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Mithgar (Publication) #10
Tales of Mithgar
Trapped by a merciless northern blizzard, the citizens of Mithgar who were lucky enough to make it to the modest town inn and its cozy log fire pass the time comfortably by telling stories and recounting myths. Reprint.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
1 person is currently reading
406 people want to read
About the author
Dennis L. McKiernan
69 books519 followersMcKiernan was born in Moberly, Missouri, where he lived until he served the U.S. Air Force for four years, stationed within US territory during the Korean War. After military service, he attended the University of Missouri and received a B.S. in electrical engineering in 1958 and an M.S. in the same field from Duke University in 1964. He worked as an engineer at AT&T, initially at Western Electric but soon at Bell Laboratories, from 1958 until 1989. In 1989, after early retirement from engineering, McKiernan began writing on a full-time basis.
In 1977, while riding his motorcycle, McKiernan was hit by a car which had crossed the center-line, and was confined to a bed, first in traction and then in a hip spica cast, for many months. During his recuperation, he boldly began a sequel to J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The publisher Doubleday showed an interest in his work and tried to obtain authorization from Tolkien's estate but was denied. Doubleday then asked McKiernan to rewrite his story, placing the characters in a different fictitious world, and also to write a prequel supporting it. The prequel, of necessity, resembles The Lord of the Rings; the decision of Doubleday to issue the work as a trilogy increased that resemblance; and some critics have seen McKiernan as simply imitating Tolkien's epic work. McKiernan has subsequently developed stories in the series that followed along a story line different from those that plausibly could have been taken by Tolkien.
McKiernan's Faery Series expands tales draw from Andrew Lang's Fairy Books, additionally tying the selected tales together with a larger plot.
McKiernan currently lives in Tucson, Arizona.
(Biography taken from Wikipedia)
In 1977, while riding his motorcycle, McKiernan was hit by a car which had crossed the center-line, and was confined to a bed, first in traction and then in a hip spica cast, for many months. During his recuperation, he boldly began a sequel to J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The publisher Doubleday showed an interest in his work and tried to obtain authorization from Tolkien's estate but was denied. Doubleday then asked McKiernan to rewrite his story, placing the characters in a different fictitious world, and also to write a prequel supporting it. The prequel, of necessity, resembles The Lord of the Rings; the decision of Doubleday to issue the work as a trilogy increased that resemblance; and some critics have seen McKiernan as simply imitating Tolkien's epic work. McKiernan has subsequently developed stories in the series that followed along a story line different from those that plausibly could have been taken by Tolkien.
McKiernan's Faery Series expands tales draw from Andrew Lang's Fairy Books, additionally tying the selected tales together with a larger plot.
McKiernan currently lives in Tucson, Arizona.
(Biography taken from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 17, 2019
McKiernan balances the yin yang of stories taking place in his world of Mithgar among Warrows holed up in the One-Eyed Crow bar during a snow storm as tales are traded among the owner and customers.
The thread running through the book is the hunt for the dreaded Baron Stoke by Riatha, Petal, Tomlin, and Urus the Baeron. Heavy stuff.
Some of the other tales resemble more fairy tale fare, but the balance is perfect and McKiernan is in his element relating these stories through the various Warrow characters relating them to a captive audience.
The thread running through the book is the hunt for the dreaded Baron Stoke by Riatha, Petal, Tomlin, and Urus the Baeron. Heavy stuff.
Some of the other tales resemble more fairy tale fare, but the balance is perfect and McKiernan is in his element relating these stories through the various Warrow characters relating them to a captive audience.
January 14, 2018
This is a collection of Mithgar stories told within the familiar framework of travelers trapped by foul weather swapping tales around a fire. It's a good selection of stories, and a lot of fun seeing how they fit together with the novels in the series and the history of the world as it has been revealed up to this point. The length of the individual stories doesn't provide for as much character development and interplay as McKiernan usually provides, but it's a very interesting addition to Mithgarian lore.
November 25, 2023
McKiernan is among my top three favorite authors. His writing can be a bit campy at times, but it's just delightful to read. He creates a strong feeling of atmosphere, a world that is both ancient and timeless, where common folk can leave the comfort of their homes and, in a few days' travel, may wander into the wide wilderness with all its thorny woodlands and icy mountain peaks.
McKiernan consistently weaves themes of war, duty, friendship, and heroism into his tales. War is hell, duty requires sacrifice, friendship is worth more than any hoard of gold, and true heroes are ordinary people who do what is hard because it's the right thing to do. McKiernan's heroes suffer loss, disappointments, and lifelong scars. Reading McKiernan's writing gives one a sense of respect for veterans, elders, and everyday heroes.
- - - -
This book contains several short stories exploring different corners of Mithgar from a Warrow's perspective. All in the cozy atmosphere of a snowed-in tavern during a winter blizzard.
Warning: some of the stories can get pretty gruesome. McKiernan doesn't try to romanticize war. There are a few episodes of graphic violence.
CC: blood and violence, horror, alcohol, mature themes (war and tragedy).
McKiernan consistently weaves themes of war, duty, friendship, and heroism into his tales. War is hell, duty requires sacrifice, friendship is worth more than any hoard of gold, and true heroes are ordinary people who do what is hard because it's the right thing to do. McKiernan's heroes suffer loss, disappointments, and lifelong scars. Reading McKiernan's writing gives one a sense of respect for veterans, elders, and everyday heroes.
- - - -
This book contains several short stories exploring different corners of Mithgar from a Warrow's perspective. All in the cozy atmosphere of a snowed-in tavern during a winter blizzard.
Warning: some of the stories can get pretty gruesome. McKiernan doesn't try to romanticize war. There are a few episodes of graphic violence.
CC: blood and violence, horror, alcohol, mature themes (war and tragedy).
September 30, 2022
Simple, entertaining, pulp high fantasy. There's nothing ground breaking about it, but it's fun to read
January 9, 2012
by Dennis L. McKiernan, published in 1994.
Despite being an almost total ripoff of Tolkien’s mythological works, I like Dennis L. McKiernan’s take on things. This particular work, “Tales of Mithgar”, is a collection of mythical short stories taking place in his world of Mithgar.
It’s a world of high fantasy, like Tolkiens, but it has a more rustic charm and whimsical nature about it. So we have Warrows (hobbits if you like) and Rhuks (Orcs), etc - so if you are familiar with just about any high fantasy work this one will be no exception and provide no real surprises.
How do the tales stack up? Well, mostly they are fun but a few, dealing with the war (The Iron Tower Trilogy by same author) are pretty grim but pretty neat as well. The writing style is easy to read and the tales are not hard to follow and I like how they are dealt with here. You see, all the tales come from Warrows who get snowed in at the One-eyed Crow the local pub.
From this snowed in crew of Warrows we get the tales as they sit in front of the roaring fire swilling ale and smoking pipeweed . . . Yes, hobbits if you like again. The best tales within are those that deal with Baron Stoke, a nasty villain who is a shapechanger and evil, evil creature from times long past. You know the kind that old Warrows would tell young Warrows would come to get them if they didn’t behave.
Overall I found the tales fun and a quick light read. If you can get past the Tolkien ripoff annoyance, you will enjoy these just fine.
You will not really need to read the other works from McKiernan to enjoy this set of tales but it will likely enhance your enjoyment of them if you do. His Mithgar works, before this set of tales is as follows,
The Iron Tower Trilogy
The Silver Call Duology
Dragondoom
The Eye of the Hunter
Voyage of the Fox Rider
All worth the read if you can get past the . . .
No, won’t say it again. Maybe not too original, but fun nonetheless.
Despite being an almost total ripoff of Tolkien’s mythological works, I like Dennis L. McKiernan’s take on things. This particular work, “Tales of Mithgar”, is a collection of mythical short stories taking place in his world of Mithgar.
It’s a world of high fantasy, like Tolkiens, but it has a more rustic charm and whimsical nature about it. So we have Warrows (hobbits if you like) and Rhuks (Orcs), etc - so if you are familiar with just about any high fantasy work this one will be no exception and provide no real surprises.
How do the tales stack up? Well, mostly they are fun but a few, dealing with the war (The Iron Tower Trilogy by same author) are pretty grim but pretty neat as well. The writing style is easy to read and the tales are not hard to follow and I like how they are dealt with here. You see, all the tales come from Warrows who get snowed in at the One-eyed Crow the local pub.
From this snowed in crew of Warrows we get the tales as they sit in front of the roaring fire swilling ale and smoking pipeweed . . . Yes, hobbits if you like again. The best tales within are those that deal with Baron Stoke, a nasty villain who is a shapechanger and evil, evil creature from times long past. You know the kind that old Warrows would tell young Warrows would come to get them if they didn’t behave.
Overall I found the tales fun and a quick light read. If you can get past the Tolkien ripoff annoyance, you will enjoy these just fine.
You will not really need to read the other works from McKiernan to enjoy this set of tales but it will likely enhance your enjoyment of them if you do. His Mithgar works, before this set of tales is as follows,
The Iron Tower Trilogy
The Silver Call Duology
Dragondoom
The Eye of the Hunter
Voyage of the Fox Rider
All worth the read if you can get past the . . .
No, won’t say it again. Maybe not too original, but fun nonetheless.
September 28, 2020
If you like the Mithgar series this is worth having for the background of the next book, The Eye of the Hunter. I'm not a fan of short story collections so I only tried a few of the "extras." I did read all 3 of the short stories about Baron Stoke. Looking at the Baron Stoke collection a whole, it's a good "novella" and creates interest in the full length novel that follows. I'm not quite sure why the 3 installments are spread out through the collection. Maybe McKiernan couldn't justify a full length novel using this portion of the Baron Stokes story and had some ideas for short stories. The three short stories about Stoke are "The Vulgmaster," "Dreadholt," and "When Iron Bells Ring."
February 11, 2010
It was horrible, bad writing! It was redundant and repeated itself a lot! Nay! It repeated itself quite a bit, like a Wee Un!
If you couldn't stand that last paragraph, you don't want to read this book. I was only able to get through about ten pages of it, and only that much because the only other option was really bad TV. Plus there was something called a "Vulfcwmb." No kidding, that's an actual word from the book, some town or village.
If you couldn't stand that last paragraph, you don't want to read this book. I was only able to get through about ten pages of it, and only that much because the only other option was really bad TV. Plus there was something called a "Vulfcwmb." No kidding, that's an actual word from the book, some town or village.
February 16, 2013
Honestly, I looked forward to reading this book for a while. I was let down immensely. I expected clear, straightfoward writing and interesting characters. Unfortunately, this book was like reading Lord of the Rings translated by a Russian immigrant. I didn't even finish the damn thing, I read the first story and half the second one and sold it to Bookmans.
April 17, 2014
For fans of Mithgar you get a few stand alone stories, a few that just reference other events/people throughout Mithgar's history, plus some definite tie-in stories (especially to Eye of the Hunter). Four is maybe a tad generous but we round up.
did-not-finish
March 3, 2012Stopped Page 76
February 24, 2013
This was a very fun way to do a short story anthology tie in. I read this one when I was just a little tyke, so my dog-eared old paperback copy still has a place of honor on my shelf.
February 26, 2015
If you enjoy the Mithgar stories, these short stories are a nice addition.
May 9, 2015
3 preview stories to Eye of the Hunter... read these chronologically before the novel... some stories to make you smile and some sad ones, too.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews