"Waiting for Gandalf" - Joanne Harris - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Mithalwen · 03-19-2005, 02:49 PM

I have discovered this disturbing little tale in the recently published in paperback collection of short stories, "Jigs and Reels", by Joanne Harris (author of Chocolat, Blackberry Wine, etc).

Has anyone else read it and started to wonder if they are in danger of taking things to seriously?

Estelyn Telcontar · 03-19-2005, 05:26 PM

Could you give some information about the book which contains the short story - and for those of us who don't have access to it, a brief summary of the contents? That would be helpful!

davem · 03-20-2005, 05:15 AM

If you go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...280773-1633402
& hold the cursor over the book image it will bring up a search option. Type in Gandalf & it will bring up all the pages of the story (only three at a time, so you have to keep going back, but you can read the whole story that way - can't cut & paste though, so you'll have to read it off the screen - which I haven't done yet).

Shelob · 03-20-2005, 10:43 AM

I tried your amazon suggestion davem, but it asked for me to either sign in or register. On behalf of those for whom this causes a problem (ie: me) I would ask again that someone be kind enough to summarize the tale here.

Many Thanks.

Firefoot · 03-20-2005, 10:46 AM

Also please a summary for those of us who don't have credit cards...

Mithalwen · 03-20-2005, 10:56 AM

Ooh v hard to summarise a short story and keep the flavour. It is the tale of a group of people who have being doing a fantasy roleplay for 30 years (dress up and act out kind) and what happens when some newbies don't take it seriously enough.

The Book is "Jigs and Reels", Author Joanne Harris . UK readers can get it for £3.97 at Tesco.....

Carrûn · 03-20-2005, 09:33 PM

A friend of mine showed me a copy of it, I must admit that it was a bit awkward of a read.

I think I do a pretty good job of keeping fantasy and reality apart, at least most of the time.

03-19-2005, 02:49 PM	#1
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,458	"Waiting for Gandalf" - Joanne Harris I have discovered this disturbing little tale in the recently published in paperback collection of short stories, "Jigs and Reels", by Joanne Harris (author of Chocolat, Blackberry Wine, etc). Has anyone else read it and started to wonder if they are in danger of taking things to seriously? __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

03-19-2005, 05:26 PM	#2
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Could you give some information about the book which contains the short story - and for those of us who don't have access to it, a brief summary of the contents? That would be helpful! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

03-20-2005, 05:15 AM	#3
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	If you go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...280773-1633402 & hold the cursor over the book image it will bring up a search option. Type in Gandalf & it will bring up all the pages of the story (only three at a time, so you have to keep going back, but you can read the whole story that way - can't cut & paste though, so you'll have to read it off the screen - which I haven't done yet). __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

03-20-2005, 10:43 AM	#4
Shelob Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: At the abysmal Abyss Mall. Posts: 276	I tried your amazon suggestion davem, but it asked for me to either sign in or register. On behalf of those for whom this causes a problem (ie: me) I would ask again that someone be kind enough to summarize the tale here. Many Thanks. __________________ A signature always reveals a man's character - and sometimes even his name ~Evan Esar. Pan for Everyone!

03-20-2005, 10:56 AM	#6
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,458	Ooh v hard to summarise a short story and keep the flavour. It is the tale of a group of people who have being doing a fantasy roleplay for 30 years (dress up and act out kind) and what happens when some newbies don't take it seriously enough. The Book is "Jigs and Reels", Author Joanne Harris . UK readers can get it for £3.97 at Tesco..... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

03-20-2005, 10:46 AM	#5
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	Also please a summary for those of us who don't have credit cards...

03-20-2005, 09:33 PM	#7
Carrûn Wight Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Behind you, counting to 3 Posts: 234	A friend of mine showed me a copy of it, I must admit that it was a bit awkward of a read. I think I do a pretty good job of keeping fantasy and reality apart, at least most of the time. __________________ "Dic, hospes, Spartae, nos te hic vidisse iacentes dum sanctis patriae legibus obsequimur."