Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Willis (Blackout/All Clear) works sweet, sentimental magic in this charming novella. Broadway star Claire Havilland realizes that her best youthful roles are behind her and being called a "legend" is career killing. Enter perky teen whirlwind Emily, an avid fan of Claire's with startlingly perfect recall for movie details. Claire wants nothing to do with Emily after realizing her true and potentially sinister nature, fearing that Emily, like the ruthless actress Eve Harrington in All About Eve, will replace Claire despite the girl's protests to the contrary. But eventually Claire succumbs to Emily's wide-eyed charm, and she decides to try to help Emily achieve her heart's greatest desire. This low-key paean to intergenerational collaboration and passionate ambition, stuffed with film and theater references, will appeal to Willis fans, drama buffs, and anyone who likes having their heartstrings tugged. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Emily is a public relations machine-literally. Her raison d'etre is to convince humans that androids are no threat to them or their jobs. Emily's visit to New York City's famous attractions is a success-until her human resemblance goes too far. She dreams of becoming a Rockette and enlists the help of aging actress Claire Haviland to overcome her physique, her creator, and the forces that would ban her from the stage. This slight and charming fable is saved from schmaltz because its self-aware protagonist, Claire, follows her heart yet remains cognizant of both her own motivations and the potential future pitfalls of her actions. Ultimately, the story, like Emily, exposes its own machinations, and both succeed all the better for it. Verdict Heavily larded with references to such classic films as All About Eve, Willis's (Blackout; All Clear) novella is likely to appeal to theater and classic movie buffs as well as sf fans and those who simply like a brief, heartwarming tale that's just bittersweet enough to believe in.-Meredith Schwartz, Library Journal (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
