Knowledge (XXG)

Imaginary Friends (short story)

Source 📝

155:
his dog barking at something and goes into the forest to investigate, despite having been told by his parents not to go into the forest. When he approaches the dog, he sees that he is barking at a tiny, strangely dressed creature. The creature says he is a wood elf named Pick. Jack chases the dog off and frees Pick from the brush he had become entangled in. Pick then shrinks Jack down to his size and they go for a ride on Pick's owl, Daniel. Jack sees the entire forest from above, and Pick points out a troll under the bridge. He also shows Jack a tree where a dragon named Desperado is being imprisoned. They land and Jack hears his mom call him, he turns to look and when he turns back Pick is gone. Later he searches for the tree where Desperado is imprisoned, and the troll, but finds nothing. He tells his mother about it, but she says that it is normal for kids his age to have imaginary friends, and that he should keep them to himself.
159:
bumping his head again. He then runs into the forest and finds Pick locked in a cage hanging from the troll bridge, but the troll is gone. Pick tells Jack that the troll has gone to release Desperado from his prison and that he must stop him. Jack runs to the tree and picks up a trash can lid and branch that magically become a shield and sword. The troll is lying on the ground, burnt. The dragon is huge and is made up of all Jack's doubt, fears and sickness. He runs from him, but the dragon is everywhere he turns. Finally he resolves to fight the dragon and beats it back into its prison. He then awakes in the hospital, where his parents tell him they found him lying outside unconscious. During his stay, more tests are run and they find that all traces of the cancer are gone. Waddy tells Jack he knew he would beat it, but Jack knows that it was defeating the dragon that destroyed the sickness.
154:
Jack is a normal 13-year-old boy living with his parents in a house near a park forest. The story begins with Jack being diagnosed with a blood disorder, like leukemia. A flashback reveals that when he was 6 years old he stumbled and fell while playing in his sand box, hitting his head. He then sees
204:
writes "both traditional fairy tales and many modern children’s stories are designed to teach lessons to children, lessons about greed, or not trusting strangers, or how to face the trials of growing up. They can also provide tools to help children face those trials, and that is clearly what Brooks
158:
Later, after his medical diagnosis, he tells his friend Waddy that he has been given 6 months to live, but Waddy tells him that he’ll probably beat the cancer. That night, unable to sleep, Jack hears someone calling for him outside. He runs outside, but trips over the dog and falls off the porch,
38: 146:
which is a collection of fantasy short stories that Brooks contributed to, the proceeds of which went to his friend and editor of the book, Shawn Speakman's "considerable medical bills."
994: 280: 337: 232: 919: 591: 870: 505: 1043: 967: 669: 886: 465: 330: 270: 1002: 907: 854: 578: 570: 523: 346: 304: 1033: 531: 473: 951: 426: 1010: 821: 782: 416: 894: 959: 630: 554: 492: 387: 813: 805: 562: 515: 323: 1038: 544: 395: 455: 434: 275: 199: 862: 271:"Believing in Magic is Believing in Yourself: Terry Brooks' "Imaginary Friends" from Unfettered" 17: 927: 37: 935: 687: 679: 617: 442: 403: 227: 222: 943: 878: 377: 1027: 80: 695: 350: 130: 54: 986: 126: 640: 601: 141: 171:
a 13-year-old boy, recently diagnosed with cancer and given 6 months to live
648: 359: 135: 315: 133:, and was an early "prototype/precursor" of what would later become the 656: 609: 223:"Terry Brooks' Strange Tales Aren't Limited to the Realm of Shannara" 254:
Brooks, Terry (2013). "Imaginary Friends". In Shawn Speakman (ed.).
319: 310: 189:
a dragon trapped by magic in a tree in the park forest
978: 905: 836: 797: 774: 737: 706: 667: 628: 589: 542: 503: 484: 453: 414: 375: 368: 357: 112: 104: 96: 86: 76: 68: 60: 50: 305:Speakman Press |Imaginary Friends by Terry Brooks 331: 307:– Amazon webpage for Imaginary Friends eBook. 8: 30: 372: 365: 338: 324: 316: 36: 29: 995:Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 258:. Seattle: Grim Oak Press. p. 588. 256:Unfettered: Tales by Masters of Fantasy 214: 205:designed “Imaginary Friends" to do." 7: 139:series. It was published as part of 968:An Unfortunate Influx of Filipians 235:from the original on 25 March 2024 25: 592:The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara 887:Walker and The Shade of Allanon 283:from the original on 2024-03-30 18:Imaginary Friends (Short Story) 1: 311:Terry Brooks Official Website 269:Barrett, Sylas (2013-05-13). 920:Magic Kingdom for Sale—Sold! 825:(2016–17 television series) 670:The Dark Legacy of Shannara 1060: 871:The Weapon Master's Choice 466:Bearers of the Black Staff 1003:Sometimes the Magic Works 708:The Defenders of Shannara 579:The Talismans of Shannara 571:The Elf Queen of Shannara 524:The Elfstones of Shannara 506:Original Shannara Trilogy 35: 532:The Wishsong of Shannara 474:The Measure of the Magic 1011:Why I Write About Elves 822:The Shannara Chronicles 783:Dark Wraith of Shannara 728:The Sorcerer's Daughter 417:The Genesis of Shannara 960:A Princess of Landover 716:The High Druid's Blade 631:High Druid of Shannara 555:The Scions of Shannara 493:First King of Shannara 388:Running with the Demon 809:(2001 companion book) 806:The World of Shannara 563:The Druid of Shannara 516:The Sword of Shannara 427:Armageddon's Children 786:(2008 graphic novel) 739:The Fall of Shannara 545:Heritage of Shannara 396:A Knight of the Word 198:Sylas K. Barrett of 1044:High fantasy novels 998:(1999 novelization) 990:(1991 novelization) 759:The Stiehl Assassin 456:Legends of Shannara 435:The Elves of Cintra 123:"Imaginary Friends" 32: 753:The Skaar Invasion 747:The Black Elfstone 722:The Darkling Child 231:. 22 August 2012. 177:Jack’s best friend 125:is a 1991 fantasy 31:Imaginary Friends 1021: 1020: 928:The Black Unicorn 847:Imaginary Friends 832: 831: 793: 792: 120: 119: 97:Publication place 44:Imaginary Friends 27:1991 fantasy book 16:(Redirected from 1051: 373: 366: 340: 333: 326: 317: 292: 291: 289: 288: 266: 260: 259: 251: 245: 244: 242: 240: 219: 92:October 11, 2011 88:Publication date 40: 33: 21: 1059: 1058: 1054: 1053: 1052: 1050: 1049: 1048: 1034:Shannara novels 1024: 1023: 1022: 1017: 974: 936:Wizard at Large 909: 901: 863:Allanon's Quest 838: 828: 789: 770: 733: 702: 688:Bloodfire Quest 680:Wards of Faerie 663: 624: 585: 538: 499: 480: 449: 443:The Gypsy Morph 410: 404:Angel Fire East 378:Word & Void 353: 344: 301: 296: 295: 286: 284: 268: 267: 263: 253: 252: 248: 238: 236: 221: 220: 216: 211: 196: 183:a tiny wood elf 165: 152: 105:Media type 89: 46: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1057: 1055: 1047: 1046: 1041: 1036: 1026: 1025: 1019: 1018: 1016: 1015: 1007: 999: 991: 982: 980: 976: 975: 973: 972: 964: 956: 948: 944:The Tangle Box 940: 932: 924: 915: 913: 903: 902: 900: 899: 891: 883: 879:The Black Irix 875: 867: 859: 851: 842: 840: 834: 833: 830: 829: 827: 826: 818: 810: 801: 799: 795: 794: 791: 790: 788: 787: 778: 776: 772: 771: 769: 768: 765:The Last Druid 762: 756: 750: 743: 741: 735: 734: 732: 731: 725: 719: 712: 710: 704: 703: 701: 700: 692: 684: 675: 673: 665: 664: 662: 661: 653: 645: 636: 634: 626: 625: 623: 622: 614: 606: 597: 595: 587: 586: 584: 583: 575: 567: 559: 550: 548: 540: 539: 537: 536: 528: 520: 511: 509: 501: 500: 498: 497: 488: 486: 482: 481: 479: 478: 470: 461: 459: 451: 450: 448: 447: 439: 431: 422: 420: 412: 411: 409: 408: 400: 392: 383: 381: 370: 363: 355: 354: 345: 343: 342: 335: 328: 320: 314: 313: 308: 300: 299:External links 297: 294: 293: 261: 246: 213: 212: 210: 207: 195: 192: 191: 190: 184: 178: 172: 164: 161: 151: 148: 118: 117: 114: 110: 109: 106: 102: 101: 98: 94: 93: 90: 87: 84: 83: 78: 74: 73: 70: 66: 65: 62: 58: 57: 52: 48: 47: 41: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1056: 1045: 1042: 1040: 1037: 1035: 1032: 1031: 1029: 1013: 1012: 1008: 1005: 1004: 1000: 997: 996: 992: 989: 988: 984: 983: 981: 977: 970: 969: 965: 962: 961: 957: 954: 953: 952:Witches' Brew 949: 946: 945: 941: 938: 937: 933: 930: 929: 925: 922: 921: 917: 916: 914: 912: 911: 908:Magic Kingdom 904: 897: 896: 892: 889: 888: 884: 881: 880: 876: 873: 872: 868: 865: 864: 860: 857: 856: 852: 849: 848: 844: 843: 841: 835: 824: 823: 819: 816: 815: 811: 808: 807: 803: 802: 800: 796: 785: 784: 780: 779: 777: 773: 766: 763: 760: 757: 754: 751: 748: 745: 744: 742: 740: 736: 729: 726: 723: 720: 717: 714: 713: 711: 709: 705: 698: 697: 693: 690: 689: 685: 682: 681: 677: 676: 674: 672: 671: 666: 659: 658: 654: 651: 650: 646: 643: 642: 638: 637: 635: 633: 632: 627: 620: 619: 615: 612: 611: 607: 604: 603: 599: 598: 596: 594: 593: 588: 581: 580: 576: 573: 572: 568: 565: 564: 560: 557: 556: 552: 551: 549: 547: 546: 541: 534: 533: 529: 526: 525: 521: 518: 517: 513: 512: 510: 508: 507: 502: 495: 494: 490: 489: 487: 483: 476: 475: 471: 468: 467: 463: 462: 460: 458: 457: 452: 445: 444: 440: 437: 436: 432: 429: 428: 424: 423: 421: 419: 418: 413: 406: 405: 401: 398: 397: 393: 390: 389: 385: 384: 382: 380: 379: 374: 371: 367: 364: 362: 361: 356: 352: 348: 341: 336: 334: 329: 327: 322: 321: 318: 312: 309: 306: 303: 302: 298: 282: 278: 277: 272: 265: 262: 257: 250: 247: 234: 230: 229: 224: 218: 215: 208: 206: 203: 202: 193: 188: 185: 182: 179: 176: 173: 170: 167: 166: 162: 160: 156: 149: 147: 145: 143: 138: 137: 132: 128: 124: 115: 111: 107: 103: 100:United States 99: 95: 91: 85: 82: 81:Del Rey Books 79: 75: 71: 67: 63: 59: 56: 53: 49: 45: 42:Cover art of 39: 34: 19: 1009: 1001: 993: 985: 966: 958: 950: 942: 934: 926: 918: 906: 893: 885: 877: 869: 861: 853: 846: 845: 820: 817:(video game) 812: 804: 781: 764: 758: 752: 746: 738: 727: 721: 715: 707: 696:Witch Wraith 694: 686: 678: 668: 655: 647: 639: 629: 616: 608: 600: 590: 577: 569: 561: 553: 543: 530: 522: 514: 504: 491: 472: 464: 454: 441: 433: 425: 415: 402: 394: 386: 376: 358: 351:Terry Brooks 285:. Retrieved 274: 264: 255: 249: 237:. Retrieved 226: 217: 200: 197: 186: 180: 174: 168: 157: 153: 150:Plot summary 140: 134: 131:Terry Brooks 122: 121: 55:Terry Brooks 43: 1039:2013 novels 979:Other works 910:of Landover 855:Indomitable 127:short story 1028:Categories 775:Standalone 641:Jarka Ruus 602:Ilse Witch 287:2024-03-30 209:References 187:Desperado: 163:Characters 142:Unfettered 194:Reception 77:Publisher 814:Shannara 649:Tanequil 360:Shannara 281:Archived 239:25 March 233:Archived 136:Shannara 61:Language 895:Warrior 839:stories 657:Straken 618:Morgawr 485:Prequel 276:Reactor 201:Reactor 72:Fantasy 64:English 1014:(2005) 1006:(2003) 971:(2015) 963:(2009) 955:(1995) 947:(1994) 939:(1988) 931:(1987) 923:(1986) 898:(2018) 890:(2013) 882:(2013) 874:(2013) 866:(2012) 858:(2003) 850:(1991) 767:(2020) 761:(2019) 755:(2018) 749:(2017) 730:(2016) 724:(2015) 718:(2014) 699:(2013) 691:(2013) 683:(2012) 660:(2005) 652:(2004) 644:(2003) 621:(2002) 613:(2001) 610:Antrax 605:(2000) 582:(1993) 574:(1992) 566:(1991) 558:(1990) 535:(1985) 527:(1982) 519:(1977) 496:(1996) 477:(2011) 469:(2010) 446:(2008) 438:(2007) 430:(2006) 407:(1999) 399:(1998) 391:(1997) 369:Novels 175:Waddy: 51:Author 837:Short 798:Other 347:Works 228:Wired 181:Pick: 169:Jack: 116:27 pp 113:Pages 108:eBook 69:Genre 987:Hook 241:2024 349:by 129:by 1030:: 279:. 273:. 225:. 339:e 332:t 325:v 290:. 243:. 144:, 20:)

Index

Imaginary Friends (Short Story)

Terry Brooks
Del Rey Books
short story
Terry Brooks
Shannara
Unfettered
Reactor
"Terry Brooks' Strange Tales Aren't Limited to the Realm of Shannara"
Wired
Archived
"Believing in Magic is Believing in Yourself: Terry Brooks' "Imaginary Friends" from Unfettered"
Reactor
Archived
Speakman Press |Imaginary Friends by Terry Brooks
Terry Brooks Official Website
v
t
e
Works
Terry Brooks
Shannara
Word & Void
Running with the Demon
A Knight of the Word
Angel Fire East
The Genesis of Shannara
Armageddon's Children
The Elves of Cintra

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.