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An evil talisman travels through time, preying on the weak and vulnerable, granting them their every wish - for a price paid in blood.

It’s not a new idea, but the anthology The Artifact does a good job of modernizing the theme.

For the most part, the stories work backward, from the time an archeological team discovers an ancient burial ground for a woman revered in historical texts from the planet Ekauw. But what they discover defies everything they have learned, and a powerful force gleefully turns the site into a bloody massacre.

What causes the team members to turn against each other? A shiny pyramid with ancient carvings on each side and an all-seeing eye that seeks out a weak and vulnerable person it can entice with every desire imaginable - desires that eventually turn against the holder.

The next eight stories follow the same theme - one that has been espoused in literature and films like The Lord of the Rings, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and recently on the cable hit Supernatural, when a magical well grants wishes that quickly turn sour.

Each story drops more hints and clues about the object the the destruction is has left in its wake. They also show how desperate people fall right into the pyramid’s wicked grasp, and how others do what they can to avoid catastrophic consequences. The object never dies; if anything, its hunger to devour man grows with every new planet discovered. The anthology’s final story takes readers back to the future which could change if the efforts of two brave ancient men succeed.

The Artifact is well-written, with a cohesiveness not always seen in themed anthologies with several different authors. There is a certain symbiosis with the stories, which offer excellent tidbits about the evil talisman. However, it doesn’t really offer anything new or unique to the theme.

In March 2008, the nine authors - who met during a script-writing contest - decided to write a novel based on an an idea by Eugene Ramos, the author who starts the series with “The Numbers Don’t Lie.” The authors used email and chat rooms to write, edit, rewrite and rewrite more. They have never met in person, which makes this a feat of literary talent and amazing use of 21st century technology.

This 246-page anthology is worth a look for readers who like a little science fiction, creep and mystery woven through their stories. It would make a great stocking stuffer for the reader on your Christmas list.

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