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Our Lady of the Harbour
Reprinted in The Year's Best Fantasy & 5th , 1992 and in Dreams Underfoot , 1993, which was collected in The Newford Stories , 1999
50 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1991
29 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Charles de Lint
447 books4,004 followersCharles de Lint is the much beloved author of more than seventy adult, young adult, and children's books. Renowned as one of the trailblazers of the modern fantasy genre, he is the recipient of the World Fantasy, Aurora, Sunburst, and White Pine awards, among others. Modern Library's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century poll, conducted by Random House and voted on by readers, put eight of de Lint's books among the top 100.
De Lint is a poet, folklorist, artist, songwriter and performer. He has written critical essays, music reviews, opinion columns and entries to encyclopedias, and he's been the main book reviewer for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since 1987. De Lint served as Writer-in-residence for two public libraries in Ottawa and has taught creative writing workshops for adults and children in Canada and the United States. He's been a judge for several prominent awards, including the Nebula, World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon and Bram Stoker.
Born in the Netherlands in 1951, de Lint immigrated to Canada with his family as an infant. The family moved often during de Lint's childhood because of his father's job with an international surveying company, but by the time Charles was twelve—having lived in Western Canada, Turkey and Lebanon—they had settled in Lucerne, Quebec, not far from where he now resides in Ottawa, Ontario.
In 1980, de Lint married the love of his life, MaryAnn Harris, who works closely with him as his first editor, business manager and creative partner. They share their love and home with a cheery little dog named Johnny Cash.
Charles de Lint is best described as a romantic: a believer in compassion, hope and human potential. His skilled portrayal of character and settings has earned him a loyal readership and glowing praise from peers, reviewers and readers.
Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best.
—Holly Black (bestselling author)
Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better.
—Alice Hoffman (bestselling author)
To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire
His Newford books, which make up most of de Lint's body of work between 1993 and 2009, confirmed his reputation for bringing a vivid setting and repertory cast of characters to life on the page. Though not a consecutive series, the twenty-five standalone books set in (or connected to) Newford give readers a feeling of visiting a favourite city and seeing old friends.
More recently, his young adult Wildlings trilogy—Under My Skin, Over My Head, and Out of This World—came out from Penguin Canada and Triskell Press in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Under My Skin won 2013 Aurora Award. A novel for middle-grade readers, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, published by Little Brown in 2013, won the Sunburst Award, earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Quill & Quire, and was chosen by the New York Times Editors as one of the top six children's books for 2013. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (2009), is a fascinating ghost story about love, passion and faith. It was a finalist for both the Sunburst and Evergreen awards.
De Lint is presently writing a new adult novel. His storytelling skills also shine in his original songs. He and MaryAnn (also a musician) recently released companion CDs of their original songs, samples of which can be heard on de Lin
De Lint is a poet, folklorist, artist, songwriter and performer. He has written critical essays, music reviews, opinion columns and entries to encyclopedias, and he's been the main book reviewer for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since 1987. De Lint served as Writer-in-residence for two public libraries in Ottawa and has taught creative writing workshops for adults and children in Canada and the United States. He's been a judge for several prominent awards, including the Nebula, World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon and Bram Stoker.
Born in the Netherlands in 1951, de Lint immigrated to Canada with his family as an infant. The family moved often during de Lint's childhood because of his father's job with an international surveying company, but by the time Charles was twelve—having lived in Western Canada, Turkey and Lebanon—they had settled in Lucerne, Quebec, not far from where he now resides in Ottawa, Ontario.
In 1980, de Lint married the love of his life, MaryAnn Harris, who works closely with him as his first editor, business manager and creative partner. They share their love and home with a cheery little dog named Johnny Cash.
Charles de Lint is best described as a romantic: a believer in compassion, hope and human potential. His skilled portrayal of character and settings has earned him a loyal readership and glowing praise from peers, reviewers and readers.
Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best.
—Holly Black (bestselling author)
Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better.
—Alice Hoffman (bestselling author)
To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire
His Newford books, which make up most of de Lint's body of work between 1993 and 2009, confirmed his reputation for bringing a vivid setting and repertory cast of characters to life on the page. Though not a consecutive series, the twenty-five standalone books set in (or connected to) Newford give readers a feeling of visiting a favourite city and seeing old friends.
More recently, his young adult Wildlings trilogy—Under My Skin, Over My Head, and Out of This World—came out from Penguin Canada and Triskell Press in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Under My Skin won 2013 Aurora Award. A novel for middle-grade readers, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, published by Little Brown in 2013, won the Sunburst Award, earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Quill & Quire, and was chosen by the New York Times Editors as one of the top six children's books for 2013. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (2009), is a fascinating ghost story about love, passion and faith. It was a finalist for both the Sunburst and Evergreen awards.
De Lint is presently writing a new adult novel. His storytelling skills also shine in his original songs. He and MaryAnn (also a musician) recently released companion CDs of their original songs, samples of which can be heard on de Lin
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 6, 2020
A dark (and Canadian) retelling and modernization of the Little Mermaid.
I've never read the Hans Christian Andersen classic, but I have seen the Disney film and I think this is probably closer to the original. Author de Lint brings this to the 20th century in a cool and mesmerizing remake. First published in 1991 and a part of his Newford series of urban or modern fantasies, de Lint has set a mood and tone that lends itself to fantasy writing, but without the over the top epic quality.
I read his 1984 novel Moonheart and liked it, but it was too much. This short story succinctly captures the essence of the original story while making it fresh and entertaining for a modern reader.
I plan to read more from de Lint, especially his shorter works.
I've never read the Hans Christian Andersen classic, but I have seen the Disney film and I think this is probably closer to the original. Author de Lint brings this to the 20th century in a cool and mesmerizing remake. First published in 1991 and a part of his Newford series of urban or modern fantasies, de Lint has set a mood and tone that lends itself to fantasy writing, but without the over the top epic quality.
I read his 1984 novel Moonheart and liked it, but it was too much. This short story succinctly captures the essence of the original story while making it fresh and entertaining for a modern reader.
I plan to read more from de Lint, especially his shorter works.
January 3, 2011
4.5 stars. This is one of the better short stories from the Dreams Underfoot and is just short of a 5 star rating in my opinion. This is a modern re-telling of the "Little Mermaid" story from a grown up perspective. Beautifully written with great characters and a very good, emotional ending. Highly Recommended!!
World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novella
Locus Award Nominee for Best Novella
World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novella
Locus Award Nominee for Best Novella
August 13, 2022
The story stays pretty close to the original fairy tale contrary to my expectations and yet, I think I liked it better than the original.
Great read!
Great read!
January 12, 2018
My daughter was afraid of mermaids when she was little. She'd seen too good a portrayal in the 2003 PJ Hogan Peter Pan movie with Jason Isaacs. She'd heard the fairy tales read at bedtime. Those two were enough to make her suspicious and help her recognize Disney's Little Mermaid as mermaid-lite. She would have been right at home in this darker neo-fairy tale and things might have turned out differently for all involved if she'd been our witness and trusty narrator . . .
but alas that was not to be, so this twisty-turny tale in less than 60 pgs will suffice 'til the story writes itself again in some watery place.
but alas that was not to be, so this twisty-turny tale in less than 60 pgs will suffice 'til the story writes itself again in some watery place.
August 24, 2017
Not his best work.
I love this author. His stories sit on the edge of reality, and spill over into magic. So I was disappointed with this story. It never really came together, and left me feeling uninspired.
I love this author. His stories sit on the edge of reality, and spill over into magic. So I was disappointed with this story. It never really came together, and left me feeling uninspired.
September 10, 2017
included in Dreams Underfoot
first logged re-read 8/15/2000
RE-read 8/27/2016
first logged re-read 8/15/2000
RE-read 8/27/2016
April 12, 2024
Matt is all about the music. When he's on stage, he's a god and the music is powerful magic. Offstage, he is cold and distant; caring only about the music. He has broken many hearts and has no friends, but he doesn't seem to get it. The music is his world.
Charles de Lint has refashioned The Little Mermaid into one of his beloved Newford stories. One day Matt is out at Wolf Island and sees an old woman say a prayer to the mermaid statue there, a copy of the one in Copenhagen. He goes to the statue himself, but can't think of a thing to say, or to ask for.
One night a lovely young woman comes to one of his band's shows. Katrina is unearthly and dances in front of Matt the entire set. At the break, they disappear. She can't speak, but can sign. It looks to people that maybe Matt has finally found his other. But he can't love, and he doesn't understand why, and to those of you who know the fairy tale and not the Disney version, you know how it ends. de Lint never disappoints.
Charles de Lint has refashioned The Little Mermaid into one of his beloved Newford stories. One day Matt is out at Wolf Island and sees an old woman say a prayer to the mermaid statue there, a copy of the one in Copenhagen. He goes to the statue himself, but can't think of a thing to say, or to ask for.
One night a lovely young woman comes to one of his band's shows. Katrina is unearthly and dances in front of Matt the entire set. At the break, they disappear. She can't speak, but can sign. It looks to people that maybe Matt has finally found his other. But he can't love, and he doesn't understand why, and to those of you who know the fairy tale and not the Disney version, you know how it ends. de Lint never disappoints.
July 12, 2017
This is a modern take on the story of The Little Mermaid. It is set in Newford, the city that de Lint often uses for his stories. I read it originally in his anthology, Dreams Underfoot, but I'm very happy that he's released it again on its own.
It's a lovely and poignant story. Matt is a musician, totally bound up in his own world of music. When Katrina mysteriously appears at one of his gigs, he's interested but wants to take it slow. But Katrina is more than she seems and she only has one week to make him fall in love with her.
It's emotional and sad, retold by a master storyteller.
It's a lovely and poignant story. Matt is a musician, totally bound up in his own world of music. When Katrina mysteriously appears at one of his gigs, he's interested but wants to take it slow. But Katrina is more than she seems and she only has one week to make him fall in love with her.
It's emotional and sad, retold by a master storyteller.
October 4, 2017
This was a beautiful story. I'm a sucker for anything mermaid-related, and this was an awesome modern retelling of Anderson's Little Mermaid. It was also my first time reading Charles deLint who I had wanted to read for ages and it just hadn't happened before last night. I cannot wait to read more of his work! I also enjoyed that this was something I could finish in the course of an evening, because between work, commuting and life, sometimes I start a book and don't get to pick it back up for awhile (at which point I have trouble remembering what happened).
August 3, 2018
Hand Christian Anderson reborn.
A marvellous rewrite of the Little Mermaid story (not the sanitised Disney version) which also depicts the obsessive nature of artistic gifts, in this case music. Our friend Amy introduces us to a driven musician, charismatic, gifted, but walled off from human emotion. Into his life comes a living mermaid and....A bittersweet story of how love dares all, sacrifices all. For what? In this case perhaps inspiration for a new piece of music. Poignantly lovely and lonely. Anderson be proud; you have a worthy successor.
A marvellous rewrite of the Little Mermaid story (not the sanitised Disney version) which also depicts the obsessive nature of artistic gifts, in this case music. Our friend Amy introduces us to a driven musician, charismatic, gifted, but walled off from human emotion. Into his life comes a living mermaid and....A bittersweet story of how love dares all, sacrifices all. For what? In this case perhaps inspiration for a new piece of music. Poignantly lovely and lonely. Anderson be proud; you have a worthy successor.
July 13, 2022
We live in the age of the remake, the reboot, the rehash--and classic fairytales come in for their share of it. This retelling of Andersen's Little Mermaid is, well...okay, but just okay. I felt no engagement with any of the characters, and the anticlimactic ending was unsurprising. At least he avoided the trope of "it was all a dream."
Meh.
Meh.
March 24, 2019
To be full , you must let life in.
Charles De lint never did appointments the reader. Everything is here if you open your eyes to see it. Just because you have heard the story before doesn't mean it isn't happening again.
Charles De lint never did appointments the reader. Everything is here if you open your eyes to see it. Just because you have heard the story before doesn't mean it isn't happening again.
January 4, 2022
This is an early story by Charles deLint, the man often credited with starting the urban fantasy genre with his groundbreaking book, Moonheart. As to be expected, deLint doesn’t disappoint in this musically oriented version of the “Little Mermaid” story. As is his trademark, deLint’s characters and their world seem as real as ours and will leave the reader looking over his/her shoulder to espy strays from other realms. Ever catch movement out of the corner of your eye? You definitely will after reading any deLint story.
May 8, 2023
Great story
One of my favorite authors. I've always loved the Newford stories. This was an interesting take on a classic. I highly recommend DeLint to everyone who enjoys Urban Fantasy.
One of my favorite authors. I've always loved the Newford stories. This was an interesting take on a classic. I highly recommend DeLint to everyone who enjoys Urban Fantasy.
November 19, 2017
I quite liked this but the ePub version I downloaded from the library seem to be missing a lot of pages.
December 17, 2017
My favorite fairy tale rewritten by one of my favorite authors. Beautiful and haunting.
October 30, 2019
short story. seems half finished.
January 5, 2024
Short and sweet, leaving me with a pang in my heart for music that only ever might have been.
It's not Walt Disney's ending.
I'm glad I read it.
It's not Walt Disney's ending.
I'm glad I read it.
July 1, 2012
Also found in the pages of Dreams Underfoot, this updated take on the Little Mermaid remains one of my favorite Charles De Lint stories ever.
December 20, 2020
This modern retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s "The Little Mermaid" reveals the aching beauty and peril of falling in love. World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novella (1992).
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews