Charles de Lint is a name that always makes me smile when I hear it, or glance at one of his books on a shelf. I’ve known of his work since the 70s. In 1981 he contributed the story “Stormraven” to the 12th issue of Sorcerer’s Apprentice magazine and shortly thereafter Liz Danforth and I convinced him to contribute to Citybook II: Port o’ Call, which may have been his only foray into RPG work.
Charles’ building of stories that thin the wall between this world and others led to the genre we now refer to as urban fantasy. What is great about Charles’s work is that he so effortlessly opens that door into other realms that slipping into them happens from word one. Unlike so much urban fantasy today, where the story clearly takes place in an alternate now with the fantasy tacked on, Charles’ words allow you to truly believe his parallel realms exist; and even make you want to reach out and touch them because they are so real and so very close.
It is magick of the highest order.
As a writer, I am in awe of his skill and imagination. And so very happy that his visions have the power to inspire so many, me included. His contributions to our literature have shaped so much, and will be remembered fondly for a very long time.
© Michael Stackpole
Michael A. Stackpole is the multiple New York Times bestselling author of over forty fantasy and science fiction novels, his best known books written in the Star Wars® universe, including I, JEDI and ROGUE SQUADRON, as well as the X-Wing graphic novel series. He has also written in the Conan, Pathfinder, BattleTech and World of Warcraft universes, among others.
Currently the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University Distinguished Writer-in-Residence, Stackpole’s other honors include: Induction into the Academy Gaming Arts and Design Hall of Fame, a Parsec Award for “Best Podcast Short Story,” and a Topps’s selection as Best Star Wars® Comic Book Writer. Stackpole is the first author to sell work in Apple’s App Store, and he’s been an advocate for authors taking advantage of the digital revolution.
Celebrating CdL 