Customer Reviews

Elsewhere

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

...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...I did occasionaly get the feeling that the whole angry teenager(grr) thing was a bit over the top but there wasn't much that stuck out sorely (besides -some- character interactions)

The end was little problematic. Be warned, the ending seems to have been written with the sequel Never Never in mind. I ended to book with the feeling that there was never a plot, just this place called the Bordertown and this kid called Ron who's learning about it as I am.

That was good enough for me though. The world and the people were fantastic enough that I ignored the disregard for linear tale. Overall, it's just a fun read.

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.