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Silver John
John the Balladeer
In John the Balladeer, Manly Wade Wellman created one of the great characters in all of horror and fantasy literature. Armed with his silver-stringed guitar and an endless trove of folk songs, John travels the backwoods of Appalachia, battling supernatural evil with his own brand of down-home charm and endless resourcefulness. In these tales, John wanders the Southern mountains, encountering hoodoo men and witch women, strange supernatural beasts, malevolent spirits, and even George Washington's ghost.
Edited by horror legend Karl Edward Wagner, this volume contains the complete John the Balladeer stories in their original, unaltered form, as they first appeared in magazines and anthologies between 1951 and 1987. Also featured are a foreword by Wellman's friend and literary executor David Drake and an introduction by Wagner.
"Just as J. R. R. Tolkien brilliantly created a modern British myth cycle, so did Manly Wade Wellman give to us an imaginary world of purely American fact, fantasy and song." - Karl Edward Wagner
"This is the real thing-a book of haunting fantasies with their roots going down deep into the American folk tradition." - Robert Silverberg
Edited by horror legend Karl Edward Wagner, this volume contains the complete John the Balladeer stories in their original, unaltered form, as they first appeared in magazines and anthologies between 1951 and 1987. Also featured are a foreword by Wellman's friend and literary executor David Drake and an introduction by Wagner.
"Just as J. R. R. Tolkien brilliantly created a modern British myth cycle, so did Manly Wade Wellman give to us an imaginary world of purely American fact, fantasy and song." - Karl Edward Wagner
"This is the real thing-a book of haunting fantasies with their roots going down deep into the American folk tradition." - Robert Silverberg
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
July 29, 2008
Although I first encountered Silver John at novel length, the author introduced him in the short fiction form, not long after moving to Appalachia himself and falling in love with the region. The homespun, largely self-educated John is the last of a chain of paranormal investigator series characters found in Wellman's work going back to the pulp era (and he's no less smart and formidable than the rest), but his background makes him a change of pace from the others, and his wise, folksy persona makes him a particularly endearing character. (My wife is not a supernatural fiction fan, but became a fan of this series when I introduced her to it, and admits that this is largely because of the appeal of John himself.)
Born to missionary parents in what is today Angola, and himself a professing Episcopalian, Wellman not infrequently reflects Christian faith in his writing. A Christian message is clearest here in the very Christ-centered "On the Hills and Everywhere;" but it also underlies stories like "Trill Coster's Burden," which revolves around the old practice of "sin-eating" (and features a rare literary appearance of John's wife, Evadare), and "Walk Like a Mountain." John's own faith is low-key (and not inconsistent with moderate use of moonshine, an Appalachian custom Wellman also appreciated :-) ) but it's present in the background. A part of the appeal of the stories (and the Silver John novels as well) is the author's deft use of Appalachian background, and rich Appalachian dialect, especially in John's own narrative voice --and unlike Appalachian writers like Sharyn McCrumb, Wellman consciously presents a traditional Appalachia as little touched by modernity as possible, which much of it still was in 1951, when he wrote the first Silver John story. But his erudition in the lore of the macabre is wide-ranging, so his story elements aren't always confined to strictly Appalachian motifs. Finally, Wellman's plots are upbeat; his outlook is that of a Romantic, not a cynic, so the reader can trust that in Silver John, the forces of evil will meet their match.
Born to missionary parents in what is today Angola, and himself a professing Episcopalian, Wellman not infrequently reflects Christian faith in his writing. A Christian message is clearest here in the very Christ-centered "On the Hills and Everywhere;" but it also underlies stories like "Trill Coster's Burden," which revolves around the old practice of "sin-eating" (and features a rare literary appearance of John's wife, Evadare), and "Walk Like a Mountain." John's own faith is low-key (and not inconsistent with moderate use of moonshine, an Appalachian custom Wellman also appreciated :-) ) but it's present in the background. A part of the appeal of the stories (and the Silver John novels as well) is the author's deft use of Appalachian background, and rich Appalachian dialect, especially in John's own narrative voice --and unlike Appalachian writers like Sharyn McCrumb, Wellman consciously presents a traditional Appalachia as little touched by modernity as possible, which much of it still was in 1951, when he wrote the first Silver John story. But his erudition in the lore of the macabre is wide-ranging, so his story elements aren't always confined to strictly Appalachian motifs. Finally, Wellman's plots are upbeat; his outlook is that of a Romantic, not a cynic, so the reader can trust that in Silver John, the forces of evil will meet their match.
Read
June 27, 2007hillbilly gold. and spooky as hell.
February 23, 2008
This is one of those books that I need to have handy; it'll never get weeded from my collection.
Wellman's short stories are touching, heartfelt americana - oh, and spooky as all hell.
Wellman's short stories are touching, heartfelt americana - oh, and spooky as all hell.
May 29, 2017
I've been interested in the character of John the Balladeer, or known in some circles as Silver John, since I encountered a mention of him. Please read the short forward by David Drake so you have a better idea of where Wellman is headed with this character.
With the large urban fantasy market I am surprised that no one has really thought of trying rural fantasy. Years before urban fantasy really became as big as it is, Wellman had John and his guitar going through the mountain regions of the Southeast encountering dangers told about in old tales and songs.
John is not so much the protagonist as a catalyst, and that works well in these short stories. John wanders into a town or settlement, hears tell of an old story or song, and then deals with the aftermath. It could be an old curse, or something awakened by John's arrival.
This is a very enjoyable collection, and I am aware that John appears in a couple of novels. However, I don't see the character working well in a novel, as he is barely two-dimensional in these stories.
But, he does work in these short stories.
With the large urban fantasy market I am surprised that no one has really thought of trying rural fantasy. Years before urban fantasy really became as big as it is, Wellman had John and his guitar going through the mountain regions of the Southeast encountering dangers told about in old tales and songs.
John is not so much the protagonist as a catalyst, and that works well in these short stories. John wanders into a town or settlement, hears tell of an old story or song, and then deals with the aftermath. It could be an old curse, or something awakened by John's arrival.
This is a very enjoyable collection, and I am aware that John appears in a couple of novels. However, I don't see the character working well in a novel, as he is barely two-dimensional in these stories.
But, he does work in these short stories.
January 28, 2019
This is a great monster-of-the-week series. Each story is short, often very short, and involves John walking into a town or up to a backwoods farm, or just meeting someone in the middle of nowhere, guitar in hand, sings a song that probably he shouldn’t sing, and waking the dead or scaring the living, until the antagonist is dealt with.
Most often it’s not a coincidence that he finds so much supernatural: he’s searching for the what he finds.
The musical snips were so inspiring I dug out my copy of 80 Appalachian Folk Songs after finishing the book and played a few. I’m pretty sure that even when John isn’t singing, he’s sneaking in lyrical references here and there.
Also interesting are all the old names he uses, including a name I haven’t heard ever except as an insult on Bewitched. There are two Derwoods in these stories.
Most often it’s not a coincidence that he finds so much supernatural: he’s searching for the what he finds.
The musical snips were so inspiring I dug out my copy of 80 Appalachian Folk Songs after finishing the book and played a few. I’m pretty sure that even when John isn’t singing, he’s sneaking in lyrical references here and there.
Also interesting are all the old names he uses, including a name I haven’t heard ever except as an insult on Bewitched. There are two Derwoods in these stories.
December 19, 2023
John the Balladeer uses his knowledge of folklore, the occult, as well as science to help people in need. Not much is known of John’s past besides that he fought in the Korean War as sharpshooter. In these stories he wanders the haunted back hills of North Carolina with his silver-strung guitar. He encounters strange creatures, witch-women, and various haunts.
Almost all the stories include verses of folk songs John sings in the stories. Some of the songs are authentic and some of the songs were written by the author.
Usually with story collections I find some stories stronger than others with a story or two that I don’t care for. This is the first collection of stories where I felt that all the stories were outstanding, all 4s and 5s out of 5. I absolutely loved this book.
Besides the foreword by David Drake, there’s an excellent introduction by Karl Edward Wagner.
Almost all the stories include verses of folk songs John sings in the stories. Some of the songs are authentic and some of the songs were written by the author.
Usually with story collections I find some stories stronger than others with a story or two that I don’t care for. This is the first collection of stories where I felt that all the stories were outstanding, all 4s and 5s out of 5. I absolutely loved this book.
Besides the foreword by David Drake, there’s an excellent introduction by Karl Edward Wagner.
January 9, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this collection of stories. It's partly brilliant, partly annoying. The early stories, where John isn't quite such a pious do-gooder, are superior to the later, in which the same tired formula is repeated again and again: John is threatened by evil but it's OK because he has good on his side, so he's bound to win. This formula destroys any tension that might have existed. And yet, some of the atmospheric effects in certain passages are hugely enjoyable.
June 13, 2008
Atmospheric set of folkloric horror tales set in the shadowy hollows of Appalachia.
John & his silver-strung guitar make an indelible impression.
John & his silver-strung guitar make an indelible impression.
February 29, 2024
John the Balladeer, by Manly Wade Wellman. 1988.
Wellman wrote for the pulps, contributing science fiction, fantasy, adventure, horror. and occult detective stories to such iconic pulp magazines as Weird Tales, Astounding Stories, and many others. Born in Portuguese West Africa (now known as Angola), his family moved to the United States when he was a boy. Though he spent time in Salt Lake City (Utah), Wichita (Kansas), Washington (D.C.), and New York, when he was in his late 40's he moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, fully embracing Southern Appalachian mountain culture, where he remained until his death in 1986. It is from this period - the early 1950's through the 1980's - that he wrote his John (aka John the Balladeer, aka Silver John) stories.
John is a wandering mountain man with a mysterious past that ventures from place to place, confronting various creatures and other baddies that threaten the village folk. He is best known for his silver-stringed guitar, his knowledge of the occult, and his wit. Wellman infused these tales with his real-life knowledge of Appalachian folklore, hoodoo, and folk music, all while crafting his own original lore.
These short stories were a pleasure to read. If you like pulp fantasy and folklore, and want to read that type of thing in a Southern Appalachian setting, this collection should be right up your alley.
Wellman wrote for the pulps, contributing science fiction, fantasy, adventure, horror. and occult detective stories to such iconic pulp magazines as Weird Tales, Astounding Stories, and many others. Born in Portuguese West Africa (now known as Angola), his family moved to the United States when he was a boy. Though he spent time in Salt Lake City (Utah), Wichita (Kansas), Washington (D.C.), and New York, when he was in his late 40's he moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, fully embracing Southern Appalachian mountain culture, where he remained until his death in 1986. It is from this period - the early 1950's through the 1980's - that he wrote his John (aka John the Balladeer, aka Silver John) stories.
John is a wandering mountain man with a mysterious past that ventures from place to place, confronting various creatures and other baddies that threaten the village folk. He is best known for his silver-stringed guitar, his knowledge of the occult, and his wit. Wellman infused these tales with his real-life knowledge of Appalachian folklore, hoodoo, and folk music, all while crafting his own original lore.
These short stories were a pleasure to read. If you like pulp fantasy and folklore, and want to read that type of thing in a Southern Appalachian setting, this collection should be right up your alley.
November 22, 2023
This is a complete collection of Wellman's "Silver John" stories in order of publication and in their original versions (a previous collection altered some of them to give the book more of the feel of a novel), most written in the 1950s except for six stories from 1979-87 and a small number of vignettes (only a page or two each) from the 1960s. All are set in the Appalachian Mountains and are a mix of fantasy, horror, folk music, local superstition, and religion. Wellman does an excellent job of capturing the dialect, practices and beliefs of the region without having the characters come off as stereotypes or sounding patronizing. Good solid tales with an interesting twist on the pulp supernatural genre - with the exception (in my opinion) of "old Devlins Was A-Waiting," which felt like the author was trying to throw some science fiction concepts what would have served as a solid ghost story. The introduction to this book was written by Karl Edward Wagner, who was friends with Wellman, and I could immediately recognize Wellman's influence on such Wagner short stories as ".22 Swift," "In the Pines," and "Sing a Last Song of Valdese." 3.5 stars.
January 20, 2022
John roams the mountains of Appalachia carrying little more than his silver-stringed guitar and a rucksack with some provisions. Motivated by curiosity, he seeks out folklore and new songs to add to his repertoire. Along the way he encounters simple folk in need, sinister magicians, and supernatural horrors. John lives by his wits, the magic-defeating silver of his guitar strings, and his knowledge of folklore and biblical lore.
There’s a wandering outsider hero, black magic, and otherworldly menaces. These stories aren’t precisely sword & sorcery, but if you like that sort of thing, you’ll like THIS sort of thing.
There’s a wandering outsider hero, black magic, and otherworldly menaces. These stories aren’t precisely sword & sorcery, but if you like that sort of thing, you’ll like THIS sort of thing.
November 1, 2025
¡Shoo!
A veces tengo problemas para las estrellas y que decir en general cuando se trata de historias escritas antes de 1980’s debido a estilo, que pueden reflejar la forma de pensar en ese momento algo que por lo general choca con la (ideal) actualidad y que en ese momento ese tipo de historias generara terror o inquietud entre lectores pero ahora nada de ello.
Pero luego aparece un autor que muestra lo anterior, PERO es tan particular y se aleja de lo que usual para ese periodo que hace dudar cuantas estrellas darle.
En esta ocasión, el señor Wellman con excepción de un personaje femenino el resto o es imbécil/inútil o una especie de mujer fatal no hay de más, eso sí, todas hermosas, a la par de una que otra línea media tonta que a nuestros días suena machista, pero en el otro lado de la moneda no solo incluye un investigador de lo oculto como protagonista, incluye en sus historias seres, creencias, forma de hablar/ vocabulario (que hizo en ocasiones usara internet para entender), y canciones de una región en particular como lo son las montañas Apalaches.
Por su origen de historias cortas publicadas a saber con que periodicidad pues se entiende haya algunas recalcas, pero me pareció de más a cada rato leer la guitarra que utiliza el protagonista tenga cuerdas de plata.
Aparte, como no soy fan de las canciones por muy folclóricas que estas sean estar leyendo estrofas aquí y allá en cada relato me fastidiaba y sinceramente dejé de prestarles atención en la 3 o 4 historia.
A continuación las historias en esta colección así como una pequeña impresión, [*] indica mi favorito.
O Ugly Bird!: Gracias a sus poderes, un hombre acosa a sus vecinos en un alejado pueblo.
The desrick on Yandro: La mala suerte hace que conozca a un hombre arrogante quien le pide llevarle al sitio donde su abuelo comenzó su fortuna, al llegar, ambos se enteran que tal vez no sea tan casualidad que él haya regresado. Hacen su aparición algunos seres mitológicos y uno... no tanto. Desrick es un tipo de cabaña.
Vandy, Vandy: Similar a O ugly bird!, una familia alejada en la montaña es acosada, más en especifico la hija, por un hombre que les causa pavor.
One other: Nuestro prota llega justo en el momento para detener la última parte de un hechizo que una chica estaba lanzándole por despecho al haber sido ignorada, por lo cual no le importa usar un estanque sin fondo que al parecer conecta con otra dimensión.
Call me from the Valley [*]: Tras guarecerse de la lluvia junto con un grupo de hombres chismosos/cotillas/gossipers nuestro prota llega a una cabaña donde se planea una reunión largamente esperada.
The Little black train: Siendo invitado inesperadamente a una fiesta en la cual la anfitriona celebra su (aparente) triunfo contra una maldición.
Shiver in the pines [*]: mientras disfruta un rato ameno con unos hombres un extraño les pide se unan a su búsqueda de oro. La cosa es, dentro de la mina hay algo más.
Walk like a mountain: Se embarca en un rescate que al final no lo es.
On the hills and everywhere [*]: John cuenta a sus ¿sobrinos? una historia real que escuchó sobre un hombre que contrata a un misterioso carpintero para que le ayude alejar a su vecino y ex-amigo.
Old devils was a-waiting: El cuadrado de Sator, palíndromos, una canción, y el deseo de venganza/proteger se unen ocasionando el retorno de un antepasado. Aburrida en su mayor parte gracias a los personajes académicos en especial una dra que intenta encontrar explicaciones científicas para lo sobrenatural.
Nine yards of other cloth: Rescatando a una mujer de un acosador que posee un tipo violín encantado, y para colmo el lugar se encuentra en una hondonada donde se dice habita un antiguo dios.
Wonder as I wander: Parecieran ideas para relatos, 7 en total, que el autor deseaba desarrollar pero por alguna razón no lo hizo. Me gustó la idea del encuentro con un centauro.
Farther down the Trail: Similar a la anterior, pero estas 4 pequeñas historias se sienten completas aun cuando se componen de unos cuantos párrafos. Me gustó la del tipo que se fue a cazar y al volver habían transcurrido 28 años pero para él solo fueron unas horas. Historia que pareciera cada país tiene su versión.
Trill coster's burden: Una parte va sobre la figura de/la Comepecados, lo que pudo ser genial historia si no fuese por un romance y boda WTF y que una tipa que apenas ve a John quiere quedarse con él.
The spring: La disputa por un manantial con propiedades curativas milagrosas... o letales.
Owls hoot in the daytime [*]: Investigando rumores llega a una casa construida frente a una cueva, ¿por qué su único habitante no se ha ido?
Can these bones live? [*]: Tras participar en el entierro de unos restos encontrados nuestro prota aguarda en la noche al lado de la tumba, esperando.
Nobody ever goes there: La única historia no narrada por John, esta en 3a persona. Empleados y habitantes de una fábrica y aledaños desaparecieron de la noche a la mañana, décadas después el lugar sigue abandonado. Lo cual despierta la curiosidad en una pareja, lo que hace que ella tome una mala decisión.
Where did she wander?: Nuestro prota se enfrenta a una bruja que ha estado sobreviviendo por siglos en una alejada cabaña.
En general están bien las historias, pero no dan miedo. El plus es toda la investigación que hizo el autor de los Apalaches para incluirlo en sus escritos. Lo recomiendo si se es fan de los investigadores de lo oculto, basado en folclor poco habitual, así como el terror de los 50’s-80’s pues esta seria un buen agregado a tu biblioteca.
"How long will it take to climb, John?"
"Depends on how fast we climb, how well we keep up the pace."
Pues sí.
A veces tengo problemas para las estrellas y que decir en general cuando se trata de historias escritas antes de 1980’s debido a estilo, que pueden reflejar la forma de pensar en ese momento algo que por lo general choca con la (ideal) actualidad y que en ese momento ese tipo de historias generara terror o inquietud entre lectores pero ahora nada de ello.
Pero luego aparece un autor que muestra lo anterior, PERO es tan particular y se aleja de lo que usual para ese periodo que hace dudar cuantas estrellas darle.
En esta ocasión, el señor Wellman con excepción de un personaje femenino el resto o es imbécil/inútil o una especie de mujer fatal no hay de más, eso sí, todas hermosas, a la par de una que otra línea media tonta que a nuestros días suena machista, pero en el otro lado de la moneda no solo incluye un investigador de lo oculto como protagonista, incluye en sus historias seres, creencias, forma de hablar/ vocabulario (que hizo en ocasiones usara internet para entender), y canciones de una región en particular como lo son las montañas Apalaches.
Por su origen de historias cortas publicadas a saber con que periodicidad pues se entiende haya algunas recalcas, pero me pareció de más a cada rato leer la guitarra que utiliza el protagonista tenga cuerdas de plata.
Aparte, como no soy fan de las canciones por muy folclóricas que estas sean estar leyendo estrofas aquí y allá en cada relato me fastidiaba y sinceramente dejé de prestarles atención en la 3 o 4 historia.
A continuación las historias en esta colección así como una pequeña impresión, [*] indica mi favorito.
O Ugly Bird!: Gracias a sus poderes, un hombre acosa a sus vecinos en un alejado pueblo.
The desrick on Yandro: La mala suerte hace que conozca a un hombre arrogante quien le pide llevarle al sitio donde su abuelo comenzó su fortuna, al llegar, ambos se enteran que tal vez no sea tan casualidad que él haya regresado. Hacen su aparición algunos seres mitológicos y uno... no tanto. Desrick es un tipo de cabaña.
Vandy, Vandy: Similar a O ugly bird!, una familia alejada en la montaña es acosada, más en especifico la hija, por un hombre que les causa pavor.
One other: Nuestro prota llega justo en el momento para detener la última parte de un hechizo que una chica estaba lanzándole por despecho al haber sido ignorada, por lo cual no le importa usar un estanque sin fondo que al parecer conecta con otra dimensión.
Call me from the Valley [*]: Tras guarecerse de la lluvia junto con un grupo de hombres chismosos/cotillas/gossipers nuestro prota llega a una cabaña donde se planea una reunión largamente esperada.
The Little black train: Siendo invitado inesperadamente a una fiesta en la cual la anfitriona celebra su (aparente) triunfo contra una maldición.
Shiver in the pines [*]: mientras disfruta un rato ameno con unos hombres un extraño les pide se unan a su búsqueda de oro. La cosa es, dentro de la mina hay algo más.
Walk like a mountain: Se embarca en un rescate que al final no lo es.
On the hills and everywhere [*]: John cuenta a sus ¿sobrinos? una historia real que escuchó sobre un hombre que contrata a un misterioso carpintero para que le ayude alejar a su vecino y ex-amigo.
Old devils was a-waiting: El cuadrado de Sator, palíndromos, una canción, y el deseo de venganza/proteger se unen ocasionando el retorno de un antepasado. Aburrida en su mayor parte gracias a los personajes académicos en especial una dra que intenta encontrar explicaciones científicas para lo sobrenatural.
Nine yards of other cloth: Rescatando a una mujer de un acosador que posee un tipo violín encantado, y para colmo el lugar se encuentra en una hondonada donde se dice habita un antiguo dios.
Wonder as I wander: Parecieran ideas para relatos, 7 en total, que el autor deseaba desarrollar pero por alguna razón no lo hizo. Me gustó la idea del encuentro con un centauro.
Farther down the Trail: Similar a la anterior, pero estas 4 pequeñas historias se sienten completas aun cuando se componen de unos cuantos párrafos. Me gustó la del tipo que se fue a cazar y al volver habían transcurrido 28 años pero para él solo fueron unas horas. Historia que pareciera cada país tiene su versión.
Trill coster's burden: Una parte va sobre la figura de/la Comepecados, lo que pudo ser genial historia si no fuese por un romance y boda WTF y que una tipa que apenas ve a John quiere quedarse con él.
The spring: La disputa por un manantial con propiedades curativas milagrosas... o letales.
Owls hoot in the daytime [*]: Investigando rumores llega a una casa construida frente a una cueva, ¿por qué su único habitante no se ha ido?
Can these bones live? [*]: Tras participar en el entierro de unos restos encontrados nuestro prota aguarda en la noche al lado de la tumba, esperando.
Nobody ever goes there: La única historia no narrada por John, esta en 3a persona. Empleados y habitantes de una fábrica y aledaños desaparecieron de la noche a la mañana, décadas después el lugar sigue abandonado. Lo cual despierta la curiosidad en una pareja, lo que hace que ella tome una mala decisión.
Where did she wander?: Nuestro prota se enfrenta a una bruja que ha estado sobreviviendo por siglos en una alejada cabaña.
En general están bien las historias, pero no dan miedo. El plus es toda la investigación que hizo el autor de los Apalaches para incluirlo en sus escritos. Lo recomiendo si se es fan de los investigadores de lo oculto, basado en folclor poco habitual, así como el terror de los 50’s-80’s pues esta seria un buen agregado a tu biblioteca.
"How long will it take to climb, John?"
"Depends on how fast we climb, how well we keep up the pace."
Pues sí.
June 15, 2009
Collection of the Silver John stories. Set in the mountains of North Carolina.
February 4, 2025
Om man föddes 1903 och fick det otroligt manliga namnet Manly Wade Wellman kunde man inte bli mycket annat än pulpförfattare. Från mitten av 20-talet och fram till hans död 1986 publicerade han hundratals noveller och romaner, allt från pojkäventyr till science fiction och westerns. Ofta kunde han inte försörja sig enbart på skrivandet utan jobbade dagtid på bondgårdar och fabriker.
Efter att ha tjänstgjort i armén under andra världskriget slog han sig ner i North Carolina och byggde en stuga i Great Smoky Mountains, nära den goda vännen och berömda folkmusikern Obray Ramsey. Kärleken till Appalacherna och dess folkmusik blev inspirationen för hans mest välkända litterära skapelse, Silver John.
John är en Koreakrigsveteran och folkmusiker med en silversträngad gitarr. I ett något oklart 50-60-tal, i miljöer där folk fortfarande lever 1800-talsliv, vandrar han runt i Appalacherna och samlar sånger och folklore. Ofta får han praktiskt nytta av sina encyklopediska kunskaper i bergens myter och legender eftersom han tenderar att snubbla över ockulta mysterier, monster och hemsökelser.
John the Balladeer samlar alla novellerna om John (Wellman skrev också fem romaner med honom som huvudperson). Att läsa dem i streck är inte nödvändigtvis bästa sättet att ta till sig dem. Flera följer ett ganska förutsägbart mönster. John anländer någonstans, sjunger en sång och har någon typ av övernaturlig upplevelse som anknyter till sången. Ibland är han knappt berättelsens protagonist utan bara betraktare av saker som händer andra karaktärer.
Snart har jag vaggats in i en ganska behaglig känsla. Berättelserna blir små vinjetter som fångar Appalachernas unika natur, språk och kultur. Ondskan dyker upp i olika former men vi kan vara trygga i att John kommer besegra den med silver, sitt goda hjärta och en gammal lovsång. Läsningen blir mer intressant än spännande.
Efter att ha tjänstgjort i armén under andra världskriget slog han sig ner i North Carolina och byggde en stuga i Great Smoky Mountains, nära den goda vännen och berömda folkmusikern Obray Ramsey. Kärleken till Appalacherna och dess folkmusik blev inspirationen för hans mest välkända litterära skapelse, Silver John.
John är en Koreakrigsveteran och folkmusiker med en silversträngad gitarr. I ett något oklart 50-60-tal, i miljöer där folk fortfarande lever 1800-talsliv, vandrar han runt i Appalacherna och samlar sånger och folklore. Ofta får han praktiskt nytta av sina encyklopediska kunskaper i bergens myter och legender eftersom han tenderar att snubbla över ockulta mysterier, monster och hemsökelser.
John the Balladeer samlar alla novellerna om John (Wellman skrev också fem romaner med honom som huvudperson). Att läsa dem i streck är inte nödvändigtvis bästa sättet att ta till sig dem. Flera följer ett ganska förutsägbart mönster. John anländer någonstans, sjunger en sång och har någon typ av övernaturlig upplevelse som anknyter till sången. Ibland är han knappt berättelsens protagonist utan bara betraktare av saker som händer andra karaktärer.
Snart har jag vaggats in i en ganska behaglig känsla. Berättelserna blir små vinjetter som fångar Appalachernas unika natur, språk och kultur. Ondskan dyker upp i olika former men vi kan vara trygga i att John kommer besegra den med silver, sitt goda hjärta och en gammal lovsång. Läsningen blir mer intressant än spännande.
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March 22, 2025This is a really interesting and worthwhile book that I ran out of steam on. I'll come back and finish this collection at some point for sure, but I'm a mood reader and the mood ain't mooding, so I'm setting this aside for now, at the 54% mark.
I loved the first few stories and the overall concept, but as I went on I found myself struggling to pick this book up. I think these fascinating stories work better read one at a time then all together, where they start to feel too similar. That said, I really enjoyed them! But they started to feel like Homework, which is always the death knell for my ADHD brain.
I loved the first few stories and the overall concept, but as I went on I found myself struggling to pick this book up. I think these fascinating stories work better read one at a time then all together, where they start to feel too similar. That said, I really enjoyed them! But they started to feel like Homework, which is always the death knell for my ADHD brain.
September 23, 2024
An interesting collection of short stories from pulp magazines spanning the 50s-80s about invented Appalachian folk hero John the Balladeer (also sometimes known as Silver John). This anthology follows John as he travels across Appalachia, making friends, singing songs, and encountering and extinguishing the paranormal with his silver string guitar. The stories can be repetitive and trope-y and are a product of their time, as most were written for magazines in the 50s. But the collection is still a worthwhile read if you're interested in paranormal Appalachia.
3 stars
3 stars
September 27, 2024
Just off the bat, this Valancourt edition is gorgeous. Love the cover and the quality of the book.
I skimmed through reviews before starting mine. Something that I think some folks missed is that these stories are more about the atmosphere, the lore, the overall effect that the reader has as they are brought into this charming, dangerous, and sometimes ancient world. Much less about character and plot. Plot is not necessarily story. I will grant that there is a shared pattern to every story, but that's simply more obvious since these stories were published over a wide span of time. When they were encountered individually, I have no doubt they had greater effect.
Having just finished a much different book of the Russian sci-fi variety, this was downright cozy reading. I grew up in Detroit, a city boy and Yankee through and through. Cover to cover, I felt like a welcome guest in a world with some recognizable aspects, but very much different than my own. And honestly, less dangerous.
Wonderful.
I skimmed through reviews before starting mine. Something that I think some folks missed is that these stories are more about the atmosphere, the lore, the overall effect that the reader has as they are brought into this charming, dangerous, and sometimes ancient world. Much less about character and plot. Plot is not necessarily story. I will grant that there is a shared pattern to every story, but that's simply more obvious since these stories were published over a wide span of time. When they were encountered individually, I have no doubt they had greater effect.
Having just finished a much different book of the Russian sci-fi variety, this was downright cozy reading. I grew up in Detroit, a city boy and Yankee through and through. Cover to cover, I felt like a welcome guest in a world with some recognizable aspects, but very much different than my own. And honestly, less dangerous.
Wonderful.
April 11, 2025
Loved the premise of this collection. episodic adventures of a dopey wise guitar slangin balladeer in the supernatural landscape of appalachia but it felt like i basically read the same story over & over. they were definitely charming & fun like a dark folktale is but i kept finding myself not paying attention & getting bored everytime id pick it up. seems like it might land better to read a story every so often than all at once.
July 20, 2024
(3.5) This is pretty much the same collection of stories from Who Fears the Devil, and as a re-read, the stories are repetitive. The central conceit with American folklore/mythos with a great Christ-like central character is still pure gold though.
April 7, 2025
fun very tightly packed stories showing various fables or tall tales and how john handles it. i think ill be a fan of johns if ever given the chance again. i liked how it fell into horror as much as whimsy all with some dope songs
October 30, 2018
Wonderful collection.
May 29, 2025
It’s like you gave Terence Hill Tom Bombadil powers and sent him to the Appalachian Mountains on Big Fish adventures. Timeless. Made me want to face fear with more backbone.
May 21, 2025
Ol’ John he was a wanderer,
Not a penny to his name.
Seeking country shelter,
Not glory or his fame.
Entertained his hosts would he,
With guitar of silver string.
Regaling forgotten country lore,
And wisdom he did sing.
Many queer encounters,
Did Silver John face down.
From other worldly horrors,
And an ugly avian frown.
But, nay a man of action,
He fought not with his fists.
Instead he tricked away the spirits,
Back into Appalachian mists.
So next time you hike the trails,
Spare a thought for John.
Singing his age old ballads,
And ensuring the horrors were gone.
A true masterwork of folk fantasy, the heartwarming tales of John the Balladeer stretch from the 1950’s to the 1980’s and are perhaps some of the great unsung classic stories of the genre. There are vague comparisons to The Witcher here as the supernatural collide with ordinary lives in rural lands, but whereas Geralt fights in dreary, imaginary lands with alchemy and blades of silver and steel, John is grounded in a more familiar world (free of modern trappings), relying on his wits and fireside stories—using these old tales to outsmart and trap ghosts or monsters and lay to rest any curses upon the damned.
It’s this lack of action and emphasis on old folk tales and a ready supply of catchy songs that make this such a refreshing and upbeat read. The stories appear to read mostly sequentially, often referring to previous adventures of John and gradually expanding his world with its own unique folklore.
There is no doubt that this collection deserves a higher place of recognition, with Silver John endearing himself to be the equal of any iconic literary hero.
Thanks to Valancourt, these are stories that can be handed down all over again. John would be proud
Not a penny to his name.
Seeking country shelter,
Not glory or his fame.
Entertained his hosts would he,
With guitar of silver string.
Regaling forgotten country lore,
And wisdom he did sing.
Many queer encounters,
Did Silver John face down.
From other worldly horrors,
And an ugly avian frown.
But, nay a man of action,
He fought not with his fists.
Instead he tricked away the spirits,
Back into Appalachian mists.
So next time you hike the trails,
Spare a thought for John.
Singing his age old ballads,
And ensuring the horrors were gone.
A true masterwork of folk fantasy, the heartwarming tales of John the Balladeer stretch from the 1950’s to the 1980’s and are perhaps some of the great unsung classic stories of the genre. There are vague comparisons to The Witcher here as the supernatural collide with ordinary lives in rural lands, but whereas Geralt fights in dreary, imaginary lands with alchemy and blades of silver and steel, John is grounded in a more familiar world (free of modern trappings), relying on his wits and fireside stories—using these old tales to outsmart and trap ghosts or monsters and lay to rest any curses upon the damned.
It’s this lack of action and emphasis on old folk tales and a ready supply of catchy songs that make this such a refreshing and upbeat read. The stories appear to read mostly sequentially, often referring to previous adventures of John and gradually expanding his world with its own unique folklore.
There is no doubt that this collection deserves a higher place of recognition, with Silver John endearing himself to be the equal of any iconic literary hero.
Thanks to Valancourt, these are stories that can be handed down all over again. John would be proud
July 11, 2018
So if you are over the age of 35 and had any love of old-school fantasy, you have heard of Manly Wade Wellman (yeah his real name), whose bio is as colorful as his name, and whose career stretched from the 1920s to the mid-1980s. He is, in many ways, the father of the "occult detective" (although Howard also was an early worker in that field) sub-genre so everyone from Randall Garrett to Jim Butcher trace back to him.
Anyway, beside a few, isolated stories in collections, I knew who MWW was but had never read him, so when I found this old collection of his own favorite character, Silver John/John the Balladeer I thought it was time I caught up. What a good move! Set in Appalachia in the 1960s, John, whose last name is never revealed, is a wandering singer who carries a guitar strung with strings of pure silver. He is a veteran of the Korean War turned wandering folk-singer, who encounters creatures and superstitions from the folk tales and superstitions of the region. An unusual character, an unusual setting and the writing (these stories were written from the mid-60s to early 80s) doesn't feel particularly dated: the prose is powerful and the inter-weaving of both real and created Appalachian lyrics lends a poetic power to it all. Glad I found it!
Anyway, beside a few, isolated stories in collections, I knew who MWW was but had never read him, so when I found this old collection of his own favorite character, Silver John/John the Balladeer I thought it was time I caught up. What a good move! Set in Appalachia in the 1960s, John, whose last name is never revealed, is a wandering singer who carries a guitar strung with strings of pure silver. He is a veteran of the Korean War turned wandering folk-singer, who encounters creatures and superstitions from the folk tales and superstitions of the region. An unusual character, an unusual setting and the writing (these stories were written from the mid-60s to early 80s) doesn't feel particularly dated: the prose is powerful and the inter-weaving of both real and created Appalachian lyrics lends a poetic power to it all. Glad I found it!
June 4, 2020
The better parts of this are exceptional. The language, culture and environment of Appalachia are like a steady anchor in the centre of the book, adding colour to even the less-good stories.
The really good stories, 'Nine Yards of Other Cloth' and 'Walk Like a Mountain' are absolutely gold-standard. Many of the others are very good.
Many are also repetitive. There are a hell of a lot of good-hearted golden-haired women, slutty witches with bared shoulders and John gets out of a hell of a lot of problems simply by having silver strings to his guitar. Likewise, there are so many immortal life-draining witches in Appalachia they should open some sort of Union.
Nevertheless, in its heart this is a really beautiful collection of stories with an emotional and aesthetic core which entire unto itself.
The really good stories, 'Nine Yards of Other Cloth' and 'Walk Like a Mountain' are absolutely gold-standard. Many of the others are very good.
Many are also repetitive. There are a hell of a lot of good-hearted golden-haired women, slutty witches with bared shoulders and John gets out of a hell of a lot of problems simply by having silver strings to his guitar. Likewise, there are so many immortal life-draining witches in Appalachia they should open some sort of Union.
Nevertheless, in its heart this is a really beautiful collection of stories with an emotional and aesthetic core which entire unto itself.
January 4, 2024
Read a recent reprint. It's wonderful, aged to perfection.
The singing, the dialogue, the telling of supernatural encounters. My soul yearned for Wellman's tales without knowing.
It shares something with the Icelandic sagas. Tragic heros, witches and ghosts, the genealogy of certain characters playing a role. The peeling away from paganism to Christianity.
A must rad for those seeking the perfectly executed world wandering ocultist; not the magic caster but one who knows of things, and knows enough to own up to what they don't know.
It's refreshing also to see characters in such a setting allude to science; discussing the ellipsis of planets only deepened the alchemical and magical experiences.
The singing, the dialogue, the telling of supernatural encounters. My soul yearned for Wellman's tales without knowing.
It shares something with the Icelandic sagas. Tragic heros, witches and ghosts, the genealogy of certain characters playing a role. The peeling away from paganism to Christianity.
A must rad for those seeking the perfectly executed world wandering ocultist; not the magic caster but one who knows of things, and knows enough to own up to what they don't know.
It's refreshing also to see characters in such a setting allude to science; discussing the ellipsis of planets only deepened the alchemical and magical experiences.
June 14, 2012
The stories of silver John or simply John as he has no last name are some of the only stories of pulp fiction that deal with American folklore of the Appalachias. These story are exciting, spooky, funny, touching, and educational as almost every one of them is based on legends that people out side of the American south have never heard. If you like horror or action or just love folklore you have to read these stories.
September 13, 2017
These short stories are fun, although the quality varies. The earlier stories are not as well-plotted as the later stories, but part of the reason for reading is the depiction of Appalachia. The dialect, mannerisms, and culture of the characters is accurate for the time in which it was based. Silver John is a good, upright character who is faithful to help all who are in need. He is not superhuman, but applies his knowledge of supernatural things to the situations he encounters.
November 2, 2022
One of the shining gems of pulp tradition. Sometimes frightening, sometimes whimsical, Manly Wade Wellman creates a character and stories which should have become iconic in the canon of literature. Though it didn't happen (maybe it will in the future), I believe anybody wo read these tales would wonder why not they became more popular.
The only complaint I have is that one or two tales fell flat for me, otherwise I had a great time reading it!
The only complaint I have is that one or two tales fell flat for me, otherwise I had a great time reading it!
November 23, 2008
This collection of short stories is one that I've re-read on so many occasions. I don't typically like to read short stories--not sure why, but this series is just the right mix of Appalachian folklore, music, and folk--feels like home.
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