Customer Reviews

Tapping the Dream Tree

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

 

 

All of these stories are from previous rare Chap books and other small press printings from many many years of Mr. De Lint's body of work.
So some of the stories aren't as well told because well they were written 10-15 years ago.....also this clearly states it is full of SHORT stories..short stories can't go into the kind of detail several folks seem to be demanding from De Lint. If you want more details of some of these characters by the OTHER anthologies of Newford as well as the full length novels. Don't whine and complain because you feel like you got dropped into the middle when the books clearly says it is MORE tales from Newford..not ALL the tales from Newford....sigh.
Beautiful collection lovely lyrical quality and and engaging characters. I have only a few De lints I have not enjoyed and this certianly not one of them.

After reading the reviews posted here I realize that I have missed out on quite a lot of excellent reading material over the years. The only three de Lint books I have ever come into contact with are The Onion Girl, Tapping the Dream Tree, and Spirits in the Wires. Some die-hard fans will therefore, I am sure, immediately discount my disagreement with the seemingly negative opinion of this book shown by the majority of the reviewers here. In particular, I strongly disagree with the review that states, "This one is for the fans... only" because this is the first De Lint book I ever read.

I will freely admit that I am a sucker for a good short story. I must also say that, if the first de Lint I had read was a continuous novel, I might not have gone around town recommending it to everyone I knew, as I did with Tapping the Dream Tree. This might not be as deep or as emotional or as detailed as some of de Lint's other work, but, from my reading of the stories, de Lint writes into these stories as much detail and emotional description as a short story can possibly contain.

As a short-story writer, one of the most difficult things to do well is to leave out parts that you could write in. If you choose well, these left out pieces add to your characters and stories more effectively than their inclusion. de Lint is excellent in this respect. Some of these characters are so well written that you want to step into their world and find out what they are like on a normal day and if they've ever had a normal day and what they like in their coffee or if they like coffee at all. They are characters that have deep wells of untouchably fascinating personality.

In summary... I loved this book. I loved these characters. This is the first De Lint book I ever read. This is still my favorite De Lint book. If you have never read de Lint, and if you like short stories from Bradbury (all of his shorts, not just his Martian Chronicles), and you would like to find a book of fantasy that captures the same feelings of making all things strange and, in strangeness, strangely beautiful, read de Lint's Tapping the Dream Tree. It is good enough to be worth reading.

I'm a big fan of Charles de Lint and have been breathlessly awaiting the fourth collection of his Newford-based stories, which I then read pretty much in one evening.

Though none of the stories were bad, there was something about them that dissatisfied and I couldn't quite put my finger on it ... the above Publishers Weekly review clarified it for me. These stories feel rather lazy and passive compared to the previous three collections. They feel very self-referential, several of them begin by referring to and summing up some previous story from the character's "life" before moving into a new tale that isn't nearly as alive and interesting as the original appearance of the character had been.

I was also disappointed that the last quarter of the book was just a reprint of "Seven Wild Sisters," which was published as its own independent book earlier this year.

Perhaps Newford is becoming tired as a story device; I hate to say it, because I love de Lint's Newford and I always enjoy visiting its streets. But with a few exceptions, these stories just weren't as alive as the previous ones have been.

I'll still follow de Lint wherever he takes me, though. A fan's a fan. :)

"Tapping the Dream Tree" is a weighty collection of Newford stories by Charles De Lint, revisiting some of his favoriate characters such as Jilly, Sophie and the Crow Girls. It does include a novelette --'Seven Wild Sisters'. For those of us who have had to search for vanished magazine copies of the stories, this anthology is a wonderful find. His characters are real, in some universe, and it's great to know more about them and their lives. Any De Lint reader needs to have this volume in their collection.

This seventeen-story collection takes Charles de Lint fans back to their favorite urban center Newford where magic is a way of life. Sixteen of the stories have been released in other publications, but not in one book. One tale is brand new. Each story contains an assortment of seeming losers obtaining a new lease on life either by the help of a kindhearted magical being or overcoming a malevolent essence. The stories are well written fantasies, but intended for the Newford crowd. Any other reader should try one of Charles de Lint's novels such as THE ONION GIRL first.

Harriet Klausner

Mr. DeLint has brought us back to Newford, and the surrounding areas. He has gifted everyone (who cares to read the book) with 17 more stories, 16 of which speak directly to the Newford mythology. Seven Wild Sisters is also in the book, and I have to admit I found that disappointing, but only because I had already purchased & read the original published version, so when I finished the 16th story, I did not realize I had actually finished the book.
However, I do not begrudge this; it allowed a lot of people who may have missed the first publishing of this wonderous story a second chance.
And this volume introduces us to several more magical members of the Newford society, and expands our knowledge of some of our old friends.
Mr. DeLint continues to tap the Tribe of Words, and the Dreaming Tree, to our benefit. He reminds us there is beauty, magic, sadness, mystery & wonder around every corner, on every shelf, and in every face we meet. We only have to pay attention...

I was thrilled to see that de Lint has published another Newford collection--they're my favorite of all his works. With the inclusion of stories like "Freak" and "The Witching Hour", the author seems to be dipping into the horror/ghost story genre a bit more these days. The reader gets some more background on some Newford characters that have only played bit parts or been alluded to in the past, such as Holly Rue and Paddy Riddell (the brother of Geordie and Christy). This is part of what I enjoy about his work: even minor characters have their own history and substance.

Granted, some of the stories are reprints; however, it's much less expensive to buy them in this collected format than it is to purchase all the chapbooks, magazines, etc. where the stories originally appeared.

I do agree that the collection as whole seems to lack that special spark that "Dreams Underfoot" and "The Ivory and the Horn" so vividly conveyed. The stories work well individually, but as a whole they don't fit together quite as nicely. I know that this is a picky issue, but I'm not a big fan of the cover art for this title; too cartoony for my taste.

Final verdict: hardcore de Lint fans and those who want a little more spookiness in their fantasy stories will enjoy this one.

A killer who reads minds, a group of young women who find pixies coming from their computers, hobs in their bookstores, and lovers in their dreams, people who sell their souls to the devil, and seven red-haired sisters who live in the forest and discover the war between the sang fairies and the bee fairies. Author Charles de Lint provides a delightful assortment of modern fairy tales. De Lint's stories are charming and fresh, dealing with authentic people rather than shallow fairy-tale heros--and with real magic.

TAPPING THE DREAM TREE is a wonderful collection of stand-alone stories, connected stories about the dream tree and a dream city, and a short novel of the seven sisters. This isn't a dark cyber-punk return-of-magic story, but a modern version of folk stories where fairie creatures may be powerful and beautiful, but are frequently indifferent to humans. Most of the stories are set in the countryside rather than in the city and reflect a peaceful pacing.

De Lint's writing paints pictures for his stories, compelling the reader without any sense of hurry. I found myself savoring the stories even though a part of me wanted to plunge on and find out what happens next. If you've read de Lint before, you know what to expect and you'll be delighted to find it. If you haven't, you're in for a treat. De Lint is a winner and TAPPING THE DREAM TREE is a powerful collection of stories that needs to be added to your must-read pile.

These short stories are beautifully crafted. In fact, I could hardly think of better examples of the short story form. While they all take place in environments familiar to the readers of de Lint's other Newford books, no knowledge of those stories is actually required for thorough enjoyment. In fact, one could say these stories embody the Newford tales strippped of any non-essential detail. They are a must-read for anyone interested in reading or writing good short fiction. While classified as "fantasy" this is not your typical swords and sorcery stuff. The characters live in a real world that just happens to sometimes tap into or feel the overlap of a world that lies at a magical angle to their daily lives.

I am a big, giant freak when it comes to Newford, so, of course, I waited eagerly for months for this book to come out. When it finally arrived, I was vaguely disappointed. Why?

-As has been previously mentioned, the last third or so of the book was "Seven Wild Sisters." SWS is a stunning story, and absolutely should be printed in a cheaper edition than the lovely but expensive Subterranean Press edition. However, though the Dillard stories are set in the same "universe" as the Newford Tales, they don't really go together. IMHO, de Lint probably should have waited for the next couple of Dillard stories (A Circle of Cats, Medicine Road) and published them--and the few short stories based on the Dillard tales--in one volume together.

-All of the events of "Tapping the Dream Tree" are set BEFORE "The Onion Girl." While I do realize that it takes time to write good short stories, I (and every other rabid Newford fan) was looking forward to finding out more about Jilly's recovery and the aftermath of TOG. To find that the stories reflected none of the maelstrom of pain and wonder and hope that was "The Onion Girl" was very disappointing.

-The short stories themselves are a bit lackluster. De Lint is a master storyteller, and there are a few of his stories ("The Moon is Drowning While I Sleep," "Winter Was Hard," "Wishing Well") that still give me the goosebumps. Most of Newford's usually vivid cast seems tired and out of place--and, furthermore, out of character--in this collection. De Lint is usually a master wordsmith, coaxing poetry out of the most ordinary things in our everyday life. Here, though, he just seems to be relating events that happened to some people he hardly knows.

De Lint has a lot on his plate right now, given the collaborations with the fantasy art genius Charles Vess, and with the new Newford novel "Spirits in the Wires" coming out soon. However, I hope that the next Newford collection is a little more like "Dreams Underfoot" or "The Ivory and the Horn."