I am fairly certain that I’ve been a fan of Charles de Lint since sixth grade, when my dad would tell me stories (in great detail) about the weird goings-on at a mysterious place called the Tamson House. Owned by an independently wealthy, eccentric gentleman by the name of Jamie Tams, the house served as a sanctuary for wanderers, artists, an occasional un sorcier or musician all while straddling the lines between our realm and the realms of legend.
The love of that story, encouraged me to branch out to some of de Lint’s other works, finally stumbling across Memory and Dream, which housed the full quote from which I’ve taken my online identity “MusesFled.”
“One expected growth, change; without it, the world was less,
the well of inspiration dried up, the muses fled.”
If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of delving into the sub-genre of Urban Fantasy, might I suggest that you allow one of Charles de Lint’s novels be your guide. I’ve included a list of some of my favorites below!
- Moonheart provides a great introduction to all the wonders of the Tamson House. Sara, Jamie Tams’ niece is being hunted by an ancient evil that is searching for an enchanted ring she discovered while cleaning out a dusty corner of her Uncle Jamie’s curio shop.
- Into the Green chronicles the life of Angharad, a tinker who’s been gifted with the Sight, and with the help of two witches (Woodfrost and Garrow), learns how to use her Sight to see “into the green” (the realm that belongs to the fey).
- Memory and Dream introduces us to Isabelle Copley, an artist who has turned her back on the gift to bring to life the images she painted, after that very power unleashes tragedy upon her loved ones.
- The Onion Girl paints the story of Jilly Coppercorn, an artist who becomes the victim of a hit-and-run driver, after which her happy life as a popular Newford artist comes to a screeching halt. With half of her body, including her painting hand, out of commission and the promise of a long and difficult recovery, she suffers intense depression. Her dreams, which have been her only means of escape, also become a source of great peril when she enters the dreamland of Mabon.