OUR STORE IS CLOSED ON ANZAC DAY: THURSDAY 25 APRIL

Close Notification

Your cart does not contain any items

$34.95

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

QTY:

English
TACHYON
13 February 2018
An intimate first flight of short fiction from award-winning novelist Jo Walton (Among Others, The King's Peace).

A strange Eritrean coin travels from lovers to thieves, gathering stories before meeting its match. Google becomes sentient and proceeds toward an existential crisis. An idealistic dancer on a generation ship makes an impassioned plea for creativity and survival. Three Irish siblings embark on an unlikely quest, stealing enchanted items via bad poetry, trickery, and an assist from the Queen of Cats.

With these captivating initial glimpses into her storytelling psyche, Jo Walton shines through subtle myths and wholly reinvented realities. Through eclectic stories, subtle vignettes, inspired poetry, and more, Walton soars with humans, machines, and magic—rising from the everyday into the universe itself.

By:   , ,
Imprint:   TACHYON
Country of Publication:   United States
Dimensions:   Height: 215mm,  Width: 161mm,  Spine: 13mm
Weight:   249g
ISBN:   9781616960568
ISBN 10:   1616960566
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
FictionAt the Bottom of the GardenRelentlessly MundaneUnreliable WitnessOn the WallWhat Would Sam Spade DoWhat Joseph FeltWhat Piece of WorkThree Twilight TalesParable LostRemember the AllosaurTraditionEscape to Other Worlds with Science FictionThe Panda CoinJoyful and TriumphantTurnoverSleeperThe Need to Stay the SameA Burden SharedJane Austin to CassandraOut of ItPoemsDragon's SongNot in this TownHades and PersephoneThe Death of PetrachAdvice to LokiAsk to EmblaThree Bears NorseMachiavelli and ProsperoCardenioTen Years Ahead: Oracle PoemPax in Forma ColumbaTranslated from the OriginalSleepless in New OrleansThe Godzilla SonnetsNot a Bio for WisCon: Jo WaltonThree Shouts on a Hill (A Play)

Jo Walton is a Welsh-Canadian author of science fiction, fantasy, and poetry. She has published thirteen novels, most recently Necessity. A fourteenth, Lent is due out in Fall 2018. Walton has also published three poetry collections and an essay collection. She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 2002, the World Fantasy Award for Tooth and Claw in 2004, the Hugo and Nebula awards for Among Others in 2012, and in 2014, both the Tiptree Award for My Real Children and the Locus Award for What Makes This Book So Great. Walton comes from Wales, has lived in England, and now lives in Montreal, where the food and books are much better.

Reviews for Starlings

A Verge Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book You'll Want to Read in January A Chicago Tribune New Short Story Collection Worth Reading A Barnes & Noble Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Book of January 2018 This collection of fiction and poetry from Hugo- and Nebula-winner Walton (The Just City) showcases her trademark focus on genre and philosophical questions . . . fans of the [short] form will have plenty to appreciate. --Publishers Weekly Starlings isn't really a short-story collection. It's something better: a written showreel, illustrating yet again that [Walton's] imagination stretches to the stars (or the starlings), and that she's endlessly inventive in finding new methods to express it. --NPR Books Jo Walton's short writings have for decades been among the things that make the Internet worthwhile. She makes science fiction illuminate life. This collection lives up to its title: iridescent, dark, gregarious, talkative and ever ready to fly up. --Ken MacLeod, author of Newton's Wake and the Corporation Wars series Walton's diverse collection of stories and poems sparkles with originality and fun. The joy of this book will linger with me for a while. --Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger Starlings is a showcase of Jo Walton's diverse talents--a collection too varied to be summed up in a few words. From fairytale fantasy to hard science fiction, from laugh-aloud play script to finely crafted poetry, with a writing experiment or two thrown in, Starlings should delight Walton's existing fans and garner many new ones. --Juliet Marillier, author of Daughter of the Forest Stephen King once wrote that 'a short story is like a kiss in the dark from a stranger'--that is, sudden, pleasant, mysterious, dangerous and exiting--and the collected short fiction of Jo Walton is exemplary of the principle. --Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother Jo Walton's delightful collection, Starlings, runs the gamut from homemade fairy tales to hard-boiled cloned-Jesus detectives (just wait for the shaggy dog); to a play with figures out of Irish myth, and a talking dragon; to a selection of her fantastic poems. It's the kind of collection you can glide through, often while laughing out loud. --Gregory Frost, author of Shadowbridge One of the things I love about Walton's work is her range of human possibility, from laughter to horror, but above all a reveling in profligate beauty. This collection celebrates the best in the human spirit. --Sherwood Smith, author of Rebel and Revenant Eve Reading this collection felt like watching a wizard at the cauldron having fun with new spells . . . I recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys fantasy, Jo Walton's previous works, or wants to try shorter works before committing to longer ones. --Infinite Text Multiple award-winning science fiction and fantasy author Jo Walton's first short fiction collection is a captivating array of fairy tales, mythology, space fiction, machine sentience, alien encounters, heaven, and more.--Read Well Reviews I recommend Starlings to lovers of science fiction and fantasy who want bite-sized pieces to enjoy and savor. It's an eclectic mix of themes and tones, some humorous and some dark, that will keep you guessing. --Den of Geek As varied, as skilled, as intriguing as her novels, this is a stunning collection of stories, vignettes, poetry and more. --Best Science Fiction Books Coupled with Walton's frank self-assessments, the collection offers an incredible sense of intimacy. It's the closest we'll come to understanding how Jo Walton's dizzying writer's mind ticks along, and how her imagination flows. It's a rare opportunity, to peek in on the inventor in her workshop. Starlings is revelatory not only as a collection of fiction, but as a sort of biography of the process of writing itself. Fascinating. --Barnes and Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog Sharp, focused, and fresh. --Geek Dad 5/5 stars. There wasn't anything that I didn't like about [Starlings]. It ticked all boxes for me. --The Misadventures of a Reader A wild and wonderful imagination at work. --Emerald City Book Review Praise for Jo WaltonOn Necessity Brilliant, compelling, and, frankly, unputdownable. â NPR As before, Walton has done a superb job of world building and character development, giving readers a novel that both stimulates and satisfies. â Booklist, starred review There's more substance here than in many actual philosophy books. â Romantic TimesOn Among Others A wonder and a joy. â The New York Times Never deigning to transcend the genre to which it is clearly a love letter, this outstanding (and entirely teen-appropriate) tale draws its strength from a solid foundation of sense-of-wonder and what-if. â Publishers Weekly, starred review There are the books you want to give all your friends, and there are the books you wish you could go back and give your younger self. And then there's the rare book, like Jo Walton's Among Others, that's both. â io9On The King's Peace The King's Peace is the novel that The Mists of Avalon should have been. â Debra Doyle, author of School of Wizardry Walton writes with an authenticity that never loses heart, a rare combination in a genre where we are so often offered one or the other. â Robin Hobb, author of Assassin's Apprentice There is not an ill-written sentence . . . Never lacks immediacy or loses its historical quality. â VOYA Praise for Starlings A Verge Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book You'll Want to Read in January A Chicago Tribune New Short Story Collection Worth Reading A Barnes & Noble Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Book of January 2018 An intriguing peek inside a fertile mind. --Kirkus This collection of fiction and poetry from Hugo- and Nebula-winner Walton (The Just City) showcases her trademark focus on genre and philosophical questions . . . fans of the [short] form will have plenty to appreciate. --Publishers Weekly Jo Walton's short writings have for decades been among the things that make the Internet worthwhile. She makes science fiction illuminate life. This collection lives up to its title: iridescent, dark, gregarious, talkative and ever ready to fly up. --Ken MacLeod, author of Newton's Wake and the Corporation Wars series Walton's diverse collection of stories and poems sparkles with originality and fun. The joy of this book will linger with me for a while. --Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger Starlings is a showcase of Jo Walton's diverse talents--a collection too varied to be summed up in a few words. From fairytale fantasy to hard science fiction, from laugh-aloud play script to finely crafted poetry, with a writing experiment or two thrown in, Starlings should delight Walton's existing fans and garner many new ones. --Juliet Marillier, author of Daughter of the Forest Stephen King once wrote that 'a short story is like a kiss in the dark from a stranger'--that is, sudden, pleasant, mysterious, dangerous and exiting--and the collected short fiction of Jo Walton is exemplary of the principle. --Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother Jo Walton's delightful collection, Starlings, runs the gamut from homemade fairy tales to hard-boiled cloned-Jesus detectives (just wait for the shaggy dog); to a play with figures out of Irish myth, and a talking dragon; to a selection of her fantastic poems. It's the kind of collection you can glide through, often while laughing out loud. --Gregory Frost, author of Shadowbridge One of the things I love about Walton's work is her range of human possibility, from laughter to horror, but above all a reveling in profligate beauty. This collection celebrates the best in the human spirit. --Sherwood Smith, author of Rebel and Revenant Eve Reading this collection felt like watching a wizard at the cauldron having fun with new spells . . . I recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys fantasy, Jo Walton's previous works, or wants to try shorter works before committing to longer ones. --Infinite Text Multiple award-winning science fiction and fantasy author Jo Walton's first short fiction collection is a captivating array of fairy tales, mythology, space fiction, machine sentience, alien encounters, heaven, and more.--Read Well Reviews Praise for Jo WaltonOn Necessity Brilliant, compelling, and, frankly, unputdownable. â NPR As before, Walton has done a superb job of world building and character development, giving readers a novel that both stimulates and satisfies. â Booklist, starred review There's more substance here than in many actual philosophy books. â Romantic TimesOn Among Others A wonder and a joy. â The New York Times Never deigning to transcend the genre to which it is clearly a love letter, this outstanding (and entirely teen-appropriate) tale draws its strength from a solid foundation of sense-of-wonder and what-if. â Publishers Weekly, starred review There are the books you want to give all your friends, and there are the books you wish you could go back and give your younger self. And then there's the rare book, like Jo Walton's Among Others, that's both. â io9On The King's Peace The King's Peace is the novel that The Mists of Avalon should have been. â Debra Doyle, author of School of Wizardry Walton writes with an authenticity that never loses heart, a rare combination in a genre where we are so often offered one or the other. â Robin Hobb, author of Assassin's Apprentice There is not an ill-written sentence . . . Never lacks immediacy or loses its historical quality. â VOYA Jo Walton's short writings have for decades been among the things that make the Internet worthwhile. She makes science fiction illuminate life. This collection lives up to its title: iridescent, dark, gregarious, talkative and ever ready to fly up. --Ken MacLeod, author of Newton's Wake and the Corporation Wars series Walton's diverse collection of stories and poems sparkles with originality and fun. The joy of this book will linger with me for a while. --Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger Starlings is a showcase of Jo Walton's diverse talents--a collection too varied to be summed up in a few words. From fairytale fantasy to hard science fiction, from laugh-aloud play script to finely crafted poetry, with a writing experiment or two thrown in, Starlings should delight Walton's existing fans and garner many new ones. --Juliet Marillier, author of Daughter of the Forest Stephen King once wrote that 'a short story is like a kiss in the dark from a stranger'--that is, sudden, pleasant, mysterious, dangerous and exiting--and the collected short fiction of Jo Walton is exemplary of the principle. --Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother Jo Walton's delightful collection, Starlings, runs the gamut from homemade fairy tales to hard-boiled cloned-Jesus detectives (just wait for the shaggy dog); to a play with figures out of Irish myth, and a talking dragon; to a selection of her fantastic poems. It's the kind of collection you can glide through, often while laughing out loud. --Gregory Frost, author of Shadowbridge One of the things I love about Walton's work is her range of human possibility, from laughter to horror, but above all a reveling in profligate beauty. This collection celebrates the best in the human spirit. --Sherwood Smith, author of Rebel and Revenant Eve Reading this collection felt like watching a wizard at the cauldron having fun with new spells . . . I recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys fantasy, Jo Walton's previous works, or wants to try shorter works before committing to longer ones. --Infinite Text This collection of fiction and poetry from Hugo- and Nebula-winner Walton (The Just City) showcases her trademark focus on genre and philosophical questions . . . fans of the [short] form will have plenty to appreciate. --Publishers Weekly An intriguing peek inside a fertile mind. --KirkusPraise for Jo WaltonOn Necessity Brilliant, compelling, and, frankly, unputdownable. â NPR As before, Walton has done a superb job of world building and character development, giving readers a novel that both stimulates and satisfies. â Booklist, starred review There's more substance here than in many actual philosophy books. â Romantic TimesOn Among Others A wonder and a joy. â The New York Times Never deigning to transcend the genre to which it is clearly a love letter, this outstanding (and entirely teen-appropriate) tale draws its strength from a solid foundation of sense-of-wonder and what-if. â Publishers Weekly, starred review There are the books you want to give all your friends, and there are the books you wish you could go back and give your younger self. And then there's the rare book, like Jo Walton's Among Others, that's both. â io9On The King's Peace The King's Peace is the novel that The Mists of Avalon should have been. â Debra Doyle, author of School of Wizardry Walton writes with an authenticity that never loses heart, a rare combination in a genre where we are so often offered one or the other. â Robin Hobb, author of Assassin's Apprentice There is not an ill-written sentence . . . Never lacks immediacy or loses its historical quality. â VOYA Praise for Starlings An intriguing peek inside a fertile mind. --Kirkus Exquisitely written feats of imagination, each one leaving an impression long after it's done. --Kelley Armstrong, author of Rituals and Led Astray Jo Walton's short writings have for decades been among the things that make the Internet worthwhile. She makes science fiction illuminate life. This collection lives up to its title: iridescent, dark, gregarious, talkative and ever ready to fly up. --Ken MacLeod, author of Newton's Wake and the Corporation Wars series Walton's diverse collection of stories and poems sparkles with originality and fun. The joy of this book will linger with me for a while. --Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger Starlings is a showcase of Jo Walton's diverse talents--a collection too varied to be summed up in a few words. From fairytale fantasy to hard science fiction, from laugh-aloud play script to finely crafted poetry, with a writing experiment or two thrown in, Starlings should delight Walton's existing fans and garner many new ones. --Juliet Marillier, author of Daughter of the Living Forest Stephen King once wrote that 'a short story is like a kiss in the dark from a stranger'--that is, sudden, pleasant, mysterious, dangerous and exiting--and the collected short fiction of Jo Walton is exemplary of the principle. --Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother This collection of fiction and poetry from Hugo- and Nebula-winner Walton (The Just City) showcases her trademark focus on genre and philosophical questions . . . fans of the [short] form will have plenty to appreciate. --Publishers Weekly Reading this collection felt like watching a wizard at the cauldron having fun with new spells . . . I recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys fantasy, Jo Walton's previous works, or wants to try shorter works before committing to longer ones. --Infinite Text Praise for Jo Walton On Necessity Brilliant, compelling, and, frankly, unputdownable. â NPR As before, Walton has done a superb job of world building and character development, giving readers a novel that both stimulates and satisfies. â Booklist, starred review There's more substance here than in many actual philosophy books. â Romantic Times On Among Others A wonder and a joy. â The New York Times Never deigning to transcend the genre to which it is clearly a love letter, this outstanding (and entirely teen-appropriate) tale draws its strength from a solid foundation of sense-of-wonder and what-if. â Publishers Weekly, starred review There are the books you want to give all your friends, and there are the books you wish you could go back and give your younger self. And then there's the rare book, like Jo Walton's Among Others, that's both. â io9 On The King's Peace The King's Peace is the novel that The Mists of Avalon should have been. â Debra Doyle, author of School of Wizardry Walton writes with an authenticity that never loses heart, a rare combination in a genre where we are so often offered one or the other. â Robin Hobb, author of Assassin's Apprentice There is not an ill-written sentence . . . Never lacks immediacy or loses its historical quality. â VOYA Praise for Starlings Walton's diverse collection of stories and poems sparkles with originality and fun. The joy of this book will linger with me for a while. --Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger Starlings is a showcase of Jo Walton's diverse talents--a collection too varied to be summed up in a few words. From fairytale fantasy to hard science fiction, from laugh-aloud play script to finely crafted poetry, with a writing experiment or two thrown in, Starlings should delight Walton's existing fans and garner many new ones. --Juliet Marillier, author of Daughter of the Living Forest Stephen King once wrote that 'a short story is like a kiss in the dark from a stranger'--that is, sudden, pleasant, mysterious, dangerous and exiting--and the collected short fiction of Jo Walton is exemplary of the principle. --Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother Praise for Jo Walton On Necessity Brilliant, compelling, and, frankly, unputdownable. â NPR As before, Walton has done a superb job of world building and character development, giving readers a novel that both stimulates and satisfies. â Booklist, starred review There's more substance here than in many actual philosophy books. â Romantic Times On Among Others A wonder and a joy. â The New York Times Never deigning to transcend the genre to which it is clearly a love letter, this outstanding (and entirely teen-appropriate) tale draws its strength from a solid foundation of sense-of-wonder and what-if. â Publishers Weekly, starred review There are the books you want to give all your friends, and there are the books you wish you could go back and give your younger self. And then there's the rare book, like Jo Walton's Among Others, that's both. â io9 On The King's Peace The King's Peace is the novel that The Mists of Avalon should have been. â Debra Doyle, author of School of Wizardry Walton writes with an authenticity that never loses heart, a rare combination in a genre where we are so often offered one or the other. â Robin Hobb, author of Assassin's Apprentice There is not an ill-written sentence . . . Never lacks immediacy or loses its historical quality. â VOYA Praise for Jo Walton On Necessity Brilliant, compelling, and, frankly, unputdownable. â NPR As before, Walton has done a superb job of world building and character development, giving readers a novel that both stimulates and satisfies. â Booklist, starred review There's more substance here than in many actual philosophy books. â Romantic Times On Among Others A wonder and a joy. â The New York Times Never deigning to transcend the genre to which it is clearly a love letter, this outstanding (and entirely teen-appropriate) tale draws its strength from a solid foundation of sense-of-wonder and what-if. â Publishers Weekly, starred review There are the books you want to give all your friends, and there are the books you wish you could go back and give your younger self. And then there's the rare book, like Jo Walton's Among Others, that's both. â io9 On The King's Peace The King's Peace is the novel that The Mists of Avalon should have been. â Debra Doyle, author of School of Wizardry Walton writes with an authenticity that never loses heart, a rare combination in a genre where we are so often offered one or the other. â Robin Hobb, author of Assassin's Apprentice There is not an ill-written sentence . . . Never lacks immediacy or loses its historical quality. â VOYA


  • Nominated for Locus Award 2019 (United States)

See Also