Rating: 
Summary: Sadly, de Lint and Newford stumble -
Review: I'm a fan of Charles de Lint, and I love Newford, the city he's created and in which he's set so many good tales. I was eager to get to this fourth volume of Newford stories.I confess that I'm one of a billion fans silently pressuring de Lint to tell me more about all my favorite characters, and here they are - the Riddels, the Kelledys, the crow girls. Well, mother always said to be careful what you wish for. These stories are just so disappointing. The characters you love... just coasting, covering no new ground, sad shadows of themselves. Here, for example, is Jilly Coppercorn - mouthing catchphrases and jerking around like an automaton. Christy Riddel meats a ghost - who has a hell of a lot more life than he does. Suddenly the conflicted, intelligent writer is a cardboard cut-out, as deep and nuanced as a french fry. And here's Sophie, on another magical adventure - having the same tired argument with herself about whether the magic is real. Yes, there are new characters. In one excruciatingly badly written tale, told entirely in dialogue, two young men discover magic power and Learn About Themselves. Bleh. A man and woman save a stranger from getting killed and discover he was being hunted by fallen angels. How to keep the "freaks" (a word he uses WAY too often, here and elsewhere) from coming for revenge? "Live a good life. Be good people. Keep hateful thoughts out of your heart and mind." This theme is repeated throughout the anthology, over and over and over, just this clumsily. Every tale a morality tale, everywhere a Message. Really, some of these stories are so bad, one wonders why people published them in their anthologies and magazines and such. I guess because they say "Charles de Lint" on them. Maybe nobody wants to hurt his feelings. And maybe that's a problem. The Onion Girl, and now Tapping the Dream Tree, suggest that maybe de Lint doesn't have anything more to say about our beloved characters, or even magical Newford. Somebody, something, needs to push him to use his powerful, wonderful imagination again. Hey, I know, nobody's perfect. But the time period covered by these stories... that's a long time stumbling. Fans may want to grit through this collection, despite the flaws and disappointments. "Ten for the Devil," "Pixel Pixies," and "Big City Littles" are worth reading, and harken back to the GOOD collections of Newford tales, in spirit. Honestly, though, it's a waste of time, money, and hope. And a sorry waste of Charles de Lint.
Rating:
Summary: Sadly, de Lint and Newford stumble -
Review: I'm a fan of Charles de Lint, and I love Newford, the city he's created and in which he's set so many good tales. I was eager to get to this fourth volume of Newford stories. I confess that I'm one of a billion fans silently pressuring de Lint to tell me more about all my favorite characters, and here they are - the Riddels, the Kelledys, the crow girls. Well, mother always said to be careful what you wish for. These stories are just so disappointing. The characters you love... just coasting, covering no new ground, sad shadows of themselves. Here, for example, is Jilly Coppercorn - mouthing catchphrases and jerking around like an automaton. Christy Riddel meats a ghost - who has a hell of a lot more life than he does. Suddenly the conflicted, intelligent writer is a cardboard cut-out, as deep and nuanced as a french fry. And here's Sophie, on another magical adventure - having the same tired argument with herself about whether the magic is real. Yes, there are new characters. In one excruciatingly badly written tale, told entirely in dialogue, two young men discover magic power and Learn About Themselves. Bleh. A man and woman save a stranger from getting killed and discover he was being hunted by fallen angels. How to keep the "freaks" (a word he uses WAY too often, here and elsewhere) from coming for revenge? "Live a good life. Be good people. Keep hateful thoughts out of your heart and mind." This theme is repeated throughout the anthology, over and over and over, just this clumsily. Every tale a morality tale, everywhere a Message. Really, some of these stories are so bad, one wonders why people published them in their anthologies and magazines and such. I guess because they say "Charles de Lint" on them. Maybe nobody wants to hurt his feelings. And maybe that's a problem. The Onion Girl, and now Tapping the Dream Tree, suggest that maybe de Lint doesn't have anything more to say about our beloved characters, or even magical Newford. Somebody, something, needs to push him to use his powerful, wonderful imagination again. Hey, I know, nobody's perfect. But the time period covered by these stories... that's a long time stumbling. Fans may want to grit through this collection, despite the flaws and disappointments. "Ten for the Devil," "Pixel Pixies," and "Big City Littles" are worth reading, and harken back to the GOOD collections of Newford tales, in spirit. Honestly, though, it's a waste of time, money, and hope. And a sorry waste of Charles de Lint.
Rating: 
Summary: Tribe of Words
Review: Mr. DeLint has brought us back to Newford, and the surrounding areas. He has gifted everyone (who cares to read the book) with 17 more stories, 16 of which speak directly to the Newford mythology. Seven Wild Sisters is also in the book, and I have to admit I found that disappointing, but only because I had already purchased & read the original published version, so when I finished the 16th story, I did not realize I had actually finished the book.
However, I do not begrudge this; it allowed a lot of people who may have missed the first publishing of this wonderous story a second chance.
And this volume introduces us to several more magical members of the Newford society, and expands our knowledge of some of our old friends.
Mr. DeLint continues to tap the Tribe of Words, and the Dreaming Tree, to our benefit. He reminds us there is beauty, magic, sadness, mystery & wonder around every corner, on every shelf, and in every face we meet. We only have to pay attention...
Rating: 
Summary: intended for the Newford crowd
Review: This seventeen-story collection takes Charles de Lint fans back to their favorite urban center Newford where magic is a way of life. Sixteen of the stories have been released in other publications, but not in one book. One tale is brand new. Each story contains an assortment of seeming losers obtaining a new lease on life either by the help of a kindhearted magical being or overcoming a malevolent essence. The stories are well written fantasies, but intended for the Newford crowd. Any other reader should try one of Charles de Lint's novels such as THE ONION GIRL first. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: intended for the Newford crowd
Review: This seventeen-story collection takes Charles de Lint fans back to their favorite urban center Newford where magic is a way of life. Sixteen of the stories have been released in other publications, but not in one book. One tale is brand new. Each story contains an assortment of seeming losers obtaining a new lease on life either by the help of a kindhearted magical being or overcoming a malevolent essence. The stories are well written fantasies, but intended for the Newford crowd. Any other reader should try one of Charles de Lint's novels such as THE ONION GIRL first. Harriet Klausner
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