I don’t normally bother reading those short stories/series accompaniments/extra stuff that authors put out. I don’t want them to have to rely on needing anything extra to round out their series. I like to be perfectly happy with the books themselves. Then if they really feel the need to kill time or the desire to give their readers a bit more then cool bananas (: Anyway, Ness’ Chaos Walking short stories were different.
Sure in a way they “added” or “filled in holes” (as is the general function of short story accompaniments) BUT they also stand alone. They’re not “extra” or “filler” or “I wasn’t sure how to squeeze this in and my publicist told me to take it out and sell it separately as a short story instead” rather they’re “bonus”, they’re “further reading” and they’re free online given willingly and lovingly by the author himself. These stories couldn’t and shouldn’t have been a part of the books and the books don’t need them and yet here they are: hidden gems for the curious.
The New World (Chaos Walking #0.5) by Patrick Ness
Blurb:
“In this dramatic prequel to the award-winning Chaos Walking Trilogy, author Patrick Ness gives us a short story of Viola’s journey to the New World.” -via Goodreads
pooled ink Review:
An intriguing glimpse into Viola’s life on the ship. It helps reveal the answers to some of those burdens and deep emotions rumbling around her character in the first book that one can sense but never quite put their finger on.
The Wide, Wide Sea (Chaos Walking #2.5) by Patrick Ness
Blurb:
“‘The Wide, Wide Sea’ is set in the past, at a time before the Spackle War, and we get a first look at the fishing village on the sea where some very important things happen at the end of Monsters of Men.
Best read after The Ask and the Answer but before Monsters.
(again, hints of things to come) – Patrick Ness” -via Goodreads
pooled ink Review:
I can’t think of a better story to tell, better lives to save, or a better memory of Mistress Coyle’s. Glad to finally know about that life she saved so long ago. And now I’m left wondering if they made it. But I have hope.
Snowscape (Chaos Walking #3.5) by Patrick Ness
Blurb:
“Snowscape is set after the end of Monsters of Men, so that’s when you should read it.
That’s all I’ll say, I don’t want to give anything away. 😉 – Patrick Ness”
-via Goodreads
pooled ink Review:
Such an intriguing concept! At first I was hesitant and not sure where Patrick Ness was going with his story but then (I won’t give it away) but then when the lightbulb went off in Wilf it went off in me and I just had to take a pause to absorb it all. A truly fascinating idea!
As to comm message at the end? I knew it! I just knew it! (:
Cheers.
Posted on Goodreads on May 30, 2014
Read my reviews on The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking #1), The Ask and The Answer (Chaos Walking #2) and Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking #3)
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