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Phantom Limbs
Ghosts, deformed fairy tales, animal transformations, dystopic futures and twisted histories-these are the stuff of a Lanagan story.
An adolescent Hansel is enslaved by wicked tramp Grinnan during the Black Plague; a middle aged woman in country Australia has a last chance to save her swan-winged brother; Hans Christian Andersen's tinderbox shows up as a battered Bic cigarette lighter in a world of blasted cities and morals; gangs of sheela-na-gigs ride the city train system, unnerving the populace with their strange singing.
Phantom Limbs collects fourteen stories published in anthologies, magazines and small collections throughout the past decade, and adds one brand new story, 'The Tin Wife', to deliver an extended tour of the country of the weird.
An adolescent Hansel is enslaved by wicked tramp Grinnan during the Black Plague; a middle aged woman in country Australia has a last chance to save her swan-winged brother; Hans Christian Andersen's tinderbox shows up as a battered Bic cigarette lighter in a world of blasted cities and morals; gangs of sheela-na-gigs ride the city train system, unnerving the populace with their strange singing.
Phantom Limbs collects fourteen stories published in anthologies, magazines and small collections throughout the past decade, and adds one brand new story, 'The Tin Wife', to deliver an extended tour of the country of the weird.
265 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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127 people want to read
About the author
Margo Lanagan
109 books627 followersMargo Lanagan, born in Waratah, New South Wales, is an Australian writer of short stories and young adult fiction.
Many of her books, including YA fiction, were only published in Australia. Recently, several of her books have attracted worldwide attention. Her short story collection Black Juice won two World Fantasy Awards. It was published in Australia by Allen & Unwin and the United Kingdom by Gollancz in 2004, and in North America by HarperCollins in 2005. It includes the much-anthologized short story "Singing My Sister Down".
Her short story collection White Time, originally published in Australia by Allen & Unwin in 2000, was published in North America by HarperCollins in August 2006, after the success of Black Juice.
Many of her books, including YA fiction, were only published in Australia. Recently, several of her books have attracted worldwide attention. Her short story collection Black Juice won two World Fantasy Awards. It was published in Australia by Allen & Unwin and the United Kingdom by Gollancz in 2004, and in North America by HarperCollins in 2005. It includes the much-anthologized short story "Singing My Sister Down".
Her short story collection White Time, originally published in Australia by Allen & Unwin in 2000, was published in North America by HarperCollins in August 2006, after the success of Black Juice.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 9, 2018
"Ghosts, deformed fairy tales, animal transformations, dystopic futures and twisted histories--these are the stuff of a Lanagan story." Phantom Limbs is a collection of 14 previously-published stories and a new one, "The Tin Wife".
The Goosle is the first story in this collection and one of the best. Lanagan has taken the classic Hansel and Gretel tale and made it her own. The setting is a remote forest during the Black Plague. We follow the adolescent Hansel, who is enslaved by the wicked tramp Grinnan, as he revisits the mud-wife's house and the evil that resides there. The author was inspired by this quote by John Irving: "In increments both measurable and not, our childhood is stolen from us--not always in one momentous event but often in a series of small robberies, which add up to the same loss". I enjoyed the ending of this tale very much.
Mulberry Boys is another story that has stuck in my mind. It's a tale of children who have been surgically modified into silk-spinning creatures. Such an odd little story and, again, an ending that pleased me.
The last story I'd like to mention is The Proving of Smollett Standforth. Smoll is a young boy sent into service, sleeping alone in a tiny attic room. He is tormented nightly by a malignant figure. His terror is real, as is his inability to confide in anyone. This took me back to my own childhood fears: Is the closet door closed? Is someone in there? Maybe under the bed? Unlike Smoll, my childhood bedroom was completely safe.
I can highly recommend this collection. Each story is a polished, dark gem. The author has included story notes at the end, which I enjoyed, as well. A Pig's Whisper, for example, draws from Australian history and classic Australian children's stories, which I'm unfamiliar with. Lanagan's notes provided the backstory and added depth to a very good tale.
I'd also like to draw your attention to the beautiful cover art by David Gentry. PS Publishing has created another gorgeous book!
This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for promoting their books as a rep and for providing an honest review. Thank you PS Publishing. It is a pleasure to represent you.
The Goosle is the first story in this collection and one of the best. Lanagan has taken the classic Hansel and Gretel tale and made it her own. The setting is a remote forest during the Black Plague. We follow the adolescent Hansel, who is enslaved by the wicked tramp Grinnan, as he revisits the mud-wife's house and the evil that resides there. The author was inspired by this quote by John Irving: "In increments both measurable and not, our childhood is stolen from us--not always in one momentous event but often in a series of small robberies, which add up to the same loss". I enjoyed the ending of this tale very much.
Mulberry Boys is another story that has stuck in my mind. It's a tale of children who have been surgically modified into silk-spinning creatures. Such an odd little story and, again, an ending that pleased me.
The last story I'd like to mention is The Proving of Smollett Standforth. Smoll is a young boy sent into service, sleeping alone in a tiny attic room. He is tormented nightly by a malignant figure. His terror is real, as is his inability to confide in anyone. This took me back to my own childhood fears: Is the closet door closed? Is someone in there? Maybe under the bed? Unlike Smoll, my childhood bedroom was completely safe.
I can highly recommend this collection. Each story is a polished, dark gem. The author has included story notes at the end, which I enjoyed, as well. A Pig's Whisper, for example, draws from Australian history and classic Australian children's stories, which I'm unfamiliar with. Lanagan's notes provided the backstory and added depth to a very good tale.
I'd also like to draw your attention to the beautiful cover art by David Gentry. PS Publishing has created another gorgeous book!
This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for promoting their books as a rep and for providing an honest review. Thank you PS Publishing. It is a pleasure to represent you.
March 17, 2019
Margo Lanagan is not really a horror writer. At least I don't think she thinks of herself that way. But she likes to write stories that are...unsettling.
Most of her stories start ambiguously, throwing the reader into a situation that you struggle to understand. Then as she slowly unfolds the elements of the story, you say oh...really? Is that what this is about? Then when you finish the story, you ponder what it was really about.
I took awhile to finish this book because it's hard to move quickly through her stories. They are the kind you want to let settle, like a big meal, and digest them gradually.
One of the stories, "Flower and Weed", is an early draft version that she abandoned of her YA book, "The Brides of Rollrock Island", the best selkie story I've ever read. This version was more adult, which is why she veered away from it ultimately. But it was too good to disappear, so here it is.
She has story notes at the end of the book, which are helpful in illuminating the genesis of each story. The meaning, however...sometimes I wonder if even she understands fully. But they are entrancing nonetheless.
Most of her stories start ambiguously, throwing the reader into a situation that you struggle to understand. Then as she slowly unfolds the elements of the story, you say oh...really? Is that what this is about? Then when you finish the story, you ponder what it was really about.
I took awhile to finish this book because it's hard to move quickly through her stories. They are the kind you want to let settle, like a big meal, and digest them gradually.
One of the stories, "Flower and Weed", is an early draft version that she abandoned of her YA book, "The Brides of Rollrock Island", the best selkie story I've ever read. This version was more adult, which is why she veered away from it ultimately. But it was too good to disappear, so here it is.
She has story notes at the end of the book, which are helpful in illuminating the genesis of each story. The meaning, however...sometimes I wonder if even she understands fully. But they are entrancing nonetheless.
December 8, 2018
Margo Lanagan's writing is astounding. Rarely easy, but challenging and rewarding in equal measure. She constantly makes me want to do better. Be a better writer and be a better human. This is no exception. A collection of previously published stories gathered from sources all over the world, it is confronting, chilling and fascinating in equal measure. And, as an added side note, the story notes at the end are a marvelous and entertaining insight into her story writing process that I adored as I'm currently trying to explore short form in earnest.
January 25, 2018
Really interesting, circuitous route to the heart of the story. The tale of a unicorn and his virgin is told by three separate points of view, none of them directly involved in the match.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews