I was not expecting the crossover between fantasy and speculative future at the end there, but I liked the way the Prince almost greeted Ross like an old friend? How cool!
I also love the feeling of Folk Horror that's creeping around the corners of this story while still sticking to the fantastical, whimsical feeling of fae folk. I'll admit, I don't know a lot of Scottish myth and folktales, but if you have any book recs in that vein, I'd love to hear them!
This was so fun, and I appreciate that you used this amazingly written little serial to share it with us, the audience!
I should add that in Scottish folktales the sìthe were generally capricious and sometimes evil, so you didn’t want to mess with them. And I think a lot of the stories do verge on horror- the idea of the changeling, or even more so the kelpie or water-horse, which was a terrifying horse spirit that lived in deep lochs (lakes) and would drag people down to the depths to devour them. The kinds of stories that people would tell around the fire on long dark nights.
I don’t know that I have any specific book recs for Scottish folktales, but Mollie Hunter wrote several YA novels drawing on different stories (including fae folk and selkies, the seal-folk). I also have a book called “The Broonie, Silkies and Fairies” by Duncan Williamson which is a collection of folk tales.
I guess a lot of things, like rowan trees warding against the sìthe or against witches, are part of oral tradition although I’m sure also noted in books somewhere! The sìthean, the fairy hill, is quite a common topographical feature/name. In fact, the low hill that forms part of our village is known informally as the Sìthean. (But don’t worry, people still built houses there and they’re fine ;-) Oral tradition has been fading away since TV arrived in the 60s, so I hope there are more collections of folk tales out there preserving some of the old stories!
Really enjoyed this. I also enjoyed unexpectedly being thrown into futuristic Australia. Great story.
Thanks for reading! Glad you enjoyed it 😁
I was not expecting the crossover between fantasy and speculative future at the end there, but I liked the way the Prince almost greeted Ross like an old friend? How cool!
I also love the feeling of Folk Horror that's creeping around the corners of this story while still sticking to the fantastical, whimsical feeling of fae folk. I'll admit, I don't know a lot of Scottish myth and folktales, but if you have any book recs in that vein, I'd love to hear them!
This was so fun, and I appreciate that you used this amazingly written little serial to share it with us, the audience!
I should add that in Scottish folktales the sìthe were generally capricious and sometimes evil, so you didn’t want to mess with them. And I think a lot of the stories do verge on horror- the idea of the changeling, or even more so the kelpie or water-horse, which was a terrifying horse spirit that lived in deep lochs (lakes) and would drag people down to the depths to devour them. The kinds of stories that people would tell around the fire on long dark nights.
Thanks for reading, so glad you enjoyed it!!
I don’t know that I have any specific book recs for Scottish folktales, but Mollie Hunter wrote several YA novels drawing on different stories (including fae folk and selkies, the seal-folk). I also have a book called “The Broonie, Silkies and Fairies” by Duncan Williamson which is a collection of folk tales.
I guess a lot of things, like rowan trees warding against the sìthe or against witches, are part of oral tradition although I’m sure also noted in books somewhere! The sìthean, the fairy hill, is quite a common topographical feature/name. In fact, the low hill that forms part of our village is known informally as the Sìthean. (But don’t worry, people still built houses there and they’re fine ;-) Oral tradition has been fading away since TV arrived in the 60s, so I hope there are more collections of folk tales out there preserving some of the old stories!
Thanks for this. Now need to reread first two parts.
Thanks for reading! Glad you enjoyed it! 😁
What a great story, thank you, SDG!
Thank you for reading, so glad you enjoyed it!