Zenna Henderson

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I lost my copy of THE ANYTHING BOX in a move, then proceeded to move heaven and earth, dig through piles at used bookstores, and even (gasp!) search through Amazon.com until I could pay far too much for a used paperback. This should speak of my devotion. Somewhere between Orson Scott Card and Shirley Jackson lives the lyrical style of Zenna Henderson, most famous for her short stories about the People: an alien race with incredible powers, doomed to a gentle exile on the strange planet known as Earth. Though she herself was deeply religious, her stories come off as "spiritual" (to use a watered-down term for it). Cynical modern readers might find her heavy-handed and often sugary-sweet, but to those who open their eyes to wonder and belief, the stories are pure joy.

>>By Lynette   (Saturday, 19 Apr 2003 03:08)



I was entranced by the TV film based on one or some of Zenna Henderson's stories, shown only once on television in the UK as far as I know. Several years later I came across a paperback collection of The People stories and i'm re-reading the book at the moment. I like books that engage the emotions and make one think and these stories do both, because: first, they show that we don't have to fear strangers, even if they are different - we should judge people by how they behave and behave towards them accordingly; and second, they are imbued with a deeply felt spirituality in which Life itself is honoured as the gift of the Creator. The actual "gifts" and "persuasions" of The People are the stuff of real fantasy and evoke childhood dreams. About the only times I do any "lifting" are when I'm asleep and dreaming. However, the few times I've flown in my dreams over landscapes of small fields, narrow lanes, red-roofed houses, small villages with spired churches have been precious experiences. I don't know where these landscapes come from but Henderson takes those fantasis and dreams and weaves them into a compelling narrative that is intensely human. She has a sure touch for human psychology and there are more than a few morallessons in her stories. That's no bad thing in a world that needs to hang on to moral certainties. Read and enjoy and don't be ashamed if an emotional tug makes you catch your breath.

>>By Reg   (Sunday, 29 Jun 2003 23:58)



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