"...they called me the Woman of Smoke and Snow..."

"I barely braced myself in time against the jolt as we screeched to a stop centimetres away from the hapless fellow."

Horror attends the premier of the new color film by Chimère Studios. The eyes of the audience begin to bleed almost as soon as the film begins, and later the projectionist is found dead. The director suspects sabotage by her rivals, but Professor Tremaine Voss and Inspector Carmouche fear the problem may lie somewhere in the film itself, the camera or the projector...Another arcane mystery in an appealingly mannered setting which evokes France of the Belle Époque, powered by alchemy. Color in films has just been introduced, but the alchemists can't yet find a way to reproduce sounds. Voss is an adequate logical detective... - Lois Tilton, Locus Online

...an imaginative medley of steampunk, fantasy and Victorian mystery...the tale is ultimately a whodunnit, but this time with elements of 'adventure' stories from a bygone colonial era - a touch of grue; a final confrontation with a villain that requires quick wit and dexterity from the hero. The tale follows Professor Voss, whose night out to a showing of a reputed trilogy of colour films (a new invention in this world) takes a turn for the worse when he discovers that patrons are starting to bleed from the eyes. We are quickly immersed in a search for the answers behind this ominous crisis...Pi uses the fantastical elements of his world shrewdly and not gratuitously, creating a mystery that could only be created and solved in the specific world that he sets up so meticulously. The use of cinema, and the exploration of the medium's 'magical' powers of mimicry and glamour, is integral and interesting. The tale is faithful to the anachronistic literary style of its Victorian inspirations, making the dialogue sound stilted and odd to modern ears. This takes some getting used to, because of its affectations. However, it doesn't take long to settle into the rhythm. The characterizations are slight and quick, but serve their purpose, and the facets that make up the riddle that is to be answered at the end are complex and fantastic enough to be thoroughly rewarding, not to mention entertaining. Pi also uses real mythology and history to great effect, but weaves in entirely original aspects too, bringing together a compelling world in the mind's eye. - Indrapramit Das, Tangent Online

"You want to win her heart, Lun?"

"Ao is a candyman, a sort of magician-artist who creates figures out of liquid sugar like a glass-blower. He can also animate them. He has just set up business in the town of Chengdu during the lantern festival when a jealous sorcerer creates a fire monkey to burn down the shop of a girl who has spurned his attentions. Ao's heroic effort to quench the flames makes a rousing story, and the candy-magic is a neat trick." -- Lois Tilton, Locus Online

First thing first, Tony Pi's "A Sweet Calling" published in the May issue of Clarkesworld Magazine is an awesome story. The writing is at once taut and lyrical, the action is beautifully paced, the world building is deft, sure and subtle, everything the story sets up pays off and to top it off, there's a lovely little twist at the end. If not merely for the sheer enjoyment, everyone should read this story to learn How To Tell A Story. Again, Clarkesworld proves itself to be a venue for some of the best speculative fiction being published today. - prusik

"What do you say, Fowler? Shall we show them a true manticore?"

"Pi tells a marvelous story here that I enjoyed thoroughly." -- Sam Tomaino, SFRevu

"Tony Pi spins an engrossing Scientific and Magical Adventure that will amaze fans of history, thrillers, and fantasy stories alike. He expertly weaves the mythical creatures of Egypt and Greece with Alchemy, Magic, and Paleontology to produce characters and a world that the reader can easily and fully envision. Even more compelling than his world is his characters. Each character has their own feelings and mannerisms that come through regardless if they are a main character or a supporting character that plays a single role in the story. Night of the Manticore is a short story that will expand your imagination and bring up hidden dreams from your childhood, when you thought Sphinxes and Chimeras had really existed and roamed the ancient world. I highly suggest you head over to Abyss & Apex and read it today." -- Matthew Denton, Novel Musings

My favorite stories this year [from Abyss & Apex] included, from the first quarter, Tony Pi's "Night of the Manticore", one of his enjoyable alternate-history-fantasy stories set in Lyonesse, this one about a resurrected manticore running amok. - Rich Horton, Year End Summaries 2010