Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories is a collection of short stories by Australian writer
Garth Nix, which return to the setting of his popular
Old Kingdom series. A hardback edition was released in the UK on November 6, 2006.
There are two special editions of this book in the UK, one with "a unique cover" from
WH Smith's, the other with a manuscript for a possible prologue and several other notes on the story of
Lirael, available from
Waterstone's. All UK editions will include an FAQ section with the author, in which he provides "vital answers". All thirteen main stories had been published prior to the release of Across the Wall, usually in magazines or
anthologies.
Contents
"Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case" — Originally published for
World Book Day (as The Creature in the Case), this novella chronicles Nicholas Sayre's attempt to return to the Old Kingdom, involving a battle with a Free Magic horror in the process.
"Under the Lake" — Based on the legend of
Avalon. This story twists the myth of the
Lady of the Lake, making her into a sinister
monster who gives
Excalibur to
Arthur for motives that are not entirely pure.
"Charlie Rabbit" — A war story about two brothers trapped in their basement after their house is destroyed during an air raid.
"From the Lighthouse" — A story about a developer who, having been a victim of
con artists, arrives at the tropical island he was "sold".
"The Hill" — A story about a boy who tries to keep his great-grandfather's land from being sold by the boy's father.
"Lightning Bringer" — A story about a man who seduces young women, eventually electrocuting them via lightning.
"Hope Chest" — A western shoot-em-up with a fantasy bend.
"My Really Epic New Fantasy Series" — A farcical transcript of a speech given at a writing convention announcing a new fantasy series.
"Three Roses" — A fable.
"Endings" — An extremely short story about the meaning of
sorrow and
joy.
Reception
Kirkus Reviews referred to Across the Wall as a "grand fantasy adventure tale" with "a nice range of writing from one of the leading fantasy writers at work today".[1]