As part of a public execution, a young boy forlornly helps to sing his sister down. So off i went to the library and found a lovely hardcover edition of red spikes, received by the library on october 16, 2008. Black juice by margo lanagan the adventures of an intrepid. Black juice, margo lanagan shop online for books in australia. Black juice by margo lanagan this is my third margo lanagan short story collection, and once again her storytelling has really amazed me. Her oblique handling of setting reminds me a lot of william gibson, but the. For example, in red nose day which appears in black juice, i try not to go on too much about that it should be clear enough from. Lanagan lives in sydney, australia, and can be found online at amongamidwhile. Lanagan keeps such a careful control of her storythis is a premise that so easily could have descended into melodrama, but lanagan makes the readers feel the horror of the situation, the familys grief, and the sisters fear without overindulging in sentiment. Each tale offers glimpses into familiar, shadowy worlds that push the boundaries of the spirit and leave the mind. While readers understand that the tale focuses on ill. She is a twotime printz honor winner and a threetime world fantasy award winner. Sea hearts won the cbca book of the year, wa premiers literay award, aurealis award and barbara jefferis award, and was shortlisted for the adelaide festival award for.
These ten new tales from down under take readers to worlds like, yet tantalizingly unlike, their own. I had first heard of lanagan during a panel at world fantasy convention 2005 in madison, wi. She grew up in raymond terrace, and moved to melbourne circa 19711972. If red nose day was the only obfuscatory story in the collection lanagan might be forgiven but it is not. I rely a lot on implication, for example mentioning a model of firearm having been used in the milk wars in my clownkilling story red nose daytiny things. Fiction themes of earthly life and death margo lanagan. Red spikes by margo lanagan nook book ebook barnes. Knopf young adult us david fickling books uk publication date. These are stories about the dark side of life and of human nature and that is certainly true of the story, red nose day. Then theres margo lanagans red nose day, a short thats simultaneously highconcept and exquisitely subtle.
It appeared to be untouched and i confirmed this by looking at the shiny cover free of finger smudges and listening to the crackling noises. Writers rarely achieve international and multigenre renown on the basis of just one short story, but that was exactly what happened with margo lanagan and singing my sister down, which appeared in her collection black juice published by gollancz in 2004 and harpercollins in 2005. Jan 27, 2011 then theres margo lanagans red nose day, a short thats simultaneously highconcept and exquisitely subtle. Her oblique handling of setting reminds me a lot of william gibson, but the tone of her writing is all her own. Singing my sister down short story by margo lanagan. Waratah, newcastle, new south wales, australia birthdate. Sweet pippit is a lovely and touching story about elephants in search of their beloved handler. She has a startling imagination and shares it in a unique and often mesmerizing manner. Red nose day started off as a postit note saying snipers picking off clowns, and i cant remember the circumstances in which i wrote that down, but i have to say, i thought the idea was a complete hoot, being a clownhater from way back, and i have been told by fellow clownhaters that the world is a better place for. Buy a cheap copy of black juice book by margo lanagan. I still have red spikes to read of her collections, but i think i am going to read her new novel, sea hearts, next as i havent read any of her novels yet. Singing my sister down and other stories brings together ten of the best of margo lanagans short stories and three new stories from the extraordinarily talented author of black juice, red spikes, tender morsels and sea hearts.
Although both are narrative formats, novels and short stories are very different in structure and form. Write and let me know if this is the case and ill update the entries. Margo lanagan has published five collections of short stories white time, black juice, red spikes, yellowcake and cracklescape and novels, tender morsels and the brides of rollrock island. Singing my sister down is written from the point of view of a boy watching the slow execution of his. Ten short stories that push the boundaries of humanity. The combination of lanagans surreal plots and her writing creates short stories full of atmosphere, she writes with a. Margo lanagan is a sydneybased writer who has a number of books to her credit. Red nose day is a campaign with the mission to end child poverty by funding programs that keep children safe, healthy, and educated. While readers understand that the tale focuses on ill, penniless daphne attending her grandmothers funeral, the. Singing my sister down not all ogre swing from the moon the woodqueens quarters dedication ferryman. Black juice is a short story collection which introduces the western world to australian author margo lanagan. Black juice by margo lanagan may not be your typical collection of scary stories, but each of the strange tales she includes is haunting and has shades of horror within it. Singing my sister down winner of world fantasy award, ditmar award, and aurealis award.
Singing my sister down and other stories brings together ten of the best of margo lanagan s short stories and three new stories from the extraordinarily talented author of black juice, red spikes, tender morsels and sea hearts. Other stories, such as red nose day which seemed to be about two hitmen taking out clowns, were more than interesting and wonderfully odd. Red nose day a couple of snipers bring their own form of justice against the rich and powerful of their town, who all happen to dress as clowns. In this extraordinary short story collection, human frailty is put to the. Ten short stories of death, murder, clowns, monsters, angels, gypsies, and much more. Singing my sister down and other stories randwick city. Singing my sister down and other stories margo lanagan. Earthly uses is a very sad story about a young boy who searches for an angel to bring back for his dead grandmother. Margo lanagan provides glimpses of the dark side of civilization and the beauty of the human spirit through ten short stories that explore significant moments in peoples lives, events leading to them, and their. A servant learns about grace and loyalty from a mistress who would rather. On the collectors side my copy of the hb is a remaindered copy, but ill be getting it signed this friday at the nebual award weekend author session along with quite a few others which is conveniently being held a short distance from my house. Black juice by margo lanagan is a small collection of 10 short. On the roof of a burntout nunnery, two boys crouch, their eyes fixed on the entrance of the distant lyric opera from whence will soon issue a throng of revelers, fresh from the games. The former is the story of a young boy singing his sister to her death at a public execution and the latter is a bizarre and eerie story about clowns an already existing fear.
Black juice by margo lanagan the adventures of an intrepid reader. Powerful imagery and narrative it was so vivid that i could almost feel the recoil of the gun. These notes may be reproduced free of charge for use and study within schools but they may not be reproduced either in whole or in part and offered for commercial sale. Margo lanagan singing my sister down and other stories brings together ten of the best of margo lanagans short stories and three new stories from the extraordinarily talented author of black juice, red spikes.
Earthly uses by margo lanagan red nose day by margo lanagan rite of spring by margo lanagan singing my sister down by margo lanagan. She is a fourtime world fantasy award winner, two of her books are michael l. Ten short stories that will leave you with the knowlege that black juice runs through us all. Her collections of short stories have garnered many awards, nominations and shortlistings. She is now a technical writer as well as a creative one.
Black juice, margo lanagan shop online for books in. Tender morsels has achieved a lot of buzz online not only has it been nominated for a number of sff awards, it also. Singing my sister down and other stories randwick city library. They are dark and some are quite disturbing, but nothing so scandalous as tender morsels. Margo lanagan has worked as a kitchen hand and encyclopedia seller, and spent ten years as a freelance book editor. When it doesnt see perpetual light, it feels as though youre bumbling around your flat at 2 a. Margo lanagan is a highly acclaimed writer of novels, short stories, and poetry. Lanagan s critically acclaimed north american debut, black juice, is a michael l. Jan 10, 2011 then theres margo lanagans red nose day, a short thats simultaneously highconcept and exquisitely subtle. In this extraordinary short story collection, human frailty is put to the test by the relentless forces of dark and light, man and beast. Margo lanagans fantasy stories imagine macabre clowns and. I think ill shy away from her short stories from now on. Red nose day delves into a dark world full of professional clowns and the hitmen who kill them, with more than a hint of allegory aimed at the catholic church. Black juice by margo lanagan chelmsford public library.
Lanagans stories immerse the reader in alternate and surreal worlds without any of the context spelled out for us. Red nose day a couple of snipers bring their own form of justice against the rich and powerful of their town, who all happen to dress as. It was released in paperback by allen and unwin in 2004, and features the authors widely anthologised short story singing my sister down, which won the 2005 world fantasy award for best short story the collection includes 10 original short stories by the author that fall into the fantasy, science. Black juice is the first collection of short stories by australian writer margo lanagan. Red nose day is about two young snipers who go out on a shooting spree in revenge for past injustices. Lanagan, margo, earthly uses black juice lanagan, margo, red nose day black juice lanagan, margo, rite of spring black juice lanagan, margo, singing my sister down black juice levine, david d. The two stories that i imagine will stay with me the longest are singing my sister down and red nose day. Black juice, her second collection of stories, won a printz honor award and the world fantasy award for best collection.
Black juice by margo lanagan harpercollins 2004 having been given a number of warnings about the intensity of lanagans most recent book, tender morsels. Black juice, i try not to go on too much about that it should be clear enough from whats gone before. It was released in paperback by allen and unwin in 2004, and features the authors widely anthologised short story singing my sister down, which won the 2005 world fantasy award for best short story. Black juice, by margo lanagan blogging for a good book. Not all creepy or scary, but these stories will haunt. Margo lanagan is a sydneybased writer who has a number of books to her. Margo lanagan is a writer unlike any other i have read. Posted at shelf inflicted after being blown away by black juice, i was eager to read more of margo lanagans short story collections. I didnt think that lanagan could get any darker than she did in singing my sister down or red nose day in black juice, but it sounds like she did.
Black juice and margo lanagan may be new to american readers, but her work is well known in australia where she has delighted serious readers for years. When it works like in red nose day and rite of spring, its an incredible effect. Lanagans collection,singing my sister down, takes several fairytales and skews them to macabre effect, while in red nose day two professional snipers, one a failed clown, knock off beloved circus. Printz honor books, and her work has also been nominated for. Margo lanagan is an internationally acclaimed writer of novels and short stories. Through the power of entertainment, we bring people together to laugh and have fun, all while raising lifechanging cash for the children that need it the most. The phrase red nose day has certain connotations in australia, used for a fundraising event for sudden infant death syndrome and so i find it interesting that lanagan has used it as the title here i cant decide if it was intentional or not. Lanagan uses beautiful, lyrical language to tell peculiar, disturbing tales. Red nose day 2004 rite of spring 2004 singing my sister down 2004 sweet pippit 2004 wooden bride 2004. Task for the natural way of things amazon web services. I also want to offer a differing view that lanagan does indeed delve into dark and light aspects of the human soul or condition, and i feel she does it beautifully. Singing my sister down and other stories brings together ten of the best of margo lanagans short stories and three new stories from the extraordinarily talented.
Just as readers struggle through red nose day, they are equally baffled by perpetual lights numerous hightech devices. Margo lanagan born 1960 in waratah, new south wales is an australian writer of short stories and young adult fiction biography. Two assassins target professional clowns in red nose day, a child learns who the real spiritual leader of his isolated ashram is only after he leaves and comes back, a dutiful granddaughter risks her life to attend an outdoor funeral in a toxic future. Printz honor book and won two world fantasy awards. So begins singing my sister down, margo lanagans internationally acclaimed, awardwinning short. It may still be too chilly to wear shorts outside, but this week im sharing some great collections of short stories, in honor of springtime. Red nose day provides a glimpse into the hearts of two assassins who are killing clowns. I picked this book up at the caboolture bookfest as i had margo lanagan.
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