Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Will-o-the-Wisp by Thomas Burnett Swann Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1997) Swann, Thomas Burnett. (1928-1976) US poet, novelist and academic who taught English literature at Florida Atlantic University before turning to full-time writing in the late 1960s, after publishing some sentimental poetry, beginning with Driftwood (coll 1952 chap) for a vanity press; his academic studies included Wonder and Whimsy: The Fantastic World of Christina Rossetti ( 1960 ), The Classical World of H.D. ( 1962 ), Ernest Dowson ( 1964 ), The Ungirt Runner: Charles Sorley, Poet of World War I ( 1965 ) – who is homaged in The Goat Without Horns (see below) – and A.A. Milne ( 1972 ). As a critic he was personal and committed; most of his subjects were childhood loves, to whom he remained loyal. Almost all his fiction – beginning with "Winged Victory" for Fantastic Universe in 1958 – fits into a single vision of the course of Western history, and can be seen as comprising a sustained meditation on the theme of Thinning, viewed through a reiterated central story in which the matriarchal, prelapsarian old order – represented by "Beasts", including Minotaurs, fauns (see Satyrs), Sibyls, Dryads, Halflings and occasional highly significant appearances by the god Pan – is destroyed by the world-devouring patriarchy of the Achaeans, or Romans, or Christians. There are several venues – ancient Egypt, Crete, Rome, medieval Britain – but all have a similar Land-of-Fable relationship to the mundane world, whose geography they rarely violate, and the general history of which is reinterpreted rather than ignored. Most of the novels describe Rites of Passage of children into ambivalent maturity; it is arguable that TBS saw adulthood and thinning as very similar conditions. The order of publication of individual volumes of TBS's work is distinctly confusing. His series were all published in reverse chronological order, and the chronology of the overall meditation is likewise jumbled. It seems appropriate, therefore to follow the internal chronology compiled by Bob Roehm and published by Robert A Collins in Thomas Burnett Swann: A Brief Critical Biography and Annotated Bibliography ( 1979 chap). The happiest of the novels is – naturally enough – the one set first. The Minikins of Yam ( 1976 ) follows the Quest, a couple of millennia BC, of a young Pharaoh (in the company of a "minikin", a pert young girl-like figure typical of TBS's females) who must find out why his land has been thinning drastically. His father (in TBS's fiction a father was almost invariably a negative figure) has, it turns out, banished Magic, and with it the regenerative power of the Mother (see Goddess). He reverses the edict, and Egypt is saved. Set in the mountains of Crete, the Minotaur sequence – Cry Silver Bells ( 1977 ), The Forest of Forever ( 1971 ) and TBS's first novel, Day of the Minotaur (1964-1965 Science Fantasy as "The Blue Monkeys"; 1966 ) – is less idyllic. The three volumes are a litany of loss, as first the Cretans, then the Achaeans, relentlessly shrink the mountain Polder of the folk, who include most of the fabulous creatures inhabiting the twilight regions of Classical Mythology – centaurs, dryads and others of that ilk. In the end, Eunostos the Minotaur sets sail, with two children and other survivors, towards the Isles of the Blest. Moondust ( 1968 ) and How Are the Mighty Fallen ( 1974 ) are both set in Biblical Israel. In the first a Changeling has Sex in Jericho with an Israelite spy, and the walls tumble. The second tale occurs at the time of Saul and David. Jonathan is a Goddess- worshipper and David's homosexual lover; he is soon killed and David is exiled. With TBS's second sequence, the Latium series – Queens Walk in the Dusk ( 1977 ), Green Phoenix ( 1972 ) and Lady of the Bees (1962 Science Fantasy as "Where Is the Bird of Fire?"; exp 1976 ) – the picture continues to darken, the polders to shrink. The first volume recounts the tragic story of Dido, who is betrayed by Aeneas, a forward-looking patriarch in utero . The viewpoint character of the remaining volumes is a dryad named Mellonia, who ages slowly, through heart-wrenching liaisons with short-lived mortals, into the time of Romulus and Remus, falling in love with the latter, who is halfling-like (and doomed). Two further novels – Wolfwinter ( 1972 ) and The Weirwoods (1965 Science Fantasy ; 1967 ) – are likewise set in Roman times. In the first, a sibyl recounts her adventures, climaxing in a pathos-ridden Love affair with an extremely short-lived faun; in the second, some humans learn lessons from the increasingly marginalized elder folk. The stories assembled in The Dolphin and the Deep (coll 1968 ) also focus on this period, while those in Where Is the Bird of Fire? (coll 1970 ) range further ahead. The Gods Abide ( 1976 ) constitutes something of a counterattack. It is set in the 4th century, when Christianity is beginning in earnest to root out previous Mediterranean faiths. But the Goddess attempts to save her followers from a God who (despite lamb's clothing) remains the Old Testament Yahweh at heart; and, although there is no real hope in the south, or even in Britain (where Christianity is beginning to take root), She creates a "Not-World" for her people, an Alternate-Reality polder where they will be forever safe. TBS's remaining novels are set in the human world, into which occasional memories of the Golden Age intrude. They include: The Tournament of Thorns (fixup 1976 ), set in the Middle Ages, Will-o-the-Wisp (1974 Fantastic Stories ; dated 1976 but 1977 UK), which subjects the poet Robert Herrick (1591-1674) to experiences in the old world; The Not-World ( 1975 ), which introduces Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806- 1861) to the polder created by the Goddess in The Gods Abide ; and The Goat without Horns ( 1971 ), which is set in the late 19th century, as close as TBS came to the present. The latter describes the love of a dolphin for Charlie – based on Charles Sorley (1895-1915) – a glowingly beautiful young man who arrives at a Caribbean Island to tutor a young girl, falls in love with the mother, is saved from a were-shark by Gloomer the dolphin, and finally goes off with Gloomer to a secret enclave. It is easy to mock TBS for sentimentality, for displacement of attention from adult sexuality to innocent relationships between boys and friendly older men, and for his sense that the best contrast to the reductions of history was a clambake of beasts in Arcadia. But the intensity of his sense of Belatedness is at times overwhelming. [JC] further reading: Thomas Burnett Swann: A Brief Critical Biography and Annotated Bibliography ( 1979 chap) by Robert A Collins; "Thomas Burnett Swann" by John Clute in Supernatural Fiction Writers (anth 1985 2 vols) ed E F Bleiler. Thomas Burnett Swann. This entry is taken from the Encyclopedia of Fantasy ( 1997 ) edited by John Clute and John Grant. It is provided as a reference and resource for users of the SF Encyclopedia , but apart from possible small corrections has not been updated . Will-o-the-Wisp by Thomas Burnett Swann. Alotton, Marc, “Chez Swann,” actusf.com, undated; a review of the 2007 French edition of LE PHÉNIX VERT (GREEN PHOENIX). ______, “L’Enéide selon Burnett Swann,” actusf.com, undated; a review of the 2007 French edition of LE PEUPLE DE LA MER (QUEENS WALK IN THE DUSK). ______, “Rome ou le désenchantement de la nature,” actusf.com, undated; a review of the 2006 French edition of LA DAME DES ABEILLES (LADY OF THE BEES). Amos, Ken, “An Interview with Thomas Burnett Swann,” The Tyrrean Chronicles #4 (Louisville, KY fanzine), June 13, 1974. The only interview with Swann ever published. Barrington, Hermester, “Swann Was the Poet Laureate of a Fragile Paradise,” review of THE MINOTAUR TRILOGY, first posted 21 February, 2001 at Amazon.com; the review can be accessed at this page of the author’s web site or at this page at Powells.com. Carter, Lin, IMAGINARY WORLDS: THE ART OF FANTASY. Ballantine Books, 1973; chapter 8, “The Young Magicians: Some Modern Masters of Fantasy,” pp. 168-9. ______, THE YEAR’S BEST FANTASY STORIES: 3. DAW, 1977; Carter’s annual essay on the state of fantasy takes note of Swann’s death. Clute, John, 4500-word entry about Swann in SUPERNATURAL FICTION WRITERS: CONTEMPORARY FANTASY AND HORROR, edited by Richard Bleiler. Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2002, 2nd edition, 2 volume set. A previous edition, SUPERNATURAL FICTION WRITERS: FANTASY AND HORROR (Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1985) edited by E.F. Bleiler, contained a 4000-word entry on Swann on pp. 1091-1103. Collins, Robert A., THOMAS BURNETT SWANN: A BRIEF CRITICAL BIOGRAPHY. Florida Atlantic University, 1979. 30-page booklet with biography, chronology and bibliography of Swann’s work. Cover illustration by George Barr with inset photograph of Swann. ______, “Thom as Burnett Swann: A Retrospective,” Fantasy #57 (Florida Atlantic University), March 1983, pp. 6-9. Includes five photographs, two illustrations by George Barr, and one illustration by Jeff Jones. ______, “Swann on Swann: The Author’s Conscious Use of Fantasy,” Fantasy #58 (Florida Atlantic University), April 1983, pp. 18- 20. Includes seven photographs. ______, “Thomas Burnett Swann: A Critical Introduction” in THE MINOTAUR TRILOGY by Thomas Burnett Swann. M.D. Hargreaves, hardcover ASIN: 0964147610, 1996. Currey, L.W., “(Extract from a bibliographic) Work in Progress: Thomas Burnett Swann,” New York Review of Science Fiction, March 1989. Darlington, Andrew, “Thomas Burnett Swann: Into the Wander Wood,” The Mentor #94, March 1999. Reproduced at the blog Eight Miles Higher with some large magazine cover scans and photos of Swann. De Lint, Charles, “Father of the Not-World,” introduction to THE MINOTAUR TRILOGY by Thomas Burnett Swann. M.D. Hargreaves, hardcover ASIN: 0964147610, 1996. DeLuca, Grover, “The Manner of Roses: The Works of Thomas Burnett Swann,” Mesmeridian #2, Summer 1973 (fanzine published by Dennis McHaney). Fakhouri, Anne, “A savourer avec un bon thé,” actusf.com, undated; a review of the 2006 French edition of LE FORÊT D’ENVERS-MONDE (THE NOT-WORLD). ______, “Merci!” actusf.com, undated; a review of the 2007 French edition of LE PHÉNIX VERT (GREEN PHOENIX). Fredericks, S. Casey, “The Fantastic Pastoral of Thomas Burnett Swann” in THE SCOPE OF THE FANTASTIC—THEORY, TECHNIQUE, MAJOR AUTHORS: Selected Essays from the First International Conference on the Fantastic in Literature and Film, ed. Robert A. Collins & Howard D. Pearce. Greenwood Press, Westport, CT & London, 1985; pp. 201-5. Swann is also referenced and quoted in the introduction by Eric S. Rabkin, and the book is dedicated “To Margaret Gaines Swann, patron of the International Conference on the Fantastic and founder of The Thomas Burnett Swann fund. Without her generous support, the occasion for these studies could not have occurred. Lovers of the fantastic everywhere owe her a measure of gratitude.” Griffin, Bryan, review of WILL-O-THE-WISP by Thomas Burnett Swann, Vector Review Supplement (British Science Fiction Assn), Feb 1977. Hargreaves, M.D., “Thomas Burnett Swann: An International Bibliography” in THE MINOTAUR TRILOGY by Thomas Burnett Swann. M.D. Hargreaves; hardcover ASIN: 0964147610, 1996. López, Alfredo Lara, “Las Fantasías paganas de Thomas Burnett Swann,” Ad astra 5, ediciones Ad astra; colección Revista electrónica, número 5, edición 1ª de junio de 1996. (Soporte: Disco 3'5 DOS, tamaño 095 X 100 mm., 29 páginas.) Page, Gerald W., “Remembering Tom Swann,” in QUEENS WALK IN THE DUSK by Thomas Burnett Swann. Heritage Press, Inc., Forest Park, GA. Page, Jerry (Gerald W.), “Thomas Burnett Swann,” Lore 104 (Atlanta, GA fanzine), Feb, 1966. Reprinted in the omnibus collection A BODY OF LORE (Atlanta, GA: Jerry Page, publisher), 1988. Roehm, Bob, “Thomas Burnett Swann,” Science Fiction Review, 5, No. 3 (1976), p. 5. ______, “Thoman Burnett Swann Dies” and “Thomas Burnett Swann: An Appreciation,” Locus Magazine #189, May 30, 1976. ______, “Autobiography of a Novel: The Development of Thomas Burnett Swann’s THE GODS ABIDE” and “A Thomas Burnett Swann Timeline,” Nightshade #5 (Louisville, KY fanzine), April 1, 1979, pp. 20-24. Ruaud, André-François, “La chaleur et la beauté,” postscript to LE PHÉNIX VERT, Les moutons électriques, 2004, pp. 247-253. ______, “Les petits maîtres de la S.-F.: Thomas Burnett Swann: le passé pour province,” Bifrost nº 9, juillet 1998; reprinted in PANORAMA ILLUSTRATÉ DE LA FANTASY & DU MERVEILLEUX, Les moutons électriques, 2004, pp. 233-237. ______, “Traversée du soleil,” preface to LA TRILOGIE DU MINOTAUR, Gallimard/Folio-SF, 2005, pp. 9-22. Schlobin, Roger Clark, “Thomas Burnett Swann’s Nixies: Pain And Pleasure,” Extrapolation, Spring 1983: pp. 5-12; delivered at the Second International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, 19 March 1981. ______, “The Minotaur Trilogy by Thomas Burnett Swann,” in THE SURVEY OF MODERN FANTASY LITERATURE, ed. Frank N. Magill and Keith Neilson. La Canada, CA: Salem Press, 1983. III, pp. 1029-33. Searles, Baird, “From Asutra to Zardoz,” an installment of Searles’s “What If?” column in The Village Voice, June 13, 1974; the brief passage regarding Swann is quoted here in its entirety: “HOW ARE THE MIGHTY FALLEN (DAW paperback). Thomas Burnett Swann’s neo-romantic fantasies of the past are unique. He uses the stuff of myth (here, for instance, sirens, cyclops, and the Old Testament) but with twists and inventions of his own. This one is a version of the love affair between David and Jonathan, and his best yet.” Stephensen-Payne, Phil, review of DAY OF THE MINOTAUR by Thomas Burnett Swann, Paperback Parlour (British Science Fiction Assn), June 1977. ______, review of WILL-OTHE-WISP by Thomas Burnett Swann, Paperback Parlour (British Science Fiction Assn), Feb 1977. Sturgeon, Theodore, “If. ”, book review column in The New York Times Book Review, Sept. 8, 1974; the brief passage regarding Swann is quoted here in its entirety (including the incorrect word order of the book’s title!): “HOW THE MIGHTY ARE FALLEN (Daw Books, 95 cents) is the latest work of a remarkable writer named Thomas Burnett Swann. He writes blissfully and beautifully separated from trend and fashion; he writes his own golden thing his own way—of Biblical people and the mysteries and gods of their time and essence as real things. I can see his work today capturing some youngster as the timeless beauty of William Morris enchanted me, too many years ago. His new book is, despite the author’s disclaimer, a more exquisite treatment of the David and Jonathan story than Gladys Schmitt’s.” Swann, Thomas Burnett, “The Borrowed Bear,” a brief, personal appreciation of his sources and inspirations, The WSFA Journal (Washington Science Fiction Association), No. 60, Sept 1968; reprinted (and accessible online) in The WSFA Journal, Nov. 1987. ______, The Old Gods Never Die: The Wisdom of Thomas Burnett Swann, an online collection of aphorisms and epigrams gleaned from Swann’s writings and assembled by Hermester Barrington. Vincent, Jérôme, “A la redécouverte d’un grand moment de fantasy,” actusf.com, undated; a review of the 2005 French edition of LA TRILOGIE DU MINOTAURE (THE MINOTAUR TRILOGY). ______, “Fantasy mythologique,” actusf.com, undated; a review of the 2006 French edition of LA DAME DES ABEILLES (LADY OF THE BEES). Waggoner, Diana, THE HILLS OF FARAWAY: A GUIDE TO FANTASY. Atheneum, 1978; “Thomas Burnett Swann,” pp. 276-7; brief critical synopses of nine Swann books. Wagner, T.M., reviews of MINIKINS OF YAM, GREEN PHOENIX, and CRY SILVER BELLS by Thomas Burnett Swann, at the website SFReviews.net. Walker, Hugh (pseudonym of Hubert Strassl), preface to PRINZESSIN DER HAIE (Princess of the Sharks), German-language edition of THE GOAT WITHOUT HORNS by Thomas Burnett Swann, Pabel/Moewig Verlagsunion, 12/ 1979, Terra Fantasy series #68. Yarrow, Ralph, “Perception and Rites of Passage in Lawrence Durrell’s THE DARK LABYRINTH and Thomas Burnett Swann’s THE DAY OF THE MINOTAUR.” SPECTRUM OF THE FANTASTIC: Selected Essays From the Sixth International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, ed. Donald Palumbo. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1988. pp. 165-73. Will-o-the-Wisp by Thomas Burnett Swann. I. THOMAS BURNETT SWANN: CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY color codes: fiction • nonfiction • poetry. DRIFTWOOD (New York: Vantage Press) • Literary Licensing reprint editions in hardcover and paperback (2011) WOMBATS AND MOONDUST (Wings Press, Mill Valley, California; illustrated by Sheila Beardsley) Wings: A Quarterly of Verse #13.3, Autumn 1957, included a book review by Swann. Wings: A Quarterly of Verse #13.5, Spring 1958, included a book review by Swann. “Winged Victory” (Fantastic Universe, July) “Viewpoint” (Nebula Science Fiction #40, May, Scotland) “Lilac Parasols” (poem, Ladies Home Journal, May, vol. LXXVI no. 5) WONDER AND WHIMSY: THE FANTASTIC WORLD OF CHRISTINA ROSSETTI (Francestown: Marshall Jones Co.) “The Dryad-Tree” (Science Fantasy #42, Aug); a short film based on the story, by writer & director Peter Davidson, was released in 2017. “To Trap the Unicorn” (Snowy Egret, vol. 24, #2, Nov) “The Painter” (Science Fantasy #44, Dec) • reprinted in FLYING SAUCERS ed. by Asimov, Greenberg & Waugh (Fawcett Crest paperback, 1987) • in Italian translation (“Il pittore,” tr. Ugo Malaguti, ill. Frank Frazetta, p. 208) in GUERRIERI, E ALTRI PACIFICATORI, Nova SF a. XIII (XXXI) n. 29 (71), March 1997, Perseo Libri, Bologna; in French translation in as “Le Peintre” in LE FORÊT D’ENVERS-MONDE (Gallimard/Folio-SF, 2006) I LIKE BEARS (Golden Quill Press) THE CLASSICAL WORLD OF H.D. (Twayne) “Where Is the Bird of Fire?” (Science Fantasy #52, April) • 1963 Hugo nominee Best Short Fiction • reprinted in the collection WHERE IS THE BIRD OF FIRE? (Ace, 1970; German edition, DER FEUERVOGEL, Pabel/Moewig Verlagsunion/Terra Fantasy 57, 1986) • reprinted in WHAT IF? VOLUME 2, ed. by Richard A. Lupoff (Pocket paperback, 1981) • reprinted in BAKER’S DOZEN: THIRTEEN SHORT FANTASY NOVELS ed. by Asimov, Greenberg & Waugh (Greenwich House/Random House Value Publishing, hardcover, 1984; reissued as THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF SHORT FANTASY NOVELS, presented by Isaac Asimov, London: Robinson, trade paperback, 1886; mass market paperback, 1988; US edition, Carroll & Graf, 1989) • Spanish translation (“¿Dónde está el pájaro de fuego?”) in El Péndulo # 15, May, 1987, Buenos Aires • reprinted in CLASSICAL STORIES: HEROIC TALES FROM ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME ed. by Mike Ashley (London: Past Times, 1996; collection reprinted as HEROIC ADVENTURE STORIES: FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF GREECE AND ROME, Robinson 1998) • expanded into LADY OF THE BEES (Ace, 1976); in French translation (as “Où est-il donc, l’oiseau de feu?”), included in LE PHÉNIX VERT, Les moutons électriques, 2004 . •••• •••• “The Sudden Wings ” (Science Fantasy #55, Oct) • reprinted in THE OXFORD BOOK OF FANTASY STORIES, ed. Tom Shippey (Oxford University Press, 1994; paperback 1995) “The Dolphin and the Deep” (Science Fantasy #60, Aug) • reprinted in the collection THE DOLPHIN AND THE DEEP (Ace, 1968) • included in the anthology THE WILDSIDE BOOK OF FANTASY (Kindle edition, Wildside Press, 2012) “The Murex” (Science Fantasy #63, Feb) • reprinted in the collection THE DOLPHIN AND THE DEEP (Ace, 1968) ALAS, IN LILLIPUT (Achille St. Onge, Worcester, MA; miniature book in edition of 500 copies) ERNEST DOWSON (Twayne) 1964-5. “The Blue Monkeys” (serialized in Science Fantasy #67-69, Sept-Jan) • reprinted in SF REPRISE 3, ed. Michael Moorcock (Compact, 1966) • reprinted as the novel DAY OF THE MINOTAUR (Ace, 1966) THE UNGIRT RUNNER: CHARLES HAMILTON SORELY, POET OF WORLD WAR I (Archon Books) “Vashti” (Science Fantasy #72, May) • reprinted in SF REPRISE 6, ed. by Michael Moorcock (Compact, 1966) • reprinted in the collection WHERE IS THE BIRD OF FIRE? (Ace, 1970); German edition, DER FEUERVOGEL, Pabel/Moewig Verlagsunion/Terra Fantasy 57, 1986) • reprinted in JEWELS OF WONDER: AN ANTHOLOGY OF HEROIC FANTASY ed. by Mike Ashley (London: William Kimber, hardcover, 1991) • in French translation in the French fanzine Antarès, #37-38, 1991. THE WEIRWOODS (serialized in Science Fantasy #77-78, Oct-Nov) • published as a novel (Ace, 1967) DAY OF THE MINOTAUR (Ace, Oct; reprinted March, 78) • orig. serialized in Science Fantasy 1964-5 as “The Blue Monkeys” • 1967 Hugo nominee Best Novel • listed (#32) in MODERN FANTASY: THE HUNDRED BEST NOVELS, AN ENGLISH-LANGUAGE SELECTION, 1946-1987 by David Pringle • in French translation in the dual volume LA FORÊT D'ÉTERNITÉ/AU TEMPS DU MINOTAURE (chez Opta, “Aventures fantastiques”, 1973); reissued in the omnibus paperback LA CRÈTE: LES ROMANS DU LABYRINTHE (Presses de la Cité; ISBN: 2258040256, 1995); retitled and reissued (?) as LE JOUR DU MINOTAURE (Broché, chez Bifrost/Étoiples Vive, Du Belial/Lebelial; ISBN: 2843440262, 2000) • UK Mayflower edition 1975 • German edition, DIE STUNDE DES MINOTAUREN (Pabel/Moewig Verlagsunion/Terra Fantasy 44, 1980); reprinted in the omnibus MINOTAURUS: Der letzte Minotaur, Die Stunde des Minotauren (Pabel/Moewig Verlagsunion, 1990) • reprinted in THE MINOTAUR TRILOGY: CRY SILVER BELLS, THE FOREST OF FOREVER, DAY OF THE MINOTAUR (M.D. Hargreaves; hardcover ASIN: 0964147610, 1996) • in French translation in the omnibus volume LA TRILOGIE DE MINOTAURE (Belial, broché, 2003; Gallimard, poche, 2005) • in Czech translation in the omnibus volume MINOTAURI TRILOGIE (Classic, Prague, paperback, 2011) • Wildside Press paperback (2012) • Wildside Press Kindle edition (2013) “The Manor of Roses” (F&SF, Nov) • 1967 Hugo nominee Best Novelette • incorporated (with “The Stalking Trees”) into THE TOURNAMENT OF THORNS (DAW, 1976) • reprinted in ONCE AND FUTURE TALES FROM THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION, ed. by Edward L. Ferman (Harris-Wolfe/Delphi Press, 1968) • in French translation (as “Le manoir de roses”) in Fiction #176, 1968; reprinted in the collection LE MANOIR DE ROSES, ed. by Marc Duveau (Presses Pocket, Paris, 1978; reissued as HIGH FANTASY 1, 1988); reprinted in LA GRANDE ANTHOLOGIE DE LA FANTASY ed. by Marc Duveau (Omnibus, Paris, 2003) • reprinted in THE BEST FANTASY STORIES FROM THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION ed. by Edward L. Ferman (London: Octopus Books Ltd., 1985) • reprinted in FAERIES: ISAAC ASIMOV’S MAGICAL WORLDS OF FANTASY 12 (Roc/Penguin Books, paperback, 1991; also in Italian edition, IL REGNO INCANTATO, Urania Fantasy 63, Arnold Mondadori Editore, Milano, 1993, p. 21) • reprinted in GREAT TALES OF FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION ed. anon. (London: Chancellor Press, 1991) • reprinted in MODERN CLASSICS OF FANTASY ed. by Gardner Dozois (St. Martin’s, hardcover, 1997) • reprinted (in Spanish translation) as “La Mansión de las rosas” in CIENCIA FICCIÓN SELECCIÓN 2 (4a. ed. Buenos Aires: Bruguera [Libro amigo, 187], 1971) THE WEIRWOODS (Ace) (orig. serialized in Science Fantasy, 1965) • John Betancourt Audible audio edition (2012) “The Borrowed Bear,” a brief, personal appreciation of Swann’s sources and inspirations, in The WSFA Journal (Washington Science Fiction Association), No. 60, Sept 1968; reprinted (and accessible online) in The WSFA Journal, Nov. 1987. THE DOLPHIN AND THE DEEP (Ace, collection of “The Dolphin and the Deep”; “The Manor of Roses”; “The Murex”) MOONDUST (Ace; reprinted 77) • Wildside Press paperback (2014) WHERE IS THE BIRD OF FIRE? (Ace, collection of “Where Is the Bird of Fire?”; “Vashti”; “Bear”) • German edition, DER FEUERVOGEL (Pabel/Moewig Verlagsunion/Terra Fantasy 57, 1986) “A-Hunting We Will Go ” (Maybe: Worlds of Fanfiction #6, July/Aug) “The Goat Without Horns” (F&SF, Aug & Sept; expanded into novel, 1971) “The Red Ants Revolt” (Maybe: Worlds of Fanfiction #7, Sep) “A Problem of Adjustment” (Maybe: Worlds of Fanfiction #8, Oct/Nov; reprinted in Beyond the Fields We Know #1, Autumn 1978) A.A. MILNE (Twayne) THE FOREST OF FOREVER (Ace) • 1972 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award nominee Best Novel • 1972 Locus Awards novel list #15 • in French translation in the dual volume LA FORÊT D'ÉTERNITÉ/AU TEMPS DU MINOTAURE (chez Opta, “Aventures fantastiques”, 1973) • Mayflower UK edition 1975 • German edition, DER LETZTE MINOTAUR (Pabel/Moewig Verlagsunion/Terra Fantasy 34, 1977, reprinted 1980); reprinted in the omnibus MINOTAURUS: Der letzte Minotaur, Die Stunde des Minotauren (Pabel/Moewig Verlagsunion, 1990) • reprinted in THE MINOTAUR TRILOGY: CRY SILVER BELLS, THE FOREST OF FOREVER, DAY OF THE MINOTAUR (M.D. Hargreaves; hardcover ASIN: 0964147610, 1996) • in Franch translation in the omnibus volume LA TRILOGIE DE MINOTAURE (Belial, broché, 2003; Gallimard, poche, 2005) • in Czech translation in the omnibus volume MINOTAURI TRILOGIE (Classic, Prague, paperback, 2011) • Wildside Press hardcover (2011), paperback (2011) and Kindle edition (2012) THE GOAT WITHOUT HORNS (Ballantine, Oct) • German edition, PRINZESSIN DER HAIE (Pabel/Moewig Verlagsunion/Terra Fantasy 68, 1979) • Wildside Press paperback (2012) “Love Is a Dragonfly” (F&SF , Mar) • 1973 Locus Awards novella list #16 • in Spanish translation (as “El Amor es una libélula”) in CIENCIA FICCIÓN SELECCIÓN 32 (8402053092, 1977) • incorporated as part one of the novel GREEN PHOENIX, 1972. GREEN PHOENIX (Ace) • part one from “Love Is a Dragonfly” (F&SF, Mar 72) • 1973 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award nominee Best Novel • Spanish edition, EL FÉNIX VERDE (Barcelona: EDAF [Icaro fantasía, 6], 8476403933, 1972 and 1990) • German edition, DER GRÜNE PHÖNIX (Goldmann, 1978) • included in the German omnibus ZAUBERWÄLDER (Goldmann, 1987) • in French translation as LE PHÉNIX VERT (Les Moutons Electriques, broché, 2004; Points Fantasy, poche, 2007) • Wildside Press hardcover (2011), paperback (2011) and Kindle edition (2012) WOLFWINTER (Ballantine, Nov.) “The Stalking Trees” (F&SF, Jan) • incorporated (with “The Manor of Roses”) into THE TOURNAMENT OF THORNS (DAW, 1976) WILL-O-THE-WISP serialized in Fantastic, Sept & Nov • reprinted as a novel in 1976 (UK Corgi edition) THE NOT-WORLD (DAW, Feb) • Spanish edition, EL MUNDO INEXISTENTE (8476403798, 1975) • German edition, DIE NICHT- WELT (Goldmann, 1978) • in French translation in the dual volume LES DIEUX DEMEURENT/LA FORÊT D’ENVERS-MONDE, (Nouvelles Éditions Opta, 1982)• included in the German omnibus ZAUBERWÄLDER (Goldmann, 1987); • in revised French translation as LE FORÊT D’ENVERS-MONDE (Gallimard/Folio-SF, 2006), which also includes the novel LES DIEUX DEMEURENT (THE GODS ABIDE) and the short story “Le Peintre” (“The Painter”) • Wildside Press Audible audio edition (2015) “The Night of the Unicorn” in NAMELESS PLACES, ed. by Gerald W. Page (Arkham House) • reprinted in THE YEAR’S BEST FANTASY STORIES: 2, Ed. Lin Carter (DAW, 1976; as “ Die Nacht des Einhorns” in the German edition, DÄMONENLIEBE: DIE BESTEN FANTASY-STORIES DES JAHRES, Pabel/Moewig Verlagsunion/Terra Fantasy 85, 1981) • reprinted in UNICORNS! (book 1 in Magic Tales Anthology Series) ed. by Jack Dann & Gardner Dozois (Ace, paperback, 1982) • Italian translation (“La notte dell’ unicorno” trans. Daniela Rossi) in Fantasy Inverno 1992 (Supplement to Urania Fantasy #54, Dec. 1992) “The Dog Days” (phoenisst #1, Feb) THE MINIKINS OF YAM (DAW, Feb) • German edition, DIE TANZENDEN ZWERGE VON YAM (GOLDMANN, 1980) • Wildside Press hardcover, paperback, Audible, and Kindle editions (2013) THE TOURNAMENT OF THORNS (DAW; 1st posthumous novel; combines “The Manor of Roses” and “The Stalking Trees”) • Spanish edition, LA MANSIÓN DE LAS ROSAS (Brugero Libro Amigo, 840207281X, 1980) THE GODS ABIDE (DAW, Dec.; posthumous) • German edition, DIE HEIMLICHEN GÖTTER (The Secret Gods), Goldmann, 1980 • French translation in the dual volume LES DIEUX DEMEURENT/LA FORÊT D’ENVERS-MONDE, (Nouvelles Éditions Opta, 1982); in revised Franch translation as LES DIEUX DEMEURENT in LE FORÊT D’ENVERS-MONDE (Gallimard/Folio-SF, 2006 • Wildside Press Audible audio edition (2012). WILL-O-THE-WISP (Corgi UK paperback; posthumous; previously serialized in Fantastic) • German edition, DER GOLDENE RIESE (The Golden Giant), Goldmann 1978. LADY OF THE BEES (Ace; posthumous; expansion of “Where Is the Bird of Fire”) • German edition, DIE BIENENKÖNIGIN, Goldmann, 1979 • in French translation as LA DAME DES ABEILLES (Les Moutons Electriques, broché, 2006; Points Fantasy, poche, 2007) CRY SILVER BELLS (DAW, Dec.; posthumous) • 1978 Locus Awards fantasy novel list #11 • included in the German omnibus ZAUBERWÄLDER (Goldmann, 1987) • reprinted in THE MINOTAUR TRILOGY: CRY SILVER BELLS, THE FOREST OF FOREVER, DAY OF THE MINOTAUR (M.D. Hargreaves; hardcover ASIN: 0964147610, 1996) • in French translation as LE LABYRINTHE DU MINOTAURE (Broché, chez Bifrost/Étoiles Vive, Du Belial/Lebelial; ISBN: 2843440106, 1998) • in Franch translation in the omnibus volume LA TRILOGIE DE MINOTAURE (Belial, broché, 2003; Gallimard, poche, 2005) • in Czech translation in the omnibus volume MINOTAURI TRILOGIE (Classic, Prague, paperback, 2011) QUEENS WALK IN THE DUSK • Locus Awards fantasy novel list #13 • (Heritage Press, Inc., Forest Park, GA; posthumous; afterword, “Remembering Tom Swann,” by Gerald W. Page; color illustrations by Jeff Jones) • in French translation as LE PEUPLE DE LA MER (Points Fantasy, poche, 2007) • Wildside Press Audible audio edition (2012) • Wildside Press hardcover, paperback and Kindle editions (2013) Thomas Burnett Swann Books In Order. Thomas Burnett Swann Thomas Burnett Swann, born October 12, 1928, was an author, a professor, a poet, and a literary critic. He was best known as the author of many fantasies published during the sixties and seventies. Many of his bucolic stories were set in the Ancient World and were populated by some mythic creatures. He began writing fiction in the year 1958 with “Winged Victory”, a science fiction tale based on the famous headless statue known as the Winged Victory of Samothrace. In his story, the statue’s head is found and is revealed to have been modeled on an alien visitor whom the sculptor took for a goddess. Many of his early stories stories appeared in Science Fantasy, a British magazine. Some of his stories appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Poets appear frequently as characters in his work, always on the good side. Robert Herrick (in “Will-o-the-Wisp”), Sappho (in “Wolfwinter”), Charles Sorley (in “The Goat Without Horns”), and Thomas Chatterton (in “The Not-World”). A lot of his fantasy stories fit into a rough chronology that starts in ancient Egypt around 2500 B.C. and chronicles the steady decline of magic and mythological races like centaurs, dryads, selkies, satyrs, and minotaurs. Thomas blended myth with adventure and romance. He uses the stuff of myth, however, with twists and inventions all his own. His neo-romantic fantasies of the past have been called unique. Much of his writing was straight fantasy. His early story “The Dryad-tree” is set in contemporary Florida and features one woman’s reaction to the knowledge that her new husband’s garden has a tree possessed by a jealous dryad. The story was later adapted into a short film in the year 2017. There is an undercurrent of sexuality that runs through Thomas’ work. Quite a few of his characters are sexually adventurous and they regard sexual repression as being spiritually damaging. Casual and sometimes permanent nudity is quite common in his work. Homosexual relationships between both female and male characters are often hinted at, but seldom made explicit. He was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature three times for Best Book for “The Forest Forever” (1972), “Green Phoenix” (1973), and “How Are the Mighty Fallen” (1975). Thomas was nominated for three Hugo Awards, one for “Where is the Bird of Fire?” (Best Short Story), one for “The Manor of Roses” (Best Novellette), and one for “Day of the Minotaur” (Best Novel). Thomas’ debut novel, called “Day of the Minotaur”, was released in the year 1966. His last novel, titled “Queens Walk in the Dusk”, was released in the year 1977. His work was from the fantasy genre, and wrote the “Minotaur” series and the “Mellonia” series, as well as some stand alone work. Thomas also published two short story collections, “The Dolphin and the Deep” (released in 1968) and “Where is the Bird of Fire?” (released in 1970). He died of cancer at the age of 47 on May 5, 1976. Quite a few of his novels wound up getting published posthumously. “Day of the Minotaur” is the first novel in the “Minotaur” series and was released in the year 1966. Thea watched their torch-bearing captors recede into the distance and just leave them to the darkness of the cave. Icarus, her brother whispered to “forgive me, I just wanted to come out to the Country of the Beasts, and not to the Cave of the Minotaur”. Then they heard the soft padding of feet, or was it hooves?, and the curdling bellow of some enraged monster. It was the bull-that-walks-like-a- man, the hybrid of beast and man, monstrous to your eye and roars with a cold evil. Thea started feeling her way along the walls. Their dampness just oozed like blood ‘tween her fingers. She turned a corner and looked right into the eyes of the Minotaur, and his matted and red hair. Fans found this to be a quick and easy read. Thomas is able to bring to life these fantasy characters from mythology as real beings. Despite its short length, this is an exciting, well-told, and imaginative fantasy novel. “The Weirwoods” is the first stand alone novel and was released in the year 1967. In the time of the Etruscans, the half-forgotten civilization that preceded Rome, fauns, centaurs, and the other manlike races still existed alongside humanity. Between mankind and the Weir Ones was constant distrust and fear. When Lars Velcha, the arrogant nobleman, enslaved one such creature, the distrust and fear turned into warfare. Fans of the novel found this to be a well written novel with strong characterization, is not just a typical evil vs good plot that takes up a lot of fantasy books. Thomas does a great job of transporting the reader into another world and you want to stay there much longer than you are supposed to. “The Minikins of Yam” is a stand alone novel and was released in the year 1976. The twelve year old Pharoah Pepy II is a humanitarian soul, who sneaks out of the palace in the night in disguise so that he can distribute largesse among the downtrodden and poor. However, Pepy gets threatened by machinations of his queen and sister, the former plots his murder so she can have absolute rule. This is a stunt that she could get away with since she could disguise the murder as only a sacrifice to assuage a population that is panicked by the prophetic and untimely arrival of a phoenix right up on the walls of the palace. “The Gods Abide” is a stand alone novel and was released in the year 1976. In this tale of the time of the Celtic and Roman kingdoms, Swann tells a story of the pagan gods’ retreat and all their array of nymphs, little folk, and sprites. Facing the ruthless practicality of this new religion that denies even their right to exist, the varied prehumans face total destruction unless they can find sanctuary beyond detection. It tells their story as well as that of two of their defenders, who are following the trail of some legendary immortals right to the very waters of the Styx. Thomas Burnett Swann. Thomas Burnett Swann (October 12, 1928 - May 5, 1976) was an American poet, critic and fantasy author. His criticism includes works on the poetry of H.D. and Christina Rossetti. Contents. Poetry 1 Fiction 2 Works (excluding non-fiction and poetry) 3 The Minotaur Trilogy 3.1 The Latium Trilogy 3.2 Others 3.3 Short story collections 3.4. Poetry. Swann's poetry consists largely of short, whimsical pieces evoking a naive innocence. Many of them were later incorporated into his novels and placed in the mouths of his characters - sometimes the same poem is spoken by two or three different characters in novels set centuries and continents apart. Poets also frequently appear as characters in his novels, always on the side of good: Sappho in Wolfwinter (1972); Robert Herrick in Will-o-the- Wisp (1977, serialized 1974); a fictionalized Charles Sorley in The Goat Without Horns (1971); and Thomas Chatterton in The Not-World (1975). Fiction. Swann began writing fiction in 1958 with "Winged Victory", a science fiction story based on the famous headless statue known as the Winged Victory of Samothrace. In Swann's story the statue's head is discovered and found to have been modeled upon an alien visitor whom the sculptor took for a goddess. Extraterrestrials also feature in "The Painter", in which the painter Hieronymous Bosch is abducted by hideous aliens and forced to paint them, thereby providing the inspiration for the grotesque images in his painting The Garden of Earthly Delights . This and many other early stories appeared in the British magazine Science Fantasy . Some stories also appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (F&SF) . Most of Swann's fiction was outright fantasy. The early story "The Dryad-tree" is set in contemporary Florida and features a woman's reaction to the knowledge that her new husband's garden contains a tree possessed by a jealous dryad. The bulk of Swann's fantasy fits into a rough chronology that begins in ancient Egypt around 2500 BC and chronicles the steady decline of magic and mythological races such as dryads, centaurs, satyrs, selkies and minotaurs. The coming of more "advanced" civilisations constantly threatens to destroy their pre-industrial world, and they must continually seek refuge wherever they can. They see the advent of Christianity as a major tragedy; the Christians regard magic and mythological beings as evil and seek to destroy the surviving creatures, although some manage to survive and preserve some of their old ways through medieval times down to the late 19th Century and perhaps the 20th. An undercurrent of sexuality runs through all of these stories. Many of Swann's characters are sexually adventurous and regard sexual repression as spiritually damaging. Casual and sometimes permanent nudity is common. Homosexual relationships between both male and female characters are often hinted at, although seldom made explicit. The most openly homosexual relationship in Swann's stories is also the most controversial. His novel How Are the Mighty Fallen (1974) depicts the cyclops, because he felt it misrepresented the style of the novel. Swann died of cancer in 1976. Several of his novels were published posthumously. Works (excluding non-fiction and poetry) The Minotaur Trilogy. (Written in reverse order. Swann claimed that he would correct the inconsistencies between the two earlier books if there was a second edition, but in the event there was not.) Cry Silver Bells (1977) The Forest of Forever (1971) The Day of the Minotaur (1966; previously serialized in 1964-65 as The Blue Monkeys in Science Fantasy ) Collected as The Minotaur Trilogy (1997) The Latium Trilogy. (Not Swann's title; also written largely in reverse) Queens Walk in the Dusk (1977) Formerly Swann's rarest novel, only published in a limited edition of 2000 copies. It has since been reprinted in both hardcover and paperback editions. Others. The Weirwoods (1967; serialized in Science Fantasy 1965) Moondust (1968) The Goat Without Horns (1971) Wolfwinter (1972) How Are the Mighty Fallen (1974) Will-o-the-Wisp (UK1976; serialized in Fantastic 1974; the book seems to have been typeset directly from the magazine, resulting in part of the synopsis of part 1 being erroneously included in the book. The cover design, depicting a woman riding a giant insect, also seems to have been inspired by the cover of the magazine issue containing part 1, although this actually had no connection with Swann's story.) The Not-World (1975) The Gods Abide (1976) The Tournament of Thorns (1976, assembled from two stories in F&SF ; the first is The Stalking Trees January 1973) The Minikins of Yam (1976) Note: this novel's Prologue is printed before the title page, opposite the inside front cover where promotional text would normally be placed. For this reason readers might overlook the Prologue or mistake it for a blurb. Short story collections. The Dolphin and the Deep (1968) Where is the Bird of Fire? (1970) External links. Steven Saylor's Thomas Burnett Swann pages The Old Gods Never Die - a page of Swann quotations compiled by Hermester Barrington Thomas Burnett Swann at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database. 20th-century American novelists American fantasy writers American male novelists 20th-century American poets American short story writers 1928 births 1976 deaths American male poets American male short story writers. Help improve this article. About Us Privacy Policy Contact Us. Copyright © World Library Foundation. All rights reserved. eBooks from Project Gutenberg are sponsored by the World Library Foundation, a 501c(4) Member's Support Non-Profit Organization, and is NOT affiliated with any governmental agency or department.