King of Elfland's Daughter!

     So I recently jumped back into reading Appendix N literature, since I have a backlog of books I own but have not read. Her is what I think of Lord Dunsany's King of Elfland's Daughter, published in 1924.

What a read! The style of prose was a change of pace, along with the use of vocabulary that was refreshing. I have read of HP Lovecraft singing his praises, stating his dream cycle stories were Dunsanian. There is a faerie tale quality that is a break from the hack and slash of Howard or action adventure of Burroughs. If you have a chance to read this, and you want something a bit different, give it a shot. I have one other of his books, but decided to read something different.

     Good ole Manly Wade Wellman! This is the second Wellman novel (Also the second Silver John) that I have read, the first being The Hanging Stones (published in 1984. After Dark, published in 1980, was a bit more confrontational than I recall Hanging Stones to be. It has John and his friends confronting and ancient race that wants to subvert humanity. Silver John uses his knowledge of folk lore and a book called The Long Lost Friend to great effect. Once you get used to the way characters speak, ie nair is never, hair is hear, hark is to call out, the pages zip along. Well worth searching used bookstores or even the internet.

Diving back into Appendix N Literature!

     Just started reading Lord Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter, which is also my first time reading any of his work. I first heard of Dunsany in relation to HP Lovecraft, who had a fondness for Lord Dunsany.

     What first struck me was the prose, a bit flowery but it does not get in the way of the story unlike some other more well known authors. I am reminded that this was first published in 1924. The DCC patron King of Elfland comes from this book and from what I have read so far, they did well emulating him.
"Master of the verdant realm glimpsed only through sun-dappled groves, the mist of great waterfalls, and the moments of dusk and dawn,the King of Elfland rules all elf-kin from his throne of mist and ice. Fierce once roused, the white-bearded regent keeps watch over the dreaming land,protecting against incursion."
Yep, that sounds like Dunsany's King.

     There are more bits that I would like to share, but only after I have finished. There will be more Appendix N literature to come, as I have a backlog of them to read. It seems silly to continue to pick up books and not read them. Downright irresponsible if you ask me. Anyone out there read this yet, leave a comment, did you like it? Take care and have fun everybody!