Spires of Spirit
Encyclopedia
Spires of Spirit, by Gael Baudino, is a collection of six novellas set in the universe of The Strands Series
. It was first published in 1997 by Roc Books
. The first three stories take place in the time period just prior to Strands of Starlight
and second three take place in 1990s Denver, USA, about ten years after the flashforwards
in Shroud of Shadow
and before the events depicted in Strands of Sunlight
.
In the introduction to this book, the author has this to say about the six short stories:
, and Varden the Elf all help the Leather Woman escape her life of misery.
This story was published in slightly different form in the April 1985 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.
The differences, aside from minor editing changes, between the two versions are:
The Strands Series
The Strands Series is a series of books and short stories written by Gael Baudino between 1981 and 1994 and published between 1989 and 1997. The majority of the plot occurs in a fictional land named Adria, which is based on Medieval Western Europe, with parts of later books occurring in 1990s...
. It was first published in 1997 by Roc Books
Roc Books
Roc Books is a fantasy imprint of Penguin Group, as part of their New American Library. The imprint was launched in April 1990 after Penguin Chairman, Peter Mayer, asked John Silbersack, the editor in chief of New American Library's science fiction program, to launch a new imprint that would draw...
. The first three stories take place in the time period just prior to Strands of Starlight
Strands of Starlight
Strands of Starlight is a novel written by Gael Baudino in 1989. It is the first in the Strands of Starlight tetralogy. The other novels are Maze of Moonlight, Shroud of Shadow, and Strands of Sunlight.-Plot introduction:...
and second three take place in 1990s Denver, USA, about ten years after the flashforwards
Flash Forward
Flash Forward is a Disney Channel Original Series produced in Canada for pre-teens and teenagers which aired on both the Disney Channel and ABC from 1996-1997....
in Shroud of Shadow
Shroud of Shadow
Shroud of Shadow is a novel written by Gael Baudino in 1994. It is the third in the Strands of Starlight tetralogy. The other novels are Strands of Starlight, Maze of Moonlight, and Strands of Sunlight.-Plot introduction:...
and before the events depicted in Strands of Sunlight
Strands of Sunlight
Strands of Sunlight is a novel written by Gael Baudino in 1994. It is the fourth in the Strands of Starlight tetralogy. The other novels are Strands of Starlight, Maze of Moonlight, and Shroud of Shadow...
.
In the introduction to this book, the author has this to say about the six short stories:
Charity
This story details how Andrew the carpenter, Francis the blacksmithBlacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
, and Varden the Elf all help the Leather Woman escape her life of misery.
Lady of Light
This story details how Jacques Alban, Saint Brigid's priest, tries to force David the woodcarver to carve a cross for Saint Brigid's church and what happens as a result.A Touch of Distant Hands
This story details how memories of Charity's old life come back to haunt her and the plan that Roxanne the weaver and Varden the Elf devise to save her sanity.Elvenhome
This story details how Joan Buckland, owner of Buckland Employment Agency, hires Wheat Hennock, and how that triggers the Elven blood in her.Please Come Home to Denver (in the Spring)
This story details how Lauri Tonso goes to work at Treestar Surveying, which is run by Hadden, and begins to experience the awakening of Elven blood in her.The Shadow of the Starlight
This story details how Lauri, now an Elf, triggers the transformation in her new secretary Amy, who is suffering domestic abuse at the hands of Rob, her boyfriend, and how she finds power beyond belief during the process.This story was published in slightly different form in the April 1985 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.
The differences, aside from minor editing changes, between the two versions are:
- In the 1985 F&SF version, Elves sweat. In the 1997 version, they don't.
- In the 1985 F&SF version, Elvenhome has a radiophone. In the 1997 version, it is a regular phone.
- In the 1985 F&SF version, there are several Elvish phrases dispersed throughout. In the 1997 version, all dialogue is in English.
- In the 1985 F&SF version, Rob uses a .22 caliber handgun to shoot Hadden. In the 1997 version, it is a .38.38.38 refers to the type of firearm and firearm cartridges.The .38 is considered a large caliber firearm cartridge; Anything larger than .32 is considered a large caliber, and one of the most common handguns manufactured in the United States...
caliber handgun. - In the 1985 F&SF version, several expletiveExpletive attributiveExpletive comes from the Latin verb explere, meaning "to fill", via expletivus, "filling out". It was introduced into English in the seventeenth century to refer to various kinds of padding—the padding out of a book with peripheral material, the addition of syllables to a line of poetry for...
s from Rob's dialogue are missing, relative to the 1997 version.