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Thistledown
New formatting. New Cover August 2013.
An orphaned unicorn. The pig-keeper’s son, reckoned as witless as he is speechless, but far more than he seems. The runaway heiress who knows nothing of the world but what the minstrels have sung of on endless winter nights. A proud Duke and a blue-eyed dog. In 1991, my novella “Thistledown” appeared as part of Once Upon A Time, Lester Del Rey and Rissa Kessler’s splendidly illustrated anthology of “modern” fairy tales. The reviewer for Locus called it “one of the best unicorn stories since The Last Unicorn.” I was suitably flattered, since Peter Beagle’s novel was a great influence on me as I began to write fantasy. And I considered that my story, which was structured like a mini novel, would bear expansion to novel length.
An orphaned unicorn. The pig-keeper’s son, reckoned as witless as he is speechless, but far more than he seems. The runaway heiress who knows nothing of the world but what the minstrels have sung of on endless winter nights. A proud Duke and a blue-eyed dog. In 1991, my novella “Thistledown” appeared as part of Once Upon A Time, Lester Del Rey and Rissa Kessler’s splendidly illustrated anthology of “modern” fairy tales. The reviewer for Locus called it “one of the best unicorn stories since The Last Unicorn.” I was suitably flattered, since Peter Beagle’s novel was a great influence on me as I began to write fantasy. And I considered that my story, which was structured like a mini novel, would bear expansion to novel length.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2011
2 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Susan Dexter
23 books66 followersSusan Dexter’s favorite subject for her books is fantasy and throughout her life has worked as a librarian, teacher, and writer.
Susan received her first award, the Merit Award, in 1976 from the Lawrence County Open Arts Show. She also received the Distinguished Award from them in 1982 and 1983. The Wizard’s Shadow was listed among the “Books for the Teen Age” in 1993 by the New York Public Library.
She now lives in New Castle, Pennsylvania in the vintage house that her book sales enabled her to buy and restore.
Susan received her first award, the Merit Award, in 1976 from the Lawrence County Open Arts Show. She also received the Distinguished Award from them in 1982 and 1983. The Wizard’s Shadow was listed among the “Books for the Teen Age” in 1993 by the New York Public Library.
She now lives in New Castle, Pennsylvania in the vintage house that her book sales enabled her to buy and restore.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 16, 2017
I read the original short story this novella was expanded from quite a while ago and fell in love with Thistledown, so I was extremely excited to see it had been given new life.
October 14, 2017
Absolutely delightful
This book reminds me a bit of Robin McKinley's Deerskin. But just a reminder. It is a perfectly rendered fairytale worth reading aloud to my older grandchildren. At 123 pages it is the perfect length and a wonderful story about identity and assumption. What a joyous way to spend the morning!
This book reminds me a bit of Robin McKinley's Deerskin. But just a reminder. It is a perfectly rendered fairytale worth reading aloud to my older grandchildren. At 123 pages it is the perfect length and a wonderful story about identity and assumption. What a joyous way to spend the morning!
February 3, 2023
Started great!!! Lovely little story.
And then
WTH! Cut that entire scene out and continue the adventures of Flax and it would be perfect.
And then
WTH! Cut that entire scene out and continue the adventures of Flax and it would be perfect.
August 8, 2015
Still a thoroughly charming story - I was happy to see it in its own edition (despite typos - come on, proofreaders?) since I couldn't get a hold on the anthology it was originally published in. Lush description, lovely characters, just the perfect magical world to disappear into for a rainy winter afternoon.
One thing was puzzling though - I'm almost completely certain that Lowise was 12 in the original version, and her behaviour and level of maturity was consistent with that. However, she seems to have been aged up to 16 in this new edition BUT no other changes were made to her behaviour or habits - which means that instead of a mature(ish) 12-year-old, she came across as an extremely childish and self-involved 16-year-old. I can't imagine why she should suddenly need to be older, other than possibly in an attempt to avoid squicking readers with the Lothair engagement/romance. But then it's a medieval-type feudal society fantasy in which a twelve-year-old is considered old enough to marry and there are plenty of books and characters with similar situations out there. IDK, it just struck me as odd. Either decide to age her up consistently, not just by changing a number, or leave well enough alone. (Then again again, it IS possible that I'm just completely misremembering and she was never 12, lol. I'm nearly positive, though.)
One thing was puzzling though - I'm almost completely certain that Lowise was 12 in the original version, and her behaviour and level of maturity was consistent with that. However, she seems to have been aged up to 16 in this new edition BUT no other changes were made to her behaviour or habits - which means that instead of a mature(ish) 12-year-old, she came across as an extremely childish and self-involved 16-year-old. I can't imagine why she should suddenly need to be older, other than possibly in an attempt to avoid squicking readers with the Lothair engagement/romance. But then it's a medieval-type feudal society fantasy in which a twelve-year-old is considered old enough to marry and there are plenty of books and characters with similar situations out there. IDK, it just struck me as odd. Either decide to age her up consistently, not just by changing a number, or leave well enough alone. (Then again again, it IS possible that I'm just completely misremembering and she was never 12, lol. I'm nearly positive, though.)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews