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Changeling: A Novella
All her life, Maggie Hines has dreamed of a city quite unlike Wichita Falls, Texas, where she lives. Her parents have always denied the city exists, but as she comes of age she finds her way there and discovers the truth about herself and her family. Changeling is a coming of age story. And it’s not about faeries. "Nancy Jane Moore is a writer to watch, if her novella, Changeling , is any indication. It’s an eminently satisfying, sweetly unraveling story centering on a wheelchair using woman who rolls through walls into a dimension her parents frequented when young." — Books to Watch Out For, Lesbian Edition
102 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
9 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Jane Moore
42 books8 followersNancy Jane Moore is the author of the science fiction novel, The Weave; the novellas Changeling and Ardent Forest; and the collections Conscientious Inconsistencies, Flashes of Illumination, and Walking Contradiction and Other Futures. Her short fiction has appeared in a number of anthologies and in magazines ranging from Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet to the National Law Journal.
A native Texan, Moore lives for many years in Washington, DC, and now makes her home with her sweetheart in Oakland, CA.
She has studied martial arts since 1979 and holds a fourth degree black belt in Aikido.
A native Texan, Moore lives for many years in Washington, DC, and now makes her home with her sweetheart in Oakland, CA.
She has studied martial arts since 1979 and holds a fourth degree black belt in Aikido.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 23, 2015
I'm afraid this wasn't to my taste. I never do like to read something in which I can't like any of the characters, and that was unfortunately the case here.
The story follows Maggie, a girl who has what her parents insist are vivid dreams, but which she knows are actual visits into another world, a city where she was born and where she belongs. Her parents become angry (her father) and upset (her mother) when she speaks about it, or when they see the pictures she draws or journals she keeps, so she learns to keep it from them - but she goes there nearly every night through her childhood and into her teens. This is the story of her exploration of that world and what - and how - it is.
I would have loved to love this novella, as the story synopsis sounds terrific - but Maggie is not someone I want to spend any time with, and nor are any of the minor characters; her girl friend comes close, and might have been quite likeable if there had been room for more development. Perhaps the writing has something to do with this, as - though of excellent quality - it is somewhat cold and unsympathetic. Given what happens to Maggie in the time between her childhood and college, which is behind the scenes, too much of a bent in the opposite direction would have been a bigger mistake; that might have been what the writer was trying to avoid. It's a shame; the city was described so wonderfully, I would have loved to have learned more about it, traveled it more with Maggie - preferably very young Maggie; I was surprised at how little of that was told.
Other reviewers have commented on the sex scenes in the story, and I'll echo that: it was a bit of a shock. These scenes were quite graphic, relying heavily on crude slang, and a little startling after having just left Maggie at either eight or ten years old.
I'd be happy to read more about that city ... though I could happily do without the "f***ing".
The story follows Maggie, a girl who has what her parents insist are vivid dreams, but which she knows are actual visits into another world, a city where she was born and where she belongs. Her parents become angry (her father) and upset (her mother) when she speaks about it, or when they see the pictures she draws or journals she keeps, so she learns to keep it from them - but she goes there nearly every night through her childhood and into her teens. This is the story of her exploration of that world and what - and how - it is.
I would have loved to love this novella, as the story synopsis sounds terrific - but Maggie is not someone I want to spend any time with, and nor are any of the minor characters; her girl friend comes close, and might have been quite likeable if there had been room for more development. Perhaps the writing has something to do with this, as - though of excellent quality - it is somewhat cold and unsympathetic. Given what happens to Maggie in the time between her childhood and college, which is behind the scenes, too much of a bent in the opposite direction would have been a bigger mistake; that might have been what the writer was trying to avoid. It's a shame; the city was described so wonderfully, I would have loved to have learned more about it, traveled it more with Maggie - preferably very young Maggie; I was surprised at how little of that was told.
Other reviewers have commented on the sex scenes in the story, and I'll echo that: it was a bit of a shock. These scenes were quite graphic, relying heavily on crude slang, and a little startling after having just left Maggie at either eight or ten years old.
I'd be happy to read more about that city ... though I could happily do without the "f***ing".
September 17, 2011
From early childhood on Maggie has memories of a city that her parents insist does not exists. But Maggie is convinced that her visits to this city in her sleep are more than dreams. [return][return]In the beginning the story managed to capture my attention with the whole mystery around the strange city, but the further I read the less sure I felt about the story. I was never really able to connect to Maggie in any way, and the more of the mystery was revealed the less interested I got. And in the end the story just left me puzzled, not sure what to think.[return][return]And with some uses of language, which stuck me over the top at times, this certainly is no story you would want to read to you children.
October 10, 2016
What an odd story. I wasn't sure exactly what I was expecting when I first started reading this, but what I found sure wasn't it. The story is deceptively simple, but extremely haunting at the same time. I normally wish short stories are longer, more fleshed out, but this one seemed just right. The pace and episodic nature reflected Maggie's dreams. I liked it.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program
February 20, 2011
the plot is great.
but: this would have the potential for an epic story, like Tad Williams, for example.
There is too much in those rather few pages.
and I don't know why the rather elaborate discriptions of the heroine having sex with different people is of any relevance for the story. To mention it, o.k. but compared to other parts of the story it has just too much room for my taste.
but: this would have the potential for an epic story, like Tad Williams, for example.
There is too much in those rather few pages.
and I don't know why the rather elaborate discriptions of the heroine having sex with different people is of any relevance for the story. To mention it, o.k. but compared to other parts of the story it has just too much room for my taste.
June 29, 2011
This was a very interesting short story. I wish that Moore would go back and flesh it out more into a complete novel or even series. She has started a cool world and I would love to see more of it and learn more about Gayomart and Ariel. Moore has a great start to a fantasy series here and I hope to see more.
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August 19, 2014After giving this several dedicated tries, I find myself unable to get through more than the first few pages. I'm sure it's a great book for the intended readers, but I'm just not one of them.
I received this book for free through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
I received this book for free through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews