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Mythophidia
One of four volumes collecting the shorter works of mistress of shadow fantasy, Storm Constantine, Mythophidia's theme is the serpentine and the exotic. The snakes in these pages are seducers and deceivers, whose pretty jewelled coats might attract the eye, yet ultimately poison the heart. From the sinister fetishism of 'Kiss Booties Night Night', through the dark fairy tales of 'Sweet Bruising Skin' and 'The Heart of Fairen De'ath', to the mysterious toxins of 'Remedy of the Bane' and 'Night's Damozel', these twelve stories are a dizzying and rapturous flight into the inner worlds of an author renowned for her sumptuous dark visions.
- GenresFantasy
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Storm Constantine
144 books503 followersStorm Constantine was a British science fiction and fantasy author, primarily known for her Wraeththu series.
Since the late 1980s she wrote more than 20 novels, plus several non-fiction books. She is featured in the Goth Bible and is often included in discussions of alternative sexuality and gender in science fiction and fantasy; many of her novels include same-sex relationships or hermaphrodites or other twists of gender. Magic, mysticism and ancient legends (like the Grigori) also figure strongly in her works.
In 2003 she launched Immanion Press, based out of Stafford, England. The publishing company publishes not only her own works but those of new writers, as well as well-known genre writers, mainly from the UK.
Since the late 1980s she wrote more than 20 novels, plus several non-fiction books. She is featured in the Goth Bible and is often included in discussions of alternative sexuality and gender in science fiction and fantasy; many of her novels include same-sex relationships or hermaphrodites or other twists of gender. Magic, mysticism and ancient legends (like the Grigori) also figure strongly in her works.
In 2003 she launched Immanion Press, based out of Stafford, England. The publishing company publishes not only her own works but those of new writers, as well as well-known genre writers, mainly from the UK.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 27, 2014
Kiss Booties Night-Night
In a near-future science fiction setting, an isolated heiress is stalked by her gardener, who has developed a fetish-y obsession with her. Not a very strong opener to the collection.
An Old Passion
A couple of old friends re-connect with an acquaintance from school, who's recently married a wealthy man and returned to their English village, having bought the local mansion. Their mixed feelings about her are complicated when she develops an obsession with the ghost of an unknown 19th-century poet.
Just His Type
A paranormal investigator/lecturer is approached by a fannish goth girl - and gets more than he bargained for.
Remedy of the Bane
A palace guard's coveted job turns sour when a cruel and thoughtless princess goes out of her way to torment him. This one's quite nice. I think Constantine does better with the fantasy settings than contemporary pieces, and the emotional complexity here is a pleasure.
Sweet Bruising Skin
A fairytale told from the perspective of a truly evil dowager queen. Forced to seek a bride for her son, the heir, she resorts to alchemical magic - with unpleasant and unexpected results. Perhaps a bit overdone - but definitely fun.
Curse of the Snake
Fleeing from his fallen city, a spoiled, cowardly prince seeks refuge in a desert ruin he stumbles across. A lone young man succors him - and tells him about the horrible curse he brought down upon the abandoned city. Unexpectedly romantic.
Nocturne: The Twilight Community
Carmia is part of a clubgoing clique who see themselves as femmes fatales. But in reality, they're a bunch of shallow, gossipy, immature women. Carmia sees herself as better than all that - but a brush with the supernatural will reveal her true nature.
Night's Damozel
Samuel is an anti-social, solitary man. His passions have been spent on his botanical collection of poisonous and narcotic plants, carefully tended in his gardens. But when he proposes marriage to an exotic woman that he barely knows, his bachelor life will be turned upside-down. Some nice twists in how it all falls out...
The Heart of Fairen De'ath
Bored of his dissolute life in town, the young man Filerion finds and abandoned house in the forest, and embraces the life of a rural hermit. In his abrupt lifestyle change, he finds inner peace. But when an old friend arrives for a visit, accompanied by an attractive young man who claims that their meeting was fated, that fragile peace is shattered.
Poisoning the Sea
Almost more an essay than a story, this piece gives insight into Constantine's feelings regarding the femmes fatales who inhabit so much of her work. Circe, on her island, is visited by a poet, Aertes, who is making a study of legendary dangerous women. He's eager to interview Circe - and to debunk the claims of her magic.
Such a Nice Girl
A young secretary is found dead - apparently brutally murdered. All her neighbors, her employer, her family - none can believe such a horrible thing would happen to such a nice, normal girl. But police investigators find a hidden room in her flat filled with paraphernalia pointing to an involvement in dark occultism.
The Oracle Lips
A plain young woman with low self-esteem has a chance encounter with a confident, beautiful woman in a public restroom. Through a strange impulse and her psychic abilities, this seemingly-random moment will change how she sees herself. Nicely done.
In a near-future science fiction setting, an isolated heiress is stalked by her gardener, who has developed a fetish-y obsession with her. Not a very strong opener to the collection.
An Old Passion
A couple of old friends re-connect with an acquaintance from school, who's recently married a wealthy man and returned to their English village, having bought the local mansion. Their mixed feelings about her are complicated when she develops an obsession with the ghost of an unknown 19th-century poet.
Just His Type
A paranormal investigator/lecturer is approached by a fannish goth girl - and gets more than he bargained for.
Remedy of the Bane
A palace guard's coveted job turns sour when a cruel and thoughtless princess goes out of her way to torment him. This one's quite nice. I think Constantine does better with the fantasy settings than contemporary pieces, and the emotional complexity here is a pleasure.
Sweet Bruising Skin
A fairytale told from the perspective of a truly evil dowager queen. Forced to seek a bride for her son, the heir, she resorts to alchemical magic - with unpleasant and unexpected results. Perhaps a bit overdone - but definitely fun.
Curse of the Snake
Fleeing from his fallen city, a spoiled, cowardly prince seeks refuge in a desert ruin he stumbles across. A lone young man succors him - and tells him about the horrible curse he brought down upon the abandoned city. Unexpectedly romantic.
Nocturne: The Twilight Community
Carmia is part of a clubgoing clique who see themselves as femmes fatales. But in reality, they're a bunch of shallow, gossipy, immature women. Carmia sees herself as better than all that - but a brush with the supernatural will reveal her true nature.
Night's Damozel
Samuel is an anti-social, solitary man. His passions have been spent on his botanical collection of poisonous and narcotic plants, carefully tended in his gardens. But when he proposes marriage to an exotic woman that he barely knows, his bachelor life will be turned upside-down. Some nice twists in how it all falls out...
The Heart of Fairen De'ath
Bored of his dissolute life in town, the young man Filerion finds and abandoned house in the forest, and embraces the life of a rural hermit. In his abrupt lifestyle change, he finds inner peace. But when an old friend arrives for a visit, accompanied by an attractive young man who claims that their meeting was fated, that fragile peace is shattered.
Poisoning the Sea
Almost more an essay than a story, this piece gives insight into Constantine's feelings regarding the femmes fatales who inhabit so much of her work. Circe, on her island, is visited by a poet, Aertes, who is making a study of legendary dangerous women. He's eager to interview Circe - and to debunk the claims of her magic.
Such a Nice Girl
A young secretary is found dead - apparently brutally murdered. All her neighbors, her employer, her family - none can believe such a horrible thing would happen to such a nice, normal girl. But police investigators find a hidden room in her flat filled with paraphernalia pointing to an involvement in dark occultism.
The Oracle Lips
A plain young woman with low self-esteem has a chance encounter with a confident, beautiful woman in a public restroom. Through a strange impulse and her psychic abilities, this seemingly-random moment will change how she sees herself. Nicely done.
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