Myths and Fantasies

Witchcraft and Black Magic: A Bantam Knowledge Through Color Book, by Peter Haining, Illustrated by Jan Parker. First ran across this book in middle school, I think, and it creeped me out! The artwork is that 1970’s era of occult that reaches past rational thought and into my darkest childhood fears. The Witch of Berkeley, Mother Damnable, The Monk of Prague, the Chelmsford ‘thing like a black dog’, Aleister Crowley looking even scarier than he ever did in real life – powerful and sinister images that remind me of early horror shows like “The Night Gallery”. The spine and cover have some damage. Ranking: Probably should get rid of it; even destroy it. File Code: Reference. Magic. Paperback.

Witches, Wraiths, and Warlocks: Supernatural Tales of the American Renaissance, Edited by Ronald Curran. What it says on the label, in three parts: folk tales, the popular tradition, and the literary tradition. I think this used to belong to John, and it was bought either at Half’s or Yesterday’s Warehouse. An excellent anthology to get me into the mood to write my own book. Still in pretty good shape for being published in 1971. Ranking: Essential. File Code: Anthology. Short Stories. Paperback.

Medieval Myths, by Norma Lorre Goodrich. A Mentor book, in fair condition for being printed in 1961! Right in my wheelhouse, but I must again confess, never really read. Ranking: Dispensable, but why? File Code: Reference. Myth. Paperback.

Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt: A Bantam Knowledge Through Color Book, by T. G. H. James, Illustrated by Brian Melling. Bought at Hardt’s in New Braunfels but known in middle school. Brightly colored so it avoids the usual drab sand-and-stone tone of most books on Egypt. The mythology is not systematic and thus is hard to pin down, but the book does a good job recounting the main beliefs, stories, and religious context. Not close to my heart, though. Ranking: Dispensable. File Code: Reference. Myth. Paperback.

Inferno, by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. A science fiction writer dies and goes to Hell, which is exactly Dante’s vision, and is guided down and out by an incognito Benito Mussolini, who is doing penance for his mistakes by helping souls escape. Along the way they encounter updated punishments for updated sins, especially for those in the literary community (people tend to notice their own folks, as one character comments; that’s why Dante ran across an inordinate amount of Italians during his trip). An amusing Bangsian fantasy filled with drama and a surprise redemption at the end. Wear to cover and spine; secondhand. Ranking: Pretty damn good. File Code: Novel. Science Fiction/Fantasy. Paperback.

Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman. Gaiman’s first solo novel, and quite a good one. Peter Mayhew is a man who finds himself drawn into a parallel London after he helps a girl in distress. I detect a whiff of Chesterton’s influence here, with the old London names (Earl’s Court, Blackfriars) having fantastic meanings on the secret side. Entertaining, but not as compelling as later work. Ranking: Keeper. File Code: Fantasy Novel. Paperback.

The Firelings, by Carol Kendall. I’ve seen it described as a prequel to the Minnipin books, but you could hardly tell it, and it was written last in the series. Series killer! It takes place on a volcanic island, and if the halfling-like people there are the ancestors of the Minnipins, they sure don’t act like it. An unsatisfying continuation to two great books. Ranking: Keeper. File Code: Children’s Book. Paperback.

Flying Sorcerers: More Comic Tales of Fantasy, edited by Peter Haining. The only reason I have this is for the short story by Terry Pratchett (“The Turntables of the Night”) and the cover by Josh Kirby. There are a few other good tales, but most I have elsewhere. Peter Haining strikes again! Ranking: Keeper, for the Pratchett collection. File Code: Fantasy. Anthology. Short Stories. Paperback.