When Ron runs away, he ends up in Bordertown, a grim city that lies between the real world and the world of faerie, a place where elf and human gangs stalk the streets side by side, and where magic works better than technology. If the city doesn't kill him, it just may teach him what it is to be human.
Elsewhere
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Editorial Reviews
From Kirkus Reviews
An intriguing hybrid fantasy that mixes life on the street with magic and glimpses of unworldly beauty. Not far in the future, Faerie returns to the sight of man while a once-conservative human city becomes Bordertown, where young elves and humans alike escape their various homes and rules. Bordertown is dangerous, filled with gangs from both species, rife with magic, drugs, violence. Still, it lures more and more youngsters, including thin-skinned, tough-talking Ron Starbuck, who reads Yeats and pretends to know what's going on. Ron says he's looking for his brother Tony, but--as he enters Castle Pup under the wing of the unreliable half-breed Mooner and then finds himself a weapon of revenge against the woman who owns the bookstore called Elsewhere--we learn that Tony only meant to come to Bordertown. Ron's need to understand his brother's suicide and to regain a sense of self drives him through a series of muddled choices that he makes, and then tries to unmake. Filled with action, shifting images, and alienated characters looking for a place to belong, the adventure holds attention but doesn't entirely satisfy. Ron's motivation eventually becomes clear, yet he moves among mysterious, unfleshed-out characters who are often no more than cryptic hints--as is much of Faerie. Still, the ideas fascinate, Ron's fate matters, and this in an unusual view of the streets. (Fiction. 12-15) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Praise for Will Shetterly's Bordertown novels:
"A gritty, vivid portrait of a half-familiar world . . . Elsewhere works almost perfectly."--Newsday
"Shetterly has just enough distance from his hero to shape [his] troubled journey with skill and conviction, too little distance to patronize."--The Village Voice Literary Supplement
"Breaks ground that other writers will certainly try to cultivate."--Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Sometimes violent and profane, yet beautifully written . . . Not for the weak of heart, but a book for the adventurous soul."--The New Advocate
"A gritty, vivid portrait of a half-familiar world . . . Elsewhere works almost perfectly."--Newsday
"Shetterly has just enough distance from his hero to shape [his] troubled journey with skill and conviction, too little distance to patronize."--The Village Voice Literary Supplement
"Breaks ground that other writers will certainly try to cultivate."--Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Sometimes violent and profane, yet beautifully written . . . Not for the weak of heart, but a book for the adventurous soul."--The New Advocate
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I still remember seeing this book on the shelf of my high school library. I picked it out, read the back, checked it out of the library, and took it home. The very moment I opened this book I knew it would be great, and it was. After I took it back to the library I didn't see it till today. I feel like I have found and old friend. Definatly a good read for ANYONE who enjoys a good fantasy about elves, humans, magic, street life and how they all collide.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book snags you by the soul from the very first sentance. Its lyrical prose conveys the struggles of lonliness and fear that haunt the non-conformists of society. Although the roiling neo-punk language is harsh at times, the intricate characters and settings leaves a bitter aftertaste of beauty and pain. This book is a stark must-read for cynics, poets, fantasy-lovers and mutants of all ages.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read this book in Junior High and loved it. A few years ago i started reading it again. Shetterly has created a world of orthodox fantasy with many new twists on familiar fantasy concepts. The characters are personable and memorable. Recommended for those who love fantasy, those who feel out of place, and those who tire of the cliches embraced by the genre.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By S. Desoye
Format:Paperback
I first found this book this book on a grocery store display when I was fourteen, I let a friend borrow it and of course never saw it again. I found it again a couple of years later and had to buy a new copy. Well, that was 15 years ago and now that copy is barely readable. I still read it about once a year and it never fails to draw me into its world. Now I am looking to get a new copy for my kids to have when they are old enough. The book will take you to another world that is so much like our own, Elsewhere brings to life all of the things that teenagers deal with on a daily basis. While it is not a literary classic it more than holds its own and is a very enjoyable diversion.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ron Starbuck sets out for Bordertown to seek his brother
in this fantasy future where the fay land of Faerie
has returned, and magic lives at the edge of the human the world.
A runaway can find refuge in this urban jungle where the law governs little with the gang ruled streets. He is befriended by Mooner when is is thrown off the train for having no ticket.
His life seems upbeat until that one fateful day.
The slide downward is fast ( we learn his brother's fate) , but he is saved by a curse.
The writing here is pretty good,
but not enough for me to want badly to read the next one?
in this fantasy future where the fay land of Faerie
has returned, and magic lives at the edge of the human the world.
A runaway can find refuge in this urban jungle where the law governs little with the gang ruled streets. He is befriended by Mooner when is is thrown off the train for having no ticket.
His life seems upbeat until that one fateful day.
The slide downward is fast ( we learn his brother's fate) , but he is saved by a curse.
The writing here is pretty good,
but not enough for me to want badly to read the next one?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The Borderlands series is one of the best series out there. I'm only sorry that I didn't find it sooner, as one of the original books has gone out of print. The immediacy of the situation in Bordertown is incredible, as is the spectacular writing of all the authors involved. Elsewhere is a terrific continuation of the tone of the original anthologies (not surprising, since Shetterly was a part of those). Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys fantasy with a dose of reality.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I love this book I find it entertaing and entrancing; everything is so vividly described you feel as though you are in Elsewhere and you are running down the streets with Ron and all of the other characters. This book isnt only for children , I believe everycan enjoy this book. KaT
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
well, i read it once and it was alright, but i wouldn't read it again
November 27, 2007
Format:Paperback
Like the title says, I wouldn't read this book again, and probably won't read the second installment. While surrounded by "mythical" creatures, it still seems like they were just thrown in here to make it more interesting. It's more of a teen angst story than anything else, which is fine, but not really my kind of book. If these kind of stories don't irritate you, you might really like it. I decided to try it out and found it wasn't for me. Even though I didn't particularly like it, it was interesting enough that if i had to put it down for awhile, i was eager to get back to it. I don't like that Ron sides with Mooner for most of the story, cuz Mooner's an egotistic moron. But besides him, all the character's have their own distinct personality and they seem real enough. I think this book deserves 3 1/2 stars, actually. It might not've been my kinda book, but it was written very well.
Throughout the story, Ron is looking for his older brother, Tony. We learn little tid-bits about Tony throughout the book, until the end where we find out exactly what happened to Tony and why Ron thinks he's there. I suspected the outcome from the beginning, but even so it was interesting reading up to it. Although the main character is a guy (obviously:P), I didn't have trouble understanding the way he was talking/thinking (this is written in the first person from Ron's point of view), which was great, because i know a lot of books from a girl's point of view aren't really guy-friendly. Anyway, i would recommend this book to you if you like teen angst mixed with the mythical and some great characters thrown in.
Throughout the story, Ron is looking for his older brother, Tony. We learn little tid-bits about Tony throughout the book, until the end where we find out exactly what happened to Tony and why Ron thinks he's there. I suspected the outcome from the beginning, but even so it was interesting reading up to it. Although the main character is a guy (obviously:P), I didn't have trouble understanding the way he was talking/thinking (this is written in the first person from Ron's point of view), which was great, because i know a lot of books from a girl's point of view aren't really guy-friendly. Anyway, i would recommend this book to you if you like teen angst mixed with the mythical and some great characters thrown in.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
urban fantasy
excellent and fascinating character development.
innovative use of the 'borderland' fantasy space created by Terri Windling.
Unexpected plot twists. Read more
innovative use of the 'borderland' fantasy space created by Terri Windling.
Unexpected plot twists. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jenifer Yaila
5.0 out of 5 stars
Seminal urban fantasy
I came to the Borderlands series late, and Elsewhere was my first foray into it. Borderlands is a shared-universe anthology setting edited by Terry Windling, with a few complete... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Wintermask
5.0 out of 5 stars
A rare gem
This book is one of the hidden treasures of the literary world. If you get a chance, buy it. You will want to read it again and again.
Published on December 14, 2010 by Isbellatrix
2.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Idea with Poor Execution
There are other books I could dislike more that this one, but I'm not thinking of them right now.
The plot is mediocre at best. Read more
The plot is mediocre at best. Read more
Published on April 25, 2009 by C. E. Bergan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simple praise is not enough...
One of the best books I have ever read. I picked this up about 10 yrs ago, and couldn't put it down then either.The only book I've read twice in one sitting,simply amazing. Read more
Published on December 28, 2007 by Aaron Pietrowski
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well it's no shakespeare but...
...I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Maybe it's my enjoyment of teen angst that did it. Shatterly made a pretty cool kid here, tough big mouth, little body... Read more
Published on May 30, 2006 by Catseye
5.0 out of 5 stars
Height of my Teenage Years
I still remember seeing this book on the shelf of my high school library. I picked it out, read the back, checked it out of the library, and took it home. Read more
Published on March 19, 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
if you liked elsewhere....
If you liked elsewhere you are my new friend. This book was a very good book. It shows how when you are traveling through worlds you have to stick to your gut and go with what you... Read more
Published on March 12, 2000 by Erica
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