Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders (P.S.) | 
|  | | | Title: | Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders (P.S.) | | Author: | Neil Gaiman | | Publisher: | Harper Perennial | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | 01 October, 2007 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0061252026 / 9780061252020 | | List Price: | $14.95 | | You Save: | $4.78 | | Amazon Price: | $10.17 | |
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Product Description
A mysterious circus terrifies an audience for one extraordinary performance before disappearing into the night. . . . In a Hugo Award–winning story, a great detective must solve a most unsettling royal murder in a strangely altered Victorian England. . . . Two teenage boys crash a party and meet the girls of their dreams—and nightmares. . . . These marvelous creations and more showcase the unparalleled invention and storytelling brilliance—as well as the terrifyingly dark and entertaining sense of humor—of the incomparable Neil Gaiman. By turns delightful, disturbing, and diverting, Fragile Things is a gift of literary enchantment from one of the most original writers of our time.
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Customer Reviews:
• Delightful And Spooky: A Good Haloween Book 22 September, 2008
I keep a shelf of what I call "October Books". Meant to give me some Late-autumn, leaves-are-rustling, curl-up-and-listen-to-the-cold-wind-howl kind of entertainment, it's populated mostly by Bradbury, Gorey, and King. But lately Gaiman has been making his presence felt there. This book will be a great addition to the collection.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A31DV60QRAJQIJ
• Imaginative And Fast-paced 02 October, 2008
In this short story collection, Neil Gaiman compiles various fast-paced stories (and a few poems) from over the decades. Some of them are very good; others didn't really work. But that's the beauty of a short story collection--if you don't like one story, there's a new one just a few pages ahead. By and large, however, Gaiman's stories were darkly imaginative, quirky, and--most importantly--fun. Some weren't up to his usual high standards, and he's the first to admit as much in his "notes" section where he offers some insight into each tale.
If you're a fan of Gaiman and/or short fantasy, horror, and sci-fi, I think this collection will please.
~Scott William Foley, author of The Imagination's Provocation: Volume I: A Collection of Short Stories
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2OOZZDSOHG4UY
• Book Review: Fragile Things By Neil Gaiman 21 August, 2008
Fragile Things is a collection of Neil Gaimen's short stories, and some poetry also, along with a section of his own commentary regarding each of the stories within. The entire volume is interesting in that there are many different examples of his style of writing. Short stories that I myself would never have thought ready to publish tend to hold up a mirror to my own creative bias. I learned a lot about the crafting of each story and now marvel at the variety of approaches he takes. Each story is very good, but of course, when dealing with various forms of style some stories will strike a stronger note with each reader.
In Fragile Things, my favorite part about the whole anthology is Gaimen's commentary. I find this as the most entertaining piece because it is his voice providing a little insight to the how's and why's of each story. Talking about how he lost this story in an attic somewhere or the background of how a particular piece was commissioned. These comments provide just some of the most inspiring little tidbits of knowledge and really allow one to just see why Gaimen is so prolific.
Without reviewing each story, as that would be a huge undertaking beyond the scope of this review, I will highlight a few stories I found particularly relevant to me. So, to begin:
A Study in Emerald: I'm a fan of Sherlock Holmes and this crossover to Lovecraftian mythos was just amazing. It is no wonder why Gaimen was "mysteriously inducted into the Baker Street Irregulars" after publishing this adventure. It captures the Victorian feel of a Holmes story and adds that bit of Lovecraft just enough to make it otherworldly. I was not disappointed.
October in the Chair: This was an intriguing story in which all the months of the year gather around a fire and tell stories. The scene is reminiscent of a couple of older men bickering in their little way, nitpicking from each of their set-in-stone personality. The story October tells is a nice little ghost story about a little boy who is out of place in his family, his school, his town and decides to run away. Though the story ends a little undone it is completed in a way that justifies the sudden ending.
Other People: A beautiful take on Hell. This story just captures the imagination and it being only three pages long really makes its impact. A man finds himself in Hell and is submitted to what seems to be an eternal torture, until he discovers its purpose. Great, great story!
Good Boys Deserve Favors: A young boy is forced in school to pick a musical instrument and due to his small size decides to make a joke of picking the double bass. The ending just takes my breath away. I love the power that music seems to create when one's heart and soul magically summons the most enchanting song. This story doesn't disappoint. Reminds me of a scene or two from Patrick Rothfuss' `The Name of the Wind', astounding!
Harlequin Valentine: I never get enough of good jester stories and this one helps feed that need. Harlequin, from the classic opera, is seeking his Columbine in the modern world. When he finds her the situation turns around on him. Lovely!
The Problem with Susan: This is the Gaimen ending to the Chronicles of Narnia, telling the story of Susan, the somewhat left behind girl from the Narnia stories. It turns out she faded into the modern world, until a reporter strives to uncover her story.
Feeders and Eaters: Gaimen's rendition of a vampire tale, down to earth and a little haunting. Takes a different route on telling the story, and very good at that.
Goliath: a bit of fan fiction, sort of, from the movie The Matrix. It was originally hosted on the movie's website, and I remember reading it back then, and has been added to this compendium. A story of a very large man who ends up accidently perceiving the illusion of the Matrix. Things change during his life and he recalls the inconsistencies, ultimately having his life relived, becoming a British special projects experimental pilot. He finds out that he is chosen as the last ditch effort to save the real earth. A haunting story in which he lives out the remaining moments of his life back in the Matrix.
A lot of stories, and out of thirty short stories and poems these made the most impact. Others also would have made the cut, including Closing Time, Keepsakes and Treasures, and How to Talk to Girls at Parties, but I didn't want to get too out of hand on this review. The poetry is good also but I've never been good at reading and understanding poetry so I will avoid making asinine comments I have no business making.
This is a very good collection of fantasy, horror, and mystery, and allows one to get a grand introduction to the styles and creations of Neil Gaimen. Definitely a book worth picking up.
- Reviewed by customer ID: AH5YW5ER58SEJ
• Low Star = Shallow Reader 15 September, 2008
I read the reviews preceding customer reviews, from Publisher's Weekly and some other rag. I was pretty miffed at the offhandedness.
Then I remembered that it's not necessarily the view of the entire publication, but just an individual reviewer whose opinion, while in this case entirely wrong (can't-believe-they-were-paid-to-write-it-wrong!), they apparently have a right to.
If you know anything about Neil Gaiman you're already aware of what a farce those reviews are. If you think poetry can be found uncut in the prose of a gifted handful of writers, you've probably read Gaiman in the past. If you agree that an artist can express an idea without making a novel in three parts, and giving you nice tidy ending, then you're my kind of reader.
Those reviews were short-sighted and suffered from Fear-What-You-Don't-Understand disease. Please disregard, but not before you demand that Publisher's Weekly hire a new book reviewer.
Neil Gaiman is a genius. One of the most literary, original, and prolific writers of our generation. Fragile Things is a quilt of his imaginings, and it is outstanding. If your I.Q. tops 120 and you enjoy new and different perspectives on the life that you are leading (and a great story to boot), you will not be sorry you bought this
,
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1ND7FH7V0RKY1
• Short Tales From The Master Of Fantasy 05 October, 2008
Who is the best author actively writing adult fantasy nowadays? For my money, it's Neil Gaiman. Not only does he produce fantasy that's a clear change of pace from the standards elves, wizards and dragons, but he also is one of the only successful fantasy writers capable of telling a story in a single volume. But more than that, Gaiman is just a great writer.
Fragile Things is a collection of his short stories (with an occasional poem thrown in the mix). Right off the bat, we get a wonderful tale, "A Study in Emerald", a Sherlock Holmes set in an alternate England in which Lovecraft's Elder Gods are not a fiction. Gaiman's stories don't always rely on a twist, but "Study" does offer a good one.
Prior to reading this collection, I'd previously read two of the stories, both in a Year's Best Horror anthology. They were among the best in that anthology, and they're even good on re-reading. "Forbidden Brides" (I'm abridging the lengthy title) is a nice parody of Gothic horror and "The Problem of Susan" offers a different take on the conclusion of C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. Fragile Things also includes "The Monarch of the Glen", a sequel of sorts to the novel American Gods (though it stands on its own); this story offers a take on the Beowulf story that is different from Gaiman's screenplay for the recent Beowulf movie.
I won't say every story is perfect, and I've personally never been much for poems, but overall, this is a fun read. My one gripe is with the introduction, in which Gaiman gives comments on each story; I think the comments would go better before or after the story, not at the beginning of the book. And while I like Gaiman's novels more, Fragile Things is a great book that showcases exactly how good he is.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2F3M93RRLFQNJ
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