Dancing Devil Range

by Wilbur C. Tuttle

George MacDonald, the master story-teller whose spiritual insight and myth-making artistry garnered the devotion of greats such as CS Lewis and GK Chesterton, places the reader in the grip of his revealing parables found in his short stories for the childlike. In this, among his best short stories, a young man finds himself lost on a northern Scottish Isle in a storm, taken in by the hospitality of a young woman and her mother. But he soon discovers there are more dangers on this island than rain and wind.

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Classics, Fiction, Fantasy

69 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1905

Reviews

[Forked Radish · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for concept, 3 stars for execution.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more of a mood than a short story, really.

A classic of the Victorian Gothic period, MacDonald adapts the folklore of the Scottish wulver to a more contemporary age. Our protagonist is a student who gets lost on the Orkneys when a storm hits. He shelters in a cave, and a young woman finds him and offers her mother's cottage until the storm breaks. The student accepts this hospitality, but all isn't quite what it seems.

The young woman in particular is a point of contention. Her mother is kind, offering fish and whisky... but the young woman has other appetites. There are allusions of sexual predation in addition to simply, well, predation. It's an interesting read worth examining and pondering, although it might seem dull to a modern audience expecting far more overt action.

[lindsey sacco.]

going to be honest I tuned out the majority of this one so I can't really give it a rating. The narrator had the cadence and tone of a news reporter and naturally spoke like the audiobook was set to .5 speed.

[Behizain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Escuchado en el podcast de Verne y Wells Ciencia Ficción.
Este relato no me ha parecido nada del otro mundo.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Library c/d. The narration, while adequate, is a bit soporific. Be careful when travelling alone on the lonely moors.

[Merri Barnousky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short, simple werewolf story, of the more Gothic and less graphic variety. There's a note of tragedy in it, but the specifics are left vague. It's kind of a mood piece.

[Charlotte Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of stories!

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic 1871 werewolf story. You better watch yourself around those lovely maidens with sharp teeth in the Shetlands. 🐺 Howoooo

[James Biser · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good short story, even though it would be better if there were more conclusion. It is interesting that the main character is attracted to the wolf in the form of a lovely woman, but it could be deeper if the wolf's personality were explored more. I enjoy the read and recommend it to any who are interested.

[Frans Kempe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who was the mysterious woman?

[Carla Golian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

A short but impactful story full of adventure, and emotion. It is an engaging read, as it takes you right into the mood of circumstances. I recommend this book.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short story. It doesn't take long to read/listen to, and I thought that the premise behind it was a little creative.