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ronmccutchan's review against another edition
5.0
Back in the early, early days of urban fantasy, there were Terri Windling's Borderland anthologies . . . which begat a few amazing full-length novels by contributors Emma Bull and Will Shetterly. (Emma had already broken ground for the new genre with [b:War for the Oaks|771527|War for the Oaks|Emma Bull|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1316130728l/771527._SY75_.jpg|144029]. In the early 90s, I was reading a lot of fantasy--even attended Boskone for a couple of years (one of which when Emma and Will were GoHs). And I bought and devoured [b:Finder|930095|Finder|Emma Bull|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1462827205l/930095._SY75_.jpg|915097]. A quarter century later, in a fit of nostalgia and lack of a current read, I pulled the book from my shelf (once again, regretting the absence of any new novels by Bull since [b:Territory|70581|Territory|Emma Bull|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1475992815l/70581._SY75_.jpg|68392]) and began reading. Did it all come flooding back--no (though I did remember Orient and Wolf Boy--though the latter more because he was a return player from the other Borderland books) ... which was all to the good because I got to savor the full story and characters anew. I need to start selectively rereading those old favorites more frequently!
vylotte's review against another edition
5.0
My very favorite shared universe, about a city on the blurred edge of earth and faerie, and the people who find their way there. One of many anthologies and stand-alone novels.
iguana_mama's review against another edition
5.0
Posted at Shelf Inflicted
Bordertown is a city between the Human and Fae worlds. While elven magic does not work in the human world and technology does not work in the Elflands, both work in Bordertown inconsistently and with interesting effects. Humans, elves, and halflings, troubled folks who are running away from their pasts, or have trouble fitting in anywhere else, inhabit the city of Bordertown.
Orient is a human with the special ability to find missing things and people. His best friend is Tick-Tick, a highborn elf estranged from her family, and ace mechanic. Detective Sunny Rico enlists Orient’s help to find a killer, which leads them to a dangerous drug purported to change humans into elves. Meanwhile, a mysterious illness is endangering the elven population.
I read this book for the first time in 1995. Though I have forgotten a lot of details over the years, I remember how it broke my heart. Little did I know that just six months later, I would suffer the same fate as Orient.
Reading this book a second time brought back a lot of painful and wonderful memories of my close friend and made me all weepy. This story is riveting, fast-paced, magical, and heartbreaking.
Not only is this a satisfying mystery and Borderlands a rich and vibrant city, it is a thoughtful and moving exploration of friendship, family, loss, grief, coming to terms with one’s past, and going forward. It broke me and stitched me back together.
Warmly recommended to anyone who enjoys deeply character-driven, devastating, and hopeful urban fantasy.
Bordertown is a city between the Human and Fae worlds. While elven magic does not work in the human world and technology does not work in the Elflands, both work in Bordertown inconsistently and with interesting effects. Humans, elves, and halflings, troubled folks who are running away from their pasts, or have trouble fitting in anywhere else, inhabit the city of Bordertown.
Orient is a human with the special ability to find missing things and people. His best friend is Tick-Tick, a highborn elf estranged from her family, and ace mechanic. Detective Sunny Rico enlists Orient’s help to find a killer, which leads them to a dangerous drug purported to change humans into elves. Meanwhile, a mysterious illness is endangering the elven population.
I read this book for the first time in 1995. Though I have forgotten a lot of details over the years, I remember how it broke my heart. Little did I know that just six months later, I would suffer the same fate as Orient.
Reading this book a second time brought back a lot of painful and wonderful memories of my close friend and made me all weepy. This story is riveting, fast-paced, magical, and heartbreaking.
Not only is this a satisfying mystery and Borderlands a rich and vibrant city, it is a thoughtful and moving exploration of friendship, family, loss, grief, coming to terms with one’s past, and going forward. It broke me and stitched me back together.
Warmly recommended to anyone who enjoys deeply character-driven, devastating, and hopeful urban fantasy.
lizardskin's review against another edition
4.0
This was another random pull-off-the-shelves book from my library. Usually urban fantasy isn't really my thing, but this was pretty great. I didn't realize it was part of a series until I looked it up on Goodreads, but it isn't the kind of story that requires prior knowledge. Having said that, I'll probably look up some of the other books, because it was an enjoyable read.
amandaquotidianbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Another great read by Bull! Excellent writing and immersive world building. This turned into a crime/mystery quickly that was a lot of fun. I liked the characters, even though Ticker at times had stilted dialogue. I look forward to reading more exceptional urban fantasy by Bull!
johannah's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting story - but not enough time spent developing the characters and the places, I never really felt like I was submerged in the book.
kelseareads's review against another edition
4.0
Elves and punks and urban fantasy landscapes just speaks to me tbh so I was probably going to love this book from the get-go. I would have finished this immediately except I was a terrible person and snuck a peek ahead and then put off reading it because I'm a huge freakin' wimp.
Spoiler-free warning: this book is sad. Like sad-to-the-core sad. In a mostly good way.
I love Emma Bull's ability to create a fully-realized world, and how accessible it was. Despite the very supernatural situation, a lot of it was really relatable, especially when looking at the young runaways so desperate for a better life, where they're not who they've been, they'll try anything. In my experience, a lot of authors basing books in imagined worlds spend so much time elaborating on their world that they tend to forget their characters. Emma Bull found a nice balance, in my opinion, and I'm still having a lot of Feelings about Tick-Tick and Orient's friendship, one of those you'll recognize if you've experienced it. That kind of platonic love is very special, and unfortunately often shafted aside for the sake of romance.
I found the plot itself a little straightforward and a little cliche, as most of it I could have predicted from the get-go, but I'm the kind of person who treasures better developed characters over better developed plot, so it didn't concern me too much. Also, fantasy-punk hybrid city, so. Worth it.
Spoiler-free warning: this book is sad. Like sad-to-the-core sad. In a mostly good way.
I love Emma Bull's ability to create a fully-realized world, and how accessible it was. Despite the very supernatural situation, a lot of it was really relatable, especially when looking at the young runaways so desperate for a better life, where they're not who they've been, they'll try anything. In my experience, a lot of authors basing books in imagined worlds spend so much time elaborating on their world that they tend to forget their characters. Emma Bull found a nice balance, in my opinion, and I'm still having a lot of Feelings about Tick-Tick and Orient's friendship, one of those you'll recognize if you've experienced it. That kind of platonic love is very special, and unfortunately often shafted aside for the sake of romance.
I found the plot itself a little straightforward and a little cliche, as most of it I could have predicted from the get-go, but I'm the kind of person who treasures better developed characters over better developed plot, so it didn't concern me too much. Also, fantasy-punk hybrid city, so. Worth it.
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