Excited to see you write about Dunsany! He has some interesting short stories that subvert what would now be traditional fantasy tropes, although ironically he was the "proto-fantasy" writer. I would also recommend his short story "the hoard of the Gibbelins" since I think it pairs with "Welleran" in the sense of not ending the way you expect (and is free to read online!). Also, great point on how his writing reads very well aloud. I'll have to try that on one of his stories sometime.
I read the short story "Sword of Welleran," and it was interesting. The ancient city guarded by no weapons and sleeping sentries. If it hadn't been for the spirits, it would have fallen.
I love the prose. "Thou art like a maiden that shutteth up her eyes and is asleep, that draweth her breath softly and is quite still, being at ease and untroubled." Was perfection.
Thank you for the kind words. I love this story because it captures my outlook on traditionalism, love of history, and a somewhat mystical conservatism in a very modern yet pre-Tolkien way. It illustrates the importance of a peoples need for heroes and a national narrative, how the spirit of a people manifests itself. My bringing it up was spurred on my Phisto talking about the last stand narrative, there is something heroically epic in the scene where one of the heroes, wounded, straps himself to his horse in order to die in the same ravine as his brothers just to keep the myth alive.
I feel there's an extra touch of symbolism in the fact that was done by the youngest one, Ivraine. All his mentors, the men he looked up to, had passed by that point, but in honor of their memory he ensured that he would rest with them. The legacy was important to him, his people, and his culture, so he strove to maintain it out of a sense of duty.
I think Lord Dunsany hit a wonderful balance in the elements of this story. The due reverence for tradition and history, the importance of heroes and that kind of romantic tale, but also the need to defend one's culture and way of life while having the compassion to recognize the cost that comes of it. The deeds of the heroes and the men spurred to fight are powerful because they were in service to their nation, people, and culture. Rold's realization at the end is equally powerful because he recognizes that while the desert robbers made themselves enemies of Merimna, they were still men who had their own lives cut short.
I think it was in your episode on Beauty and the Beast where you talked about that delicate middle point in masculinity, the balance between the savage and the decadent, though it was in different terms I believe. Rold shows an important part of this, the ability to make the difficult choice to do one's duty, but still manage to maintain a sense of compassion. Given that Welleran specifically chose him, I can't help but think that means Welleran was the same sort of man.
Excited to see you write about Dunsany! He has some interesting short stories that subvert what would now be traditional fantasy tropes, although ironically he was the "proto-fantasy" writer. I would also recommend his short story "the hoard of the Gibbelins" since I think it pairs with "Welleran" in the sense of not ending the way you expect (and is free to read online!). Also, great point on how his writing reads very well aloud. I'll have to try that on one of his stories sometime.
I have read "The king of Elfland's daughter," and enjoyed it. I've now downloaded "Sword of Welleran" and will read it.
I'll let you know what I think afterwards.
@themanbehindthescreen
I read the short story "Sword of Welleran," and it was interesting. The ancient city guarded by no weapons and sleeping sentries. If it hadn't been for the spirits, it would have fallen.
I love the prose. "Thou art like a maiden that shutteth up her eyes and is asleep, that draweth her breath softly and is quite still, being at ease and untroubled." Was perfection.
Thank you for the kind words. I love this story because it captures my outlook on traditionalism, love of history, and a somewhat mystical conservatism in a very modern yet pre-Tolkien way. It illustrates the importance of a peoples need for heroes and a national narrative, how the spirit of a people manifests itself. My bringing it up was spurred on my Phisto talking about the last stand narrative, there is something heroically epic in the scene where one of the heroes, wounded, straps himself to his horse in order to die in the same ravine as his brothers just to keep the myth alive.
I feel there's an extra touch of symbolism in the fact that was done by the youngest one, Ivraine. All his mentors, the men he looked up to, had passed by that point, but in honor of their memory he ensured that he would rest with them. The legacy was important to him, his people, and his culture, so he strove to maintain it out of a sense of duty.
I think Lord Dunsany hit a wonderful balance in the elements of this story. The due reverence for tradition and history, the importance of heroes and that kind of romantic tale, but also the need to defend one's culture and way of life while having the compassion to recognize the cost that comes of it. The deeds of the heroes and the men spurred to fight are powerful because they were in service to their nation, people, and culture. Rold's realization at the end is equally powerful because he recognizes that while the desert robbers made themselves enemies of Merimna, they were still men who had their own lives cut short.
I think it was in your episode on Beauty and the Beast where you talked about that delicate middle point in masculinity, the balance between the savage and the decadent, though it was in different terms I believe. Rold shows an important part of this, the ability to make the difficult choice to do one's duty, but still manage to maintain a sense of compassion. Given that Welleran specifically chose him, I can't help but think that means Welleran was the same sort of man.