Wonders of the Invisible World
by Patricia A. McKillip
Pass through fairy tales into the magic of invisible worlds
in these opulent stories by a beloved fantasy icon and author of the classic
Riddlemaster trilogy. Patricia McKillip has inspired generations of dedicated
readers with enchanting tales that are as romantic as they are unexpected. Her
lush, mesmerizing narratives are as deliciously bittersweet as the finest
chocolate and as intoxicating as the finest wine.
The bewitching wonders offered here include princesses dancing with dead
suitors, a knight in love with an official of exotic lineage, and fortune’s
fool stealing into the present instead of the future. You’ll discover a
ravishing undine and her mortal bridegroom who is more infatuated with politics
than pleasure, a time-traveling angel forbidden to intervene in Cotton Mather’s
religious ravings, a wizard seduced in his youth by the Faerie Queen returning
with a treasure that is rightfully hers, and an overachieving teenage mage
tricked into discovering her true name very close to home. – Amazon.
Kingfisher by Patricia A. McKillip
Hidden away from the world by his mother, the powerful
sorceress Heloise Oliver, Pierce has grown up working in her restaurant in
Desolation Point. One day, unexpectedly, strangers pass through town on the way
to the legendary capital city. “Look for us,” they tell Pierce, “if you come to
Severluna. You might find a place for yourself in King Arden’s court.”
Lured by a future far away from the bleak northern coast, Pierce makes his
choice. Heloise, bereft and furious, tells her son the truth: about his father,
a knight in King Arden’s court; about an older brother he never knew existed;
about his father’s destructive love for King Arden’s queen, and Heloise’s
decision to raise her younger son alone.
As Pierce journeys to Severluna, his path twists and turns through other lives
and mysteries: an inn where ancient rites are celebrated, though no one will
speak of them; a legendary local chef whose delicacies leave diners slowly
withering from hunger; his mysterious wife, who steals Pierce’s heart; a young
woman whose need to escape is even greater than Pierce’s; and finally, in
Severluna, King Arden's youngest son, who is urged by strange and lovely forces
to sacrifice his father’s kingdom.
Things are changing in that kingdom. Oldmagic is on the rise. The immensely
powerful artifact of an ancient god has come to light, and the king is
gathering his knights to quest for this profound mystery, which may restore the
kingdom to its former glory—or destroy it... – Amazon.
Dreams of Distant Shores by
Patricia A. McKillip
Featuring three brand-new stories and an original
introduction by Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn.
Bestselling author Patricia A. McKillip (The Riddle-Master of Hed) is
one of the most lyrical writers gracing the fantasy genre. With the debut of
her newest work, Dreams of Distant Shores is a true ode to her
many talents. Within these pages you will find a youthful artist possessed by
both his painting and his muse and seductive travelers from the sea enrapturing
distant lovers. The statue of a mermaid comes suddenly to life, and two friends
are transfixed by a haunted estate.
Fans of McKillip’s ethereal fiction will find much to delight them; those lucky
enough to be discovering her work will find much to enchant them. – Amazon.
Offering the Bicentennial Edition of The Complete TWELVE
HOURS OF THE NIGHT, James P. Blaylock and Tim Powers
Eleanor Cameron: Dimensions of Amazement by Paul V. Allen, Gregory Maguire
Eleanor Cameron (1912-1996) was an innovative and
genre-defying author of children's fiction and children's literature criticism.
From her beginnings as a librarian, Cameron went on to become a prominent and
respected voice in children's literature, writing one of the most beloved
children's science fiction novels of all time, The Wonderful Flight to
the Mushroom Planet, and later winning the National Book Award for her time
fantasy The Court of the Stone Children.
In addition, Eleanor Cameron played an often vocal role in critical debates
about children's literature. She was one of the first authors to take up
literary criticism of children's novels and published two influential books of
criticism, including The Green and Burning Tree. One of Cameron's
most notable acts of criticism came in 1973, when she wrote a scathing critique
of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Dahl responded
in kind, and the result was a fiery imbroglio within the pages of the Horn
Book Magazine. Yet despite her many accomplishments, most of Cameron's
books went out of print by the end of her life, and her star faded.
This biography aims to reinsert Cameron into the conversation by taking an
in-depth look at her tumultuous early life in Ohio and California, her
unforgettably forceful personality and criticism, and her graceful, heartfelt
novels. The biography includes detailed analysis of the creative process behind
each of her published works and how Cameron's feminism, environmentalism, and
strong sense of ethics are reflected in and represented by her writings. Drawn
from over twenty interviews, thousands of letters, and several unpublished
manuscripts in her personal papers, Eleanor Cameron is a tour
of the most exciting and creative periods of American children's literature
through the experience of one of its valiant purveyors and champions. – Amazon.
Listening for Madeleine: A Portrait
of Madeleine L'Engle in Many Voices by Leonard S. Marcus
Writer. Matriarch. Mentor. Friend. Icon.
Madeleine L'Engle is perhaps best recognized as the author of A Wrinkle
in Time, the enduring milestone work of fantasy fiction that won the 1963
John Newbery Medal for excellence in children's literature and has enthralled
millions of readers for the past fifty years. But to those who knew her well,
L'Engle was much more besides: a larger-than-life persona, an inspiring mentor,
a strong-willed matriarch, a spiritual guide, and a rare friend. In Listening
for Madeleine, the renowned literary historian and biographer Leonard S.
Marcus reveals Madeleine L'Engle in all her complexity, through a series of
incisive interviews with the people who knew her most intimately. Vivid
reminiscences of family members, colleagues, and friends create a kaleidoscope
of keen insights and snapshop moments that help readers to understand the many
sides of this singularly fascinating woman. – Amazon.
Becoming Madeleine: A Biography of
the Author of A Wrinkle in Time by Her Granddaughters by Charlotte Jones Voiklis, Léna Roy
This middle-grade biography explores the life and works of
Madeleine L'Engle ―written by her granddaughters.
This elegant and insightful biography of Madeleine L’Engle
(1918–2007) was written by her granddaughters, Charlotte Jones Voiklis and Léna
Roy. Using never-before-seen archival materials that include photographs,
poems, letters, and journal entries from when Madeleine was a child until just
after the publication of her classic, A Wrinkle in Time, her
granddaughters weave together an in-depth and unique view of the famous writer.
It is a story of overcoming obstacles―a lonely childhood, financial insecurity,
and countless rejections of her writing―and eventual triumph. Becoming
Madeleine will speak not only to fans of the icon’s work, but also to
anyone interested in writing. – Amazon.
Lin Carter: A Look Behind His Imaginary
Worlds by Robert M. Price
Written by Robert Price, who knew Lin Carter well &
represents his literary estate, it's a solid & honest look at Carter as a
writer & editor: his strengths, his weaknesses, his approach to fantasy
& horror.
It's no secret to those who remember his books that Carter was an often hasty
but enthusiastic writer of pastiche. His Thongor is Conan with a dash of Edgar
Rice Burroughs tossed in; his Callisto & Green Star series are planetary
romances in the vein of Burroughs & his imitators: his Gondwane owes its
existence to Zothique, the Dying Earth, and the madcap inventiveness of the Oz
books. And while the best of those are enjoyable reading, the equivalent of
good diner food, far too much of it falls short of the masters who inspired it.
The headlong zest & slapdash energy that made his earliest books fun
disappears once the 1970s begin, and he starts to add comic, even satiric
touches to his work. Alas, he just didn't have the delicate touch for that, and
no-one could convince him otherwise. A pity, as there are at least some short
stories & standalone novels to show the potential for becoming a far better
writer than he chose to be.
His real contribution to fantasy, of course, was his editorship of the
Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series. He single-handedly brought the founding
fathers of fantasy back to life: William Morris, Lord Dunsany, James Branch
Cabell, and other luminaries whose stars had faded over time. For many, it was
their first paperback appearance ever. And the countless young readers of
Tolkien clamoring for more (like myself) snapped up each new volume as it
appeared in bookstores & on spinner racks everywhere. Graced with gorgeous
wraparound covers & glowing introductions by Carter, those books inspired
the first new generation of fantasy writers. Their impact is still being felt
today.
As I say, Price lays all of this out as honestly & clearly as possible.
He's scathing when he needs to be, but also generous where Carter's uneven
gifts shine through. I still have a great deal of appreciation for what he did
as an editor, and a certain lingering affection for the best of his own work. I
do hope that this book is reprinted, or made available online, preferably in an
expanded edition. Lin Carter deserves to be remembered by all fans of modern
fantasy. – Tim Lukeman.
The Gargoyle in the Dump by John Bellairs
From the award-winning author of The Face in the
Frost comes the story of three brothers who rescue a talking gargoyle
from their neighborhood junkyard.
Michael, David, and Alphonsus Jr. (aka Fonsy) are spending the summer trying to
blow up the town dock and playing marathon Monopoly games. On the brink of
death-by-boredom, they head to the local dump in search of treasures—such as
oil cans that Michael can use to build a submarine. But what they find is far
from garbage.
Staring out at them, between two black stovepipes, is the head of a grinning
stone gargoyle with shifty eyes and a long snout. He demands that the brothers
take him home to live with them, so the boys wrap him in blankets and cart him
back in a wagon. At the house, the gargoyle regales them with vivid tales of
his exploits in faraway times and places. He even comes up with endlessly inventive
ways of terrorizing the boys’ irritatingly dull neighbors. Finally, this
is a summer worth writing home about.
The Gargoyle in the Dump is a recently discovered,
never-before-published story. Also included are two pages of the author’s original
typed manuscript and an introduction from his long-time literary agent, Richard
Curtis. – Amazon.
Deep
Secret by Diana Wynne Jones
Rupert Venables is a Magid.
It's a Magid's job to oversee what goes on in the vast
Multiverse. Actually, Rupert is really only a junior Magid. But he's got a
king-sized problem. Rupert's territory includes Earth and the Empire of Korfyros.
When his mentor dies Rupert must find a replacement. But there are hundreds of
candidates. How is he supposed to choose? And interviewing each one could take
forever.
Unless...
What if he could round them all up in one place?
Simple! – Amazon.
Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana
Wynne Jones
Mr. Chesney operates Pilgrim Parties, a tour group that takes
paying participants into an outer realm where the inhabitants play frightening
and foreboding roles. The time has come to end the staged madness . . . but can
it really be stopped? Master storyteller Diana Wynne Jones serves up twists and
turns, introduces Querida, Derk, Blade, and Shona and a remarkable cast of
wizards, soldiers, kings, dragons, and griffins, and mixes in a lively dash of
humor. With all the ingredients of high fantasy, this unforgettable novel will
delight fans old and new. – Amazon.
Year of the Griffin by Diana
Wynne Jones
The Year of the Griffin is the sequel to the Dark Lord of
Derkholm, set in the same world several years after the abolition of commercial
'fantasy world' tourism from our world. The University now aims to produce
competent wizards to repair the damage caused by the tours. It's broke, and out
of date in terms of what it teaches. The new head, Wizard Corkoran, is obsessed
with becoming the first man to visit the moon so is mostly preoccupied, and the
new faculty is mostly inexperienced.Wizard Corkoran has selected children from
wealthy families to fill his own first-year classes, hoping to beg for money.
But his students turn out to be more than he expected in oh-so-many ways, and
despite the incompetence of their teacher, it falls to them to save the
university... and themselves... – Amazon.
Witch's
Business by Diana Wynne Jones
When Jess and Frank's father stops their allowance for four
months, desperate measures are necessary. Jess's friends expect her to pay her
share for things, of course, and, worse, Frank owes money to the bully Buster
Knell. So they decide to start a business. They make a sign:
OWN BACK LTD.
REVENGE ARRANGED.
PRICE ACCORDING TO TASK.
ALL DIFFICULT FEATS UNDERTAKEN.
TREASURE HUNTED, ETC.
At first the only response they get is from adults who laugh
at them. But before long they find themselves working for their first customer
-- Buster Knell, of all people. One thing leads to another leads to another,
and soon their business has whirled out of control in ways they never could
have imagined. What's more, the local witch, Biddy Iremonger, sees Own Back
Ltd. as competition to her business, and when Biddy is angry, there's no end to
the trouble she'll cause. . . .
Witch's Business, Diana Wynne Jones's first novel, has all the humor,
action, inventiveness, and surprises that have established her reputation as
one of the finest fantasy writers. – Amazon.
Fire
and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones, Garth Nix
Polly Whittacker has
two sets of memories. In the first, things are boringly normal; in the second,
her life is entangled with the mysterious, complicated cellist Thomas Lynn. One
day, the second set of memories overpowers the first, and Polly knows something
is very wrong. Someone has been trying to make her forget Tom - whose life, she
realizes, is at supernatural risk. Fire and Hemlock is a
fantasy filled with sorcery and intrigue, magic and mystery - and a most
unusual and satisfying love story.
Widely considered to be one of Diana Wynne Jones's best novels, the Firebird
edition of Fire and Hemlock features an introduction by the
acclaimed Garth Nix - and an essay about the writing of the book by Jones
herself. – Amazon.
A Book of Dwarfs, and A Book of Wizards, Edited by Ruth
Manning-Sanders. Illustrations by Robin Jacques.
Collections of stories about wizards and dwarfs, two of my
favorite fairy tale folks. The covers are photos of three-dimensional models by
Brian Froud. I have these mostly for the illustrations, which are all very
good. Manning-Sanders made many other fairy tale collections, many also
illustrated by Jacques.
Ranking: Keepers.
File Code: Fairy Tales. Anthology. Softcover.
Matthew Looney and the Space Pirates, by Jerome Beatty, Jr.
Illustrations by Gahan Wilson.
I enjoyed some of this series when I was in grade school but
had almost completely forgotten about it when I ran across this volume. And I
certainly didn’t know (at the time) who the great Gahan Wilson was. I hadn’t
read this 1974 entry; maybe it wasn’t even written yet. “The Matthew Looney
books chronicle the adventures of a brother and sister, Matthew and Maria
Looney, who live in the town of Crater Plato, on the Moon. In Beatty's stories, the inhabitants of the Moon are a
fully developed non-human civilization. Beatty's fictional Moon inhabitants are
an indigenous species, living on the Moon without the assistance of spacesuits,
"breathing" vacuum instead of air. A recurring
theme in the books is Matthew's desire to know more about outer space,
especially the Earth. At the beginning of the series, he
looks up in the sky at the Earth and wonders if anyone is living on it.” –
Wikipedia. Other books in the series include Matthew Looney's Voyage to the
Earth (1961), Matthew
Looney's Invasion of the Earth (1965), Matthew Looney in the Outback (1969),
Maria Looney on the Red Planet (1977), Maria Looney and the Cosmic Circus (1978),
and Maria Looney and the
Remarkable Robot (1978). I only read the first
three when I was in school, for obvious reasons.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Science Fiction. Juvenile Series. Softcover.
Rabbit Hill and The Tough Winter, Written and Illustrated by
Robert Lawson.
I loved these books when I was in McQueeney, the life of the
animals (with some anthropomorphism), and the gentleness of the New Folks who
come to live in the Big House on the hill. I love the cantankerous old Uncle
Analdas and his suspicious old-fashioned ways, and Georgie’s sense of
adventure. Rabbits (along with mice and little people) were the characters I
most identified with, as they were as put-upon and looked down at as I felt
myself to be, trying to make a life under the radar of the Big Folk. I love
Lawson’s artwork; it is mid-century America incarnate.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Beast Fable. Novel. Softcovers.
Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin By His
Good Mouse Amos. Discovered, Edited & Illustrated by Robert Lawson. (2
copies, a Hardback and a Softcover)
Sometimes when I get to a book like this I have to pause and
ponder a while, because of its significance. I’m not sure if I saw the Disney
cartoon on TV or read the book first; what I do know is that there was a
version in the Disney “Storyland” book way back at the beginning. I first read
the book itself at the Seguin Public Library during the summer reading program.
There is so much here that was stuffed into my imagination trove. Mice again.
Colonial America. Benjamin Franklin, that eccentric wizard of electricity. I
liked that Lawson’s mice and rabbits were lanky, not balls of fur. The picture
of Amos in his striped muffler, his little carpet bag and umbrella, the
tricorne hats, were added to my trove. I first bought a Dell Yearling
softcover, but have since found a good Hardback copy
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Beast Fable. Historical. Hard and soft cover
editions.
A Whitman book; we always called these ‘coffee-can’ books because
you got them free with a can of coffee (in this case a 2 pound can of Folgers).
Mom got us quite a few at the time. This copy is a replacement for our old
original one that was read to rags, but it is of the same vintage. The
illustrations are all in green, because of the Emerald City, I suppose. The
Kalidahs, Winged Monkeys, Fighting Trees, and Hammerheads were all pretty
intense monsters in this version. The first version we ever had of a book that
had such an enormous impact on my imagination.
Ranking: Essential Nostalgia.
File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Hardback.
The Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum. Illustrations by Paul
Granger.
A copy of the second version of the ‘Wizard’ that we ever
had; this is the replacement for the Scholastic book I got in 4th
grade and which was read to rags too. I finally clipped the pictures out of
that book to save them. Baum describes the Wicked Witch of the West as having
only one eye; the artist interprets this by making her a cyclops. The Dorothy
in the pictures is obviously influenced by the MGM movie.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Softcover.
The Marvelous Land of Oz, by L. Frank Baum. Illustrations by
John R. Neill. Cover by Dom Lupo.
A Scholastic book. A replacement copy for the first book I
ever stole. It was from Mrs. Harris’ 5th Grade class library. In
fact, I embezzled it rather than outright stole it. I checked it out, then hid
it under the mattress of our bed and claimed I couldn’t find it. Mom had to eat
the replacement cost (if any), as she had done for the honestly lost “Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory” the year before. A book thief already, and so young.
But it was Oz! It was the only copy I’d ever seen, outside the double edition
of ‘Wizard’ and ‘Land’ in the public library! It was an older Scholastic that
hadn’t been offered in the Weekly Reader! I was, in some respects, a weaselly desperate
little boy with no idea of how the book world worked in waves. I think that if
Baum had understood that his translation of the stage tradition of having a
girl dress up like a boy, then be revealed at the end, he might have been a
little more careful about confusing children with Tip’s transformation into
Ozma at the conclusion of the book.
Ranking: An Essential reminder of my childhood of crime.
File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Softcover.
Mr. Bass’s Planetoid, by Eleanor Cameron. Illustrations by
Louis Darling.
Another in the Mushroom Planet series (for more on see
elsewhere in this Inventory), this one an ex-library copy. Possibly from that
San Antonio sale that yielded up such good results (in the 90’s, I believe).
This was one of those juvenile science fiction series, like ‘Sprockets’ or
‘Matthew Looney’ that were so popular in the 50’s and 60’s. I remember reading
them in the Summer Reading Program at the public library. The world is
threatened by the experiments of the ambitious Prewytt Brumblydge, and the boys
must use their home-built rocket to stop him before he ‘unravels’ the earth. [Not my cover, which is a plain library binding.]
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Science Fiction. Children’s Novel. Hardback.
