Water
Book Jacket
Tales of Elemental Spirits [1]
Master storytellers Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson share tales of mysterious merfolk and magical humans, all with close ties to the element of water. From Pitiable Nasmith's miserable existence in a seaside town whose inhabitants are more intertwined with the sea than most people know, to Tamia's surprising summons to be the apprentice to the Guardian who has the power to hold back the sea, each of the six stories illuminates a captivating world filled with adventure, romance, intrigue, and enchantment. Robin McKinley fans will recognize one of the worlds included-Damar, the setting of Newbery Medal winner *The Hero and the Crown* and Newbery Honor Book *The Blue Sword*.
Water
Tales of Elemental Spirits
Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson
ISBN 0-399-23796-8
Spell-checked.
“Each highly respected authors in their own right, husband and wife Dickinson and McKinley
collaborate for the first time on a collection of enchanting tales linked by an aquatic theme.
Infused with selkie legends and Greek and Roman underworld myths, the tales possess a
consistently compelling, rhythmic tone, despite the fact that the authors alternate in the tellings ..
.. These creative interpretations brim with suspenseful, chilling and wonderfully supernatural
scenes.”
—
Publishers Weekly,
starred review
“The masterfully written stories all feature distinct, richly detailed casts and settings, are free of
the woodenly formal language that plagues so much fantasy, and focus as strongly on action as
on character. There’s plenty here to excite, enthrall, and move even the pickiest readers.”
—
School Library Journal,
starred review
“Six mesmerizing stories, three from each writer, steeped in the lore of merfolk and creatures of
the sea. The writing is lyrical, and the characterizations are remarkably well developed. Themes
resonate with clear-cut meaning, and emotions run the gamut—from fear and courage to love
and joy. It’s a bountiful collection for fantasy lovers ... very hard to put down.”
—
Booklist,
starred review
“Readers versed in these writers’ work will recognize familiar themes and references;
newcomers will find scope for imagination; and all will be richly rewarded.”
—
The Horn Book
To Anne Waters
Contents
Mermaid Song
The Sea-king’s Son
Sea Serpent
Water Horse
Kraken
A Pool in the Desert
About the Authors
Mermaid Song
by Peter Dickinson
Her name was Pitiable Nasmith.
Her grandfather had chosen Pitiable so that she and others should know what she was, he said.
All the People had names of that kind. He was Probity Hooke, and his wife was Mercy Hooke.
Their daughter had been Obedience Hooke until she had married Simon Nasmith against their
will and changed her second name to his. Because of that, the People had cut her off from
themselves, and Probity and Mercy had heard no more of her until Simon had come to their door,
bringing the newborn baby for them to care for, and told Probity of his daughter’s death. He said