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Folktales of the Amur: Stories from the Russian Far East
A collection of 31 traditional tales from that far eastern part of Russia that lies along the banks of the Amur River.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 24, 2017
As a Westerner, I don't find these tales as comforting as say, Hans Christian Andersen, but they are very, very interesting culturally and the artwork is beyond amazing. Some of them are very like Western tales (the greedy get come-uppance, don't be lazy, the hero's journey) and some are very unique and imaginative. The mix of native substance hunting, trading with the Chinese, the magic of the taiga people are intriguing.
And then there's Gennady Pavlishin. Google his artwork. Amazing.
And then there's Gennady Pavlishin. Google his artwork. Amazing.
July 12, 2017
The Brave Azmun: music gets you fish, seal-women like beads, whale-men need their swords to shape-shift, and doing it for your people and not for yourself will get you out of almost any mess you get into.
How the Bear and the Chipmunk Stopped Being Friends: the fox did it. Though Chipmunk wasn't incredibly smart either, not talking to its supposed brother and just trying to hunt the prey first.
A Great Misfortune: different perspective are valuable and can ensure your survival, so make sure to listen.
The Cuckoo's Riches: don't trust magically acquired riches. But at least it was all a dream?
Choril and Cholchinay: when an evil shaman is creeping on you, and your man has been turned into a bear what you do is climb the Master's mountain, kill the shaman's demon, free your man, and live happily ever after.
The Strongest in the World: people can destroy everything, that's why they're at the top of the food chain.
Ayoga: geese come from narcissistic girls.
Seven Fears: ok, but does Indiga also get a tiger-girl, or what?
The Braggart: so rabbits are very credulous...and dumb.
The Poor Man Monokto: it's not murder if your magical tools do it, and everyone is happy about it. But also serfdom is evil.
The Hare and the Magpie: hares are still braggarts, but magpies are dumber than them.
The Birch Boy: sibling jealousy, magically-begotten children, random acts of heroic murder, marriage, and people turning into bears. The usual.
Sable Souls: to bring back extinct animals all you have to do is go to heaven and kill those animals' souls there, so they'll come back to earth.
How the Fox and the Elk Exchanged Legs: the grass is greener, is how.
The Chinese Bride: "Greed is like a river." The rich man's son apparently suffers from many physical deformities - almost sounds like king Tut or one of the Hapsburgs. And then he ended up marrying an old woman and having all his money stolen, so he ran off and was never seen again.
How a Bear Kept Reindeer: Poorly. The bear got outfoxed by a fox and a wolf, who ate all of his reindeer.
Discontented Lado: Daughters: hug your mom, and don't turn into swans. Moms: don't spoil your children to the point where they don't want to do any work.
An Empty Head: That's one way to get rid of your husband. But it's ok since no one liked him?
The Fleetest of Foot: Cheating at contests gets results.
Little Elga: so the step-mother was a witch? Maybe? And so was the dad? And the girl? Is everyone a witch?
The Fox and the Bear: the fox murdered the bear and ate him. That's it.
A Sure Sign: and then they fought.
The Stupid Rich Man: first, being illiterate can really screw you over. Second, murder is always OK as long as you don't personally do it.
Two Weak Ones Against One Strong One: the bear is a dick, and the mouse and titmouse want REVENGE! So they kill him.
Greedy Kanchuga: anyhow, don't be greedy or you'll get cursed by a tiger-man, and turn into various animals until you die. But at least tigers are good at raising kids.
The Little Boy Chokcho: he's like, 3 years old. At best. And already filled with VENGEANCE! He kills the man who killed his father, using magically animate inanimate objects, natch. And then he takes the dude's stuff and makes boots out of the guy's skin. Like you do.
Mambu the Orphan: when your people get invaded and killed, and your head-men don't listen to you, what you do it build a bunch of people out of wood and send them to attack and kill the enemy. After you've already magically drowned them and fed them to your dogs. Obviously.
How the Beldys Stopped Fighting: listening to twin children paid off after all.
The Twins: listening to twin children paid off after all, the sequel! And they're only 5!
The Golden Neckband: but at least the band remained intact?
Kile Bamba and the Loche Bogatyr: everything is possible when you and your bogatyr boyfriend...I'm sorry, "sword brother" are together. Also, literacy is essential when dealing with greedy merchants.
___________________________________________________
Overall, the content gets a 3.5 and the art gets a 5. Mostly because there is a lot of revenge/murder. Which I get. But damn.
How the Bear and the Chipmunk Stopped Being Friends: the fox did it. Though Chipmunk wasn't incredibly smart either, not talking to its supposed brother and just trying to hunt the prey first.
A Great Misfortune: different perspective are valuable and can ensure your survival, so make sure to listen.
The Cuckoo's Riches: don't trust magically acquired riches. But at least it was all a dream?
Choril and Cholchinay: when an evil shaman is creeping on you, and your man has been turned into a bear what you do is climb the Master's mountain, kill the shaman's demon, free your man, and live happily ever after.
The Strongest in the World: people can destroy everything, that's why they're at the top of the food chain.
Ayoga: geese come from narcissistic girls.
Seven Fears: ok, but does Indiga also get a tiger-girl, or what?
The Braggart: so rabbits are very credulous...and dumb.
The Poor Man Monokto: it's not murder if your magical tools do it, and everyone is happy about it. But also serfdom is evil.
The Hare and the Magpie: hares are still braggarts, but magpies are dumber than them.
The Birch Boy: sibling jealousy, magically-begotten children, random acts of heroic murder, marriage, and people turning into bears. The usual.
Sable Souls: to bring back extinct animals all you have to do is go to heaven and kill those animals' souls there, so they'll come back to earth.
How the Fox and the Elk Exchanged Legs: the grass is greener, is how.
The Chinese Bride: "Greed is like a river." The rich man's son apparently suffers from many physical deformities - almost sounds like king Tut or one of the Hapsburgs. And then he ended up marrying an old woman and having all his money stolen, so he ran off and was never seen again.
How a Bear Kept Reindeer: Poorly. The bear got outfoxed by a fox and a wolf, who ate all of his reindeer.
Discontented Lado: Daughters: hug your mom, and don't turn into swans. Moms: don't spoil your children to the point where they don't want to do any work.
An Empty Head: That's one way to get rid of your husband. But it's ok since no one liked him?
The Fleetest of Foot: Cheating at contests gets results.
Little Elga: so the step-mother was a witch? Maybe? And so was the dad? And the girl? Is everyone a witch?
The Fox and the Bear: the fox murdered the bear and ate him. That's it.
A Sure Sign: and then they fought.
The Stupid Rich Man: first, being illiterate can really screw you over. Second, murder is always OK as long as you don't personally do it.
Two Weak Ones Against One Strong One: the bear is a dick, and the mouse and titmouse want REVENGE! So they kill him.
Greedy Kanchuga: anyhow, don't be greedy or you'll get cursed by a tiger-man, and turn into various animals until you die. But at least tigers are good at raising kids.
The Little Boy Chokcho: he's like, 3 years old. At best. And already filled with VENGEANCE! He kills the man who killed his father, using magically animate inanimate objects, natch. And then he takes the dude's stuff and makes boots out of the guy's skin. Like you do.
Mambu the Orphan: when your people get invaded and killed, and your head-men don't listen to you, what you do it build a bunch of people out of wood and send them to attack and kill the enemy. After you've already magically drowned them and fed them to your dogs. Obviously.
How the Beldys Stopped Fighting: listening to twin children paid off after all.
The Twins: listening to twin children paid off after all, the sequel! And they're only 5!
The Golden Neckband: but at least the band remained intact?
Kile Bamba and the Loche Bogatyr: everything is possible when you and your bogatyr boyfriend...I'm sorry, "sword brother" are together. Also, literacy is essential when dealing with greedy merchants.
___________________________________________________
Overall, the content gets a 3.5 and the art gets a 5. Mostly because there is a lot of revenge/murder. Which I get. But damn.
May 30, 2019
Wonderfully illustrated; the stories are excellent.
August 17, 2016
The illustrations in this book are elaborate, yet simple, striking, yet plain. The mosaic-inspired bold colored illustrations alone make the book worth perusing. Themes of distrust of their Chinese neighbors, the wise man and the fool, owing money to "the man," and the poor and the rich repeat themselves in this collection. This contains an interesting blend of Russian and Asian elements due to the placement of the people on land between two continents. Interesting and sometimes abruptly ending stories have beautiful visuals to accompany them.
June 29, 2016
This collection has some wonderful tales, a good portion of which have strong heroines in them, so if you are looking for something better than "Cinderella" and "Snow White", this is it. Beautiful illustrations.
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September 24, 2008great stories and fantastic ullistrations
September 2, 2011
Beautiful book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews