Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9781596060609
ISBN number: 1596060603
Label: Subterranean Press
Manufacturer: Subterranean Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 182
Printing Date: 2006-08
Publishing house: Subterranean Press
Sale Popularity Level: 959966
Studio: Subterranean Press
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An albino girl wanders the sun-scorched backroads of a south Georgia summer, following the bidding of an angel - or perhaps only voices in her head - searching out and slaying ancient monsters who have hidden themselves away in the lonely places of the world. Caitli-n R. Kiernan very first introduced Dancy in the pages of her award-winning second novel, Threshold (2001), then went on to write several more short stories and a novella about this unlikely heroine, each a piece, of which, has become an epic dark fantasy narrative. Alabaster finally collects all these tales into one volume, illustrated by Ted Naifeh (Gloomcookie, Courtney Crumrin)
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Rated by buyers 
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Caitlin R. Kiernan, Alabaster (Subterranean Press, 2006)
What I have always loved about Caitlin R. Kiernan's work is the sense of being lost; there's never quite enough explicitly stated to let the reader gain firm ground, leaving one to make the associations in one's head. And as we all know, the imagination produces scarier things than we'll ever actually see. It's the same thing that works so well in John Carpenter's best movies or Kathe Koja's early novels, but Kiernan wields it more masterfully than either when she's bringing her A game. And Alabaster is, most certainly, her A game.
Dancy Flammarion has never been a central character in Kiernan's work, but she's often on the sidelines, looking out at the events therein. In Alabaster, Kiernan switches up and makes Dancy the lead, exploring some of the avenues Dancy has hinted at in previous books. And the little albino girl with the big blade, as it turns out, is just as absorbing, if not more so, than the characters we already know so well. Guided by an angel (who might not be), she finds herself in situations that get stranger and stranger as life goes on. And considering how outright weird her very first brush with the supernatural is, that's saying something. As always, what seals the deal here is Kiernan's almost delicate touch with prose, working words the way a baker kneads bread, banging them around and slapping them down on the table, with the final product achieving a paradoxical softness, with a hint of sweet to counter the sour. While Kiernan's fame has been growing over the past decade, she's still nowhere near the A-list writer she certainly deserves to be. If you're a fan of the supernatural and have not yet discovered Caitlin R. Kiernan, I suggest you do so at the earliest opportunity; for my money, she's right up there with Clive Barker and Ramsey Campbell as a purveyor of the strange and rare. ****
Rated by buyers -
I suppose albino monster killing avatars of a higher power may just have been done before. This waif girl version of such is even more a pathetic specimen than the other one, in general, perhaps a 78 pound weakling, even, in that she looks like she would struggle to bench press a baby toad.
No soul-sucking sword, either, just a not overly well sharpened kitchen knife to face the monsters, demons, and crazed magic-wielders, after a bit of prompting from a showy fiery sword wielding angelic not overly helpful type.
Alabaster : Les Fleurs Empoisonnées - Caitlín R. Kiernan
Alabaster : The Well of Stars and Shadow - Caitlín R. Kiernan
Alabaster : Waycross - Caitlín R. Kiernan
Alabaster : Alabaster - Caitlín R. Kiernan
Alabaster : Bainbridge - Caitlín R. Kiernan
Alabaster : On the Road to Jefferson - Caitlín R. Kiernan
A bailiff, a dead bear, and a League of monstrous women.
3.5 out of 5
Riddle survival.
3.5 out of 5
"Sure, we been prayin' for someone, but not a crazy albino kid with a butcher knife."
3.5 out of 5
"I don't have a tail," Dancy says, wishing the albino girl in the mirror, the girl who isn't her reflection after all, would shut up and go away. "You might as well, as far as the Seraphim are concerned. To them, you're nothing but a trained monkey, an ugly little freak of evolution they can swindle into wiping their Heavenly arses for them."
3.5 out of 5
Angel slicing.
3 out of 5
4 out of 5
Rated by buyers 
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First, a confession ... I am a huge Caitlin R. Kiernan fan. Having said that, and adding that I own as many of her books and short-story collections as I could get my hands on, I can tell you that this is easily my favorite book by this author!
For long time fans, it's a fantastic addition. It adds to the growing mythos and explores one of the most fascinating characters that Kiernan has ever created. For those that have never read Kiernan before, this book is a very easy introduction to her work and presents it in easy-to-digest chunks - a series of short-stories with one primary protagonist.
Another really nice feature is two (2) tables of contents, one in the order the stories were very first produced and another in the order the stories actually take place. I chose to follow that second index, others may prefer to keep with the way the author originally presented these stories.
In summary, I can highly recommend this book for fans and fans-to-be alike. If you like dark fantasy, Lovecraftian horror through a uniquely American-gothic filter, a gorgeous use of language, intensely deep and deeply fascinating characters, and stories that stick with you long after you read them - then this is the book for you. Buy it. Read it. Love it.
Rated by buyers -
First of all, Dancy is one of the best characters. After reading Alabaster I kind of feel like I have a better grasp on Dancy's situation and how she got there. Ms. Kiernan gives out small tid bits of information without detracting from the mystery that surrounds Dancy. This collection allows the readers' mind to better wander the realm of possibilities in previous works such as In the Garden of Poisonous Flowers and Threshold.
It was also good to see that The Weaver is still making appearances in the story "Bainbridge". Another thoughtfully developed character with a few wild twists. Revisiting the dragon, the hublands, the blue witches, Dog's Bridge, added a deeper understanding to her previous work (Murder of Angels) where this realm was very first introduced. The sci-fi elements makes this book a delicious read!
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