Product Description
This is a collection of stories, a libretto, essays and sketches about knife-fights, a stone sphinx in Paris, a painter in Venice, an opera libretto which re-invents Miranda and Caliban and essays that discuss, among other things, fairy tales and Russell Hoban's own childhood in America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must for those who wish to know more about Russell Hoban
Like most of Hoban's other work, this book is both out of print and very hard to find even by the usual methods of obtaining used books.A real pitty given that 'Moment' is a unique entry in Hoban's collective output. Putting several short stories, a liberetto and several essays all under onecover, 'Moment' works like an overview.While each of his books seems tostress a particular theme that has gotten under his skin for thatparticular outing, 'Moment' is the whole idea of Hoban.The short storiesare representative of most of his adult writing, often showing how certainthought patterns evolved into his longer works, while the essays, which arepassionately written, really put you inside Mr. Hoban's head and are oftenof historical and biographical interest (as well as simply beingfascinating to read).After reading 'Moment', I find that it an importantcompanion piece to his other work, and am greatly dissapointed that it isso hard to acquire.To make up for this however, Indiana press will bepublishing parts of 'Moment' in the Hoban Omnibus due Dec 99. ... Read more

Product Description
So begins the story of a tin father and son who dance under a Christmas tree until they break the ancient clockwork rules and are themselves broken. Thrown away, then rescued from a dustbin and repaired by a tramp, they set out on a dangerous quest for a family and a place of their own. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Mouse and His Child
This book is very good. Once you start you will want to read more. It is a well written story. Make sure you read it when you have a lot of time because once you start reading, you will not want to put it down. ... Read more

Product Description
Irving Goodman, self-confessed dirty old man, is 83 years old and has just fallen in love. Unfortunately, Justine Trimble, star of 1950s cowboy B-movies, has been dead for 47 years. He saw her first in Last Stage to El Paso, a lowlife black-and-white Western, and has been unable to think of anything else since. Desperate, Goodman invokes the help of his old friend, Istvan Fallock, to see if they can't somehow coax a videotape to yield the 25-year-old Justine. So with a test tube, distillation of frog, a soupcon of primordial soup mixed with a suspension of disbelief, they attempt to summon her back to life; to their surprise and consternation, she materializes. As a reward for lust and hubris, Irving gets a lot more than the affection and attention he'd bargained for.

Thus begins an amazing tale of murder and mayhem in contemporary London, where sexy vampire cowgirls run amok, chased by men old enough to know better. Russell Hoban is in top form with his much-anticipated latest novel. As the British Sunday Telegraph says, "I've often thought of Russell Hoban as a sentimental Samuel Beckett for people who would rather Vladimir and Estragon just did something while waiting for Godot not to show up. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Wry humor
In this whacky novel, three senior citizens fall in love with Justine Trimble, a deceased star of 1950's B-westerns.The oldest hatches a plan to bring her back to life.He enlists the services of a somewhat younger friend who gives life to particles that are separated from videotape and soaked in a "suspension of disbelief" before being electrically charged.Justine comes to life but in black and white (what do you expect from a 1950's actress?); she needs to drink blood before she exists in color, and at that point she becomes quite amorous, exhausting the poor old guys who fell for her.Obviously, you don't want to take this story too seriously.The cantankerous characters and their relationships with each other and with Justine are at the heart of the novel.The story is told with wry humor and grace as the aging Hoban takes a lighthearted look at the desires and foibles of the elderly.

An old favorite's doomed grasp at new life
In Linger Awhile, 83 year old novel writer Russell Hoban revives a favorite character from an old book, who is then killed almost offhandedly.Also, in Linger Awhile, 83 year old TV writer Irv Goodman revives a favorite character from an old movie, who is then killed almost offhandedly.

Readers who enjoy Hoban's major works will appreciate his trademark sly puns, learned references, and hallucinogenic allusions.They will appreciate his eye for human relationships, and ponder the metaphorical meaning of the vampires who wreck the twilight lives of the circle of friends at the heart of the story.Just as Vonnegut's readers never tired of even the lesser adventures of Mr. Rosewater, Hoban's will not want to miss Istvan Fallok's brush with undeath.This is not, however, a good point of entry into Hoban's body of work.

Readers interested in a genre work of vampire science fiction should look elswehere.This is not that.It is a short and humorous meditation on age and aspiration, friendship and betrayal, wrapped implausibly in the plot of "Weird Science."

I lingered awhile, then I was gone
Hoban's attempt at science fiction-fantasy-horror throws every claptrap device, including the kitchen sink, old horny men, vampires, a western movie starlet, videotape, an idiot detective, and a restaurant with food that appeases bloodsuckers into a very short book which, save for some clever character exchanges, is a mess. Make that a messy mess. The idea of taking the story from different characters' points of view is overused and underwhelming. I can accept a ridiculous plot that asks the reader to leave one's brain on the coffee table, but come on---this is so implausible, the conceit so incredible that not only is this tale hard to swallow, it's impossible to chew, let alone digest. Very short, very unremarkable, very not worth your time.

Elijah spake
Irving Goldman, who's old enough to know better but too young to resist, falls in love. The lady of his desires is a 1950s Western film actress Justine Trimble. She's also dead. Neither of these impairments stops Goldman, who has talented friends. With a bit of applied science, Goldman feels, Justine can be "resurrected" from her film images. He has a video - in fact, he has several. Carting his collection to his technical friend Istvan Fallok, Goldman panders to Istvan's pride in his technical skills. Urging him to "Reconstitute the woman I love", Goldman leaves the video and awaits results.

Hoban's mastery of innovation and plot twists is fully displayed in this bizarre tale. Nearly every character is at or past retirement age. The scenes play with each character confronted with the reality of the calendar's dictates. Goodman is within a couple of years of Hoban himself, and there are certain to be comments about Hoban trying to fulfill impossible dreams himself. Perhaps so, but if such fantasies keep Hoban writing, and producing works of such quality, let's root for geriatric dreams.

Justine, of course, dutifully appears, and launches Fallok and his circle of friends on an outlandish enterprise. Emerging from the digitised image of a half-century old Western, she lacks colour. A monochrome human, even a lovely one, lacks certain appeal. There's only one means to bring colour to her cheeks - and the rest of her. Fallok makes the first donation, but Justine needs frequent topping up. After an unexpected opening scene, Justine hits the street for needed sustenance. The result brings the attention of the police. Inspector Hunter is a resourceful copper, but the challenges of this case are beyond his ken. There's nothing in the manual nor his experience that provides any insight to solving the case.

One thing about Justine, she's no 1950s wallflower. She knows what she needs and how to get it. However, she's conscious of who she is and realises she's out of place as well as time. Her thoughts on being alive again bring mixed emotions and self-reflection. How long can she last? What should she make of her new "life"? Can it mean anything? Hoban is deft in dealing with this character. The only thing unreal about her is her current situation. It's a difficult task to undertake, but Hoban pulls it off wonderfully. He not only creates excellent characters, but rings in more than one cultural icon. "If we build it, she will come" incorporates the wonderful line from Kinsella's "Shoeless Joe". Hoban's science is effective, and we are even given the recipe for the "primordial soup". Start with twenty gallons of chicken noodle and add some Oxo cubes. The toad is unexplained, but any biologist can fill you in. He further ties in the Biblical Prophet Elijah whose cameo appearance will have you howling. "Some of my best friends are goyim". Mine, too. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada] ... Read more

Product Description
A diehard heavy-metal fan, Jim Hedgehog buys a cassette, Lonesome Tower, from the mysterious Mr. Strange, and the unusual tune takes Jim on an odyssey to a haunted castle with a real lonesome tower. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Funney Book
Jim Hedgehog is a heavy metal fan, but his mum likes mellower kinds of music, so when Jim buys a tape with the latest heavy metal music on it, his mum buys him a recorder and teaches him to play it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Charming, but not a Frances book
After reading the first review I thought I had found an elusive and obscure Frances book.The story and illustrations are sincere and timeless, but this is the tale of Walter and Charlotte possum, NOT sweet Frances badger!

This book teaches children to use their imaginations!
This children's book teaches children (and adults) to use their imaginations to create their own fun and avoid boredom.Frances's parent teaches him to carry a stone around in his pocket so that when he is boredwith "nothing to do," he can rub the stone and concentrate untilhe has an idea of something fun to do.Frances finds that this idea worksfor him and teaches the technique to his little sister.

In these daysof constant stimulation via video games, television, music, and othermedia, children still find themselves "bored."This book remindsthem that their imaginations are the best tools for life.It also teachesthem self-reliance--rather than dependence upon adults for solutions totheir problems.

I became acquainted with this book in 1969 afterdiscovering it in one of my sisters' rooms. I read it and presented thestory to my high school speech class for a grade. It was quite a hit withmy classmates and I received an A on my speech.It's well worth reading,if you can find it, and deserves a reprint for this generation of"bored" children and adults. ... Read more

Product Description
John likes to draw monsters - his monsters are in a class of their own. But when he starts to draw the biggest one ever, his worried parents seek advice from the eminent Dr Plunger. Russell Hoban and Quentin Blake won the Whitbread Award for "How Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great!
My kids thoroughly enjoyed this book. i think all parents should purchase this item and use frequently. Their kids will never again be afraid of monsters. They will see that inside everything is kind and easy to draw forthat matter. ... Read more

Product Description
One stormy night the sea-thing child, a draggled heap of scales and feathers, is flung up on the beach. Afraid of the wild waves and the storm skies, he meets a fiddler crab with no bow and together they avoid facing their fears. Finally, though, he finds his star, his courage and his ocean self. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not a book for kids
Lyrical, yes, and nicely illustrated, but cryptic, tortured and interminable, this is no book to buy for kids.

I'm not sure whether much has been lost in the abridgement, but this reads like a junior version of a certain type of tedious French novella which makes you want to put it down and get an outdoorsy hobby.

Russell Hoban, you sly devil...
While Hoban's two other entries that resemble this one (Marzipan Pig, La Corona) are both out of print, the good folks at Candlewick press have republished this beautiful book, complete with new illustrations.

It may be debated by some that the old edition of this book, sparsely decorated with b&w sketches perhaps captured the spirit of the story more accurately, however Benson's illustrations are powerful and not at all inappropriate.

As to the story, Hoban has again snuck his metaphysical/omni-spiritual grasp of consciousness into this little volume, but being the subvertist he is, the children he wrote this for will no doubt understand it.

Replete with quasi poetry and moving allegory, 'Sea-Thing' is about a small diving sea-bird child who was blown out of his nest, and his great fear of the wind,the ocean and the storm. There are cryptic messages, filled with emotion:

"...but what if I have no music in me?"

"Need must find," said the sea-thing child.

"Find what?" said the crab.

"Whatever there is," said the sea-thing child.

As with much by Hoban, there is too much that could be said, but without doubt this little book speaks volumes about the fear of being and becoming--seemingly not at all distant from his adultwork. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Now is the only time there is... to read this.
This was the last book I remember my granny giving me before her untimely death. I was just turned six years old. Fifteen years later, my copy is somewhat well-read, creased, dog-eared and tattered. I wouldn't part withit. The pictures - I forget who the artist is - glow. They are exquisitelydetailed, rich, deep, and haunting; an exact and perfect complement to theprose. It is a magical book; one that should be back in print AT ONCE andNOW. Elegant prose; exquisite turn of language. Even after so long quotesroll around my mouth like the finest wine - and ever since then I have beenstriving to see between the dots; to step through the window between theclock's striking one to twelve.

La Corona and the Tin Frog is a verybeautiful book. It brings together the discordant harmonies of the shortstories with fluent elegance and a truly mature style; imparts magic to thecosy world of a child's nursery. The artist who illustrated my copy trulycaptured the mood and magic of the book; so much that as a tiny child I wasterrified, enthralled and entranced all at once. It is one of the books Iwould never be without - I may purchase a less battered copy in time, but Ishall always cherish and treasure the last book my granny bought me. Buythis for your children where you see a copy. Especially if the cover showsa cigar-box, a beautiful woman in a red dress, a green tin frog, and awooden incense-burner shaped like a night watchman. That copy is a work ofart!

Not to be missed by anyone! (no matter how old)
At age 27, one feels a bit odd reviewing a picture book, but fans of Hoban will be forced to throw all preconceptions about literature aside and go wherever the man's wanderings lead.In this case, he's snuck all hisbrilliance into what might appear as a harmless picture book abouttoys--yes very quickly all the familiar themes from Mouse and his Childbegin to show up, and quite soon the story becomes almost mythical, witheverything centering around that magic moment at precisely midnight, beforethe bells of the old clock have rung.The story is at first fragmentarybut then these fragments join together, the multiple stories intertwining. In some ways, the book is really quite odd, because while the clock isticking, the world of these toys is quite dead, spent either deep inthought/longing or in total inactivity, but when time has stopped (or thatinstant before midnight) that the toys can persue their dreams.Unlikemyths where the 'real world' is born out of a timelesss age, the toys worldcomes into existance when time stops.The entire book is wonderful and ifit were actually available I would purchase it without hesitation.As itstands, pray that your library has a copy.A book for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
"A tale of sweets and love . . . And each improbable episode more wonderful, and more romantic."--The New York Times Book Review. Black-and-white illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The most amazing children's book ever
I bought this book for a quarter at a tag sale for my son.Although he's not yet old enough to be interested in it, I immediately fell in love.It is beautifully written, more of a poem than a story. Its just wonderful, there really is no other word.I am sure I will read it over and over (although for the price of it offered here, I will not be buying it for friends and relatives, as planned when I got online tonight).

A beautiful poem in the form of a children's story
I can say without exaggeration that this book changed my life. I read it over 15 years ago when I was studying Hoban as a literature student and was stuck by the bitter thread of lonliness that runs through much of Hoban's writing. I think it finds its most perfect and certainly its most concentrated expression in this work. Yes, this is a children's story and my children love it (although not as much as, say, ACE Dragon) but it is also so much more. When I first met my wife ten years ago I gave her a copy of this book. Actually, we had been going out for a month or two and she called me that day to say we shouldn't see any more of each other. She thought our relationship might have a negative impact on her career as we were work colleagues at the time. I wandered into a bookstore at lunchtime and chanced upon a copy of Marzipan Pig which I bought and left with her. Three days later she called me back to say she had made a mistake. Thus I avoided the fate of the clock in this story. Thank you Mr Hoban, many thanks indeed.

edible love
Love......................Love.................................... the owl looked with powerful intent,Love............. the neon taxi lamp was the most beautiful thing to be everwho, whoed by owl.
This book is the sweetest childrens story an adult will ever read.Our passionless moments in life are all in this splendid book. Something one can digest with ones family. ... Read more

Product Description
In a terrifying dream-journey John struggles through jungle undergrowth, travelling through fierce rapids and exploring a mystery passage before he discovers a courtyard guarded by a stone winged serpent. There John meets another John, his real self, and realizes that he is only part of the dream. ... Read more

Product Description
The arrival of her new baby sister makes Frances feel left out, but she quickly realizes that her feelings are wrong and that, in fact, there are many advantages in being the firstborn child. ... Read more

Product Description
An acclaimed, moving story about a child undergoing a major operation facing his fear and triumphing. Lying in his hospital bed, Jim worries about being put to sleep before his operation. What if the doctors send him somewhere that he can't find his way back from? Nurse Bami says his finder will come looking for him. Everyone has their own finder; Jim just has to find his. And deep in his dreams, he does: a lion. But when the time comes, will Jim's lion be able to find him and bring him safely home? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Don't Run Stone
A really beautiful book!Excellent story with magnificent illustrations.The story has a great and lovely message which can be easily interpreted and enjoyed by children and adults.After hearing the story, my first and second graders were scouring the schoolyard for the perfect stone. ... Read more

Product Description
Jim Frog feels a little low in the morning, but by evening he decides it hasn't been such a bad day after all. ... Read more