Once Upon an Autumn Eve

Table of Contents

 

 

“McKiernan’s latest entry in his four-part fairy tale cycle goes beyond the reworking of the classic fairy tale ‘The Glass Mountain’ to depict a world of magic and enchantment.”

—
Library Journal

 

“McKiernan inverts the traditional fairy tale motif of ‘knight rescues damsel’ by having Liaze undertake the quest to rescue Luc. . . . She’s a terrific character. . . . As for the setting, McKiernan’s Faery draws heavily from the French fairy tradition . . . . Although it may seem a small flourish, this adds greatly to the setting’s otherworldly nature and demonstrates McKiernan’s mastery at evoking the tiniest details of such a dreamlike land. . . . Recommended.”

—SFRevu

 

“Delightful . . . fast-paced . . . with a terrific twist involving Luc and a fabulous female champion.”

—
Midwest Book Review

 

“No one beats McKiernan at the traditionally styled adult fairy tale, with something for everyone: beautiful princess oblivious to all states of personal dishabille, handsome prince, impossible challenges, despicably evil creatures, and romance, romance, romance! Quite simply, enchanting.”

—
Booklist

 

“An interesting twist. . . . McKiernan’s writing is evocative. . . . He paints vivid landscapes and provides lots of good action sequences. The book is valuable as much for the journey as for the destination.”

—
The Davis Enterprise

 

“Romantics rejoice! McKiernan’s retelling of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ is the way it should have been done the first time around. . . . The lines between good and evil are clear, and romance and chivalry and true love are alive and flourishing.”

—
Booklist
(starred review)

“McKiernan embellishes another classic fairy tale in this enjoyably frothy fantasy . . . keep[s] the reader turning the pages.”

—
Publishers Weekly

 

“McKiernan takes the tale in some unexpected directions. He also offers an engaging, clever, and resourceful hero in Borel, as well as entertaining sidekicks in Flic, Buzzer, and Chelle herself. Recommended.”

—SFRevu

 

“Steeped in tradition and timelessness, and should appeal to fairy tale lovers of all ages.”

—
Library Journal

 

“McKiernan always manages to enchant his readers with his fabulous fantasy novels.”

—
Midwest Book Review

 

“Exuberant . . . never less than graceful . . . a solid, well-rounded fantasy that readers will enjoy as much on a summer beach as on a winter’s night.”

—
Publishers Weekly

 

“Engaging.”

—
Locus

 

“Intelligently told, romantic . . . and filled with the qualities of the best of the traditional fairy stories.”

—
Chronicle

 

“Prepare to be transported to the fairyland of childhood . . . enchanting.”

—
Booklist

 

“Alternating between high tragedy and earthy humor, the twelve stories in this fantasy collection from bestseller McKiernan entertain while touching on complex moral and philosophical issues . . . appealing.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Elaborates on old themes and introduces new motifs in the richly developed world of Mithgar. . . . Filled with likable protagonists, this volume is an excellent choice.”

—
Library Journal

 

“Those who seek long, absorbing yarns in the classic mode will honor and enjoy [
Red Slippers
].”

—
Booklist

 

“Terrific . . . a powerful anthology that will leave a grateful audience wanting to share more pints with the crew of the
Eroean
.”

—
Midwest Book Review

 

“McKiernan brings his Mithgar series to a triumphant conclusion.”

—
Publishers Weekly

 

“In the tradition of Tolkien, the author blends lore and prophecy with vivid battle scenes and emotional drama. A tale of high fantasy that should appeal to most fans of epic fiction.”

—
Library Journal

 

 

“Once McKiernan’s got you, he never lets go.”

—Jennifer Roberson

 

“Some of the finest imaginative action. . . . There are no lulls in McKiernan’s story.”

 

“McKiernan brews magic with an insightful blend of laughter, tears, and high courage.”

—Janny Wurts, author of
Traitor’s Knot: Alliance of Light

 

BOOKS IN THE FAERY SERIES

 

BOOKS IN THE MITHGAR SERIES

Hél’s Crucible:

Book 1:
Into the Forge

Book 2:
Into the Fire

Tales of Mithgar
(a story collection)

The Vulgmaster
(the graphic novel)

(a story collection)

ROC
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

Published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin

First Roc Mass Market Printing, May 2007

Copyright © Dennis L. McKiernan, 2006

All rights reserved

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eISBN : 978-1-101-04374-5

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Acknowledgments

My dear Martha Lee, my heart, once more I am most grateful for your enduring support, careful reading, patience, and love. I know I have said this many times before, but it most surely bears repeating,
ma chérie.

And again I thank the members of the Tanque Wordies Writers’ Group—Diane, Katherine, John—for your encouragement throughout the writing of this Faery tale.