The Moon of Gomrath
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| The Moon of Gomrath | |
 The Moon of Gomrath |
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| Author | Alan Garner |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy |
| Publication date | 1963 |
The Moon of Gomrath is the sequel to The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner. It was published in 1963. Garner provides an interesting side-light on his authorial approach by including an appendix of books which inspired him, along with a brief discussion of his approach to mythology.
Once again, it details the involvement of two children, Colin and Susan, with the world of myth and magic. This time the focus is on the potential of the older, wilder forms of magic and myth cycle to create both creative and destructive forces on the world.
In order to ease the surrender of the Weirdstone in The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, Susan was given a magical bracelet by Angharad Goldenhand. It is the donning of this bracelet which has launched Susan unwittingly on a destiny connected with the cycles of the moon and hence the older, wilder powers of the world. The Moon of Gomrath begins when the elves borrow the bracelet, with her consent, to see if its power can be directed by them to battle an unknown evil power in their own lands in Sinadon. However while unprotected by the bracelet, Susan is possessed by the Brollachan, an ancient evil released after an old pit is broken open. The wizard Cadellin, guardian of the sleeping knights in The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, is unable to restore Susan after the Brollachan has been driven out of her body; instead perceiving that her spirit has been driven to another spiritual dimension, unreachable with ordinary means. It is Colin's true-hearted heroic love and need for his sister which provides the answer; as he responds to the older powers of the world. He therefore comes to seek the Mothan at moonrise, a mythical plant which grows on the Old Straight Track. This is a motif inspired by the book of the same name, which is part of the Old Magic, in contrast to Cadellin's High Magic. Susan is dramatically restored to her own body to everyone's enormous relief.
However her sojourn to other levels of existence has sensitised her to the powers with which she and her brother have been coming to associate and the story takes a new dramatic and powerful turn. On walking home across the Edge on dusk, they are inspired to build a fire to keep warm, Susan almost manically so. They build a wend-fire from Rowan and Pine which on this night of the year has the power to call ancient spirits from their Mounds. Colin and Susan release the Wild Hunt, which return several times during the course of the novel.
In trying to undo what they have done, Colin is captured by the Morrigan, which sets up the denouement, a pitched battle between the forces of the Morrigan and Susan's allies, both willing and unwilling. Although Colin is rescued, one of their closest otherworldly allies is killed. When the elves withdraw their support as a lost cause, the Morrigan finally releases the Brollachan; focusing it on Susan to destroy her growing potential as a force for good. It is the other gift from Angharad Goldenhand which saves the day and the Old Magic is set free for ever.
There is no third book. Alan Garner has repeatedly and staunchly refused to write a third, despite persistent requests, claiming that this would actually diminish the emotional power of the first two books and that his material, interests and style have moved on long ago.
