The Very Best of Charles de Lint

The Very Best of Charles de Lint (2010) is a collection of stories.

This page is a stub. Please help expand the usefulness of the Charles de Lint's Newford Wiki by expanding it!

Category (Adult or YA)[]

Adult

Description[]

✥ Publisher Comments: All of the finest stories of this popular pioneer of urban fantasy and creator of the mythical city of Newford have been chosen by the author—and his fans—and gathered in this extraordinary collection. Asked to suggest their own favorite stories for inclusion, de Lint's fans have been instrumental in creating a treasury that will spark the imaginations of readers of all ages. These are retold fairy tales and new modern myths that thoroughly redefine the boundaries of magic. Between these pages are all manner of enchanted characters in unusual places: playful Crow Girls who sneak into the homes of their sleeping neighbors, a graffiti artist who risks his life to expose a deadly conspiracy, and an unrepentant trickster who throws one last party to reveal a lost folkloric tradition.

At turns unexpected, whimsical, dark, and mystical, this is an essential compendium of timeless tales to be revisited as often as the heart desires. ~ Charles de Lint: The Very Best of Charles de Lint (2010)

✥ Synopsis: At turns whimsical, dark, and mystical, this extraordinary collection of retold fairy tales and new, modern myths redefine the boundaries of magic. Compiling favored stories suggested by the author and his fans, this delightful treasury contains the most esteemed and beloved selections that de Lint has to offer.

Innovative characters in unexpected places are the key to each plot: playful Crow Girls who sneak into the homes of their sleeping neighbors; a graffiti artist who risks everything to expose a long-standing conspiracy; a half-human girl who must choose between her village and her strange birthright; and an unrepentant trickster who throws one last party to reveal a folkloric tradition.

Showcasing some of the finest offerings within the realms of urban fantasy and magical realism, this essential compendium of timeless tales will charm and inspire. ~ Goodreads

Themes[]

World-Building[]

Settings[]

Newford
Old City
Lower Crowsea
Stansford
Buick
Fitzhenry Park

Supernatural / Mythical Elements[]

time travel, crow girls, animal people,

Characters[]

Characters	What	Story Title	About
Jilly Coppercorn	human	"In Which We Meet Jilly—"
Meran Kelledy	Other-worlder	“The Badger in the Bag”;	about when first got together with Cerin;
Cerin Kelledy	Other-worlder	“The Badger in the Bag”;	about when first got together with Meran;
Professor Bramley Dapple		“The Stone Drum";
Goon		“The Stone Drum"
Geordie Riddell
Christy Riddell	writer	“The Fields Beyond the Fields”	loves writing about Newford and his girlfriend Saskia;
Saskia Madding
Sophie Etoile	half human-half Fae artist; "Five Coyotes Singing Studio"		abstract painter;
Crow Girls	powerful animal spirits	"Crow Girls"	candy-addicted, frenetic, and wild;
Annie
Yocky John
Sammy
Wendy St. James
Tetchie
Dick
Katja
Joey
Teresa
Angharad
Arnold
Jack
Sara
Macal
Heather
Alphonse
Frank
Albert
Lou
Marguerite
Kyle
Lillie
Alex
Furey
Anna
Mr. Truepenny
Liane
Jen
Gaedrian
Janice
Standish
Eddie
Gage
Merlin
Mama
Old Badger

To expand the table, right-press on a row of the table or (Control-press on a Mac)—choose add

Cover Artists[]

Charles Vess

~ Source: ISFdb: Cover: The Very Best of Charles de Lint

Publishing Information[]

Publishers: Tachyon Publications

Book Page: VERY BEST OF CHARLES DE LINT, THE | Tachyon Publications
Trade Paperback, 425 pages, Pub: July 15th 2010—ISBN: 1892391961

TOC[]

Table of Contents:

6 • Introduction (The Very Best of Charles de Lint) • essay by Charles de Lint
9 • "In Which We Meet Jilly Coppercorn" • (Newford) • shortfiction
11 • "Coyote Stories" • (Newford) • (1993) • shortstory
17 • "Laughter in the Leaves" • (Cerin Songweaver) • (1984) • shortstory
25 • "The Badger in the Bag" • (Cerin Songweaver) • (1985) • shortstory
35 • "And the Rafters Were Ringing" • (Cerin Songweaver) • (1986) • shortstory
47 • "Merlin Dreams in the Mondream Wood" • (Ottawa and the Valley) • (1990) • shortstory
61 • "The Stone Drum" • (Newford) • (1989) • novelette
85 • "Timeskip" • (Newford) • (1989) • shortstory
99 • "Freewheeling" • (Newford) • (1990) • shortstory
117 • "A Wish Named Arnold" • (Ottawa and the Valley) • (1987) • shortstory
123 • "Into the Green" • (Angharad) • (1988) • shortstory
135 • "The Graceless Child" • (1991) • novelette
153 • "Winter Was Hard" • (Newford) • (1991) • shortstory
169 • "The Conjure Man" • (Newford) • (1992) • shortstory
187 • "We Are Dead Together" • (1991) • shortstory
193 • "Mr. Truepenny's Book Emporium and Gallery" • (Newford) • (1992) • shortstory
199 • "In the House of My Enemy" • (Newford) • (1993) • novelette
223 • "The Moon Is Drowning While I Sleep" • (Newford) • (1993) • novelette
241 • "Crow Girls" • (Newford) • (1995) • shortstory
259 • "Birds" • (Newford) • (1996) • shortstory
271 • "Held Safe by Moonlight and Vines" • (Newford) • (1996) • shortstory
287 • "In the Pines" • (Newford) • (1997) • shortstory
303 • "Pixel Pixies" • (Newford) • (1999) • novelette
327 • "Many Worlds Are Born Tonight" • (Newford) • (2000) • shortstory
337 • "Sisters" • (Ottawa and the Valley) • (2002) • novelette
365 • "Pal o' Mine" • (Newford) • (1993) • shortstory
379 • "That Was Radio Clash" • (Newford) • (2005) • novelette
395 • "Old Man Crow" • (Newford) • (2006) • shortfiction
415 • "The Fields Beyond the Fields" • (Newford) • (1997) • shortstory

~ ISFdb Publication Listing

First Sentence[]

Quotes[]

Goodreads | Charles de Lint Quotes

“There’s stories and then there’s stories. The ones with any worth change your life forever, perhaps only in a small way, but once you’ve heard them, they are forever a part of you. You nurture them and pass them on and the giving only makes you feel better.” — The Conjure Man

Awards[]

none?

Trivia[]

Lists That Contain The Very Best of Charles de Lint by Charles de Lint

Notes[]

ISFdb Notes:

"First Edition: 2010"
Month from amazon
First printing by number line 9—1
Cover illustration/art credited to Vess on copyright page/back cover, no visible signature on the cover
Cover design by John Coulthart
Dedication reads "this one's for my readers with a deep appreciation for all your support over the years -- with a special thanks to those of you on Facebook and MySpace who helped choose the stories"
Series editor: Jacob Weisman
Editor: Jill Roberts
OCLC 468980915

External Links[]

Book:

Charles de Lint: The Very Best of Charles de Lint (2010) Description ~ Author
The Very Best of Charles de Lint ~ Goodreads
Newford series - Urban Fantasy Wiki ~ Wikia
Bibliography: The Very Best of Charles de Lint ~ ISFdb
The Very Best of Charles de Lint by Charles de Lint ~ Fantastic Fiction
The Very Best of Charles de Lint by Charles de Lint ~ Shelfari (Characters, etc)

Overviews, Summaries:

Discussions:

Artist:

Charles Vess - Summary Bibliography

Reviews:

Misc:

Charles de Lint on Pinterest