The Faery Reel
Tales from the Twilight Realm
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3.3 • 4 Ratings
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
This "wondrous" collection of fantasy tales from Neil Gaiman, Patricia A. McKillip, and others "is a treasure chest. Open it and revel in its riches" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
For this enchanting anthology—a World Fantasy Award finalist—editors Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling "asked their contributors to reimagine Fäerie" in the present day, or "search its more dimly lit pathways," and the authors have responded with bountiful imagination. The title piece is a poem by Neil Gaiman, but most of the others are longer pieces, "like shards of stories you want to hear more of." Jeffrey Ford "limns the heartbreaking tale" of fairies who live in sandcastles built by young children; Ellen Steiber's 'Screaming for Fairies' "sketches the lineaments of desire." Bruce Glassco "finds a different voice for Tinkerbell and Captain Hook in 'Never Never.'" Tanith Lee's 'Elvenbrood' tale is eerie and "chilling." Gregory Maguire, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Patricia A. McKillip, and Emma Bull's stories all "enchant" and bewitch. Delia Sherman's 'CATNYP' is "both funny and deeply clever, warming the cockles of anyone who has ever had dealings with a research library, especially New York Public's" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
This companion volume to The Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest is "a rewarding choice for those who like the traditional with a twist" (Booklist).
Customer Reviews
A Themed Anthology Done Right!
“The Fairy Reel, Tales from the Twilight Realm” is an anthology edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling that contains stories and poetry that feature the fairies, the wee folk, and elvenkind. These tales of the unseen world include some by masters and mistresses of fantasy, like Tainth Lee, Patricia A. McKillip, Kelly Link, Neil Gaiman, and Emma Bull. They also include a variety of tales by writers you might not yet be familiar with.
Some of these tales involve medieval worlds familiar to readers of fantasy. Others take place in modern cities. The tone of the stories varies from lighthearted to dark. It’s an impressive and interesting collection that one should expect from the editorial team of Datlow and Windling.
Like any anthology, some stories will resonate with the reader more than others. Like any good anthology, there is plenty of information about the contributors. In this case there is usually a short discussion by the authors on what inspired their contribution. This is a great example of a themed anthology done right! It should be noted that this is part of a series known as The Mythic Anthologies. The other volume in this series is “The Green Man, Tales of the Mythic Forest.”