Bibliomancy: Four Novellas

by Elizabeth Hand

The limited-release Bibliomancy, which won the World Fantasy Award in 2005) showcases a wildly inventive author at the height of her powers. Written in the author's characteristic poetic prose and rich with the details of traumatic lives that are luminously transformed, is a worthy addition to an outstanding career. "Pavane for a Prince of the Air" (2002) and "Cleopatra Brimstone" (2001) won International Horror Guild Awards, and appeared on Locus Magazine's Year's Best lists.
Contents:
Introduction (Bibliomancy) • essay by Lucius Shepard
Cleopatra Brimstone (2001) • novella by Elizabeth Hand
Pavane for a Prince of the Air (2002) • novelette by Elizabeth Hand
Chip Crockett's Christmas Carol (2000) • novella by Elizabeth Hand
The Least Trumps (2002) • novella by Elizabeth Hand
Story Notes (Bibliomancy) • essay by Elizabeth Hand

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Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy, Fiction, Collections

296 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2003

About the author

A New York Times notable and multiple award– winning author, Elizabeth Hand has written seven novels, including the cult classic Waking the Moon, and short-story collections. She is a longtime contributor to numerous publications, including the Washington Post Book World and the Village Voice Literary Supplement. She and her two children divide their time between the coast of Maine and North London.

Reviews

[Jeremiah Genest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Hand is one of those novelists I really like, I put her in that camp of weird history fantasy with Crowley and Powers and Blaylock, the stuff that I can really dig my teeth into. The fact she uses Maine so effectively (especially in her short stories) is just an added benefit in my book.

Bibliomancy is a collection of 4 novellas. My favorite was 'Chip Crockett's Christmas Carol' which involved half-remembered early televison and the redemption of the human soul. It made me cry. I also liked 'The Least Trumps', with its well realized pseudo-literary history and its changing history.

The other two short stories 'Cleopatra Brimstone' and 'Pavane for a Prince of the Air' round out the collection and make the book well worth the bother of getting it.

[Meena]

Cleopatra Brimstone