Faule Fische. Ein Sommernachts- Albtraum

by Garry Kilworth

Sherwood Forest, home of Oberon, Titania, Puck, Cobweb, Peaseblossom and the rest of the mob, has been whittled away by urban development. It's time to move on, the fairies decide. Sid, their captive, a kindly if gruff young car mechanic, teaches Titania to drive, and on Midsummer's Eve the party sets off in a battered and smelly old bus. They're bound for the New Forest, where they hope to be able to regenerate their magic. The fairies' journey is full of excitement. At a village fair, they show the morris dancers how to cut previously undreamt-of capers. Titania falls in love with a human baby and steals her from her pram, starting a nationwide search for the missing infant. The fairies then link up with a group of New Age travellers on their way to Stonehenge, who befriend them almost without question. Finally, a fight to the death between Titania and the terrifying and sadistic Morgan-le-Fey must take place before everyone can settle down into some form of harmony and peace.

Genres: Fantasy

Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Garry Douglas Kilworth is a historical novelist who also published sci-fi, fantasy, and juvenile fiction.

Kilworth is a graduate of King's College London. He was previously a science fiction author, having published one hundred twenty short stories and seventy novels.

Reviews

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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My second read for midsummer 2012, where Phryne Fisher #17 Murder On A Midsummer Night was first, and to a solid 3* at that.

Check Kilworth out, he has some mighty intriguing titles in his basket.



Dedication: This one is for Birgit

Opening quote:
'Up and down, up and down,
I will lead them up and down,
I am feared in field and town,
Goblin, lead them up and down.'
Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

Fairy Clock of Flowers:
One am - Scandinavian sowthistle closes
Two am - yellow goat's beard opens
Three am - common oxtongue opens
Four am - hawkweed, late flowering dandelion, wild succory open
Five am - white water-lily, naked stalked poppy, smooth sowthistle open
Six am - shrubby hawkweed, spotted cat's ear open
Seven am - garden lettuce, African marigoldopen/night-flowering catch-fly closes
Eight am - scarlet pimpernel, mouse-eared hawkweed, proliferous pink open/evening primrose closes
Nine am - field marigold opens/ purple bindweed closes
Ten am - red sandwort opens/yellow goat's beard closes
Eleven am - star of Bethlehem opens
Noon - ice plant opens/field sowthistle closes
One pm - common purslane opens/proliferous pink closes
Two am - purple sandwort closes
Three pm - dandelion closes
Four pm - white spiderwort, field bind wort close
Five pm - julap opens/common cat'ear closes
Six pm - dark crane's bill opens/white water-lily closes
Seven pm - naked-stalked poppy closes
Eight pm - orange day-lily, wild water-lily closes
Nine pm - cactus oruntia opens/convolvulus linaeus, chickweed close
Ten pm - purple binweed opens/ common nipple-wort closes
Eleven pm - night-blooming catch-fly opens/smooth sowthistle closes
Midnght - late flowering dandelion opens, creeping mallow close.



Opening (illustration of a fairy riding on the back of an owl):

ONE

Common Oxtongue Opens

Oberon, King of the Fairies, stood in a glade of Sherwood Forest and stared around him at the discarded Coke cans, sweet wrappers and crisp packets. He sighed deeply. Although he knew that in the morning the litter would be gathered up by the cleaners, the sight still depressed him. He hated the intrusion of mortals upon his world.

The taking of a child on a stop from dwindling Sherwood forest to burgeoning New Forest:

The baby had the eyes and nose of Guinivere and the lips and brow of Lancelot. It was a magical child.

Slightly uncomfortable about common nipple-wort at 10pm. Great storyline somewhat marred by weak scribing, and I never fail to be rattled by product placement. 3* (just)

[Ethan Nahté · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Midsummer's Nightmare puts a bit of a twist on Shakespeare's tale of Oberon, Titania, Puck and the rest of the fairies as they decide to leave the shrinking Sherwood Forest that is being encroached upon by humanity. In doing so, their adventure, with the usage of their enthralled human, Sid, takes them through a winding path on Midsummer's Day where they find a special baby, which Titania steals. Their exodus from the forest also reawakens several other beings from their long sleep (i.e giants, the Green Man, Morgana Le Fay).

Morgana is quite evil and wants the special baby to sacrifice to obtain power enough to run the world back in time and be rid of technology, including the foul smell of oil and petroleum-based products for one. Not to mention littering the forests, or what's left of them after man has cut down a large amount of trees for various usage. She basically wants to be rid of the dirty imprint mankind has left during her absence and will return as their queen, preventing such atrocities.

The fairies meet up with a group of Travellers, people who float from place to place in a convoy, especially locations they deem magical such as Stonehenge, sleeping on private property at times, and are hated by the law and farmers for their trespassing and intrusion. They find the fairies to be unusual people but are entranced by their stories and beauty. Not realizing at first they are really fairies and assuming they are an acting troupe.

Fairynappings, a missing baby, evil fairies and battling Morgana are all part of the adventure in Kilworth's adventure. For those of you who have not read his work before but are familiar with Terry Pratchet's Bromeliad trilogy (Truckers, Diggers, Wings) will more than likely enjoy A Midsummer's Nightmare. It is also a kid-friendly tale and a great fantasy story to get preteens and teens to read.

[Incy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Haven't read it for years and years.
I had forgotten all the bits about the Dun Cow. And my favourite character, poor old Sid.

[Paula Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book tried to read it slowly it was hard to do recommend this book

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful contemporary fantasy that is brimming with warmth and humour. Kilworth has woven a great deal of British folklore and legend into his story of a troupe of Sherwood Forest faeries, under the leadership of Oberon and Titania, who seek to travel to a new home in the New Forest.

They are accompanied by Sid, an enthralled human, and along the way join up with a group of New Age travellers and visit such sacred sites as Avebury, Stonehenge and Glastonbury.

There is also an underlying ecological message to the tale. I enjoyed it very much.

[Becca]

Surprisingly satisfying and fascinating. Oberon, you matchmaker you!

[Serewyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shame that this book has a bit of an unappealing cover, since the content is such a delightful adventure. Though many of us are already acquainted with the characters, I find each adorable still. There's no lack of (subtle) British humor of course, which I love and it makes me giggle throughout. A fun tale for young and old.

Of course the book also reminds of the destruction of the magical Sherwood forest :(