Product Description

Must-have short story collection by Garth Nix, containing thirteen stories all introduced by the author himself. ACROSS THE WALL brings together an eclectic mix of Garth Nix's writing spanning several years. The opening story is the 2005 World Book Day novella and Old Kingdom story NICHOLAS SAYRE AND THE CREATURE IN THE CASE, winner of two prestigious Aurealis Awards. The rest of the collection includes two tales inspired by Arthurian legend, a war story, a western, a traditional tale with a twist and a hilarious choose-your-own-adventure spoof. The volume is introduced by the author himself and, even better, so is each story -- giving context, anecdotes and a generous dollop of Nix's own wry humour. Plus! A final bonus section of frequently asked questions for which Garth Nix supplies vital answers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7210 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
"Anyone familiar with Garth Nix's children's trilogy Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen will snatch up this anthology! there's a little bit of everything here." SFX From Garth Nix fans at www.garthnix.co.uk 'Amazing and brilliant, Nix always finds a new way to captivate the reader with each story.' 'This collection of stories is a great read, even if you haven't read any books in the Old Kingdom trilogy. Whether it be Nicholas Sayre and The Creature in The Case, or the short, tragic tale that is Endings, you'll be hanging onto every word and asking yourself why this book wasn't published earlier.' 'Awesome awesome book. My dad and I both were laughing our heads off at the Choose your own adventure and my personal favorite was the beautiful tale Endings. Can't wait to read more by Garth Nix.'

From the Publisher
Question and Answer with Garth Nix:

What is your favourite piece of clothing?
My R. M. Williams elastic-sided boots
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you want to have with you?
I presume a satellite phone is out of the question, so:
1. "The How to Survive on a Deserted Island Manual"
2. A knife or machete
3. A very large clear plastic tarpaulin
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Absent-minded writer guy
What time do you get up in the morning?
Usually between 4:45am and 7:00am depending upon my young son. Preferably closer to 7:00am!
Do you have any pets? What are their names?
No pets, unless you count the two swallows that are building a nest under the canopy above my office door. Maybe I should give them names.
What are 3 things you love about where you live?
The sea, the trees, the birds
What makes you most happy?
A cup of tea, a good book and my family around me
Did you like school? What was your favourite subject?
I sometimes liked school. My favourite subject was History. Or maybe English. Or Drama.
When did you start writing and what gave you the inspiration to start?
I started writing stories when I was six or seven, but didn't seriously try to write and get published till I was nineteen.
What do you like to read? And what book are you reading now?
I like to read all sorts of books. I'm currently reading a history of Venice by John Julius Norwich.
What was the first book you can remember reading?
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
What is your favourite TV programme and pop band?
My favourite TV program is an old one, Dr Who. My favourite pop band changes, but I guess my all-time favourite would be The Beatles.
What is your perfect holiday?
Taking it easy at a beach house on the NSW South Coast in late Spring, before lots of people go there
If you could travel back in time, who would you be and why?
I would like to be all sorts of people, but I wouldn't mind being a long-lived, healthy medieval king who died in bed at an advanced age, mourned by all.
What is your favourite food?
Sausages and mash
What would you do if you won the lottery?
Give some of it away, invest the rest in interesting projects like making films, or producing a play, or re-publishing some old books that have disappeared
What is your favourite sport?
Fishing
If you could be invisible for the day, where would you go?
The Invisible Club, though it's a pain to find and you keep bumping into people
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Where I live now, near the beach in Sydney
What is your ideal Saturday/weekend?
To be at home with my family, with no obligation to do anything or be anywhere
If you had 3 wishes from a genie what would it be?
That would depend upon the nature of the wishes. If I could make really big wishes for other people I would wish:
* For everyone in the world to be healthy and vigorous (and if that was too hard for the genie, then I'd try for all children to be healthy and vigorous)
* For all the weapons in the world to turn into flowers
* For everyone to be able to experience compassion and understand kindness
If the wishes had to be for myself, I would wish for:
* A really good singing voice
* Extremely good health for my whole family
* A small very comfortable castle on a large private island in Sydney Harbour

From the Back Cover
If a writer tells the stories, do the stories tell the writer?

Thirteen tales lurk within these covers and although I didn't realise it when I was writing them, each one tells a different chapter of my story as a writer. Some I wrote long ago, others more recently. Some are sad, some are not. Many are dark, but not without hope, and others would like to make you laugh or at least attract a smile.

Thirteen stories from the international bestselling author, including the award-winning Old Kingdom story 'Nicolas Sayre and the Creature in the Case'. Each one is introduced by Garth Nix, giving context, anecdotes and a glimpse into his creative process. This edition also includes a bonus section of frequently asked questions and answers.

Customer Reviews

Go across the Wall
Garth Nix changed the face of dark fantasy with his tales of Sabriel, Lirael and the gruesome enemies they defeated. Now he provides not only a novella in the world of the Abhorsen Trilogy, but several other short stories that he has penned over the years -- dark, chilling, beautiful and amusing.

After the events of "Abhorsen," Nicholas Sayre has decided that he wants to go to the Old Kingdom, to be near Sabriel and Lirael. Unfortunately, he gets sidetracked at a secret government base. Then a maddened official steals his blood to awaken a hideous Free Magic creature, which has lain dormant inside a clear case. Now the creature is on a rampage, seeking more blood to increase its power -- and Nicholas has no way to stop it.

That novella, called "The Creature In the Case," is the main draw for this collection of short stories. But it's also not the only one -- Nix includes several other stories: A pair of Arthurian stories, one about Nimue and the other about the Lady of the Lake; a man comes to the island of Lisden as its new owner... not knowing that he's been duped; and a young boy is enlisted by his grandfather to help save a forest from his greedy dad. Nix also shows off his more playful side in "Down to the Scud Corner," a hilarious spoof of those "choose your own adventure" books.

There are also darker stories in here as well. One story focuses on sex and death, as a young man tries to save the local girls from a lover who can call down lightning. And "Charlie Rabbit" is a surprisingly harrowing story about two boys hiding in a flooded building during a war. And the fairy-tale adaptation "Hansel's Eyes," while not unusually dark, has a rather macabre ending.

In all these stories, Garth Nix shows all his writing talents -- he's funny, he's chilling, and he's good at adventure stories and likable characters. It's wonderful to check out his earlier stories, and see how he has matured as a writer. But the main novella is perhaps the best of all, giving the underrated Nicholas a chance to shine. It also hints at possible future adventures for Sabriel, Lirael and their friends.

The stories are not completely even, since Nix wrote them at different times in his life -- apparently some of his earliest work, including a story written when he was six, were not deemed worthy. But apparently he's had his rich, detailed writing style for a long time now, best evidenced by the internal monologue of the Lady of the Lake. While a few like "Lightning Bringer" feel rather underfleshed, most of his short stories feel satisfyingly complete on their own.

"Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories" adds to Garth Nix's impressive list of dark fantasy. This collection is well-worth reading, for some chilling, vivid storytelling.

A fascinating insight into Garth Nix
I am a huge Garth Nix fan; I love his variety - for example the power of the Old Kingdom series to the relatively light humour of the Keys To The Kingdom series. I am not blinked in my admiration, I thought Sir Thursday could have been better as could the Ragwitch but overall a truly excellent author.

As a book, Across The Wall has been on my wish list for sometime and I just hadn't gotten around to reading it, I had read The Creature In The Case as a stand alone book some time ago so I couldn't see the benefit to reading this - thankfully I finally got around to it.

The bulk of this collection is dedicated to Nicholas Sayre and TCITC and is - for me - the most polished book in here. You can really feel connected to how Nicholas is growing with his new found power, infused as it is with the stiff upper lip that a public school life gives one. Whilst back in Ancelstierre Nicholas is battling his fears about the old Kingdom, he realised after some soul searching that the only way to conquer them is to face them head on - and return. His Uncle offers to help in return for spending some time at Dorence House with the secret department 13. However more than a few armed policemen and a jovial old man lurk in the bowels of the old house...

I loved the story for the connection it gave me to the Abhorsen trilogy and a taster to what may never be written but to what I truly hope will be. As I mentioned it does feel polished and is a real stand alone novel, the book is worth purchasing for this story alone.

Thankfully though, there is more. Much more - 12 more stories in fact. Some are quite a bit longer than others and they are so varied that I couldn't put my finger on one thread that runs through them other than that Garth Nix wrote them! I really enjoyed the Arthurian stories Under the Lake and Heart's Desire - I found these such interesting twists on novels of this ilk. As a previous reviewer mentioned, Charlie Rabbit is brilliantly, but harrowingly written, how we hold on to the small things in a crisis. I loved the humour in Down to the Scum Quarter and My New Really Epic Fantasy Series, the latter being frankly complete genius and I won't ruin any of it for you.

Overall this is an excellent insight into how the mind of such a great author works and as I am in the middle of the Keys to the Kingdom series it feels like an excellent reminder that Garth Nix is so much more than one character.

A fascinating insight into Garth Nix
I am a huge Garth Nix fan; I love his variety - for example the power of the Old Kingdom series to the relatively light humour of the Keys To The Kingdom series. I am not blinked in my admiration, I thought Sir Thursday could have been better as could the Ragwitch but overall a truly excellent author.

As a book, Across The Wall has been on my wish list for sometime and I just hadn't gotten around to reading it, I had read The Creature In The Case as a stand alone book some time ago so I couldn't see the benefit to reading this - thankfully I finally got around to it.

The bulk of this collection is dedicated to Nicholas Sayre and TCITC and is - for me - the most polished book in here. You can really feel connected to how Nicholas is growing with his new found power, infused as it is with the stiff upper lip that a public school life gives one. Whilst back in Ancelstierre Nicholas is battling his fears about the old Kingdom, he realised after some soul searching that the only way to conquer them is to face them head on - and return. His Uncle offers to help in return for spending some time at Dorence House with the secret department 13. However more than a few armed policemen and a jovial old man lurk in the bowels of the old house...

I loved the story for the connection it gave me to the Abhorsen trilogy and a taster to what may never be written but to what I truly hope will be. As I mentioned it does feel polished and is a real stand alone novel, the book is worth purchasing for this story alone.

Thankfully though, there is more. Much more - 12 more stories in face. Some are quite a bit longer than others and they are so varied that I couldn't put my finger on one thread that runs through them other than that Garth Nix wrote them! I really enjoyed the Arthurian stories Under the Lake and Heart's Desire - I found these such interesting twists on novels of this ilk. As a previous reviewer mentioned, Charlie Rabbit is brilliantly, but harrowingly written, how we hold on to the small things in a crisis. I loved the humour in Down to the Scum Quarter and My New Really Epic Fantasy Series, the latter being frankly complete genius and I won't ruin any of it for you.

Overall this is an excellent insight into how the mind of such a great author works and as I am in the middle of the Keys to the Kingdom series it feels like an excellent reminder that Garth Nix is so much more than one character.