The Wandering Narrator
By The Wandering Narrator
Note to Fairy Tale Therapy listeners:
Thank you for giving our content a listen. We are re-branding our channel, but not abandoning fairy tales. We want to expand beyond it to include pulp stories and more obscure history. We also want to level up the production value and focus on making content for adult listeners.
The Wandering NarratorApr 14, 2022
The Cats of Ulthar, from H.P. Lovecraft's Dream Cycle (1920)
There are many good reasons not to kill cats, but the elder city of Ulthar had one more.
A History of the Necronomicon, H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Cycle
This manuscript is rumored to point to and grant access to strange worlds and beings of immense power. It has also left many seekers dead, or worse...
Polaris, from Lovecraft's "Dream Cycle"
A man finds himself stuck in a dream, unable to return to save his people from a battle now ancient.
Celephaïs, from Lovecraft's "Dream Cycle"
Kuranes got his name in a dream. When awake he's out of place while the need to dream consumes him. Will he be able to return to the place he imagined long ago, the city that waits for him, his Celephaïs?
The Statement of Randolph Carter, by H.P. Lovecraft
Harley Warren is dead. Carter is left to tell the authorities what happened. But can he make sense of the horrific truth?
Azathoth, from Lovecraft's "Dream Cycle"
Fall asleep listening to this one, then tell me how it ends.
Paul Suter's Beyond the Door, one of Lovecraft's favorite ghost stories
Godfrey Sarston, renowned Entomologist, seems to have spent his final days in terror of something. Now his cousin is left looking for answers in a diary, alone, in uncle's study.
The Call of Cthulhu
The contents of Francis Wayland Thurston's notes are better left undiscovered. Proceed at your own risk.
The Dunwich Horror, an audio movie
H. P. Lovecraft's most successful story to date. "The Dunwich Horror" was voted the favorite story of the April, 1929 issue by readers of Weird Tales magazine, where it was first published. The novella gained the author many loyal fans and scared the boogers out of the noses of many a child brave enough to steal dad's copy.
The Wandering Narrator's performance is enhanced with music and sound effects. So grab yourself a ticket to that theater inside your mind and enjoy shivers and thrills with this masterpiece for free!
👣️Footnotes🎶️
- Some of the sound effects came from the amazing PacDV: https://www.pacdv.com/sounds/
- Text adapted from: Lovecraft, Howard Phillips. “The Dunwich Horror.” In Weird Tales, XIII/4:481–508. Weird Tales. Popular Fiction Publishing Company, 1929.
- The story is in the public domain, (P) 2021 Oeni Media.
The Prince and the Dragon
Another Benjamin proving to be the strongest in this classic Serbian tale of heroic dragon slaying. Don't listen to this one for lessons in proper dating etiquette.
I usually don't condone dragon slaying, but this one made fun of an old lady. And he imprisoned a kingdom worth of people, inside a mill!
👣️Footnotes🎶️
Read along: “The Crimson Fairy Book, by Various.” 2016. Gutenberg.org. 2016. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2435/2435-h/2435-h.htm#link2H_4_0009.
Public domain, (P) 2021 Oeni Media
The Elf Maiden
A Lapp folktale about a boy who gets betrayed, but because of that meets his future wife. She and her family are elves, but not the kind you may be familiar with from modern fantasy.
👣️Footnotes🎶️
Read along: “The Project Gutenberg EBook of the Brown Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang.” 2021. Gutenberg.org. 2021. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/31201/31201-h/31201-h.htm#Page_190.
Public domain, (P) 2021 Oeni Media
The Magic Book
This tale is about a boy who steals a magic book from a hill-man and ends up wrapped around a beautiful princess's finger.
👣️Footnotes🎶️
Read along: “The Orange Fairy Book, by Various.” 2016. Gutenberg.org. 2016. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3027/3027-h/3027-h.htm#link2H_4_0035.
Public domain, (P) 2021 Oeni Media
The Seven-headed Serpent
A heart-rending tragedy has to be righted. Luckily the nuns from the spinning convent lend a hand. The stakes are incredibly high for the hero of this yarn.
👣️Footnotes🎶️
Read along: “The Project Gutenberg Canada EBook of ‘The Yellow Fairy Book’, by Andreww Lang (ed.).” 1894. Gutenberg.org. 2021. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/28314/28314-h/28314-h.htm#THE_SEVEN-HEADED_SERPENT.
Public domain, (P) 2021 Oeni Media
The Fairy Nurse
Meet Fear Doirich (Dark Man), the fine looking gentleman... I mean, weazened looking agent of the fairy/spirit world. The Good People are causing trouble for mortals and it'll take guts to make things right again. But don't let on if you can see their true form.
👣️Footnotes🎶️
Read along: “The Lilac Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang.” 2016. Gutenberg.org. 2016. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3454/3454-h/3454-h.htm#link2H_4_0006.
Public domain, (P) 2021 Oeni Media
The King of the Waterfalls
The hero of this West Highland's tale gets scared to the point of wanting to give up, is headstrong and gets into trouble with fairy folk, he also listens to advice and values friendship. Like many of the heroes in folklore, he's imperfect and some aspects of his character are very relatable.
His wife is probably the real superhero here.
Oh, and I was really excited to read about the waterfalls. Alas.
If you listen at least the first half of the episode you will learn how to mispronounce Gruagach about two dozen times. I dislike violence, but I was relieved when I found out I wouldn't have to say that creature's name again after what happened to it.
👣️Footnotes🎶️
Read along: “The Lilac Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang.” 2016. Gutenberg.org. 2016. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3454/3454-h/3454-h.htm#link2H_4_0009.
Public domain, (P) 2021 Oeni Media
Snowdrop, or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The story most people know as Snow White has long roots in Europe's ancestral memory. While the pristine beauty of the princess-in-a-box is fascinating to the dwarfs, mirrors and prince, the jealous queen steals the show. Especially at the end.
👣️Footnotes🎶️
Read along: “The Red Fairy Book, by Various.” 2016. Gutenberg.org. 2016. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/540/540-h/540-h.htm#link2H_4_0033.
Public domain, (P) 2021 Oeni Media
Snow-white and Rose-red
Two girls, a foul-mouthed dwarf, a cuddly bear and a surprisingly kind and open-minded mother.
👣️Footnotes🎶️
Read along: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Blue_Fairy_Book/Snow-white_and_Rose-red
Public domain, (P) 2021 Oeni Media
Mother Holle
This little tale features a supreme pre-Christian goddess in the character of Mother Holle. Hard work is rewarded and laziness is punished. Or that's how it should be. Old Mother Frost is fair and just, let that be a warning.
👣️Footnotes🎶️
Read along: “The Red Fairy Book,” Various. Wikisource. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Red_Fairy_Book/Mother_Holle.
Public domain, (P) 2021 Oeni Media
Fairy Gifts
What if you could ask for the gift of beauty, of charm, or eloquence maybe? Would it help you live a full life, or leave you wanting? A charming little tale about a hard choice and how to be happy. It packs a lot of wisdom for its size.
Notes:
Read along: “The Green Fairy Book, by Various.” Www.gutenberg.org, www.gutenberg.org/files/7277/7277-h/7277-h.htm#link2H_4_0007. Accessed 7 Mar. 2021.
Performance and background music by Moodrise.
Marya Morevna or The Death of Koschei the Deathless
This is a tale well known in Russian and Slavic regions, and well beyond. This variant was included in the Red Fairy Book, but there are many more. Like in the tale Blue Beard, there is a closet that must under no circumstance be opened. Following Ivan Tsarevich on this epic quest for his beloved warrior princess Marya Morevna you'll encounter magical beings and forces of nature, and a baba yaga. Enjoy!
And as a bonus. Nearly 15 extra minutes with just the soundtrack to carry you away to your own epic dreams.
Notes:
Read along: “The Red Fairy Book.” n.d. Www.Gutenberg.org. Accessed December 28, 2020. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/540/540-h/540-h.htm.
Cover art from "The Abduction of Marya Morevna by Ivan Tsarevich." Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin (1876–1942). Accessed December 28, 2020. https://www.akg-images.com/archive/Die-Entfuhrung-Marja-Morevnas-durch-Iwan-Zarewitsch-2UMDHU4BH769.html
Performance and background music by Moodrise.
East of the Sun and West of the Moon
If you know Soria Moria Castle, you'll recognize the theme. This time, there is a brave and determined heroine who takes the magical journey after her tragic mistake. If you like trolls and support their cause, you won't enjoy the ending.
Listen once for the story, then again to ease away insomnia.
Notes:
Read along: “The Blue Fairy Book, by Various.” n.d. Www.Gutenberg.org. Accessed December 13, 2020. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/503/503-h/503-h.htm#link2H_4_0003.
Cover art by Kay Nielsen in "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" (1914)
Performance and background music by Moodrise.
Soria Moria Castle
Soria Moria Castle is an idea, a goal, and the path taken to reach it is different for each individual. No matter who you have been and what mistakes you made, a path to perfect happiness will open up to the lucky ones and those who keep trying.
Notes:
Read along: “The Red Fairy Book, by Various.” n.d. www.Gutenberg.org. Accessed November 19, 2020. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/540/540-h/540-h.htm#link2H_4_0004.
Cover art from Andrew Lang's "Red Fairy Book"
Performance and background music by Moodrise
Reynard and Bruin
Reynard the trickster, liar, and ubiquitous European folk hero appears here in four stories. Love him or hate him, he will fascinate regardless. There are many variations of these stories spread across Europe.
This fox was so popular that in the French language his name became the actual word for fox.
Notes:
The first three chapters are from "Reynard and Bruin" in Europa's Fairy Book
Chapter 4, "Bruin and Reynard" is from Popular Tales from the Norse
Music and performance by Moodrise
Houichi the Earless (Mimi-Nashi-Houichi)
This eerie tale takes us to feudal Japan. In our first Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) feature we encounter Houichi, a talented blind musician whose skill gets him tangled up with the spirit world.
Expect more from Hearn in this podcast, whose writings I have long admired and loved.
Notes:
Mimi-Nashi-Hoichi can be read in Lafcadio Hearn's Kwaidan
For context about the Heike crabs mentioned in the story, see the story of Heike-gani in Kotto
Music and performance by Moodrise
The Fairy of the Dawn
Float away with the music as you follow Petru on his epic quest to Morning-Glory, the Fairy of the Dawn. You'll want to listen to this one over and over.
This story is a treat. It's an epic adventure, but has a soft heart in a hero who not only shows great physical strength, but also restraint, wisdom and depth of character uncommon for a fairy tale. It's accompanied by an original background track filled with texture. It'll feel like a mist came over your senses...
Notes:
For the curious, Mittwoch is the goddess Mercury, as well as Wednesday in German. When Petru says 'Good-day, little mother!' and she answers, 'Very well, thank you,' you'll get why Petru laughed.
The Fairy of the Dawn can be read in The Violet Fairy Book
Music and performance by Moodrise
Cover Art by H.J. Ford. The Whirlwind Seizes the Wreath, 1901.
Six Sundry Tales
Have you ever flipped through a book of fairy tales looking for those short-but-sweet stories? I know I have. We made a selection of six of the shorter stories, lasting about three pages each, from Andrew Lang's "colored" Fairy Books for this episode. Enjoy!
In this little anthology you'll hear, from:
1. The Crow (the heroine of this tale is truly brave, facing challenges similar to the boy who knew no fear from the previous episode, all to help a stranger)
2. The Three Brothers (classic sort of tale featuring a friendly contest between three brothers, everyone wins in the end)
3. The Boy and the Wolves, or the Broken Promise (a tragic native American tale of the passions of youth and the remorse that may follow)
4. Master and Pupil (a tale of magic featuring an exciting wizards' duel)
5. The Goat's Ears of the Emperor Trojan (a poor barber with an impossible situation, and an emperor who came to realize even he can't keep a secret from coming out)
6. The Six Sillies* (there's no shame in lowering your standards if you want to avoid loneliness)
Music and performance by Moodrise
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* Forgot to name this title in the performance, it's the story at the end.
The Tale of a Youth Who Set Out to Learn What Fear Was
A favorite of mine. This tale from the brothers Grimm features the strange marvels of the autre monde. The old Arthurian legend, "Perceval", as written by Chrétien de Troyes was likely the inspiration for this adventure, although this youth does not have the misfortune of being as famous as sir Gawain was in Chrétien's poem when he was subjected to similar slapstick situations by the denizens of the fairy world.
Link to the text of this version of the story
Music and performance by Moodrise
Cover art by R. Leinweber, taken from Kinder- und Hausmärchen
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
This one's a charming story of a young boy following his dreams.
Link to the text: Twelve Dancing Princesses
Music and performance by Moodrise
Cover art by H. J. Ford, taken from The Red Fairy Book
Blue Beard
For our first story we chose Blue Beard, by Charles Perrault. It was meant as a cautionary tale for women to curb their curiosity, but can easily be interpreted to warn the wicked and those who abuse their power not to assume their actions will always remain unchecked.
This version is from the Blue Fairy Book, published by Andrew Lang in 1889. If you want to read along, or file it away for later use, you can find a version of it on-line at Project Gutenberg.
Link to the text: Blue Beard
Music and performance by Moodrise
Cover art by T. Lix, taken from Contes de Perrault.