The Midnight Circus

2021 Locus Award FinalistIn the newest volume of her World Fantasy Award-winning short story collections, beloved author Jane Yolen’s dark side has fully emerged. Her vivid, startling, and thrilling tales and poems of the supernatural—from icy-hearted witches to sometimes-innocent shapeshifters—reveal a classic storyteller at the height of her powers.“Look this way, look that; blazing her consummate imagination against the shadows of human sorrow, Jane Yolen has done it again.”—Gregory Maguire, author of WickedJane Yolen is the Hans Christian Andersen of America” —The New York TimesWelcome to the Midnight Circus—and watch your step. The dark imaginings of fantasy icon Jane Yolen are not for the faint of heart. In these sixteen brilliantly unnerving tales and poems, Central Park becomes a carnival where you can—but probably shouldn’t—transform into a wild beast. The Red Sea will be deadly to cross due to a plague of voracious angels. Meanwhile, the South Pole is no place for even a good man, regardless of whether he is living or dead.Wicked, solemn, and chilling, the circus is ready for your visit—just don't arrive late.Other Jane Yolen short story collections in this seriesThe Emerald Circus: 2018 World Fantasy Award winnerHow to Fracture a Fairy Tale: 2019 Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Award

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-In 16 well-crafted stories, Yolen reveals the dark underside of her imagination, delving with surgical precision into horror, suspense, and the psychological fabric of nightmare. Culled from her prolific publication history, these tales-most of which draw on European Jewish, Russian, or Scottish folklore-find fresh life in this collection, each accompanied by an original poem and notes providing additional context. This book showcases Yolen's greatest strength-her marriage of fantasy and history, especially through the lens of folklore. In "The Snatcher," Yolen entwines her own family's story with a horrific figure from Jewish history, reimagined as a dark harbinger of conscription. "Requiem Antarctica" reimagines Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic expedition through the lens of vampirism, and "Names" weaves together the horrors of anorexia and the Holocaust. The collection spans science fiction, mythology, and fairy tale, and despite its often gory imagery, remains imbued with Yolen's characteristic dry wit. Characters are rarely described physically. VERDICT An engrossing collection that will linger in readers' minds long after reading, and a perfect (re)introduction to Yolen's rich well of fantasy horror. For fans of Neil Gaiman, Kelly Link, and Leigh Bardugo.-Molly Saunders, Manatee County P.L., Bradenton, FLα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Catherynne M. Valente, author of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own

“Jane Yolen is, simply, a legend. The powerful fairy godmother of every writer working in mythic fantasy today. In these dark and wonderful stories, that legend proves itself true over and over again, a sure hand pulling aside black and gauzy curtains to reveal a blaze of genius that will light up all the secret places of your heart.”

Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked

“Look this way, look that; blazing her consummate imagination against the shadows of human sorrow, Jane Yolen has done it again. She has produced a set of spectacles designed to keep us awake in the darkness. The Midnight Circus delights, confounds, and challenges. We read all the night long; we are not the same come dawn.”

Meagan Spooner, author of Hunted

“The Midnight Circus sings with magic, darkness, and wonder--perfect for anyone who has ever loved a fairy tale. Thrilling and chilling all at once, this collection of stories will keep you riveted long after your bedtime, no matter your age. This is exactly the kind of dark, lovely book to keep close to one's heart while facing down darkness in the wider world.”

just glimpses of the darkness of human nature. Some stories, like

“Little Red” endures hinted-at torments because the alternative of returning home to her grandmother is somehow worse. But, as promised, there’s very little blood in these pages

Kirkus

“An Infestation of Angels” is a retelling of the book of Exodus. And if the stories themselves somehow aren’t enough, each is accompanied by a poem that extends its themes into evocative verse. Haunting stories from a modern master.”

Publishers Weekly

“Nebula Award winner Yolen follows How to Fracture a Fairy Tale with another, slightly more sinister collection of delightfully dark fairy tales. Each of the 16 stories is coupled with a companion poem and fascinating story notes that allow readers to delve into Yolen’s magical worlds . . . Yolen’s many fans will be thrilled to find her largely true to form. This collection is a gift for fairy tale lovers.”

Susan Vaught, author of Trigger and Freaks Like Us

“Each deliciously spooky tale in Jane Yolen’s Midnight Circus draws readers into fully realized worlds with strong characters who reflect the strengths―and the darkness―in all of us. She mixes storytelling styles to excellent effect, from disturbing folklore to futuristic shapeshifting, grounding them in history and legend, so they are at once familiar and utterly, terrifyingly alien. I love Jane’s storytelling EVEN WHEN IT GIVES ME NIGHTMARES. These short pieces are can’t-put-down, and they will absolutely make you shiver like someone is walking across your grave.”

Sarah Beth Durst, author of Race the Sands

“Jane Yolen's stories are pure magic! They draw you in, beguile your senses, and paint the world in richer hues than you've ever seen. Her tales will haunt you in the very best way. I loved every word!”

Ash & Books

“5/5 stars. A wonderful collection of short stories! Each one is its own self-contained story that is just perfection.”

Fantastically Bookish

“Overall, this is a wonderful collection of tales that is perfect for sitting around the campfire or for a fun fall or winter read (definitely Halloween worthy)!”

The Fantasy Hive

“The Midnight Circus explores an unexpected aspect of a beloved author and reminds us why Yolen’s writing means so much to us . . . essential reading for all fans of Yolen’s work, especially those who are less familiar with the darker side of her imagination.”

YA Lit Ramblings

“These stories chilled me to the bone, and I loved every minute!”

Sloth Reads

“Jane Yolen is the queen of the fairy tale genre and this collection of her previously published stories had everything I have come to expect from a master storyteller.”

Haunted by Deadlines

“Each story is a brilliant fairy tale with a rhyme and reason.”

Paperblog Praise for the Jane Yolen Classic Fantasy anthology series On 2018 World Fantasy Award winner The Emerald Circus [STARRED REVIEW]

“Every story is excellent. I didn't want to stop reading.”

Library Journal [STARRED REVIEW]

“These delightful retellings of favorite stories will captivate newcomers and fans of Yolen as she once again delivers the magic, humor, and lovely prose that has attracted readers for years.”

School Library Journal

“These highly entertaining retellings are perfect for teens fans of fairy tales and classic literature, though they are easily enjoyed without any background knowledge.”

Patricia A. McKillip, author of the Riddle-Master trilogy On 2019 Anne Izard Storytelling Award Winner How to Fracture a Fairy Tale

“From Snow Queen to spaceship, The Emerald Circus is a delight.”

Patricia C. Wrede, author of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles

“This collection is Jane Yolen at her best, telling stories you’ve never seen before but have known all your life, and stories as familiar as your left hand that you barely recognize, spun from shadows and moonlight and breathed through silvered glass.”

Margo Kelly, author of Unlocked

“Yolen takes well-known fairy tales and splits them apart, sometimes leaving them still quite familiar and other times shining a light from an unfamiliar angle to reveal new truths and possibilities”

Chanda Hahn, bestselling author of Reign

“A master storyteller at her best. I’ve been a fan of Jane Yolen and fractured fairytales for years and this collection doesn’t disappoint.”

Haunted by Deadliness

“As a whole, this collection of a career’s worth of successes is a celebration of an American author that is often times called a modern Hans Christian Andersen.”

Nonstop Reader

“A master writer with a prodigious oeuvre and these are some of her best dark stories.”

About the Author

Jane Yolen has been called the Hans Christian Andersen of America. She is the author of over three hundred and sixty five books, including children’s fiction, poetry, short stories, graphic novels, nonfiction, fantasy, and science fiction. Her publications include Owl Moon, The Devil’s Arithmetic, Briar Rose, Sister Emily’s Starship, and Sister Light, Sister Dark. Among her many honors are the Caldecott and Christopher Medals, multiple Nebula, World Fantasy, Mythopoeic, Golden Kite, and Jewish Book awards; as well as the World Fantasy Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Science Fiction Poetry Grand Master Award. Yolen is also a teacher of writing and a book reviewer. She lives in Western Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.Theodora Goss is the World Fantasy and Locus Award-winning author of the short story and poetry collections In the Forest of Forgetting, Songs for Ophelia, and Snow White Learns Witchcraft. She has been a finalist for the Nebula, Crawford, Seiun, and Mythopoeic Awards, as well as on the Tiptree Award Honor List. Her work has been translated into twelve languages. She teaches literature and writing at Boston University and in the Stonecoast MFA Program. Visit her at theodoragoss.com.New York Times bestselling author Alethea Kontis is a princess, storm chaser, and geek. Author of more than 20 books and 40 short stories, Kontis is the recipient of the Scribe and Garden State Teen Book Awards, and two-time winner of the Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award. She also narrates stories for multiple award-winning online magazines, contributes regular YA book reviews to NPR, and hosts Princess Alethea’s Traveling Sideshow. Find out more about Princess Alethea and her wonderful world at aletheakontis.com.

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