Pigsong

Frank Delaney Storytellers #3

by Frank Delaney

"Once upon a time and long ago, when snow tasted like cream, and timber tasted like sweet cake, and every tenth egg laid by a duck had a diamond in it, there lived up in the North of Ireland a very bad man."The third short story in Frank Delaney's series, "Storytellers," is far more than charming as he instructs, seduces, entertains and allows us to see how an oppressed culture might have learned the concept of justice through imagination.

31 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Frank Delaney was an author, a broadcaster on both television and radio, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, lecturer, and a judge of many literary prizes. Delaney interviewed more than 3,500 of the world's most important writers. NPR called him 'The Most Eloquent Man in the World'. Delaney was born and raised in County Tipperary, Ireland, spent more than twenty-five years in England before moving to the United States in 2002. He lived in Litchfield County, Connecticut, with his wife, writer and marketer, Diane Meier.

Reviews

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pigsong is part of a series of short stories titled Storytellers by Frank Delaney. These short stories might have started as an introducing to Delaney's latest novel The Last Storyteller, but Pigsong is a great story in its own right. Like the other short stories in the collection, Pigsong echos the cadence and feel of the traveling storyteller entertaining in exchange for food and shelter. In Pigsong the storyteller gives readers a story about the magic of hope and justice. An evil couple provides labor for their farm by stealing unsuspecting individuals and keeping them as slaves. One such slave is put to work watching over the pigs. However pigs are not the dirty, ignoble creatures they are often labeled to be. The pigs can hum, and one can even sing. The rhyming words of the pig led to freedom and one young man's journey to help those in despair.

Pigsong is a charming story, with a unique feel that honors the oral tradition of storytelling. While the story itself is short, the reach is grand. Could a singing pig, one that sings in charmingly simple rhymes, inspire one frightened young man to free an army of slaves? Could imagination have truly inspired an oppressed community or culture to listen for the hidden songs that could guide them to independence? Would you be able to hear the song, and would you heed it?

Pigsong, and the rest of the short story series, is available in e-book format. Delaney plans to continue releasing one story a month through the end of 2012. Each is accessible, entertaining, and thought-provoking for readers of all ages. In fact, I think I am keeping Pigsong on my iPod touch a little long to use for some bedtime reading with my children. I think my daughter would love the cadence, but it might give her too many ideas about raising up against the oppression of bedtime.

I recommend Pigsong to readers that enjoy short stories, mythology, legends, and the oral tradition. I am ready to go back and read the other short stories in the Storyteller series that have already been released, and to keep on reading the series.

[Viviane Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Delaney continues his Storyteller short story series with this tale that contains all of the elements of great storytelling that the author describes: "surprise...magic...notable, place-holding phrases...digression..homespun wisdom...hint of morality...and the suspension of belief and disbelief at one and the same time." Yes, it's all here in this very brief short story and what a story it is!

Yes, "once upon a time..." there was a very greedy and hard-hearted couple who wanted to get rich but knew they couldn't do it alone. So they devise a scheme to obtain (something like that, ahem) the necessary help and create a horrific world for far too many people. So far, nothing we haven't met in other tales, right? But now is where the magic begins!

A young boy set to the task of taking care of pigs learns to truly listen to the song that will free him and make him a new man capable of so much more than one's limited imagination alone can dream! No, no more here - you simply must read this wonderful story, written in impeccable and eloquent language, to fully appreciate the gift within it which will let your own heart listen and soar to new heights!

Frank Delaney has done it again - what a gem - a must read written by a true Bard!