Waifs and Strays

by Charles De Lint

Paperback, 2004

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Genres

Publication

Firebird (2004), Edition: Reprint, 416 pages

Description

Charles de Lint's remarkable novels and shorter fiction are, in a very real sense, coming of age stories. Here, for the first time, is a collection of his stories about teenagers collection for teen and adult readers alike. From the streets of his famed Newford to the alleys of Bordertown to the realms of Faerie, this is storytelling that will transfix and delight, with characters who will linger in the mind of them from his novels. Featuring an illuminating preface by acclaimed author, anthologist, and critic Terri Windling, Waifs and Strays is a must-own for de Lint fans, and an ideal introduction to his work for newcomers.

User reviews

LibraryThing member knittingpanda87

I have read this book twice and it is just amazing. This was the first Charles de Lint book I read and I just fell in love with his writing. I especially loved the Newford stories in this book and have since boughten and read all of his Newford short story books and a number of the Newford novels.

I just love how in all of the Newford short stories and novels are connected by the characters so you get to know the characters as you read the short stories and the novels so you can really get into the characters. That is the one thing that I have always disliked about short stories is that you can't connect as easily with the characters because of how short they are but in the Newford short stories you can because the characters repeat through out the stories just at differant periods in there lives.

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LibraryThing member aprilag

Collection of short stories. Earliest from 1988

LibraryThing member ladycato

Why do I go so long between readings of de Lint's works? Every time I pick up one of his books, I'm quickly left in awe of his style, depth, and imagination. Waifs and Strays was no exception. This is a book that is about teenagers, but is by no means a book simply for that audience. The stories

explore some of his familiar settings like Newford and Bordertown, and to other places entirely. There are some definite themes--the title makes the foremost one clear, as this is a novel's worth of tales about waifs and strays--and also often returns to themes like music and art, and compassion even amid dreadful circumstances. I had read a couple of these stories before, I think, but it has been several years, so everything felt fresh.

I hold tremendous respect for de Lint. If my own work can be compared to his someday, I will consider that the highest praise.

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LibraryThing member JoBass

Step into Charles de Lint strange urban world where vagabonds might be someone important, and those who seem important might not be at all Traditional songs weave spells and fairies at the bottom of the garden, to say nothing of the ability to paint, might be extremely dangerous. Contains the

following stories: Merlin dreams in the mondream wood; There's no such thing; sisters; fairy dust; A wish named Arnold; wooden bones; the graceless child; a tattoo on her heart; May this be your last sorrow; One Chance; Ghosts of wind and shadow; Waifs and strays (title story); and Somewhere in my mind there is a painting box.

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