, such as "The Golem," and many of his short nonfiction pieces which shed light on the vicissitudes of his own life, as well as the lives of the people he describes. In addition to Davidson's work, there are biographical sketches about the author by science fiction editor Jack Dann and several other writers and editors who knew him well. This will probably become a collector's item for sci-fi fans.

Leslie Cohen
The Jerusalem Post
May 10, 2002

Nonpareil Fantasist Avram Davidson left our world - a world he magnified and enhanced with glimmering tales constructed according to his peculiar slant of intelligence and vision - in 1993. But since then, he's been well served by a host of loyal friends determined to keep his work alive. First came The Avram Davidson Treasury (1998), followed the same year by The Boss in the Wall, and shortly afterward by The Investigations of Avram Davidson (1999). Now we have the current book, subtitled Essential Jewish Tales of the Spirit, and edited by Jack Dann and Grania Davis. (And soon to come is another collection, The Other Nineteenth Century.) Not a bad legacy, and better than many other authors fare after their deaths.

The volume under discussion today is divided into several sections. First comes Davidson's early works: sketches, poems, and short stories printed from 1947 to the start of Davidson's fully professional career. Serving as a break at midpoint is a small symposium wherein fellow writers reminisce about Davidson. Next up: a selection of Davidson's mature work. Finally, to close: some previously unpublished gems found among Davidson's effects after his death.

Each item is perceptively introduced by one of the editors, or in the other cased by Davidson's son Ethan or by his literary custodian, Henry Wessells. These fact-filled paragraphs set everything firmly in historical and literary context. Additionally a biographical essay by Eileen Gunn rounds out the book.

Because Davidson's religion was so essential to his art, having a chance to read his apprentice work centering on Judaic topics is invaluable, offering insights into all his later work. These stories by a young man just finding his stride are themselves well crafted and entertaining, albeit not of the magnitude of later work, although the brief parable "The Fisherman … A Tashlich Legend" packs a certain punch. But the fully formed stories are just glorious. "The Golem," "Goslin Day," "Dr. Morris Goldpepper Returns," and "The Crown Jewels of Jerusalem" all exhibit the unique Davidson blend of erudition, goofiness, and pathos. And the brand-new finds tease with dreams of what might have been had Davidson lived longer.

Taken as a whole, this book is a crucial piece of Davidson monument still abuilding.

Realms of Fantasy
Ocotber 2, 2001

I Have Someone In Heaven And So Do You!

Do you ever get that tingly feeling between your shoulder blades? You know, the one that makes you feel like someone's watching you? Well guess what. Someone IS watching you. But it's not anyone here on Earth. According to the title of this book, it's someone up in heaven. Well, this doesn't have anything to do with the book except the title, but I thought it might give you a laugh.

Now read about the book and enjoy! In this collection of stories and poems written by Avram Davidson, you'll find laughter and tears, happiness and sadness within pages of one another. I found laughter even in the introductions! This book will give you something that you can pick up in whatever mood you're in.

Let's take for an example, the first story in this book, "The Golem". In the Table of Contents, written under "The Golem" is "Avram's Favorite Story". Now, I have to say, from what I've heard on golems before now, I was expecting something with a magician, lightning, fire, something scary. You know what I'm talking about of course. Well, that's not what I got at all! I got something that make me think of my visits to my Russian friends' homes, listening to their parents as we conversed in Hebrew and broken English. I laughed so hard at this story, my mom looked over at me with one of those "have-you-gone-mad?" looks. So I read her a paragraph and she started laughing too!

But now, you must be asking yourself, "Didn't she say she cried at parts too?" And the answer to that is "Yes" I did say that. And I DID cry. When I read the story "Dan Cohen" I cried, but I laughed too.

Avram Davidson's Everybody Has Somebody in Heaven is an incredible collection that is lots of fun to read, and something to pick up when you're in between books and just want something to page through. Or, if you're like some of my friends, you might pick it up and read straight through. As I look at the book in front of me now, I have to smile to myself, remembering things I've read in it, but I'm not going to tell you everything because then it'll ruin the book for you!

Suffice it to say, I enjoyed this book immensely, not just the short stories, or the introductions, but also the poetry that is so beautifully written. Even the cover is magnificently drawn with bright, fun colors, easy on the eye and something light for the heart when everything around you is going crazy. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did and keep it on your bookshelf along with all your other favorites and not hidden in the back with the books you don't plan on reading again! I give Avram Davidson's Everybody Has Somebody in Heaven four stars, but you might rate it differently. The only way to know is by reading the book! Have fun!

Rebekah James
Teen to Teen Website
January 8, 2003
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