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丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 賰賴賮 賮賷 丕賱噩亘丕賱 丕賱爻賵丿丕亍
鬲爻兀賱賳賷 廿賳 賰丕賳 賷購賲賰賳賳賷 兀賳 兀爻丕賲丨 賳賮爻賷責
賷購賲賰賳賳賷 兀賳 兀爻丕賲丨 賳賮爻賷 毓賱賶 兀卮賷丕亍賻 賰孬賷乇丞貨 毓賱賶 丕賱賲賰丕賳 丕賱匕賷 鬲乇賰鬲購賴 賮賷賴貙 毓賱賶 賲丕 賮毓賱鬲購貙 賱賰賳賳賷 賱賳 兀爻丕賲丨 賳賮爻賷 兀亘丿賸丕 毓賱賶 丕賱毓丕賲 丕賱匕賷 賰乇賴鬲購 賮賷賴 丕亘賳鬲賷貙 丨賷賳 丕毓鬲賯丿鬲購 兀賳賴丕 賴乇亘賻鬲... 廿賱賶 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 乇亘賲丕. 禺賱丕賱 匕賱賰 丕賱毓丕賲 丨乇賻賾噩鬲購 匕賽賰乇 丕爻賲賴丕貙 賵廿匕丕 卮賲賱賻鬲賴 氐賱賵丕鬲賷 丨賷賳賲丕 兀氐賱賽賾賷貙 賮賱賰賷 兀丿毓賵 兀賳 鬲購丿乇賽賰 賷賵賲賸丕 賲毓賳賶 賲丕 賮毓賱賻鬲賴貙 賲毓賳賶 丕賱毓丕乇 丕賱匕賷 噩賱亘賻鬲賴 毓賱賶 兀爻乇鬲賷貙 賵丕賱丕丨賲乇丕乇 丕賱匕賷 兀丨丕胤賻 亘毓賷賳賻賷 兀賲賽賾賴丕. 賱兀噩賱 賴匕丕 兀賰乇賴購 賳賮爻賷貙 賵賱丕 卮賷亍 賲賳 卮兀賳賴 兀賳 賷購賴賵賽賾賳 丕賱兀賲乇貙 禺丕氐賻賾丞賸 亘毓丿 賲丕 丨丿孬賻 賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱賱賻賾賷賱丞 毓賱賶 噩丕賳亘 丕賱噩亘賱.
賷購賲賰賳賳賷 兀賳 兀爻丕賲丨 賳賮爻賷 毓賱賶 兀卮賷丕亍賻 賰孬賷乇丞貨 毓賱賶 丕賱賲賰丕賳 丕賱匕賷 鬲乇賰鬲購賴 賮賷賴貙 毓賱賶 賲丕 賮毓賱鬲購貙 賱賰賳賳賷 賱賳 兀爻丕賲丨 賳賮爻賷 兀亘丿賸丕 毓賱賶 丕賱毓丕賲 丕賱匕賷 賰乇賴鬲購 賮賷賴 丕亘賳鬲賷貙 丨賷賳 丕毓鬲賯丿鬲購 兀賳賴丕 賴乇亘賻鬲... 廿賱賶 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 乇亘賲丕. 禺賱丕賱 匕賱賰 丕賱毓丕賲 丨乇賻賾噩鬲購 匕賽賰乇 丕爻賲賴丕貙 賵廿匕丕 卮賲賱賻鬲賴 氐賱賵丕鬲賷 丨賷賳賲丕 兀氐賱賽賾賷貙 賮賱賰賷 兀丿毓賵 兀賳 鬲購丿乇賽賰 賷賵賲賸丕 賲毓賳賶 賲丕 賮毓賱賻鬲賴貙 賲毓賳賶 丕賱毓丕乇 丕賱匕賷 噩賱亘賻鬲賴 毓賱賶 兀爻乇鬲賷貙 賵丕賱丕丨賲乇丕乇 丕賱匕賷 兀丨丕胤賻 亘毓賷賳賻賷 兀賲賽賾賴丕. 賱兀噩賱 賴匕丕 兀賰乇賴購 賳賮爻賷貙 賵賱丕 卮賷亍 賲賳 卮兀賳賴 兀賳 賷購賴賵賽賾賳 丕賱兀賲乇貙 禺丕氐賻賾丞賸 亘毓丿 賲丕 丨丿孬賻 賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱賱賻賾賷賱丞 毓賱賶 噩丕賳亘 丕賱噩亘賱.
80 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2010
198 people are currently reading
6,229 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,405 reviews
January 11, 2021
鈥淭he Truth Is A Cave in the Black Mountains鈥� is a superbly told story of loss, greed, love and fate. Although only a short story, it is full of atmosphere; bringing to life the craggy, stormy and windy Scottish countryside which is as unpredictable and treacherous as the morals and intentions of the main characters. The stark simplicity in Neil Gaiman鈥檚 prose, complemented with Eddie Campbell鈥檚 stunning illustrations, creates an unforgettably haunting book.
For all its darkness, I find this book charming and brilliant. It's stories like this that remind me that Gaiman is a deeply traditional story-teller -- and an excellent one at that. He spun a new folk tale that sounds as though it's been passed down and embellished and honed over centuries.
For all its darkness, I find this book charming and brilliant. It's stories like this that remind me that Gaiman is a deeply traditional story-teller -- and an excellent one at that. He spun a new folk tale that sounds as though it's been passed down and embellished and honed over centuries.
July 8, 2014
A tiny confession, I didn't actually read the book, I listened to it. And I did so possibly in the best conditions one could ever ask for: Neil Gaiman was the one doing the reading, there was a string quartet playing in the background, there were beautiful illustrations being projected AND the performance took place in Scotland. (I am sorry for the bragging sentiment throughout, but this show just made me so excited!)
If I had read the book, I'd maybe have given it only 4 stars, but one can't really deny the extra star after being spoiled this bad.
Neil Gaiman is possibly the best reader of his own work I've encountered in my life. The FourPlay String Quartet are an amazing bunch and I want to get all their albums. (Fun fact: They play a mean Doctor Who theme.) Eddie Campbell's art was so Scottish and rough, I simply adored it.
This is quite a disturbing tale. The music complemented Neil Gaiman's spooky words with something close to perfection. It is, after all, a story about a man who goes on a quest for gold. They say the gold will make you lose the good in you.
I think it's not an overstatement to say that everyone was on the edge of their seats. At some point, my chin went down. I can't remember the last time that had happened to me. I looked to my side and there was a girl with a hand pressed to her lips in shock. I checked a few times and the hand didn't move. No one was moving. Mr. Gaiman went on and on and on and destroyed our hearts. Like always.
It's so much more heartbreaking when he's right there in front of you, though.
If I had read the book, I'd maybe have given it only 4 stars, but one can't really deny the extra star after being spoiled this bad.
Neil Gaiman is possibly the best reader of his own work I've encountered in my life. The FourPlay String Quartet are an amazing bunch and I want to get all their albums. (Fun fact: They play a mean Doctor Who theme.) Eddie Campbell's art was so Scottish and rough, I simply adored it.
This is quite a disturbing tale. The music complemented Neil Gaiman's spooky words with something close to perfection. It is, after all, a story about a man who goes on a quest for gold. They say the gold will make you lose the good in you.
I think it's not an overstatement to say that everyone was on the edge of their seats. At some point, my chin went down. I can't remember the last time that had happened to me. I looked to my side and there was a girl with a hand pressed to her lips in shock. I checked a few times and the hand didn't move. No one was moving. Mr. Gaiman went on and on and on and destroyed our hearts. Like always.
It's so much more heartbreaking when he's right there in front of you, though.
December 10, 2020
The truth is a cave in the black mountains. There is one way there, and one way only, and that way is treacherous and hard. And if you choose the wrong path you will die alone...The level of depth and death involved in this fully illustrated novel stunned me.
An old, dwarfish man hires a guide to take him to the Cave in the Black Mountains. This is a grisly cave, and whoever enters it will not leave the same. The guide thinks that the dwarf wants to go to the cave for riches and jewels but the real purpose was far more sinister.
This was quite a disturbing and intriguing tale. While I wasn't a huge fan of the artwork, the story did keep me interested. And, to be perfectly honest, the ugly art did match the ugliness of the darker parts of the story.
I enjoyed this but I wouldn't keep it on my shelves.
Audiobook Comments
I've read this story in every form it's published - short story in a collection, short story illustrated and audiobook. The audio was the best version - Neil Gaiman read it (like he does many of his novels) and rocked it. Great characterization and tone throughout.
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August 17, 2023
4鈽�
This could be a fable as told and illustrated (if he could paint like this) by . It begins as a straightforward tale of a very small man seeking a guide to the Misty Isle where there is said to be a cave filled with gold. He stops at a house and speaks to a boy who asks him why he鈥檚 so small.
The man explains that it can be handy to be small, because that鈥檚 how he escaped some men who were chasing him. Why were they chasing him, the boy wanted to know.
鈥淚t was a disagreement about the ownership of cattle. They thought the cows were theirs. I maintained the Campbells鈥� ownership of them had ended the first night the cows had come with me over the hills.鈥�
He seems a bit of a rascal, not necessarily a likeable one.
The boy, the little man, and the home of Calum MacInnes.
It鈥檚 not exactly a picture book or a graphic novel, but a heavily illustrated story. I found the illustrations scary and dark, but I suspect that鈥檚 the point. These are harsh people in miserable circumstances. Cold, wet, dank, scary.
The wee man is philosophical, and I know just what he means here:
鈥淚 am old now, or at least, I am no longer young, and everything I see reminds me of something else I鈥檝e seen, such that I see nothing for the first time . . .
It is the curse of age, that all things are reflections of other things.
I say that, but my time on the Misty Isle, that is also called, by the wise, the Winged isle, reminds me of nothing but itself.鈥�
Calum MacInnes agrees to show him the way. He says he was a reaver in his youth and is still fit and strong. (I had to look up 'border reivers' to find out about them. Warring Scots.)
We follow their trek, being ferried across a river, climbing, clambering, seeking shelter with a crofter and eating oats.
The result of the quest is worth the trip for the reader and the wee man. I consider it a fable, as it shows the price we pay for jumping to conclusions and for succumbing to self-interest. I feel certain there's more in here about highlanders and lowlanders and clan rivalry, etc, but I haven't looked into that. Interesting to note that the illustrator is a Campbell, though. :)
But I have no idea to whom I鈥檇 recommend it. I just happened across it in the library and it鈥檚 short.
This could be a fable as told and illustrated (if he could paint like this) by . It begins as a straightforward tale of a very small man seeking a guide to the Misty Isle where there is said to be a cave filled with gold. He stops at a house and speaks to a boy who asks him why he鈥檚 so small.
The man explains that it can be handy to be small, because that鈥檚 how he escaped some men who were chasing him. Why were they chasing him, the boy wanted to know.
鈥淚t was a disagreement about the ownership of cattle. They thought the cows were theirs. I maintained the Campbells鈥� ownership of them had ended the first night the cows had come with me over the hills.鈥�
He seems a bit of a rascal, not necessarily a likeable one.
The boy, the little man, and the home of Calum MacInnes.
It鈥檚 not exactly a picture book or a graphic novel, but a heavily illustrated story. I found the illustrations scary and dark, but I suspect that鈥檚 the point. These are harsh people in miserable circumstances. Cold, wet, dank, scary.
The wee man is philosophical, and I know just what he means here:
鈥淚 am old now, or at least, I am no longer young, and everything I see reminds me of something else I鈥檝e seen, such that I see nothing for the first time . . .
It is the curse of age, that all things are reflections of other things.
I say that, but my time on the Misty Isle, that is also called, by the wise, the Winged isle, reminds me of nothing but itself.鈥�
Calum MacInnes agrees to show him the way. He says he was a reaver in his youth and is still fit and strong. (I had to look up 'border reivers' to find out about them. Warring Scots.)
We follow their trek, being ferried across a river, climbing, clambering, seeking shelter with a crofter and eating oats.
The result of the quest is worth the trip for the reader and the wee man. I consider it a fable, as it shows the price we pay for jumping to conclusions and for succumbing to self-interest. I feel certain there's more in here about highlanders and lowlanders and clan rivalry, etc, but I haven't looked into that. Interesting to note that the illustrator is a Campbell, though. :)
But I have no idea to whom I鈥檇 recommend it. I just happened across it in the library and it鈥檚 short.
May 29, 2022
賯氐賴 賯氐賷乇賴 亘鬲丨賲賱 賲毓丕賳賷 賰鬲賷乇賴
亘鬲鬲賰賱賲 毓賳 丕賱胤賲毓 賵丕賱噩卮毓 賵亘鬲鬲賰賱賲 賰賲丕賳 毓賱賶 丕賱丨亘 賵丕賱賲氐賷乇
賵亘鬲丿賵乇 丨賵賱 賯夭賲 賷兀噩乇 丿賱賷賱 毓卮丕賳 賷乇卮丿賴 賱賱賰賴賮 丕賱賷 賮賷 丕賱噩亘丕賱 丕賱爻賵丿丕亍 賵丕賱卮賴賷乇 亘賵噩賵丿 匕賴亘 丿丕禺賱賴
賵丕賱丿賱賷賱 賷毓鬲賯丿 廿賳 賴丿賮 丕賱賯夭賲 賮賷 丿禺賵賱 丕賱賰賴賮 賴賵 丕賱亘丨孬 毓賳 丕賱孬乇丕亍
賵丕賱賰賴賮 丿賴 賲毓乇賵賮 毓賳賴 廿賳 兀賷 丨丿 賷丿禺賱賴 賲丕 賷禺乇噩卮 賲賳賴
賵鬲亘丿兀 乇丨賱鬲賴賲丕 丿丕禺賱 丕賱賰賴賮
丕賱賯氐賴 賲卮 亘胤丕賱賴 賱賰賳 兀丨丿丕孬賴丕 賲卮 噩匕丕亘賴 賵賱賵賱丕 廿賳賴丕 賯氐賷乇賴 賲賰賳鬲卮 禺賱氐鬲賴丕
亘鬲鬲賰賱賲 毓賳 丕賱胤賲毓 賵丕賱噩卮毓 賵亘鬲鬲賰賱賲 賰賲丕賳 毓賱賶 丕賱丨亘 賵丕賱賲氐賷乇
賵亘鬲丿賵乇 丨賵賱 賯夭賲 賷兀噩乇 丿賱賷賱 毓卮丕賳 賷乇卮丿賴 賱賱賰賴賮 丕賱賷 賮賷 丕賱噩亘丕賱 丕賱爻賵丿丕亍 賵丕賱卮賴賷乇 亘賵噩賵丿 匕賴亘 丿丕禺賱賴
賵丕賱丿賱賷賱 賷毓鬲賯丿 廿賳 賴丿賮 丕賱賯夭賲 賮賷 丿禺賵賱 丕賱賰賴賮 賴賵 丕賱亘丨孬 毓賳 丕賱孬乇丕亍
賵丕賱賰賴賮 丿賴 賲毓乇賵賮 毓賳賴 廿賳 兀賷 丨丿 賷丿禺賱賴 賲丕 賷禺乇噩卮 賲賳賴
賵鬲亘丿兀 乇丨賱鬲賴賲丕 丿丕禺賱 丕賱賰賴賮
丕賱賯氐賴 賲卮 亘胤丕賱賴 賱賰賳 兀丨丿丕孬賴丕 賲卮 噩匕丕亘賴 賵賱賵賱丕 廿賳賴丕 賯氐賷乇賴 賲賰賳鬲卮 禺賱氐鬲賴丕
April 15, 2020
I read this as a short story first, then actually heard this audio version also, but never reviewed it. While surfing around for something short to read I found Trish's rave review, where you can also find the link to Neil Gaiman Himself reading his story aloud. Which I again did. Gaiman read this in Sydney (at the Sydney Opera House) with Eddie Campbell's paintings (which I will also see in the illustrated book version after libraries open again; thanks, Covid) as a huge canvas backdrop, with orchestral accompaniment. The BBC produced this particular audio, where the atmospheric music accompanies Gaiman's beautiful reading.
The story is at least initially a simple one, like a dark parable or fable, involving a dwarf who hires a man to take him to a cave in the mountains, the Scottish Highlands. A quest for gold that turns into a story of revenge. The death of a woman and the mistreatment of another one forms a kind of dark back story for this story, that is lean and mean, stripped down and haunting.
One thing I was reminded of when hearing it again was The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, though this story is not primarily a Marxist critique of capitalism and greed, as that book and movie was. Thought there is the pursuit of money in gold here, definitely. Reminded me of yet another remote location story of greed, Jack London's Call of the Wild, which I also just listened to.
Anyway, here's a kind of random clip from Treasure, "We don't need no stinking badges," maybe 16 seconds:
The story is at least initially a simple one, like a dark parable or fable, involving a dwarf who hires a man to take him to a cave in the mountains, the Scottish Highlands. A quest for gold that turns into a story of revenge. The death of a woman and the mistreatment of another one forms a kind of dark back story for this story, that is lean and mean, stripped down and haunting.
One thing I was reminded of when hearing it again was The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, though this story is not primarily a Marxist critique of capitalism and greed, as that book and movie was. Thought there is the pursuit of money in gold here, definitely. Reminded me of yet another remote location story of greed, Jack London's Call of the Wild, which I also just listened to.
Anyway, here's a kind of random clip from Treasure, "We don't need no stinking badges," maybe 16 seconds:
February 4, 2020
This is one of Neil Gaiman's finest short stories (IMO) that got treated to a gorgeous illustrated edition years ago. If you're interested in that version, see my review for it here.
As has happened with many of Gaiman's stories, BBC Radio 4 had it adapted. I had actually started to listen to this back in 2016 but then switched to the print version due to the gorgeous illustrations. Since I was recently reminded of this audio version, I gave it a listen now. You can find it for free here:
The story is that of a legendary cave containing gold that might be cursed. It's also about a dwarf wanting to go there and hiring a human guide. It's therefore about a time when both species lived side by side (more or less trusting one another). It's about family secrets and - most importantly - about injustice and revenge.
Tragic and gritty and utterly at home in the Scottish Highlands that were conjured by 's voice.
Really nice and atmospheric in both versions (though I still prefer the illustrated print version) and this one, like I said, is still freely available.
As has happened with many of Gaiman's stories, BBC Radio 4 had it adapted. I had actually started to listen to this back in 2016 but then switched to the print version due to the gorgeous illustrations. Since I was recently reminded of this audio version, I gave it a listen now. You can find it for free here:
The story is that of a legendary cave containing gold that might be cursed. It's also about a dwarf wanting to go there and hiring a human guide. It's therefore about a time when both species lived side by side (more or less trusting one another). It's about family secrets and - most importantly - about injustice and revenge.
Tragic and gritty and utterly at home in the Scottish Highlands that were conjured by 's voice.
Really nice and atmospheric in both versions (though I still prefer the illustrated print version) and this one, like I said, is still freely available.
February 4, 2020
As soon as I became aware of Neil Gaiman (actively) and started reading one book of his after another, I also came across The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains. Thanks to amazon I was able to look into it but somehow I misjudged / underestimated it until now. Then, a couple of days ago, Neil Gaiman himself started tweeting about it having been adapted for BBC Radio 4. Since I already enjoyed the BBC adaptations of two of the author's other books, I gave this a chance.
I can only apologize.
If it wasn't for the BBC adapting the story and the author tweeting about the possibility of listening to it online, I would have missed out on what might just be one of the best stories NG or any other author has ever told!
A very old myth lies at the heart of this story. A myth about family, revenge and regret. The easy trust/alliance between dwarves and humans. Magic gold. Curses and more.
I knew that myth from another (very old) story book but Neil Gaiman took it and reshaped it into a story taking place in the Scottish highlands. I won't say any more because that would give away too much but he did a splendid job. A well-known tale still familiar and yet so different that one only feels the familiarity deep down, with realization only hitting the reader towards the end.
The story was read by who has this wonderful Scottish accent! *swoons* You can sell me next to anything if you do it with a Scottish or Irish accent. ;p
And yet, I stopped listening to the audio version and HAD to get my grabby hands on the gorgeous hardcover with Eddie Campbell's illustrations that set the mood perfectly.
I can only apologize.
If it wasn't for the BBC adapting the story and the author tweeting about the possibility of listening to it online, I would have missed out on what might just be one of the best stories NG or any other author has ever told!
A very old myth lies at the heart of this story. A myth about family, revenge and regret. The easy trust/alliance between dwarves and humans. Magic gold. Curses and more.
I knew that myth from another (very old) story book but Neil Gaiman took it and reshaped it into a story taking place in the Scottish highlands. I won't say any more because that would give away too much but he did a splendid job. A well-known tale still familiar and yet so different that one only feels the familiarity deep down, with realization only hitting the reader towards the end.
The story was read by who has this wonderful Scottish accent! *swoons* You can sell me next to anything if you do it with a Scottish or Irish accent. ;p
And yet, I stopped listening to the audio version and HAD to get my grabby hands on the gorgeous hardcover with Eddie Campbell's illustrations that set the mood perfectly.
July 1, 2014
This book is only the length of a short story, so I actually read it the same night I posted it to my currently reading shelf, but it also needed time to settle after reading. I read it again last night, and it is definitely a story that benefits from multiple readings. For one thing, early comments make more or different sense on a second reading, but for another, there is actually quite a bit to puzzle over in the story.
It is a simple, dark story in some ways, but it also gave me the feeling that there was more under the surface. It certainly gives a reader lots to consider about revenge, how we become a bit evil, the disparity between what we might feel we need and what is actually good for us.
The paintings, too, have to be mentioned. This isn't a graphic novel, but it uses some techniques familiar to comics readers, and it isn't just tidily illustrated either. The artwork challenges expectations as much as the text, and together they both become something more.
I absolutely recommend this book, as a story, as artwork, as a physical artifact - this is the kind of thing that will keep e-readers from ever being our sole source for reading materials.
It is a simple, dark story in some ways, but it also gave me the feeling that there was more under the surface. It certainly gives a reader lots to consider about revenge, how we become a bit evil, the disparity between what we might feel we need and what is actually good for us.
The paintings, too, have to be mentioned. This isn't a graphic novel, but it uses some techniques familiar to comics readers, and it isn't just tidily illustrated either. The artwork challenges expectations as much as the text, and together they both become something more.
I absolutely recommend this book, as a story, as artwork, as a physical artifact - this is the kind of thing that will keep e-readers from ever being our sole source for reading materials.
March 7, 2023
賯氐丞 賯氐賷乇丞 賲氐賵乇丞 賱賭"賳賷賱 噩丕賷賲丕賳" 毓賳 丕賱丕賳鬲賯丕賲 賵丕賱噩卮毓 賵丕賱胤賲毓貙 毓賳 丕賱賵丨卮賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲噩毓賱 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賷爻賮賰 丿賲丕亍丕賸 亘賱丕 賴賵丕丿丞 兀賵 乇丨賲丞貙 賵毓賳 丕賱亘乇丕亍丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲購賱賵孬 亘鬲賱賰 丕賱爻賵丿賵丕賷丞. 乇噩賱丕賸 賲賳 丕賱兀賯夭丕賲 賷爻鬲兀噩乇 丿賱賷賱丕賸 賱賷購乇卮丿賴 廿賱賶 丿丕禺賱 匕賱賰 丕賱賰賴賮 丕賱囟亘丕亘賷 賮賷 丕賱噩亘丕賱 丕賱爻賵丿丕亍貙 賱賷氐賱賵丕 廿賱賶 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 亘丿丕禺賱賴貙 賮賳賮賴賲 賰購賳賴 丕賱毓賳賵丕賳 賵丿賱丕賱鬲賴.
賯氐丞 兀丨丿丕孬賴丕 亘胤賷卅丞 亘毓囟 丕賱卮賷亍貙 賵賱賰賳 賱丕 鬲夭丕賱 噩賷丿丞 丕賱丨亘賰丞 賵丕賱賲丨鬲賵賶貙 賵乇爻賵賲丕鬲賴丕 噩賲賷賱丞 賵爻丕丨乇丞貙 亘丕賱廿囟丕賮丞 廿賱賶 鬲乇噩賲丞 "賴卮丕賲 賮賴賲賷" 賱賱賳氐 丕賱鬲賷 噩毓賱鬲賴 賷夭丿丕丿 孬購賯賱丕賸 賵亘賴丕亍丕賸.
賷購賳氐丨 亘賴丕.
November 19, 2024
Neil Gaiman is such a talented author, I'm honestly blown away by his writing abilities. "The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains" is the third short story of Gaiman's I've read so far - and I haven't even touched any of his longer novels, although I recently started "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" - and I'm already considering him to be one of those authors you can pick any story you want from and will never be left disappointed by it.
In general, you shouldn't expect to read this work and get as many answers as questions which have been raised through the course of the story. It deals with a dwarf (who highly reminds me of George R.R. Martin's Tyrion Lannister due to his cleverness and his smart behaviour) and does not only explore an interesting fantasy setting in all its detailedness, but also the depths of human behaviour in extreme situations.
What you can expect from this story is to be left stunned by the disturbing ways Neil Gaiman chose to tell the protagonist's story in. I've been captivated by the first lines of the story and then became slightly bored (which is the major reason why I won't give a five-star-rating), but after one third or so Neil Gaiman managed to sweep his reader away into the dangerous journey of two interesting souls, and I literally couldn't put it down anymore. It's been some days since I've read it, but I have been thinking quite a lot about the story so far, and one thing I realized is that it needs to be reread in order to be understood. However, there is still so much stuff to be interpreted differently, everyone will have his/her own theories as to what Neil Gaiman intended to state with his words.
In general, you shouldn't expect to read this work and get as many answers as questions which have been raised through the course of the story. It deals with a dwarf (who highly reminds me of George R.R. Martin's Tyrion Lannister due to his cleverness and his smart behaviour) and does not only explore an interesting fantasy setting in all its detailedness, but also the depths of human behaviour in extreme situations.
What you can expect from this story is to be left stunned by the disturbing ways Neil Gaiman chose to tell the protagonist's story in. I've been captivated by the first lines of the story and then became slightly bored (which is the major reason why I won't give a five-star-rating), but after one third or so Neil Gaiman managed to sweep his reader away into the dangerous journey of two interesting souls, and I literally couldn't put it down anymore. It's been some days since I've read it, but I have been thinking quite a lot about the story so far, and one thing I realized is that it needs to be reread in order to be understood. However, there is still so much stuff to be interpreted differently, everyone will have his/her own theories as to what Neil Gaiman intended to state with his words.
July 23, 2014
Set on the Isle of Skye in Scotland a long time ago, a dwarf visits a man who knows the location of a cave far away in the mountains - a cave that contains gold to make a man rich for a lifetime. So begins the pair鈥檚 perilous quest into the darkness ahead鈥�
I know Neil Gaiman has a LOT of female fans, legions of them who probably outnumber the male fans, so it鈥檚 going to be interesting to see their reaction to this book as the female characters - all two of them - are treated very badly.
Gail Simone鈥檚 theory of the woman in the fridge - when a female character is maimed and/or killed in order to advance a male character鈥檚 story - is very pertinent here as the death of a woman is the driving motivation behind this book. Meanwhile, the other female character is beaten and raped while our two 鈥渉eroes鈥� do their best to ignore it rather than step in. I suppose you could argue that it鈥檚 Gaiman showing the readers his narrator鈥檚 complexity as a character - that he would do so much for one female character but not for another.
Short stories really are Gaiman鈥檚 forte. His novels are uneven but I find his short story collections - Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things - to be outstanding and he excels in The Truth is a Cave鈥� in crafting a story that鈥檚 part folk/fairy tale and part horror with some powerful real human moments too.
The story builds in a satisfyingly slow burn, starting in a way that feels like you know where it鈥檚 headed with some strange images popping up that, in hindsight, reveal themselves to be increasingly relevant foreshadowings as the tale unwinds so that you shouldn鈥檛 be surprised when the story takes a left turn and then another, but you are. Little moments like the dwarf running nimbly ahead of the man seem oddly magical under Gaiman鈥檚 hand while the fantastical, like what lies within the cave, seem terribly real.
The book鈥檚 genesis started when Gaiman offered to read the story at the Graphic Literary Festival in the Sydney Opera House in 2010 with artist Eddie Campbell providing pictures to be shown behind Gaiman as he read accompanied by a string quartet playing background music (I know, very鈥� art-y!). Since then, Campbell鈥檚 added to the pictures until there were enough to create this book which is a bit like an illustrated novella, a bit like a comic, and a bit like a picture book, while never being either one!
Campbell鈥檚 painted images are very beautiful and suits the fantastical, scenic story with page after page celebrating nature and the forbidding, isolated atmosphere of the tale. He also experiments with his style to alternately shift from paint to inks to incorporating photographs into his pictures at various moments. Certain times through the story he鈥檒l resort to comic panelling. I quite like Campbell鈥檚 art so I had no complaints about his work on this book except for one thing - the lettering in those panels.
It鈥檚 definitely true that you never notice how important lettering is in a comic until you read one which has bad lettering, and I was surprised at how poorly lettered Campbell鈥檚 panels were, especially considering his lengthy career in comics. Scratchy, shaky letters done in a spidery hand that looked rushed, they were the only aspect of this book that let the reader down.
The Truth is a Black Cave in the Black Mountains isn鈥檛 a perfect book but it is a highly compelling one. It鈥檚 an evocative story of revenge and death with fantastic paintings that lend new energy and interpretation to Gaiman鈥檚 haunting tale. His female fans may find their lips curling in disgust at times but when the story is this good, it鈥檚 hard to keep from turning the pages until you find out what happens in the end. A great horror fable from a brilliant short story writer with a terrific artistic collaborator.
I know Neil Gaiman has a LOT of female fans, legions of them who probably outnumber the male fans, so it鈥檚 going to be interesting to see their reaction to this book as the female characters - all two of them - are treated very badly.
Gail Simone鈥檚 theory of the woman in the fridge - when a female character is maimed and/or killed in order to advance a male character鈥檚 story - is very pertinent here as the death of a woman is the driving motivation behind this book. Meanwhile, the other female character is beaten and raped while our two 鈥渉eroes鈥� do their best to ignore it rather than step in. I suppose you could argue that it鈥檚 Gaiman showing the readers his narrator鈥檚 complexity as a character - that he would do so much for one female character but not for another.
Short stories really are Gaiman鈥檚 forte. His novels are uneven but I find his short story collections - Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things - to be outstanding and he excels in The Truth is a Cave鈥� in crafting a story that鈥檚 part folk/fairy tale and part horror with some powerful real human moments too.
The story builds in a satisfyingly slow burn, starting in a way that feels like you know where it鈥檚 headed with some strange images popping up that, in hindsight, reveal themselves to be increasingly relevant foreshadowings as the tale unwinds so that you shouldn鈥檛 be surprised when the story takes a left turn and then another, but you are. Little moments like the dwarf running nimbly ahead of the man seem oddly magical under Gaiman鈥檚 hand while the fantastical, like what lies within the cave, seem terribly real.
The book鈥檚 genesis started when Gaiman offered to read the story at the Graphic Literary Festival in the Sydney Opera House in 2010 with artist Eddie Campbell providing pictures to be shown behind Gaiman as he read accompanied by a string quartet playing background music (I know, very鈥� art-y!). Since then, Campbell鈥檚 added to the pictures until there were enough to create this book which is a bit like an illustrated novella, a bit like a comic, and a bit like a picture book, while never being either one!
Campbell鈥檚 painted images are very beautiful and suits the fantastical, scenic story with page after page celebrating nature and the forbidding, isolated atmosphere of the tale. He also experiments with his style to alternately shift from paint to inks to incorporating photographs into his pictures at various moments. Certain times through the story he鈥檒l resort to comic panelling. I quite like Campbell鈥檚 art so I had no complaints about his work on this book except for one thing - the lettering in those panels.
It鈥檚 definitely true that you never notice how important lettering is in a comic until you read one which has bad lettering, and I was surprised at how poorly lettered Campbell鈥檚 panels were, especially considering his lengthy career in comics. Scratchy, shaky letters done in a spidery hand that looked rushed, they were the only aspect of this book that let the reader down.
The Truth is a Black Cave in the Black Mountains isn鈥檛 a perfect book but it is a highly compelling one. It鈥檚 an evocative story of revenge and death with fantastic paintings that lend new energy and interpretation to Gaiman鈥檚 haunting tale. His female fans may find their lips curling in disgust at times but when the story is this good, it鈥檚 hard to keep from turning the pages until you find out what happens in the end. A great horror fable from a brilliant short story writer with a terrific artistic collaborator.
August 26, 2014
Absolutely delightful. This is really a short story but it comes with magnificent art work, some of it in similar format to a graphic novel so there is much more to take in than just the story itself. Gaiman bases his book on part of a legend from the Scottish Hebrides and it has all that you would expect from such a tale, otherworldly beings, touches of magic, death and revenge to name just some. It is just beautiful and will get pride of place on my bookshelves.
October 21, 2019
蹖讴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屭┵堌з囐� 賲氐賵乇賽 禺賵亘 亘丕 倬乇丿丕禺鬲 賴賵卮賲賳丿丕賳賴 賵 鬲氐賵蹖乇爻丕夭蹖賽 賳賴鈥屭嗁嗀з� 丿賱鈥屭嗀池�.
蹖讴蹖 丕夭 賵蹖跇诏蹖鈥屬囏й� 诏蹖賲賳 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏ж� 亘丕 爻丕丿賴鈥屫臂屬� 賱丨賳 賲丿丕賲 丿乇 丨丕賱 賮賱爻賮賴 亘丕賮鬲賳 賴爻鬲賳貙 丕夭 倬蹖卮 倬丕 丕賮鬲丕丿賴鈥屫臂屬� 賲賵囟賵毓丕鬲 鬲丕 毓賲蹖賯鈥屫臂屬� 亘丕賮鬲鈥屬囏й� 丕丿乇丕讴 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 賵 噩丕賱亘鈥屫� 丕夭 賴賲賴 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 丕诏乇 賴蹖趩鈥屭┴堎� 丕夭 丕蹖賳 賲爻丕卅賱 乇賵 丿乇 诏賮鬲鈥屬堚€屭堚€屬囏� 賲鬲賵噩賴 賳卮賴 亘丕夭賴賲 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘 賱匕鬲 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ辟�.
"亘毓囟蹖 賵賯鬲鈥屬囏� 賮讴乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 丨賯蹖賯鬲 蹖讴 賲讴丕賳 丕爻鬲. 丿乇 匕賴賳賲 賲孬賱 蹖讴 卮賴乇 丕爻鬲: 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 氐丿賴丕 噩丕丿賴 亘丕卮丿貙 賴夭丕乇丕賳 讴賵乇賴 乇丕賴貙 讴賴 賴賲诏蹖 丿乇 賳賴丕蹖鬲 鬲賵 乇丕 亘賴 蹖讴 噩丕 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ必�. 賲賴賲 賳蹖爻鬲 丕夭 讴噩丕 丌賲丿賴鈥屫й�. 丕诏乇 亘賴 爻賲鬲 丨賯蹖賯鬲
诏丕賲 亘乇丿丕乇蹖貙 亘賴 丌賳 賲蹖鈥屫必驰屫� 賲賴賲 賳蹖爻鬲 趩賴 乇丕賴蹖 乇丕 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 讴乇丿賴 亘丕卮蹖."
蹖讴蹖 丕夭 賵蹖跇诏蹖鈥屬囏й� 诏蹖賲賳 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏ж� 亘丕 爻丕丿賴鈥屫臂屬� 賱丨賳 賲丿丕賲 丿乇 丨丕賱 賮賱爻賮賴 亘丕賮鬲賳 賴爻鬲賳貙 丕夭 倬蹖卮 倬丕 丕賮鬲丕丿賴鈥屫臂屬� 賲賵囟賵毓丕鬲 鬲丕 毓賲蹖賯鈥屫臂屬� 亘丕賮鬲鈥屬囏й� 丕丿乇丕讴 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 賵 噩丕賱亘鈥屫� 丕夭 賴賲賴 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 丕诏乇 賴蹖趩鈥屭┴堎� 丕夭 丕蹖賳 賲爻丕卅賱 乇賵 丿乇 诏賮鬲鈥屬堚€屭堚€屬囏� 賲鬲賵噩賴 賳卮賴 亘丕夭賴賲 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘 賱匕鬲 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ辟�.
"亘毓囟蹖 賵賯鬲鈥屬囏� 賮讴乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 丨賯蹖賯鬲 蹖讴 賲讴丕賳 丕爻鬲. 丿乇 匕賴賳賲 賲孬賱 蹖讴 卮賴乇 丕爻鬲: 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 氐丿賴丕 噩丕丿賴 亘丕卮丿貙 賴夭丕乇丕賳 讴賵乇賴 乇丕賴貙 讴賴 賴賲诏蹖 丿乇 賳賴丕蹖鬲 鬲賵 乇丕 亘賴 蹖讴 噩丕 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ必�. 賲賴賲 賳蹖爻鬲 丕夭 讴噩丕 丌賲丿賴鈥屫й�. 丕诏乇 亘賴 爻賲鬲 丨賯蹖賯鬲
诏丕賲 亘乇丿丕乇蹖貙 亘賴 丌賳 賲蹖鈥屫必驰屫� 賲賴賲 賳蹖爻鬲 趩賴 乇丕賴蹖 乇丕 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 讴乇丿賴 亘丕卮蹖."
July 11, 2016
I did not like this book.
Just to clarify: not story - book.
The illustrations, such an important, intrinsic part of the book (or so we keep being told), mix digital and traditional media in a way that becomes increasingly awkward. The design of the book is clumsy, false, generated "textures" behind every block of text - and they really are blocks of text, with no fluidity or integration, so the images and words feel constantly separated, at odds. Fine, sure, this could have worked for a different story: but apparently they aren't supposed to be separate at all.
The story itself is quite lovely (if dark and slightly traumatic can ever be lovely) but the book feels stiff and flat and falls short. I wish I'd read this as a short story only, not his "mix of all amazing things" it was promised to be.
I adore Neil's work, and it pains me to say such negative things but this one really disappointed.
Just to clarify: not story - book.
The illustrations, such an important, intrinsic part of the book (or so we keep being told), mix digital and traditional media in a way that becomes increasingly awkward. The design of the book is clumsy, false, generated "textures" behind every block of text - and they really are blocks of text, with no fluidity or integration, so the images and words feel constantly separated, at odds. Fine, sure, this could have worked for a different story: but apparently they aren't supposed to be separate at all.
The story itself is quite lovely (if dark and slightly traumatic can ever be lovely) but the book feels stiff and flat and falls short. I wish I'd read this as a short story only, not his "mix of all amazing things" it was promised to be.
I adore Neil's work, and it pains me to say such negative things but this one really disappointed.
March 4, 2018
Beautiful short story. I listened to this and Neil read this himself. Great tone and characters. I was totally absorbed into the story. The story is a mood that passes through you. This is a great story and quick to read. You should read it.
January 28, 2022
賯氐丞 噩賲賷賱丞 毓賳 丕賱賮賯丿 賵丕賱噩卮毓 賵丕賱丨亘 賵孬賲賳 丕賱丕賳鬲賯丕賲貙 毓賳丿賷 丕賱乇睾亘丞 賮賷 鬲乇噩賲鬲賴丕 賲賳匕 賯乇丕亍鬲賴丕 賮賷 毓丕賲 2014貙 賵爻毓賷丿 賱兀賳賷 賳賱鬲 丕賱賮乇氐丞 兀禺賷乇賸丕.
August 2, 2016
This was not a bad book. Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
Diamond
September 27, 2019
4 1/2 to 5 stars
She said, "I see death in your past and death in your future."
"Death waits in all our futures," I said.
I'm still thinking about this novelette, days later.
I listened to Neil Gaiman's wonderful narration with music and sound effects included, while also reading this 'tale of travel and darkness with pictures of all kinds' (illustrations by Eddie Campbell) as noted on the cover.
Fan art by JaqDelaCruz -
Truth.
She paused, there in the highest of the high lands, where the summer winds have winter on their breath, where they howl and whip and slash the air like knives. She said, "There was a woman in a tree. There will be a man in a tree."
I said, "Will this mean anything to me?"
"One day, perhaps." She said, "Beware of gold. Silver is your friend." And then she was done with me.
To Calum MacInnes she said, "Your palm has been burned." He said that was true. She said, "Give me your other hand, your left hand." He did so. She gazed at it, intently. Then, "You return to where you began. You will be higher than most other men. And there is no grave waiting for you, where you are going."
He said, "You tell me that I will not die?"
"It is a left-handed fortune. I know what I have told you, and no more."
She knew more. I saw it in her face.
Some wish to avoid it, alter it, hide it, deny it, bury it in lies, remake it, forget it, run from it, praying that it fades into dust, the darkest depths of memory, and history lost...
We walked down a path worn by hundreds of years of sheep and deer and few enough men.
He said, "They also call it the Winged Isle. Some say it is because the island, if seen from above, would look like butterfly wings. And I do not know the truth of it." Then, "'And what is the truth?' said jesting Pilate."
It is harder coming down than it is going up.
I thought about it. "Sometimes I think that truth is a place. In my mind, it is like a city: there can be a hundred roads, a thousand paths, that will all take you, eventually, to the same place. It does not matter where you come from. If you walk toward truth, you will reach it, whatever path you take."
Others cannot rest until they unearth it, are obsessed by their need for it, every waking moment filled with the desire to know what their heart, mind, and soul refuses to deny.
They are sometimes driven by love or hate, by a need for justice or vengeance (or all of these things). They cannot experience any semblance of peace until it is found and its consequences (and potential karma) are unleashed.
No matter what it costs them...
Calum MacInnes looked down at me and said nothing.
Then, "You are wrong. The truth is a cave in the black mountains. There is one way there, and one way only, and that way is treacherous and hard. And if you choose the wrong path you will die alone, on the mountainside."
For the truth is always out there, biding its time... waiting ever so patiently...
I take no joy in killing; no man should, and no woman. Sometimes death is necessary, but it is always an evil thing. That is something I am in no doubt of, even after the events I speak of here.
... to be revealed.
She said, "I see death in your past and death in your future."
"Death waits in all our futures," I said.
I'm still thinking about this novelette, days later.
I listened to Neil Gaiman's wonderful narration with music and sound effects included, while also reading this 'tale of travel and darkness with pictures of all kinds' (illustrations by Eddie Campbell) as noted on the cover.
Fan art by JaqDelaCruz -
Truth.
She paused, there in the highest of the high lands, where the summer winds have winter on their breath, where they howl and whip and slash the air like knives. She said, "There was a woman in a tree. There will be a man in a tree."
I said, "Will this mean anything to me?"
"One day, perhaps." She said, "Beware of gold. Silver is your friend." And then she was done with me.
To Calum MacInnes she said, "Your palm has been burned." He said that was true. She said, "Give me your other hand, your left hand." He did so. She gazed at it, intently. Then, "You return to where you began. You will be higher than most other men. And there is no grave waiting for you, where you are going."
He said, "You tell me that I will not die?"
"It is a left-handed fortune. I know what I have told you, and no more."
She knew more. I saw it in her face.
Some wish to avoid it, alter it, hide it, deny it, bury it in lies, remake it, forget it, run from it, praying that it fades into dust, the darkest depths of memory, and history lost...
We walked down a path worn by hundreds of years of sheep and deer and few enough men.
He said, "They also call it the Winged Isle. Some say it is because the island, if seen from above, would look like butterfly wings. And I do not know the truth of it." Then, "'And what is the truth?' said jesting Pilate."
It is harder coming down than it is going up.
I thought about it. "Sometimes I think that truth is a place. In my mind, it is like a city: there can be a hundred roads, a thousand paths, that will all take you, eventually, to the same place. It does not matter where you come from. If you walk toward truth, you will reach it, whatever path you take."
Others cannot rest until they unearth it, are obsessed by their need for it, every waking moment filled with the desire to know what their heart, mind, and soul refuses to deny.
They are sometimes driven by love or hate, by a need for justice or vengeance (or all of these things). They cannot experience any semblance of peace until it is found and its consequences (and potential karma) are unleashed.
No matter what it costs them...
Calum MacInnes looked down at me and said nothing.
Then, "You are wrong. The truth is a cave in the black mountains. There is one way there, and one way only, and that way is treacherous and hard. And if you choose the wrong path you will die alone, on the mountainside."
For the truth is always out there, biding its time... waiting ever so patiently...
I take no joy in killing; no man should, and no woman. Sometimes death is necessary, but it is always an evil thing. That is something I am in no doubt of, even after the events I speak of here.
... to be revealed.
March 12, 2015
Wonderfully dark and truly a thing of tactile beauty. There are very few stories that deserve a rereading purely to add another dimension to the tale and even few where words and pictures are woven together with perfection. A dark, whimsical and unsettling tale, filled with poignancy and a sense of disquietude that lingers on long afterwards.
A quintessential Gaiman delight!
A quintessential Gaiman delight!
June 23, 2014
I expected great things from this short story and instead it fell a bit flat. This novel is a result of a live reading Gaiman did where the artist, Eddie Campbell, did live artwork as Neil read this story. The art work itself is not to my taste and always felt a little unfinished to me. I have been to one of these Gaiman events and while they work well on the night I would have expected the artwork in the book to be a little more polished, although I do not know this artists style so I don't know if this is how he usually does his work.
The compilation of art and text felt a bit higgledy piggledy in away that was occasionally jarring, but more importantly the story just didn't captivate me. I am a big fan of Gaiman but while the story was well written the whole thing just wasn't winning me over for some reason. Although, I did enjoy the ending and I liked the folk tale aspect so altogether not a complete flop.
It is hard to define this book. Its not exactly a graphic novel, nor is it a short story. I would say it takes the form of a child's picture book, but with definitely more mature content.
Overall I think this is good to add to your collection if you're a Gaiman fanatic like me, but not necessary if you're an occasional reader or are looking to start reading his work.
The compilation of art and text felt a bit higgledy piggledy in away that was occasionally jarring, but more importantly the story just didn't captivate me. I am a big fan of Gaiman but while the story was well written the whole thing just wasn't winning me over for some reason. Although, I did enjoy the ending and I liked the folk tale aspect so altogether not a complete flop.
It is hard to define this book. Its not exactly a graphic novel, nor is it a short story. I would say it takes the form of a child's picture book, but with definitely more mature content.
Overall I think this is good to add to your collection if you're a Gaiman fanatic like me, but not necessary if you're an occasional reader or are looking to start reading his work.
March 7, 2022
賯氐丞 亘賯賱賲 賳賷賱 噩丕賷賲丕賳 賵乇爻賵賲 廿丿賷 賰丕賲亘賱 賵鬲乇噩賲丞 賴卮丕賲 賮賴賲賷
賳爻禺丞 毓氐賷乇 丕賱賰鬲亘
丕賱賯氐丞 賱賷爻鬲 乇賵丕賷丞 賵賱丕 賰賵賲賷賰爻 賴賷 鬲卮亘丞 丕賱賷 丨丿 賲丕 賯氐氐 丕賱丕胤賮丕賱 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丨鬲賵賷 毓賱賷 乇爻賲丞 賰亘賷乇丞 賵丕賱賰賱丕賲 賲賰鬲賵亘 毓賱賷 丕賱噩丕賳亘賷賳
丕賱賯氐丞 亘爻賷胤丞 賵丕賱乇爻賵賲丕鬲 賱賷爻鬲 鬲賯賱賷丿賷丞 賵丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 噩賷丿丞
賳爻禺丞 毓氐賷乇 丕賱賰鬲亘
丕賱賯氐丞 賱賷爻鬲 乇賵丕賷丞 賵賱丕 賰賵賲賷賰爻 賴賷 鬲卮亘丞 丕賱賷 丨丿 賲丕 賯氐氐 丕賱丕胤賮丕賱 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丨鬲賵賷 毓賱賷 乇爻賲丞 賰亘賷乇丞 賵丕賱賰賱丕賲 賲賰鬲賵亘 毓賱賷 丕賱噩丕賳亘賷賳
丕賱賯氐丞 亘爻賷胤丞 賵丕賱乇爻賵賲丕鬲 賱賷爻鬲 鬲賯賱賷丿賷丞 賵丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 噩賷丿丞
July 5, 2014
A long time ago, in a land far away, well, last October and about nine miles away in central London; read me a story, it was called Fortunately, the Milk.... A marvellous experience. So when I heard he was returning to London on the 4th July to read another book, well, I nearly broke a nail clicking on that mouse and hammering the keys so fast to get a decent ticket. At least I did when the finally released the ticket sales to non-members (it was at 9am, I had to set a bloody alarm!).
Then I waited...
Eventually, as is conventional with time, it was today at last - and away I went. Once again to be read a lovely sweet and funny story by the master of reading aloud, and writing things down. Except it wasn't sweet, or funny for the most part... It was that other Gaiman speciality, a dark, brooding and sinister novel.
He was accompanied this time via the most wonderful string quartet, a group called from Australia. They started proceedings, playing to the massed delight of an obviously intensely geeky audience, the Doctor Who theme - fantastic. They went on to do a few numbers from a past album called and a forthcoming album called something else; finishing it off with a lovely piece called . Then Gaiman sung, yes sung, a funny little song with them - have I said fantastic in italics yet? Good.
He read us some short stories at this point, something called Adventure Story, which was quite entertaining in his usual quirky way. Then he read us a couple of months from his (which is available directly from the 欧宝娱乐 page there, - even the is available for free!). The October story he read us about a djinn was quite beautiful.
A quick interval and on to the main event, the story, it was scored like a film, with music throughout with Gaiman telling the tale, with 's images filling the huge screen behind, changing regularly, it was like watching an old episode of Jackanory.
It's a dark tale, based on old Scots stories he read long ago, I forget the name of the author - someone, please, enlighten me. A tale of greed and appearances, of past mistakes and hidden truths, and of morality and one's attachment to their own feelings and good nature. It is also a travelling tale, an adventure, in the misty isles of Scotland; a lot of Skye went in to this, where Gaiman has a house.
To cap it all off at the end, Neil again sung, he said a happy cheerful song to remind us that not all the world was doom and gloom, but was full of flowers and bunnies. (Click below to hear it.)
Then I waited...
Eventually, as is conventional with time, it was today at last - and away I went. Once again to be read a lovely sweet and funny story by the master of reading aloud, and writing things down. Except it wasn't sweet, or funny for the most part... It was that other Gaiman speciality, a dark, brooding and sinister novel.
He was accompanied this time via the most wonderful string quartet, a group called from Australia. They started proceedings, playing to the massed delight of an obviously intensely geeky audience, the Doctor Who theme - fantastic. They went on to do a few numbers from a past album called and a forthcoming album called something else; finishing it off with a lovely piece called . Then Gaiman sung, yes sung, a funny little song with them - have I said fantastic in italics yet? Good.
He read us some short stories at this point, something called Adventure Story, which was quite entertaining in his usual quirky way. Then he read us a couple of months from his (which is available directly from the 欧宝娱乐 page there, - even the is available for free!). The October story he read us about a djinn was quite beautiful.
A quick interval and on to the main event, the story, it was scored like a film, with music throughout with Gaiman telling the tale, with 's images filling the huge screen behind, changing regularly, it was like watching an old episode of Jackanory.
It's a dark tale, based on old Scots stories he read long ago, I forget the name of the author - someone, please, enlighten me. A tale of greed and appearances, of past mistakes and hidden truths, and of morality and one's attachment to their own feelings and good nature. It is also a travelling tale, an adventure, in the misty isles of Scotland; a lot of Skye went in to this, where Gaiman has a house.
To cap it all off at the end, Neil again sung, he said a happy cheerful song to remind us that not all the world was doom and gloom, but was full of flowers and bunnies. (Click below to hear it.)
September 2, 2014
I love libraries! I hadn鈥檛 planned to get the illustrated version of this, or probably read it at all. But then there it was, on my library鈥檚 New Books shelf, staring at me 鈥� and I stared back 鈥� and I borrowed it. Because that鈥檚 what libraries let you do. They let you take books, as long as you promise to bring them back. It鈥檚 amazing.
The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains is a short story reimagined as a picture book for adults. Actually, I think we need more picture books for adults. No, not graphic novels鈥攖hose are fine in their own way鈥攁ctual picture books, with stylized illustrations accompanying prose, like this one.
The illustrations by Eddie Campbell definitely enhance the story. They emphasize certain elements of the characters鈥攖he narrator鈥檚 diminutive stature, Calum鈥檚 wolfish red beard鈥攁nd portray some of the lovely landscape through which the characters travel. I don鈥檛 visualize things when I read. So had I read this without the illustrations, with only Neil Gaiman鈥檚 sumptuous, scrumptious prose to go on, I would still have enjoyed the story 鈥� but I don鈥檛 think I would have marvelled at the setting quite so much.
The story takes place in Scotland, perhaps not our Scotland, in an area inspired by the Isle of Skye. Our narrator is a little person who recently lost his daughter after she ran away from home. He looks up Calum MacInnes, a border reaver who knows how to find the Cave in the Black Mountains of the Misty Isle. Together they go to this cave, where the narrator hopes to find the gold reputed to be hidden there. But there is more going on than meets the eye, and The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains shifts seamlessly from fable to fairytale to revenge story. It can鈥檛 quite seem to decide what it should be鈥攂ut why should it be confined to any particular thing?
The disadvantage of a story so short and so fairytale-like is that it becomes easy to fall into the pattern of old, outmoded tropes. The sparseness of characters makes the absence of women characters all the more pronounced. The narrator mentions his wife, Morag, by name several times, but always in relation to himself 鈥� she has no existence independent of the role of absent wife. His daughter鈥檚 death is, of course, the motivation behind his entire journey. And along the way we encounter two other women: the first, Calum MacInnes鈥� wife, we don鈥檛 actually see鈥攁nd it鈥檚 at this point I almost feel like Gaiman is intentionally lampshading鈥攁nd the second dares to grant hospitality to Calum and our narrator, and for that her husband beats and rapes her while the protagonists lie awake, listening to it.
It鈥檚 easy to make excuses for these decisions. One can argue that it鈥檚 supposed to be 鈥渄ark鈥�, that these are all common and therefore somehow acceptable motifs in a fairytale-like story. But that鈥檚 disingenuous; it misses that point that maybe they shouldn鈥檛 be, that a writer of Gaiman鈥檚 calibre could certainly create a story where they aren鈥檛 necessary鈥�.
The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains is about revenge and regret and greed and what, exactly, it takes for someone to become evil. There is a lot of emphasis on choice, the fact that it鈥檚 not just one鈥檚 actions but one鈥檚 decisions to act that contribute to one鈥檚 moral alignment. Gaiman seems to suggest that people are inherently good, but that the world and our decisions tend to erode this goodness. This is true regardless of whether we have access to a tempting cave filled with Norse gold鈥�. This is a moving, if imperfect, short story accompanied by nice, stylized illustrations. I鈥檓 glad it鈥檚 in the library.
The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains is a short story reimagined as a picture book for adults. Actually, I think we need more picture books for adults. No, not graphic novels鈥攖hose are fine in their own way鈥攁ctual picture books, with stylized illustrations accompanying prose, like this one.
The illustrations by Eddie Campbell definitely enhance the story. They emphasize certain elements of the characters鈥攖he narrator鈥檚 diminutive stature, Calum鈥檚 wolfish red beard鈥攁nd portray some of the lovely landscape through which the characters travel. I don鈥檛 visualize things when I read. So had I read this without the illustrations, with only Neil Gaiman鈥檚 sumptuous, scrumptious prose to go on, I would still have enjoyed the story 鈥� but I don鈥檛 think I would have marvelled at the setting quite so much.
The story takes place in Scotland, perhaps not our Scotland, in an area inspired by the Isle of Skye. Our narrator is a little person who recently lost his daughter after she ran away from home. He looks up Calum MacInnes, a border reaver who knows how to find the Cave in the Black Mountains of the Misty Isle. Together they go to this cave, where the narrator hopes to find the gold reputed to be hidden there. But there is more going on than meets the eye, and The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains shifts seamlessly from fable to fairytale to revenge story. It can鈥檛 quite seem to decide what it should be鈥攂ut why should it be confined to any particular thing?
The disadvantage of a story so short and so fairytale-like is that it becomes easy to fall into the pattern of old, outmoded tropes. The sparseness of characters makes the absence of women characters all the more pronounced. The narrator mentions his wife, Morag, by name several times, but always in relation to himself 鈥� she has no existence independent of the role of absent wife. His daughter鈥檚 death is, of course, the motivation behind his entire journey. And along the way we encounter two other women: the first, Calum MacInnes鈥� wife, we don鈥檛 actually see鈥攁nd it鈥檚 at this point I almost feel like Gaiman is intentionally lampshading鈥攁nd the second dares to grant hospitality to Calum and our narrator, and for that her husband beats and rapes her while the protagonists lie awake, listening to it.
It鈥檚 easy to make excuses for these decisions. One can argue that it鈥檚 supposed to be 鈥渄ark鈥�, that these are all common and therefore somehow acceptable motifs in a fairytale-like story. But that鈥檚 disingenuous; it misses that point that maybe they shouldn鈥檛 be, that a writer of Gaiman鈥檚 calibre could certainly create a story where they aren鈥檛 necessary鈥�.
The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains is about revenge and regret and greed and what, exactly, it takes for someone to become evil. There is a lot of emphasis on choice, the fact that it鈥檚 not just one鈥檚 actions but one鈥檚 decisions to act that contribute to one鈥檚 moral alignment. Gaiman seems to suggest that people are inherently good, but that the world and our decisions tend to erode this goodness. This is true regardless of whether we have access to a tempting cave filled with Norse gold鈥�. This is a moving, if imperfect, short story accompanied by nice, stylized illustrations. I鈥檓 glad it鈥檚 in the library.
September 29, 2016
Legend says that in the Black Mountains is a cave filled with gold. One day Calum MacInnes has a dwarf call at his home seeking this mythical place. MacInnes reluctantly agrees to guide him there, for a price, and they set off for Misty Island where it supposedly is located. There is a healthy amount of distrust between the travellers, MacInnes at one point tries to lose the man, but he finds him fairly quickly. They do bond eventually and slowly reveal secrets from their past, dark secrets that no others had known before. Their secrets are linked to the cave of gold, which is claimed holds a curse for those that take it, a curse that MacInnes thinks he still carries from the first time he visited. Will they find the cave and is it cursed?
This is a moody, atmospheric tale that Gaiman has written, full of XXX and revenge. It is a story that I first read in Trigger Warnings and quite liked, but the dark tale is perfectly complemented by the artwork of Eddie Campbell who manages to convey the brooding skies and mountains of the region as the characters swirl around each other. Solid stuff from Gaiman once again.
This is a moody, atmospheric tale that Gaiman has written, full of XXX and revenge. It is a story that I first read in Trigger Warnings and quite liked, but the dark tale is perfectly complemented by the artwork of Eddie Campbell who manages to convey the brooding skies and mountains of the region as the characters swirl around each other. Solid stuff from Gaiman once again.
December 12, 2014
Welllll... I have been thinking about this little book for a couple of days now. I actually gave it 4 stars, but have pushed it down to 3 today. There is a whole range of emotions between 3 and 4 and I was not excited enough to go tell everyone I know that they have to read this book. Don't take it wrong, there is nothing wrong with it. It is a dark story, much like a lot of Gaiman's work. It is definately not a fairytale for kids under 22 (an arbitrary number), this is for adults.
It is a picture book, of paintings and comic book artwork woven together with a story of a story. I really liked the format, and some of the paintings are fantastic. Some, not so much, but they all fit together with the theme and the characters. It is good work by a talented artist and an exceptional wordsmith.
There was one thing about the story that I did not get, but it is probably only me. What was the little guy?
It is a picture book, of paintings and comic book artwork woven together with a story of a story. I really liked the format, and some of the paintings are fantastic. Some, not so much, but they all fit together with the theme and the characters. It is good work by a talented artist and an exceptional wordsmith.
There was one thing about the story that I did not get, but it is probably only me. What was the little guy?
February 22, 2015
I was reading all the introductions to the stories in Neil Gaiman's new collection , and he said he had performed this story with the FourPlay String Quartet. I went looking and found it in Audible.
Neil Gaiman is an excellent teller of stories, and I usually enjoy his audio. This is an entertaining short story, not as twisty as some of his, but I liked the musical interludes and accompaniment. He seems to be writing several stories set in the Hebrides and this was a nice trip there.
I'll have a longer review of the set of stories soon!
Neil Gaiman is an excellent teller of stories, and I usually enjoy his audio. This is an entertaining short story, not as twisty as some of his, but I liked the musical interludes and accompaniment. He seems to be writing several stories set in the Hebrides and this was a nice trip there.
I'll have a longer review of the set of stories soon!
February 5, 2017
Incredible work!!This is a short novelette from Gaiman along with Eddie Campbell鈥檚 dark fascinating paintings. Reading this story is very fast and like other Gaiman鈥檚 work very rich. Campbell鈥檚 graphic novel鈥檚 style is strange and at first I didn鈥檛 really enjoy it but after a few pages I was all in. So much harmony between the story and the art work.
Story starts with a small man looking for a guide to accompany him to a mysterious cave. For the contrast the guide man is very big/tall. As they travel story reveals itself and the companions鈥� true intentions.
Story starts with a small man looking for a guide to accompany him to a mysterious cave. For the contrast the guide man is very big/tall. As they travel story reveals itself and the companions鈥� true intentions.
January 15, 2021
Neil Gaiman is a master-aka a god- of storytelling and when he narrates his books that talent explodes by ten thousand times. he has a way with words so amazing that I cannot describe
...丕賱噩賲丕賱 賷匕丕賯 賵賱丕 賷毓乇賮
...丕賱噩賲丕賱 賷匕丕賯 賵賱丕 賷毓乇賮
July 4, 2017
I actually began this book not realizing that I had already read it in Trigger Warning and I must say that reading through for the second time was even more enjoyable than the first.
As always with Neil Gaiman short fiction, the storytelling is an experience and the telling of the story is even more marvelous than the story itself. And that's saying something because this story is full of mysticism and magic.
I recommend the audio version. It's read by the author and there is a neat, haunting soundtrack as well that adds to the experience.
As always with Neil Gaiman short fiction, the storytelling is an experience and the telling of the story is even more marvelous than the story itself. And that's saying something because this story is full of mysticism and magic.
I recommend the audio version. It's read by the author and there is a neat, haunting soundtrack as well that adds to the experience.
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