The Children of Rarn - redux

Can't believe it's been so long since I posted here. Just goes to show what a busy year 2015 has been, and how much time I have spent NOT writing, but working at what modern-day authors call the RLJ - or Real Life Job!

 

But 2016 has started with a different tack. At the beginning of 2015, Gollancz, a well-established and venerable publisher of science fiction and fantasy, and now an imprint of the Orion Publishing Group, put out an call for direct submissions that was, apparently, so successful, they repeated the call for 2016, and, taking advantage of their opportunity, I submitted my fantasy novel The Children of Rarn, which is based on the song cycle developed by Marc Bolan in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
 

 

 

The Children of Rarn tells the tale of a race known as the Peacelings, and their arch-enemies, the Dworns.  The Peacelings, guided by their High Priest, Agadinmar, and ruled by the Swan King, live in relative peace and prosperity in the haven-realm of Beltane, while the Dworns, along with their thralls of trolls and "dragonbreed", live outside Beltane, hidden away, and commanded by their demonic lord, Lithon the Black.

 

Marc wrote a small number of songs, intending to build these into a full fantasy rock concept album, but failed to complete the project in his lifetime.  All that was left were the original demo version that he recorded with Tony Visconti, and a few re-recordings of some of those songs in his catalogue of unfinished works.  Even The Children of Rarn theme became the bookends of the first T.Rex album, simply titled T.Rex.  All-in-all, these were the very bare bones of the potential album.  Shortly after Marc's death, Tony hunted out the demo version and applied some light production to it, so that it could be subsequently released on the album "MARC - The Words and Music of Marc Bolan 1947-1977", as The Children of Rarn Suite.

 

 

Taking these as the spine, and adding in a few characters from many of Marc's other songs of the same time period, and including some characters and events based on Marc's real life, I built a fantasy novel, which has topped out at around the 100,000 word mark.  I originally started the story way back in the late 1980's, and submitted it, with varying success, to a couple of publishers.  But then I let it lie, even though I discussed the project with Tony Visconti, who was very supportive of developing the novel.

 

And now I have submitted the project to Gollancz for consideration in their 2016 Direct Submissions call.  It arrived there on Tuesday, so I am now in that purgatorial limbo that authors go through, between submitting a novel and waiting for a response from the publisher.  In the meantime, I still have to rescue around three-quarters of the novel from the WordStar files I wrote them in - yes - WordStar!!  And the whole thing could really do with a good re-edit and maybe a partial re-write, as I am definitely not the writer now that I was then - by which I mean my style and voice are much stronger now than at that time back in the days of mystery!

 

With my fingers crossed, I will keep you informed of updates and progress, and, with a good - nay - great stroke of fortune, maybe I will hear something wonderful back from Gollancz.

 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman

What do you say when you read a book that so vividly reflects so many of your own life experiences, and yet which takes you beyond them into new and inspiring ways to view those experiences? It's difficult - so very difficult - to rationalize a work that instils so many emotions. Emotions like admiration for the work, enjoyment for the tale, remembered fears from those childhood events that correlate to events depicted in the tale, and, yes, jealousy for the success of a work you feel that you could have written yourself. Such a book comes along only once in a while, and leaves us profoundly changed in ways we hadn't expected, and maybe didn't want to.

 

Such a book is The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman.

I've read that many people read through this seemingly short book in one go, and very quickly. If they thought they were doing it justice by doing that, all well and good to them. Myself, I took quite a long time to read this book, and even took a break about halfway through. This wasn't because I found the book difficult to read, but mainly because I wanted to digest and assimilate the experience and its correlations to my own reality, evaluate the metaphors and emotions they brought.

And there were a lot of those.

The beauty of The Ocean at the End of the Lane lies in the craftsmanship with which Gaiman cloaks a truly deep study of conflict and fear within what is, apparently, a child's eye view of their world. Hidden within the story simply told are nightmares and dreams, both real and imaginary, that entrap the lonely seven year old hero, and yet which provide him with unfathomable opportunities to escape his all-too-grey-and-grim reality. His adventures with Lettie Hempstock and her family provide him with the perfect anodyne to the apparent coldness and loneliness of his parents home as seen through the youngster's eyes, filling those voids with wonderous characters and creatures, and perilous but protected pastimes. Any child that ever read J.R.R. Tolkien or C.S. Lewis will be familiar with these sojourns into The Perilous Realm. But what makes Gaiman's achievement truly unique is the perspective he brings of the adult remembrance of these adventures, and the inability to truly validate the difference between the reality and the fantasy.

As I mentioned earlier, I found numerous correlations between events and experiences in my own childhood, and those encountered by the hero of The Ocean at the End of the Lane. This, in and of itself, is both alarming and, at the same time, cathartic. Alarming, because it brings back all of those memories - whether good or bad - and lays them at your feet, along with the fears they engendered at that time. Cathartic, because it then allows you to resolve those events in a different light - that of maturity, maybe - that makes them, perhaps, less fearsome than they seemed at the time. Gaiman's story opens windows onto our own childhood demons, and gives us an opportunity to resolve them, or not, as we see fit.

I thoroughly recommend this book - not that Neil Gaiman needs my recommendation to drum up sales or followers. But don't rush through it. Take the time to learn from the experience, and grow with the story. As far as I am concerned, I will attempt to get over my jealousy at Gaiman's success, and endeavour to write my own stories, and, hopefully, achieve similar success.  

Finally, my love and thanks to my wife for buying me this wonderful book. xxx 

Tropic of Cancer - Rancid Ramblings...

I don't know!  Maybe I've been spoilt over the years by the purity and prosody of "real" English Literary classics, or maybe it's because I actually do like to have some kind of plot or storyline in the books I read - and there have been many thousands of those - along with at least one deserving character.  On the other hand, maybe it's because I don't like being taken for a fool by being served - or, in this case, sold - pathetic puerile rubbish!

 

Anyway, whichever it is, I have to say, having just read "one of the greatest American novels of all time", I am left distinctly unimpressed and dissatisfied by the rancid ramblings of a rabid mind that is Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller.

 

I find it hard to understand how this work is even considered to be a novel!  I, personally, would classify it as an incoherent collection of variously influenced journal entries, daubed all too frequently with sporadic obscenities purely for the self-gratification of the author, as they provide no gratification, or even entertainment value, to the reader. By "variously influenced", I mean, rantings that are influenced by whatever intoxicating mendicant Miller has been able to extract from his cadre of erstwhile enablers, most of who seem to be in pretty much the same predicament as himself.  Even when he does manage to break into a (short) period of cohesive sequence, it's built on the back of racist and sexist philosophies that both demean the author and, more importantly, provide ample illustration of the propensity for denigration of other cultures and countries that is inherent in humanity, no matter which country it originates in. Of course, one has to wade through almost 70 pages of the incoherent ramblings before one reaches the coherent ones, by which time anyone with a modicum of morality and decency would have given up long ago. In my own defence at having read thus far and further, I was reading with an eye on the overall impression and veracity of the book, so I really had to read it all the way through!

The interesting thing about the book, I find, is Miller's apparent delight in describing the juvenile attitudes and behaviours of himself and his cohort when writing about the various sexual and other nefarious activities they are partaking of. Whether this is an indication of a narrow focus - either deliberate or unintentional - by the author on those specific memes, or, more alarmingly, an indication of the decadence of the society Miller is immersed in at that time, is a matter of much discussion over the years. Of course, the overall and continuing effect of that style has been to incite the interest of notoriety in the book over the years, which, in its turn, has lead to significant sales and subsequent continued fame and infamy. This might have impressed me more if the author was an immature juvenile, but Miller was actually in his 40s when the book was published, so that excuse is, sadly, no excuse at all!

It is argued that the book is significantly surrealist, and I can agree to that. However, the danger with surrealism is - make it too obtuse, and it becomes confusing. Miller borders on that. And then breaking it up into pieces that do not follow a linear chronology, compounds the surrealist confusion until it becomes impossible to follow, and, eventually, actually annoying to the reader.

 

There is, really, no comparison between Tropic of Cancer and its Orwellian equivalent - Down and Out In Paris and London. While both authors have the desire to describe the impacts on their lives from their situations and experiences among the poorest denizens of these cities, Orwell's is a massive triumph of literary skill and genius, while Miller's is... 

Suffice to say, reading Tropic of Cancer has not inspired me to rush out and buy Tropic of Capricorn, its erstwhile sequel, in quite the same way I rush out to buy every new Tolkien book. On the other hand, I would recommend you read Tropic of Cancer for yourself, so that you can get the full impression and effect of what is, after all, one of the greatest American novels of all time!

Aberfan - October 21st, 1966

There are events in everyone's life that stick in the mind.  How often do you hear the question, "Do you know where you were when you heard John F. Kennedy was shot?"  I actually have no answer for that question, but, for me, the date that made such an impression is October 21st, 1966.

 

I never realised at the time, nor for many, many years afterwards, exactly what an impression the events of that day had actually imprinted in my psyche.  I was eight years old, and the grainy black and white television news images of the horrific disaster that occurred in the Welsh village of Aberfan, like most of the "grown up news" at that time, made little impression.  Or so I'd thought.

 

Then, almost 40 years later, I started to feel something strange inside - something that trembled in the depths of my soul - if that's what you'd call it - in a way that seemed to say "This is still there, and needs to be set free."  It's difficult to explain that feeling - it's like something trying to surface in your mind, trying to speak, so disturbing that it takes your attention away from the things you should be doing.  That "thing" that surfaced was a remembrance of those events back in October 1966, and the vision and clarity and emotion that came with the memory were both inspiring, and deeply saddening.

 

The expression of that "thing" - the vision, the clarity, the emotion - is the poem below.  I reproduce it hear, 47 years after the event that has become known by just one word all over the world - Aberfan.

It's now been 50 years since "Aberfan" - but not a lot has changed.

 

ABERFAN – October 21^st, 2016

 

It’s been forty fifty years since “Aberfan”,

One hundred and sixteen children

Did not live to be woman or man,

Their fragile bodies broken!

 

A village fair is Aberfan,

Hid in the Martyrs vales,

Nestled amidst the green and gold

Of beautiful south Wales

 

But deep beneath her scenery

Lies the diamond black of coal.

To ransom this dark gold they sold

The Merthyr collective soul.

 

They sunk deep pits in Mother Earth

And mined the coal to sell;

But mines spit more than coal and dust,

Slurry they spit as well.

 

The garbage rock and dust and dirt

The does not burn is piled;

A blight on verdant pasture that

Is hideous, reviled.

 

And we all know that slag-heaps move,

We played on them as kids.

Our fathers' would have tanned our hides

If they'd known what we did!

 

But build a slag-heap on a hill

That’s watered by a stream?

The NCB knew this would be,

A Nightmare, not a dream.

 

They had been warned and warned again,

Of these they took no heed.

They went on piling up the slag:

Theirs was an evil deed.

 

Those murdering bastards knew full well

The spring fed from the hill

Would turn the slurry into slime

That, given time, would spill.

 

October dragged Autumnal feet,

With heavy skies and grey;

As if to wash away the dirt

It rained day after day.

 

The men on number 7 tip

Were worried by the storm.

They watched in horror as it swelled;

Could they prevent that harm?

 

In Pantglas Junior school it was

The last day of half-term.

The children sang their harvest hymns

But had no heart to learn.

 

At 9.15 in the morning

Of October Twenty-first,

God blessed the tardy children,

And, those on time, He curs’d.

 

Like some primordial monster

The soakened slurry fell,

Unleashing on the junior school

A blackness dug from Hell!

 

A rumble, growing louder,

‘Till it drowned all with its din.

The slag-heap crushed the stone-walled school

And buried those within.

 

While some escape, and many try

To save themselves and others,

That awful blackness traps them all;

Whom it doesn’t crush, it smothers.

 

And then – an eerie silence as

The dark void fills each room,

Encasing those dear children and

Their teachers in a tomb.

 

Then, through the silence, people come,

Miners, fathers, mothers.

While there will be relief for some,

There’s mostly grief for others.

 

They sought hard for their children,

Digging through the rock and mire

While deep in their hearts, broken,

Burnt an ever-growing fire.

 

They dug all through the daylight,

They dug through darkest night,

And each pew in Bethania church

Held a devastating sight.

 

The lifeless body of a child

Each by a blanket hidden

Was laid to rest in peace when it

Had been pulled from the midden.

 

One hundred and forty-four victims

Died in the Vale that day.

Twenty-eight of them were adults,

The rest, children at play.

 

Lord Robens was too busy to

Attend to Aberfan.

Receiving another honour,

Such an important man!

 

And when he bothered to attend

He lied about the cause.

The NCB were not to blame,

It was hidden springs, of course!

 

But the people of that valley

Were much wiser than him!

They’d played in that stream on the hill

Before it was filled in.

 

And, at the inquest, folk would take

No heed of Coal Board lies.

They knew who’d killed their little ones,

They knew whom to despise.

 

‘This is the truth - these words we want

This inquest to record,

'Asphyxia, no, sir! Buried alive

By the National Coal Board.'’

 

And who would pay the price for this,

The foul neglect and lies?

Why, no one from the NCB!

Spit in Welsh miners’ eyes!

 

“And, if you want those slag-heaps moved,

You’ll have to pay the cost.”

Well, Aberfan has dearly paid

With every life it’s lost!

 

Don’t ask how they recover

In their Welsh idyllic bliss.

Truth is – there’s no recovery

From tragedy like this.

 

It’s been forty fifty years since “Aberfan”

And not a day goes by

When a young survivor from Pantglas school

Wonders how they did not die.

 

They feel a sorrow and a guilt

For being still alive.

When all their friends were lying dead,

God, how did they survive?

 

Many of them that live there still

Take tablets for their pain,

But they don't take those pills, sir, no,

When it begins to rain!

The fear lies deep inside of them:

They won't get caught again!

 

And resentment and bitterness

Have, over the years, grown

‘Tween those who lost their children

And those that had lost none.

 

No, Aberfan will never truly heal

While memory lingers.

There’ll always be some hurt ones there

To wag their tongues and fingers.

 

There’ll always be some nosey fool,

Or morbidly sick tourist

Who wants to visit Aberfan

To see what they have missed.

 

The folk of Aberfan deserve

Our honour, respect, love;

Not idle stares and curiosity.

Remember, when you’re giving thanks

To Whom you deem above,

“But for the Grace of God, it could be me!”

 

Epitaph

Don’t ask if I believe in God

Or in the good, sweet Lord.

The proof that there is no such thing

Exists in just one word:

“Aberfan”.

 

Copyright © Paul J. Todd, October 21^st, 2006

 

Filey Summers - A Memoir in verse.

I guess, as a self-proclaimed author and poet, I should publish something now and then, while I'm waiting for fickle fame and fortune to strike!  But,  being honest, I wasn't sure whether to post this little poem about one of the great experiences of my childhood, on this blog, or on my Barney Blog, although this is far from a rant, and much more of a reminiscence!

 

Filey Summers

 

How do I spend my daydreams?

Wandering the paths

Of Butlin’s Filey Holiday Camp,

Reliving childhood’s past.

 

Old Sir Billy’s pride and joy,

The biggest Butlin’s ever,

Bringing summer fun to all

Despite the English weather!

 

The night before was sleepless,

Like a Christmas in July,

Our tummies full of butterflies

As hours dragged slowly by.

 

And then the rail or coach trip

With so little else to do

But sit in angst and wonder ‘til

The camp came into view!

 

The rows on rows of chalets;

Red and Yellow, Blue and Green,

And White for the self-catering,

The likes we’d never seen!

 

And over them, the chairlift,

Where we rode high in the sky,

Laughing down at the tiny folk

Below as we pass’d by.

 

 

 

The Indoor Pool was busy

And was always very warm;

A tropical oasis where

We were all safe from harm.

 

The clear and frigid water

Of the giant Outdoor Pool

Had tiered concrete fountains where

My brother sprayed the fools.

 

 

Two sittings in the dining halls

Of Windsor, York and Kent,

And seconds could be had without

More money being spent!

 

The first freshly cooked donut

That I had ever had,

Still hot, and sugar-coated,

Was a taste that drove you mad!

 

 

The Wild Mouse Rollercoaster

And the free Amusement Park

Kept the children entertained

From morning until dark

 

And then the glow of neon lights

Would drive the dark away

And make the camp a fairyland

Of fun and endless play.

 

 

 

Shows in the Gaiety Theatre

Or billiards in the hall,

Or dancing in the discotheque,

While parents had a ball.

 

The Regency, the Viennese,

The French and Oasis bars,

The Sportsman and the Beachcomber

Where dads could have some jars.
 

 

With playing fields and a cinema,

TV rooms and a lake,

With street trains and with endless games

He gave our folks a break

 

From looking after active kids

All day long, and, at night,

The chalet patrol kept careful watch

To make sure we slept tight!

 

So much to do – day in, day out,

No matter what your age;

It’s easy to see why Filey camp

Was all the Butlin rage!

“We know where you’re going! You’re going for a wee wee!”
 

 

Copyright (c) Paul J Todd, 2013.

All rights reserved.