Novels about magick, witchcraft, etc.

[Starwitch]

I'd love to eventually make a page on my site that lists great fiction books about magic, witches, spells, and the like. If you have any favorite books that you've read, please list them here. My favorite magickal book was The Mists of Avalon. Even though it's over 900 pages long, it is THE BEST novel I've ever read. You get so caught up in the story that I found myself wanting to speak with an old timey British style accent while reading it. It really gets into your mind. It's also wonderful because it's based on the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable, which was a true story, so some of the events in the book MAY have actually happened. There is a lot of awesome magick spells in the book, plus the Priestesses of Avalon are exactly the kind of strong, feminine, powerful witches that most of us wish we were (and of course, many of us are). It's inspiring. The book really makes you wish that a place like Avalon was real and makes you hope that it is. Even if you have seen the movie, you should try to read the book someday. The movie was okay, but it didn't do justice to the book. Of course, there is no way it could have since the book is so fantastic and 900 pages!

If you have magical books that you've read and loved, I'd love to hear about them.

Click to view The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley at Amazon.com.

Bright Blessings,

[Eretik]

Terry Pratchett,all Discworld novels, ofcourse.
The Hammer and the Cross,Harry Harrison[highly rcommend this]
Ursula Le Guin, Wizard of Earthsea trilogy[children]
Alan Garner.The weirdstone of Brisingamen[children]
Alan Garner,Red Shift[not so children]
anything by Tanith Lee, esp.The Blood of Roses [very dark]
Mary Renault, The Bull from the Sea,Funeral Games
Cabal,Clive Barker
The chronicles of Thomas Covenant,the unbeliever[can't remember author.lol]
#I don't read much but these ones stand out for me.

[Wolf Heart]

I don't really know of many books like that, but I will agree that Mists of Avalon was one of the greatest books I have ever read. I'm actually re-reading it right now. It's such a wonderful book, and the characters are so alive, they actually grow and change as though it was happening before your eyes.

Blessed Be,
Wolf Heart

[Starwitch]

What a coincidence that you are re-reading it. The reason I started this thread is because, for some reason, I had started thinking I would like to re-read it again. I haven't started yet, but maybe I actually will now.

The problem I have with many magick books I seem to have run across is that they so seem to be quite dark, as if you can't write about magick in a positive way. Thanks, Eretik, for pointing out which books were dark. That's very helpful to me. I prefer to avoid those.

Bright Blessings,

[Wolf Heart]

I always go back and re-read books I've loved, I always seem to notice a whole lot more.

Have you ever seen the movie? A couple people I know say they absolutely hate the movie because it's so unlike the book. I myself agree that it's far from being as good as the book, but as a movie on it's own, it's not too bad.

Blessed Be,
Wolf Heart

[Starwitch]

Yes, I watched the movie on TV and later I also purchased the DVD of it. At first I had kind of a problem with it because it was so different from the book and I didn't see the need for such an ugly Mordred (please forgive me, Mordred, if you Googled yourself and found this post). He was always making such horrible faces. How could HE be the child of Arthur and Morgaine when they were both so delicate and pretty? I guess maybe he looked that way because he was in-bred, lol.

I did grow to love the movie when I got over the fact that it wasn't supposed to be just the like the book. It is a very exciting, drama and magic-filled movie and being able to watch it is a great way to sort of relive the book without having to read all 900+ pages of it.

I did wish they had hired better-looking and more mysterious actors. I loved the actor that played Lancelot though. He was perfect for the job. Arthur was a bit of a pretty-boy for my taste, not manly enough. And Morgaine was good, but I wish she were prettier. Actually though, she was a lot prettier than the book described her. That part of the book was always a little disappointing. I wanted Morgaine to be beautiful and glamorous but she described herself as small and dark and not pretty.

There were many places in the movie that made me wish they had stuck to the story more, but overall, if I don't compare the movie to the book, it is a really good movie and I enjoyed it a lot. I'd like to watch it again soon. Thanks for bringing it up. I started reading reviews of the movie here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244353/usercomments and it made me realize I'd like to see it again.

Bright Blessings,

[Starwitch]

Nevermind anything negative I said before about the movie. I'm watching it right now, and I just had to pause the movie and come here and say that if anyone hasn't seen it yet, you've got to watch it. It is really great, especially if you've already read the book and want to re-live it like I do. Even if you haven't, there is so much awesome magick and paganism in the movie, it's really inspiring. I've already been crying and yelling quite a bit during the movie.

Remember this part? I copied it from a page on the web that has transcribed the entire movie! (That must take a LOT of time and effort!) (This is really just for people who have already seen it, especially Wolf Heart.)

Gorlois: Don't you want to ask the leave of your new High King, lady?
Igraine: You?
Gorlois: No. Ambrosius has named Uther Pendragon his successor.
(Uther walks over and Gorlois and Igraine both bow to him.)
Uther: Don't envy me, Gorlois. The lady belongs to you.
(Uther walks away.)
Gorlois: You should take care to avoid gossip. No chaste woman is safe with Uther Pendragon.
Igraine: People may gossip if they like. it doesn't concern me.
Gorlois: It concerns me!
Igraine: Are you questioning my honor?
Gorlois: I'm questioning your judgement.
Igraine: Well, if your judgement is no better than that then your word will cease to concern me as well.
Gorlois: How dare you play the shrew with me! l told you to avoid him! (Raises his arm to strike her) I'll teach you!
Igraine: Think before you strike me, Gorlois or l will teach you that a daughter of the Holy Isle is the servant of no man!

That was SO freakin' awesome... "I will teach you that a daughter of the Holy Isle is the servant of NO MAN!" I was like, "YEAH! YOU TELL HIM!"

lol. Yeah, I love the movie AND the book. They are both awesome. I wish there were more movies like this. If you know of any, please tell me so I can watch them. I hope you are enjoying the book (I know you are!)

Bright Blessings,

[Wolf Heart]

That is my favorite scence in that whole movie! It's the one that has like burned its self into my memory. I've so wanted to say that to people before but figured it was a lil too dramatic, lol.
The book is as amazing as always, and now I think I shall watch the movie after work, you have me wanting to watch it again. Surprisingly I found the movie through my mom who is not wicca or any of the sort, she is christain, and yet she loves the movie as well. Another of my favorite scences in the movie is where Morgaine and Arthur are on the horse and talking about the people in the field doing their ritual and they go into a discussion about how a God and Goddess is just like having a Mother and Father. I've used that many a times when arguing with people the exsitence of a God and Goddess.

*sighs* I am so watching that now! Thanks for getting me to want to watch it again! Lol.

Oh! And if you want a movie that has magic (though not exactly pagan magic) the movie "Lady Hawke" is WONDERFUL. It's an old 80's movie but it' sooo great. Here's a link to the review and plot summary:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089457/

I fell in love with this movie even before I was half way through it! I would reccomend it to anyone.
//Edit\\
Decided to add a few quotes from the Lady Hawke movie to give you an idea of how it is. Btw, it's placed in mid-evil-ish times. (Phillipe is a thief, fyi)

Imperius: I fully expect to meet you at the Pearly Gates, little thief, and don't you dare disappoint me.
Phillipe: I'll meet you there, Father... even if I have to pick the lock.

Soldier #1: Where is Navarre?
Phillipe: Navarre? Navarre? Ah, yes. Big man, black horse. I thought I saw him ride south, toward Aquila
Soldier #2: Ha, then we ride north.
Phillipe: It isn't polite to assume that someone is a liar when you've only just met them.
Soldier #1: And yet you knew we would. We ride south.
Phillipe: [talking to God] I told the truth, Lord. How can I learn any moral lessons when you keep confusing me this way?

Imperius: What do you want?
Phillipe: I was told to bring you this bird, father. It's been wounded.
Imperius: Good shot. Bring it in, we'll dine together.
Phillipe: We can't eat this bird, father.
Imperius: What? Oh God, is it Lent again already?

[after picking someone's pocket]
Phillipe: I know I promised, Lord, never again. But I also know that YOU know what a weak-willed person I am.
//End Edit\\



Blessed Be,
Wolf Heart

[Starwitch]

Lady Hawke sounds like a good movie. I like Mathew Broderick. I'll have to look that up sometime and see it. Thanks for recommending it.

I actually used the same explanation about the God and Goddess/Father and Mother when telling my step-daughter about the Goddess. It's strange how in some parts of the movie it seems they are promoting paganism and in other parts they go out of their way to make pagans look like meddling fools. Some of the things Vivianne does in the name of the Goddess are really pretty sick and it's hard to imagine that any Goddess would approve of her actions. It makes me hope that Christians who are watching the movie don't really get the idea that pagans are that way. The movie is really about how Avalon and paganism died out in Britain and this was Avalon's last ditch effort to keep some sort of power. It's pretty tragic.

I was reading reviews online and there are a lot of people that seem to like Angelica Huston as Vivianne, but I thought they could have chosen a better actor. I imagine the Lady of the Lake as a graceful, composed, digified, wise, and spiritual woman. The character in the movie is much too conniving, meddlesome, and catty for my taste. I also wish they had used younger actors for the women. Igraine is only 19 in the beginning of the book, but they picked an actor who must have been 45 years old.

This business about all the women joining a convent was disturbing to me, although I did get a better understanding of why a person would want to join a convent by watching that. I suppose if you feel that you've done a lot of bad things in your life and you want to work out your bad karma before you die, you can join a convent and suffer for the rest of your life, thereby reducing the karma that you will carry into your next life.

Another thing I learned while watching the different rituals and spells was how much power a ritual can have. I used to think the purpose of a ritual was to help you focus your energy on your goal. I thought the power was in your intent. I still believe the power is mainly in your intent, but I see how performing a ritual can raise energy that can be used to acheive your goal. The energy raised is a physical thing - it's like, if you write your goal on a piece of paper and then burn it in the ritual, the paper turns to ash/energy/molecules and that energy is then directed towards accomplishing the goal that you have set. I realize I'm getting pretty deep here. Watching the movie actually helped clarify some things with me so I thought I'd share that here.

I want you guys to know that if you ever have any deep thoughts or inspirations that you want to share with the forum or the world, even if there is no ongoing conversation about that topic, you are welcome to post it here on the message board so that people worldwide can search the web and find it and read it.

I started reading The Mists of Avalon again today and of course, it's wonderful (and actually less than 900 pages.) I have another book called "Ancestors of Avalon" but I haven't read it yet. I know there are several other Avalon books available. If you have read any of them and think they are worthwhile, please let me know. They seem to have good reviews on Amazon for the most part. Ancestors of Avalon is intimidating to me because in the very beginning there is a super long lists of characters. It seems excessive to me that there should be SO many characters that the author needs to make a list of them and explain who they are. I realize that that is a common practice in some science fiction books, but I've never had much interest in those kinds of books (I really never gave them a chance.) I actually haven't read any fiction for many years. I have only been reading non-fiction, trying to learn more about spirituality, mind power, and other subjects of interest to me. It's nice to read fiction every now and then though too.

Bright Blessings,

[Wolf Heart]

I'm about the opposite. I've always read fiction books and only about a year ago started reading non-fictions and information books. A favorite non-fiction author of mine is Sarah Dessen, she does a lot of teen novels but they are very good, they don't have the same stupid tone as most teen novels.

One series of books I would highly reccomend is the Firekeeper series by Jane Lindskold. They aren't connected to paganism but they do have magic in them. She is an AMAZING author, I found her when I was still in middle school and keep up with the series like religously, lol. She's really good with character development and brings the idea of magic very smoothly into the series, it's very very good.

Blessed Be,
Wolf Heart

[Starwitch]

Thank you for the recommendations. I may check some of those books out, plus I think they would be good for my step-daughter. I would like to get her some magickal books to read.

[Myst]

I loved the Mists of Avalon, but I didn't like Ancestors of Avalon at all. It was written by Diana Paxson, not MZB, and I wasn't very impressed. I also read the Forest House, and it was so-so. I think I just don't like Paxson's writing style.

Another "occult" series that I've really enjoyed is the Dresden Files. It's very entertaining, but totally different than Mists. It's about Chicago's only professional wizard. It's actually better than it sounds. It has a wit that reminds me a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I devoured all 9 books of the series within a week, and I only wished there were more. It's a fun ride, and I'm just waiting for the next book to be published.

I also enjoy Terry Pratchett books. They're more satirical, and contain a lot of magical truths. They're both entertaining and thought provoking, and definitely worth the time.

[jcrowfoot]

Ok. I can't believe I missed this post for so long. Here are all my fictional "old saws" that I keep harping about how wonderful they are.

BOOKS:

M. R. Sellars. *NOT* for children. He's a great horror/suspense writer, and has a Wiccan hero/married couple. Sometimes he gets gratuitous, but not as bad as some. The first book in the series is "Harm None". This one is good, but the later ones are even better. His last trilogy in this series may not be to everyone's taste... it involves bondage and santaria.

The Circle of Three This is a 13 book series written for teens, but adults can really enjoy this bunch too. It is not as fluffy as most of this ilk, and very 'real world'. I mean, sure the magic is a little showier than IRL... but again better than I've seen elsewhere. Author: Isobel Bird. They need to be read in order. They make sense standing alone, but the brilliance is in how the books blend into each other and watching the characters develop.

NO one mentioned Charles De Lint? How could anyone go this far and not mention him? His books are very mystical, not directly pagan. Great stuff. He's very much into Celtic and Native American mysticism and mythology, but also travels far. My favorites are Yarrow, and The Little Country. I haven't read all of his stuff yet... I don't remember there being anything that would be, strictly speaking, contra-indicated for children. Younger kids might find the adult stuff boring...

However, I may not be the person to ask. My mom read me "Hamlet" as bedtime story material. I think I was 6 or 7 at the time, and I was riveted.

Brigid's Charge by Cynthia Lamb

It's a historical novel. It's very good. It's about a woman who moves to colonial America because she's the last in the line of witches. This is a common story line for books of this type, but this is uncommonly good. Highly reccomended, despite the fact I'm not sure that there were actual European *pagan* witches during this period.

Sorceress by Celia Rees

This is about a woman, also in early America... though more in the settlers territory during the French and Indian war. This is written for teens, but adults would enjoy it. This is a fascinating first person narrative involving Native Americans and magic. Very good, and more realistic than even the above.

Pat Murphy also uses the mystical often in her stories. I liked "Falling Woman" a great deal. It's a story from the point of view of an old shaman who happens to be an archeologist to make money. The way she writes about visions and the like is so realistic it's a little spooky.

[Wolf Heart]

Thank you Jcrowfoot! I have been needing new books to look into as I've read almost all of the books by my favorite authors. I think I shall look those up today!

I would also like to reccomend the book "Labyrinth" by Kate Moss. It's a great book that switches between mid-evel times and modern times, dealing with reincarnation and slight magics. It's a great book. The first couple chapters are a little slow but it gets really good!

Another I'd reccomend doesn't really have anything to do with magick or paganism but is none-the-less a wonderful book. It's called "Lucas" by Kevin Brooks, Its one of those books that have a deeper, much wider, meaning than the story implies. It's intended for teens but I think anyone would enjoy it.

Blessed Be,
Wolf Heart

[Starwitch]

Thanks JCrowfoot and Wolfheart for the book recommendations. Those sound really good.

Bright Blessings,