“Ringard and Dendra”
The Throne of Bones
Brian McNaughton
Print $16.95
Ebook $2.99

Brian McNaughton was born on this date, September 23, in 1935. He passed away in 2004. McNaughton was never prolific, and based on the story I read for today’s post, that’s a shame.  The Throne of Bones won a World Fantasy Award.  From reading this story, I can see why.

I had read one of his stories years ago and liked it quite a bit.  Turns out it was this one, reprinted in Black Gate.  I had intended to read more of his work.  I had a copy of this collection. But things happened, and I never got around to it.  You know how these situations tend to go at times, don’t you?  Of course you do.

I will not make that mistake this time.

“Ringard and Dendra” starts out with the local lord, Fariel of the house of Sleith, investigating a stranger on his lands, a stranger described as a snake man.  He finds a man covered in tattoos which give him the appearance of scales on his face.  They’re actually detailed renditions of plants.

During conversation, Fariel learns that the man, Ringard, is a notorious figure from his family history.  In this kingdom, kidnapping is an acceptable method of marriage.  Ringard had kidnapped Fariel’s aunt Dendra on her wedding night. Fariel takes Ringard back to his castle and listens to his story.

And it’s quite a story.  A tragic tale of forbidden love between a young woman of noble birth and the son of a woodcutter who can communicate with trees, Ringard’s story involves an evil sorcerer and heartbreak for the young and very naive lovers.

Brian McNaughton

I’ll be reading the rest of this volume for sure this time.  McNaughton is a writer I want to read more of.

One of McNaughton’s influences was Clark Ashton Smith, and you can certainly see the influence.  This is a good thing.  McNaughton uses unusual names, much like Smith did.  His prose isn’t as dense as Smith’s but has an elegance all its own.

“Ringard and Dendra” wasn’t a horror story, but there are strong elements of horror in it.  These only strengthen the story and make it more powerful.  McNaughton’s world is dark, but it isn’t really grimdark.  The nihilism that characterizes so much contemporary fantasy was missing.  And while I felt sorry for Ringard and Dendra, I also sympathized with Lord Fariel.  It’s not until the end of the story that we learn what his tragedy is.

This one is highly recommended.