Runaways – elves and humans – and kids seeking adventure find their way to Bordertown, a place on the border between the human world and the Realm of the elves, or Truebloods. In Bordertown, nothing ever turns out quite as expected. Magic and technology are unreliable and elves, humans, and halfies mix as they attempt to establish themselves in town. The Way from the world to the Border has been mysteriously closed for thirteen years, which has only been thirteen days in Bordertown. Now, the Way is open once more, and a new influx of misfits, outcasts, dreamers, and runaways of all sorts is making their way to Bordertown, bringing new technology, clothes, and ideas with them. Welcome to Bordertown tells a few of their stories, giving a taste of life on the Border between two worlds.
Welcome to Bordertown, edited by Holly Black and Ellen Kushner, contains stories (including one graphic story), poems, and songs about life on the Border, written by many acclaimed authors such as Neil Gaiman, Cassandra Clare, and Jane Yolen. Many of the stories are interconnected, giving a feel for how the lives of those in Bordertown can be interestingly intertwined. When I started reading this anthology, I was unaware that there had been previous Bordertown books; now I want to read those, especially because some old characters apparently make appearances in this book. The stories and poems are true urban fantasy, and the depictions of elves and humans going about their daily lives on the Border, internet connections maintained by carrier pigeons and signal mirrors, and unexpected results of magic, among many other things, were fantastic to read. The anthology is, in a way, its own Rough Guide to Bordertown; it definitely gives you a good feel for the lay of the land on the Border, with some of its hot spots, tips, and tricks for making it in Bordertown. I would highly recommend the anthology for any fans of urban fantasy and fantasy; anyone who wonders if they could one day wind up on the border between this world and the elven Realm.
- Publisher: Random House Books
- Date of Publication: May 24, 2011
