Rereading: THE FOLK OF THE AIR by Peter S. Beagle

Cover art by Romas

Beagle’s third novel published in 1986 sort of combines biographical experience with fantasy in an interesting and complex way.

Joe Farrell, a world wanderer and lute player, has come to Berkeley, California to look up his old friend Ben, living with an older woman named Sia in her unusual house in the hills. (Joe appeared previously in the short story “Lila the Werewolf,” which I would not have remembered except that Beagle has Joe mention it halfway through the book.) Ben is involved with a group who recreate medieval life as a hobby, along the lines of the Society for Creative Anachronism. They have events like jousts and dances where members play characters, dressing accordingly. They try to speak with old styles of language, adhere to old customs, fight with arcane weapons, and play and dance to ancient music, which is where Joe fits in. Ben brings Joe to a dance, and there, on the outskirts, Joe sees a teenage girl who likes to play witch call up a figure with ritual, like one would call up a demon, though Nicholas Bonner is not quite that, he’s more of a trickster, and a perfect partner for the malicious games of young Barbara who goes by the name Aiffe. Before long they are creating all kinds of trouble for the society and its events.

Meanwhile, Joe is troubled by Ben’s behavior, and equally by Sia and her strange house, which seems to change from day to day. He meets an old girlfriend, Julie, they become close again, and Julie tells him of other evil things Aiffe has done. Before long, Joe is deep into the dark, mysterious magic that troubles Ben, surrounds Sia, and is being used by Aiffe and Nick Bonner to increase their power and endanger lives. What Joe can do about it is unknown, but he means to find out.

Well written, lots more characters and plot than I can cover here, a long novel that delivers thrills, human fallibility, and a wide array of historical, musical, and mythical curiosities. Recommended.

The post Rereading: THE FOLK OF THE AIR by Peter S. Beagle appeared first on Todd's Blog.