Synopses & Reviews
Skirting the border between childhood and adulthood this innovative collection offers a tantalizing glimpse of what lies hidden just beyond the ordinary. Mysticism, heroism, cruelty, and compassion thread through these multifaceted tales, which range from the origins of the Manhattan Project to a culinary object-lesson, from 1950s-era corruption to a slight glitch in Creation. From the publication of her first story, nominated for both the Hugo and Nebula awards, Ellen Klages has continued to entertain and challenge her readers.
Collected here for the first time, and including the story that inspired her breakout first novel The Green Glass Sea, these stories have been called timeless, delightful, chilling, and beautiful. This is short fiction at its best, emerging from a unique and powerful voice.
Review
"This delightful collection showcases the best of Klages." Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club
Review
"Ellen Klages writes about childhood in brilliant, primary colors. Like Ray Bradbury, her nostalgic stories are like myths." Maureen McHugh, author, China Mountain Zhang
Synopsis
"Brilliant stories."
--
Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother "There are so many smart, sweet, funny, troubling treats here about so many things--childhood, chefs, God, barber shops, the atomic bomb--that it's nearly impossible to pick a favorite. Just read them all They're great "
--Connie Willis, author of To Say Nothing of the Dog
This long-awaited first short fiction collection from Scott O'Dell award-winning author Ellen Klages (The Green Glass Sea), offers a tantalizing glimpse of what lies hidden just beyond the ordinary. Described by reviewers as timeless, delightful, chilling, and beautiful, this is short fiction at its best, emerging from a distinctive, powerful voice. Includes the Nebula Award-winning novelette "Basement Magic" as well as the story that became The Green Glass Sea.
Synopsis
Emerging from a unique and powerful voice, this innovative collection offers a tantalizing glimpse of what lies hidden just beyond the ordinary, skirting the border between childhood and adulthood. Mysticism, heroism, cruelty, and compassion thread through these multifaceted tales which range from the origins of the Manhattan Project to a culinary object-lesson, from 1950s corruption to a slight glitch in Creation. Collected here for the first time and including an excerpt from her breakout first novel The Green Glass Sea, these stories are timeless and delightful, chilling and beautiful.
Synopsis
Portable Childhoods offers a tantalizing glimpse of what lies hidden just beyond the ordinary. Described by reviewers as timeless, delightful, chilling, and beautiful, this is short fiction at its best, emerging from a distinctive, powerful voice. The collection includes the Nebula Awardwinning novelette Basement Magic.”
About the Author
Ellen Klages is the Nebula Award-winning author of The Green Glass Sea. Her short fiction has appeared in numerous science fiction and fantasy anthologies and magazines, including Black Gate, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and Strange Horizons. She lives in San Francisco.
Table of Contents
Introduction by Neil Gaiman
A Taste of Summer”
Basement Magic”
Be Prepared”
Clip Art”
Flying Over Water”
Guys Day Out”
In the House of the Seven Libraries”
Intelligent Design”
Möbius, Stripped of a Muse”
Portable Childhoods”
Ringing Up Baby”
The Feed Bag”
The GreenGlass Sea”
Time Gypsy”
Travel Agency”
Triangle”
Afterword
Kids Q&A
Read the Kids' Q&A with Ellen Klages