The Dreamfighter and Other Creation Tales

by Ted Hughes

Ted Hughes wrote a series of creation stories for children from the early 1960s until 1995, which appear here in one volume. They are mesmerising tales about the creatures around us - how they came to be the shape they are and why they behave as they do.

Genres: Short Stories, Childrens, Fantasy, Poetry, Fiction, Animals, Mythology

340 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Edward James Hughes was an English poet, translator, and children's writer. Critics frequently rank him as one of the best poets of his generation and one of the twentieth century's greatest writers. He was appointed Poet Laureate in 1984 and held the office until his death. In 2008, The Times ranked Hughes fourth on its list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".
He married fellow poet Sylvia Plath in 1956, and they lived together in the United States and then in England, in a tumultuous relationship. They had two children before separating in 1962 and Plath ended her own life in 1963.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of lovely and often quite funny creation myths written by Ted Hughes. I liked that the god of these stories (it's never really specified which god he might be) is a very fallible deity and is often making mistakes.

I enjoyed the stories about animals more than the ones when the humans appeared, but I generally prefer animals to people in real life so I guess that's no surprise! :-D

My next book: Immortal Hulk vol. 8: The Keeper of the Door

[Manny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so taken with these brilliantly updated versions of the Just-So Stories that I had to try and write one myself. Alas, all I have to show for my pains is a lump of clay. If I were Ted Hughes or God (he appears to be a kind of idealised self-portrait), I'd know how to breathe life into it. But I'm just mortal.

Anyway, here's my lump of clay...

The Storyteller

Woman was bored. "Go and ride Horse!" said Man. That usually worked. But now, she just sighed.

"I need entertainment!" she said. "I need stories about the beauty of the world, stories that will make me forget where I am and what I am doing."

"Everything around you is beautiful," said Man, puzzled. "Why would you want to forget it?" But Woman only sighed again. This went on for a whole week.

In the end, Man couldn't stand it, and decided he had to ask God for help.

The rest of this review is available elsewhere (the location cannot be given for Goodreads policy reasons)

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hughes' take on the Just-So stories sees God working hard on Creation. It's taking him much longer than seven days; he's designing each plant and creature in clay and then breathing life in to it. He's also experiencing a remarkable number of accidents, mishaps, mistakes and malicious interferences, what with Demons, Space Beings and a Poltergeist behaving maliciously and various critters (Man and Woman, not least) complaining about things.

Learn what Whale was doing in God's vegetable patch, how Sparrow saved the day when the Black Hole came, who became God's body-guard, how hats were invented and which creature cheats at gambling, among other things.

These stories are delightful and the story entitled Goku is unalloyed genius. The only criticism I have is that the characterisation of Woman is something of a depressing stereotype.

Give the kids a Dangermouse DVD to watch and read this yourself...

[Anne Patkau · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Dreamfighter and other Creation tales" by Ted Hughes are 11 animals that a powerful God gives life, between yawns and scratches. What "could he call such a mixture? ... Man might get it right." p37 We guess plays on name sounds, like luna-lupine, goku-cuckoo, smile at impossible acts by talking beasts and God's helpful mother. Mischief and justice romp merrily. Humor twists in original convolutions. Plot hints do not expose the whole tangled webs.
Goku is an Angel punished for nasty tricks, shaped into an egg, raised in other birds' nests.
The Dreamfighter multileg Mutant eats honey from beaten aliens who had infected God with nightmares, grows too Giant, until shrunken to Geeup after God's wife vanishes from his bodyguarding. (Guess his final name?)
Gozzie, goose pet of God's mother, wants the melodic voice of reluctant Water Snake.
How God got his Golden Head happens when God's mother forces Poltergeist-made Wolf-Swallow into darkness.
The Moon and Loopy Downtail is Poltergeist-made mirror image of dog.
The Gambler is Frog. He games to win the powers from others. But "You can't beat God." p83
The Screw lost when God repaired the sun led animals to dance in the first disco.
Camel wants to overcome his "heap of spare parts" p101 reputation by finding God's hat, stolen by Demon for his demanding wife.
The Grizzly Bear and the Human Child leads to the first teddy bear toy.
The Last of the Dinosaurs is the last pterodactyl, hidden then changed by Demon to find stolen precious metals and stones.
The Secret of Man's Wife is her monthly-raging demon, released as a fox.

[Leeya]

An exquisite book for those who like animals and nature.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before starting this book, I knew absolutely nothing about it. I’d just happened across it in my library, and the fact that it was written by Ted Hughes was good enough for me. What can I say? I’ve no regrets.



There was so much depth to the stories. I’ve always thought that the best books are the ones that you can read at different ages and glean different things from it. This is exactly one such book. If I’d read it at a younger age, I would’ve enjoyed them simply as well-written stories. Reading it now, I can marvel at the rampant symbolism in the stories. I have no doubt that, reading it at an older age, I will be astounded by all the sub-text in the stories.



In conclusion, read it. It doesn’t matter what age you are, or if you’re a fan of poetry (or Ted Hughes). I guarantee you’ll get something out of it, and enjoy yourself immeasurably in the process.

[Panna Roxana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My Goodness! I just adore this book so much! No wonder that I have read it multiple times~
The Characters and the Plots are just purely amazing and wonderful, One of my all time favourites, I would most definatley recommed to anyone who is into slightly childish, but brilliant stories, I can't even put it into words, even though I have around 20,000 characters left, haha, anyway, go read the book!

[Elizabeth Gambeski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dreamfighter was quoted in Inkdeath, another YA book i read and i was fascinated! these tales are clever and funny! i enjoyed reading Hughes’ take on creation. whether i was guessing what creature the story was referring to before it was revealed or chuckling about the author’s account of how a certain creature began, i was entertained by each!

[Ivon Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of mysteries and magic, well mostly creation really, it is highly recommeneded to around 7 year ols but im 16 and i still enjoy it, its a book of where the animals were made by go and tales of mythical beasts and why animals act as they do, these all still match to the present day.

[Kenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely collection of short stories. Imaginative and unusual I would highly recommend it.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful, imaginative and written in perfect English. The epitome of proper grammar.

[Signe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.

[Aaron Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up not knowing it was aimed at both a young demographic and adult and although the book is creative and original Ted Hughes writing style just didn't do it for me at all and definitely won't be picking up any more of his books. This collection of short creation tales is without doubt niche and not for everybody, after reading the first short (Goku) I didn't want to carry on but I am one who has to finish a book once started and that I did. I have to say that I enjoyed 4 of the 11 stories within the collection here with (The gambler) being a standout for me. The premise is clever and witty throughout and I can honestly say I haven't read anything like it previous but as I've said it was a slog to get through and was relieved when I got to the end 150 pages later. So I will list the 4 I enjoyed but for me the others were just a mishmash of writing I found difficult to get through.

1) (The Gambler) A tale of an unhappy and somewhat jealous frog who finds that trickery is it's only way forward but can this tricky frog outwit it's creator, extremely odd but also extremely witty and clever, definitely the standout of the book for me.

2) (How God got his golden head) So God allegedly created all physical forms of life in all shapes, colours and sizes but what about something which cannot be seen, a poltergiest for example who resides within a candlestick within gods workshop.?

3) (The last of the dinosaurs) A pterodatyl lives in a cave with extinction looming over it's head. This one has a unique ending.

4) (The secret of man's wife) Even god makes mistakes right.? Well that's the case here when man seeks help from the creator in order to understand his deepest companion. A soul warming tale of transformation.

As I've said both young and old can pick this collection of short creation tales up and enjoy the complete original tales of Ted Hughes and I wanted to give it more than 2 stars but it just didn't grab me. For me it's consistency just wasn't there, some tales were somewhat strong and some were just weak. In conclusion it's a hit or miss and I have to say as much as I enjoyed the 4 I've listed it was a big miss.🤷

[Aaron Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up not knowing it was aimed at both a young demographic and adult and although the book is creative and original Ted Hughes writing style just didn't do it for me at all and definitely won't be picking up any more of his books. This collection of short creation tales is without doubt niche and not for everybody, after reading the first short (Goku) I didn't want to carry on but I am one who has to finish a book once started and that I did. I have to say that I enjoyed 4 of the 11 stories within the collection here with (The gambler) being a standout for me. The premise is clever and witty throughout and I can honestly say I haven't read anything like it previous but as I've said it was a slog to get through and was relieved when I got to the end 150 pages later. So I will list the 4 I enjoyed but for me the others were just a mishmash of writing I found difficult to get through.

1) (The Gambler) A tale of an unhappy and somewhat jealous frog who finds that trickery is it's only way forward but can this tricky frog outwit it's creator, extremely odd but also extremely witty and clever, definitely the standout of the book for me.

2) (How God got his golden head) So God allegedly created all physical forms of life in all shapes, colours and sizes but what about something which cannot be seen, a poltergiest for example who resides within a candlestick within gods workshop.?

3) (The last of the dinosaurs) A pterodatyl lives in a cave with extinction looming over it's head. This one has a unique ending.

4) (The secret of man's wife) Even god makes mistakes right.? Well that's the case here when man seeks help from the creator in order to understand his deepest companion. A soul warming tale of transformation.

As I've said both young and old can pick this collection of short creation tales up and enjoy the complete original tales of Ted Hughes and I wanted to give it more than 2 stars but it just didn't grab me. For me it's consistency just wasn't there, some tales were somewhat strong and some were just weak. In conclusion it's a hit or miss and I have to say as much as I enjoyed the 4 I've listed it was a big miss.🤷

[Gabrielle Geddes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute collection of bed time-esque stories surrounding the creation of various animals and oddities of the world. The stories were creative and whimsical and it was nice to see the lighter side of Hughes in comparison to his poetry.

[Marcus Hobson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of three earlier works by poet Ted Hughes, originally published in 1963, 1988 and 1995. They all tell a range of creation stories for different ages groups of children, starting from five and up to ten and over. They are beautifully simple tales of creation myths, and the stories of how various animals were created by God. Some were mistakes and some were leftovers while others were made to have the most beautiful songs that never came out.
Man and woman are there too, and there is some gentle fun at the expense of adults and the shape that their relationships take. There are demons too, things that God didn't create and came from somewhere else. They cause problems and mischief, and hide in places like candlesticks.
While God is there as the creator, interestingly his mother is there too, which poses an interesting question of who created her, but that is a story which isn't told. She makes God sausages for dinner.

Fun and magical, these are really stories that will suit any age.

[Senik Grigoryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is just a book my english teacher made me read