captain’s quarters

August 1, 2023

Emotional and well-written, Josh Rountree’s debut novel THE LEGEND OF CHARLIE FISH is gripping and compelling

Rick Klaw blog captain's quarters, civilian reader, entropy isn't what it use to be, Horror DNA, john scalzi, josh rountree, mary robinette kowal, my favorite bit, paul preston, paul semel, review, the big idea, the book lover's boudoir, the legend of charlie fish, whatever

Recently released, Josh Rountree’s debut novel THE LEGEND OF CHARLIE FISH storms it way to amazing reviews from Entropy Isn’t What it Used to Be, Horror DNA, The Book Lover’s Boudoir, Captain’s Quarters, and Paul Preston. The celebrations for its publication included Rountree contributions to The Big Idea on John Scalzi’s Whatever and Mary Robinette Kowal’s My Favorite Bit. Paul Semel interviewed the author while Civilian Reader ran an excerpt.

This is a gripping, compelling and highly entertaining novel that kept hooked and turning pages and surprised me at each turn with new marvels and wonderful twists.

It’s poignant, full of emotions, a bit weird at times: it made me cry buckets and smile. It made me discover a new author and I thoroughly enjoyed this story

i strongly recommend it because it’s a brilliant novel.
Entropy Isn’t What it Used to Be

THE LEGEND OF CHARLIE FISH is ultimately fun, full of deep character work and heartfelt emotion. Charlie Fish could be just a plot device but is instead a fleshed-out and real character who feels like one of the strange and makeshift family.
Horror DNA

This is a well-written, entertaining, and hugely original book. I thought it was great.
The Book Lover’s Boudoir

Recommended for those who like quirky characters and historical details.
Captain’s Quarters

“This is a story with an underlying fantastical edge about doing what is right. A warm hearted tale about an eclectic group of remarkable characters going against the odds as well as against the storm of a lifetime.

These characters are just a joy to hang out with.” — **Paul Preston (pbanditp)**

October 29, 2020

Wicked and creative, Jane Yolen’s THE MIDNIGHT CIRCUS is a satisfying and, at times, an unsettling read

Rick Klaw blog adjective+noun, Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, captain's quarters, enfnts terribles, jacob olson, Jane Yolen, realms & robots, review, tara campbell, the midnight circus, theodora goss, washington independent review of books 0

As Halloween draws near, the 2021 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award candidate Jane Yolen’s scary THE MIDNIGHT CIRCUS continues to impress.

For WASHINGTON INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF BOOKS, Tara Campbell enjoys the collection.

Yolen is often dubbed “the Hans Christian Andersen of America,” but that should not be misunderstood. Her work is not Andersen Americanized: sanitized, watered-down, Disney-fied. It is true to the real tradition of Andersen: mesmerizing, haunting, and often not for the faint of heart.

This collection teems with Yolen’s weird, folkloric verve. Her menagerie of stories is distilled from a cauldron of fairytales, legends, and history, featuring everything from selkies to shapeshifters; witches, weavers, and warriors; and angels murderous to ravenous. Her foreword and endnotes offer additional context for the work, creating a satisfying — if often unsettling — reading experience.

Jacob Olson at REALMS & ROBOTS agrees.

Of her most recent collection of stories, THE MIDNIGHT CIRCUS, I can say that her storytelling ability remains stronger than ever. It’s a wonderful collection of little tales that both enchant and teach valuable lessons with each conclusion.

[…]

Overall, I’m as impressed with THE MIDNIGHT CIRCUS as I expected to be. Seeing a writer continue to perfect their form is always exciting, and with Yolen, you know you’ll be thrust into worlds known and unknown, leaving the pages a little wiser and a bit further removed from the humdrum happenings of real life.

ENFNTS TERRIBLES recommends the book.

THE MIDNIGHT CIRCUS is a collection of dark, haunting tales. These sixteen short stories, each accompanied by a poem, are all very different from each other, for instance, in one story the South Pole becomes hell on earth, in another, The Red Sea becomes deadly due to a plague of evil angels. Some stories are scarier than others, but all are wicked and creative.

As does ADJECTIVE+NOUN.

One thing that really brought this collection of stories to life was the commentary at the end from Jane Yolen about when each story was published or written, with a poem as accompaniment. I almost wish these snippets had been included after each story, however, while the details were still fresh in my mind. Nevertheless, they were enjoyable, and it was fun to learn the inspiration behind each story.

Fans of Jane Yolen’s work will likely find plenty to enjoy in this anthology, and I’d also recommend it to fans of horror, fairytales or folklore.

CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS praises the work.

I have always loved reading Jane Yolen’s novels but as I have gotten older I have loved her short stories just as much. I have read all four of the Tachyon Publications of Jane Yolen’s works and I love them. This fifth one deals with dark themes though the book is set up along the lines of her previous collection, THE EMERALD CIRCUS, which dealt with fairytales.

This collection has 16 varied tales. Like any collection, I liked some better than others. I also very much enjoyed Yolen’s “Story Notes and Poems” at the end of the book which gives background on the short stories in the collection.

BEAS AND BOOKS feels much the same.

I recommend this if you love reading short stories, especially, fairytales and folklore but I warn you, it gets dark.

Through INSTAGRAM, Theodora Goss, who penned the introduction to THE MIDNIGHT CIRCUS, expresses her thoughts on the book.

It was such an honor to write the introduction for Jane Yolen’s THE MIDNIGHT CIRCUS. Do pick up this book . . . It’s filled with Jane’s dark magic (she also has bright magic, sharp magic, dinosaur magic, all sorts of magic). 🙂 Just out from Tachyon!

April 4, 2019

Award winners Peter S. Beagle and Jacob Weisman’s wonderful THE UNICORN ANTHOLOGY delivers a delightful array of tales

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized b&n sci-fi & fantasy blog, booklist, captain's quarters, elizabeth story, frances moritz, girl who reads, jacob weisman, mk french, peter s beagle, reviews, the unicorn anthology, Thomas Canty

Praise keeps coming for THE UNICORN ANTHOLOGY, the new title from World Fantasy Award-winning tandem Peter S. Beagle and Jacob Weisman.

For BOOKLIST, Frances Moritz likes the book.

Beagle, well known for the classic The Last Unicorn (1968), has compiled further fantastical stories about the creatures, exploring a range of beliefs and myths, from the magical attraction of unicorns to maidens to the enchantment of a unicorn tattoo. In Carlos Hernandez’s “The Magical Properties of Unicorn Ivory,” a visiting journalist explores the English woods with a forest ranger, searching for unicorns who have trasversed black holes to our world from other parts of the multiverse.

<snip>

Rounding out the collection are some tales where unicorns are not ultimately good, topping off a delightful array of entries from some of today’s most beloved fantasy writers.

MK French at GIRL WHO READS enjoys the volume.

One story that really sticks out in my mind is “The Magical Properties of Unicorn Ivory.” It’s the opening story, whete unicorns crossed over into our universe through microscopic holes punched by particle accelerator experiments. They now exist in our world, and are majestic and magical creatures; this makes them a commodity for poachers willing to abduct children or harm adults trying to save them. Like with poachers of other protected animals, they don’t care who they hurt, including the animals they’re hunting, and the end of this story still haunts me.

Another beautiful one in this collection is “The Highest Justice” by Garth Nix, where the magic of the Unicorn allows a princess to keep her mother’s dead body animated enough to get revenge on the king and his mistress, who had poisoned her. “The Transfigured Hart” by Jane Yolen brings her deft magical realism to a story of two children and an albino deer.

This is a wonderful collection to read, and one I am very grateful to have read.

Jacob Weisman and Peter S. Beagle at Worldcon 76 in San Jose, CA

CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS reviews the work.

So ye scalawags, many of ye likely know about me first love, horses, before the sea stole me heart. So of course I was also obsessed with unicorns, too. Peter S. Beagle’s, the last unicorn is one of me favourite books along with the joyful animated movie of the same name. So when I saw that there be a new unicorn anthology out, I knew I had to read it. Many of these stories have appeared in other places and were not new to me. For me this anthology was uneven. But I do have several from this collection that are now new favourites:

“The Magical Properties of Unicorn Ivory” (Carlos Hernandez) – I absolutely loved this reporter’s article of the first time she gets to see a unicorn in the wild. The ending was unexpected and poignant. Beautiful.

“The Brew” (Karen Joy Fowler) – This is about what happens when ye brew something using unicorn horn and how the mixture changes the life of two young teens. The use of memory in this story was lovely. Apparently this story was in immortal unicorn volume 2 but I don’t remember reading it back then. Glad to be reintroduced.

<snip>

Out of the 16 stories I liked 6 of the new ones and still loved 3 of the tales known previously. I didn’t like 6 of the new ones and 1 previously read before. So about half of this collection floated me boat. In addition to the stories, there is also a lovely introduction by Peter S. Beagle on what it be like to be known as the “unicorn guy”. If ye haven’t read any of these stories previously then I do think this could be a good place to start. Arrrr!

B&N SCI-FI & FANTASY BLOG includes THE UNICORN ANTHOLOGY among The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books of April 2019.

For more info about THE UNICORN ANTHOLOGY, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Thomas Canty
Design by Elizabeth Story

September 18, 2018

The time spent reading Jane Yolen is never a waste

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized captain's quarters, cinders magazine, elizabeth story, how to fracture a fairy tale, Jane Yolen, méabh mcdonnell, noveltea corner, review, the emerald circus, the transfigured hart, things in her head, Thomas Canty

Photo: Jason Stemple

THINGS IN HER HEAD praises Jane Yolen’s forthcoming HOW TO FRACTURE A FAIRY TALE.

The idea of twisting and changing a part of a story is not that easy, especially a story that is already so popular and has been passed down by generations. This fracturing is greatly done and it is so fun to read! I really like that I could recognize some of the stories here because it excites me to read what we’re fractured and retained. I admit not all of the fairy tales here were familiar to me and I would want to read the original because I enjoyed it here!

<snip>

This is a five-star for me!! I like how the stories were fractured and mashed-up to give a new flavor and tone to it. It is not overly done and the lessons and morals that you could get from it is still there and in fact it is also leveled up along with the story. If you enjoy fairy tales and would want to read them in a different perspective then this book is definitely for you!!

NOVELTEA CORNER also enjoys the collection.

This is, essentially, a collection of fractured fairytales – both the very famous ones and some of the more obscure tales – with a spin on them I haven’t seen before. It also served to highlight just how few traditional tales I actually know well, because I was constantly having to look up the original source material to understand the changes that we made.

I have to say, my favourite stories were the retellings of The Three Billy Goats Gruff (from the Bridge’s perspective) and the Cinderella retelling – which I would not have originally thought to be stories I’d gravitate towards but I ended up loving and am still thinking about them now.

If you enjoy fairytale retellings, this is definitely worth a look when it’s released in November 2018.

Méabh Mcdonnell at CINDERS MAGAZINE lauds THE TRANSFIGURED HART.

The writing is beautifully lyrical, as we have come to expect from Yolen, but also has the refreshing rhythm of argumentative teens thrown in amid the dialogue.

The story is a grounded and entertaining depiction of a well-worn fantasy trope, but is handled with care and finesse by Yolen. It is fascinating to see how she integrates teenagers into the magic of the Hart’s domain, and how the real magic that occurs is between two very different people solidifying an enduring friendship.

And isn’t that the joy of fantasy? Of seeing traits you wish you had and traits you wish you didn’t reflected in people who witness magical scenes? Jane Yolen will always be a lyrical superstar and a moment spent reading her stories is never a moment wasted.

CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS finds THE EMERALD CIRCUS perfect for a rainy day.

While I have read many of Jane Yolen’s works, most have been her novels. It has only been recently that I have been reading her short stories. And I have been missing out. I was saving this collection for a day when I needed a pick me up. So when I was stuck in rain and fog and feeling under the weather, I picked this up to be transported to a more magical time and place.

This collection has 16 varied tales. Like any collection, I liked some better than others. But all show Yolen’s skill and love of storytelling. In addition this book also had something I wasn’t expecting. The end of the book has author reflections on how the stories came to be along with some of her poetry. I don’t really know much about the author’s life but she sounds like one awesome lady and this look into her writing process was lovely.

<snip>

I had to admit that I was immensely cheered up by reading this collection and will be thinking about me favourites for quite some time. If ye be a Jane Yolen fan, this should tickle yer fancy. If ye aren’t familiar with her work then this might be a good place to start. Arrrr!

For more info on HOW TO FRACTURE A FAIRY TALE, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover design by Elizabeth Story

For more info on THE TRANSFIGURED HART, visit the Tachyon page.

Art by Thomas Canty

Design by Elizabeth Story

For more info about THE EMERALD CIRCUS, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover design by Elizabeth Story

July 13, 2018

Jane Yolen’s immersive THE TRANSFIGURED HART is magical and full of lush imagery

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized captain's quarters, elizabeth story, epic stitching, Jane Yolen, lost in a good book, particle books, review, short story, the transfigured heart, Thomas Canty

Jane Yolen’s delightful THE TRANSFIGURED HART continues to impress.

CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS praises the story.

This is a truly wonderful story about two young kids, who unbeknownst to each other, each catch a glimpse of a ghostly white creature in the woods. Richard is convinced it is a unicorn. Heather is convinced is a white deer. Both want to tame it. They don’t count on running into each other by the crystal, shimmering pool in the forest. Danger is lurking for the beast. Heather and Richard slowly realize that they must work together to not only determine what the creature is but also in order to save it.

Jane Yolen is one of those magical writers whose stories are rich in imagery and defy neat categorization. This complexly woven tale is delightful. It doesn’t necessarily feel complicated when reading it. Younger readers will be drawn into the mystery of the creature, the evolving relationship between the two teens, and the adventure that ensues. Older readers will love the unicorn history sprinkled in the tale, the rife symbolism, and the beautiful writing style.

I was completely immersed in the tale and was left in a lovely state of mind pondering the outcome of the story when I finished. I will certainly reread this in the future.

Photo: Jason Stemple

LOST IN A GOOD BOOK enjoys the fantasy.

The story is magical, full of lush imagery and description. The two children are complex characters who act like real children, not with the false precociousness we see in some books. These two navigate the step over from childhood fantasy to young adulthood in the midst of a fairy tale of their own making. Or is it? Was it a hart or a unicorn they encountered in the woods?

I haven’t read any of Ms. Yolen’s other works, but I’ve seen her praised by other bloggers whose opinions I respect. I really need to pick them up. I also need to re-read this book. It’s a book to be savored and I didn’t realize that. I read it far too quickly. It is a good book for a quiet afternoon. I would recommend reading it with a good soundtrack, a cup of tea, a cat and a soft blanket. Yes, excellent plan.

EPIC STITCHING likes the tale.

Beautifully written and in the style of Grimm or Anderson; if you are looking for a ‘new’ fairy tale to read that has that older style of lyric writing I believe you will really enjoy The Transfigured Hart. For me this was a refreshing read as I have been reading a lot of intense historical fiction or bad YA tropes. It was the perfect little read.

For more info on THE TRANSFIGURED HART, visit the Tachyon page.

Art by Thomas Canty

Design by Elizabeth Story

May 26, 2017

Peter S. Beagle’s lovely IN CALABRIA is worth the read

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized bestseller, bibliophibian inc., borderlands books, captain's quarters, in calabria, peter s beagle, review

CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS praises Peter S. Beagle’s IN CALABRIA.

I found this novella to be lovely. While there are unicorns, the story is really about how Claudio Bianchi deals with and is changed by them. Claudio is a cranky middle-aged farmer who lives on a farm in the Calabria region of Italy. He is a bit of a loner that writes poetry. So when he wakes one morning to find a unicorn on his farm in the middle of nowhere, his world is irrevocably changed.

I loved Signore Bianchi. For being salty, he has a good heart. Even his farm animals have great personalities. The ending was a little unusual but the journey of watching Bianchi’s relationships with the unicorn and other folk makes it worth the read.

Photo: Rina Weisman

BIBLIOPHIBIAN INC enjoys the fantasy.

IN CALABRIA is a quiet sort of story. It has dramatic moments, certainly, but those weren’t what will stick in my mind in the slightest. What will stick in my mind is Claudio’s quiet care for the unicorn, his moments of inspiration, and his love for Giovanna. He opens up, going from old curmudgeon with a heart of gold to a man who loves, who is brave, who will put himself on the line — and it’s because of the unicorn.

<snip>

IN CALABRIA is more like that, a fable or fairy story, though I wouldn’t say it has something as simple as a moral. What’s nice is that, along with the serious moments and the warmth and tenderness, there’s a lot of humour as well. Like Claudio being grateful that Giovanna bought him pyjamas during a critical and dramatic moment…

Rating: 4/5

The book remains on the Borderland Books bestseller list.

Borderlands Best-Selling Titles for April, 2017

Hardcovers
1. THE COLLAPSING EMPIRE by John Scalzi
2. WALKAWAY by Cory Doctorow
3. WITHIN THE SANCTUARY OF WINGS by Marie Brennan
4. NORSE MYTHOLOGY by Neil Gaiman
5. NEW YORK 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson
6. SEVEN SURRENDERS by Ada Palmer
7. 1636: MISSION TO THE MUGHALS by Eric Flint & Griffin Barber
8. BORNE by Jeff VanderMeer
9. IN CALABRIA by Peter S. Beagle
10. THE WRONG DEAD GUY by Richard Kadrey

For more info about IN CALABRIA, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover design by Elizabeth Story