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X6: A Novellanthology

by Keith Stevenson (Goodreads Author) (editor), Margo Lanagan, Terry Dowling, Paul Haines (Goodreads Author), Cat Sparks (Goodreads Author), Trent Jamieson (Goodreads Author), Louise Katz

4.6 of 5 stars 4.60 · rating details · 10 ratings · 2 reviews

Six writers: no rules. Six journeys beyond the borders of the real. The unknown raised to the sixth power.

Paperback, 640 pages

Published 2009 by Coeur de Lion Publishing

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Jan 26, 2011 Courtney Johnston rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed, fiction, short-stories

Small and exquisitely formed - I made the library buy this 6-novella anthology just so I could read the opening story 'Sea-hearts' by Margo Lanagan.

Among my favourite books as a child were Andrew Lang's collections of fairytales, the Colour Fairy Books. Fairy here didn't mean little winged things; these were anthologies of fairytales and folks stories from around the world, and they fed my earliest imagination.

I was particularly captured by the stories of metamorphosising lovers, of husbands and...more Small and exquisitely formed - I made the library buy this 6-novella anthology just so I could read the opening story 'Sea-hearts' by Margo Lanagan.

Among my favourite books as a child were Andrew Lang's collections of fairytales, the Colour Fairy Books. Fairy here didn't mean little winged things; these were anthologies of fairytales and folks stories from around the world, and they fed my earliest imagination.

I was particularly captured by the stories of metamorphosising lovers, of husbands and wives who were placed under enchantments, and could only reveal their true selves at night, or after certain trials were overcome. Many of these stories have a betrayal at their core: the unenchanted partner makes an agreement, deciding that any compromise is worthwhile in order to have their heart's desire. And then doubt is introduced - usually in the form of a sly old woman - and the promise is breached: the fur coat is burned, the lover's face is gazed upon by candlelight. And then the enchanted lover is torn away, to be retrieved only through sacrifice and penance. At their heart these are stories of love, and trust, and doubt, and those little thoughts that enter your head an eat you up from the inside out.

Margo Lanagan's novella is spun from the story of the selkie, the shapeshifting creatures of Scottish and Irish folklore, seals that can shed their skins and take human husbands. Her story is set on an island where all the men have taken selkie wives, and fathered boy children upon them. There are no human women or human girl children on the island bar the old witch Messkeletha, whom the pack of young boys fear.

The women may have been taken from their watery home, and may be magically bound to their husbands, but this does not mean they do not feel something for their husbands. And they adore their sons; as Daniel's (our narrator) father puts it: "We were always their imprisoners as well as the men they loved, and the fathers of their children".

To tell this slim story in any way risks spoiling it. Lanagan takes this fairytale matter and spins from it a tense, evocative, thought-provoking story, delivered in her trademark dialect and rich, strange descriptions. The sea is a much-described element, but in Lanagan's words it take new form: "the sea was grey, with white bits of temper all over it", or

As the sea to men, beyond the point that they can see the bottom, becomes only the plumblined depths full of loves and livelihoods, so to seals the heights become only wastes of dry blaring light from which weather and occasional dangers descend.

Lanagan also has a talent for grounding the fairytale to physical existence, of calling forth the body

'What did you say, lad?' he hissed into the utter silence. Someone gave a little peeping fart at the sound of such rage, and nobody even snickered, we were all so close to shitting ourselves, every lad of us.

I read this story in one rush last night in bed, and it's left my head full of thoughts about love and captivity - about how we willingly and unwillingly bind ourselves to one another, through love and blood and loyalty. About how tying yourself to someone has a cost, and so does making yourself free. It's a lot of thinking for a little story that's much bigger than it looks. (less)

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Aug 27, 2012 Alan Baxter rated it 5 of 5 stars

A great collection, particularly "Wives" by Paul Haines and "Sea Hearts" by Margo Lanagan.

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Jan 12, 2013 John Pappas marked it as to-read

Oct 04, 2012 Paddy O'callaghan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jul 19, 2012 Jenna marked it as to-read

Jul 06, 2012 Trent Jamieson rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Jul 05, 2012 Diana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jun 03, 2012 Kiki marked it as to-read

Jan 26, 2012 Keith Stevenson rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Jan 06, 2012 Adam Browne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oct 30, 2011 Richard added it

Shelves: richard-s, books

Sep 01, 2011 Sandy Kluin marked it as to-read

Aug 29, 2011 Martin Livings marked it as to-read

Apr 18, 2011 Paul Haines rated it 4 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Dec 17, 2010 Meagan marked it as to-read

Nov 25, 2010 Thoraiya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sep 19, 2010 Chris Miles marked it as to-read

Shelves: genre-fiction

Apr 19, 2013 Talie Helene marked it as short-story-anthologies

Nov 19, 2010 Nathan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Aug 28, 2010 Lydia marked it as to-read

May 16, 2010 Stephanie marked it as to-read

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About Keith Stevenson

Keith Stevenson is a speculative fiction editor, reviewer, podcaster and author. He's the publisher with coeur de lion publishing, an Australian-based independent press which has, so far, picked up four Aurealis Awards, one Ditmar, one Vogel and a World Fantasy Award for its published titles. Keith began his editing career as editor of Aurealis Magazine from 2001 to 2004. He set up coeur de lion p...more

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