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Title/Author

Undergrowth and other Hidden Tales

John Shire

Average Review Rating Average Rating 8/10 (1 Review)
Book Details

Publisher : Hollow Hills Publishing

Published : 2002

Copyright : 2002

ISBN-10 : Not Known
ISBN-13 : Not Known

Publisher's Write-Up

Three compelling stories linked by themes of power sought and power misused. John Shire draws his inspiration in part from a long history of magical writing, both fictional and academic, and tells new stories for a modern audience.

The Hidden Tales are superficially familiar - protesters in a threatened wood, an opportunity missed and the building of a pier, but into these stories Shire brings the occult (literally meaning 'hidden') and presents secure seeming England as a dark and unpredictable place. Ours is an age of comfortable rationalism - we are sure we know what is real, what is possible and we often resent that which does not correspond with our version of reality.

John Shire offers an interpretation of the world that is chaotic and unruly; laden with possibilities both wondrous and terrifying. These tales are too true to be discarded as 'mere fantasy' but too fantastical for realism. This book is an invitation to enter a version of truth in which too many things are possible and ancient forces still stalk the world.

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Reader Reviews

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Review by Bryn (010502) Rating (8/10)

Review by Bryn
Rating 8/10

John Shire offers three compelling stories linked by themes of power sought and power misused. These tales are fantastical in nature, dark, eerie and uncanny. John Shire draws his inspiration in part from a long history of magical writing, both fictional and academic, and tells new stories for a modern audience. (Some insight into the sources of his inspiration are available in his bibliography - an unusual feature but very useful in light of the content.)

The Hidden Tales are superficially familiar - protesters in a threatened wood, an opportunity missed and the building of a pier, but into these stories Shire brings the occult (literally meaning 'hidden') and presents secure seeming England as a dark and unpredictable place. He has a talent for mingling the familiar with the magical and treads a fine line between fantasy and insanity.

Ours is an age of comfortable rationalism - we are sure we know what is real, what is possible and we often resent that which does not correspond with our version of reality. Fantastical fiction has largely been out of fashion of late, and it is interesting to see a contemporary author handle this older genre. John Shire offers an interpretation of the world that is chaotic and unruly; laden with possibilities both wondrous and terrifying. These tales are too true to be discarded as 'mere fantasy' but too fantastical for realism. This book is an invitation to enter a version of truth in which too many things are possible and ancient forces still stalk the world. Unlike the authors of most contemporary 'magical' fiction, Shire's tales are not of self-discovery or self-fullfilment, but of the darker aspects both of power and the human psyche. There are some powerful and uncomfortable messages to be found in this writing.

'Undergrowth' begins in a protesters camp, with a man called Skunk digging himself into the earth. As he digs, he finds a small stone that inspires a strange flashback. Curious about the object he has found, Skunk shows it to some of the pagans who are part of the campaign to protect the woodland area. A girl called Penny directs him to a man who claims to be a magus. Skunk is determined to harness the power he is sure the stone has, thinking it can help him to keep the developers away. The truth he finds is not a comfortable one, and the results of his quest are soon beyond his control.

'Mistaken' is an eerie tale full of suggestions and possibilities unrealised. The narrator recounts events from his young life, perhaps coloured by memory and time. Opportunities have been missed, possibilities have not been grasped, and even in adulthood, he is not sure what, if anything, he allowed to pass him by.

'The Pier' offers an image of a Magus seeking to conjure a powerful spirit, by influencing the construction of a pier. Shire mingles some strange but actual events with a dark fantasy, blending the familiar with the unsettling. 'The Pier' is laden with haunting images and concepts both awful and awesome.

The three tales sit well together to produce a distinct atmosphere. Shire is a good wordsmith and weaves his language well. His tales are striking creations - easy enough to read, but very difficult to forget.
Bryn (1st May 2002)

Review Editors Note:
This review was submitted by Bryn, who was good enough to admit being an employee of Hollow Hills Publishing so it may be a 'little' biased... but hey, we are grateful for all opinions, even those driven by ambition.

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