Earthfasts

It’s the Yorkshire Dales in the 1960’s and two friends are investigating a strange noise that seems to be coming from underground, from a newly formed mound in a field. Keith thought that the noise was badgers underground and David though that it might be an underground stream, but neither of them expected that it was the sound of a drum being played underground, and getting closer and closer to the surface. And neither did they expect that that drum was being played by a drummer boy of the eighteenth century, who had entered the tunnel under the local castle over two hundred years before, looking for the legendary treasure of King Arthur that was supposed to be buried underneath, and had not been heard of since. But Nellie Jack show more John, as he introduces himself, will not believe the time that has passed while he was underground, as to him it seems he was walking for less than half an hour, and is certainly ill equipped to deal with the twentieth century.

This is a reread of a book I had as I child, and I was surprised to find that while I remembered certain elements of it very well, I had forgotten other equally vivid elements. But Nellie Jack John’s appearance isn’t the only strange thing that happens. Standing stones start to move, (if they are actually standing stones at all), candles burn cold, and time itself seems to becoming more fluid. This is a very well written children’s book, a lot more literary perhaps than most, and it holds up well rereading it as an adult. show less

enjoyed this story a lot, a time-slip tale between contemporary Scotland and the Jacobite rising. There is a particularly gruesome school assembly scene.

The book was an early introduction to dialect. In this case probably written as accurately as the places the story takes place in, and the names which have been changed but remain totally authentic and in keeping. Despite the name changes, these days it is easy to find more or less exactly where it is set - but it is so vividly written that there is no need to do a tour on the ordinance survey or google maps - I already feel I know the place. The solid reality of the real world allows the supernatural to build convincingly, tricking the mind to allow you to cross from the mundane to the fantastical, effortlessly.

50 years after first reading this I have only just discovered that William Mayne wrote two more books and called the trilogy show more the jingle stones. I have ordered the next books with trepidation as they cannot live up to this one. show less

Another that I wish I'd read as a child. It's magic up north, according to Mayne and Alan Garner....
Very convincing because of the prosaic mid-1960s reality of the Yorkshire market town the boys inhabit; fantasy always needs a "straight" background to set it off to its full advantage (even if the "straight" place is The Shire).
Reminiscent also of Catherine Fisher's fantasies,which were written somewhat later and are less good on plot (there is a reason for all the strange happenings in Earthfasts, and a satisfyingly logical "quest" ending.)

One of my favourite books over more than 40 years. I still love the way it can take me into a place of menace and danger and cheer my heart as well as chilling it.

I tried to read this book a long time ago but quit because it got boring. I must have been in an impatient mood because, given a chance, this book took off and went in directions I did not expect.

This is not a gimmicky time travel book—and although it is short, I would say it is more for high schoolers than wee children.

One of my favourite books over more than 40 years. I still love the way it can take me into a place of menace and danger and cheer my heart as well as chilling it.