Charles de Lint Moonlight & Vines

Moonlight & Vines

Charles de Lint

Orb, Jan 2006, $14.95, 384 pp.

ISBN: 0765309173

This is a reprint of an early Newford anthology with most of the entries having been written in the mid to late 1990's; "If I Close My Eyes Forever" and "In the Land of the Unforgiven" are brand new entries. Each well written tale brings to life the common theme of social justice for even the fringe. As always the tales come from the perspective of those either at the bottom rung, or in the ooze below the food chain, instead of the power brokers. Thus the audience sees Newford in a different light than typically seen (while politicians at all levels and both parties rapture culpability on TV, those left behind "starred" in the pictures on the news during Katrina); fascinatingly this also may leave the tales' protagonists in jeopardy of being put away for not seeing the proper light, in this case the magic of the city. MOONLIGHT & VINES is Charles de Lint at his social conscience best, but done in an entertaining slice at life.