Brian Froud

Okay, so technically I cheated a little bit with this one… The book reviewed herein is meant to be paired with a deck of oracle cards, but I spotted the book by itself in a thrift shop and I couldn’t bear to leave it behind, even though it was without its accompanying cards. (Yes, I am aware that my “leave no precious book behind” attitude is a bit of a problem, but go ahead and try to stop me!) Like most guidebooks for oracle or tarot decks by specific creators or artists, this show more small book takes us through each of Brian Froud’s illustrated oracle cards with words and interpretations provided by his wife and longtime collaborator, Wendy Froud. Each wise and tricksy faerie is given their due with a full page spread that shows a purpled sepia-toned version of their portrait (rather than the full-colour of the cards themselves) and explores their unique nature and advice to the card reader. As much as I would have obviously liked full colour miniatures of the faeries, the muted tones of the book (pale brown page backgrounds with a rich brown serif font) actually work quite well in providing a grounded setting in which to explore the mysteries of the Heart of Faerie. Scattered throughout are a handful of mischievous fey who don’t grace the cards, giving readers a few surprises along their journey - which maybe even provide some extra oracular words if we’re using the book to tell fortunes as well! After we’ve met all of the entire Heart of Faerie court (and they do seem to be a motley court at that!) we stumble back to reality with a personable interview with our guides, the Frouds, and a custom spread of cards that pairs perfectly with the deck to reveal the heart of any readers’ query and one which imbues themes of faerie wishes. I fully enjoyed my journey through this unique oracle deck, but I think that using it might be a bit more complicated than those that I am used to. The fey court, after all, has many opinions, and many of the cards have complex meanings that seem diametrically opposed to human nature. That may be the crux that makes this deck powerful for those who partake, but like all faerie wisdom we would do well to double check for truth-telling and hidden meanings! show less

Pisces season wouldn’t be complete without a foray into the fantastical realms illustrated by Brian Froud, so I’m glad I scooped this strange little book by Alexander Theroux a while back and saved it until now. Ironically, the story is far less filled with faeries than I am used to from a Froud book, but it still holds a certain fey quality. Theroux tells a tale of a pair of star-crossed lovers that centres around the titular cloak given from one to the other, which later becomes a show more symbol for the plagues that wracked Europe during the Middle Ages. For all that the characters of the story contain a certain amount of comedy (quietly ridiculous names and funny turns of language abound), the tale of Master Snickup and his love Superfecta is darkly grounded in the harshness of the real world. Froud’s limited palette of naturalist colours suffuses the story with a grounded tone that carries our protagonists through their love affair, Superfecta’s forced marriage, and Snickup’s monastic exile with an essence that feels borderline Biblical. Mirrored by Theroux’s bardic voice that pushes together antiquated rhythms with the occasional modernist vocabulary, the resulting narrative is an exercise in strangeness that is still surprisingly successful. We are drawn in to the majesty of Master Snickup’s cloak and beguiled by the fey creatures who come to call him neighbour, and are left wondering at the fate of the now almost-invisible Superfecta as her place in the narrative is taken by her bombastic husband. The tale concludes in an epic fashion, with an inventive set of compositions by Froud, as Snickup’s death brings the Black Death to Europe and the village that he left is in turn brought to its knees. Is this the faerie story that I expected Froud to have helmed: no; but, the mythical overtones of Theroux’s carefully wrought morality tale that keep us one step away from reality were a strange delight, nonetheless. show less

When I was five years old, my older brothers sat me down and made me watch our VHS copy of The Dark Crystal. I was instantly terrified and mesmerized. Today I can watch the film any time and the brilliance and imagination of Jim Henson still blows me away. I discovered this treasure of a comic while perusing graphic novels at a Barnes & Noble and knew I had to have it immediately. I was not disappointed. The concept art of Brian Froud shines in this series and the myths are woven in a way show more that draws you in. The artwork is exceptional and the storytelling exactly what you would expect from the magic makers at Henson. show less

Using a camera illegally borrowed from the basement of the Cottington Archive, Brian Froud did something remarkable. He slightly altered the valuable artefact for the purposes of photographing dairymaids in a dimly lit barn. When no dairymaids were available he took a photo regardless and inadvertently captured a blurry and obscure image. With his second photo he discovered that this indecipherable image was in reality a goblin.

Here enters Ari Berk and the Codex Goblinensis, an ancient show more goblin text part historical document, part phone book, part fish sandwich. With this codex and the goblin Gargle, whom these two noble and inquisitive fools have trapped in the downstairs toilet, the study and analysis of these irksome and troublemaking creatures and their disgusting and chaotic kingdom has now been made possible. However there will be consequences for this terrible knowledge.

Goblins! A nonsensical and inconsequential study into the Goblin World, containing photographs taken by Brian Froud, sketches drawn in a frenzied haste, and notes put together by Ari Berk from the Goblin Codex itself. Beware, letting these pesky little creatures into your home will only bring you trouble. A quirky and dangerous book that will either have you laughing at these creatures eccentric antics or curled up in fear at their terrorising ways. show less