- ISBN13: 9781892391964
- Condition: New
- Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Product Description
At turns whimsical, dark, and mystical, this extraordinary collection of retold fairy tales and new, modern myths redefine the boundaries of magic. Compiling favored stories suggested by the author and his fans, this delightful treasury contains the most esteemed and beloved selections that de Lint has to offer. Innovative characters in unexpected places are the key to each plot: playful Crow Girls who sneak into the homes of their sleeping neighbors; a graffiti artist who risks everything to expose a long-standing conspiracy; a half-human girl who must choose between her village and her strange birthright; and an unrepentant trickster who throws one last party to reveal a folkloric tradition. Showcasing some of the finest offerings within the realms of urban fantasy and magical realism, this essential compendium of timeless tales will charm and inspire.
Wulfstan @ 2:35 am
Charles de Lint writes Fantasy. Now when folks think “Fantasy” they think wizards, dragons, unicorns, knights, princesses and swordfights. But although Charles De Lint is one of the Masters of Modern Fantasy, there’s very little of that here. Certainly, there’s one short story with Merlin himself, and a few more with what could be considered wizards. There’s a dragon (sort of), a different sort of vampire tale and a swordfight. But most are more “Urban Fantasy”.
However, that tag is not quite right either. Most “Urban Fantasy” is dark and gritty or has vampires. And, although a number of the stories here are rather sad & melancholy, the over all tone is more lighthearted and whimsical- romantic without a lot of what today is considered “romance”, if you get what I mean.
In other words, Charles de Lint writes stories like no one else, stories which are hard to categorize. Many of the stories here are set in “Newford” a town reminiscent (to me, anyway) of Seattle or Vancouver.
Here’s a complete list, courtesy of the publisher:
In Which We Meet Jilly Coppercorn
Coyote Stories
Laughter in the Leaves
The Badger in the Bag
And the Rafters Were Ringing
Merlin Dreams in the Mondream Wood
The Stone Drum
Timeskip
Freewheeling
A Wish Named Arnold
Into the Green
The Graceless Child
Winter Was Hard
The Conjure Man
We Are Dead Together
Mr. Truepenny’s Book Emporium and Gallery
In the House of My Enemy
The Moon Is Drowning While I Sleep
Crow Girls
Birds
Held Safe by Moonlight and Vines
In the Pines
Pixel Pixies
Many Worlds Are Born Tonight
Sisters
Pal o’ Mine
That Was Radio Clash
Old Man Crow
The Fields Beyond the Fields
All of these were previously published, but many in limited edition “chapbooks”. So unless you’re a super Charles de Lint completist (in which case you’re going to buy this anyway), quite a few will be new to you, and others will be old friends.
My personal favorite is Mr. Truepenny’s Book Emporium and Gallery.
Now one line that appears often in book reviews is a warning for new readers- “Don’t buy this book first- start reading with ….”. But I am going to say just the exact opposite- if you are new to Charles de Lint, this book is an ideal place to get to know this fine fantasy author.
Dana @ 5:33 am
And here I thought I had read everything by Charles DeLint. Fabulous stories that were new to me and what a great idea and way to show that you appreciate your readers by allowing them to determine what will be in the book. Must have for C. DeLint fans!