Showing results by author "Dunsany" in All Categories

The Gods of Pegāna is the first book by influential fantasy writer Lord Dunsany. In a series of short vignettes, Lord Dunsany invents a pantheon of deities who dwell in Pegāna and chronicles the history of their imagined universe. It was followed by a further collection, Time and the Gods. In lush language and dreamlike prose, Lord Dunsany’s talents are on full display as he lays the groundwork for the fantasy genre. The Dunsany Mythos features the complete contents of The Gods of Pegāna and Time and the Gods in a single audiobook edition.

The King of Elfland's Daughter is one of the most beloved fantasy novels of our time. Lord Dunsany, in his inventive, poetic style, tells the heartbreaking story of a marriage between a mortal man and an elf princess. This masterpiece has influenced some of our greatest contemporary fantasists, including Neil Gaiman, J.R. Tolkien, H.P. Lovecraft, Fritz Leiber, Ursula K. Le Guin, and C.L. Moore, who stated: "No one can imitate Dunsany, and probably everyone who's ever read him has tried." Dunsany's "The Gods of Pegana" follows "The King of Elfland's Daughter."

Explore the enchanting world crafted by Lord Dunsany, a pioneering Anglo-Irish writer and dramatist whose influence on fantasy literature is profound. Born in London in 1878, Dunsany drew inspiration from the evocative poetry of Algernon Swinburne, who famously mused, Time and the Gods are at strife, as well as the whimsical fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. His unique storytelling style has left an indelible mark on the works of influential authors such as H. P. Lovecraft and Ursula K. Le Guin. The correspondence between Dunsany and Arthur C. Clarke, spanning from...

While he is primarily celebrated for his groundbreaking fantasy works, Lord Dunsany also penned a series of poignant sketches during World War One. This collection of essays, crafted during his time in France in 1916, reveals a deeper, more reflective side of the author—one that captures the somber realities of war with a profound sense of melancholy. - Summary by Alan Winterrowd

Step into the enchanting world of Tales of Wonder, originally published as The Last Book of Wonder, the tenth installment and sixth collection of original short stories by the celebrated Irish fantasy writer Lord Dunsany. Renowned for his profound influence on literary giants such as J. R. R. Tolkien, H. P. Lovecraft, and Ursula K. Le Guin, Dunsanys work captures the imagination like no other. First released in hardcover in London by Elkin Mathews in October 1916, with a Boston edition following shortly after, this collection showcases Dunsany’s preferred title in its American release. ...

In Tales of War, Lord Dunsany masterfully weaves together a collection of vivid and enchanting vignettes that explore the stark realities of conflict. His prose shifts seamlessly from the grim and grounded to the eerie and fantastical, offering listeners a unique perspective on the complexities of war. Summary by Ben Tucker.

Dive into The Book of Wonder (1912), a captivating collection of fourteen enchanting tales by the legendary Lord Dunsany, a true pioneer of the fantasy genre. Filled with whimsy and wit, these delightful stories have inspired countless writers, including the likes of H.P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, and Fritz Leiber. Prepare to be transported to realms of imagination! -Erik

Dreamers Tales is the fifth book by the acclaimed Irish fantasy writer Lord Dunsany, whose work has significantly influenced literary giants such as H. P. Lovecraft, J. R. R. Tolkien, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Michael Moorcock. This enchanting collection features sixteen captivating short stories that range from the nostalgic charm of Blagdaross to the unsettling themes found in Poor Old Bill and Where the Tides Ebb and Flow, as well as the sharp social commentary of The Day of the Poll. Prepare to embark on a fantastical journey through Dunsanys imaginative landscapes.

Join me, ladies and gentlemen, if you find yourself weary of London and tired of the familiar world around you. Together, we will explore new realms of imagination and wonder, as inspired by Lord Dunsanys enchanting preface to The Book of Wonder.

Embark on a captivating coming-of-age journey as you follow Don Rodriguez through a swashbuckling road trip set in a mythical golden age of Spain. Excluded from inheriting his familys grand castle, Rodriguez is challenged to win his own estate and bride using his remarkable skills with both sword and mandolin. Along the way, he teams up with the endearing Morano, a Sancho Panza-like servant, and together they navigate a series of whimsical adventures filled with humor and intrigue. Lord Dunsany, a master of fantasy and a significant influence on literary giants like J.R.R. Tolkien and Neil ...

Dive into a collection of succinct, masterfully crafted stories that often surprise with unexpected twists. Each tale is infused with mythological elements, inviting readers to awaken their dormant imaginations and explore the wonders of storytelling. (Summary by Thomas Copeland)

Set in a fairy-tale version of medieval Spain, the story follows Ramon Alonzo's initiation to the "Dark Arts" with a magician in order to procure the gold necessary for his sister's dowry. He befriends his master's charwoman, an old, despairing figure who has given up her shadow in exchange for immortal life. Ramon vows to help her while staying true to his initial purpose of helping his sister who, as it turns out, is willing to embrace her shadows in order to choose her own destiny...

The story began when the lord of Erl was told by his people they wanted a magic lord to rule them. That took some doing, but he sent his son, Alveric, to retrieve Lirazel, daughter of the king of Elfland, to be his wife and thus fix the situation. At first, the king was angered and sent guards to kill Alveric, but the young man of Erl fought them off, and Lizarel fell for him and decided to leave with him. Later, under a spell, she decided she wanted to see her old home again.

Sent forth on a quest to bring magic to the Vale of Erl, the young lord Alveric obtains a sword of thunderbolt iron, and crosses the twilight border into Elfland, returning with the beautiful Princess Lirazel as his bride. But, for two people from different worlds, however much in love, happiness is not guaranteed, and in the fields, we know, where all things are subject to the remorseless march of time, nothing truly lives happily ever after.

A collection of fables, vignettes, and parables from the fanciful mind of Lord Dunsany. These brief tales feature characters such as Time, Death, Fame, Winter, Spring, the Fog, the North Wind, the blackbird, the god Pan, the river Styx boatman Charon, and others - in fantastical, whimsical, allegorical, and poignant scenarios.

The audiobook is a collection of short stories linked by Dunsany's invented pantheon of deities, witches, magic, and spirits who live in Pegāna. It is a work of ironic fantasy in a unique blend of language and fantastical imagery, simultaneously occupying the science-fiction and fairy-tale genres.

Here is a very short, a very slight sort of tale which may yet manage to hold either a very big ghost or a very potent allegory. Lord Dunsany penned this sometime about the period of the First World War. Yet in what period of history, from the most ancient past up to very present, has not something of the spectre of Andelsprutz been perceptible to those with a sense of history. For those, this story will prove a "thought-piece" as well as a compelling fantasy.

Travel along as award-winning audiobook narrator Mike Vendetti and Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany, better known as Lord Dunsany take us on a trip an early 20th century stoner.

The Ghosts begins as straightforward haunted house story, one coming out of the Gothic tradition. Our hero, a skeptic, is staying with his brother at an ancient baronial estate. There, he argues with his brother about the existence of ghosts, and what sorts of evidence for their existence would be acceptable. Then, in order to make his point, he proceeds to induce in himself a ghostly experience by means darkness, drugs, and deprivation.

Anyone who has to spend the better part of his days chained to a routine job in our workaday world will appreciate the sorcery that captured the heart of Mr. Sladden. That gentleman's experience in finding a private peep-hole out of this world is one we all may envy.