Science Fiction & Fantasy
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![Neal Shusterman - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_neal_shusterman.jpg)
Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe
The New York Times bestselling Arc of the Scythe series continues with thrilling stories that span the timeline. Storylines continue. Origin stories are revealed. And new Scythes emerge!
There are still countless tales of the Scythedom to tell. Centuries passed between the Thunderhead cradling humanity and Scythe Goddard trying to turn it upside down. For years humans lived in a world without hunger, disease, or death with Scythes as the living instruments of population control.
Neal Shusterman-along with collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofía Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman-returns to the world throughout the timeline of the Arc of a Scythe series. Discover secrets and histories of characters you've followed for three volumes and meet new heroes, new foes, and some figures in between.
Gleanings shows just how expansive, terrifying, and thrilling the world that began with the Printz Honor–winning Scythe truly is.
There are still countless tales of the Scythedom to tell. Centuries passed between the Thunderhead cradling humanity and Scythe Goddard trying to turn it upside down. For years humans lived in a world without hunger, disease, or death with Scythes as the living instruments of population control.
Neal Shusterman-along with collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofía Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman-returns to the world throughout the timeline of the Arc of a Scythe series. Discover secrets and histories of characters you've followed for three volumes and meet new heroes, new foes, and some figures in between.
Gleanings shows just how expansive, terrifying, and thrilling the world that began with the Printz Honor–winning Scythe truly is.
Editorial Reviews
"Fans of the 'Arc of a Scythe' series will be pleased with this thrilling continuation." -- -School Library Journal ― November 2022
"Existing fans will relish the varied tales, which handle themes of art, meaning, and morality in a post-death world with an efficacious mixture of humor, violence, and gentle absurdity." -- -Publishers Weekly ― 10/10/2022
"One for the legions of fans of this world." -- -Kirkus Reviews ― 08/15/22
"Existing fans will relish the varied tales, which handle themes of art, meaning, and morality in a post-death world with an efficacious mixture of humor, violence, and gentle absurdity." -- -Publishers Weekly ― 10/10/2022
"One for the legions of fans of this world." -- -Kirkus Reviews ― 08/15/22
Readers Top Reviews
Schizanthus Nerd
I love the scythedom and couldn’t wait to spend more time in Citra and Rowan’s world. This anthology contains twelve short stories and one poem. There’s a bonus story in the Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition, which I’ll be reading as soon as it finishes its journey across the ocean to meet me. There are backstories and glimpses of what happened after The Toll for some characters we already know, as well as introductions to some robes whose colours we haven’t seen before. Some stories are written by Neal Shusterman, while others are collaborations with other authors. The poem is written by Neal’s daughter, Joelle. After a bit of a shaky start, I began to find stories that enriched what I already know of this world. Of the thirteen gleanings in this collection, I found six favourites, one short of an octave. In Formidable, Scythe Curie has recently finished her apprenticeship and has not yet become the self assured legend she is when Citra gets to know her after her own apprenticeship. “The future is unfettered. Long live us all!” A Death of Many Colours sees scythe deniers being confronted with a little bit too much reality. “Let’s give you a new perspective.” Kohl Whitlock’s sister’s reaction to his gleaning takes us to Unsavory Row. “But giving an unsavory parameters was just a dare to break them.” In A Martian Minute, we learn Carson Lusk’s backstory. “Sometimes, when your life is wheels within wheels, you can take a wrong step and get ground up in the slow churn of the gears.” The Mortal Canvas (co-authored by David Yoon) introduces four students who create art under exceptional circumstances. “From this moment on, no one will ever know what it feels like to be complete.” I loved learning what became of Citra’s brother, Ben, in Anastasia’s Shadow. “It was hard enough being the brother of Scythe Anastasia. He was constantly being compared to her, and constantly being reminded that he did not compare.” I will always welcome new stories from the scythedom. Thank you so much to Walker Books Australia for the opportunity to read this book.
GaMeRRobin Snyder
Book over all in great condition, but upon initial inspection noticed that page 363 was already folded over in the top corner right out of unboxing it.
ErinGaMeRRobin Sn
Excellent book! If you wanted more after you finished The Toll, then this will give you more of the world Neal Shusterman has created. The short stories vary in length, with many of them giving more backstory to events that happened in the books or events that are directly related to the books. Well written and captivating. Highly recommended.
Short Excerpt Teaser
1. The First Swing The First Swing
Slicing through the air with effortless aplomb,
the moment you take your first swing,
you wield your axe
like you are a master in the art of gleaning.
Those before you are in awe.
They cannot imagine what your next move will be.
You carry yourself as balanced and poised as a performer
dancing brutally among them;
the searing star of stars,
your robe cascading to the earth
in showers of gold.
But that is not the truth.
Your worth does not matter
to those who now matter to you.
You are truly nothing but a tiny sunspot
to the eyes of others like yourself.
An insignificant fleck.
And as you take that first swing,
they laugh at you.
You try to rise above their derision,
to be noticed in some small way.
To find favor from the old ones,
who are never old.
To gain respect from the young ones,
who have slain their own youth.
To justify the arrogance
that comes with the pride
of being chosen.
But that is not the truth either.
It will be years until you come to know the truth:
That those you revere are merely servants
to the collective that we prune.
It was their choice to let us choose
all those years ago.
The awed, terrified, relieved spectators;
the real ones in power,
the puppeteers of your actions.
Standing in a perfect line before them,
a cutting edge,
wielding our axes,
each one of us is the same as the last.
We are one in all,
We are all in one, and
We.
Shall.
Kill.
Our mantra, our commandment,
our duty to remind the immortal of mortality.
To teach them
that eternal repose may be distant,
but not lost.
Who are We?
We are Scythes.
And the weapons We wield
are not by any means our friends.
The devastating force
of bullet, blade, and bludgeon
tears us apart each day, every day,
piece by piece,
and leaves us with wounds that will never heal.
This is what ties us to the masses,
yet restrains us from being one with them.
And with each new gleaning,
We bleed and break anew,
yet our resolve never changes.
For We are scythes.
Nothing will ever change that fact.
And when it is your time to bleed,
you will know,
and you will learn.
-Joelle Shusterman
Slicing through the air with effortless aplomb,
the moment you take your first swing,
you wield your axe
like you are a master in the art of gleaning.
Those before you are in awe.
They cannot imagine what your next move will be.
You carry yourself as balanced and poised as a performer
dancing brutally among them;
the searing star of stars,
your robe cascading to the earth
in showers of gold.
But that is not the truth.
Your worth does not matter
to those who now matter to you.
You are truly nothing but a tiny sunspot
to the eyes of others like yourself.
An insignificant fleck.
And as you take that first swing,
they laugh at you.
You try to rise above their derision,
to be noticed in some small way.
To find favor from the old ones,
who are never old.
To gain respect from the young ones,
who have slain their own youth.
To justify the arrogance
that comes with the pride
of being chosen.
But that is not the truth either.
It will be years until you come to know the truth:
That those you revere are merely servants
to the collective that we prune.
It was their choice to let us choose
all those years ago.
The awed, terrified, relieved spectators;
the real ones in power,
the puppeteers of your actions.
Standing in a perfect line before them,
a cutting edge,
wielding our axes,
each one of us is the same as the last.
We are one in all,
We are all in one, and
We.
Shall.
Kill.
Our mantra, our commandment,
our duty to remind the immortal of mortality.
To teach them
that eternal repose may be distant,
but not lost.
Who are We?
We are Scythes.
And the weapons We wield
are not by any means our friends.
The devastating force
of bullet, blade, and bludgeon
tears us apart each day, every day,
piece by piece,
and leaves us with wounds that will never heal.
This is what ties us to the masses,
yet restrains us from being one with them.
And with each new gleaning,
We bleed and break anew,
yet our resolve never changes.
For We are scythes.
Nothing will ever change that fact.
And when it is your time to bleed,
you will know,
and you will learn.
-Joelle Shusterman
