Short Stories Books

It has so many structures (verbs and nouns forms) in each fabula that make it a very good reforcing in Latin studies.

This book is a great way to enhance my learning of Latin. Because the stories are already familiar, it is easier to understand but still interesting.

What do you do when you've completed a text of basic Latin grammar, but aren't ready yet for Cicero? For me, FAIRY TALES IN LATIN is a great solution:

1. I know the stories so well, they almost tell themselves.

2. I found myself breezing through grammar that gave me grief when I was learning it. I read right through the subjunctive, conditionals, and more without even realizing it!

3. The writers put to good use the repetition common to fairy tales by using different voices and vocabulary.

4. While you'll probably never again see a few of the new vocabulary (did the ancient Romans eat porridge?), there's *plenty* that you will.

Word order is more English than Latin. But at this stage of the game, I think that's a good thing. The experts may hold a different opinion.

All I know is that this book has solidified my ability to read selections that include many areas of grammar, and has expanded my vocabulary.

There are no macrons in either the stories themselves or the glossary. Don't panic! It becomes easy fast. Hey, we'll have to face de-macroned Latin sometime :-)

I just love that, with only a little effort, I can read through these stories. In Latin! Get this book.

Light and well known subject matter - I should think youngsters starting in Latin would like it, with help.

I found this book to be an enjoyable, easy read. Only a few times have a had to look in the back dictionary. The stories are familiar to most people, and this helps, I believe in the Latin understanding. The style of writing is simple and also facilitates learning.
One should probably have studied at least a year of Latin before reading this book, although I imagine that even beginner students would be able to get something out of the book. The book uses subjunctive clauses often and so it would be good to be familiar with them.
It is a great way to make the transition from reading "stilted Latin" to "living Latin". A great preparation for reading classic texts.

I was introduced to West through her book The Thinking Reed. I liked her obeservations of rich Europeans, as seen through the eyes of an American, in the era before the first world war. The Fountain Overflows takes place in Edwardian England and tells the story of an educated but impoverished family, told through the eyes of one of the young daughters. Whereas The Thinking Reed was a pleasurable, almost fluffy read for me, The Fountain Overflows raised issues that I feel it didn't answer. The father is a gambler and not emotionally dependable, and the effects on the children are alluded to at the end of the story, but then dropped. I would have liked West to stay more superficial, describing the fascinating details of family life, and leave the emotional analysis out of the story, since she didn't follow the emotional analysis through. This is a quibble, however. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Fountain Overflows, and will be moving on to Black Lamb and Gray Falcon soon.

to be savored - a real treasure.
This book is hard to classify because it is both densely written, and yet, it is like cotten candy. If you like to be transported to another place and time, and enjoy writers who know how to use the English language, this is a book for you!

This was my first encounter with Dame Rebecca West's writing, but it won't be my last. Nearly every paragraph stood alone, as a description to savor or an emotion remarkably described. The characters linger long after the book is closed. I believe that someone has suggested that they are somewhat Dickensian, with which I would agree. The plot conveys to the reader a deep understanding of the frustrations encountered by women whose lives are held in thrall by men who are indifferent to their wellbeing.

The only thing that keeps this book from being 5-stars in my mind are occasional spots where you want it to move more quickly. Its subtlety and richness make it a book well worth revisiting.

A general comment about the Classics series of the New York Review of Books. I am particularly pleased to have discovered this series for two reasons. First, because of the beauty of the books themselves; the cover art is of a very high quality and the paper, printing and binding is as well. The books themselves are pleasurable to experience. Second, the series is introducing me to literature that I would otherwise have never read. I just finished "A High Wind in Jamaica," have begun "Indian Summer" by William Dean Howells (and my middle-school introduction to "The Rise of Silas Lapham" would have predicted that I would never have picked up a book by Howells again, which would have been my loss - I might even tackle Silas Lapham again), and have ordered a few more. I recommend that readers explore some of these treasures.

The header says it all. If pressed, I will have to admit that this is my absolute favorite novel of all time. There is something so haunting and so human and so memorable about this book, I can't stay away from it--I must have read it 20 times, and I never grow tired of it.

I had heard of author Rebecca West, mainly as the young woman who had a long term affair with a much older H.G. Wells and produced a child out of wedlock, back when things like this were considered shocking. I stumbled across a copy of this book and decided it might make an interesting read.
I never imagined that I had found a true classic, a book that uses the English language to a degree unsurpassed by any other author I have ever read. The story of is simple, that of a down on their luck family, living in London during the early 1900's. Their trials and tribulations are faithfully described, as are the multitude of characters they befriend. Actually to describe the plot, one might assume that not much really happens and to be honest, the plot is not the main attribute of this novel. But the language! I have often thought that I would some day like to write a novel but after reading this book, I would not even attempt it! This is how language should be used...clear and concise but also able to convey atmosphere and emotions. Page after page of luscious words, all combining together to create an unforgettable reading experience. If, like me, you wanted to read more, please note that the sequel, This Real Night is almost as good. A third book, Cousin Rosamund is much weaker since it was not completed at the time of the author's death.
Please do yourself a favor and read this book. I think this ranks with Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights as books which define the best that the English language can offer.

My son was going in for same day surgery, and this was a nice way to reiterate what we had already seen on our tour. The end part where the turtle is LEFT by his parents overnight probably can be omitted, but so can so many other things in books these days. Overall, a nice and non offending book, even for a family who doesn't normally use characters such as these in their normal book libary.

I got this book for my child who was about to have surgery for the first time. It helped my child relate to what was going to be happening. I would definitely recommend this book

This book was a great help to prepare my 4 year old daughter for surgery. Once she was at the hospital, everything was known and already seen in the book and she had fun.. I highly recommend it to relieve the anxiety before a surgery

This book was great for my six year old preparing to go to the hospital.It was really important for him to realize that it is okay to be scared,that it is part of the whole experience,you just need to talk about it.

Kids love Franklin the turtle and so if they have to go the hospital, this book will really help.

Franklin's shell hurts when he's trying off after having a bath. He learns he'll have to have an operation. He shows his friends a book he got all about the hospital and all his friends think that he's very brave. But he worries that he might not be as brave as everyone thinks.

I think it's neat that this book teaches on two fronts --- both technical stuff about the hospital and also about courage and feelings.

Note that while this book has the names Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark on the cover, an examination of the title page reveals that it is actually written by Sharon Jennings (who has also done many of the TV storybooks) with illustrations by Shelley Southern. It's still a neat book though.

Welcome to Macon Street Apartments where there is drama on top of drama. If you ever stayed in an apartment you can relate to this book. The author takes you into the lifes of characters that have you laughing one minute and mad the next. Enjoying this book is not the word for it, a breath of fresh air I should say.

Peaches is a stripper that has the residents folks up in arms about her life style. Especially when she comes out of her door with a little bit of nothing on. All the ladies has a problem with this because their mens are looking from head to toe.

Romello has Jewel whip so hard that the truth is in her face and she can't see it. Romello has what us women says "it must be made of Gold!"

Craig & Alisha is the happy couple until her bestfriend (Ladona) starts to take interest in Craig. All hell brakes lose when Peaches starts whispering into Alisha ear about men's are no good and you need to watch that Ladona.

You have this mystery guy move in name Lucky that all the women is checking out. All the guys is up in arms about him because the rumor is that he has lucked up and have a women taking care of him. So he don't have a care in world but to get lucky so more.

Let me tell you that this book is not a fairy tale with a happy ending. I didn't see any of this coming for me. One time I throw this book across the room and left there. I was so made at characters I had to laugh at myself.

This book is very well written with the characters that is developed just right. I could see this book in a sitcom on television while I was reading it. There is so much that the author brings out and leave you wanting more after each chapter. This is a must read and I highly recommend this book to all.

This book kept me wanting more...and more...and more....Please go buy this book. I only have one question...How could Lucky be in 2 places at one time? I don't want to give the book away but how can he be in Utah and at the complex with Alisha???

I loved the book and I can't wait to read the sequel. I emailed the author, she even wrote me back and asked my view on the characters. It's a great read.

APOOO Rating: 4

In Getting Lucky by Kamryn Donavan, there never seems to be a dull moment in Macon Street Apartments. When a new resident, Lucky Thompson, moves in, EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is affected. Well, mainly the women. He claims that his "baby" is paying all his bills. He is riding around in a Mercedes, dressing nice, and his apartment is laid out.

Peaches, the stripper who sometimes brings her "work" home, is determined to find out why they call the new neighbor Lucky. Romello, Jewel's boyfriend of nine years, is determined to see what has the men coming back for more of Miss Peaches. In the meantime, Jewel has her eye on Peaches and Romello.

Alisha is happily married to her husband, Craig. She wants to start a family and make their life complete. Craig is not sure that is the best decision right now. He is working long hours to make sure that Alisha wants for nothing. He treats her like a queen. Alisha's friend Ladonna wants a piece of that heaven. She is dead set on having Craig for herself.

I was emotionally invested in the characters of Getting Lucky and wanted to know what would happen next. It kept me on my toes all the way to the end. There were so many twists and turns and it was a great read. I definitely recommend this one for those avid readers. Can't wait to see what Donavan puts out next.

Donnica Copeland
APOOO BookClub

This book was great. I am an avid reader and will quickly put a book down if it doesn't capture my attention right away. This book was a total "attention grabber" with lots of surprising twists and turns on just about every page. I'm telling all my friends about it because it's definitely one you don't want to miss!

An excellect book for anyone. It was a great Christmas stocking stuffer and will make a great birthday gift when you want to give more than a card.

This is quintessential O. Henry. If you want a gift for a friend or a way to introduce someone to the joys of the short story, this is a great pick.

This book begins with the one of the lesser-known Christmas stories that illustrates how we should give to the utmost during this season of giving. O. Henry is able to use wit to show wisdom, and the ridiculous to show the sublime.

The poor married couple is forced to scrounge for Christmas. The husband hocks his watch to buy hair combs for his wife, and his wife sell her hair to a wig-maker to buy a fob-chain. Bit this story isn't about a couple's holiday folly, but the desire to love and serve other people to the utmost.

One of the classics is "The Last Leaf," about a boy who in inspired by a last leaf, which is really a painting. Another story is "The Cop And the Anthem," about the bum who tries to get arrested, then has a turn of heart second before he is booked for vagrancy. It also has the immortal "The Ransom Of Red Chief," the story about the kidnappers who get the redheaded brat, and try their darndest to get rid of the kid.

O. Henry has the a gift of the twist, like Rod Serling of "Twilight Zone" fame, or M. Night Shyamalan, the director of "The Sixth Sense," and "Signs." As you read, it keeps your eyes on their toes, since at any minute the whole story will twist upside-down. This roller-coaster writing is like a well-told joke.

When I was a teenager, I listened to the Gift of the Magi, the Last Leaf, After Twenty Years etc on public radio stations (Guess where?). I was so moved then. I think these among other great works had played a role in my decision to pursue an English Literature major.
Now life had challenged me into a somewhat different world where often times we forget about the literature, the philosophy and the simpliest pleasures of life.
I bought this book again so that I could read it to my children someday. My first born is only 3. But I think he is starting to show some appreciation.

"The Gift of the Magi and Other Short Stories" brings together 16 pieces by O. Henry. The stories in this collection are taken from 8 of O. Henry's books; the original volumes have publication dates ranging from 1906 to 1911. This book includes a short introductory note on the colorful life and career of the author, who lived from 1862 to 1910.

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. O. Henry writes about criminals, dreamers, artists, lovers, and lost souls. Many of these stories have a New York City setting--he really captures the energy and color of the city. There are also a Western story ("The Pimienta Pancakes"), a Southern Gothic tale ("A Municipal Report"), a story set primarily in a small town in Arkansas ("A Retrieved Reformation"), and a story set in rural Alabama ("The Ransom of Red Chief").

If you like stories with "twist" endings, you will probably like this collection. The book as a whole is a lot of fun--full of life and charm. Some of the stories may strike contemporary readers as corny, but I found each tale to be an enjoyable gem of storytelling. The book is rich in irony, with some really funny scenes.

O. Henry tells stories of love, justice, deception, sacrifice, and heroism. He makes some intriguing creative choices; this is clearly the work of a master in total command of the short story genre. His prose style is very readable and engaging, with touches of baroque elegance.

While it didn't further the main plot of Mendoza and Alec, I still enjoyed this book, and it fits in well. I loved reading it. :)

The beauty of the universe created by Baker is that the characters may appear in any place and any time (after their own birth). In these seven stories we see Literary Preservationist Lewis, Botanist Mendoza, Facilitator Joseph and others in a range of times and locales. A recurring theme is that they carry out the will of the Company without always knowing the reasons for the assignments and often with any particular joy. Such is the life of these immortal cyborgs, serving the entity that created them.

Personally, I think the short form is Kage's strongest area and this is some of her best.


To The Land Beyond The Sunset.
Mendoza and Lewis in the New World of the seventeenth century

The Catch
Concerning the Company's early and imperfect efforts to create an immortal

The Angel In The Darkness
Set in 1990s Los Angeles - a cyborg watches over family members

Standing In His Light
The life of the painter Vermeer - and the desires of a cyborg for something different

A Night On The Barbary Coast
Set in early San Francisco Joseph and Mendoza on an errand for the company

Welcome To Olympus, Mr. Hearst
Set in 1933 at Hearst Castle. Joseph and Lewis on an errand for the company

Hellfire At Twilight
Lewis on an errand for the company


Does it sound like the cyborgs spend a lot of time running errands for the Company? You are correct.

For those of you who read "The Company" novels, but avoid "The Company" short story collections because you dislike short stories, I highly recommend that you read ALL of the books. The short stories have many important clues that flesh out the many sub-plots, characters, their backstories and motivations in the novels. Without the short stories, you are missing out on a much richer experience.

For instance, in this last collection, I wonder about Mr. Hearst! (Intriguing, isn't it?)

As always, I can't wait for the next installment!

I dare say that you found this collection of stories (mostly novellas and long short stories) because you -- like me -- discovered Kage Baker's marvelous universe of The Company, in which cyborgs serve a huge corporation of the future. If you haven't yet read the series, I strenuously recommend that you begin with In The Garden of Iden. You can probably follow each of the stories if you start with this collection (the author does a brief arm-wave in each one to tell you the basics), but your experience will be vastly enhanced if you read these in a larger context. (You don't have to read EVERY one of the full novels, but I think you need the character understanding from the first one or two.)

I tend to be uncomfortable reading most short story collections, because there are predictably a few really excellent tales, a couple that are pretty good, and the rest... ho-hum or worse. I'm happy to say that Gods & Pawns is a remarkable exception. Every one of these stories is excellent, shows an aspect of history (through the eyes of Dr Zeus Inc.), and lets us vicarously enjoy the experiences of characters we've grown to love (Mendoza, Lewis, and Joseph). They're funny, thoughtful, surprising... everything I want from short fiction.

If you like Kage Baker's "Company" universe, this is definitely worth your time and money. If you haven't yet discovered this marvelous author, then you should read her stuff... but please don't cheat yourself. Read In the Garden of Iden first, so you can appreciate the depth she brings to even a short story.

The most recent couple of novels in the "Company" universe have been a little bit disappointing to me - in fact, in my review of one of them, I stated that it would have been a better book had it been short stories. Well, in this book, Baker proves she is still really good at the stories! I was much happier with these than I had been with the "Machine" books.

The stories in this one mostly involve Lewis. There are references in the stories to things that have happened in the earlier novels; the stories are best enjoyed if you've already read "In the Garden of Iden" although you don't have to have read the rest of the novels - that one will provide enough background. That's not to say you shouldn't read the rest of the earlier novels - all four of the first four Company novels are great!

The first story, "To the Land Beyond the Sunset," contains allusions to a particular disaster that happened to Lewis in another book. The indigenes in this story are very funny. (The dust jacket illustration is probably supposed to refer to this story, but it's not accurate.)

The third story, "Angel in the Darkness," is the one that will provide you with some background about how the Company universe works and who are these cyborgs, anyway?, if you haven't read the novels.

The last story, "Hellfire at Twilight," may particularly appeal to readers of Georgian and Regency romances, who will be familiar with the idea of Hellfire clubs.

Several of the stories have already appeared in magazines, particularly Asimov's, but I didn't mind; I enjoyed re-reading them.

All in all, her best in a while!

The Gold Mine: A Novel of Lean Turnaround

It's not a typical thing to find a fairly complex subject presented in an enjoyable read. While not likely to reach the top 10 best sellers list because of plot or style points, the practical teaching of Lean Manufacturing through the eyes of characters in a story is a much welcomed approach to discussing technical subjects. There were times I forgot I was learning something useful and really was interested in the story. If you are interested in getting a fairly complete overview of the concepts and benefits of Lean Manufacturing, I recommend The Gold Mine.

It is a Good book !
I saw it get my plant started on the journey. The lean mentality and the resultant manifold, multilevel gains are continuing to spread.

An increasing number of people learn about Lean tools, ideas and even the overall phylosophy behind. We all see Toyota's success and believe, that's mainly due to TPS and the Lean mindset.

We all agree, that Lean is simple, easy to understand and the right thing to do. However, only very few companies get past the obstacles to initiate, implement and maintain Lean thinking. Why?

This book illustrates in a very realistic way the challenge of a Lean change management. It describes the common obstacles, fears, misunderstandings and political games and how difficult it is to overcome them. Thanks to the story-telling style, You can really feel the heavy load resting on the shoulders of change agents.

Besides, the book also describes the Lean concepts, but the book's main purpose is Lean change management, not Lean tools.

If You plan to make any organization Lean, this book prepares You for the coming challenges.

I read "The Gold Mine" when it came out, and immediately had it added to our company Lean Library, and my own "read again" list.

It is definitely a must read for those that want to get into the depths of Lean, not just the tools. To get beyond and behind the mechanics of the tools, I group this book along with the outstanding Harvard Business Review articles: "The DNA of the Toyota Production System" by Spear & Bowen, and "Learning to Lead at Toyota" by Spear.

Understanding the mechanics of the Lean tools is necessary but not sufficient. Understanding the power behind the tools and the real challenge implementing them is critical. Tool books and true-life but superficial turnaround stories are helpful, but cannot reach the levels that a fictional story like this can (especially when told by authors who clearly "get it").

Here are specific thoughts on the book itself:

On the positives:
1) the descriptions of the dad character's interations with his sensei's were so realistic, I could picture myself with my own sensei's years ago (Hiyashi-san and Oba-san from Toyota and Matsubara-san from Tokai Rika). I found myself learning as much from remembering and rethinking what they said as I did from the book itself.
2) I was thoroughly impressed with the depth of understanding of Lean conveyed by the Balle's. The dad character hits on some real subtleties of Lean that it took me years of doing to even appreciate the power. I encourage readers to go over the 5S, 5 Why and TPM sections several times - the sections are brief, but there is some hard won wisdom in those passages.
3) the description of 5S on pages 120-126 is about the best I've seen anywhere (especially the often misunderstood 3rd and the rarely comprehended 4th and 5th).
4) The real dangers of a Lean transition are talked about in human terms with "real" people - the Materials Manager that couldn't make it, the production manager that did, the business partner that was focused on his relationship with the technical manager not the operation, and the change agent that gets burned out and recruited away. You just don't get that in the standard literature - the fictional story is much more effective.

On the wish list:
1) I wish the authors had set the story in a place without a "crisis". Getting across the "need to change" is somewhat easier (admittedly still difficult) when everyone knows there is an imminent crisis. It is harder to get a company with 20% margins to realize they could improve to 40% or to capture a larger market. I believe the Balle's have the capability to write the harder story of a business that just wants to move to a higher level without a crisis.
2) "The Gold Mine" shows the "Lean Way" to change an operation, and takes a few well aimed shots at regular consultants. I wish they had taken a few more at the mythical search for "the" bottleneck espoused by another famous fictional turnaround story (see pages 46-47). The Balle's insight and storytelling ability might have been able to give us Lean disciples some more help in the Lean vs TOC debates. As it is, they left it hanging.
3) I wish more of the story took place at the plant (in Gemba). The point still gets made in the book, but changes happen in Gemba, not on the consultant's boat. I understand the character's frustrations, but was somewhat dissapointed and saddened by the lack of passion for manufacturing and the desire to "get in there".
4) I wish there was more dialogue with and from the actual operators. The characters talk about them, but the only real interactions with them take place at the stamping presses late in the book.

On the nitpicky side:
1) some typos got through editing that should have been caught - in a couple of places they were confusing, in others, just annoying.
2) I could have done without the son's personal life issues. I don't think they added much to the story and I found myself wanting to skip ahead, but afraid I'd miss something...

A good combination of lean implementation details and an interesting story line. This book in similar in concept to 'The Goal', in that it interweaves the personal story of an owner's desperate need to turn his mfg company around with the blocking and tackling requirements to get it done. It spends a good deal of time talking about how people handle these changes and reminds you never to lose that focus during the sometimes daunting process changes encountered during lean implementation.

What a pleasure to read such grounded literature. The flavor of his characters have a nostalgic feel; as if you have known them in your past.

This is a magnificent collection. I would put "Killing Stonewall Jackson" and "Ellen's Book" up against almost any story anywhere. I've read this collection several times now, hoping I might get a better idea of how to write myself, but I always shoot myself in the foot and forget that I'm reading. That's how good these stories are, they make you forget you're holding the book.

Michael Knight has a great grasp of language and the human condition, and this book displays that ability in full force.

I loved Birdland in the New Yorker and the New Stories From the South, and when I saw that Knight had published a collection with Birdland included, I was thrilled. The rest of the stories were just as good. Unlike some of the up and coming male Southern writers, Knight doesn't simply resort to what reviewers call "muscular prose" with gleeful enthusiasm, an excitement I do not share. Knight's writing goes beyond whores and guns and dogs. It's insightful, aware, poetic, and the stories never fail to move me. I think this author has been overlooked, and I hope this collection gets him the recognition he deserves.

This is an unusual and deeply beautiful collection. The language is fantastic, and all the stories are rollicking and resonant. The story "Ellen's book is a lesson in how to write a perfect, poignant short story. "Goodnight, Nobody" was my book club's favorite last year--don't miss it!

Capote found his full voice in this, his second novel. It is a fantasy based on characters from his own life, including himself, his aunt Sook Faulk, to whom the book is dedicated "in memory of affections deep and true", another aunt, and their servant.

Capote's prose is beautiful and lucid as it carries the reader through the book at a swift pace, and this novel achieves the rare combination of ease of reading with depth of thought and emotion.

This early Novella by Truman Capote clearly demonstrates his ability to put together a word portrait. As an example: "... I would hear the tantalizing tremor of their voices flowing like sapsyrup through the old wood."

The characters are richly portrayed in this gem of Southern fiction.

[I wrote this review in 1999 as "A Reader." I hope more people read it and read this book.]
For years I've known about this work but never read it until now. I've been fishing about in contemporary fiction, looking for something entertaining, enlightening, and superbly well written, but my search ended entirely when I finally read this novel, written in 1951. Set in the South, in the countryside, this story brilliantly draws you into its magical surroundings. Its three main characters, Dolly, Collin, and Catherine, are real presences that emerge from the lush southern environs as complex, blooming beings whose lives take time to develop and understand. There is nothing slick about this writing; it's just classically elegant and clear. The story is packed with interesting people and proceeds as if inspired by Twain. It is entertaining, poetic, and meaningful all at once. I found myself rereading the opening pages, picturing the scene, and feeling how brilliant the writing was in its elegiac and inspired imagery. The story is simple: a young boy, orphaned, lives with his two eccentric aunts in a small town in the South. One aunt is mean-spirited and selfish, and the other is sweet, other-worldly, and gentle. When the mean aunt tries to exploit the sweet one by mass producing a folk medicine remedy the sweet aunt learned about from a traveling gypsy woman, the sweet aunt runs away from home with the orphan boy and her best friend, a strange Indian woman. They don't run too far, however, just to a tree house in a nearby China tree. From that point on, everyone learns something about themselves. This southern world is a generous place to Truman Capote, and it has mercies to give and lessons to be learned. In fact, it's something of a magical world, almost a precursor of the magical realism of Marquez and others. But as the characters learn about themselves, so we the readers learn too, about what love is, about change, and about what we accept in life. For Capote to have written this book at the age of 26 is truly a miracle. This book alone puts him in league with the literary giants. I highly recommend "The Grass Harp" to anyone looking for that one great book to read and treasure.

Truman Capote's gift for the written word brings marvel even in comparison to great literary geniuses. While "The Grass Harp" may not be the best exhibition of his talent, it is a brush stroke in his overall masterwork.

The centerpeice of this particular book is "The Grass Harp", an odd book which brings to mind Steinbeck's Cannery Row. As an odd tale about simple people in a small town, the main characters are merely looking for a place to lay their head at the end of the day. Even if living in a tree is the best possible shelter for a time, it is the ideal retreat from the forces that trouble them. The short stories that follow also have a few gems. I recommend a tale of disapproving in-laws called "My Side of the Matter", the mysterious "Miriam", and the tale of an idiot savant in "Jug of Silver". With some of the other short stories in the collection, I am not as sure of where Capote was going as clearly. Perhaps rereading the others at a later date will draw greater appreciation from me.

Capote's ability to choose and arrange words alone makes reading his work a real treat. If only modern writers had half of his talent and insight. Even though this is not his best collection, it is a treasure to fans and admirers.

TRUMAN CAPOTE's wrote THE GRASS HARP early in his career and it is an often overlooked gem. This sweet, eccentric, moving and decidedly southern tale is the leisurely paced story of the repercussions that ensue when three townfolk decide to up and run away to live in a treehouse on the outskirts of town. Three quickly becomes five and eventually swells to even more as the makeshift home becomes a sort of paradise and refuge where stories are shared, closeness is established, and love blooms....think FLANNERY O'CONNOR meets SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON with a dash of STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Themes of finding one's place and path and making oneself known are skillfully woven into the narrative. It has the feel of a fantastic and utterly charming myth. Primary assets are the "thick as molasses" southern mood and syntax as well as a bevy of unforgettable characters.

I love short stories, and each one of these wonderful fantasy shorts are perfect to read before bed! Patricia MckIllip really paints pictures with her words, and she is one of my favorite authors.

It was good to read all those fairy tales and see the same magic that enchanted me with "The Changeling Sea". My only complaint is the same for all others book by the autor, that some short stories ended without telling all about them, making me hungry for the next one.

A great selection of short stories by a masterful fantasy author.

Patricia A. McKillip is the author of several wonderful books (my favourites being "Alphabet of Thorn" and "Winter Rose") and is one of the few fantasists in the publishing world that is original. Although her stories may contain typical fantasy elements (dragons, heroes, kingdoms, quests, good versus evil, etc) they are written in such beautiful poetic-prose that the stories transcend the clichés they stem from; reading more as luminous fairytales than hum-drum fantasy. Although the prose is beautiful, it is also an acquired taste. When I was first introduced to her work, I found it rather difficult to adjust to a story that was often hidden under such dense, rich language. Of course, it's worth it in the end, but for those just starting out on McKillip, perhaps this anthology of short stories is a good starting place.

And for those already well-versed in the magic of McKillip's writing, a series of stories is an added bonus to add to a collection. McKillip is just as skilled in the creation of short stories as she is in full-length novels, and sometimes a quick-fix of her work is just what a devoted reader needs. Containing fifteen stories (some of which span a few pages, others which are better described as novellas); there's enough variety amongst them to keep each one fresh and interesting.

In the story that gives the book its title, "Harrowing the Dragon", a dragon-slayer comes to the island of Hoarsbreath in order to harrow the dragon from its shores. He is joined by a native of the island, a young woman who isn't too sure if she wants the dragon to go. "A Matter of Music" concerns Cresce Dami, a bard who has freshly graduated from her school with ambitions of playing in Daghian. Attempting to negotiate her way through the rules and etiquette of playing music in a high court, Cresce becomes involved in the political machinations of the countries surrounding her. These stories are by far the longest in the entire book, and are typical of McKillip's wonderful world-building and imagery.

McKillip borrows from other fairytales too: in "Baba Yaga and the Sorcerer's Son", she uses the Russian folklore of Baba Yaga and her chicken-legged house to imagine a meeting between the witch and a young wizard who needs her help, whilst the Hans Christian Anderson tale of "The Snow Queen" imagines a contemporary setting in which Kay cheats on his devoted wife Gerda with a beautiful stranger...but Gerda - whose entire life has revolved around Kay - finds a hidden strength of her own to survive his betrayal. "The Lion and the Lark" is an amalgamation of several fairytales, (most obviously Beauty and the Beast, though keep your eyes open for the others) which makes it a little predictable, though ends with an image of amazing imaginary force. Finally, in the story that ends the book, "Toad" is an explanatory back-story of "The Frog Prince", explaining why the prince would agree to marry such a spoilt princess. McKillip looks deep into the imagery at work throughout the fairytale, using the golden ball and the frog's intrusion into the princess's life as a metaphor for her burgeoning maturity. I'll never look at the Frog Prince the same way again.

As well as building on other sources, McKillip creates fairytales all her own. In "A Troll and Two Roses" she weaves the tale of an ugly troll who becomes enraptured by a beautiful rose and its connection to two enchanted lovers, while in "The Fellowship of the Dragon" five bards go out in search of the Queen's favourite harper, only to fall prey to the traps and snares strewn throughout the wood they must traverse. "Lady of the Skulls" (one of my favourites) involves a mysterious tower in the desert, to which many questing knights travel, attracted by the promise that should they take the most precious thing that it holds, they will be allowed to keep it. The catch? If they choose wrongly, they die. Then there's "The Stranger", which concerns a man who forms dragons out of the colours in nature and his own imagination, and the weaver-woman who tries to prevent him from the destruction he wreaks. In "Voyage into the Heart", we are privy to a unicorn hunt in which the bait (a young virgin naturally) is unaware of her part to play in its capture.

There are two other stories that don't seem to fit into any category: "The Witches of Junket", which involves three prodigal grand-daughters returning to their hometown to help destroy an escaping evil, and my personal favourite "Starcrossed", which concerns the investigation into the deaths of Romeo and Juliet by a soldier who is disillusioned with love. It's a fantastic concept, and McKillip pulls it off brilliantly.

Lastly there are two little stories (which come across more like experimental writing exercises) "Ash, Wood, Fire" and "Transmutations", the former concerning the dynamics of a medieval kitchen, the latter exploring what goes on in an alchemical laboratory. They are probably the weakest stories of the anthology, but they are both reasonably short (and with other such exemplary stories on display, it doesn't really bear complaining about). Besides, thirteen out of fifteen ain't bad.

Altogether, this is a great collection and a must for any McKillip (not to mention K. Y. Craft, who always provides beautiful cover art) fan.

Patricia McKillip is my favorite fantasy writer for a reason. She hasn't written one bad paragraph in her entire career, and I've read everything she's written. I've been reading Science Fiction and Fantasy for 40 years, and I've never come across an author whose fantasy was quite as gorgeous as McKillips. Her characters are fascinating, her plots move at a meandering, but decent pace, and her worlds are lush and dreamlike. I always feel as if I've had one of those miraculous moments of connectivity with the magic of the world when I read her work. Everything takes on a brilliant cast, and the world seems a beautiful place because of her gracious work. This book is no exception, filled with generous chapters of rich storytelling. I can't recommend it enough, but then, I recommend all of her books. It's hard for me to pick a favorite, but I must say that I adored the Book of Atrix Wolfe, and Winter Rose.