This is one of those books I'd always heard about, but never been able to track down. Finally, last year, Greg at Dreamhaven books sold me a battered old copy so I could see what everyone was talking about. This is a "shared world" anthology, about a place called "The Borderlands," where the world of elves and magic has inexplicably merged with the "real" world. The short stories take place in various time periods after the merger. Each of the stories builds a bit of the "mythology" of the series, while occasionally referencing people and things from the other stories. It's a good book, and I can see how it really (along with Emma Bull's brilliant WAR FOR THE OAKS) kicked off the whole "Urban Fantasy" genre. It's also WAY ahead of its time in terms of politics and gender roles, which is cool to read. I found each of the stories intriguing, although by nature there are huge gaps in the background information, as the first volume works out the "ground rules" of the series. For all of that, it took me quite awhile to get through the book, as other books kept pushing their way to the top of my "to read" list, which probably hurt the overall effect of the book.My favorite two stories in the book were by Charles De Lint and Ellen Kushner, who have also written other books well worth searching out. I'll continue on through the series, and see how it develops!
Bought when it was first published, I read and re-read the book, and hoped for more. Somehow I missed seeing them until now.Go, Goodreads!This anthology was an eye-opener, full of new ideas. I loved it. One thing I particularly remember was Wolf-boy finding four-leaf clovers and using them to buy things. Awesome!When the book first came out, I was already well beyond my teenage years, and never had contemplated running away from home. This book introduced the thought that maybe people run away from home when they reach the point of "anywhere is better than here." A lot of the characters are still older than I am in life experience.I connected to the characters in the way they love their friends, and gather with the people they care about, making new fmailies. They are pilgrims looking for a better life, and the place they live is ... very interesting.
What do You think about Borderland (1986)?
Given that this was a fast read, it still managed to intertwine the poetic with the grim, the fantastical with the purely pedantic. I thoroughly enjoyed the connectivity between four authors' tales as set at different times in the Borderland region. The subtle (and not so demure) personalities are set against a backdrop as diverse as they are. At less than 300 pages, one still manages to come to know the characters and vie for their quests for knowledge, power and truth. It is post-modern meets faery tale in the truest sense. Contemporary authors who weave daily transactions with the supernatural should tip their hat to this gem.
—Valerie Garrison
I own this, and love the whole Bordertown world, but it's been long enough since I've read this particular volume that I can't remember specific stories. My absolute favorite thing set in the Bordertown universe is Emma Bull's book Finder, which is one of the only books that has even made me cry so hard I couldn't see the pages.
—Janni
