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The Lay Of Lirazel
Epic Poetry Meets High Fantasy
An Edenesque garden, a haunted tower, a forest shrouded in twilight wherein dwell Centaurs, Elves and a myriad of creatures fantastic and mysterious; this is the setting in which Babb’s “Lirazel” comes to life and where the tragedy of her life must unfold. Her doom is fixed, deadly, unavoidable and all the more tragic because of the choices Lirazel makes as she spurns wisdom for folly in a desperate gamble for love.
In the world of Lirazel there exists an evil; ancient and monstrous, seductive and sorcerous. Its malice is hyper-focused on revenge and the usurpation of power. To satisfy its plots the Princess Lirazel must die. Perhaps then, a powerful relic will be revealed and then claimed by the usurpers. A crown, made for a princess but desired by a treacherous elf-witch and a fallen Knight; for this thing a brutal war must be fought, heroes must die and a maiden be cursed.
The tale of this crown is the story Lirazel will uncover, as will the reader. This is the tale, told as poetry, in which she finds herself enmeshed and ultimately bewitched. The Lay Of Lirazel is narrative poetry told in epic fashion, but it is poetry fully equipped with fangs and enough terror to keep a reader turning pages till the last curse falls and death and doom claim their prize!
Author and scholar Bradley Birzer has compared the poetry to that of Beowulf and The Battle of Maldon and has credited Babb with “some of the best lyrics in rock history.” The Lay Of Lirazel originally provided the inspiration for prog-legends Glass Hammer and their 2005 magnum-opus The Inconsolable Secret. Babb, though he had no idea at the time, had composed his lyrical or poetical magnum-opus as well. Best known for his work with Glass Hammer, Babb is stepping out at last into the world of straight-out saga-making and storytelling. Rock D.J. Chris MacIntosh (a.k.a. Grandfather Rock) says of the author, “As a rock-n-roll bass player, Steve Babb is flawless; as a poet/storyteller he is excellent. ...Babb ranks along with names like Stephen Lawhead or Jeffrey Overstreet. Excellence from beginning to end!” But Inkling scholars and Tolkien experts like Dr. Amy Sturgis are also taking note. She says, “What makes The Lay of Lirazel an honest act of sub-creation and a deeply moving meditation on the human condition... are the subtler and infinitely more difficult choices with which Lirazel struggles: the choices to sacrifice and to trust, to obey and to believe, to know remorse and to accept grace.”
Inspired by the poetry of Alfred Lord Tennyson, the paintings of John W. Waterhouse and the writings of George MacDonald, William Morris and Lord Dunsany; The Lay of Lirazel is the essence of the mythopoeic set to verse. Perhaps not since J.R.R. Tolkien penned The Lay Of Leithian has a modern writer attempted poetry on such a grand scale.
An Edenesque garden, a haunted tower, a forest shrouded in twilight wherein dwell Centaurs, Elves and a myriad of creatures fantastic and mysterious; this is the setting in which Babb’s “Lirazel” comes to life and where the tragedy of her life must unfold. Her doom is fixed, deadly, unavoidable and all the more tragic because of the choices Lirazel makes as she spurns wisdom for folly in a desperate gamble for love.
In the world of Lirazel there exists an evil; ancient and monstrous, seductive and sorcerous. Its malice is hyper-focused on revenge and the usurpation of power. To satisfy its plots the Princess Lirazel must die. Perhaps then, a powerful relic will be revealed and then claimed by the usurpers. A crown, made for a princess but desired by a treacherous elf-witch and a fallen Knight; for this thing a brutal war must be fought, heroes must die and a maiden be cursed.
The tale of this crown is the story Lirazel will uncover, as will the reader. This is the tale, told as poetry, in which she finds herself enmeshed and ultimately bewitched. The Lay Of Lirazel is narrative poetry told in epic fashion, but it is poetry fully equipped with fangs and enough terror to keep a reader turning pages till the last curse falls and death and doom claim their prize!
Author and scholar Bradley Birzer has compared the poetry to that of Beowulf and The Battle of Maldon and has credited Babb with “some of the best lyrics in rock history.” The Lay Of Lirazel originally provided the inspiration for prog-legends Glass Hammer and their 2005 magnum-opus The Inconsolable Secret. Babb, though he had no idea at the time, had composed his lyrical or poetical magnum-opus as well. Best known for his work with Glass Hammer, Babb is stepping out at last into the world of straight-out saga-making and storytelling. Rock D.J. Chris MacIntosh (a.k.a. Grandfather Rock) says of the author, “As a rock-n-roll bass player, Steve Babb is flawless; as a poet/storyteller he is excellent. ...Babb ranks along with names like Stephen Lawhead or Jeffrey Overstreet. Excellence from beginning to end!” But Inkling scholars and Tolkien experts like Dr. Amy Sturgis are also taking note. She says, “What makes The Lay of Lirazel an honest act of sub-creation and a deeply moving meditation on the human condition... are the subtler and infinitely more difficult choices with which Lirazel struggles: the choices to sacrifice and to trust, to obey and to believe, to know remorse and to accept grace.”
Inspired by the poetry of Alfred Lord Tennyson, the paintings of John W. Waterhouse and the writings of George MacDonald, William Morris and Lord Dunsany; The Lay of Lirazel is the essence of the mythopoeic set to verse. Perhaps not since J.R.R. Tolkien penned The Lay Of Leithian has a modern writer attempted poetry on such a grand scale.
126 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2014
7 people want to read
About the author
Stephen R. Babb
2 books15 followersFirst off, he prefers “Steve” to “Stephen.” Now that that’s out of the way…
He’s best known as the bassist and co-writer for the prog-rock group Glass Hammer. A professional musician for most of his life, he started at the age of twelve as a church pianist. Since then, he has traveled the US and a handful of other countries in various bands.
He has a million stories of life on the road as a musician throughout the 80s, most of them downright hilarious, some of them utterly shocking. “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times,” he will tell you. Don’t get him started.
Fortunately for him, in 1990, he had the good sense to marry the right girl, come home, settle down and start a business. Since then, he has busied himself in the production of numerous albums for songwriters, the recording of audiobooks, and in the day-to-day tasks required to operate a recording studio while maintaining the persona of prog-rock star, prolific songwriter, and lyricist. This last bit, he enjoys to the fullest.
In 2005 he penned the epic poem, The Lay Of Lirazel, which was published in 2014. For that effort he was honored with The Imperishable Flame Award by The North East Tolkien Society.
Steve makes his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with his wife Julie and son Jon-Michael.
He’s best known as the bassist and co-writer for the prog-rock group Glass Hammer. A professional musician for most of his life, he started at the age of twelve as a church pianist. Since then, he has traveled the US and a handful of other countries in various bands.
He has a million stories of life on the road as a musician throughout the 80s, most of them downright hilarious, some of them utterly shocking. “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times,” he will tell you. Don’t get him started.
Fortunately for him, in 1990, he had the good sense to marry the right girl, come home, settle down and start a business. Since then, he has busied himself in the production of numerous albums for songwriters, the recording of audiobooks, and in the day-to-day tasks required to operate a recording studio while maintaining the persona of prog-rock star, prolific songwriter, and lyricist. This last bit, he enjoys to the fullest.
In 2005 he penned the epic poem, The Lay Of Lirazel, which was published in 2014. For that effort he was honored with The Imperishable Flame Award by The North East Tolkien Society.
Steve makes his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with his wife Julie and son Jon-Michael.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 2, 2014
When Stephen R. Babb asked me to write a foreword to The Lay of Lirazel, I was delighted and honored.
I first met Lirazel through the concept album The Inconsolable Secret, written and recorded by Babb and his mates in the legendary prog-rock band Glass Hammer. I find it serves as the perfect soundtrack to this enchanting work.
Lirazel's name is fitting, because it conjures the memory of the heroine of The King of Elfland's Daughter, Lord Dunsany's lyrical classic. Dunsany helped to pioneer the modern genre of fantasy with his elegant novel, and I expect he would be delighted to read this tale of his character's namesake. I imagine Dunsany would approve heartily of how effectively Babb has employed the centuries-old literary form of epic poetry to weave a timeless story. Lirazel's tale, in a way, is our own: she wants to find love, but she also seeks to understand her world and its hidden secrets.
In this mythopoeic work, Lirazel discovers the truth not only of past conflict and present danger, but also of her own miraculous creation and unique destiny. With knowledge, of course, comes temptation. And choice.
Babb has created a "fairy-story" in the sense J.R.R. Tolkien used the term, and like Tolkien's own fairy-stories, it offers precious gifts to its readers. Any fan of fantasy, poetry, and especially the work of the Inklings will find much to love here.
I first met Lirazel through the concept album The Inconsolable Secret, written and recorded by Babb and his mates in the legendary prog-rock band Glass Hammer. I find it serves as the perfect soundtrack to this enchanting work.
Lirazel's name is fitting, because it conjures the memory of the heroine of The King of Elfland's Daughter, Lord Dunsany's lyrical classic. Dunsany helped to pioneer the modern genre of fantasy with his elegant novel, and I expect he would be delighted to read this tale of his character's namesake. I imagine Dunsany would approve heartily of how effectively Babb has employed the centuries-old literary form of epic poetry to weave a timeless story. Lirazel's tale, in a way, is our own: she wants to find love, but she also seeks to understand her world and its hidden secrets.
In this mythopoeic work, Lirazel discovers the truth not only of past conflict and present danger, but also of her own miraculous creation and unique destiny. With knowledge, of course, comes temptation. And choice.
Babb has created a "fairy-story" in the sense J.R.R. Tolkien used the term, and like Tolkien's own fairy-stories, it offers precious gifts to its readers. Any fan of fantasy, poetry, and especially the work of the Inklings will find much to love here.
May 25, 2023
The Lay of Lirazel is a high-fantasy, epic poem. It is hugely allegorical and feels like an old, old story.
It's not revolutionary. It's not even phenomenal poetry. But it is comforting and accessible and enjoyable. A quick read.
As far as the poetry itself, I'm torn. The poetry is both nothing special, and yet, he is writing entirely in meter with ending rhymes on every line, so you know?? I'm a little impressed anyway.
There are some parts where I think lines could be made a little shorter-- Babb could have been a bit more generous with his editing scalpel. For example, one of my favorite parts was when the goblins were created (because I love goblins, don't @ me). Babb's verse reads:
...then all was quiet as the smoke cleared.
From the darkness red eyes blinked and leered
from magic raised and from madness designed,
a legion was born, of goblin-kind.
There's nothing wrong with this, but it can be tightened a bit to its benefit, as below.
All was quiet as the smoke cleared.
From the darkness red eyes leered
from magic raised and madness designed,
a legion born of goblin-kind.
The meaning is the same, but just a few of those extraneous words are excised.
Anyway. I liked this. My dad recommended it and I like him. Four stars for my dad. One has been removed because
Total score: 4/5 stars
It's not revolutionary. It's not even phenomenal poetry. But it is comforting and accessible and enjoyable. A quick read.
As far as the poetry itself, I'm torn. The poetry is both nothing special, and yet, he is writing entirely in meter with ending rhymes on every line, so you know?? I'm a little impressed anyway.
There are some parts where I think lines could be made a little shorter-- Babb could have been a bit more generous with his editing scalpel. For example, one of my favorite parts was when the goblins were created (because I love goblins, don't @ me). Babb's verse reads:
...then all was quiet as the smoke cleared.
From the darkness red eyes blinked and leered
from magic raised and from madness designed,
a legion was born, of goblin-kind.
There's nothing wrong with this, but it can be tightened a bit to its benefit, as below.
All was quiet as the smoke cleared.
From the darkness red eyes leered
from magic raised and madness designed,
a legion born of goblin-kind.
The meaning is the same, but just a few of those extraneous words are excised.
Anyway. I liked this. My dad recommended it and I like him. Four stars for my dad. One has been removed because
Total score: 4/5 stars
June 17, 2015
This will be compared to Harry Potter only for an older crowd. I wouldn't go there. Yes it deals with a learning magic and a "special" school. But the characters don't seem to really learn any thing there. It's mainly about angsty late teens/early tweens who are REALLY into drugs, alcohol, sex and being angsty. It REALLY gets old and annoying. Magical abilities of the gods and they are bored twits. Still, the core premise is interesting. And the finish is wonderful. Those facts alone save the book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews