We’re almost through – fourteenth in a series of fifteen.
Gaiman, Neil (2007). M is for Magic. NY: HarperCollins. 260 pages.
Evaluation and summary: On the face of it, a book of short stories for young adults seems like a fine idea. The notion certainly has a distinguished pedigree, going back to (at least) Mr. Kipling and Ms. Potter. The format is ideal for those who want to sample a genre or an author without committing to a whole book, and the short time needed to finish a story must have an appeal to reluctant readers. Granted, short stories seem to have largely vanished from popular culture along with the pulps and slicks they once populated, but the idea still seems workable.
Neil Gaiman agrees with me, noting in his introduction to M is for Magic that his enjoyment of short stories as a young sprout inspired this collection. The Gaiman has a knack for self-promotion* and inspires near cult-like devotion in some of his fans; I’ve enjoyed much of his work but regret to say I found this collection little lacking. No doubt part of my disappointment is due to having previously read some of the selections (“Sunbird,” “How To Talk To Girls At Parties,” and “October in the Chair,” all of which are in Fragile Things), selections which were among the strongest stories in the collection. Some of the other stories left me cold. “Don’t Ask Jack” seemed like a synopsis of a story to be fleshed out later, while both “How To Sell the Ponti Bridge” and “The Price” ended rather abruptly for stories with such a lengthy buildup.
I did enjoy the last story in M is for Magic. “The Witch’s Headstone” features Nobody Owens, ‘Bod’ for short, an orphan who lives in a graveyard and is raised by an assortment of ghosts. The story went on to be included in The Graveyard Book, which I’ll get around to reading eventually.
Booktalk hook: I would booktalk M is for Magic by recommending The Sandman or Fragile Things.
*This is not intended as a slam at Gaiman. If you’ve ever heard one of his readings it’s obvious he put quite a bit of time and effort into his public speaking (reading?) skills.