Fantasy

I like writing fantasy, but the hardest part I have with writing it is that most of my fantasy stories closely resemble what I've read: childish tales. Granted, we will always have Tolkien, and I have a good appreciation for Stephen Donaldson's Covenant trilogies. But there isn't much more, from a reader's perspective.

I have a hard time writing fantasy because every plot always winds up sounding really silly, and the character bios sound as though they were lifted straight from a D-and-D character worksheet. Buff, leather thonged barbarian babe saves world from malicious dragon-equipped wizard who has stolen the mystical crystal orb from the pious mountain villagers. I had my fill of Dragonlance, Piers Anthony's Xanth, et al, when I was in my teens.

For the last six years, I have not written more than a few notes on a fantasy story. Last Spring (2001), that all changed. I had this crazy image in my head of fairies outfitted for combat, firing lasers, and hiding behind a big green leaf. But, at the same time, it seemed so ludicrous that a fairy would be armed and armored, while using a leaf for cover. It was crazy, it was silly, and it was so painfully funny to consider because it summarized what I disliked about contemporary fantasies: though a character may be sound and the plot well thought out, the situations are so absurd!

Dimitri is a young boy who has lived a nightmarish life as a slave to pirates. He has been subjected to abuse and torments that have shattered his body and mind. Yet, he is in perfect health when he arrives near Salem, Massachusettsin, ferrying a sick, ill-countenanced man to shore. And Jacob and Aubrey Marrow, who have heard strange tales from the Salem Witch Trials, are about to hear a story that is either a childish monster story or casts the Witch Trials in a sensible light.

Hazel Fugue is published in 'Boxer Shorts Redux. This document only contains a limited portion of the story. To read the full story, please buy the book.

Chance Gentry is a conjurer working on the absurd orders of the King to conjure personal pleasure demons. He knows the King will eventually order Chance to conjurer his own demon. And when that happens, how will Chance explain the young girl who keeps appearing?

Simon Stewart travels with his friend, Caleb MacKay, to an inhospitable island on family business. When they arrive on the backwater town, they soon find themselves trapped and helpless in a dire situation.

This document contains an excerpt of the novella. The source material is part of a complete novel manuscript targeted for publication.