To Hold the Bridge

Written by Garth Nix

Narrated by Nicola Barber, Raphael Corkhill, Roger Wayne and 7 more

An entertaining short-story collection from bestselling fantasy author Garth Nix, including an Old Kingdom novella, a short story set in the same world as Shade's Children, and another story set in the world of A Confusion of Princes.

Garth Nix is renowned for his legendary fantasy works, but To Hold the Bridge showcases his versatility as the collection offers nineteen short stories from every genre of literature including science fiction, paranormal, realistic fiction, mystery, and adventure. Whether writing about vampires, detectives, ancient spirits, or odd jobs, Garth Nix's ability to pull his readers into new worlds is extraordinary.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jun 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9780062398123

Garth Nix

Garth Nix is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author whose beloved Old Kingdom fantasy series begins with Sabriel. His many other novels include Shade’s Children and A Confusion of Princes, and he has written such children’s series as The Seventh Tower and the Keys to the Kingdom, as well as co-writing TroubleTwisters and Have Sword, Will Travel with Sean Williams. His work has been translated into forty-two languages and has sold more than seven million copies. 

Reviews for To Hold the Bridge

[passion4reading_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I bought this book for the eponymous novella, which for me was the highlight of the selection of short stories. I also liked 'Vampire Weather' and 'The Quiet Knight', inasmuch that they were actually engaging enough to be considered worth reading from beginning to end. The rest of the stories I skim-read, which is a shame, because there were some promising-looking beginnings; the best thing that can be said about them is that they certainly seemed inventive, but I just didn't get on with them.

[emscape · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I quite enjoy Garth Nix's short stories, though I've only ever picked up a collection because it contained one set in his Old Kingdom. I was hoping for a story featuring characters we already know from this series, but this was not at all related and could quite stand on its own, even if one isn't familiar with the other works set in this realm. As with most short story collections, I liked some more than others ("A Handful of Ashes" was my favorite; I'd like more in this world) but all of them were at least a bit enjoyable. I don't remember any standing out as 'bad.'

[menshevixen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Especially enjoyed "Holly and Iron," "A Handful of Ashes," and "The Curious Case of the Moondawn Daffodils Murder."

[fred_mouse · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this as a judge for the 2015 Aurealis Awards. This review is my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.

I loved it. I didn't want to put it down-- I had to steal it back from my Eldest child, who picked it up while I took a necessary break to eat. I've read a bit of Nix's work, and enjoyed it, but not the worlds that feature here. The grouping by theme was interesting, but I felt that it meant that some of the weaker stories were grouped together. If there was an intro that added useful context, I didn't notice it.

The first story was fantastic, with the worldbuilding and the character and the story all beautifully written. The collection manages a startling cohesion, given the disparity of the stories -- Nix has a strong writing style, so it holds together nicely from this viewpoint. All the stories are good, although not all of them meet the standard of the opening story, which means that a couple felt a bit flat.

[allison_s-802575 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Will add ratings for my favorite stories of the bunch later! Generally a strong collection.

[glitzandshadows · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well I'm gonna need Old Friends and The Curious Case of the Moondawn Daffodils to be full novels, thanks. I also loved Holly and Iron, Vampire Weather, A Handful of Ashes , and, of course, To Hold the Bridge was a nice visit to the Old Kingdom.

[edgoldberg · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

To Hold the Bridge, the title of this anthology as well as the introductory novella, is a collection of Nix stories segmented into five categories. The novella tells the story of Morghan, a poor orphan who owns one share of the ‘Bridge Company’ and wishes, against the odds, to enroll as a company cadet. It guarantees him three square meals and new clothing. Morghan finds, once enlisted however, that he cares more about his comrades and the bridge than he ever thought possible. Among the story categories are Standing Up and Being Counted, Check Your Faint Heart at the Door, and A Wink and a Nod. The stories run the gamut from fantasy, witches and vampires to mystery and science fiction. They also span time, going from the undated past through to the future. In the mystery The Curious Case of the Moondawn Daffodils Murder the main character is Sherlock Holmes’ cousin. The Quiet Knight, a current day a romance, tells of a shy boy who participates in knight games. His helmet covers his entire face, which was never an issue until he met Sorayah.
The variety of stories ensures there are several to please all readers. The stories are well written and the characters come to life. Some have a lot of action while some are more sedate. Most stories are short, which may be a pitfall in that several needed something extra to make them more memorable. Overall, an enjoyable read for fantasy and science fiction fans.