Dreams Underfoot: The Newford Collection

In the nineteen stories about the fictional Canadian city of Newford collected in this book, Charles de Lint relocates the mythical creatures of fairy tale and folklore from their traditional settings and surrounds them with urban scenery. As one character writes in the final story: "That was the real magic for me: the possibility that we only have to draw aside a veil to find the world a far more strange and wondrous place than its mundaneness allowed it could be." That quote sums up why I love the Newford stories than I ever could.While not a novel, these stories do add up to more than the sum of their parts. Minor characters in one story may go on to star in stories of their own. Events in one tale have resonances later on. The reader is given a cross-sectional look at the small events that make up life in this city, and gets a chance to know its inhabitants.De Lint's prose is gentle and relaxing. These stories almost beg to be read aloud, so that the reader can savor the language. Whenever I'm feeling upset, I know I can read one of de Lint's stories and feel better, just by "listening" to his voice. He doesn't always have something groundbreaking to say about people or life or love, but sometimes it's good to be reminded of things we already know to be true, and even better to be reminded in such a beautiful fashion.

I've owned many books in my time, (I'm young, though, don't worry) and this one is the best one I've ever read. I've owned it three times already and ended up giving it away because I just knew that one of the stories cradled within it would touch a friend's heart just when they needed it the most. Its worth every penny I pay, every time I pay it. Take my word that you will not be disappointed by this book, even if you're not that fond of fantasy, urban or not.

I read this book about six months ago and the characters still seem alive in my mind. That is how great this book is. When I was done reading and set the book aside I felt like I was giving up old friends and pleasant company. That is not all however, de Lint has a way of telling the stories so that life seems to breathe forth from the page. So that you think the faerie are just behind you peeking at what you read. This is definitely one to get in hard back, if just to let it survive longer... My poor paperback is falling apart from people borrowing it!!!

Dreams Underfoot is the first book I ever read by Charles De Lint, and he became my favorite author half way through the text. Although I have read every other De Lint book or story I can find, and they are all simply breathtaking, (check out Memory and Dream!!) Dreams Underfoot has remained my favorite. Sentimentality, no doubt. Dreams Underfoot is a tapestry novel, with characters and events that weave themselves together to give you a fabulous picture of the city of Newford and all its strange and wonderful aspects. De Lint's writing style is brilliant, both lyrical and funny, both sad and strange. If you like Fantasy novels, in particular Urban Fantasy, then do not, under any circumstances, miss this book. De Lint is considered one of the seminal authors of the Urban Fantasy genre, and there is no doubt in my mind that he is a master of his craft.

Skillfully interweaving magic, music, art, compassion, and contemporary issues such as child abuse and homelessness, Charles DeLint is hardly an escapist. However, in this anthology he offers glimpses of a well-realized world much like our own, just different enough to allow faerie to wander city streets barefoot in winter, or for a practical joke involving a gorilla suit to lead to a fleeting encounter with a genuine yeti. My favorite story in the collection is a gorgeous, heartbreaking retelling of 'The Little Mermaid'.