Demons and Shadows: The Ghostly Best Stories of Robert Westall - Softcover

Gr. 7-11. The late Robert Westall was an acknowledged master at turning a tale toward the spooky and unexpected. The first of a planned two-volume set, this is a diverse "best of" collection containing 11 stories (10 drawn from collections that are currently out of print and one previously unpublished). With a distinctive British flavor, and featuring primarily adult protagonists and emotionally complex situations, this collection demands a sophisticated reader who will discover here satisfying and well-wrought stories that linger in the memory--stories of people caught wandering the boundaries of the dark side. In "Rachel and the Angel," a young girl places herself between her village and the angel of destruction. In "Graveyard Shift," a cemetery superintendent, who acts as counselor to the newly buried, must deal with a particularly evil customer. In "The Death of Wizards," a young man learns, with difficulty, that it is not often wise to meddle with wizards. Ghost stories are extremely popular, and Westall's dark stories are rich with drama, wit, and wisdom. Seriously consider adding to YA collections, especially if the out-of-print titles are not held. Annie Ayres

Cats, old churches, antiques and antique dealers: these are a few of the creatures, settings, items and individuals that crop up again and again in this posthumous collection of Westall's fiendishly clever, spine-tingling short fiction. In "Graveyard Shift," a story which has not previously appeared in print, a cemetery superintendent whose duties include ushering the recently departed into the next world encounters a sinister, modern-day vampire. The book's 10 other entries are culled from various collections of the author's work. "A Walk on the Wild Side" is the chronicle of a shape-shifting cat's attempts to monopolize the affections of her owner. Felines also figure in "The Creatures in the House," in which a motley crew of strays star in an uproarious slapstick scene and save the soul of the woman who rescued them. "The Last Day of Miss Dorinda Molyneaux," the tale of a haunted church, shares a common theme with Westall's recent novel The Stones of Muncaster Cathedral. Besides being genuinely creepy, these stories are witty, wise and laced with insight. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.