The first story in this book of short fiction is about Nicholas Sayre, a character from the Abhorsen series, it’s a really fun and exciting adventure story with a terrifying monster that really makes for a good read. But that really is the only great story. Others are ok, one or two may be good, but they really don't grip the reader that much, and just leave you wanting more from the world of the Abhorsen.

The introductions at the beginning of each story is the only thing that saves the book from being a complete let down, and it served as a nice window into Garth Nix's life.

Worth a look, but don’t expect too much from Across The Wall. ( )

The title novella is a good coda to the happenings in the Abhorsen trilogy. I'm glad to see the implied happy ending for Nick and Lirael. ( )

An anthology of fantasy stories by Garth Nix, most well known for his Abhorsen Trilogy. There is quite a mixture of different stories included in the collection which includes a story set around the Abhorsen stories. Instead of reviewing all the stories I will just mention some of the ones that really stood out.

Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case
A tale of Nicholas from the Abhorsen series who lives in Ancelstierre. His ambition is to return to the Old Kingdom and see Lirael. His uncle will help him if he answers some questions for the mysterious Department Thirteen. Dorrance runs the Department and is an eccentric who owns a strange free magic creature in a case form the Old Kingdom and Nicholas is convinced it is still alive.

Lightening Bringer
This was my favourite in the collection. It mixed controlling minds, seeing auras, lightening, sex and love. It reminded me of The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman which is another story I love.

Down to Scum Quarter
A fun "choose your own adventure" story that plays with Zoro and the Three Muskateers. Very silly but a lot of fun.

Hearts Desire
A re-telling of the Merlin/Nimue myth from Arthurian legends. To gain power one must catch a star and give up their heart's desire. Merlin caught his star years ago and knows his future and now it is the turn of Nimue.

Hope Chest
A fantasy Western tale about a baby girl who is found on a train with a note saying her name is Alice May Susan and she will bring good luck. She is adopted along with a mysterious trunk which none can open until she turns 16. What she finds inside helps her go after a dangerous cult leader called The Master.

Three Roses
A sad and poignant tale about a man who growa beautiful roses for the love of his dead wife.

One thing I really enjoyed about this collection was the introduction to each story by Nix. They give you an idea of what the story is about and why he wrote it and what it was written for. I really look forward to reading more of his writing. ( )

This is a set of short stories based on the Abhorsen Trilogy. Unfortunately, they lack flow and continuation like the long stories Garth Nix is used to writing. Disappointing in their dis-jointedness, and some stories are intentionally left unfinished, which is not satisfying to the fan of the Abhorsen Trilogy who would like more background information on the characters/situations. ( )

My only complaint about this companion book is that it’s too short. It’s sad that after having invested so much into the world Nix has created, we will never have any more stories about The Old Kingdom and the Abhorsen. Personally, I want to see many more smaller stories like this one about the exploits of all the characters and the people and creatures they’re fighting against to make their world safe and secure for their people. I want to see more about the blossoming relationship between Nick and Lirael. Otherwise, the story is fun to follow, and the other little short stories about various worlds and other things Nix has created are interesting as well.-Lindsey Miller, www.lindseyslibrary.com ( )

Garth Nix writes well and this collection of short stories is no exception.

I was drawn to this book after having completed the Abhorsen series. The first short story picks up where Abhorsen left off and shows that young Nick Sayre can handle himself in a crisis, even if he feels he bungled the job.

Two of the stories are Arthurian in nature and involve Merlin. Bot takes characters and give "back stories" about them while staying within the realm of the Arthur myths.

One story is a kind of do-it-yourself story in that the author gives you paragraphs that send you elsewhere in the story depending on how you make a choice at the end of the paragraph. It lends itself to you, the reader, actually creating several different stories on your own using his words. ( )

It was nice to revisit the world of the Abhorsen. I was not terribly enticed by the other stories in the book--the intro's by Nix made him sound petulant and arrogant which wasn't very motivating. ( )

My book review:
http://ganimede.dreamwidth.org/9572.h... ( )

I was initially hesitant to jump into this collection of short stories as the first is set in Nix's Old Kingdom. It's been quite some time since I read "Sabriel," "Lirael," and "Abhorsen" and I was nervous that I would not remember enough of the details of those stories to enjoy "Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case" without spending most of the time while reading it trying to remember what/who was being referenced. If that started happening, I would be forced to re-read the entire 1,744 page saga in order to enjoy this book. I do intend to re-read those books someday, but as I'm trying to do 200 books this year, that would really set me back. I was pleased to find that I could quite enjoy the story as Nix provided enough reminders and backstory that I was able to jump right back in.
I was also quite enamoured of the other stories in the book. These are an excellent sampling of the Author's work over the years. I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite, and, as with almost no short story collection I have ever read before, I did not dislike any of them.
The best thing about the anthology is the author's introductions to each of them. These paragraphs gave insight into both the origin of the story and the writing process of the author himself, information I always find fascinating. I find, also, that it gives the reader a much richer reading experience. ( )

Fantasy is a genre which has begun to regain credibility only recently, thanks to ground-breaking efforts in the field of juvenile literature.

Garth Nix writes fantasy for the youth market but, although his ideas are good, he is not in the same league as Colfer, Rowlings or Pullman: the plots are imaginative, but he lacks the ability to tell a really good story.

In this collection, Nix revisits Ancelstierre, reworks some Arthurian legends and is inspired by an eclectic range of subjects from the Western to the War Story: a very credible attempt, but far short of excellent. ( )

Summary and Review: Garth Nix primarily writes young adult fantasy, but he's one of the darker authors that I've encountered in that genre. He's not afraid of death (or Death, as the Abhorsen trilogy makes quite clear), violence, sex, bloodshed, or just general darkness. While that's evident in this collection of short stories - several of the pieces are intensely dark and even slightly disturbing - Nix also has a flair for comedic writing, particularly when he's poking fun at the very genre in which he makes a living. I wound up loving stories of both types, and really appreciated the short introductory pieces that explored the origin of each work.

Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case - This story is going to be the main reason most people would pick up the collection - it takes place a few months after the end of Abhorsen, and takes place mostly in Ancelstierre, where Nicholas Sayre is recovering from his time in the Old Kingdom, but stumbles upon a horrible Free Magic creature where no Free Magic creature should rightfully be. It's exciting and well told, with a satisfying conclusion, but it's likely to be somewhat incomprehensible to people who haven't read the Abhorsen trilogy recently (or at all) - it's only been a year for me and I'd already forgotten several details that were critical to this story.

Under the Lake - A piece of Arthuriana that looks at the character of the Lady of the Lake and asks what she's doing hanging out underwater with a sword (except, y'know, more seriously). This story was solid if not overwhelming, and it had some very nice poetic imagery to the Lady's story, but I felt a little like it was trying too hard, and occasionally came across as somewhat forced.

Charlie Rabbit - Yikes - I was not expecting this. A young boy and his younger brother get trapped in their house when their town is hit by missiles. The least fantastical of all of the stories in this collection, and also the most powerful. It manages to be horrible and still inspiring at the same time. I don't think I breathed throughout the entire story.

From the Lighthouse - A man arrives to rule the island that he thinks he's just purchased, much to the dismay of the people who actually live there. This may have been an issue of placement, but coming off of Charlie Rabbit, this story just felt frivolous and weak, with some funny bits but a predictable and anticlimactic ending.

The Hill - A young man is dismayed by his father's attempts to sell their family's ancient land to the government, and turns to his great-great-grandfather for help. I liked the idea of this one, but it felt like it needed to be expanded, like it was missing a crucial element; as it was, the ending seemed a little facile and unsatisfying.

Lightning Bringer - A boy who can see auras encounters a man with Power - the power to call down lightning, and to use it to take anything he wants... including women. Wow, this one is definitely not a kids' story. It's fine for older YA, and it's not particularly graphic per se, but it's also not shy about sex, including semi-non-consensual sex. It's intense and rather disturbing, but still a good story.

Down to the Scum Quarter - A spoof of a choose-your-own-adventure book, set in a Three Musketeers-ish Paris knockoff. I loved Choose Your Own Adventure books as a kid, and this one had me laughing out loud. "You leap into the boat just like Captain Silver used to - but he only had one leg, so it was excusable. Eventually you get upright again, ship the oars, hoist the topgallants, splice the mainbrace, cast off, and purl three." (p. 189). I read through the adventure twice (dying once and rescuing my lady love once) before cheating and reading straight through to get the bits I'd missed.

Heart's Desire - Another piece of Arthuriana looking at the relationship between Merlin and Nimue. I liked this one well enough even though the ending was telegraphed from the beginning of the story. Also, I had a hard time figuring out how/when this was supposed to fit into the more familiar Arthur story.

Hansel's Eyes - A retelling of Hansel and Gretel where the evil stepmother drops them off in a run-down part of the city instead of in the forest, and where the witch lures them in with Playstations rather than with candy. I'd read this story before, in the collection A Wolf at the Door. It didn't do much for me then, and it still didn't this time around, although I can't quite put my finger on why. I think that in trying to be modern and slick it lost touch with the heart of the fairy tale.

Hope Chest - A Western-flavored story in which a baby arrives at a train station with an unopenable chest. She's adopted by some townspeople, and grows up normal until her sixteenth birthday, when she opens the chest to find a stunning array of weaponry, which she instinctively knows how to wield - and must use to save her town and the world from the grip of a mad man. Very good, although also quite dark and brutal. I wish there had been a little more backstory/explanation, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about the ending he chose, but overall it's one of the strongest stories in the collection

My New Really Epic Fantasy Series - A speech Nix has given several times, mocking the conventions of the epic fantasy sub-genre. I really enjoy epic fantasy series, but I will also admit that they are ripe for parody, and although it tries too hard to be constantly clever, this piece still made me laugh. "Gather round, unpleasant acquaintances, and partly listen to a tale of our knuckle-dragging forebears and the battles they ran away from. Our recorded history goes back some three weeks to the time that Sogren the Extremely Drunk burned down the museum." (p. 291)

Three Roses - A gardener grows beautiful roses that remind him of his dead wife but also attract the attention of the king. This piece was short, sweet, subtle, and had a lyricism and charm to it that made it feel like a real fairy tale.

Endings - A vampire tells the stories of how he died. This one was short but kind of bizarre and very dense, hard to get into in the two pages it took to tell.

Recommendation: If you've read the Abhorsen Trilogy, then this book is worth picking up to get some more of Nicholas, and to see what else Garth Nix can do as an author. If you haven't read the Abhorsen Trilogy, 1) go pick up Sabriel and remedy that, but 2) this book is still worth picking up. Skip the first story, but the rest give a broad sampling of a talented author across a variety of sub-genres, and there are far more hits than misses. 4 out of 5 stars. ( )

Excellent short stories and great to return to the Wall. ( )

This is a collection of 12 short stories and 1 novella by the author, each previously published in one format or another. The best of the collection is the title story, a novella set in the world of the Abhorsen trilogy and a direct sequel to the third book, Abhorsen. The other stories vary, some I really liked, others did nothing for me. Generally, Nix's writing is grim and dark and it is these stories that I enjoyed. The few stories that were light or humourous just did not entertain me at all. I highly recommend the reading of the title story for fans of the trilogy. The rest of the stories may be enjoyed by others.

#1 - Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case - This 95-page novella starts shortly after the events of the book Abhorsen. Nicholas Sayre is recuperating in Ancelstierre at the home of an acquaintance of his father's. He soon finds that the body of a Free Magic creature is stored in the underground rooms. The creature is not dead though and soon finds the strength to return to life but he has a craving for blood. Nicholas must stop the beast before he kills them all. This was a wonderful, fast-paced read that gave the reader greater insight into Nicholas' character. An appearance by Lireal at the end is a delight. I don't think the story would make much sense to anyone who hasn't read the trilogy though.

#2 - Under the Lake - An Arthurian tale of the Lady in the Lake. A quiet, lyrical story that tells of how the lady, who is not really a lady at all, ended up in the lake. This was just ok, different but nothing special.

#3. Charlie Rabbit - This was a very grim story of children in wartime. A boy and his little brother, along with his toy rabbit, are alone when their house is bombed in the middle of the night. A chilling tale.

#4. From the Lighthouse - This was a bit strange and I'm not sure I really got it. A man arrives on an island and tells the residents that he has just bought the island and is now their new owner. His guide pretends to be happy for him but has other plans in mind.

#5. The Hill - A boy rushes off to tell his great-great-grandfather that his father is selling the family property. So the old man rushes off to prevent it. Another good one.

#6. Lightning Bringer - A man comes to town wielding a terrible power. He realizes that a boy can see his power and is just like him. He tells the boy he must use his power before he loses it. There is more to the story but it would give it away to say more. I liked this one, it was pretty cool.

#7. Down to the Scum Quarter - This was a lot of fun! A parody of the choose your own adventure books, you must rescue your beloved who has been kidnapped and taken to the seedy part of town. My first try, I made three moves and ended up dead. Then I started over and made it through to the end alive. I used to be addicted to these books as a kid so this was really fun for me.

#8. Heart's Desire - In this story we learn the reasons behind the Merlin/Nimue story of Arthurian legend. Merlin is my favourite Arthurian character and the Merlin/Nimue relationship intrigues me but this story fell flat with me. It was just overall, rather boring.

#9. Hansel's Eyes - A retelling of the Hansel and Gretel story with a modern twist. The witch entices children not with candy but with PlayStation games and systems, nor does she wish to eat the children but rather sells their parts for organ transplants. This was very good and one of my favourites.

#10. Hope Chest - This is one of the longer stories in the book and aside from the title novella, my favourite story in the book. This is set in a quasi wild west/alternate USA world. A baby is found abandoned in a small town. One family adopts her and she grows up to be a young lady. The baby was found with a large hope chest but no one has ever been able to open it. Upon the girl's 16th birthday, the chest opens for her and the girl's destiny starts to unravel as she must save the town from an evil that is taking over the world. This was really good and one of those stories you want more of and wish there were a whole book.

#11. My New Really Epic Fantasy Series - This is a humourous speech the author has given several times that is a parody of epic fantasy series. I didn't find it particularly funny.

#12. Three Roses - Very short, sweet fairy tale about a gardener who grows roses with the love of his dead wife.

#13. Endings - Another very short story. A vampire tells how, in the end, he was killed. The last two stories were short but I enjoyed them both. ( )

http://www.lonelymountain.net/books/n... ( )

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. ( )

I loved the first novella, Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case. I miss the Old Kingdom already. :p ( )

One mainstream war story here, and a couple of joke pieces done for appearances at different places, and a choose your own adventure parody for one of the good old Australian game magazines.

It also appears the novella in the book is related to his popular trilogy, none of which I have read, so a taste of that will be useful for some. Seems to be some sort of magic kingdom next to a Victorian technology type place with trains and guns, but still aimed at kids, so not really for me by the looks.

Across the Wall : Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case - Garth Nix
Across the Wall : Under the Lake - Garth Nix
Across the Wall : From the Lighthouse - Garth Nix
Across the Wall : The Hill - Garth Nix
Across the Wall : Heart's Desire - Garth Nix
Across the Wall : Hansel's Eyes - Garth Nix
Across the Wall : Hope Chest - Garth Nix
Across the Wall : Three Roses - Garth Nix
Across the Wall : Endings - Garth Nix

Spymaster's murderous magic monster defeated by flower power.

3.5 out of 5

Demon Lady's Merlin deal.

4 out of 5

Luckily toy has right batteries and keeps going and going and going and going...

3.5 out of 5

Those old buildings make more than they seem to.

2.5 out of 5

Lightning Lad vs Lightning Lord.

3.5 out of 5

Greedy magic girl bad for Britain.

3.5 out of 5

Witchy would-be organlegger.

3.5 out of 5

Superspeed shootist sheriff slays sister on the way to silver bullet showdown with supervillain shyster.

3.5 out of 5

Dead wife is good for the garden.

3 out of 5

Same names again.

3 out of 5

Same names again.

3 out of 5

Family real estate deal.

4 out of 5

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2007/06...

( )

The Abhorsen Trilogy is possibly my all time favorite childhood fantasy series. So you know what...Garth Nix can go back to this world anytime he likes and I will follow. That is much how I came into contact with this collection, and I really enjoyed not just the novella but all the tales.

Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case - It was really just a pleasure to go back into this world that I've always so enjoyed. And the appearance of Lirael at the end certainly didn't hurt. It was a quick read, as are all things Garth Nix writes, but a fulfilling one, an enjoyable one.

Under the Lake - The first of two Arthurian tales. I adored it. The lady of the lake is possibly my all time favorite character from the myths....and I loved this new take on things.
Charlie Rabbit - It broke my heart. The short tale gives you just a brief glimpse into the lives of children facing like in the middle of a war zone. And sometimes the faith of a small child...isn't always for naught. You may not see it that way. Or even afterward view it the same way the small child did. But he was right. Charlie Rabbit did save them.

From the Lighthouse - Nix took a bit of a step into the Sci-Fi realm... and while I like the concept and the setting... due to its length...I think I just feel like I'm missing out on more of a story. But nice nonetheless.

The Hill - I adored this. The setting, the young boy, the old man, the cab driver, the young boy's father....everything seemed so fleshed out...though the short story is just that short. I didn't feel like I was just glimpsing this story. I understood this story. A love of a land and how it should be. Longing to the simplicity of the past before everything became all about money and greed and what you can get from something rather than just enjoying something.

Lightning Bringer - I appreciated it...and the lightning concept reminded me a bit of Something Wicked This Way Comes. But not one of my favorites.

Down to the Scum Quarter - Brilliant! I laughed. Choose Your Own Adventures...shall always be grand.. especially with the humor of well Nix.

Heart's Desire - The second of the two Arthurian tales, and once again I adored it. Because he picked up on my other favorite part of the myth. The twisted tale of Merlin and Nimue. I love this take how well why everything fell apart. Why a great man such as Merlin fell for Nimue to begin with. Loved it.

Hansel's Eyes - I love modern day takes on fairy tales. I always have and always will. Because the tales that were creepy when we were young...remain creepy to our older selves when they are taken from a hidden faraway fantastical world. And put into our own modern day one.

Hope Chest - Brilliant! I wish there was more. Or that it could be lengthened to an actual novel. There is so much here. And so much I am left wondering out. Plus...I have a soft spots for tales about ordinary women who suddenly come into powers and kick major ass.

My New Really Epic Fantasy Series - Just a riot! I laughed all the way through.

Three Roses - Just really short, simple, and sweet.

Endings - Another tale that I wish I had been given more of. Simply because it was so well awesome really. Because within three pages...there was so much story there. So much woven into that short amount of words. Love! ( )

More tremendous writing from Nix. A couple things made this especially cool to read: First, Nix does a brief intro to each story, and I have not read much of him writing about himself. Second, the rich humour in a number of the tales (2 are even satire) and also in the intros. The story "Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case" I had read before in a special edition, but I'm sure it helped spark interest in this very worthy collection. ( )

While I picked up this book for the title story, which takes place in the Abhorsen universe, I was more charmed by the delightful parody of Choose Your Own Adventure Novels. Garth Nix has the rare ability to write intense fantasy drama as well as laugh-out-loud comedy! ( )

http://interactivereader.blogspot.com... ( )

The long Old Kingdom story in this collection, "Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Cabinet," is really well-written and a lot of fun. The other stories vary in quality and are by and large kind of forgettable. ( )

Disappointing! The sole Old Kingdom story in the book (originally released for World Book Day in the UK) was okay, but I think it needed some editing. It seems like now that Nix is a successful author, people are letting him "do his own thing" and overuse adverbs. It was distracting.

The other stories in the book were a mixed bag, as is usual with short story collections.