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I am reading The Line Between, a collection of short stories by the aforementioned Peter Beagle. I am an unabashed fan and have been since reading The Last Unicorn some 30+ years ago. He has written some things that I merely like, but, overwhelmingly, Beagle is a treat to be anticipated, to be savored, and to reflect on.
I happily read his introductions to collections. He talks of an unpublished mainstream novel from his youth, and I am sure I would cherish the time waiting for it, reading it, and reviewing it in my mind afterwards. (Unfortunately, I am sure he intends for it to never see the light of day.)
So, it was with great joy that I discovered this newish collection of short stories. I did not bother looking carefully at it at the time, merely snapped it up. And then left it on hold. For my Parody and Satire class, I read Nuklear Age by Brian Clevinger - worth reading, if not worth buying for more than $30. It was borrowed and needs to be returned.
Then I read Invasive Procedures, an ARC of the forthcoming Orson Scott Card/Aaron Johnston science fiction thriller based on Card's 30+ year old short story, Malpractice. It was borrowed and needs to be returned. It is solid; I am glad I read it. It is not brilliant. (4 stars, not 5)
I read Harry Potter and the Last Book Except for the One That Comes After Which Shall Not Be Named, as much to avoid spoilers and to allow folks to discuss it freely with me. And I put off the Beagle a little longer.
No more.
Today, I started it. I am now 20 pages into the 35 page second story of the collection - Two Hearts.
It is a sequel to The Last Unicorn. And Beagle, in the introduction to the story, says he has a novel to write, a full sequel. Beagle, who for years swore that there could be no sequel, would be no sequel, should be no sequel... Beagle is writing a sequel.
Had I only heard the news, I should have greeted it with great trepidation as well as enormous curiosity and excitement.
Now, part way through Two Hearts, the trepidation is gone.
I happily read his introductions to collections. He talks of an unpublished mainstream novel from his youth, and I am sure I would cherish the time waiting for it, reading it, and reviewing it in my mind afterwards. (Unfortunately, I am sure he intends for it to never see the light of day.)
So, it was with great joy that I discovered this newish collection of short stories. I did not bother looking carefully at it at the time, merely snapped it up. And then left it on hold. For my Parody and Satire class, I read Nuklear Age by Brian Clevinger - worth reading, if not worth buying for more than $30. It was borrowed and needs to be returned.
Then I read Invasive Procedures, an ARC of the forthcoming Orson Scott Card/Aaron Johnston science fiction thriller based on Card's 30+ year old short story, Malpractice. It was borrowed and needs to be returned. It is solid; I am glad I read it. It is not brilliant. (4 stars, not 5)
I read Harry Potter and the Last Book Except for the One That Comes After Which Shall Not Be Named, as much to avoid spoilers and to allow folks to discuss it freely with me. And I put off the Beagle a little longer.
No more.
Today, I started it. I am now 20 pages into the 35 page second story of the collection - Two Hearts.
It is a sequel to The Last Unicorn. And Beagle, in the introduction to the story, says he has a novel to write, a full sequel. Beagle, who for years swore that there could be no sequel, would be no sequel, should be no sequel... Beagle is writing a sequel.
Had I only heard the news, I should have greeted it with great trepidation as well as enormous curiosity and excitement.
Now, part way through Two Hearts, the trepidation is gone.
