Minutes of the July 20, 1997 Meeting of Fanuidhol, the Prospective Denver Chapter of the Mythopeic Society.

Meeting commenced at 2:05 p.m. at the home of Bruce Leonard.

Members Present: Patricia Yarrow, Debra Grove, Bruce Leonard, Linda Bachman, G. R. Grove, and Martina Grasse.

Members Absent: Ronda DelBoccio.

First order of business: Discussion of "The Wood Wife" by Terri Windling.

Bruce stated that Patricia McKillip writes better, but the Wood Wife imagery is more easily identified with. The book has more of a cutting edge to it.

Linda would like to see the rest of the Wood Wife poetry .

Patricia defined Mythopoeic literature as containing creational use of mythic elements, and the treatment of language - as Tolkien did: Language of Landscape, Language of Magic, Language of Myth. Things are not black and white. The beings have an otherness, they exhibit the inability to understand humanity. It goes beyond "pointed ears," to internal differences. The Wood Wife incorporates European, Native American and Hispanic images and does not invalidate any of them. Fair Peril used applied psychology , but mostly for comic effect.

G. R. admitted that she found the first 1/3 of the book difficult, but got more interested once the protagonist arrived in Arizona. Having spent time in Arizona she found it familiar and believable - right down to the developers with their bulldozers (unfortunately). The final 1/3 of the book was the best (read all in one sitting), because it asks deep questions like "Who are you…really ." Also pointed out was the initiatory element in both the Wood Wife and Fair Peril. Anna was unable to reconcile the two aspects of her spirituality. The writers integrate the physical and spiritual underlayers.

Debra pointed out that when traveling from one world to another it often takes time to notice the changes, or better put for the local "inhabitants" to decide they want to notice you. And sometimes you just suddenly find yourself in new surroundings. Wood Wife was less predictable a murder mystery than Winter Rose.

Martina did not comment, she was unable to "get into the book" at this time.

Other discussion included the observation that the author is also an artist, and used visual imagery like an artist. The blending of traditional and popular music is called syncretic, this is a literary example of syncretic. Tomas is real in both worlds. "The Land of Poetry" by giving paintings color with poems, or artist creating paintings, images for spirits to step into.

Second order of business: Upcoming meetings:

August 17, 1997 - 2:00 p.m. at Bruce’s: Update on Mythcon 1998, BBC produced Video about Tolkien.

September 7, 1997 - 7:30 p.m. at Estes Park Highland Games: Bardic Circle - bring songs to share.

October 19, 1997 - 2:00 p.m. at Pat, Tina, & Debras: Discussion of "Wyrd Sisters" by Terry Pratchett (a seasonal story, based on Macbeth but with a Discworld twist.)

For information on upcoming meetings, or to get directions to the locations please e-mail yarrowp@mscd.edu

or call (303)-777-6759 only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Mythnutes by Martina