Gems from the Past

‘Legend’ is still my guilty pleasure.

We all seem to have certain stories that stick with us throughout our lives; the ones that defined the era of our childhood. Though I remember (and still have) several storybooks my mum read to me as a youngster, one of the first ‘proper’ books I remember reading and enjoying by myself once I was old enough to choose my own books was Huntress of the Sea by Alan Temperley. I can still recall how excited the story made me and to this day own the battered paperback copy I was lucky enough to get signed by the author himself when I met him at a literary festival.

In terms of movies, I was obsessed with Legend (directed by Ridley Scott) as a child. A hero, a princess, goblins, elves, dwarves, unicorns and one of the best cinematic portrayals of the Devil I’ve ever seen; what’s not to love? It holds such a soft spot in my heart and no film will ever be able to make me feel as nostalgic as this one. One of the greatest things I have to thank the film for is my continued love of dark fantasy and I don’t doubt it (and other examples of film and literature that I enjoyed as a child) helped shape my interests now.

What books and movies remind you of your past? Do you think they informed your taste in fiction now?