When myth
Meets storyteller?
Something new is born.
Mythspring
Song and story. Myth and tradition. They are a shared legacy that both satisfies and inspires. Join these talented authors as they celebrate the rich, diverse, and occasionally truly odd culture of our country.
Mythspring is an anthology of original short speculative fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, and horror, where each story is derived from a Canadian song, folktale, myth, or other cultural source. Excerpts of the source text or image appears in the book with each story, along with a brief description of how the author was inspired by it.
Includes stories from notable speculative fiction authors such as
Be inspired. Celebrate our wealth of ideas and talent. Taste the delights of Mythspring."
Mirror, Mirror
By Genevieve Kierans
A modern tale based on song lyrics and a mirror that may just be magic.
Windigo
By Mark Ladouceur
A "Windigo" is what lies behind this particular story.
All the Cool Monsters at Once
By James Alan Gardener
Begins at Lake Okanagan and features an appearance by Ogopogo.
Over Lunar White
By Lorne Kates
This tale leads us astray in the depths of the Toronto subway system.
Under Summons
By Tanya Huff
Go on a marine expedition in the St. Lawrence Islands National Park, where one of the explorers is a cat.
Walking With Wolves
By Alison Baird
This story is based on a French Canadian folk tale and revolves around the Loup Garou, otherwise known as a werewolf.
This is the Ice Age
By Claude Lalumière
A tale inspired by a Martha and the Muffins song.
Family Trees
By Fiona Patton
The setting is Lake Ontario and the "Marysburgh Vortex," Canada's version of the "Bermuda Triangle."
Over the Darkened Landscape
By Derryl Murphy
The story was inspired by the death and art of the Group of Seven artist, Tom Thomson.
After November
By Roben Goodfellow
This is a tale based on the ghost of a stone mason in Toronto.
The Harpy
By Lynda Williams
A tale of a siren and is inspired by a poem by Robert Service.
The Ghost of Watson's Mill is Online
By Daniel Archambault
A story about a popular Ontario ghost and computers.
This Ink Feels Like Sorrow
By Karin Lowachee
An Inuit tale.
Safe Passage
By Karina Somner-Smith
Another ghost story, this time set on the shores of Lake Huron
The Universal Soldier
By Charles de Lint
Another song-based tale set on a different lakeshore.
The Lady of Land's End
By Genevieve Kierans
Set in Gaspe Quebec.
About the Contributors
Credits and Acknowledgements
"Editors Julie E. Czerneda and Genevieve Kierans have summoned over a dozen Canadian writers to supply stories inspired by "the lyrics and legends of Canada." What results is a stimulating journey through northern realms of the imagination. . . Latest in a welcome resurgence of Canadian fantastical literature, this volume is one to keep close by on cold nights when the Wendigo stalks."
— Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
"With the relative dearth of Canadian fantasy for younger readers, this anthology of 16 short stories is a welcome contribution. . . . Even better, each of the stories is associated with a Canadian legend, song, or local story. . . And although there's some unevenness in the writing and conception of the stories, there's plenty here to entertain and tickle the brain and heart."
— Quill and Quire
Genevieve Kierans
Genevieve has never done things half-way, with multiple careers as a ballerina, actress, journalist and theatre critic. For almost 17 years she ran her own PR firm, specializing in publicity for film and TV. Kierans is a graduate of the Clarion Workshop and is the author of the award-winning Mirror, Mirror and The Lady of Land's End. Her continuing battle with ALS limits her to typing with only one finger. Despite that, Genevieve was happy to take time from her writing Mythspring.
Aurora Award - Best Short-Form Work in English finalist for:
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