This novel enraptured me and swallowed me up until I finished. And then I was in love, and wanted to return and hear more of the story. And I did, many, many times. I still read this book and enjoy it just as thoroughly. ( )

I've read a good bit of fantasy, and yet I never read Charles de Lint. Go figure. I'm glad I remedied that situation.

Dreams Underfoot consists of short stories all set in the city of Newford, with most of the characters overlapping from story to story. This is early urban fantasy, and still excellent. Many of the stories involved the seedier side of Newford called the Tombs, where prostitutes peddle and Bigfoot wanders the alleys. Magic is everywhere in Newford, though most cannot see it. There are balloonmen who tumble along on the breeze, mermaids who yearn for human music, and bridges that may leads to a realm of more bridges. Some stories have a light touch of fantasy, others hold an undercurrent of horror, but all share one major theme: humanity, in all its shades. The power of music is also a prevalent theme.

At first I thought the book seemed just plain weird, but by the end of the first story I was hooked. As a writer of short stories, I loved seeing how the mechanics and voice varied with each story among these characters who often knew each other. I didn't dislike a single story, and I felt sad when it ended and I had to leave Newford behind. ( )

This is an anthology of what seem to be urban fairy tales. Some of them are similar to well-known stories (for instance, there is one based on The Little Mermaid) but most are not based on any story I've heard before. All the stories take place in Newford and there are character overlaps between many of the stories. I definitely enjoyed it and de Lint's writing was strong as ever, but I'm not sure I'll read it again any time soon. ( )

i have reread this book at least once to savor the characters and re-experience the feel of magic. ( )

Nineteen stories set in Newford, Charles de Lint's trademark setting.

This was a good, solid collection, and a nice introduction to de Lint's work. He's done a wonderful job of blending the fantastical and the real world. Despite their brushes with the supernatural and the otherworldly, his characters remain utterly real. They've got normal, everyday concerns alongside their fantastical problems. They're people, first and foremost, and they come across as such. Even the most magical of them feels like the sort of person you could meet at a party and have a conversation with.

The city of Newford is equally well drawn. The place is fictional, but it feels like the sort of place you could visit. There's a definite geography to it, and a rich history. It's got its neighborhoods and its landmarks, its denizens and its secrets. I love a good setting, and this one definitely fits the bill.

Even though the stories work as stand-alones, the little interconnections make them perfect for a collection like this. I loved hearing a brief mention of a character or place in one story, only to see them, (or it), taking centre stage a couple of tales on. I constantly felt as if I were being let in on some strange and wonderful secret. It made for a very enjoyable read.

For all its good points, though, the book didn't entirely engage me. There were a few exceptions, but for the most part I considered the stories good rather than great. I do have the feeling, however, that I'll enjoy the whole collection a great deal more once I've read further in de Lint's bibliography. I'm sure that wonderful sense of being let in on a secret will only grow as I get to know Newford better.

I definitely recommend this to anyone interested in exploring de Lint's work. I found it a good introduction. Non-fantasy readers may also find it to their liking; the real-world focus results in a few stories in which magic fades into the background. My two favourite stories, ("In the House of My Enemy" and "But For the Grace Go I"), contained only the barest mention of the otherworldly. ( )