What is this story? Gargoyles coming to life...

[Angela Horn]

Hello there - I would be really grateful if anyone could help me track down a story which my DH remembers reading. He says it was brilliant, but apparently not so brilliant that he can remember the title, author or the collection he read it in! He has been through every book in our house (and that's about 2,000....) and is getting desperate. Having spent hours on search engines, I think that only the human brain has the power we need...

Here's what we know about it:

It's sci-fi, not fantasy (apparently..) and he thinks it's a short story in a collection.
The world has changed and gargoyles have come to life.
The narrator is a gargoyle-human hybrid child, who lives in a church. There are various living statues.
The inhabitants of the church cover everything up to stop light getting in and changing things, but at the end they let the light in and the images in the stained glass windows come to life.
===

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.... thank you!

 

[dwndrgn]

I've read quite a few stories with gargoyles in them but none of them were shorts, all full sized books. Let me think on it though.

Hopefully someone here will know what it is!

Oh, and welcome to Chronicles!

 

[Winter Lord]

Sounds like a good story.

It wasn't St. Patrick's Gargoyle? Was it?

 

[supergirl]

What about this one (I copied the anotation from a site):

In the Shadow of the Gargoyle (1998)
An anthology of stories edited by
Nancy Kilpatrick and Thomas S Roche

This is the first and only collection of new and classic stories inspired by the gargoyle creatures. Includes tales by Harlan Ellison, Neil Gaiman, Katherine Kurtz, Brian Lumley, Jane Yolen, and others.

 

[HardScienceFan]

Supergirl,that story was in Omni,and later I can possibly give you the title

PETRA BY GREG BEAR?

 

[Angela Horn]

Hooray! Yes, it is Petra by Greg Bear. One happy husband sends his thanks - much appreciated

 

[Rawled Demha]

funny, i saw a doctor who episode based on this idea recently...except instead of gargoyles they were called angels, the universe's 'quantum assassins' - the same idea tho, creatures of stone brought to life

 

[vonhabsburg]

The book I had with this story about gargoyles coming to life was called "Once in a Blue Moon" and was a beautifully illustrated children's book. A thin hardback, I seem to remember. It must have been in the 1950s when I had it and I too have searched and Googled for it without luck. I dive into all old book shops and will post hear again if found. Sorry but I do not remember the author.

 

[mellotronman]

I was going to say, "I'm sure this is in the iconic, Sterling-edited 'Mirrorshades'", which I haven't read since the '80s. And it is The first 'Who' episode featuring the Angels is genuinely terrifying, BTW.

 

[Neely]

Yes, the story was "Once In A Blue Moon," I do not recall the author, but read the book many times as a child. It was about gargoyles who break loose from their perches, and have adventures. There were many illustrations.