TAROT TALES

London: Century Hutchinson, 1989. 'A Legend Book'. Rachel Pollack and Caitlin Matthews have done the improbable: they've assembled a theme anthology of excellent original stories. They required only that tarot cards be used in the construction of the story, and the 16 contributors were liberated by this rather than restricted. Stories by M. John Harrison, Rachel Pollack, and Michael Moorcock are the most explicitly structured on the tarot, Pollack using cards of her own design. The superb 'The Wind Box' by Scott Bradfield is narrated in language so plain as to often be nearer poetry than prose. Gwyneth Jones's 'The Lovers', too, is simple, direct, and strong. Many of the stories are about journeys (to be expected with tarot), but they cover varied landscapes, and all of them explore the myths and human nature embodied in the cards. Contents: 1). The Lovers - Gwyneth Jone. 2). Rembrandts of Things Past - Sheila Finch. 3). The Horse of Iron and How We Can Know It and Be Changed by It Forever - M. John Harrison. 4). The Godess of the Land - Caitlin Matthews. 5). The Ship of Night - Cherry Cilchrist. 6). The Persistence of False Memory - Robert Irwin. 7). As it Flows to the Sea... - Storm Constantine. 8). Hanging the Fool - Michael Moorcock. 9). The Emigration - Josephine Saxton. 10). Cave Pirates of the Hollow Earth - Peter Lamborn Wilson. 11). The Tenth Muse - John Matthews. 12). The Wind Box - Scott Bradfield. 13). Snake Dreams - Garry Kilworth. 14). False Prophecy - Jacqueline Lichtenberg. 15). The Devil's Picturebook - R. J. Stewart. 16). Knower of Birds - Rachel Pollack. 78 Illustrations. 304 pag.. 1st edition. Paperback. Good condition/Cover in color. 21,5cmx13,5cm.