So, without further ado ...
Short stories!! Because I had three books of Terry Pratchett shorts on my TBR and because I can never reread Diana Wynne Jones's stories enough times, I decided that this is how I want to spend the month of March this year. It should work well with my current short attention span and around all of the worldly distractions and I hope it will help some of you participate more easily too.
If you need guidance on which books to request from your local library, here's a list of short story anthologies to look for:
Terry Pratchett's short stories will be easiest to find as these books have all been released only in the past few years.
A Blink of the Screen is a collection of his short adult fiction, 21 non-Discworld tales and 11 Discworld ones.
Then there are three collections for youth: Dragons at Crumbling Castle and The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner are the two that have been released in the US so far. If you're in the UK, you'll also be able to find Father Christmas's Fake Beard.
Diana Wynne Jones' anthologies are a bit messier. The main three where you will be able to find almost all of her stories are Unexpected Magic (16 stories), Mixed Magics (4 Chrestomanci stories), and Stopping for a Spell (3 stories). Then there are a few more anthologies that carry a mix of these stories -- Warlock at the Wheel and Other Stories, Everard's Ride, Minor Arcana, and Believing is Seeing. These will all be harder to find and there is only one story between them that isn't in the first three I mentioned ("The True State of Affairs"). Still, who knows what everyone's random libraries or used bookstores will have around, right?!
As for the event itself, I'll just be reading throughout the month and writing random posts to highlight the stories that I love. Feel free to write up your own posts and give me links to share or just stop by and comment on any of the posts here during the month with your thoughts. I want to keep it rather informal this year. You can read one story or 83 like I'm planning to do.
Leave a comment if you're planning on participating!
Tidying my pile of shorts,
K
Lovely!! I was just thinking about March Magics last week (as I binged through the Magid books). I love the idea of the short stories -- some of them I haven't read in years, and Everard's Ride is a hard-to-find favorite. I, um, have all the short collections you mention.
ReplyDeleteI just checked and I haven't read either Unexpected Magic and Stopping for a Spell since 2014, Mixed Magics since 2008! I always remember the stories well enough that I think I've read them more recently.
DeleteAnd I definitely could have guessed that you would own all of the books. ;)
YAY! I've been waiting to hear about this year's March Magics plans. So excited! I have a copy of Mixed Magics around I could re-read... I know my local library has A Blink of a Screen, Stopping for a Spell, and Unexpected Magic, so I will definitely have to pick those up in time for the festivities! Not sure if I can get my hands on the others, but that's probably enough to keep me busy. I've been meaning to read DWJs short fiction and just haven't gotten around to it, so this is PERFECT!
ReplyDeleteI have a couple other DWJ and Pratchett books I'd like to read too if I have time.
Basically I AM ENTHUSED and we're so close and I can't wait! :D
I just kept planning for myself and almost forgot to share publicly. Oops! ;)
DeleteI adore so many of the DWJ short stories but have strangely never read any Pratchett shorts yet. And yes, I'll probably squeeze in a few novels too. How can I resist?!
Found out my library apparently got rid of Stopping for a Spell... like... rude?? *is vexed* But I just picked up A Blink of the Screen and Dragons at Crumbling Castle at the library, and waiting for Unexpected Magic to get back in... I'm also looking forward to a couple of new DWJs I've been saving for this occasion. :D ALL (mostly?) SET AND EXCITED.
DeleteOh no! My library only had it in ebook so I went ahead and bought myself a used copy this year. I have so few DWJ books left that I don't own that I figured I could spend a few dollars and get that one. ;)
DeleteAnd I cheated and started Dragons at Crumbling Castle today and will be writing up the kick-off post tonight. Squee!
One of my very most treasured books is the NESFA limited edition of Everard's Ride. I didn't get to go to the conference at which DWJ was guest of honor, but at least I snagged the book. That would be a good one to reread this year!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, especially since it has my favorite of all DWJ shorts, Dragon Reserve, Home Eight!
DeleteI was always hoping she would extend that one into a novel!
DeleteI hoped that too! It seems to me to maybe have a connection to the Hexwood universe and I would have loved a whole novel.
DeleteSigh....but it's never to be. At least we have the story.
DeleteOh my gosh I love this! One of my resolutions for 2018 is actually that I want to read more short fiction, so this fits in perfectly with my reading habits for the year.
ReplyDeleteMan. This is a great time to reread Everard's Ride. I can't wait. You are such a treasure (as always!) for hosting this.
I'm glad this fits with your resolutions! I'm pretty sure you can just read a whole bunch of DWJ shorts and count it for the whole year. ;)
DeleteIt's been a while since I participated, but I think I may try to give it a try. Just need to see what I can get my hands one between now and then.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have you join with any book at all! :)
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