The Line Between by Peter S. Beagle
Delicious, rich and satisfying is how I would describe Peter S. Beagle’s latest collection of short stories The Line Between. I first read Peter Beagle's work in high school. We were supposed to read his classic fiction work, The Last Unicorn. Unfortunately, we ran out of paperback copies so I was on my own to get one. Of course both the school and public libraries’ copies were already checked out. None of the local bookstore had a copy of, The Last Unicorn but one did have a trade back copy of The Fantasy Worlds of Peter S. Beagle which had the novel in it. Even though my father grumbled at the cost, since it was for school he gave in and allowed me to purchase it. Not only did I read The Last Unicorn but I read the whole anthology in one week. It has been said that Beagle is not the most prolific of writers but he is one of the best. The craftsmanship he brings to his works exceeds most of his peers in the fantasy field. This new collection of short stories has a little something for everyone.
In The Line Between, Beagle goes back to some of his classic creations. For him as a writer he always travels that path least taken. He does this with a depth and humor that few have mastered. Now he has gone back to some familiar territory and explores some new ones. In interviews Beagle had said for years that he would not write a sequel to The Last Unicorn. He has finally broken down and has produced what amounts to the introduction of the sequel in the story Two Hearts. He enters the mystery realm with the story Mr. Sigerson. This is a different look at Sir Arthur Connon Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. A morality tale can be in found in Gordon, the Self-Made Cat. If you enjoy the works of Ursula K. LeGuin, Robert Asprin or Terry Pratchett you may like this. Be warned you can not really compare Beagle with any other fantasy writer. While he may share elements with the three I mentioned remember always expect twists anytime you read a Beagle work.
For Further Reading:
Ursula K. LeGuin’s EarthSea Series
Robert Asprin’s Myth Adventure Series
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Series
A Fine and Private Place
The Last Unicorn
The Innkeeper’s Song
Tamsin
Delicious, rich and satisfying is how I would describe Peter S. Beagle’s latest collection of short stories The Line Between. I first read Peter Beagle's work in high school. We were supposed to read his classic fiction work, The Last Unicorn. Unfortunately, we ran out of paperback copies so I was on my own to get one. Of course both the school and public libraries’ copies were already checked out. None of the local bookstore had a copy of, The Last Unicorn but one did have a trade back copy of The Fantasy Worlds of Peter S. Beagle which had the novel in it. Even though my father grumbled at the cost, since it was for school he gave in and allowed me to purchase it. Not only did I read The Last Unicorn but I read the whole anthology in one week. It has been said that Beagle is not the most prolific of writers but he is one of the best. The craftsmanship he brings to his works exceeds most of his peers in the fantasy field. This new collection of short stories has a little something for everyone.
In The Line Between, Beagle goes back to some of his classic creations. For him as a writer he always travels that path least taken. He does this with a depth and humor that few have mastered. Now he has gone back to some familiar territory and explores some new ones. In interviews Beagle had said for years that he would not write a sequel to The Last Unicorn. He has finally broken down and has produced what amounts to the introduction of the sequel in the story Two Hearts. He enters the mystery realm with the story Mr. Sigerson. This is a different look at Sir Arthur Connon Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. A morality tale can be in found in Gordon, the Self-Made Cat. If you enjoy the works of Ursula K. LeGuin, Robert Asprin or Terry Pratchett you may like this. Be warned you can not really compare Beagle with any other fantasy writer. While he may share elements with the three I mentioned remember always expect twists anytime you read a Beagle work.
For Further Reading:
Ursula K. LeGuin’s EarthSea Series
Robert Asprin’s Myth Adventure Series
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Series
A Fine and Private Place
The Last Unicorn
The Innkeeper’s Song
Tamsin
1 comment:
Ann, I thought your entire blog was wonderful. You have so much computer creativity and intelligence. I thought your book review was very well worded and well written. And your pictures were great too, perhaphs you should go into journalism, or better yet online journalism if there is such a thing. :) Anyway you are very talented. I am impressed!!! (Mine looks like a childs blog, oh but I am just a child hahhaha)
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