Seanan McGuire is one of my favorite authors. She excels in all genres of fantasy/paranormal. Moreover, she knows how to pull emotions out of her readers. Her honesty shines through.

The Proper Thing is an eclectic, interesting, relatable mix of stories. One of my favorites is Now Rest, My Dear. As a child, I found solace in reading and valued the libraries where I found so many new worlds, This story moved me.

Fantasy lovers, I recommend giving this book a try.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to read this ARC.

Seanan McGuire moves in mysterious ways. Her mind is a thing of wonder and beauty, and I kind of want to examine it under the microscope, (which, given the subject matter she sometimes writes, she should not consider that to be macabre, at all—plus, I’m joking).

I had recently finished the short story anthology “Wink”, edited by Henry Herz, when I saw Ms. McGuire’s book come available on NetGalley. Her story in “Wink” was disturbing to the max, but I still read it with horrified fascination and wanted to see where she’d go next.

This anthology stacks UP. It’s so, so good. Yeah, there were a couple of tales in here that didn’t grab me as much, but by far the majority of them were amazing. Where does she come up with this stuff??

The author’s forewords about each story are so informative, and I enjoyed the background knowledge as I dove into the tales.

Here are my very favorites:

“Now Rest, My Dear” - Seanan perfectly captures the magical comfort and peace a library can give, and blessed is the child who grows up cherishing the library as a safe haven, where those who enter can lose themselves in fantastical new worlds, until they are jarred abruptly back to reality by the clock nearing 5pm (or 6, or even 9pm). This story takes me right back to my own childhood, where my siblings and I were taken to the library on a regular basis, where my mother had to limit each of us to ten books, probably because we couldn’t physically carry more than that on our own, and/or because she didn’t want us losing them and accruing fines. We have since grown up to adore books, and I am truly grateful for it.

“In the Land of Rainbows and Ash” - This one got me right in the feels. It really matters who or what you encounter first when you step through that magical doorway. Best be careful.

“Phantoms of the Midway” - I did not grow up roaming the carnivals. We had Cedar Point forty-five minutes away (Cleveland, baby), and it was too expensive to go to except maybe every other year. My parents didn’t want us going on rides that were iffy, and they considered most carnival rides to be iffy.
However, in this story, the author really makes you feel what it would be like to be a child of the carnival. The sights, the smells, the sounds, the boundaries, the edges where the lights don’t quite reach. I think we all remember what it’s like to be in that awkward space where you’re not a child anymore, but you’re not quite an adult, either—and you’re just itching to break some of those inexplicable-to-you rules that are beginning to chafe.

“Under the Sea of Stars” - Oh my gosh, I adored this one. All I will say is that it’s about the Bolton Strid in England, and it is absolutely a must-read.

“What Everyone Knows” - This is a fascinating take on monsters of the embiggened variety. Yes, that’s the technical term. I personally wouldn’t do what the MC did, but I was enthralled reading about it.

“Sweet as Sugar Candy” - A very few of us do one thing and do it very well. We don’t need to be the leaders, but we do need to be left alone.

“Pedestal” - Speaking of needing to be left alone…

And finally, “The Proper Thing” itself. This is a longer tale, and it takes you places you never thought you would go. It delves into what it means to be human, and it’s a perfect way to end the anthology.

There are many more stories, and once you finish this book, you will see that my favorites tend to be the fairytales, myths and the fantastical come to life, rather than the ones set more in the real world, although I do enjoy the latter from time to time. This anthology is a good mix of both sets, and I highly encourage everyone to pick up a copy when it becomes available (very soon!) on April 30th.

Thank you to NetGalley, Subterranean Press and the inimitable Ms. McGuire for the advance copy for me to feast upon early. All opinions are my own.

"From the end of the world to the beginning, with a nice charcuterie plate to sustain us on the way, it's time for another journey through the eccentric, eclectic short fiction of Seanan McGuire. From dangerous holidays to the beauty of the library, from the power of cheese to the power of love, this volume will take you from the past to the future, sometimes on the same page. Learn about the insecurities of the superheroic world, and how hard some people will work to survive the end of absolutely everything. Discover what everyone knows, and watch what happens when the cultural foundations are pulled from under your favorite cuisine. See what people will do when all else is lost, and watch what happens on the day the music dies. And when all that is through, visit our magical cheese shop for something truly delicious, impossible and unique. We have a little something for everyone in our box of delights. Don't be afraid - just reach in, and choose a treat to improve and enhance your day. We've been waiting for another trip to the store on the corner, where they sell Wensleydale and wishes side by side. Come along now, let's go."

Another stunning edition from Subterranean Press that also adds to Seanan McGuire's copious output. She has to support those cats somehow!