I've been a big fan of Nicholas Gray ever since I first borrowed 'Overhills to Fabulon'. I think that Grimbold's Other World was one of the most magical books I've read, and this is including Nicholas Gray's other books. I totally agree that this author should be reprinted and considering the popularity of the Harry Potter series, I can't understand why any publishing company doesn't undertake this sensible option.

My Dad has told to sit down and prattle on about Grimbold and Muffler in the hope that the publishers will put Nicholas Stuart Gray books back into print again.

Dad read us Grimbold's Other World,and this is what I think of it:

Muffler,brought up by farmers, meets Grimbold the cat, who takes the boy into the Night World, where cats grow enormous and dogs quiver like mice,and where Sable,the merciless sorcerer, lives in Red Tower, with his mischeivous son, Gareth. Gareth always defys his father,and gets into rather serious trouble, but Muffler and Grimbold help him.

Muffler also meets the Hob,who lives in the barn and is the luck of the farm,and Madam Nettleweb, Sable's scatty sister.

This is a fabulous book,full of magic and mystery. I recommend it for any age from 7 and upwards.

One of my favourite books ever, this humorous and quirky collection of short stories about one boy and his relationship with the world of faery is written with intelligence and wit. Grimbold is a large black cat who guides Muffler, the foundling child raised by farmers, on many midnight adventures through the "night world", where everything becomes, physically, what it is spiritually, or mentally. Cats are huge, fearsome and fast, and dogs are small, cringing things full of fear. (Great for cat people: I felt very vindicated.) I highly recommend it for bedtime reading, as it is harmless and not frightening at all, and each chapter can be read on its own. Grimbold is full of dry, sarcastic humor, and Muffler is an endearing character for children and parents alike.

Nicholas Stuart Gray is a very talented, underappreciated artist who wrote other children's fantasy fiction. Notably, he wrote a story called "Seventh Swan", about the last of the ! "swan prince" brothers from the fairy tale. The premise of the novel is, what happened to the poor prince who was left with one swan's wing at the end of the story?

As a hard-core sci-fi reader I refuse to read Sword and Sourcery novels. But this little book has opened my eyes. Full of likable, fun characters that you can identify with, this book leads you on quests and through mysteries. You will meet witches, dragons, kings and princes and, of course, cats!

Unfortunately all 8 of Mr. Gray's books are out of print. I have ordered the other (7) through Amazon, but in the meantime, I would happily swap this book for any other of Mr. Gray's. The swap can be permanent or temporary, as you like. Thank you. -John

I had a hard time getting into _The Seventh Swan_ at first; I think Gray's writing style was the culprit. He jumps between points-of-view constantly, so it's hard to tell who's thinking what. After I got used to that, though, I found a moving story in this book.

Alasdair is the seventh swan-brother from the famous fairy tale, left with a swan's wing instead of one of his arms because his sister was unable to finish that last shirt in time. He is a young Scottish lord in this novel, incredibly handsome but shrouded in self-pity and the immaturity that comes from having such a strange "childhood". Since he lacks his sword-arm, he has a bodyguard, Ewen, a gruff mercenary who is both more kind and more haunted than he seems.

Alasdair also has a sweetheart, Fenella, who finds out about what ails him--and being an intrepid young lady, sets out immediately to find the magic to give him back his arm! But dangers await, and many dumb decisions are made by various characters, and misadventures ensue. We come to care for all of the characters. Although I would have preferred a different ending to the story, _The Seventh Swan_ was worth reading.

Philip Pullman recently said that the big,important themes are dealt with in childrens' books. This proves him right. Love and attraction, keeping and breaking faith, fear and courage, and learning to live with, but not be bound by, your limitations, are among the themes of this magnificent story that redeems the often-cutesified term 'magical' and reminds us that faery is a dangerous place. I've read this book over and over again and every time it moves me to tears. If you can handle grown-up magic and real emotions, you must read it.

Did you ever wonder what happened AFTER some of the fairy tales you've read? If you've read the story this answers--or even if you haven't!--this will be worth your time to read and enjoy.

I loved _The_Seventh_Swan_. Even though I've read it over and over, I always react to it with wonder and hope and love and sorrow. I think you will too. Every time I glance into it I get drawn into rereading the whole tale, and I am very glad to have found it. [I try to collect the tales in this publisher's series, because I've enjoyed several of them.]

You may be surprised by this fairy tale. I highly recommend it, from the characters to the clever insights to the witty comments. Unlike most traditional tales, the characters have names and personalities; by the time the pipe plays you will know them. I suspect you will cherish them.

I invite you into the world of fairy tales - come, step inside, be breathless with wonder. =smile=

Also, to pique your interest in Gaelic, the author includes a glossary of the phrases he used at the book's end. It's made me realize that I too could learn Gaelic; some of the endearments are my favorite phrases.

I read The Apple Stone when I was a child & am sorry to learn it (and apparently all Nicholas Stuart Gray's other novels, which I also read) are out of print. I remember his books as sophisticated fantasies, playing with the conventions of fairytale with a sardonic sense of humour and an underlying darkness which has never ceased to haunt me (notably in this novel the transmogrification of an old feather boa into Quetzalcoatl, the winged serpent...)Somebody please reprint him!

As with the London reviewer, I too read Mr. Gray's books as a child, and have also never forgotten them. I am always tempted to steal them from the library so as to always be able to read them. The Apple Stone was just one of many wonderful books. I have hoped that with the success of the Harry Potter books, some publisher would realize that this is a PERFECT time to reprint Grimbold's Other World, The Apple Stone, and many other wonderful tales. I'm waiting!