The Weirdstone of Brisingamen - Alan Garner

[Tsujigiri]

I have just come across my copy of the Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner.

I absolutely loved this book as a child and it's sequel 'the Moon of Gomrath'. Steeped in Celtic, Norse and Atrhurian legends and mythologies it takes the reader into a modernday adventure where powerful figures from the past stalk Alderley Edge in Cheshire.

The story revolves around Susan and Colin, two children holidaying in the locale, or rather around the stone in Susans silver bracelet, the Weirdstone itself. In Norse mythology Brisingamen was the stone in a necklace worn by Freya, who became irresistable when she was wearing it.

The children find themselves pursued by sinister eldritch creatures controlled by the Morrigan, the norse goddess of war and destruction. Whent he stone is lost, they become the key in aiding the wizard Cadellin Silverbrow and returning it to it's rightful place.

The writing style of this book is easygoing and yet maintains a page turning grip upon the reader, especially a young reader! The characters are well developed and easily identified with and of course by using archetypal figures from myth and legend, the bad guys take on deep shadows.

I would recommend this book to all ages, for adults who have yet to discover it, it's an enchanting read, for older children adn teens it's an absorbing and highly entertaining novel.

If you want to have a read I'd recommend clicking here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...116334-7496615

[Teresa Edgerton]

"The Weirdstone" and its sequel are books I absolutely loved when I first discovered them in my early twenties. There are still scenes and images which resonate powerfully for me.

Recently (30+ years and a million fantasy novels later) I reread both books -- not so good in some parts as I remembered, but much better in others. It was also possible to see what an effect (huge) Garner has had on the fantasy field.

(My Irish ancestors require me to state that the Morrigan was a Celtic goddess, not a Norse one. Otherwise, I agree with everything you said.)

[Tsujigiri]

Originally Posted by Kelpie

(My Irish ancestors require me to state that the Morrigan was a Celtic goddess, not a Norse one. Otherwise, I agree with everything you said.)

GAH!!!!!

I don't believe I typed 'Norse' instead of 'Celtic'!!
I use the Morrigan in one of my novels, along with other deities from the pantheon.

My Scotish ancestors will be lining up to dress me down

[Teresa Edgerton]

About the time I first read the books, a friend of mine told me that when he visited England he walked through the Alderley Edge area with an open copy of "The Weirdstone" in hand, and he was able to find all of the landmarks mentioned. The countryside was just as Garner described it. I wonder if that is still true?

[Tsujigiri]

I did that!!!!!!

I don't know wether it's still possible now though. I read the book in South Africa and went on a pilgrimage when we came over here when I was 15, which is 17 yrs ago now.