Special Sub-Topic: Fragile Things Click Here To Play: Fragile Things

Which story is told in full in the introduction, and isn't included in the contents list of the book at all?

The Mapmaker. In the introduction Gaiman says "one describes a tale best by telling the tale" and then proceeds to do so. So if you skipped the introduction, go back, you missed a bit!

The story "A Study in Emerald" is based on another very famous story. Complete it's title - "A Study in _____".

Scarlet. "A Study in Scarlet" is the first Sherlock Holmes story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and was first published in serial form in 1887.

What is Shadow's real name in "The Monarch of the Glen"?

Balder Moon. The character of 'Shadow' also appears in "American Gods". The story "The Monarch of the Glen" is set two years after the events of "American Gods".

What is the subtitle of "Fragile Things"?

Short fictions and wonders. Gaiman says "[stories] are all fragile things made of just 26 letters arranged and rearranged to form tales and imaginings which will dazzle your senses, haunt your imagination and move you to the very depths of your soul."

In "The Fairy Reel", what will the fairy lass "pluck from the air"?

Wild eagles. "The Fairy Reel" is described by Gaiman as "not much of a poem really, but enormous fun to read aloud."

What does Harlequin nail to Missy's front door?

His own heart. The original Harlequin is a character from the 'Commedia dell'Arte' which began in Italy in the late 1400s. His love interest in the Commedia is always Columbine.

Which story was written for Gaiman's oldest daughter?

Sunbird. "Sunbird" was written for Gaiman's daughter Holly for her 18th birthday present. He says it took him so long to write that she actually got it for her "nineteen and a halfth birthday".

In "Monarch of the Glen" we re-encounter 'Mr. Alice', but in which story do we meet him first?

Keepsakes and Treasures. Gaiman says that he hopes to write more of Mr. Alice and Smith one day, so we may well meet them again. Part of "Keepsakes and Treasures" was first written as a 'noir' comic book tale, and it appears here in a rewritten, expanded form.

"The Problem of Susan" features a famous Susan from the "Narnia" series of books. What is her surname in the Narnia stories?

Pevensey. The Narnia Chronicles were written by C.S. Lewis, and published between 1950 and 1956. "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" has been translated into 29 languages. In "The Problem of Susan", her name is Professor Susan Hastings.

Two of the stories feature a door knocker in the shape of a mythical creature - what is it?

Red Imp. Both "Closing Time" and "Instructions" feature doorknockers shaped like a red metal imp, and one definately gets the message that doors with red metal imp knockers on should NOT be opened!