Childhood Stories
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| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Childhood Stories |
| Publisher: | Martin Enterprises |
| Editor(s): | Deborah A. Martin |
| Date(s): | March 1990 |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Beauty and the Beast (TV) |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Childhood Stories is a gen 103-page Beauty and the Beast (TV) zine containing four stories by Deborah A. Martin.
It contains no art.
Contents
- My Brother's Keeper ("After a close-call injury, Vincent remembers a childhood injury, one sustained while on an adventure Above with Devin. Devin only wanted to show his younger brother how to climb trees, but Father insisted that Vincent remain Below for safety. Vincent and Devin sneak out anyway, but when Vincent falls and is hurt, Devin must decide whether to try to get Vincent home to the safety of the tunnels by himself, or leave Vincent alone Above and go for help.")
- Are They Fangs? ("A broken tooth and a visit by the tunnel community's dentist prompts Vincent to recall other visits. Three vignetts chronicle: his first visit, his first cavity, and one of the first of many changes brought on by manhood -- some rather impressive new teeth; only Vincent is not particularly impressed by the change in his appearance.")
- Mary's Gift ("Vincent reflects upon how Mary came to live in the tunnels and how she helped him through difficult times. Being different can be hard and Vincent finds, by accident, an understanding friend to help. Then when Devin leaves and is believed to be dead, his special friend helps him to cope with the loss by giving him a gift -- a cloak. Includes Vincent's first subway ride, a 'close shave' by some bums, and Vincent's first venture Above alone.")
- Rite of Passage ("The lines of a poem help remind Vincent of a terrible ordeal; when the price of his manhood was almost his life. Physical changes in the adolescent Vincent trigger a chemical imbalance that drives him to the edge of madness and death. Only Father's love and support brings him through the dark time.")
Reactions and Reviews
Four stories of Vincent's childhood and youth, as remembered from the perspective of adulthood. The tone is sober and thoughtful, unsentimental: the “cute quotient” is practically nonexistent. Characterizations are perceptive and convincing. Each story focuses on some illness or injury Vincent suffered-dental, physical, or psychological. Beside Vincent, the featured characters are Father, Devin, Mary, and a dentist-helper named Amanda. Catherine neither appears nor is mentioned; the present (adult) timeframe is left unspecific. The writing is good, but the proofreading could have been better. [1]