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A place to discuss books with the theme "Shadow: Represents the energy of the dark side, the unexpressed" for our 2021 reading challenge.

I've been doing some research on The Shadow.

This is what I've come up with so far, it might help trigger ideas:

I have a question:

A blog on Fandom.com refers to the Newford books by Charles de Lint, saying:

One story revolves around the young woman who is the shadow of a recurring skeptic character; he cast her off at some point in childhood and no longer is aware of her, and she has identity issues. Eventually concludes she can be her own person, having been independent ever since she was cast; honorable mention to a conversation she has with a mentor figure:

Mentor: I once met the shadow of a man who was on death row for murder.
Christmas: What was he like?
Mentor: Meanest sonuvabitch I ever saw.
Christmas: I meant the shadow.
Mentor: Yeah, me too.

My question is: Does anyone know which story this is? Could it be a short story in a collection?

I've had a look at the synopses of various in the series, there are others, incl. Memory and Dreamand Forests of the Heart, which stand out as suitable for The Shadow archetype, even if they aren't the one I'm looking for.

Amanda wrote: "I've been doing some research on The Shadow.

This is what I've come up with so far, it might help trigger ideas:

I have a question:

A blog on Fa..."

I recall reading this. De Lint often has novels that have the same characters in his novels in his short stories. I recall this character and I think she comes up in one of the later novels of the Newford series, Onion Girl maybe? She is definitely in several of the short stories too but I can't remember which! ( I am not as big of a fan of his short stories as I am in his novel. De Lint and his wife have Facebook group called The Mythic Cafe. I will ask there later on today!

Jalilah wrote: "I recall reading this. De Lint often has novels that have the same characters in his novels in his short stories. I recall this character and I think she comes up in one of the later novels of the Newford series, Onion Girl maybe? She is definitely in several of the short stories too but I can't remember which! ( I am not as big of a fan of his short stories as I am in his novel. De Lint and his wife have Facebook group called The Mythic Cafe. I will ask there later on today! "

Amazing!

Amanda wrote: "I've been doing some research on The Shadow.

This is what I've come up with so far, it might help trigger ideas:

I have a question:

A blog on Fa..."


I already got some replies:

"Christiana Tree. Christy Riddel's shadow. She's in a bunch of books but maybe primarily in Spirits in the Wires. She's in Widdershins too I believe".
"Christiana Tree first appears in the short story "The Fields Beyond the Fields" in both Moonlight and Vinesand The Very Best of Charles de Lint She is prominent in the novel, Spirits in the Wires"
There is also an interesting type of shadow character in Someplace to Be Flying

Amanda wrote: "I've been doing some research on The Shadow.

This is what I've come up with so far, it might help trigger ideas:

I have a question:

A blog on Fa..."

Thanks for the blog post! That does help me conceptualize it. I've read most of the books you list, but I haven't read Carmilla, and that might be the one I go with.

It seems like lots of De Lint's books have shadow type characters. Jalilah knows much more than I do. Memory and Dream was the first one I thought of.

I've gotten Shadow Weaver online from my library and ordered a used copy of The Charwoman's Shadow hoping that they will fit the category.

I think I read The Charwoman's Shadow in a collection of Lord Dunsany's works, many years ago. I don't remember it super clearly though.

The Earthsea Trilogy: A Wizard of Earthsea; The Tombs of Atuan; The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin would be a good fit for this category.

I meant to tag just the first book, but the entire trilogy is good and deals with shadows!

A re-read of the Wizard of the Earthsea would be fun.

Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon

The shadow effect builds.

Annette wrote: "A re-read of the Wizard of the Earthsea would be fun."

I've never read the later books in the series, but I'd like to.

Mary wrote: "Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon

The shadow effect builds."

I keep wanting to read that one, and it never ends up getting read. I put it on hold at the library.

Castle Hangnail is a quick read. I liked it!

I stayed up entirely too late reading it. . . .

I just remember there is a shadow/ghost character in Firegold by Dia Calhoun. I dont' remember very well, but I'm pretty positive he would fit the category as "repressed side of personality" or "inexpressed potential".

Margaret wrote:
I've never read the later books in the series, but I'd like to.


The Other Wind is my favourite in the cycle, even though Ged isn't the protagonist anymore!
But it has no shadow character, just dead people.

Marta wrote: "The Other Wind is my favourite in the cycle, even though Ged isn't the protagonist anymore!
But it has no shadow character, just dead people."

I've heard that from a couple of other people! I try to read a couple of Ursula Le Guin books a year, so I may end up reading it this year.

I just realized another that would fit.

The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell

It is a short story- Zaroff is the shadow for Rainsford.

At the same I asked in the Mythic Cafe FB group about the De Lint books someone recommended Sister Light, Sister Dark for a book with Shadow characters

Jalilah wrote: "At the same I asked in the Mythic Cafe FB group about the De Lint books someone recommended Sister Light, Sister Dark for a book with Shadow characters"

I quite enjoyed that one! It's a fun book, especially if anyone likes Amazons and Wonder Woman.

I just finished Shadow Weaver. It’s a middle grade horror with a “shadow�� character. And there is a sequel! I’ll see if my library has it.

Margaret wrote: "The Earthsea Trilogy: A Wizard of Earthsea; The Tombs of Atuan; The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin would be a good fit for this category.

I meant to tag just the ..."

Do you think this might be a good introduction to Le Guin for me?
As you know I normally can read fantasy that takes place in a made up universe, but I managed quite well with Black Sun.
My son has gotten me interested in Solarpunk and Le Guin's name pops up when I look up solarpunk fiction
I think another reason I never read Le Guin is most of the fantasy I read is usually myth or fairy inspired or influenced and her books seemed like they were straight fantasy.

Sometimes I will read a book without intending to be for the challenge, but then it ends up fitting the theme or category perfectly . In this case it is Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs. I normally don't count urban fantasy and paranormal romance for this group, but in this case there is such a shadow self in this book and I must say Briggs does know her fairylore

I've read two so far of Patricia Briggs Alpha& Omega series, and I agree, she is pretty good with how she references or includes fairy tales. I recently read The Smoke Thief, and was surprised by a lot of it, and realized today that it would fit under the shadow challenge (I initially read Shadow & Bone), because the drakons/shapeshifting dragons become smoke before they enter their dragon form. An almost 'in between' shadow form of themselves.

Jalilah wrote: "Do you think this might be a good introduction to Le Guin for me?
As you know I normally can read fantasy that takes place in a made up universe, but I managed quite well with Black Sun."

I'm not sure! It is very fantasy, but Le Guin is a wonderful, thoughtful writer. If I had to pick a Le Guin book for you to start with, it would be Lavinia, which is myth-based. The Earthsea Trilogy: A Wizard of Earthsea; The Tombs of Atuan; The Farthest Shore isn't solarpunk, though she does have some that would fit that category.

All the books I read for this challenge are unintentional matches! My reading is pretty regimented by work, and it just so happens that the books I review typically have a lot of folklore elements, so I can fit them into the categories! This year has been especially easy for that.