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Paperjack
Set in Newford and featuring musician Geordie Riddell, this novella about a homeless man called Paperjack is classic de Lint—a poignant, mysterious tale about love, loss and learning how to move on. A finalist for the World Fantasy Award, Paperjack is a standalone story, but picks up some of the threads of a previous tale called "Timeskip." First published in a limited edition of 137 copies by Cheap Street Press, 1991; also appears in Dreams Underfoot. I can never recapture the feeling of first arriving in Newford and meeting the people and seeing the sights as a newcomer. However, part of the beauty of Newford is the sense that it has always been there, that de Lint is a reporter who occasionally files stories from a reality stranger and more beautiful than ours. De Lint also manages to keep each new Newford story fresh and captivating because he is so generous and loving in his depiction of the characters. Yes, there are a group of core characters whose stories recur most often, but a city like Newford has so many intriguing people in it, so many diverse stories to tell, so much pain and triumph to chronicle. — Challenging Destiny Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better. — Alice Hoffman Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best. — Holly Black De Lint is probably the finest contemporary author of fantasy – Booklist, American Library Association Unlike most fantasy writers who deal with battles between ultimate good and evil, de Lint concentrates on smaller, very personal conflicts. Perhaps this is what makes him accessible to the non-fantasy audience as well as the hard-core fans. Perhaps it’s just damned fine writing. – Quill & Quire De Lint’s evocative images, both ordinary and fantastic, jolt the imagination. – Publishers Weekly It is hard to imagine urban fantasy done with greater skill – Booklist, American Library Association
35 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
22 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Charles de Lint
446 books3,996 followersCharles de Lint is the much beloved author of more than seventy adult, young adult, and children's books. Renowned as one of the trailblazers of the modern fantasy genre, he is the recipient of the World Fantasy, Aurora, Sunburst, and White Pine awards, among others. Modern Library's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century poll, conducted by Random House and voted on by readers, put eight of de Lint's books among the top 100.
De Lint is a poet, folklorist, artist, songwriter and performer. He has written critical essays, music reviews, opinion columns and entries to encyclopedias, and he's been the main book reviewer for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since 1987. De Lint served as Writer-in-residence for two public libraries in Ottawa and has taught creative writing workshops for adults and children in Canada and the United States. He's been a judge for several prominent awards, including the Nebula, World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon and Bram Stoker.
Born in the Netherlands in 1951, de Lint immigrated to Canada with his family as an infant. The family moved often during de Lint's childhood because of his father's job with an international surveying company, but by the time Charles was twelve—having lived in Western Canada, Turkey and Lebanon—they had settled in Lucerne, Quebec, not far from where he now resides in Ottawa, Ontario.
In 1980, de Lint married the love of his life, MaryAnn Harris, who works closely with him as his first editor, business manager and creative partner. They share their love and home with a cheery little dog named Johnny Cash.
Charles de Lint is best described as a romantic: a believer in compassion, hope and human potential. His skilled portrayal of character and settings has earned him a loyal readership and glowing praise from peers, reviewers and readers.
Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best.
—Holly Black (bestselling author)
Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better.
—Alice Hoffman (bestselling author)
To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire
His Newford books, which make up most of de Lint's body of work between 1993 and 2009, confirmed his reputation for bringing a vivid setting and repertory cast of characters to life on the page. Though not a consecutive series, the twenty-five standalone books set in (or connected to) Newford give readers a feeling of visiting a favourite city and seeing old friends.
More recently, his young adult Wildlings trilogy—Under My Skin, Over My Head, and Out of This World—came out from Penguin Canada and Triskell Press in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Under My Skin won 2013 Aurora Award. A novel for middle-grade readers, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, published by Little Brown in 2013, won the Sunburst Award, earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Quill & Quire, and was chosen by the New York Times Editors as one of the top six children's books for 2013. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (2009), is a fascinating ghost story about love, passion and faith. It was a finalist for both the Sunburst and Evergreen awards.
De Lint is presently writing a new adult novel. His storytelling skills also shine in his original songs. He and MaryAnn (also a musician) recently released companion CDs of their original songs, samples of which can be heard on de Lin
De Lint is a poet, folklorist, artist, songwriter and performer. He has written critical essays, music reviews, opinion columns and entries to encyclopedias, and he's been the main book reviewer for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since 1987. De Lint served as Writer-in-residence for two public libraries in Ottawa and has taught creative writing workshops for adults and children in Canada and the United States. He's been a judge for several prominent awards, including the Nebula, World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon and Bram Stoker.
Born in the Netherlands in 1951, de Lint immigrated to Canada with his family as an infant. The family moved often during de Lint's childhood because of his father's job with an international surveying company, but by the time Charles was twelve—having lived in Western Canada, Turkey and Lebanon—they had settled in Lucerne, Quebec, not far from where he now resides in Ottawa, Ontario.
In 1980, de Lint married the love of his life, MaryAnn Harris, who works closely with him as his first editor, business manager and creative partner. They share their love and home with a cheery little dog named Johnny Cash.
Charles de Lint is best described as a romantic: a believer in compassion, hope and human potential. His skilled portrayal of character and settings has earned him a loyal readership and glowing praise from peers, reviewers and readers.
Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best.
—Holly Black (bestselling author)
Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better.
—Alice Hoffman (bestselling author)
To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire
His Newford books, which make up most of de Lint's body of work between 1993 and 2009, confirmed his reputation for bringing a vivid setting and repertory cast of characters to life on the page. Though not a consecutive series, the twenty-five standalone books set in (or connected to) Newford give readers a feeling of visiting a favourite city and seeing old friends.
More recently, his young adult Wildlings trilogy—Under My Skin, Over My Head, and Out of This World—came out from Penguin Canada and Triskell Press in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Under My Skin won 2013 Aurora Award. A novel for middle-grade readers, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, published by Little Brown in 2013, won the Sunburst Award, earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Quill & Quire, and was chosen by the New York Times Editors as one of the top six children's books for 2013. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (2009), is a fascinating ghost story about love, passion and faith. It was a finalist for both the Sunburst and Evergreen awards.
De Lint is presently writing a new adult novel. His storytelling skills also shine in his original songs. He and MaryAnn (also a musician) recently released companion CDs of their original songs, samples of which can be heard on de Lin
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 15, 2010
4.0 stars. This is one of my favorite stories of the first Newford collection. It is a sequel of sorts to "Timeskip" (an earlier story from the first Newford collection) and is a well written, emotional story about love and loss and learning how to move on.
Nominee: World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story.
Nominee: World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story.
November 12, 2022
This is a lovely edition of a sweet little story of library research (and love and loss and other things, but I’m a sucker for libraries), and Judy King’s illustrations are perfect for the text. But thirty years after publication, the Magical Negro trope central to the tale is pretty painfully threadbare, and spoils my full immersion.
March 7, 2016
included in Dreams Underfoot
first logged re-read 8/15/2000
first logged re-read 8/15/2000
October 24, 2017
As expected from de Lint, the book drew me in and I got to live it instead of just reading it. It was a bonus that some of the characters and setting were familiar from previous works and the story thread from "Timeskip" continued. I don't know if his books, with their magical veneer over the "real" world, are a delightful vacation from reality or an eye-opener to the reality beyond the mundane.
July 31, 2018
A tale of good fortune.
This is a follow-up to Timeskip and continues the tale of a young musician and his lost love. Very satisfying. It is hard to describe Lint's work. It supposes a world where odd things occasionally happen. Other worldly things, spooky, supernatural, but not in your face violent or dramatic. A quiet world which allows the ordinary and the extraordinary to coexist. Marvellous. Enriching. A joy to read.
This is a follow-up to Timeskip and continues the tale of a young musician and his lost love. Very satisfying. It is hard to describe Lint's work. It supposes a world where odd things occasionally happen. Other worldly things, spooky, supernatural, but not in your face violent or dramatic. A quiet world which allows the ordinary and the extraordinary to coexist. Marvellous. Enriching. A joy to read.
September 13, 2020
Charles de Lint puts pen to paper and out flows a magic to transport you to another world. This book is no exception. Geordie finds himself touched by magic and his life is changed. A beautiful story full of love, magic and wisdom.
Read this book, perhaps on a wet afternoon when ghosts roam abroad.
Read this book, perhaps on a wet afternoon when ghosts roam abroad.
February 3, 2022
Loved it then and love it still
Re-reading an old favorite, having first come across the author some 20 years ago. Something about Paperjack caught my heart back then and he became a favorite character so of course I had to buy this novella and read it (visit perhaps?) again. Highly recommend.
Re-reading an old favorite, having first come across the author some 20 years ago. Something about Paperjack caught my heart back then and he became a favorite character so of course I had to buy this novella and read it (visit perhaps?) again. Highly recommend.
May 26, 2018
Another perfect story
What happens when the woman you live is stolen away by a ghost from the past? Well, some people know, like Geordie. Thank goodness for friends.
What happens when the woman you live is stolen away by a ghost from the past? Well, some people know, like Geordie. Thank goodness for friends.
April 23, 2019
Geordie meets a silent fortune teller, who does orgami; he misses and searches for his love, who travelled and stayed in the past. I love the time I spend with deLint’s characters! Read on Kindle.
August 2, 2019
de Lint never disappoints
Like all his tales, this story of life, hope, and mystery speaks to you in the language you need. A salve for the soul.
Like all his tales, this story of life, hope, and mystery speaks to you in the language you need. A salve for the soul.
September 11, 2023
A typical but very light de Lint. More of a short story really.
February 3, 2017
A story by de Lint set in Newford. It tells of a young man who has a mysterious relationship with a woman who does not exist. He finds out the woman he loved actually was a woman who lived 80 years ago. This story is his quest to find answers about this woman. All-in-all an average book for de Lint. It has the same old urban fantasy theme, but lacks a punch. I still liked it, but it is one of de Lint's lesser efforts.
March 11, 2022
A story that's a continuation and related to another story from.the author. So glad I read it, loved it!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews