New Book Alert: Just A World Away: A Collection of Modern Folk Tales Edited by John Tannhauser; Folk and Fairy Tales For The 21st Century

 

New Book Alert: Just A World Away: A Collection of Modern Folk Tales Edited by John Tannhauser; Folk and Fairy Tales For The 21st Century 

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: Who doesn't love a good folk or fairy tale, especially one that illustrates the beliefs, characters, fears, and magic of a certain area? The type of story that is just as much about the people reading and hearing it as it is about the people that are inside the story.

That's what John Tannhauser accomplished when he edited and gathered ten short stories by various fantasy authors for Just a World Away: A Collection of Modern Folk Tales.

While many folk tale collections are modern adaptations of older stories, this set is made up of new and unique stories created from the minds of the authors themselves. Yes, some characters and tropes are familiar but the spin in which the authors take is all theirs and is reflected in the cultures in which they are set.

All of the stories are winners but the best are:

“Tales of Fuji” by Voima Oy (United States)

A favorite trope in folktales is the magical animal. Sometimes they talk and dispense some worldly advice and sometimes they provide good luck to a warm hearted but unfortunate soul.

In this case, the animal is a bobtail tabby cat named Fuji. Well actually, Fuji is an immortal spirit currently taking the form of a ghost cat and comes to help a boy named Michio.

This is a beautiful dream-like story that is reminiscent of an anime short film or Japanese folktale. Fuji brings luck to Michio and the people around him by her own presence and those of other spirits. At first, Michio’s father is convinced that she is a demon but after a talk in his dreams where Fuji predicts that Michio will have a large loving family and the town will achieve success, the father relents.

This is a gentle heart warming story about the love between humans and animals and the importance of having and believing in one’s dreams. 

“A Genie's Tale” by Lani Davies (United Kingdom)

From a folktale inspired by Japanese folklore to one inspired by Arabian Nights. Davies’ contribution is a love story between a male djinn, Asem and a human woman, Safiya and what happens when a female djinn, Naria, becomes obsessed with Asem and wants to get rid of the competition.

This romantic adventure gives some interesting insights towards djinn lore like they are creatures of fire and air and part of the Court of Iblis. The backstory gives them more depth than being funny or sexy wish granters in a lamp. They are well written and some of the most interesting characters in the story.

Another brilliant attribute that this story has is that it captures multiple viewpoints. Asem is the primary first person narrator but we also get narration from Safiya and other characters. This captures the Arabian Nights story within a story narrative with the stories being told by Scheherazade leading to tales about characters like Aladdin, Sinbad, and Ali Baba, then parts of those stories are told by other characters. The pieces of the narratives work together to tell one whole tale. 

The multiple narrative also gives equal opportunity to Asem and Safiya. Both characters get to tell separate adventures in which they had to display courage, cleverness, and love to be together again. While there are plenty of male characters in Arabian lore, some of the female characters have adventures of their own like Morgiana, Badoura, Dalilah and her daughter, Zaynib, and of course, Scheherazade herself. “A Genie's Tale” reminds us that male and female characters play their parts in folklore and have their own stories to tell.

“Bear With It” by C.S. Voll (South Africa)

One of the favorite tropes in fairy tales is metamorphosis, particularly humans into animals. Sometimes they are cursed to remain an animal until someone does something for them and they change back. Other times they don't and embrace their bestial side.

Mateus is curious about the strange inhabitants of a nearby castle. Why are there so many inhuman cries coming from there? Why doesn't anyone ever see anyone go in and out? Why have villagers like Mateus’ father disappeared? Why has the village been cursed ever since their arrival? Mateus goes to the castle to meet its inhabitants: a golden haired woman named Frida and two bears, Bumbles and Gleams.

This variation of “Goldilocks and The Three Bears” makes a family out of the bears and the one-time intruder. The bears often fight trolls which pester Mateus’ village as well. It is an interesting take to the original fairy tale and Beast Man stories that depicts the benefits of the animal in which the characters inhabit such as superior strength and a pack (or sleuth since they are bears) mentality for each other and those that they look after. This also explains why Frida is so devoted to them. 

The human to beast transformation is treated less like a curse and more like a blessing, one that Mateus ultimately partakes in and embraces the closer he gets to Frida and her family. He sees a devoted loyal family and protectors that he wants to be a part of.

“The Voice on the Water” by Lila (Ireland)

There are often spirits of the elements that are part of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. This story goes one better. It personifies a river itself. 

Tara, the river, falls in love with William, a young lonely blind man. They have many long talks and build a connection. 

This is a strange romance but it fits as the two bond with each other. Their conversations play off each other rather well and how each fills a need. Tara finds someone who will defend her and protect her from being abused and polluted. William finds someone to see and really listen to him. 

“Voice on the Water” develops a literal spiritual connection between humanity and nature. There is a certain sadness and poetic melancholy as though William and Tara are taking a chance on love that could never realistically be and could end because of the selfishness of the humans around them that could destroy everything that Tara is. It's one of those folktales that the Reader knows is destined for a sad ending. The only immortality that they receive is to live on through their story.

“All in a Name” by John Tannhauser (Australia)

Similar to “Tales of Fuji,” this story has a Japanese setting but it is less gentle and more ghostly and dark.

Hiro gets lost in the snow and he is rescued by a mysterious beautiful woman who won't tell him her name. 

There is something sinister as she leads him through the cold snowy landscape. She tells him very little and even though she saved Hiro from near death, it is unclear whether there is an ulterior motive.

She appears to be a magical spirit who tells him that if he remains by the lantern light, he will remain warm. She also knows about him and his sick grandmother. These details add to the overall unease that she demonstrates in this story. That she isn't human becomes clear but whether she means to help or harm him remains to be seen.

There is a great moment in which Hiro learns her name. Names are important in folklore stories (think Rumplestiltskin). A name can empower or defeat a character. To know a name brings that being or thing to life and allows one to overpower or free them. When Hiro learns his rescuer's name, he is able to see beyond her mysterious exterior and see something human and alive within her. It connects them by bringing her to his level as an equal.

Just a World Away captures the beauty of folktales reminding the Readers that there is another world than the physical one around us. There is another world of magic, old ways, fantastic creatures, and heroes that show courage, strength, and wisdom.

Lit List Short Reviews: The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor; The Havoc Tree by Layden Robinson

 Lit List Short Reviews: The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor; The Havoc Tree by Layden Robinson

The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor

Nendi Okorafor's novella, The Black Pages is an enchanting book that combines African fantasy and mythology with current events.

Faro is a djin whose spirit has been trapped inside a book for over a thousand years. During an Al-Qaeda jihad attack in which several books are burned, Faro is set free. She wanders around Timbouctou, her book in hand to see the carnage and destruction. Meanwhile, Issaka, a student from Chicago ends up in Timbouctou right in the middle of this conflict. Naturally, Faro and Issaka are destined to meet.

Between the two characters, Issaka and Faro represent Timbouctou's past and present. Issaka stands right in the middle of violence, revolution, and a changing government. He,his father, and uncles hide several books and manuscripts from the library (and quite a collection indeed, considering the long history of the University of Timbouctou). Issaka understands the importance of protecting that knowledge and the fear that it brings. At one point he wonders,"How could Issaka sleep when he was lying on a bed in a room surrounded by items that could get them all killed?" 

Issaka doesn't feel like a hero. In fact, he would rather be in the United States, attending his studies and hanging out with his girlfriend. 

Of course being a typical modern kid, Issaka's smart phone is always on (even if it has reception trouble during sandstorms) and through that phone, Issaka receives an unusual connection. 

Okorafor cleverly updates the djin to modern day. When Faro's book is destroyed, she finds a way to travel through the Internet. Faro's journey is described as "lights, heat, acrid, and sweet smells the taste of salt and metal, and billions and billions of that which she had the closest relationship to words. In many languages. She could hear the world...what the world had become since her Imprisonment."

Instead of Issaka and Faro representing the new and old worlds respectively, the two characters mix both worlds. Issaka is a modern young man protecting the knowledge of the past. Faro is an ancient spirit using modern technology to make her presence known. The past and present are combined within these two characters.

The violence from Al-Qaeda mounts and affects Issaka personally and emotionally which results in him and Faro meeting. In their encounter some provocative questions are raised, suggesting that there is more to this story than the 31 pages have to give us.

Still, The Black Pages is a thrilling start in uniting a modern man and a mythological creature to explore Timbouctou's past and present and maybe save its future.

The Havoc Tree by Layden Robinson

Layden Robinson's short horror anthology The Havoc Tree is for those who like their horror filled with scares, gore, blood, and splatter and don't want to wait around for things like rising action and character development. If you are into quick horror, then this is the anthology for you. But if you like to build your fear slowly and want to get to know the protagonists before they meet horrible gruesome ends, then looks elsewhere.

Many of the stories feature narration that sounds, perhaps purposely so, like the rantings of someone having a nervous breakdown or in the middle of a psychopathic rage. In the first stories, "A Final Moment" and "I'm Coming (Continued)", the Narrator is trying to convince us that he fought against a mysterious IT while trying to hold onto what remains of his sanity. The trick is trying to figure out if he's telling the truth or hallucinating this terrible confrontation to cover up a worse crime.

The stories are pretty frank in their description of sexual situations and strong language. Sometimes the repetition of cuss words can get overdone like a kid learning to swear for the first time and using the words more for shock value than any other means. Readers who get offended by that sort of thing may want to avoid reading this anthology. But if you can get past the constant swearing and sex talk, the Reader is in for a good time.

In "The Suit" Sarah Lawson,  a young woman puts on a suit that gives her a certain arousal but becomes stuck to her as though holding her captive. The suit could be a metaphor for sexual assault as well as how the fashion industry controls people. Sarah cannot get the suit off and becomes a literal slave to fashion.

Robinson's stories explore the darkest depths of humanity and how many are controlled by their obsessions, lusts, hatred, and destructive tendencies. The story, "Mr. Sacorp" explores that as two characters, Mr. Sacorp and Memphis Buckminster, take their dislike for each other to more frightening levels. The tension is palpable as their rivalry becomes murderous and their violent tendencies are explored especially towards an innocent person.

The Havoc Tree is the right book that gets you right away to a good scare. It's not one that creates a lot of thought and analysis later, but it may give the Reader chills for some time to come.

Weekly Reader: Djinn by Sang Kromah; Modern Fantasy Enchants With Interesting Twists On Magical Creatures and Characters

Weekly Reader: Djinn by Sang Kromah; Modern Fantasy Enchants With Interesting Twists On Magical Creatures and Characters

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews




PopSugar Reading Challenge: A book written by a WOC


Spoilers: Of the magical fantasy creatures, the djinn are among the ones with the least amount of pop culture attention in the Western world. When they are shown, they are usually restricted in one form: as the magical wish granting genies. One of the most popular images are Barbara Eden, as the curvaceous beauty (but no visible navel) found inside a bottle, that served Major Tony Nelson (Larry Hagman) in the sitcom, I Dream of Jeannie. Another is Robin Williams as the lovable big blue Genie, the creature of a thousand laughs and even more impressions from Disney's Aladdin franchise.


However, in legend the djinn are a lot more fascinating, powerful, and sometimes terrifying than their Hollywoodized images suggest. These magical creatures originated in legends from pre-Islamic Arabian countries. They were portrayed as elemental spirits and shapeshifters, very powerful beings. They were technically immortal, but could be killed in combat. However, it is very difficult to catch one, especially when they are invisible. Like their Western counterparts, the faeries, the djinn were often blamed for physical and mental illnesses. However, they could be reasoned with and become powerful allies.

When Muhammad established the Islamic religion, he integrated the folklore of the djinn into the Qaran. Muhammad was seen as a prophet to both human and djinn communities. King Solomon reportedly had the ability to control the djinn and the Queen of Sheba was believed to have djinn ancestry. With the religion of Islam, the djinn's status was downgraded from nature spirits to demons in league with the Devil.


Sang Kromah's enchanting fantasy, Djinn aims and succeeds in freeing the djinn from their demonized reputations and Hollywood images. This brilliant fantasy focuses on a teen girl whose peculiarities and strange abilities add up to one thing: she is in fact a djinn.


Bijou "Jewels" Fitzroy, a biracial 16-year-old girl has led an increasingly bizarre life. She never knew her father and her mother died in childbirth. She has been raised by her beautiful, but at times rigid grandmother, Gigi on the run, never staying in one place long, and constantly being homeschooled. She has some strange abilities that she can't explain. She can sense the emotions of some people that she calls Typicals, sometimes looking into their eyes and seeing their deepest secrets. Then there are other people, that she calls The Others, people that she can't see their emotions but sees their strange, hidden, and ethereal often beautiful appearances.

She also sees strange creatures such as a faceless boy, who may only exist in her dreams, but has been her playmate since she was a kid. She also sees a terrifying hooded man that fills her with an intense sense of evil and terror. To block out these emotions and images, Bijou shuffles a deck of playing cards as a coping mechanism.


Despite the past weirdness in her life, Bijou longs for a life of normalcy so when she and Gigi move to Sykesville, Maryland, Bijou finally convinces her grandmother to let her go to a regular public school, to make friends and have a social life, like other teenagers. On her first day, she catches the suspicion of Mythology and Folklore Teacher, Mr. Jennings, the ire of local mean girl, Mandy DeVoe and her Girl Squad, and the friendship of Sebastian and Amina Sinjin, a pair of twins relocated from Australia.

Bijou hopes to live a typical teenage life, but her new life is far from typical. Her empathic abilities are heightened especially when she is around the twins. The twins can also see the dangerous hooded man and know that he's trouble.

Bijou discovers new talents such as breathing underwater and the ability to swim fast, even though she has never taken a lesson. A local eccentric recognizes her, even though Bijou has never seen her before in her life. Then there are the matter of six girls who have gone missing, all around the same age and all have the same birthday, June 21st, the same birthday as Bijou's. Also what's the deal with Gigi? She has been acting strange. One minute aloof and suspicious of everyone around her and the next welcoming people that she says are distant relatives that Bijou has never met before. Everything is weird lately and seems to be getting weirder.

Bijou ultimately discovers the truth that she is a djinn, and not just any djinn: she is the daughter of two powerful djinn who were members of royalty and her birth was heralded in prophecy. Kromah does some interesting things with her magical characters that play in, wink at, and sometimes dismiss the regular known fantastic lore associated with such creatures.

First off, fairies, elves, gnomes etc. were the names humans gave them. Their names always were the djinn, thereby restoring the pre-Islamic Arabian folklore back into prominence when referring to these fascinating creatures.

Just like their legendary original versions, the djinn in this book are capable of doing elemental magic. Two djinns that serve as Bijou's protectors demonstrate tremendous aptitude in fire and water magic.

Kromah also has fun playing on existing myths and legends by including them in her world building. Such figures as changelings (human babies swapped for djinn babies), Lilith (the demon from Hebrew lore who kills newborn babies), and The Fairy King and Queen make appearances in unique and startling ways that update them to the current Readership while staying true to their mythological roots.

One fairy literature that takes an interesting path in this book is A Midummer Night's Dream. The Shakespeare play of fairies and mismatchmaking becomes a lot darker. The argument between Oberon and Titania in the play becomes a divorce between Alieu and Lilith (the real names of the djinn king and queen in this book). The divorce spills into a war between the djinn and causes dissension and natural catastrophe in the human world as well. Puck, the mischievous but harmless Trickster from the Shakespeare play and seen as a charming antihero in other portrayals since (notably in Disney's animated series, Gargoyles), is a terrifying demonic creature here who seems to like bringing about destruction and chaos for their own sake.


Bijou is also a brilliant lead in this strange tale. She discovers the origins of her abilities and as the book continues, her powers grow exponentially to almost terrifying proportions.

Thankfully, Bijou is not a perfect heroine of infinite goodness. She has a bad temper and is often prone to impulsive acts, such as accidentally revealing too much about herself and her powers during fights. Because of her isolated and homeschooled background, she is incredibly socially awkward when she talks to people, such as making up stories about her former best friend, "Willow" obviously referring to the character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer not thinking that anyone would notice.

When she finds out the true scope of her abilities and what she is supposed to do, like many teenagers considers running from her responsibilities. However her good heart reins in and when it comes time to choosing between flight or fight, she chooses fight.


There are moments of betrayal and double cross. By the end of the book, no one is who they say they are. They practice the djinn ability of shapeshifting to perfection to fool Bijou and just about everyone else including the Reader. By the end the Reader, suspects every character of being something that they are not. (Which would make a sequel highly entertaining as the Reader will expect and look for betrayal and shapeshifters in every character. They will expect twists when there isn't one.)

The real identities and allegiances between characters are fascinating, but kind of confusing. It takes a few rereadings of the chapters to get right who is who, what their abilities are, who they work for, and where they fall in Bijou's life and the prophecy.

Djinn is a memorable magical book that focuses on some magical creatures that do more than pop out of lamps and bottles and grant wishes. Much more.