Customer Reviews

Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Garth Nix changed the face of dark fantasy with his tales of Sabriel, Lirael and the gruesome enemies they defeated. Now he provides not only a novella in the world of the Abhorsen Trilogy, but several other short stories that he has penned over the years -- dark, chilling, beautiful and amusing.

After the events of "Abhorsen," Nicholas Sayre has decided that he wants to go to the Old Kingdom, to be near Sabriel and Lirael. Unfortunately, he gets sidetracked at a secret government base. Then a maddened official steals his blood to awaken a hideous Free Magic creature, which has lain dormant inside a clear case. Now the creature is on a rampage, seeking more blood to increase its power -- and Nicholas has no way to stop it.

That novella, called "The Creature In the Case," is the main draw for this collection of short stories. But it's also not the only one -- Nix includes several other stories: A pair of Arthurian stories, one about Nimue and the other about the Lady of the Lake; a man comes to the island of Lisden as its new owner... not knowing that he's been duped; and a young boy is enlisted by his grandfather to help save a forest from his greedy dad. Nix also shows off his more playful side in "Down to the Scud Corner," a hilarious spoof of those "choose your own adventure" books.

There are also darker stories in here as well. One story focuses on sex and death, as a young man tries to save the local girls from a lover who can call down lightning. And "Charlie Rabbit" is a surprisingly harrowing story about two boys hiding in a flooded building during a war. And the fairy-tale adaptation "Hansel's Eyes," while not unusually dark, has a rather macabre ending.

In all these stories, Garth Nix shows all his writing talents -- he's funny, he's chilling, and he's good at adventure stories and likable characters. It's wonderful to check out his earlier stories, and see how he has matured as a writer. But the main novella is perhaps the best of all, giving the underrated Nicholas a chance to shine. It also hints at possible future adventures for Sabriel, Lirael and their friends.

The stories are not completely even, since Nix wrote them at different times in his life -- apparently some of his earliest work, including a story written when he was six, were not deemed worthy. But apparently he's had his rich, detailed writing style for a long time now, best evidenced by the internal monologue of the Lady of the Lake. While a few like "Lightning Bringer" feel rather underfleshed, most of his short stories feel satisfyingly complete on their own.

"Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories" adds to Garth Nix's impressive list of dark fantasy. This collection is well-worth reading, for some chilling, vivid storytelling.

Garth Nix is a great writer. He is one of the most inventive writers in the fantasy genre today (the Abhorsen trilogy is a testimony to this). His plots are much different from other plots; he isn't using the same worn-out story lines. He also isn't overly given to prose like some writers of the genre, but his writing style is fluid and has enough details to keep the reader satisfied.

This collection of short stories (and a novella) is one to treasure. It starts with a novella about Nicholas Sayre, whom you might remember from the Abhorsen trilogy. I loved this story; it was a great continuation to an amazing trilogy.

The short stories are aplenty. They range from a western-style story with a fantastical twist to some Authurian tales that are quite unique. But, one of my personal favourites of this collection was a very short story called "Endings". It is kind of dark fantasy. The story is, coincidentally enough, about two endings: sorrow and joy. It's one of those stories that sticks in your mind and makes you keep thinking about it. It is by no means definite, but that's one of the reasons I like it.

Most of the stories in this collection lean toward dark fantasy and can deal with serious issues, such as war. However, Mr. Nix did include some funny material. "Down to the Scum Quarter" is in the paragraph-choice game format, and it is somewhat of a parody. It is quite funny, and I found it very creative. It was a lot of fun to have this little interactive section; it's a fun game to play.

Overall, I think readers of Nix's other works (and even people who haven't read works by Nix) will enjoy this. It's a collection filled with creativity and uniqueness.

Existing fans and newcomers alike will quickly fall into this latest title from Garth Nix as he proves his versatility as a storyteller. A wide and interesting array of subjects and settings provides fantasy readers with a good read. ACROSS THE WALL is a collection of the author's previously published short stories. However, it opens with "Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case," a novella Nix wrote out of "the desire to see what happened next" to character Nicholas Sayre from The Abhorsen Trilogy.

Throughout the book, Nix is candid with readers about facts that went into the production of each short story. Information about his writing techniques and practices also are sprinkled among the pages. Readers who already appreciate Nix's fantasy adventure stories will enjoy the snippets as they add interesting background to each story. As a writer, I found it intriguing to follow Nix's patterns of note taking, ideas, and outlining so much that I chose to visit his website where I found even more details on how he creates his work.

Nix claims to be "someone who doesn't like the Arthurian mythos," but provides readers two stories written from his fantastical perspective of King Arthur and surrounding characters, primarily Merlin. "Under the Lake" explores Arthurianna from the eyes and mind of The Lady of the Lake. "Heart's Desire" retells the story of Merlin and Nimue "in a different light." Both present a sort of History Camelot and both clamor with the empty sounds of choosing power over love.

A dry wit permeates "From the Lighthouse" as Nix portrays a larger than life millionaire madman who thinks he has bought an island to assuage his entrepreneurial desires. The natives are pleasant until it is discovered how Marcus Kilman intends to change their lives with new industry and wealthy citizens looking for a travel adventure. Greed colors everything Kilman thinks and says. Nix is clever in his commentary on contemporary efforts to cultivate vacation lands out of quiet, pristine islands that would be better off left undiscovered.

For the busy days of summer, ACROSS THE WALL is the perfect book for Nix fans old and new to keep by the bed and read a story or two at a time. A word of caution: Nix has arranged the pieces to be progressively deep and macabre, so be careful how late at night you choose to read!
[...]

This is a collection of short stories written by Garth Nix at one time or other in his career, plus a novella continuing the Abhorsen Trilogy from Nick's side of the story.

Each begins with a brief introduction from the author, and range from non-traditional Arthurian legend to fairy tales.

1. Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case: A spin-off from the Abhorsen Trilogy, picking up Nick's story back in Ancelstierre. Lirael's there and a creepy creature, but the bells toll for nobody.

2. Under the Lake: A take on Arthurian Legend from the soggy viewpoint of the Lady of the Lake.

3. Charlie Rabbit: A dramatic war story about hope, faith and survival.

4. From the Lighthouse: A sci-fantasy story of conquest with a difference.

5. The Hill: A family story about property and inheritance.

6. Lightning Bringer: A Stephen King type story about power

7. Down in the Scum Quarter: A parody of the paragraph choice format where you choose your story based on options at the end of each paragraph.

8. Heart's Desire: Another Arthurian legend, this time about Merlin and his ill-fated love life.

9. Hansel's Eyes: A Grimm retelling of the classic tale in a modern setting

10. Hope Chest: A cowgirl takes on a supernatural cult, guns a-blazing.

11. My New Really Epic Fantasy Series: A presentation made by Nix for a panel session, tongue in cheek.

12. Three Roses: As close to a love story as Nix is going to get

13. Endings: A tale of sorrow and joy with alternate endings.


An interesting look at the evolution of Nix. Rated: 4.5 stars


Amanda Richards, August 20, 2006

Garth Nix fans will savour every word of Across the Wall, the latest in Garth Nix's collection of outstanding books. This latest book is no different. There is a story for every fan, whether you like a voilent fantasy, or a hearwarming story of war, you will not be disappointed with Across the Wall.

The book is centralized around a novella, about 90 pages long, about Nicholas Sayre. Nicholas wants desperately to get back into the Old Kingdom, but before he can do so, he is sent by his uncle Edward to the home of a "mad man." There Nicholas finds a creature of the Old Kingdom, but what can he do, so far from the wall?

This book will bring you to tears, laugh you to stitches, and provoke thought. Each story was written with such care and devotion, and all contain a short introduction, also written by Garth Nix.

Fans will be sure to bask in the glory of Garth Nix's awe-inspiring writing. This book would make an ideal gift for any fantasy fan. Truly, Garth Nix has created something special.

I loved reading this new collection of stories. The newer takes on the classic stories made them fun to read again, while the small glimpse back into the world of Ancelstierre and the Old Kingdom gave me another taste of one of the best series' that I've read. Garth Nix' style of writing in all of the stories in this book made me want to read the whole thing cover to cover in one sitting, and the personal introductions for each tale helped to make me feel a little closer to each story. For anyone who has read the Abhorsen trilogy, this book is a must, if only for the short look back into the world that Nix created with the previeous three books. I must admit, though, I felt a little teased with the story of Nick and his new adventure when it ended so quickly, but the other stories more than made up for my longing of the Old Kingdom.

Like all dutiful lovers of good books, I lined up at midnight last weekend to purchase the new Harry Potter book. Imagine my surprise and delight when I saw Garth Nix's newest book sitting on the counter! Honestly, I was more excited by the prospect of reading Across the Wall than I was Half-Blood Prince (which also turned out to be excellent) -- but please don't spread that around -- I wouldn't want J.K.R. to feel slighted or anything.

It's probably my own fault. I bought the book without glancing at anything other than that distinctive black matte border. So I was slightly annoyed to find that the book had only a single (very good, mind you) Abhorsen related story and that the remainder of the books were old stories and articles that Mr. Nix had written over the years and was republishing here.

First thing's first -- each and every story was very good. He's an excellent writer and I would have bought the book even if I had known that it was a compilation. But this is not an Abhorsen book for the most part -- despite the characteristic look. So I felt slightly (and perhaps unjustifiably) miffed about it. Also, Mr. Nix includes brief commentary before each story that -- which I find interesting -- is somewhat odd for a "children's book."

I certainly don't mean to dissuade anyone from buying this book. It is excellent. Each story is well done and thoughtful and a right good read. Just be aware of what you are buying.

Ok, so when I got this book I was very excited. Finally, I thought, another book about the Old Kingdom and Lireal and all the other characters I love. To my deep and utter dissapointment, the book was full of short stories and only 90 pages were about characters from Abhorsen. It wasn't enough! I want more!

Any way, putting that aside, I still love Garth Nix. I liked most of the short stories included, with the possible exception of "Under the Lake". So, once I got over the fact that it was a book of short stories and not one novel, I started to really enjoy it. It was nice to see the diversity in his stories.

So, if you liked the Abhorsen trilogy definatley read this, just don't have misguided expectations like I did.

Garth Nix is an author whose writing I have come to love in the past five years or so. He has such insight into the young person's mind, that he can deliver something for just about everyone. I was dying to read more about Nicholas Sayre and so I picked up this book with the intention of completing my Old Kingdom quartet. I can honestly say that it's a wonderful compilation! I love to see authors that can write for more than one type of person. Nix accomplishes this with stories for child, teen and mature audiences, all without losing that addictive flair that we've come to love him for.

While the ending of Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case is very satisfying (for myself, at any rate), it should not be credited as the only good story in the book.

Among my favourites are Hansel's Eyes, a spin on the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel; Lightning Bringer, a sufficiently adult story that children should proceed with caution when reading it; and Down to the Scum Quarter, an interactive and highly amusing "choose your own adventure" parody. All of the stories are provided with a preface detailing how they came about, where they were first published, and how Nix feels about them.

I'm glad to see that at least his sense of humour and adventure remain intact through all of the stories. He is truly one of the greater modern writers.

Most fans will find that the most exciting feature of this Garth Nix anthology is undoubtedly the short story "Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case", set in the world of the Old Kingdom (the setting of the Old Kingdom trilogy; "Sabriel", "Lirael" and "Abhorsen") and acting as a type of coda for the character of Nicolas Sayre, left damaged and traumatized in the last book. Set six months later, Nick is desperate to return to the Old Kingdom, to visit his old friend Sameth and - particularly - to see the Abhorsen-in-Training Lirael again. Unfortunately red tape is making it difficult for him to get across the Wall, until his political uncle drops him off at the country house of Alastor Dorrance, the leader of Department Thirteen, a spy network. In return for answering some questions about the Old Kingdom, Dorrance is willing to help Nick get back across the Wall.

But that's before Nick is shown the underbelly of D13, and the secret that they have concealed in the underlying passageways of the house; a creature of Free Magic that is not as dead as they all might think. I loved the first half of the novella, and even the desperate chase that Nick makes after the terrible creature and its deranged servant, but was ultimately a little disappointed at the lack of previous characters present (of his extensive cast, only Lirael appears), and the fact that Nix doesn't take the opportunity to wrap up a few loose ends that were left dangling in "Abhorsen". Perhaps it's an indication that more "Old Kingdom" books are the works? Let's hope so. There is also an interesting snippet at the end of the book that reads as a lost document of the Clayr library: the journal of a power hungry necromancer. It's short but sweet (though perhaps gives us too much exposition on the Precincts of the Death, unnecessary since we've been told it all in the original trilogy).

The rest of the short stories are a mixed bag; a varied collection of several genres including Arthurian legend, satirical comedies, original fairytales and some stories that seem somewhat mundane (that is, not fantasy) if not for the thread of magic realism running through it. Some are certainly written with more skill than others, considering the stories are taken throughout his entire writing career (he even presents an *extremely* short story that he wrote when he was six), but the range of the stories mean that there's a good chance that at least one will appeal to you! Furthermore, Nix personalizes his anthology by adding a small introduction to each story, giving a background to the inspiration and the crafting of each tale.

"Under the Lake" and "Heart's Desire" are two very different takes on the Lady of the Lake; the first of which portrays her as a somewhat psychopathic goddess who gives the dubious gift of Excaliber to mankind, the latter of which explores her relationship to Merlin and the reason behind why she entrapped him beneath the earth.

"Down to the Scum Quarter" and "My New Really Epic Fantasy Series" are both tongue-in-cheek paradies of the fantasy genre, the former being an elaborate "Choose Your Own Adventure" story; the latter being a pitch for a forty-seven book series chock-full of every possible fantasy cliché.

In "Charlie Rabbit" two brothers are caught in a war-stricken country, with only themselves and a clockwork rabbit to protect them, whilst in "Lightning Bringer" a young boy meets a man with a (literally) electric personality, who has the power to take whatever he wants - including the protagonist's girlfriend. "In the Lighthouse" concerns a pompous land-developer buying an island - much to the bemusement of its inhabitants. This story has a great imaginative setting, one that I would have loved to have seen developed further.

On the downside, there is "Hope Chest", a fantasy-cum-Western that had previously appeared in "The Firebirds Anthology", and which (unfortunately) just didn't work for me, and "The Hill", which concerns a boy and his great-great-grandfather attempting to save a piece of land in the Australian outback. According to Nix's introduction, the story had originally contained aspects of Aboriginal mythology, which was cut due to disapproval from his publisher. Because Nix is white, it was deemed inappropriate for him to draw on a mythology that was not his own - a great pity, as I couldn't help that it would have been a better story with the Aboriginal components intact. And surely the world's mythology is not exclusive to one culture - isn't a story about Aborigine legends as written by a white person better than no story at all?

But I loved "Hansel's Eyes", a contemporary (and somewhat macabre version) of the Hansel and Gretel fairytale; and Nix's two original fairytales: "Three Roses" and "Endings" two very short and sweet tales; almost poems in their conception and style.

Although I would have much preferred that all the books in this series at been centered around the Old Kingdom, this is a perfectly adequate anthology of short stories, varied and well-written, as well as whetting our appetite for future Old Kingdom books. Pretty please?