Across The Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories (The Keys to the Kingdom, #3.5)

by Garth Nix

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.

• ISBN13: 9780007221462
• Publish Date: 1 October 2007 (first published 1 January 2005)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 15 October 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Imprint: HarperCollins
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 352
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk

Reviews

[ladygrey]

I don't normally read short fiction, mostly because I want more story and more character development. But [a:Garth Nix|8347|Garth Nix|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1207583754p2/8347.jpg] is a good author and the stories in [b:Across the Wall|47617|Across the Wall A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories|Garth Nix|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1302829636s/47617.jpg|46630] are all interesting. Some of them seem like they are glimmers of stories with so much room to become more. But they're all developed enough and say enough that they don't seem lacking. And some of them fit as short stories very well.

But it's a little bit hard to read so many short stories knowing there isn't enough there to really become engaged by something. So, by the end I was sort of just ready to be done with [b:Across the Wall|47617|Across the Wall A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories|Garth Nix|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1302829636s/47617.jpg|46630], however good the stories were. And these were some of the best short stories I've read.

[wyvernfriend]

Even the stories that I didn't like as much were good, this has several great stories, particularly the Abhorsen story.

Well recommended particularly if you're a fan or looking for a taster.