First Light: a celebration of Alan Garner

When I worked as a children's librarian at the end of the 1960s I discovered the world of fantasy, published for children, written by Alan Garner. The Weirdstone of Brisingamen (published 1960) and The Moon of Gomrath (published 1963) were set around Alderley Edge in Cheshire and transported Susan and Colin, the two children in the stories, and the reader into a world of magic, folklore and adventure. In 1965 Elidor was published. This time the setting was Manchester in the 1950s and it brought magic into an everyday world. These three titles were generally read by children but can also be appreciated by adults. Garner's next book, The Owl Service (published 1967), based on Welsh legend, is classified as a book for teenagers.

I then lost track of the writing of Alan Garner until I read a review of his latest book when I was in England earlier this year. Where shall we run to? is a memoir about his early life. The review also mentioned a list of books by Alan Garner that I had not read. This included Red Shift, The Stonebook Quartet, Strandloper, Thursbitch, The Book That Thunders and Boneland. I obviously have some reading to catch up on.

Checking a library catalogue I also discovered the book First Light edited by Erica Wagner, a collection of articles, fiction and poetry prepared to celebrate the Alan Garner's eightieth birthday. This work was published in 2016.

Forty-three pieces of writing make up this work, all providing a glimpse into the life of Alan Garner and his writing or providing a reflection of the effect of Alan Garner's books on the contibutor. Authors such as Margaret Atwood, Susan Cooper, Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman, Ali Smith and Salley Vickers, archaeologists such as Francis Pryor, Mark Edmonds, Richard Morris and John Prag, plus physicist Teresa Anderson are just a few of the contributors to this book.

Some of the contributors discovered the books of Alan Garner when they were children while others discovered his work later in life. Some of the contributors knew the Garners without being aware that Alan was a writer. Alan Garner's use of myth, folklore and legend in his stories features in this book along with  his use of the natural environment, especially in Cheshire, as a dominant feature in his writing. Garner's ongoing exploration of the archaeology of the area near his home in Cheshire is discussed as well as, at the other end of the spectrum, his interest in the work at Jodrell Bank, not far from his home.

For those who have enjoyed reading the work of Alan Garner, this compilation provides an excellent insight into the life and work of this British author.

Review - First Light a celebration of Alan Garner (The Guardian 12 August 2016)

Article - Fantasy author Alan Garner celebrated in new tribute, First Light (The Guardian 24 April 2015)