Snow, Glass, Apples

sirbruce · 04-17-2009, 01:01 AM

So, I'm a longtime Neil Gaiman fan from his early comic book days (I started reading Sandman from the day it came out), but I had not read much of his other fiction until recently. I read "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" last year and really thought it deserved to win the Hugo. And of course Stardust and Coraline were both great.

But tonight I just finished "Snow, Glass, Apples".

I was blown away.

Perhaps the main reason why was that I didn't see the ending coming. It's such a rare thing these days, to be surprised, and it's so delightful. I don't want to spoil anything here, but suffice it to say I wish I could have written such a brilliant piece. If it wasn't for the smattering of adult content, I think this story should be required reading in High School curriculum.

Bravo, Mr. Gaiman. Bravo.

PS - This short story is available in Neil Gaiman's collection Smoke and Mirrors, available on Kindle.

BinaryTB · 04-17-2009, 11:42 AM

Agreed. That and Murder Mysteries are must reads in Smoke and Mirrors.

Have you had a chance to check out Fragile Things? It's another one of his short story collections, I'll probably pick it up in paper form though one of these days, it has all the intros for each short story in the beginning much like Smoke and Mirrors (at least I think it does), and it's easier to flip back wood pages than e-pages I think.

sirbruce · 04-17-2009, 05:25 PM

I've read that Fragile Things wasn't as good. But I'm sure I'll get to it eventually!

poohbear_nc · 04-21-2009, 08:54 AM

Thanks for bringing my attention to Gaiman's short stories - previously I had only read his novels & graphic novels.

I began with "Smoke and Mirrors" and encountered what I think is one of the greatest opening lines: "Mrs. WHitaker found the Holy Grail; it was under a fur coat." Just made me stop and stare at it for a few minutes - what a brain to come up with this.

Any further recommendations?

BinaryTB · 04-21-2009, 11:27 AM

If you're looking for more lighthearted and witty Neil Gaiman, I'd say check out Good Omens (co-authored by Terry Pratchett) and I recently finished his Anansi Boys, which is similar and also a great fun read.

poohbear_nc · 04-21-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spooon69

If you're looking for more lighthearted and witty Neil Gaiman, I'd say check out Good Omens (co-authored by Terry Pratchett) and I recently finished his Anansi Boys, which is similar and also a great fun read.

Thanks - I have read Good Omens (when I motored through the Pratchett canon) - very fun & witty.

Haven't read Anansi Boys yet - it's sitting on my Kindle - I will move it up in my "To Read" queue.

sirbruce · 04-21-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Any further recommendations?

You can check out some more of his short stories on his website:
http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/Cool_Stuff

Including "How to Talk to Girls at Parties".

Moe The Cat · 04-21-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbruce

This short story is available in Neil Gaiman's collection Smoke and Mirrors, available on Kindle.

The short story is also available online here. No need to buy a Kindle.

sirbruce · 04-21-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moe The Cat

The short story is also available online here. No need to buy a Kindle.

Since the URL doesn't give permission to duplicate, you're not allowed to download it to your e-reader.

Though I suppose with Kindle you could read it via the web browser.

Moejoe · 04-21-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moe The Cat

The short story is also available online here. No need to buy a Kindle.

Ta for that. I'll convert that to ePub and put it on my 505 for later reading

fugazied · 04-21-2009, 10:17 PM

Bought it just now, from your recommendation

I have one other fiction book to finish then I'll get started on it and report back with my opinion on it. Looks good!

poohbear_nc · 04-22-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbruce

Since the URL doesn't give permission to duplicate, you're not allowed to download it to your e-reader.

Though I suppose with Kindle you could read it via the web browser.

Have there been any reports on reading directly from the web using the web browser - particularly for short stories that can't be downloaded? I'd think you would run into similar issues reported for web browsing - scaling problems, long loading times, etc. I am finding websites with short stories available only for online reading, which I would like to download for later reading away from the PC.

Has anyone had any experience using phonifier or skweezer, or similar software for cell phone browsing, on the Kindle? For some reason, I cannot focus to read off of a PC screen, but have no problem reading from a Kindle. This almost prevented me from buying an ebook.

sirbruce · 04-22-2009, 08:22 AM

I've not read any specific reports but I'm sure reading via the web browser works fine it would just be slow. But usually I download the page into HTML and then convert it to MOBI and upload that to my Kindle. I was just joshing Moe since that's technically a bad thing to do. :P

04-17-2009, 01:01 AM	#1
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	Snow, Glass, Apples So, I'm a longtime Neil Gaiman fan from his early comic book days (I started reading Sandman from the day it came out), but I had not read much of his other fiction until recently. I read "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" last year and really thought it deserved to win the Hugo. And of course Stardust and Coraline were both great. But tonight I just finished "Snow, Glass, Apples". I was blown away. Perhaps the main reason why was that I didn't see the ending coming. It's such a rare thing these days, to be surprised, and it's so delightful. I don't want to spoil anything here, but suffice it to say I wish I could have written such a brilliant piece. If it wasn't for the smattering of adult content, I think this story should be required reading in High School curriculum. Bravo, Mr. Gaiman. Bravo. PS - This short story is available in Neil Gaiman's collection Smoke and Mirrors, available on Kindle. Last edited by sirbruce; 04-17-2009 at 01:05 AM.

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04-17-2009, 11:42 AM	#2
BinaryTB Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 74 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Boston, MA Device: Kindle 3	Agreed. That and Murder Mysteries are must reads in Smoke and Mirrors. Have you had a chance to check out Fragile Things? It's another one of his short story collections, I'll probably pick it up in paper form though one of these days, it has all the intros for each short story in the beginning much like Smoke and Mirrors (at least I think it does), and it's easier to flip back wood pages than e-pages I think.

04-17-2009, 05:25 PM	#3
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	I've read that Fragile Things wasn't as good. But I'm sure I'll get to it eventually!

04-21-2009, 08:54 AM	#4
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,856 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Thanks for bringing my attention to Gaiman's short stories - previously I had only read his novels & graphic novels. I began with "Smoke and Mirrors" and encountered what I think is one of the greatest opening lines: "Mrs. WHitaker found the Holy Grail; it was under a fur coat." Just made me stop and stare at it for a few minutes - what a brain to come up with this. Any further recommendations?

04-21-2009, 11:27 AM	#5
BinaryTB Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 74 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Boston, MA Device: Kindle 3	If you're looking for more lighthearted and witty Neil Gaiman, I'd say check out Good Omens (co-authored by Terry Pratchett) and I recently finished his Anansi Boys, which is similar and also a great fun read.

04-21-2009, 10:17 PM	#11
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	Bought it just now, from your recommendation I have one other fiction book to finish then I'll get started on it and report back with my opinion on it. Looks good!

04-22-2009, 08:22 AM	#13
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	I've not read any specific reports but I'm sure reading via the web browser works fine it would just be slow. But usually I download the page into HTML and then convert it to MOBI and upload that to my Kindle. I was just joshing Moe since that's technically a bad thing to do. :P

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