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Chaos Walking #2.5
The Wide, Wide Sea
A Chaos Walking short story to read with The Ask and the Answer.
This moving Chaos Walking short story, set before the Spackle War in a small fishing village by the sea, is a heartbreaking tale of love and loyalty in a divided world. Best read immediately after The Ask and the Answer, it features familiar characters such as Mistress Coyle, but will give a new perspective on the shocking events in the award-winning trilogy.
30 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
85 people are currently reading
10080 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Ness
57 books18.7k followersPatrick Ness, an award-winning novelist, has written for Radio 4 and The Sunday Telegraph and is a literary critic for The Guardian. He has written many books, including the Chaos Walking Trilogy, The Crash of Hennington, Topics About Which I Know Nothing, and A Monster Calls.
He has won numerous awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Booktrust Teenage Prize, and the Costa Children’s Book Award. Born in Virginia, he currently lives in London.
He has won numerous awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Booktrust Teenage Prize, and the Costa Children’s Book Award. Born in Virginia, he currently lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 508 reviews
April 17, 2018
“The world is big. Surely there is space in it for one like you and one like me.”
This was a cute story set 13 years before the Chaos Walking Trilogy. Tensions between the humans and the Spackle were high, many had chosen to leave and travel to Haven for better prospects.
Declan on the other hand does not want to leave, for he has fallen for one of the Spackle and will not leave without her.
This is met with disdain and disgust from his family and neighbours, claiming it ‘isn’t natural’. So when the day arrives for the final people to leave Declan makes a stand, which leads to dramatic consequences.
Very sweet story, I enjoyed this brief look into the time before the Spackle war.
This was a cute story set 13 years before the Chaos Walking Trilogy. Tensions between the humans and the Spackle were high, many had chosen to leave and travel to Haven for better prospects.
Declan on the other hand does not want to leave, for he has fallen for one of the Spackle and will not leave without her.
This is met with disdain and disgust from his family and neighbours, claiming it ‘isn’t natural’. So when the day arrives for the final people to leave Declan makes a stand, which leads to dramatic consequences.
Very sweet story, I enjoyed this brief look into the time before the Spackle war.
December 31, 2017
WELCOME TO DECEMBER PROJECT!
last year, i carved out my own short story advent calendar as my project for december, and it was so much fun i decided to do it again this year! so, each day during the month of december, i will be reading a short story and doing the barest minimum of a review because ain't no one got time for that and i'm already so far behind in all the things. however, i will be posting story links in case anyone wants to read the stories themselves and show off how maybe someone could have time for that.
here is a link to the first story in last year's project,
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
which in turn links to the whole monthlong project, in case you wanna do some free short story reading of your own! links to the stories in this year's advent-ure will be at the end of each review.
enjoy, and the happiest of decembers to you all!
DECEMBER 5
His heart moved when he saw her, that was as far as he could explain it. He could see her heart move when she saw him, too, and if they couldn’t be physical in the way that the whole stupid town seemed to spend far too much time trying to imagine, then there were other ways they could invent. Even better, in their shared Noise, they could be intimate in a way completely different than anything he’d ever known.
Enough to stop the world.
it has been a long time since i read this trilogy, and at first i was a bit confused about what was going on, but patrick ness writes the kinds of things that are scored on your heart forever, so it didn't take me very long to pick up the thread and remember all of the things. typically beautiful and heartbreaking stuff. you don't even necessarily need to read the trilogy for this one - you won't understand all of the details, sure, but the idea of star-crossed companions doesn't need much context to make the point ache.
read it for yourself here:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/141687258/...
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last year, i carved out my own short story advent calendar as my project for december, and it was so much fun i decided to do it again this year! so, each day during the month of december, i will be reading a short story and doing the barest minimum of a review because ain't no one got time for that and i'm already so far behind in all the things. however, i will be posting story links in case anyone wants to read the stories themselves and show off how maybe someone could have time for that.
here is a link to the first story in last year's project,
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
which in turn links to the whole monthlong project, in case you wanna do some free short story reading of your own! links to the stories in this year's advent-ure will be at the end of each review.
enjoy, and the happiest of decembers to you all!
DECEMBER 5
His heart moved when he saw her, that was as far as he could explain it. He could see her heart move when she saw him, too, and if they couldn’t be physical in the way that the whole stupid town seemed to spend far too much time trying to imagine, then there were other ways they could invent. Even better, in their shared Noise, they could be intimate in a way completely different than anything he’d ever known.
Enough to stop the world.
it has been a long time since i read this trilogy, and at first i was a bit confused about what was going on, but patrick ness writes the kinds of things that are scored on your heart forever, so it didn't take me very long to pick up the thread and remember all of the things. typically beautiful and heartbreaking stuff. you don't even necessarily need to read the trilogy for this one - you won't understand all of the details, sure, but the idea of star-crossed companions doesn't need much context to make the point ache.
read it for yourself here:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/141687258/...
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May 23, 2021
First Read: February 2017, Rating: 4/5 stars
Second Read: December 2020, Rating: 4/5 stars
This is a prequel short story to the Chaos Walking trilogy and can be found here.
This is set thirteen years before the events that take place in the main trilogy. It might add nothing to the main narrative but opens up the world brilliantly. Declan Lowe and the rest of his community are fleeing from their seaside town to live in the larger city of Haven. Fishing is brutal in the new world, where the fish herd and hunt the people rather the other way around, and they are starving. Hunger matters little for Declan, however, when he falls in love with a Spackle native.
In usual Ness style, this is heartrendingly poignant and left me wanting to know more about each of the characters involved. I relished any chance to once again immerse myself in this beloved dystopian world, despite the cliffhanger endings and the pervading sadness. Reading this reminded me of just how brutal Ness is to his readers' feelings!
Second Read: December 2020, Rating: 4/5 stars
This is a prequel short story to the Chaos Walking trilogy and can be found here.
This is set thirteen years before the events that take place in the main trilogy. It might add nothing to the main narrative but opens up the world brilliantly. Declan Lowe and the rest of his community are fleeing from their seaside town to live in the larger city of Haven. Fishing is brutal in the new world, where the fish herd and hunt the people rather the other way around, and they are starving. Hunger matters little for Declan, however, when he falls in love with a Spackle native.
In usual Ness style, this is heartrendingly poignant and left me wanting to know more about each of the characters involved. I relished any chance to once again immerse myself in this beloved dystopian world, despite the cliffhanger endings and the pervading sadness. Reading this reminded me of just how brutal Ness is to his readers' feelings!
November 23, 2018
This review and other non-spoilery reviews can be found @The Book Prescription
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Wow, That ending though!
Ness is a master of plot twists <3
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Wow, That ending though!
Ness is a master of plot twists <3
June 4, 2013
Attention Chaos Walking fans! You can read this story as well as "The New World" and "Snowscape" by going here!
Note: If you haven't read the whole trilogy yet, this story is best read between The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men.
“We would do what we must. The world is big. Surely there is a space in it for one like you and one like me.”
There are few authors who have the ability to rip my heart out and stomp on it in the span of less than 40 pages.
Damn it, Patrick Ness. Just … damn it.
I went into these Chaos Walking short stories without really knowing what they were about. This one takes place thirteen years before the rest of the series, or something like that. Some of the characters are the same, but you know … different main character. So at first I'm like, "Yeah okay whatever, la di da."
But I shortly came to realize … OMG THIS IS A SPACKLE-HUMAN ROMANCE.
WHAAAT. CRAZY.
At first, I wasn't sure how to feel about this––I mean, I guess the idea just hadn't really occurred to me before. But of course, Patrick Ness executes it beautifully. After being rather disappointed in his most recent novel, The Crane Wife, my faith in his writing was instantly restored.
This is an amazing story––so short but so emotional and powerful. Once I was about halfway through it, I was already practically shaking. Patrick Ness is able to create such a vivid and frightening world––from its physically scary aspects, like the giant man-eating fish, to the more socially/emotionally terrifying aspects, like the humans' prejudices against the Spackle. Even though it's a fictional, imaginary world, the issues are very real––very reminiscent of real-life racism and/or homophobia.
Even in such a small space, I really believed in the romance between the two main characters and was rooting for them the whole time. I won't spoil anything, but I'll just say … Patrick Ness puts the reader through quite an emotional rollercoaster.
In short, this was incredible. I think the Chaos Walking trilogy is perfect on its own, but these little stories really help to flesh out the world and make the reader think about it from many different angles.
Note: If you haven't read the whole trilogy yet, this story is best read between The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men.
“We would do what we must. The world is big. Surely there is a space in it for one like you and one like me.”
There are few authors who have the ability to rip my heart out and stomp on it in the span of less than 40 pages.
Damn it, Patrick Ness. Just … damn it.
I went into these Chaos Walking short stories without really knowing what they were about. This one takes place thirteen years before the rest of the series, or something like that. Some of the characters are the same, but you know … different main character. So at first I'm like, "Yeah okay whatever, la di da."
But I shortly came to realize … OMG THIS IS A SPACKLE-HUMAN ROMANCE.
WHAAAT. CRAZY.
At first, I wasn't sure how to feel about this––I mean, I guess the idea just hadn't really occurred to me before. But of course, Patrick Ness executes it beautifully. After being rather disappointed in his most recent novel, The Crane Wife, my faith in his writing was instantly restored.
This is an amazing story––so short but so emotional and powerful. Once I was about halfway through it, I was already practically shaking. Patrick Ness is able to create such a vivid and frightening world––from its physically scary aspects, like the giant man-eating fish, to the more socially/emotionally terrifying aspects, like the humans' prejudices against the Spackle. Even though it's a fictional, imaginary world, the issues are very real––very reminiscent of real-life racism and/or homophobia.
Even in such a small space, I really believed in the romance between the two main characters and was rooting for them the whole time. I won't spoil anything, but I'll just say … Patrick Ness puts the reader through quite an emotional rollercoaster.
In short, this was incredible. I think the Chaos Walking trilogy is perfect on its own, but these little stories really help to flesh out the world and make the reader think about it from many different angles.
May 13, 2019
THIS. THIS IS WHY I LOVE PATRICK NESS.
This novella is literally 40 pages long but it is life.
It is 40 pages long and I LOVE DECLAN and want to kind of shelter him from anyone who ever wants to harm him? So in other words can we have a wholeeee spin off series following him pls and thank you.
I know I just said this but this book is 40 pages long and I actually felt?? supsense?? and anticipation??
If you want to deep dive into the novella you can totally analyse and compare the main character's situation to some of the situations people face these days when it comes to relationships and connections such as biracial relationships. Or relationships between people with different circumstances/class/cultures/religions and all the other social differences too. I love that about this series. The themes delve so much deeper.
So interesting to see what Mistress Coyle does in this one and whether that impacts my opinion on her or not... As a novella and a separate story, I do like that it still connects to the main series via her character and makes us think more about how we see and judge her.
TL;dr - Patrick Ness is an amazing author and you need to read the Chaos Walking trilogy.
This novella is literally 40 pages long but it is life.
It is 40 pages long and I LOVE DECLAN and want to kind of shelter him from anyone who ever wants to harm him? So in other words can we have a wholeeee spin off series following him pls and thank you.
I know I just said this but this book is 40 pages long and I actually felt?? supsense?? and anticipation??
If you want to deep dive into the novella you can totally analyse and compare the main character's situation to some of the situations people face these days when it comes to relationships and connections such as biracial relationships. Or relationships between people with different circumstances/class/cultures/religions and all the other social differences too. I love that about this series. The themes delve so much deeper.
So interesting to see what Mistress Coyle does in this one and whether that impacts my opinion on her or not... As a novella and a separate story, I do like that it still connects to the main series via her character and makes us think more about how we see and judge her.
TL;dr - Patrick Ness is an amazing author and you need to read the Chaos Walking trilogy.
September 22, 2016
I found this story a tad confusing at first as it featured characters that had not previously been introduced and we were given no context beforehand. Once I managed to understand what was happening and where the story was going, I did end up enjoying it. I thought the idea was interesting and had actually wondered if anything like that might happen. It was also interesting to see the Spackle from a different perspective. All in all I did enjoy this story but at the same time I feel like we could have done without it and thought it was irrelevant to the story.
March 31, 2016
Priča nas vraća trinaest godina unatrag....
Declan & Ti <3
Veoma emotivno i budi nadu za ono što predstoji...
Declan & Ti <3
Veoma emotivno i budi nadu za ono što predstoji...
February 8, 2017
A really nice short story! I always wondered whether people ever fell in love with Spackle and I'm happy I got to see that it did happen. I loved Declan and Ti's story and now I want to know what happened next! Great writing as per usual by Patrick Ness. I also feel like Patrick Ness is writing these short stories because he genuinely wants to give us different insights into the world he created. Sometimes I think authors just write short stories, other novellas (etc) to make more money or to bleed an idea dry but this really isn't the case with these stories.
March 7, 2020
”His Noise painted his reading in the air, and he was happily lost within it all”
Patrick Ness doing what he does best...
Make you feel all the feelings in the world for characters he most probably will kill two chapters later.
This is such a great way to show that love have no boundaries. That we people create limitations and set the rules that cause our own heartache.
Part of me hope we will meet Ti and Declan again
Patrick Ness doing what he does best...
Make you feel all the feelings in the world for characters he most probably will kill two chapters later.
This is such a great way to show that love have no boundaries. That we people create limitations and set the rules that cause our own heartache.
Part of me hope we will meet Ti and Declan again
April 23, 2018
I never imagined a story like this one for the chaos walking trilogy. I want a prequel and sequel to this short story!! It's so interesting and an angle I never thought of.
June 4, 2013
I knew sort of what I was getting into with Snowscape, which happens after Monsters of Men, but The Wide Wide Sea was a complete surprise. Tears were shed, hearts where torn, and once again I was reminded of how evil (and brilliant) Patrick Ness is.
This story was touching, and I really light it shed on certain relationships the readers might not have thought of.
Patrick Ness, I declare you The King of Heartaches.
I still haven't recovered from what you did to me with the rest of your books and now you throw in this. I might be in therapy for the rest of my life, for all I know.
This story was touching, and I really light it shed on certain relationships the readers might not have thought of.
Patrick Ness, I declare you The King of Heartaches.
I still haven't recovered from what you did to me with the rest of your books and now you throw in this. I might be in therapy for the rest of my life, for all I know.
January 28, 2018
I never thought a human and a spackle could fall in love, but here I am. Wow.
May 23, 2018
This book softened up my cold, callous heart and stomped over it like an overripe tomato.
I have always been a sucker for profound, intellectual connections between individuals and coupled up with the fact that I am completely unable to think objectively when it comes to The Chaos Walking, this book/story just managed to hit the soft spot I have for the Spackles in my heart.
The portrayal of Misstress Coyle came as a bit of a surprise, whether a pleasant one or not, I won't be saying in this review.
The core might be a bit cliched, but hey! A guy can love! Right?
I have always been a sucker for profound, intellectual connections between individuals and coupled up with the fact that I am completely unable to think objectively when it comes to The Chaos Walking, this book/story just managed to hit the soft spot I have for the Spackles in my heart.
The portrayal of Misstress Coyle came as a bit of a surprise, whether a pleasant one or not, I won't be saying in this review.
The core might be a bit cliched, but hey! A guy can love! Right?
April 10, 2020
WAY TOO SHORT. I want more!! I think I may reread the Chaos Walking series this year..
May 21, 2021
A nice standalone work in the Chaos Walking universe.
March 15, 2015
This is a beautiful short story. In fact, it is my favourite short story in relation to the series.
It’s so nice to be able to see events that take place prior to the events we’re watching unfold in the main books, so nice to see characters from the past. Whilst it was nice to see characters from the main trilogy appear within this story I found myself enjoying the new characters more.
In fact, I’d go so far as to say I loved these characters more and would love to find out more about them and what happened. Actually, I’d love an entire spinoff series detailing events (both before and after this short story) as I loved them so much.
Without a doubt this is my favourite of the three short stories we’re given.
It’s so nice to be able to see events that take place prior to the events we’re watching unfold in the main books, so nice to see characters from the past. Whilst it was nice to see characters from the main trilogy appear within this story I found myself enjoying the new characters more.
In fact, I’d go so far as to say I loved these characters more and would love to find out more about them and what happened. Actually, I’d love an entire spinoff series detailing events (both before and after this short story) as I loved them so much.
Without a doubt this is my favourite of the three short stories we’re given.
September 12, 2014
The town had started with optimism, moved into defiance, before slowly, slowly, slowly collapsing into defeat.
Another lovely short story in my best-loved dystopian series. Once again Patrick Ness does not disappoint. In this very short installment he manages to paint a beautiful picture of love, give some social commentary and deliver a surprise ending to this sad story.
If you have not read Chaos Walking: A Trilogy, it's definitely time to remedy it.
February 17, 2016
I didn't think a 40-page novella would make me cry.
This series keeps surprising me.
(If you'd like to read this and the other two novellas of the series, they're all available for free on the Chaos Walking website!)
This series keeps surprising me.
(If you'd like to read this and the other two novellas of the series, they're all available for free on the Chaos Walking website!)
May 13, 2016
Sweet. Patrick Ness knows what he's doing. Short but powerful, a great story and an interesting view of an important character in the Chaos Walking sequels.
December 28, 2019
4.5 stars
Short story, especially about Declan, but it also gives a bit of background information on Miss Coyle's character making me seeing her through different eyes than after The Ask and Answer...
Short story, especially about Declan, but it also gives a bit of background information on Miss Coyle's character making me seeing her through different eyes than after The Ask and Answer...
February 24, 2020
This is a short story that is part of a series. Goodreads has this listed as #2.5 but I believe this is a prequel to the second book. That being said, I do agree with Goodreads that the second book should be read before this one as a character we met in the second book plays a pivotal role in this book. In this one, Declan who is human loves a Spackle which is the indigenous inhabitants of this planet. Declan's people including his mother doesn't agree with this union.
For a short story it is extremely powerful as the message deals with racism. War is about to happen between these two races and for two members of the separate races to unite is unthinkable. Even though these characters have done nothing wrong they are despised just because they love someone who is different from their own kind. I applaud the author for exploring this subject in a respective way. In this book, we get some more background on Mistress Coyle who was in the second book. I loved the part she plays in this book and the twist totally surprised me.
I am not the biggest fan of short stories and but I will also read all available offerings from a series that I am currently involved in. This short story was amazing and might be favorite story so far including the novels. The importance of the subject matter was a big factor why and we do need the novels for that. This is a well executed series that seems to be getting better as it goes.
For a short story it is extremely powerful as the message deals with racism. War is about to happen between these two races and for two members of the separate races to unite is unthinkable. Even though these characters have done nothing wrong they are despised just because they love someone who is different from their own kind. I applaud the author for exploring this subject in a respective way. In this book, we get some more background on Mistress Coyle who was in the second book. I loved the part she plays in this book and the twist totally surprised me.
I am not the biggest fan of short stories and but I will also read all available offerings from a series that I am currently involved in. This short story was amazing and might be favorite story so far including the novels. The importance of the subject matter was a big factor why and we do need the novels for that. This is a well executed series that seems to be getting better as it goes.
September 27, 2025
2022 rating: ⭐⭐⭐
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2025 rating: ⭐⭐⭐
i think i can appreciate this novella more than the first time i read it because i understand the meaning behind it more this time around. i always thought it was quite useless but it's definitely a great in-between to read before the final book in this trilogy as it introduces us a bit more to the spackle and how a human-spackle dynamic doesn't necessarily have to be bad. i think it's also great because it allows us to feel empathy towards the spackle right before we start seeing a lot more of them in 'monsters of men', so quite clever on patrick ness' part.
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2025 rating: ⭐⭐⭐
i think i can appreciate this novella more than the first time i read it because i understand the meaning behind it more this time around. i always thought it was quite useless but it's definitely a great in-between to read before the final book in this trilogy as it introduces us a bit more to the spackle and how a human-spackle dynamic doesn't necessarily have to be bad. i think it's also great because it allows us to feel empathy towards the spackle right before we start seeing a lot more of them in 'monsters of men', so quite clever on patrick ness' part.
April 28, 2016
Yes! This novella was great! It provides its readers with a history of how things were before the big Spackle vs Humans war. Exactly 13 years before The Knife of Never Letting Go. And just wow. Patrick Ness, you're too good!
Totally shipping Declan and Ti. I didn't see this kind of relationship coming! Though I can't help but wonder where do they fit in at the present time of this series' story.
Loved the backstory of Mistress Nicola Coyle too.
Totally shipping Declan and Ti. I didn't see this kind of relationship coming! Though I can't help but wonder where do they fit in at the present time of this series' story.
Loved the backstory of Mistress Nicola Coyle too.
May 11, 2016
Wow, in less than 40 pages Ness managed to capture both the brilliance of falling in love and the heartbreak of losing everything. I think I may have liked this more than the actual books themselves. A forbidden love story of a human and a Spackle - both turned away by their people for their feelings. And wow, that ending. Not at all what I expected!
January 1, 2021
So thats where the man eating fish comes in from..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2017
I was really mad at first and now I’m like I don’t know how I feel I still hate Mistress Coyle and I hope to God we see Declan again
May 27, 2020
I'm usually not the biggest fan of short stories, but this one hit hard.
February 26, 2021
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"Do you not wonder sometimes, if in some ways they are correct? That we are asking too much of the world? 'No,' he said. 'They're the ones who are asking for too little.'"
What a fantastic addition to the series! It shows delves on something that I never imagined happening in Chaos Walking: a human and a Spackle falling in love!
Such a riveting and empowering read on a "forbidden"/ "unnatural" love and the dangers and sacrifices people are willing to accept for it.
"Do you not wonder sometimes, if in some ways they are correct? That we are asking too much of the world? 'No,' he said. 'They're the ones who are asking for too little.'"
What a fantastic addition to the series! It shows delves on something that I never imagined happening in Chaos Walking: a human and a Spackle falling in love!
Such a riveting and empowering read on a "forbidden"/ "unnatural" love and the dangers and sacrifices people are willing to accept for it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 508 reviews