Random House New Releases - Fiction - Folklore

Little Wolves by Thomas Maltman

2013-11-26T00:30:00-05:00

Little Wolves
Written by Thomas Maltman

Trade Paperback, 352 pages | Soho Press | Fiction - Literary; Fiction - Folklore; Fiction - Crime | $15.00 | 978-1-61695-343-0 (1-61695-343-8)

A tragic act of violence echoes through a small Minnesota town

Set on the Minnesota prairie in the late 1980s during a drought season that’s pushing family farms to the brink, Little Wolves features the intertwining stories of a father searching for answers after his son commits a heinous murder, and a pastor’s wife (and washed-out scholar of early Anglo-Saxon literature) who has returned to the town for mysterious reasons of her own. A penetrating look at small-town America from the award-winning author of The Night Birds, Little Wolves weaves together elements of folklore and Norse mythology while being driven by a powerful murder mystery; a page-turning literary triumph.

Wolfsmund, Vol 2 by Mitsuhisa Kuji

2013-10-29T00:30:00-05:00

Wolfsmund, Vol 2
Written by Mitsuhisa Kuji

Trade Paperback, 240 pages | Vertical | Comics & Graphic Novels - Manga - Fantasy; Comics & Graphic Novels - Graphic Novels - Fantasy; Fiction - Folklore | $12.95 | 978-1-935654-79-7 (1-935654-79-9)

The Black Spider by Susan Bernofsky

2013-10-08T00:30:00-05:00

The Black Spider
Written by Jeremias Gotthelf
Translated by Susan Bernofsky

Trade Paperback, 114 pages | NYRB Classics | Fiction - Horror; Fiction - Religious; Fiction - Folklore | $12.95 | 978-1-59017-668-9 (1-59017-668-5)

An NYRB Classics Original

It is a sunny summer Sunday in a remote Swiss village, and a christening is being celebrated at a lovely old farmhouse. One of the guests notes an anomaly in the fabric of the venerable edifice: a blackened post that has been carefully built into a trim new window frame. Thereby hangs a tale, one that, as the wise old grandfather who has lived all his life in the house proceeds to tell it, takes one chilling turn after another, while his audience listens in appalled silence. Featuring a cruelly overbearing lord of the manor and the oppressed villagers who must render him service, an irreverent young woman who will stop at nothing, a mysterious stranger with a red beard and a green hat, and, last but not least, the black spider, the tale is as riveting and appalling today as when Jeremias Gotthelf set it down more than a hundred years ago. The Black Spider can be seen as a parable of evil in the heart or of evil at large in society (Thomas Mann saw it as foretelling the advent of Nazism), or as a vision, anticipating H. P. Lovecraft, of cosmic horror. There’s no question, in any case, that it is unforgettably creepy.

The Black Spider by Susan Bernofsky

2013-10-08T00:30:00-05:00

The Black Spider
Written by Jeremias Gotthelf
Translated by Susan Bernofsky

eBook, 114 pages | NYRB Classics | Fiction - Horror; Fiction - Religious; Fiction - Folklore | $12.95 | 978-1-59017-695-5 (1-59017-695-2)

Breverton's Phantasmagoria by Terry Breverton

2013-09-03T00:30:00-05:00

Breverton's Phantasmagoria
Written by Terry Breverton

eBook | Quercus | Reference - Curiosities & Wonders; Fiction - Folklore | $12.95 | 978-1-62365-235-7 (1-62365-235-9)

From dragons and wyverns to vampires, werewolves and mischievous gremlins, pixies and fairies, Breverton’s Phantasmagoria is a unique compendium of over 250 mythical animals.

Prepare to revisit familiar myths, such as vampires, werewolves and the Loch Ness Monster, the Minotaur and Medusa from Greek legend, and Biblical beasts such as Behemoth and Leviathan. Discover new mysterious animals like the giant serpents of Central America, the lethal Mongolian death worm, and the Ennedi tiger in Africa, and investigate the evidence for sightings of Bigfoot and the reclusive Yeti.

Packed with quirky line illustrations and a wealth of weird and wonderful information, Breverton’s Phantasmagoria surveys the globe to uncover over 250 imaginary creatures passed down from generation to generation.

The Greek Myths by Robin Waterfield

2013-09-03T00:30:00-05:00

The Greek Myths
Written by Robin Waterfield

eBook | Quercus | Fiction - Folklore; Fiction - Anthologies (multiple authors) | $22.95 | 978-1-62365-214-2 (1-62365-214-6)

A highly readable and beautifully illustrated re-telling of the most famous stories from Greek mythology.

The Greek Myths contains some of the most thrilling, romantic, and unforgettable stories in all human history. From Achilles rampant on the fields of Troy, to the gods at sport on Mount Olympus; from Icarus flying too close to the sun, to the superhuman feats of Heracles, Theseus, and the wily Odysseus, these timeless tales exert an eternal fascination and inspiration that have endured for millennia and influenced cultures from ancient to modern.

Beginning at the dawn of human civilization, when the Titan Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and offered mankind hope, the reader is immediately immersed in the majestic, magical, and mythical world of the Greek gods and heroes. As the tales unfold, renowned classicist Robin Waterfield, joined by his wife, writer Kathryn Waterfield, creates a sweeping panorama of the romance, intrigues, heroism, humour, sensuality, and brutality of the Greek myths and legends.

The terrible curse that plagued the royal houses of Mycenae and Thebes, Jason and the golden fleece, Perseus and the dread Gorgon, the wooden horse and the sack of Troy—these amazing stories have influenced art and literature from the Iron Age to the present day. And far from being just a treasure trove of amazing tales, The Greek Myths is a catalogue of Greek myth in art through the ages, and a notable work of literature in its own right.

Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord

2013-09-03T00:30:00-05:00

Redemption in Indigo
Written by Karen Lord

eBook | Jo Fletcher Books | Fiction - Folklore; Fiction - Fantasy | $16.95 | 978-1-62365-266-1 (1-62365-266-9)

A masterful, magical retelling of a Senegalese legend by a fantastic new voice who is already setting the literary and fantasy worlds alight:

Paama, who is a great cook, has returned to her family after 10 years of marriage to the gluttonous Ansige, but two years later he hires the master tracker Kwame to find her. Kwame needs the money to finance his own wanderlust and reluctantly takes the job. These events draw the attention of Chance, the Indigo Lord, one of the powerful spirits called Djombi. The Indigo Lord once wielded the power of Chaos, imbued within the Chaos Stick, but to punish him it was taken from him and given to Paama. Now he wants it back, and he has all sorts of elaborate schemes planned to induce Paama to give him back the Chaos Stick.

The narrator, sometimes serious and often mischievous, spins delicate but powerful descriptions of locations, emotions, and the protagonists' great flaws and great strengths as they interact with family, poets, tricksters, sufferers of tragedy, and of course occasional moments of pure chaos.

A Monster Calls by Jim Kay

2013-08-27T00:30:00-05:00

A Monster Calls Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd
Written by Patrick Ness
Illustrated by Jim Kay

Trade Paperback, 224 pages | Candlewick | Fiction - Family Saga; Fiction - Fantasy - Contemporary; Fiction - Folklore | $12.00 | 978-0-7636-6908-9 (0-7636-6908-3)

An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor.

At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting-- he's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It's ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd-- whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself-- Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.

The Bridge of Beyond by Barbara Bray

2013-08-20T00:30:00-05:00

The Bridge of Beyond
Written by Simone Schwarz-Bart
Translated by Barbara Bray
Introduction by Jamaica Kincaid

Trade Paperback, 272 pages | NYRB Classics | Fiction - Family Saga; Fiction - Folklore; Fiction - Literary | $16.95 | 978-1-59017-680-1 (1-59017-680-4)

In this intoxicating tale of love and madness, mothers and daughters, folkloric wisdom and the grim legacy of slavery on the French Antillean island of Guadeloupe, aged yet unbowed Telumee tells her life story, along with that of the proud line of Lougandor women she continues to draw strength from, even in their physical absence. Having obtained, with dizzying speed, love and happiness and the trust of others, Telumee must find the resources, personal and collective, both to rejoice without reserve and then, in less fortunate seasons, to survive suffering that would crush weaker vessels. In the words of “Queen Without a Name,” the stoic and tender grandmother who raises her, “Behind one pain there is another. Sorrow is a wave without end. But the horse mustn’t ride you, you must ride it.”

A masterpiece of Caribbean literature, The Bridge of Beyond represents at once a gorgeously thick description of the flora and climate, crafts and customs of the island, and the triumph of a spirit so generous and hopeful that no earthly adversity could outlast it. Simone Schwarz-Bart’s sinuous and lyrical prose, interwoven with proverbs and other local sayings, appears here in an uncommonly good translation by Barbara Bray.

The Bridge of Beyond by Barbara Bray

2013-08-20T00:30:00-05:00

The Bridge of Beyond
Written by Simone Schwarz-Bart
Translated by Barbara Bray
Introduction by Jamaica Kincaid

eBook, 256 pages | NYRB Classics | Fiction - Family Saga; Fiction - Folklore; Fiction - Literary | $16.95 | 978-1-59017-691-7 (1-59017-691-X)

In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods by Matt Bell

2013-06-18T00:30:00-05:00

In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods
Written by Matt Bell

Hardcover, 312 pages | Soho Press | Fiction - Literary; Fiction - Family Life; Fiction - Folklore | $25.00 | 978-1-61695-253-2 (1-61695-253-9)

In this epic, mythical debut novel, a newly-wed couple escapes the busy confusion of their homeland for a distant and almost-uninhabited lakeshore. They plan to live there simply, to fish the lake, to trap the nearby woods, and build a house upon the dirt between where they can raise a family. But as their every pregnancy fails, the child-obsessed husband begins to rage at this new world: the song-spun objects somehow created by his wife's beautiful singing voice, the giant and sentient bear that rules the beasts of the woods, the second moon weighing down the fabric of their starless sky, and the labyrinth of memory dug into the earth beneath their house.

This novel, from one of our most exciting young writers, is a powerful exploration of the limits of parenthood and marriage—and of what happens when a marriage’s success is measured solely by the children it produces, or else the sorrow that marks their absence.

In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods by Matt Bell

2013-06-18T00:30:00-05:00

In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods
Written by Matt Bell

eBook, 312 pages | Soho Press | Fiction - Literary; Fiction - Family Life; Fiction - Folklore | $25.00 | 978-1-61695-254-9 (1-61695-254-7)

In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods tells the story of a newly married couple who take up a lonely existence in the title's mythical location. In this blank and barren plot far from the world they've known, they mean to start the family the unnamed husband wants so obsessively. But their every pregnancy fails, and as their grief swells, the husband─a hot-tempered and impatient fisherman and trapper─attempts to prove his dominion in other ways, emptying both the lake and the woods of their many beasts. As the years pass, the wife changes too, her suddenly powerful voice singing some new series of objects into being, including a threatening moon hung above their house, its doomed weight already slowly falling, bending their now-starless sky.

In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods is about marriage, parenthood, and the dreams parents have for their children─as well as what happens to a marriage whose success is measured solely by the children it produces, or else the grief that marks their absence.

One Thousand and One Nights by Mary Gaitskill

2013-06-11T00:30:00-05:00

One Thousand and One Nights A Retelling
Translated by Hanan al-Shaykh
Foreword by Mary Gaitskill

eBook, 344 pages | Pantheon | Fiction - Folklore; Fiction - Classics; Fiction - Literary | $12.99 | 978-0-307-95887-7 (0-307-95887-6)

Gathered and passed down over the centuries from India, Persia, and across the Arab world, the mesmerizing stories of One Thousand and One Nights tell of the real and the supernatural, love and marriage, power and punishment, wealth and poverty, and the endless trials and uncertainties of fate. They are related by the beautiful, wise, young Shahrazad, who gives herself up to murderous King Shahrayar. The king has vowed to deflower and then kill a virgin every night—but Shahrazad will not be defeated by the king’s appetites. To save herself, she cunningly spins a web of tales, leaving the king in suspense each morning, and thus prolonging her life for another day.

Acclaimed Lebanese writer Hanan al-Shaykh has selected nineteen of these stories, retold them in modern English, and knitted them together into an utterly intoxicating collection. In al-Shaykh’s hands, Shahrazad’s tales are lush and evocative, rich with humor, and utterly captivating.

One Thousand and One Nights by Mary Gaitskill

2013-06-11T00:30:00-05:00

One Thousand and One Nights A Retelling
Translated by Hanan al-Shaykh
Foreword by Mary Gaitskill

Hardcover, 320 pages | Pantheon | Fiction - Folklore; Fiction - Classics; Fiction - Literary | $26.00 | 978-0-307-95886-0 (0-307-95886-8)

The War of Horus and Set by Mark Stacey

2013-05-21T00:30:00-05:00

The War of Horus and Set
Written by David McIntee
Illustrated by Mark Stacey

Trade Paperback, 80 pages | Osprey Publishing | Fiction - Science Fiction - Adventure; Fiction - Folklore; History - Ancient - Egypt | $17.95 | 978-1-78096-902-2 (1-78096-902-3)

Egyptian mythology tells us that long ago the brother gods Osiris and Set ruled peacefully over the lands of Upper and Lower Egypt, each in his own kingdom. But over time Set came to covet his brother's lands and crown, and eventually the temptation overwhelmed him. Usurping Osiris' throne, Set began a blood feud that spread war, death and mutilation through both the heavens and the earth. Gods and men chose sides and took up arms on behalf of both Set and Horus, the heir of Osiris. This book retells the mythic struggle between Horus and Set, exploring the variations and background to the feud, and examining the earthly realities that inspired, or reflected, the actions and allegiances of the Gods, such as the political rivalries between the two kingdoms, and the invasion by Cambyses II. Egyptian weapons and strategies are also examined, showing how their gods and men did battle.

The War of Horus and Set by Mark Stacey

2013-05-21T00:30:00-05:00

The War of Horus and Set
Written by David McIntee
Illustrated by Mark Stacey

eBook, 80 pages | Osprey Publishing | History - Ancient - Egypt; Fiction - Folklore | $13.95 | 978-1-78200-330-4 (1-78200-330-4)

Selected Tales of the Brothers Grimm by Edouard Duval-Carrie

2013-05-14T00:30:00-05:00

Selected Tales of the Brothers Grimm
Written by Brothers Grimm
Illustrated by Pascale Monnin, Franketienne and Edouard Duval-Carrie
Translated by Peter Wortsman

Trade Paperback, 280 pages | Archipelago | Fiction - Folklore; Fiction - Short Stories (single author); Fiction - Classics | $24.00 | 978-1-935744-76-4 (1-935744-76-3)

This new edition of the beloved tales of the Brothers Grimm – selected, translated and edited by Peter Wortsman - is drawn from the 1857 edition of the German original, the last edition reviewed and approved by the Brothers in their lifetime. Over The years, The Brothers¢ enigmatic narratives have been sanitized by Disney and children¢s book editors for modern consumption; this indispensable edition restores their sting and vigor og The original prose. In Wortsman’s words, his translation is a return to "a tincture of concentrated man-eating ogre and ground hag tooth, diluted in blood, sweat and tears, as a potent vaccine against the crippling effects of fear and fury." These fortifying imaginative vaccines are accompanied by twenty-four full-color illustrations by Haitian artists, including Edouard Duval-Carrié, Pascale Monnin, and Frankétienne. Edwidge Danticat observes that many Haitian painters bring "forth another canvas beneath the one we see." These works’ imaginative scope, vitality, and evocation of the unconscious open deep channels between the two traditions, shedding new light and shadow on the classic tales.

Dragonslayers by Peter Dennis

2013-03-19T00:30:00-05:00

Dragonslayers From Beowulf to St. George
Written by Joseph McCullough
Illustrated by Peter Dennis

Trade Paperback, 80 pages | Osprey Publishing | Fiction - Science Fiction - Adventure; Juvenile Fiction - Legends, Myths, Fables; Fiction - Folklore | $17.95 | 978-1-78096-730-1 (1-78096-730-6)

From legend and mythology to The Hobbit and A Game of Thrones, the dragon is a perennial favorite in the fantasy genre.

With its fiery breath, scaly armour, and baleful, malevolent stare, the dragon became the ultimate symbol of evil and corruption in European folklore and mythology. Often serving as a stand-in for Satan, or the power of evil gods, dragons spread death and hopelessness throughout the land. Only heroes of uncommon valour, courageousness, and purity could hope to battle these monsters and emerge victorious. Those that did became legends. They became dragonslayers. The list of dragonslayers is small, but it is filled with great and legendary names. Hercules, Beowulf, Cuchulain, Sigfried, Lancelot, and Saint George all battled to the death with dragons. Other heroes such as the Danish King Frotho, the French Saint Mercurialis, the Polish champion Krak, and the Russian warrior Dobrynya Nikitch might be less well known to western readers, but also fought and defeated dragons. This book will retell the greatest legends of this select group of warriors, while examining the myth of the dragonslayer in a historical, mythological, and even theological context.

Jason and the Argonauts by Jose Daniel Cabrera Pena

2013-03-19T00:30:00-05:00

Jason and the Argonauts
Written by Neil Smith
Illustrated by Jose Daniel Cabrera Pena

Trade Paperback, 80 pages | Osprey Publishing | Fiction - Science Fiction - Adventure; History - Ancient - Greece; Fiction - Folklore | $17.95 | 978-1-78096-722-6 (1-78096-722-5)

The voyage of Jason and the Argonauts and their hunt for the Golden Fleece is one of the most enduringly popular of all of the Ancient Greek heroic myths. Accepting the quest in order to regain his kingdom, Jason assembled a legendary crew including many of Greece's greatest heroes such as Hercules, Orpheus, Atalanta, Telamon, and the twins Castor and Pollux. With this band of heroes and demi-gods, Jason set sail in the Argo on a journey across the known world. During their quest, the Argonauts faced numerous challenges including the harpies, the clashing rocks, the Sirens, Talos the bronze man, the sleepless dragon that guarded the fleece, and of course the fickle will of the gods of Olympus.

Dr. Neil Smith retells this classic myth, examining its origins, its history, and its continued popularity. The text is supported by numerous illustrations both classical and modern, including numerous artwork plates especially commissioned for this work.

Jason and the Argonauts by Jose Pena

2013-03-19T00:30:00-05:00

Jason and the Argonauts
Written by Neil Smith
Illustrated by Jose Pena

eBook, 80 pages | Osprey Publishing | Fiction - Fantasy - Epic; History - Ancient - Greece; Fiction - Folklore | $13.95 | 978-1-4728-0101-2 (1-4728-0101-6)

Random House New Releases - Fiction - Folklore

Little Wolves by Thomas Maltman

Little Wolves Written by Thomas Maltman

Wolfsmund, Vol 2 by Mitsuhisa Kuji

Wolfsmund, Vol 2 Written by Mitsuhisa Kuji

The Black Spider by Susan Bernofsky

The Black Spider Written by Jeremias Gotthelf Translated by Susan Bernofsky

The Black Spider by Susan Bernofsky

The Black Spider Written by Jeremias Gotthelf Translated by Susan Bernofsky

Breverton's Phantasmagoria by Terry Breverton

Breverton's Phantasmagoria Written by Terry Breverton

The Greek Myths by Robin Waterfield

The Greek Myths Written by Robin Waterfield

Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord

Redemption in Indigo Written by Karen Lord

A Monster Calls by Jim Kay

A Monster Calls Inspired by an idea from Siobhan DowdWritten by Patrick Ness Illustrated by Jim Kay

The Bridge of Beyond by Barbara Bray

The Bridge of Beyond Written by Simone Schwarz-Bart Translated by Barbara Bray Introduction by Jamaica Kincaid

The Bridge of Beyond by Barbara Bray

The Bridge of Beyond Written by Simone Schwarz-Bart Translated by Barbara Bray Introduction by Jamaica Kincaid

In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods by Matt Bell

In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods Written by Matt Bell

In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods by Matt Bell

In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods Written by Matt Bell

One Thousand and One Nights by Mary Gaitskill

One Thousand and One Nights A RetellingTranslated by Hanan al-Shaykh Foreword by Mary Gaitskill

One Thousand and One Nights by Mary Gaitskill

One Thousand and One Nights A RetellingTranslated by Hanan al-Shaykh Foreword by Mary Gaitskill

The War of Horus and Set by Mark Stacey

The War of Horus and Set Written by David McIntee Illustrated by Mark Stacey

The War of Horus and Set by Mark Stacey

The War of Horus and Set Written by David McIntee Illustrated by Mark Stacey

Selected Tales of the Brothers Grimm by Edouard Duval-Carrie

Selected Tales of the Brothers Grimm Written by Brothers Grimm Illustrated by Pascale Monnin, Franketienne and Edouard Duval-Carrie Translated by Peter Wortsman

Dragonslayers by Peter Dennis

Dragonslayers From Beowulf to St. GeorgeWritten by Joseph McCullough Illustrated by Peter Dennis

Jason and the Argonauts by Jose Daniel Cabrera Pena

Jason and the Argonauts Written by Neil Smith Illustrated by Jose Daniel Cabrera Pena

Jason and the Argonauts by Jose Pena

Jason and the Argonauts Written by Neil Smith Illustrated by Jose Pena

Little Wolves
Written by Thomas Maltman

Wolfsmund, Vol 2
Written by Mitsuhisa Kuji

The Black Spider
Written by Jeremias Gotthelf
Translated by Susan Bernofsky

The Black Spider
Written by Jeremias Gotthelf
Translated by Susan Bernofsky

Breverton's Phantasmagoria
Written by Terry Breverton

The Greek Myths
Written by Robin Waterfield

Redemption in Indigo
Written by Karen Lord

A Monster Calls Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd
Written by Patrick Ness
Illustrated by Jim Kay

The Bridge of Beyond
Written by Simone Schwarz-Bart
Translated by Barbara Bray
Introduction by Jamaica Kincaid

The Bridge of Beyond
Written by Simone Schwarz-Bart
Translated by Barbara Bray
Introduction by Jamaica Kincaid

In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods
Written by Matt Bell

In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods
Written by Matt Bell

One Thousand and One Nights A Retelling
Translated by Hanan al-Shaykh
Foreword by Mary Gaitskill

One Thousand and One Nights A Retelling
Translated by Hanan al-Shaykh
Foreword by Mary Gaitskill

The War of Horus and Set
Written by David McIntee
Illustrated by Mark Stacey

The War of Horus and Set
Written by David McIntee
Illustrated by Mark Stacey

Selected Tales of the Brothers Grimm
Written by Brothers Grimm
Illustrated by Pascale Monnin, Franketienne and Edouard Duval-Carrie
Translated by Peter Wortsman

Dragonslayers From Beowulf to St. George
Written by Joseph McCullough
Illustrated by Peter Dennis

Jason and the Argonauts
Written by Neil Smith
Illustrated by Jose Daniel Cabrera Pena

Jason and the Argonauts
Written by Neil Smith
Illustrated by Jose Pena