Giovanni's Tree

“In the tradition of Italo Calvino’s Italian Folktales, Nicholas A. DiChario’s Giovanni’s Tree: New Italian Folktales has all the humor, wonder, treachery, and great storytelling as its predecessor. Nine new tales, beautifully written in a style that blends contemporary and classic forms of the folktale.” –Jeffrey Ford, World Fantasy Award winner and Edgar Allan Poe nominee

“Savage and unpredictable, sentimental with a knife hidden beneath the table, these stories celebrate the good things in life—food, wine, friendship, love—yet are all too aware of how they can fail in betrayal, conflict, and revenge.” –John Kessel, Nebula award winner and author of Pride and Prometheus, The Dark Ride, and The Moon and the Other

“Absolutely charming folktales that will appeal to everyone, not just those lucky enough to hail from il bel paese…Simply wonderful.” –Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of The Oppenheimer Alternative

“DiChario’s freelance witches, underachieving devils, canny priests, phantom lovers, levitating maidens, garrulous mice, and temperamental zombies will provide you with abundant delight and considerable wisdom.” –James Morrow, author of The Last Witchfinder and The Asylum of Dr. Caligari

“To my mind, DiChario has become a modern master of the art and craft of folktales that emerge from the rich history of Italian storytelling…Highly recommended.” –Rick Wilber, Sidewise award winner and author of Rambunctious: Nine Tales of Determination

“Welcome to the mysterious village where Giovanni’s tree grows, home to witches and devils, barons and vintners, olive farmers, and the best wine in all of Sicily. An immortal narrator tells us of the extraordinary folk who have lived and loved there over the centuries in these deceptively simple but relentlessly charming tales. Nicholas A. DiChario invites you to a place you’ve never heard of—but know this, once you’ve visited il Villaggio delle Ombre, you’ll never forget it!” –James Patrick Kelly, Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award winner