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Selections from Fragile Things #1
Selections from Fragile Things, Volume One: 4 Short Fictions and Wonders
“A prodigiously imaginative collection.”
—New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice
“Dazzling tales from a master of the fantastic.”
—Washington Post Book World
Fragile Things is a sterling collection of exceptional tales from Neil Gaiman, multiple award-winning (the Hugo, Bram Stoker, Newberry, and Eisner Awards, to name just a few), #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Graveyard Book, Anansi Boys, Coraline, and the groundbreaking Sandman graphic novel series. A uniquely imaginative creator of wonders whose unique storytelling genius has been acclaimed by a host of literary luminaries from Norman Mailer to Stephen King, Gaiman’s astonishing powers are on glorious displays in Fragile Things. Enter and be amazed!
—New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice
“Dazzling tales from a master of the fantastic.”
—Washington Post Book World
Fragile Things is a sterling collection of exceptional tales from Neil Gaiman, multiple award-winning (the Hugo, Bram Stoker, Newberry, and Eisner Awards, to name just a few), #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Graveyard Book, Anansi Boys, Coraline, and the groundbreaking Sandman graphic novel series. A uniquely imaginative creator of wonders whose unique storytelling genius has been acclaimed by a host of literary luminaries from Norman Mailer to Stephen King, Gaiman’s astonishing powers are on glorious displays in Fragile Things. Enter and be amazed!
67 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 26, 2011
Sherlock Holmes meets the Cthulhu Mythos in one of the best, most original mash ups of all time...plus a wonderful GAIMANesque ghost story in honor of Ray Bradbury.
Fragile Things, Comprehensive Review Part I...and so it begins. This collection is in my All Time Top 5 for best single author compilation of short fiction ever. If you are a fan of Neil Gaiman’s novels or his work on Sandman and have never read his short fiction, this is a wonderful place to start. I have now read/listened to the collection twice and enjoyed it even more the second time around. When I saw that the book was available in ebook format as multiple selections (each containing up to 9 stories depending on the length), I thought it might be helpful to do a more detailed review for each story which this format accommodates nicely. Otherwise, I would have ended up either skipping over stories or doing one giant monstrous review that may have just been too much. Anyway, hopefully this is helpful***.
***NOTE: Each of the six different "Fragile Things" selections will have their own review but the opening paragraph above will be substantially similar in each. I wanted to try and have each review stand on its own as well as contribute to the overall whole. Therefore, if you are reading this note for the first time and want to read the other 5 reviews, you can skip down to the BEGIN REVIEW for the other installments.
BEGIN REVIEW:
This first selection contains the following stories:
1. Introduction,
2. Mapmaker,
3. A Study in Emerald,
4. The Fairy Reel, and
5. October in the Chair
Overall, these first five pieces get 4.5 stars with the two BIG STANDOUTS being A Study in Emerald and October in the Chair. The best part about sampling these first five stories is that if you are not taken with at least the two standout stories than it may be that Neil Gaiman’s prose style and subtle endings are not your cup of tea (as much as that pains me to say).
In the Introduction, Gaiman discusses the history of each of the short stories in the collection and how the ideas originated in his noggin. He also provides some personal insights into some of his favorites. Normally, I wouldn’t bother reviewing an introduction, but this one was very interesting and I really enjoyed it. 4.0 stars.
Buried within the introduction is a tale called Mapmaker about a ruler in China who is obsessed with creating a perfect map of the entire country down to the last detail. It's a fine story but in the end someone forgettable. 3.0 stars.
Next is our first home run, A Study in Emerald which won the 2004 Hugo Award and the 2005 Locus Award for best short story. It is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche set in an alternative Victorian England in which the “Elder Gods” of the Cthulhu Mythos have taken over the world. This is a truly original and superb combination of two distinctly different genres. You have the logical, uber rational world of Sherlock Holmes coming face to tentacled face with the indefinable, chaotic world of Lovecraft’s Cthulhu stories. I really don’t want to give away any plot details but I think that it is fair to say that if the story sounds interesting to you than it is likely that you will enjoy it. For me, it is one of my all time favorites. 6.0 stars.
EQUALS
Next is a short Poem called The Fairy Reel about the problems that can occur when one spends too much time between the world of man and the world of the Fae. For the most part, I was not a huge fan of the poems and “non-story” material in this collection, but they are all short and easily skipped over if you find you don’t love them either. 2.0 stars.
Finally, we get to the second standout story of this collection, October in the Chair, which won the 2004 Locus Award and was dedicated by Gaiman to Ray Bradbury. It is actually a story-within-a-story and begins with the Months of the Year gathering together in a secluded forest to eat, drink and tell stories. Each Month takes a turn telling an original tale of their own creation that reflects their specific nature. I thought this was a great opening and shows Gaiman’s trademark originality and mastery of prose.
From there, October proceeds to tell a story of a small boy everyone calls Runt. Runt is constantly picked on by his older twin brothers and basically ignored by his parents (who dote on the aforementioned twins). Eventually Runt decides to run away from home and search for a better life (he also has strong hopes that his family will come to regret how they treated him a want him to come home).
After taking a bus for a while and then walking he finds himself in a new town. The place seems deserted until he meets a boy named “Dearly.” The two boys play and enjoy each others company until Runt is forced to make a critical decision at the end of the story. Beautifully written, deeply evocative and with a subtle but deeply powerful ending. It is the kind of ending that will float right into your head and settle like mist on top of your brain...until it begins to squeeze!! 6.0 stars.
One final note for those interested in audio books, the audio version is read by Neil Gaiman himself and he is an outstanding narrator. There is nothing better than an author reading their own work when they can do it well and Mr. Gaiman knocks it out of the park.
Next up in Volume 2:
The Hidden Chamber,
Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire (on of the best title ever),
The Flints of Memory Lane,
Closing Time,
Going Wodwo, and
Bitter Grounds.
You can link to the review for these stories here: My Review of Fragile Things Volume 2
Fragile Things, Comprehensive Review Part I...and so it begins. This collection is in my All Time Top 5 for best single author compilation of short fiction ever. If you are a fan of Neil Gaiman’s novels or his work on Sandman and have never read his short fiction, this is a wonderful place to start. I have now read/listened to the collection twice and enjoyed it even more the second time around. When I saw that the book was available in ebook format as multiple selections (each containing up to 9 stories depending on the length), I thought it might be helpful to do a more detailed review for each story which this format accommodates nicely. Otherwise, I would have ended up either skipping over stories or doing one giant monstrous review that may have just been too much. Anyway, hopefully this is helpful***.
***NOTE: Each of the six different "Fragile Things" selections will have their own review but the opening paragraph above will be substantially similar in each. I wanted to try and have each review stand on its own as well as contribute to the overall whole. Therefore, if you are reading this note for the first time and want to read the other 5 reviews, you can skip down to the BEGIN REVIEW for the other installments.
BEGIN REVIEW:
This first selection contains the following stories:
1. Introduction,
2. Mapmaker,
3. A Study in Emerald,
4. The Fairy Reel, and
5. October in the Chair
Overall, these first five pieces get 4.5 stars with the two BIG STANDOUTS being A Study in Emerald and October in the Chair. The best part about sampling these first five stories is that if you are not taken with at least the two standout stories than it may be that Neil Gaiman’s prose style and subtle endings are not your cup of tea (as much as that pains me to say).
In the Introduction, Gaiman discusses the history of each of the short stories in the collection and how the ideas originated in his noggin. He also provides some personal insights into some of his favorites. Normally, I wouldn’t bother reviewing an introduction, but this one was very interesting and I really enjoyed it. 4.0 stars.
Buried within the introduction is a tale called Mapmaker about a ruler in China who is obsessed with creating a perfect map of the entire country down to the last detail. It's a fine story but in the end someone forgettable. 3.0 stars.
Next is our first home run, A Study in Emerald which won the 2004 Hugo Award and the 2005 Locus Award for best short story. It is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche set in an alternative Victorian England in which the “Elder Gods” of the Cthulhu Mythos have taken over the world. This is a truly original and superb combination of two distinctly different genres. You have the logical, uber rational world of Sherlock Holmes coming face to tentacled face with the indefinable, chaotic world of Lovecraft’s Cthulhu stories. I really don’t want to give away any plot details but I think that it is fair to say that if the story sounds interesting to you than it is likely that you will enjoy it. For me, it is one of my all time favorites. 6.0 stars.
EQUALS
Next is a short Poem called The Fairy Reel about the problems that can occur when one spends too much time between the world of man and the world of the Fae. For the most part, I was not a huge fan of the poems and “non-story” material in this collection, but they are all short and easily skipped over if you find you don’t love them either. 2.0 stars.
Finally, we get to the second standout story of this collection, October in the Chair, which won the 2004 Locus Award and was dedicated by Gaiman to Ray Bradbury. It is actually a story-within-a-story and begins with the Months of the Year gathering together in a secluded forest to eat, drink and tell stories. Each Month takes a turn telling an original tale of their own creation that reflects their specific nature. I thought this was a great opening and shows Gaiman’s trademark originality and mastery of prose.
From there, October proceeds to tell a story of a small boy everyone calls Runt. Runt is constantly picked on by his older twin brothers and basically ignored by his parents (who dote on the aforementioned twins). Eventually Runt decides to run away from home and search for a better life (he also has strong hopes that his family will come to regret how they treated him a want him to come home).
After taking a bus for a while and then walking he finds himself in a new town. The place seems deserted until he meets a boy named “Dearly.” The two boys play and enjoy each others company until Runt is forced to make a critical decision at the end of the story. Beautifully written, deeply evocative and with a subtle but deeply powerful ending. It is the kind of ending that will float right into your head and settle like mist on top of your brain...until it begins to squeeze!! 6.0 stars.
One final note for those interested in audio books, the audio version is read by Neil Gaiman himself and he is an outstanding narrator. There is nothing better than an author reading their own work when they can do it well and Mr. Gaiman knocks it out of the park.
Next up in Volume 2:
The Hidden Chamber,
Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire (on of the best title ever),
The Flints of Memory Lane,
Closing Time,
Going Wodwo, and
Bitter Grounds.
You can link to the review for these stories here: My Review of Fragile Things Volume 2
February 18, 2021
Please see my individual reviews for the stories contained in this anthology
The Mapmaker ... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Study in Emerald ... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Fairy Reel ... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October in the Chair ... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (this one includes the story "Dearly Departed")
Neil also includes small narratives of how he came to write other stories not included in this book
The Mapmaker ... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Study in Emerald ... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Fairy Reel ... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October in the Chair ... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (this one includes the story "Dearly Departed")
Neil also includes small narratives of how he came to write other stories not included in this book
August 13, 2023
4 Stars
That was a great set of stories.
I loved A Study in Emerald. Never knowing the main characters name, but understanding who it is. That needs to be a novella!
That was a great set of stories.
I loved A Study in Emerald. Never knowing the main characters name, but understanding who it is. That needs to be a novella!
September 30, 2021
This second compilation of Gaiman's short stories from Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders and poems contains some entries that have occurred in other collections, including the following:-
■ Introduction and The Map maker - 3⭐ - Embedded in the introduction, the Emperor is so enamored by his maps he is willing to sacrifice not just his empire but his descendant's future, to have the ultimate Map on an island. A solid story with a profound message.
■ A Study in Emerald - 5⭐ -Fantastic Sherlock Holmes tale in Lovecraft Cthulhu universe. Was so good I did a full review.
■ The Fairy Reel - 2⭐ - A cute poem, read out loud it seems like a fairy tale.
■ October in the Chair - 4⭐ -October's turn to tell a story, which I loved. Later realized it is the prologue to The Graveyard Book.
■ Introduction and The Map maker - 3⭐ - Embedded in the introduction, the Emperor is so enamored by his maps he is willing to sacrifice not just his empire but his descendant's future, to have the ultimate Map on an island. A solid story with a profound message.
■ A Study in Emerald - 5⭐ -Fantastic Sherlock Holmes tale in Lovecraft Cthulhu universe. Was so good I did a full review.
■ The Fairy Reel - 2⭐ - A cute poem, read out loud it seems like a fairy tale.
■ October in the Chair - 4⭐ -October's turn to tell a story, which I loved. Later realized it is the prologue to The Graveyard Book.
September 2, 2023
SELECTIONS FROM FRAGILE THINGS, VOLUME ONE contains four stories from the imagination of Neil Gaiman. It's been a while since I've read any of Gaiman's stuff, but I came across a reference to "A Study in Emerald" while watching a Sherlock Holmes documentary.
The four stories appear after the Introduction that contains a lengthy discourse on how ten of his stories came to be. If nothing else, Neil Gaiman is a consummate storyteller. These brief dissertations can be read as a short master class in creative writing.
As already mentioned, my main interest in this volume is "A Study in Emerald." From the onset, it is clear that Gaiman is telling the story that introduces Holmes and Watson to the reading public, in 1887. Or is he?
From the introductory explanation of "A Study in Emerald," we discover that it was originally written for the anthology SHADOWS OVER BAKER STREET, edited by Michael Reaves and John Pelan. Afficionados of weird tales will automatically associate 'shadows over' with the works of H. P. Lovecraft and his ilk. Thus, what was needed to submit for this anthology was a mashup of cold logic with the irrational and otherworldly. This required building a new Victorian Era London where fantastic creatures are commonplace. You will not know just how successful the mashup is until the very last sentence of the tale.
Once you grab onto the thread dangled here and there, whether you are a fan of HPL or the Great Detective, this story will slip into the void between the two.
The four stories appear after the Introduction that contains a lengthy discourse on how ten of his stories came to be. If nothing else, Neil Gaiman is a consummate storyteller. These brief dissertations can be read as a short master class in creative writing.
As already mentioned, my main interest in this volume is "A Study in Emerald." From the onset, it is clear that Gaiman is telling the story that introduces Holmes and Watson to the reading public, in 1887. Or is he?
From the introductory explanation of "A Study in Emerald," we discover that it was originally written for the anthology SHADOWS OVER BAKER STREET, edited by Michael Reaves and John Pelan. Afficionados of weird tales will automatically associate 'shadows over' with the works of H. P. Lovecraft and his ilk. Thus, what was needed to submit for this anthology was a mashup of cold logic with the irrational and otherworldly. This required building a new Victorian Era London where fantastic creatures are commonplace. You will not know just how successful the mashup is until the very last sentence of the tale.
Once you grab onto the thread dangled here and there, whether you are a fan of HPL or the Great Detective, this story will slip into the void between the two.
January 10, 2019
Shorts
This collection definitely made me think after reading the selections. Very enjoyable. Definitely need to read more by this author.
This collection definitely made me think after reading the selections. Very enjoyable. Definitely need to read more by this author.
April 7, 2020
Enjoyed A Study in Emerald - it had a very Sherlock Holmes vibe to it. Fairy Reel, on the other hand, was interesting hmm. October in the Chair made me really sad.
July 23, 2020
Love Gaiman did not care for these stories
September 24, 2020
I enjoy Neil Gaiman's writings very much. I enjoyed Shadow and his adventure.
September 25, 2021
3.75 stars
December 9, 2023
Gaiman Gems
A few very good Gaiman short stories, plus a section of commentary on many of his short stories about their histories.
A few very good Gaiman short stories, plus a section of commentary on many of his short stories about their histories.
April 22, 2014
from Jordan:
The Monarch of the Glen by Neil Gaiman, a novella from the Fragile Things collection, is a sequel to Gaiman’s American Gods. The story follows protagonist Shadow while visiting Scotland. It explores some of Scotland’s mythos in the same way American Gods explored the old and new gods of America.
To say too much about the plot would spoil it, but there you garner interesting tidbits about Shadow as he tries to escape the escapades that occurred in America. For one, you learn his real name, which clarifies the information you learned in American Gods about his parental lineage.
It’s well worth the few hour read and acts as an interesting bridge to the forthcoming American Gods full-length sequel.
The Monarch of the Glen by Neil Gaiman, a novella from the Fragile Things collection, is a sequel to Gaiman’s American Gods. The story follows protagonist Shadow while visiting Scotland. It explores some of Scotland’s mythos in the same way American Gods explored the old and new gods of America.
To say too much about the plot would spoil it, but there you garner interesting tidbits about Shadow as he tries to escape the escapades that occurred in America. For one, you learn his real name, which clarifies the information you learned in American Gods about his parental lineage.
It’s well worth the few hour read and acts as an interesting bridge to the forthcoming American Gods full-length sequel.
April 14, 2013
Bottom line: Selections from Fragile Things is a good pick of short stories (3) and a poem (1) from the larger collection. The picks made me want to buy the full Fragile Things collection.
These stories went from fable, "The Mapmaker", to mystery, "A Study in Emerald", to a fairy tale/poem in, "The Fairy Reel", to a campfire tale, told by a month of the year, "October in the Chair".
These are real "story" stories, as much worthy of being told hundreds of years ago as they are adequate for being told today. Timeless.
I'm sure the full collection reads the same way.
These stories went from fable, "The Mapmaker", to mystery, "A Study in Emerald", to a fairy tale/poem in, "The Fairy Reel", to a campfire tale, told by a month of the year, "October in the Chair".
These are real "story" stories, as much worthy of being told hundreds of years ago as they are adequate for being told today. Timeless.
I'm sure the full collection reads the same way.
February 4, 2010
Book features only Neil Gaiman's intelligent and fun short stories. Gaiman writes with apparent ease because of his immense talent. The New Yorker profiled him a few weeks ago.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/20...
Happily I call myself a dedicated fan.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/20...
Happily I call myself a dedicated fan.
June 27, 2012
I Love this book. It has a place next to my bed so that it's ready to be read at anytime. Again and again. While there are many stories in Fragile Things I love, my favorite without a doubt is "October Sits in the Chair."
September 5, 2009
There are hits and misses in this collection of short fictions and poems, but "Sunbird," "Bitter Grounds," and "Keepsakes and Treasures" are particularly good.
April 23, 2012
Some entertaining stories from Neil Gaiman. A story about aliens, a poem, and the months of the year telling stories.
January 4, 2014
From the introduction, I thought I was getting several stories. However, this only contained 3. Four if you count the "Mapmaker." Lovely writing. I found A Study in Emerald weird, but well written.
July 25, 2016
It's hard to categorize Gaiman's short stories, so I categorized this with all semi-applicable bookshelf titles!
Some of these were more brilliant than others, but they were all captivating.
Some of these were more brilliant than others, but they were all captivating.
January 5, 2013
Excellent.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews