Customer Reviews

Waifs and Strays

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

During my time working for Green Man Review, one name has constantly been tossed about as the guy to read--Charles de Lint. Apparently, when it came to fantasy, this was the guy to top. I don't generally like fantasy (I don't think Terry Pratchett counts), so I avoided him, especially since I noticed his novels are generally in the 500+ page arena--not the size for experimentation.

Then I saw this collection at the library. Short stories, I thought, a perfect chance to try this guy out. Plus, the title is the same as an O. Henry collection, and with that kind of pedigree, I couldn't resist.

The title comes not only from the penultimate story but also from the theme of the main characters being teens or children. My favorite is one written expressly for the collection, "Sisters," a sequel of sorts to "There's No Such Thing" (originally published in Vampires). It's about two sisters, Apples and Cassie; Apples is a vampire and she has to decide whether or not to "turn" Cassie (i.e., to lose her, or to make her to be like herself).

On the other hand, my least favorite was the centerpiece, a Bordertown piece called "Stick" (from Borderland) about a half-elf girl and her troubles with the Bloods (pure elfs)--fifty pages long and dead boring. In general, I didn't like the longer pieces but really enjoyed "Somewhere in My Mind There is a Painting Box" (from The Green Man), the closer.

But altogether, this is a fine collection spanning several years of de Lint's writing. It is also fascinating to watch his style and ability grow over the years. Recommended for fans of de Lint or other "mythic fiction," as it has come to be known.

As a fan of Charles De Lint's other novels and short story collections (the ones meant for adults), I was very excited to get a hold of this one. As usual, his stories are wonderfully written and the book was several hours worth of bliss.

I have just one complaint. Two of the stories were Newford stories. Not a problem, I love Newford. But both of these stories are in other Newford story collections (ie, which I already owned.) This bugged me. I have no problem with the stories themselves, but I did feel a bit gypped, especially as these are two of the longer stories, and brought the book from 300ish pages to 400ish pages. The repetition is what earned it 4 stars, not 5.

Still a good read, but you should know what you're buying. I suppose if I'd bothered to look at the table of contents, I would have known, but some days I'm smarter than others.

Wonderfully enjoyable entertainment, and extremely well-written, this book's short stories delve into a world each of their own. Magic, deception, and good versus evil all collide to form a well blended book of short stories. Each story has its own individuality and strength, with its own set of unique characters.
Two sample stories:
---- The first story is called Merlin Dreams in the Mondream Wood. It is about a girl who, when she has terrible nightmares, goes into her uncle's garden (whom she lives with) and upon dropping off to sleep on the garden's bench under a large tree, encounters a tree boy. He makes the dreams go away. Soon after the dreams ended, she stopped going to the garden at night. And so, years later when she is looking out of her bedroom window, sees the tree, and decides that night to go and search for the tree boy. A story of trust of memories.
---- The second story is about two sisters. Appoline and Cassandra. This story is written in chapters, alternating with each sisters point of view. Appoline is tweleve, and has a congentital birth defect. One leg is shorter then the other. She doesn't care so much about that, she really wants to find out what her sister is hiding from her.
Her sister, Cassandra is sixteen or seventeen, and has...a secret. She is a vampire. And plans to turn her sister, whom she has watched suffer too long, on HER sixteenth birthday.
Also a story of trust and magic.

Great book. Hope this review helped you learn more about the book.
Enjoy!

I particilarly like de Lint's Newford stories and novels but this very special collection of stories with varied settings is an excellent choice for adolescents, their teachers, libraries and schools. This wonderful short story anthology is de Lint's short fiction with teen protagonists. There's two Maisie Flood stories that take place in Newford; she's just off the street herself, but lives with an adult developmentally disabled man Tommy and a great number of castoff dogs ("Waifs and Strays" and "But for the Grace Go I"). "Stick" takes place in Bordertown. The eponymous martial arts expert defends a halfling from some Bloods, the band Horn Dance to defend him in turn, with music. "There's No Such Thing" and "Sisters" are charming, funny and a little sad teenage vampire stories set around Ottawa.

I have been a recent but ardent fan of Charles de Lint, so I snatched up this book as soon as I found it in the store. While not all of the stories revolved around Newford, the mythical city all de Lint fan's know and love, I enjoyed seeing a different side of of de Lint in this book. While de Lint is a master at "Urban Fantasy", he proves in this book that he can handle stories set in completely fantastical settings and still fill the characters with genuine emotions and personalities. I loved the Bordertown stories, especially the Horn Dance. I think however, that my favourite stories were 2 Newford stories, "but for the Grace Go I" and "Somewhere in my mind there is a painting box". These stories are, dare I say, prequels to other Newford stories, "Waifs and Strays" and the Novella "Seven Wild Sisters" found in "Tapping the Dream Tree". Though a different style than usual and definently aimed at a younger audience, this book is well worth it!

Charles de Lint is one of those writers who makes you recall the joy of reading short fiction. His work brings center stage and celebrates the diversity and endless possibilities that surround us in our lives, and weaves through the timeless thread of music and folklore and, always, love, for each other and the world and creatures around us, strange and frightening though it all sometimes seems. While this collection is aimed at the Young Adult market--and so lacks some of CDL's most powerful and moving stories--it is a good introduction to the author for anyone, and among the best choices for those seeking something to inspire and capture the imagination of a bright young reader.

I love fantasy, and I was expecting the usual. This is not the usual! I don't really like reading short stories, either, but these read like they really happened, and were reported yesterday in the newspapers. Quite different, really! Some of the stories I yearned to be full-blown novels, especially "Merlin Dreams in the Mondream Wood". When's the last time someone brought Merlin back to you? I miss him! Some, like "The Graceless Child", were haunting and eerie. The vampire sisters in "Sisters" was thought provoking!
Altogether, and interesting read.

A collection of various short stories from the different worlds that the author writes in- Bordertown, Newford, and a few others. Sometimes the magic is obvious- sometimes it's in the subtle connection between friends... but the magic is always there. I love the way that the stories transport me from our solid reality into a more fluid dream- just the way a fantasy should.

Charles DeLint is probably one of the best modern day writers and this book is wonderful. Charles DeLint never disappoints.

Charles DeLint is my favorite author and I've read almost everything I have found that he has written. I was excited with 'Waifs and Strays' since all but 3 of the included stories were new to me. I really enjoyed the introduction to each story as he explains when each was written and for which publication; and I was especially impressed with his introduction to "May This Be Your Last Sorrow". You gotta read this, especially if you are a fan of DeLint's.