Since I wait anxiously for Ben Aaronovitch’s books to be released, I was tickled pink to be invited to write an introduction for this collection of his short stories.
Aaronovitch’s Peter Grant is one of the warmest and most interesting characters in Urban Fantasy. Peter was born an outsider, so being even more of an outsider by dint of his discovered magical ability does not throw Peter off course. He’s doing the job he was born to do, with the legendary Nightingale as his mentor.
We can only stand by and watch breathlessly as Peter copes with bizarre situations, odd people, and creatures that have never been people.
Since we’ve become part of Peter’s life and adventures, we get to meet the most interesting characters as soon as he does.
I understand that the idea for Ben to write some short fiction in the Rivers of London world was originally Waterstones’, so we have them to thank for coaxing Ben Aaronovitch to write much of this collection. I take my hat off to all those who encouraged him to let us have small adventures on top of big ones.
I know you’ll enjoy these stories as much as I did.
—Charlaine Harris