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Beyond the Open Door
When a hole that he makes in a cardboard box turns into a doorway, Colyn discovers, to his amazement, that he can neither close the hole nor shut the doorway. Reprint.
115 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 10, 2017
I first read this in the early 90s as a young lad and loved it quite a bit.
But sometime over the next 20-odd years I lost the book, which really bugged me. I'd searched for it on and off during the last 6 years, since in my memory the story became mythologically-good :D
When I finally came across it I was thrilled AND relieved - since With My Knifeis still fun and imaginative, after all - potatoes are made into something pretty clever and powerful!
Great for a younger audience and a great spin down memory lane for me today.
But sometime over the next 20-odd years I lost the book, which really bugged me. I'd searched for it on and off during the last 6 years, since in my memory the story became mythologically-good :D
When I finally came across it I was thrilled AND relieved - since With My Knifeis still fun and imaginative, after all - potatoes are made into something pretty clever and powerful!
Great for a younger audience and a great spin down memory lane for me today.
November 17, 2015
The day before his birthday, Colyn finds a knife in a potato patch. The blade is black and the handle has a design of a circle with a tapering triangle inside. His dad remembers losing it when he was a boy. But it looks as if it has been regularly polished. And the cutting edge—well, there’s something mysterious about it. Why do potatoes turn to stone as Colyn finishes peeling them? And did the piece of wood he whittled really bark when he threw his failed carving of a dog into the fire?
Colyn idly cuts a triangle into a potato and creates a windowstone. He discovers that, when he places his finger into the window, it doesn’t come through the other side.
He looks in—and sees a terrifying yellow eye.
Later, when making a jigsaw with his dad, he recognises it as a dragon’s eye.
So Colyn is introduced to the Otherworld of Klarin and before long his curiosity leads him to create a doorway into the borderland between worlds: a white wrapping mist where dragons roam.
But a doorway in is a doorway out. Through it a dragon comes hunting.
Making five smooth stones from potatoes — reminding us perhaps of David about to confront Goliath — Colyn faces the dragon.
With My Knife is a spare and beautiful story like the harsh landscape which forms its backdrop — wasting nothing, hiding secrets, only revealing its treasures when you peer closely.
Colyn blinked in disbelief. ‘Oh,’ he said. ‘There you are. You’re alive.’ The dog looked up at him, his head cocked to one side, one ear pricked, the other bent.
His father reached the shed. ‘Hello,’ he said. ‘Where’d the mutt come from?’’
Colyn knelt to pat the kelpie. ‘I made him,’ he said. ‘With my knife.’’
With My Knife is the first book in the trilogy, The Chronicles of Klarin. Parts of it are strongly reminiscent of Philip Pullman’s The Subtle Knife, though Lansdown’s work was published a year or two earlier and exposits a very different worldview.
A gripping book, highly recommended.
Colyn idly cuts a triangle into a potato and creates a windowstone. He discovers that, when he places his finger into the window, it doesn’t come through the other side.
He looks in—and sees a terrifying yellow eye.
Later, when making a jigsaw with his dad, he recognises it as a dragon’s eye.
So Colyn is introduced to the Otherworld of Klarin and before long his curiosity leads him to create a doorway into the borderland between worlds: a white wrapping mist where dragons roam.
But a doorway in is a doorway out. Through it a dragon comes hunting.
Making five smooth stones from potatoes — reminding us perhaps of David about to confront Goliath — Colyn faces the dragon.
With My Knife is a spare and beautiful story like the harsh landscape which forms its backdrop — wasting nothing, hiding secrets, only revealing its treasures when you peer closely.
Colyn blinked in disbelief. ‘Oh,’ he said. ‘There you are. You’re alive.’ The dog looked up at him, his head cocked to one side, one ear pricked, the other bent.
His father reached the shed. ‘Hello,’ he said. ‘Where’d the mutt come from?’’
Colyn knelt to pat the kelpie. ‘I made him,’ he said. ‘With my knife.’’
With My Knife is the first book in the trilogy, The Chronicles of Klarin. Parts of it are strongly reminiscent of Philip Pullman’s The Subtle Knife, though Lansdown’s work was published a year or two earlier and exposits a very different worldview.
A gripping book, highly recommended.
September 20, 2023
I found this in a free library with no back cover, along with a back cover for a different title, with no book... curious. Unfortunately, due to age, it doesn't really withstand repair, so if you're looking for this, maybe get a reprint or an e-book version?
Of course, it's an Isekai (name might be a giveaway but you never know... granted, it's also apparently under the title With My Knife?). It's a little weird and doesn't REALLY end but gets to a stopping point, even though I doubt there's a sequel. Summary is, boy finds a knife that does things including turn potatoes to stone and makes LIVE DOGS and open doorways to other worlds, and I guess dragons want those doors open so they can get more territory (understandable).
I enjoyed reading it, and it's definitely not a bad story! I just felt bad since the book itself was in such disrepair. I guess I could always check if there are newer reprints, but I also kind of don't want to disappoint myself if I don't find anything.
Of course, it's an Isekai (name might be a giveaway but you never know... granted, it's also apparently under the title With My Knife?). It's a little weird and doesn't REALLY end but gets to a stopping point, even though I doubt there's a sequel. Summary is, boy finds a knife that does things including turn potatoes to stone and makes LIVE DOGS and open doorways to other worlds, and I guess dragons want those doors open so they can get more territory (understandable).
I enjoyed reading it, and it's definitely not a bad story! I just felt bad since the book itself was in such disrepair. I guess I could always check if there are newer reprints, but I also kind of don't want to disappoint myself if I don't find anything.
September 26, 2019
Another book inherited from my daughter--I expected a "cheap read," and discovered instead a true stand-out. This story would make an ideal study for a writer who wants to learn the technique of keeping it relatively simple (YA level) while still turning in a tour-de-force of a fantasy story. Needless to say, this is another author I'll be following.
July 11, 2019
It feels a little fast but it was a good read. I can't wait to read the next one.
December 28, 2021
Such a great book. Only wish I'd read it as a kid.
June 15, 2016
I wavered between 3 and 4 stars. Then I imagined I was a child reading this book (which is the intended audience) and I settled on 4. Then I sat down to describe what I liked about the book and realized that as simply as it was written, I actually loved it and had to change it to a 5 star rating.
It's a coming of age story. Colyn is a young boy who is not yet a man, but still needs to step up and be one anyway. His facing war, loss, sacrifice and even pointless death while still remaining a boy, free to cry and cuddle his father without shame is uncommon in children's literature. I love the strong female characters, though only lightly featured. Additionally, the premise and how the knife's abilities manifest are unique. The simple setting and origins of Colyn as a potato farmers son is an added charm.
I wish I could have read this as a 10 year old. It would have made me cry and would have changed a great many things about how I see the world. I look forward to reading the sequels with my own 10 year old son.
It's a coming of age story. Colyn is a young boy who is not yet a man, but still needs to step up and be one anyway. His facing war, loss, sacrifice and even pointless death while still remaining a boy, free to cry and cuddle his father without shame is uncommon in children's literature. I love the strong female characters, though only lightly featured. Additionally, the premise and how the knife's abilities manifest are unique. The simple setting and origins of Colyn as a potato farmers son is an added charm.
I wish I could have read this as a 10 year old. It would have made me cry and would have changed a great many things about how I see the world. I look forward to reading the sequels with my own 10 year old son.
November 28, 2015
Still maintains its four star rating for me.
I forgotten how fast-paced and exciting this book is. Then again, it's is only a short story and meant for younger (MUCH younger) readers, so it has to be pretty quick with the whole beginning/middle/conflict/resolution/end line of story telling.
I loved it when I was ten and I love it now. More than likely a book I'll be reading to my own children, and a book my own children will read one day. "With My Knife" is a lovely piece of children's fantasy.
I forgotten how fast-paced and exciting this book is. Then again, it's is only a short story and meant for younger (MUCH younger) readers, so it has to be pretty quick with the whole beginning/middle/conflict/resolution/end line of story telling.
I loved it when I was ten and I love it now. More than likely a book I'll be reading to my own children, and a book my own children will read one day. "With My Knife" is a lovely piece of children's fantasy.
June 6, 2025
10 yr old Colyn Larkin is swept into a world of intrigue and terror when he finds a ‘dragon’ knife on his father’s potato farm. He discovers the knife will cut open the mists of another world Klarin, which is a dragon world where the dragons terrorize and dominate the inhabitants (Kinroans) and where his own now dead mother was once drawn into. Books 2 & 3 of the trilogy are 'Dragonfox' and 'Red Dragon'. The plots are quite good, but the characterization is a little flat.
August 27, 2016
I have read this book for the second time in 2012 and found it an easy read. It is written for the younger age ranges. I would recommend it to parents and grandparents to read to their children.
Andrew develops the story well. Sometimes fictional stories have too many names for places, people and things but in this story Andrew gets a better balance I feel.
Andrew develops the story well. Sometimes fictional stories have too many names for places, people and things but in this story Andrew gets a better balance I feel.
April 18, 2015
My teacher read this to me when I was in grade 5 or 6. The story has always stuck with me, but I only recently remembered the title. This is a great book to read to your kids and I fully intend to do so with my children one day. Absolutely loved it.
June 17, 2010
My son and I really liked this book. Simple fantastical story which keeps you hooked until the end.
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July 28, 2010i loved this book so much it amazing book !
August 12, 2011
I read this when I was younger and forgot what it was called. I have thought about it over the years and never got around to searching for it. I loved it!
April 14, 2014
good cool and imaginative story
July 31, 2014
*3.75 stars*
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews