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Neil Gaiman
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Unnatural Creatures: Stories Selected by Neil Gaiman Kindle Edition

by Neil Gaiman (Author, Editor), Maria Dahvana Headley (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 849 ratings
Editors' pick Best Science Fiction & Fantasy
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An epic adventure awaits in this page-turning fantasy read!

Unnatural Creatures is a collection of short stories about the fantastical things that exist only in our minds—collected and introduced by beloved New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman.
 
The sixteen stories gathered by Gaiman, winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards, range from the whimsical to the terrifying. Magical creatures from the werewolf, to the sunbird, to beings never before classified will thrill, delight, and quite possibly unnerve you in tales by E. Nesbit, Diana Wynne Jones, Gahan Wilson, and other literary luminaries.
 
Sales of Unnatural Creatures benefit 826DC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students in their creative and expository writing, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.

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  1. Print length
    481 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  5. Publication date
    April 23, 2013
  6. Reading age
    13 years and up
  7. Grade level
    8 - 9
  8. File size
    4795 KB
  9. Page Flip
    Enabled
  10. Word Wise
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  11. Enhanced typesetting
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  12. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-The 16 short stories in this anthology contain accounts of delightfully fantastical creatures, ranging from the familiar (werewolves, mermaids, griffins, and unicorns) to the chillingly mysterious (an ever-expanding, flesh-eating blob; a strange bird that spurs unpredictable changes to its surroundings; and even Death herself). Classic science fiction and fantasy authors Anthony Boucher, Frank R. Stockton, Peter S. Beagle, E. Nesbit, and Diana Wynne Jones are represented, as are contemporary authors such as Nnedi Okorafor, E. Lily Yu, and Gaiman himself. From the first page, Gaiman appeals to a sense of imagination, prefacing each story with a brief personal commentary, causing readers to stop and ponder questions they never knew they had. Who would a griffin eat? What does a phoenix taste like? What happens when you question an invisible dragon? Why are there always too many coat hangers? All of these questions, and more, are answered here. Some of the stories are silly, some heartbreaking, and some profound, but all are guaranteed to make readers' hair stand on end.-Liz Overberg, Darlington Middle School, Rome, GAα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

From darkly menacing to bizarrely surreal, these 16 fantasy stories featuring mythical and imaginary creatures combine work from such luminaries as Saki, E. Nesbit, and Anthony Boucher, as well as more contemporary writers. Larry Niven’s The Flight of the Horse is on the sillier side of the spectrum: a time traveler is sent to the past to retrieve a horse, which he has never seen except in picture books, and he mistakenly returns with a unicorn instead. In Nalo Hopkinson’s A Smile on the Face, a self-conscious girl is bullied for her size and pressured into an unwanted sexual encounter, but she finds inner strength—and an inner fire-breathing monster—thanks to an accidentally swallowed cherry pit from the hamadryad in her front yard. Gaiman’s contribution, Sunbird, recounts the adventures of the Epicurean Club members, who, grown bored after tasting every available thing on the planet, enjoy the best (and last) meal of their lives. In true Gaiman fashion, these stories are macabre, subversive, and just a little bit sinister. His fans will eat this up—ravenously. The book will benefit nonprofit 826DC, which fosters student writing skills. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Gaiman’s name should draw a wide readership. Grades 8-12. --Sarah Hunter

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B009NFHCMC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins (April 23, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 23, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4795 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 481 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 849 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Neil Gaiman

    Neil Gaiman

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    Neil Gaiman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including Norse Mythology, Neverwhere, and The Graveyard Book. Among his numerous literary awards are the Newbery and Carnegie medals, and the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner awards. He is a Professor in the Arts at Bard College.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Maria Dahvana Headley

    Maria Dahvana Headley

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    MARIA DAHVANA HEADLEY is a #1 New York Times-bestselling author & editor, most recently of the novel THE MERE WIFE (July 17, 2018, MCD/FSG), MAGONIA (HarperCollins), one of Publisher's Weekly's Best Books of 2015; AERIE (HarperCollins); QUEEN OF KINGS (Dutton); and the internationally-bestselling memoir THE YEAR OF YES (Hyperion.) With Kat Howard she is the author of THE END OF THE SENTENCE (Subterranean Press) one of NPR's Best Books of 2014, and with Neil Gaiman, she is editor of the young adult monster anthology UNNATURAL CREATURES (HarperChildrens) benefitting 826DC.

    Her short stories have been included in many year's best anthologies, including Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, edited by Karen Joy Fowler and John Joseph Adams, and have been shortlisted for the Nebula, Shirley Jackson and World Fantasy Awards.

    Her work has been supported by The MacDowell Colony, and Arte Studio Ginestrelle, among other fantastic organizations.

    She grew up in rural Idaho and now lives in Brooklyn.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
849 global ratings
A Most Fantastical Collection !
5 Stars
A Most Fantastical Collection !
A fairly eclectic collection of short stories about the monster under the bed (and elsewheres) picked by Neil Gaiman. There is one story by Gaiman himself, Sunbird, plus 15 others, dating from 1885 to the present. Like any short story collection, some are good, some are great, some slightly less so. But if you like Neil Gaiman and the fantastical worlds he creates, these won't be too far off the mark for you.Plus, the money for this book goes to a charity -- 826DC.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and inspiring young writers, ages 6-18, in their creative writing. So it's a win - win, really.And if you don't buy it, I'm fairly certain that a pack of griffins, werewolves, flying horses, and other unnamable, phantasmagorical beasties will stalk you around the dark corners of your mind.I'm just sayin' . . .
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Top reviews from the United States

Wulfstan
5.0 out of 5 stars Magical, whimsical, phantasmagorical!
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2013
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What a fun compendium of fantasy short stories, selected by one of the masters of the genre, Neil Gaiman himself (who also submits a great little tale).

What sets this selection apart from so many others is what it's not: It's NOT dark, gritty, "urban" nor a "paranormal romance". Not that there's anything wrong with those, but it's refreshing to read something not aimed at kids which gets outside those current "hot trends".

Now, I said "not aimed at kids' but certainly Middle-schoolers and even advanced grade school readers will enjoy this collection, and a parent could supply this without a qualm to such.

You have undoubtedly read a couple before, and that's fine as there are many other gems here which have not seen the light of day since first published (I love the Edith Nesbit selection!), others which are recent, and two that are new here.

Now, I did say the tales weren't dark & gritty. But come-on, Neil selected them, so yes, they are sometimes more than a little macabre & weird.

And what's cool is that your purchase will help nonprofit 826DC, which fosters student writing skills. Fell good by buying, feel better while reading!
7 people found this helpful
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Delver B. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Moving spots, writing wasps, and patchwork creatures, one at a time
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2013
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As I view more of Mr. Gaiman's work and choices for this collection, I feel that I share his sense of the absurd, and that enhances my reading experience. I tend to read now episodically over some time, delaying the end of works for my enjoyment.. Often I read on airplanes or while waiting, using my Kindle when I have the time. Mr. Gaiman, it seems to me, writes independent scenes which makes it convenient to experience a vignette satisfying in itself without having to keep reading right away.
I had read none of the pieces selected for this compilation, and I felt as though I were sharing an inside view of some of the best writing of this nature out there, not that every piece was five stars--at least not right away--but that I'm still thinking about some of them, the way I do about other artistic experiences.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Solid read, 4 stars
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2020
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Hmmm, it’s odd to write a review for this book. The stories ranged from fascinating to, well, boring. It really shows Neil Gaiman’s diverse tastes in short stories. Due to the “strength” of the really good stories, I say the book is a solid 4 stars. I preferred the short story anthologies that gaiman wrote himself.
4 people found this helpful
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Galaxea
5.0 out of 5 stars A great collection of stories that supports a wonderful cause.
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2013
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I have been a big fan of Neil Gaiman since an old friend introduced Sandman to me as a young teenager. Ever since, I always buy his new novels or collections of stories he puts out on the market. This one, however, is a bit different because, outside of one story which is already in Fragile Things, the others are from a wide range of new and old authors. Don't let this deter you because Neil Gaiman has collected an eclectic group of short stories about creatures that hide in the back of our imaginations. I have already purchased three books by Diana Wynne Jones due to her wonderful story about Chrestromanci which resides in these pages. As a wonderful bonus, you get introductions to each story by Gaiman and beautiful artwork by Briony Morrow-Cribbs. You will also feel good about your purchase due to the money going towards 826DC's cause which hopes to help mold a new generation of creative writers.
19 people found this helpful
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Katherine Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars How Neil Gaiman got to be Neil Gaiman
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2013
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This collection of short stories shows the reader just exactly how Mr. Gaiman became one of the world's best experts on folklore and magic -- The stories are mostly older, ones Gaiman read as a child or young boy, written by Saki (H.H. Munroe), Anthony Boucher, and many others who formed the basis of modern fantastic fiction. I highly recommend this book - Each of the stories is completely unique -- but solidly based on one county or another's folklore. And each story is a building block to what did become an author who is unique in his dexterity with the sometimes unwieldy mass of accumulated legends and lore - "Unnatural Creatures, yes!
4 people found this helpful
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Lori J. Schiele
3.0 out of 5 stars some of them were good, while others were not
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2018
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I misread the title when I purchased this book. Rather than being *by* Neil Gaiman, they were stories selected by him. Still, some of them were good, while others were not. But Neil Gaiman is an incredible author and anything he writes, I purchase. And he must have found something in these stories to make them worthy of placing his name on the cover.
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Mugglefree25
5.0 out of 5 stars It's Fun to See What a Favorite Author Enjoys
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2013
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Anyone who enjoys Neil Gaiman will enjoy this work. This is a collection of short stories with tidbits from Gaiman on each story, including personal experiences with the various authors. I found authors I had read before and other I hadn't. I really enjoyed most of the works, especially "The Sage of Theare" by Diana Wynne Jones. This story is geared to a young reader, but offers thought provoking philosophies, including questioning social norms in government and religion. I like giving books with multiple authors to my nieces, nephews and friends' kids. It gives them the opportunity to make their own choices in writers. I discovered Edgar Allan Poe this way when I was 10 years old. I own all his works now.
One person found this helpful
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Jay Michael
4.0 out of 5 stars A careful read
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2021
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Stories and scripts aimed to explore memories, emotions, and wit. Even better, proceeds go towards charity. A double win in my book.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Arpad
5.0 out of 5 stars Compêndio de estórias
Reviewed in Brazil on April 7, 2023
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Mas uma obra literária desse grande escritor!
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Bruno Allard
5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection!
Reviewed in Canada on February 5, 2021
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I really enjoyed reading this anthology and would have loved to read a few of the stories aloud to friends. There were so many neat and interesting stories, like the one about griffin, map making wasps, the time-machine and the... horse, and so on. They were connected by a loose theme but were quite different in style and feel, one from the others. I haven't read all of them yet. I ordered about 10 different anthologies at the same time, so I go back and forth, but I think I enjoyed pretty much all of the stories.
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Diana Reyes
5.0 out of 5 stars Llegó perfectamente
Reviewed in Mexico on July 19, 2019
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Llegó en tiempo y forma. No está nada maltratado y la portada tiene relieves que no me lo esperaba
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Diana Reyes
5.0 out of 5 stars Llegó perfectamente
Reviewed in Mexico on July 19, 2019
Llegó en tiempo y forma. No está nada maltratado y la portada tiene relieves que no me lo esperaba
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Kritika Sharma
5.0 out of 5 stars 😎
Reviewed in India on December 14, 2018
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Good condition
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Klingenfänger
5.0 out of 5 stars Wunderschöne, märchenhafte Kurzgeschichtensammlung
Reviewed in Germany on January 12, 2015
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Drachen, Greifen, Werwölfe ... die Liste von ungewöhnlichen Kreaturen, die seit jeher unsere Fantasie beflügeln, ist nahezu unerschöpflich. Wir kennen sie aus Film und Fernsehen, aber auch aus den Geschichten unserer Jugend - vielleicht waren dies sogar mit die ersten Geschichten, die uns als Kinder fasziniert und dazu gebracht haben, mit dem Lesen anzufangen. Mit "Unnatural Creatures" bringt uns Neil Gaiman nun eine wunderbare Sammlung von genau solchen Kurzgeschichten, jedoch in einer ganz neuen, bisher sicher nicht oft gelesenen Form.

Zunächst muss aber sicher erst einmal klar gestellt werden, dass Neil Gaiman nicht der Autor des Buches ist, wie man auf den ersten Blick vermuten könnte - hier hat das Marketing den kleinen Zusatz "stories selected by" clever versteckt, um die Kunden mit dem Namen des berühmten Autors zu ködern. Gaiman hat die Texte nämlich nur zusammengestellt - von ihm selbst ist nur eine der insgesamt 16 Geschichten. Das schmälert aber keineswegs die Qualität des Buches, denn unter den Autoren finden sich auch Größen wie Peter S. Beagle (von ihm stammt "Das letzte Einhorn"). Die Autoren sind teils zeitgenössisch, teils aber auch bereits lange verstorben, und ihre Geschichten sind teilweise Wiederveröffentlichungen, manche davon finden sich aber auch zum allerersten mal in diesem Band.

Die Geschichten selbst drehen sich natürlich ganz um die "Unnatural Creatures" - und hier begegnen uns nicht nur alte Bekannte wie der Werwolf oder das Einhorn, sondern auch interessante, lustige, ausgefallene und magische andere Kreaturen wie zum Beispiel die Kartenzeichner-Wespe oder ein Monster in Form eines Tintenkleckses - und sogar der Tod bekommt einen Gastauftritt als "natürlichste unnatürliche Kreatur der Welt". Es sind aber nicht die altbekannten Geschichten, wie wir sie aus dem Aber- und Volksglauben kennen, denn die fantastischen Kreaturen begegnen uns hier in völlig neuem Gewand. Oder hat schon einmal jemand von einem Phönix gelesen, der einem Club von Feinschmeckern als Delikatesse dienen soll? Ich jedenfalls nicht. Und so nehmen uns die Autoren mit auf eine spannende, faszinierende und oft auch lustige Reise quer durch die Welt der mythischen Geschöpfe. Vom Stil her sind die Geschichten alle eher traditionell und erinnern oft an Fabeln und Märchen - man könnte sie sicher auch als Grusel- oder Gutenachtgeschichten für Kinder verwenden. Es vermischen sich reale und fiktiv-fantastische Stilelemente, wie das eben bei Märchen der Fall ist.

Bei Kurzgeschichtensammlungen ist es ja leider oft so, dass man sowohl gute als auch schlechte Geschichten findet beziehungsweise solche, die einem gut gefallen, und solche, die man nicht sonderlich mag. Daher ist es auch immer recht schwierig, solche Anthologien zu bewerten. Im Fall von "Unnatural Creatures" war ich hingegen sehr positiv überrascht, denn ich fand eigentlich alle Geschichten gelungen, manche etwas mehr, manche etwas weniger, aber ich habe alle gerne gelesen und hatte nie das Gefühl, dass ich eine Geschichte nicht mehr zu Ende lesen wollte. Sie sind auch alle angenehm kurz und sehr schön zu lesen, so dass man selbst bei den etwas weniger spannenden nicht lange verweilen muss. Für mich persönlich war aber keine einzige dabei, die ich nicht interessant fand, ganz im Gegenteil, es waren einige richtig tolle Stories mit dabei.

Die Aufmachung des Buches passt wunderbar zum Thema, denn es ist gestaltet in einer Mischung aus altem Märchenbuch und 60er/70er-Monsterstory und mit tollen Illustrationen zu den jeweiligen Anfängen der Geschichten verschönert - und das "Tintenklecksmonster" ist sogar grafisch geschickt in die Geschichte eingebunden, das muss man gesehen haben!

Natürlich muss man Kurzgeschichten mögen, sonst findet man sicher keinen Gefallen an dieser Sammlung, aber wenn man mit dieser Art von Text etwas anfangen kann, dann bietet "Unnatural Creatures" eine wunderschöne Sammlung von sehr ausgefallenen und schön geschriebenen Geschichten, die einem bekannte, aber auch ganz neue Fantasie-Kreaturen in einem frischen neuen Gewand präsentieren. Lediglich bei der Auswahl der Geschichten hätte Gaiman etwas kreativer sein können, denn so finden sich gleich zwei Werwolfgeschichten und eine über ein Fahrrad (!) in dem Band - es sind zwar auch schöne Geschichten, aber hier hätte man dem Thema des Sammelbandes etwas treuer sein und sicher auch noch andere Texte auftreiben können, die besser dazu gepasst hätten. Das ist aber Jammern auf hohem Niveau, und daher gibt es auch 5 Punkte von mir und eine Kaufempfehlung obendrein für alle, die Kurzgeschichten und fantastische Kreaturen mögen!
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