Short Story Monday - The Very Best of Charles de Lint Part 3

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.

Today is Part 3 of the discussion of The Very Best of Charles de Lint with Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings. I am a bit late in the day with it, but at least it is up. Those that pay attention know that my books are technically in storage because of space restraints. Well, we finally found a place for a big bookcase and I have been rearranging. I am so excited! There will probably be pictures tomorrow. Now, on to the questions.

Stories Read This Week:

'The Stone Drum'

'Timeskip'

'Freewheeling'

All three of these stories were from Dreams Underfoot, which I recently read and reviewed with Meghan from Medieval Bookworm. You can read our review of the whole collection here.

1. What did you think of the mythical creatures included in 'The Stone Drum'?

When I read this story earlier this year, I was really excited because it was a Jilly Coppercorn story. She is my favourite Newford character. One thing you know about Jilly is that she is a pretty easy-going person, but as you learn from stories like this she wasn't always like that. This story is one of the launching points for her seeing the world in an entirely different way. It also includes Meran, who is becoming another one of my favourite Newford characters. Anyway, I always think that the creatures, for lack of a better word, that de Lint includes in his books and stories are well-written. This story was no exception. There is a whole underground city and these beings live down there away from prying eyes. It would be close-minded to think that there is not unknown beings in relatively unexplored or visited parts of the world, so this story just played off that idea.

2. 'Timeskip' was about time travel. Did you find the story believable?

I really enjoyed this story, too. A sequel, of sorts, is included in Dreams Underfoot, so I was happy to see how things play out after the events in this one. I have always enjoyed time travel in books, so this was no exception. I actually hate to say too much about this story because I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I just found I enjoyed it not knowing what to expect, so I am going to be brief and just say that I found the story believable. You should read it!

3. Could you picture the images mentioned in the story 'Freewheeling'?

Another enjoyable story, but not without its hardships. This is the story of a young man that believes he has the power to set bicycles free. The imagery in the opening of the story has always got to me. I can close my eyes and picture the bicycles fleeing. It is a nice imagery. Mind you, I wouldn't want my bicycle to escape, but it is interesting to think of what we consider inanimate objects wishing for their freedom.

Previous Weeks:

Part 1

Part 2