Tain, By Gregory Frost - Book Report/Review Example

Tain, by Gregory Frost Gregory, Frost whose origin is deemed to be American is thought to be author of science and fiction. In his career, he directed a fiction writing workshop at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. According to the novel, Tain by Gregory Frost, it narrates about an 8 century Old epic, which in this case is the one that is known as the Tain, also referred as the Tain Bo Cuailnge or the Cattle Raid of Cooley). As the story unfolds, it talks about a King named as Ailill Connacht, who, persuaded on by his envious wife, wages war on Cuailnge, which is a region of Ulster. The reason herein is able to prevail over a prized brown stud bull. As a matter of fact, and as pertains to the King, prevailing over must be accompanied by some sort of fame. Therefore, before claiming victory over the trophy bull, his rivals or rather the raiding party must encounter the heroics of the teenage warrior, Cu Chulainn. The dramatic events that unfolds chapter by chapter are somewhat hilarious and at some other times frightening. This is a secret that Gregory used in almost all his literal works. Things that one could imagine and thought they could appear truth (Frost, 1986). Gregory Frost has in most of his works, employed fiction, and Tain is not an exception. Fiction in this case is used to mean literary works that are invented through imagination, for instance novels and short stories. It also of great importance to know that, fiction to an extent is subjective and evocative, that is, it’ s something that is created or rather invented and its communication is very indirect. It may require a person to re-read the book before getting to understanding what the author conveys. Evocatively, I mean, the literary work tries to bring out the thrill of imagining impossible things, or an experience that is not available in human nature or rather human understanding. Moreover, such literary works uses the phrases, “What if “or “if only” in conveying information that might raise some controversies to the reader. Additionally, such works are thought to give out some feelings and perceptions that were present in another historical period. In this way, one get to feel as if he/she were present during that period. All this is driven by an imagination which appears to be true. In essence, fiction does not hatch out new idea about something but rather it helps the reader experience the ideas and feeling a story inspires within him/her. While reading readers seems to have varied ideas or rather they are few things they expect to get from these literary works. For one, in non-fiction type of literary work, evidence is of major concern, while as emotional attachment is of essential in fiction (Frost, 1986). Readers are always optimistic that, fiction should carry their attention, while a non-fiction should have a convincing tone. It becomes different when we reading a romance novel or a science fiction, we have to suspend the beliefs; however in non-fiction reason and evidence are not optional. In analyzing fictional works, we look for themes that reappears from chapter to chapter in order to replicate on the wider human experience. On its face value, Tain, by Gregory Frost, for instance might be thought to be an adventure story about a King who after being persuaded by his insatiable queen wages for war in a certain region. On a closer analysis and interpretation, the novel might be envisaged as a depiction of a man’s battle to restrain nature or of a battle amid the good and evil. In essence the King may think he was the one ruling but it’s the wife who ruled indirectly. Since fiction is presented indirectly, it calls for a considerable degree of analysis and critical interpretation if one is to get beyond simply following the story (Frost, 1986). Broadly, Fiction as presented by Gregory Frost is thought to be subjective. Almost everything that is presented is the expression of the author’s imagination. Interestingly, the characters and situations are fictional or are “made up”. Fictional works should not portray the world in reality but rather they are expected to reflect the real world. Fictional works are deemed true, if only the actions and behaviors reflect what we know of the world. The emotions might be real, but the characters and the events are the efforts of the author’s imagination. At some instance, the author might need to employ drama within his literary work. The original myth that Gregory Frost has employed in his literary work, are greatly composed of the oldest stories that were composed in the pagan Celtic Iron age of Ireland, possibly as early as 300 BC. This was later passed on in the druidic oral tradition until the coming of Christianity and the crumble of the druidic priesthood in the 5th century AD (Frost, 1986). The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of the entire branch and the Historical Cycle. There are also a number of extant mythological texts that do not fit into any of the cycles. Additionally, there are a small number of recorded folk tales that while not strictly mythological, feature personages from one or more of these nine cycles. The novel is set in an entirely fictional fantasy atmosphere where not at any moment would the human person (s) ever encounter with neither the gods nor the demigods. In a creative perspective, Tain, can be said to be a wonderful work of invention, that is characterized by the imaginative setting. It is within this context, that it appears as if all things appear possible. It’s inclusive of numerous enchanting tales and fables that are intertwined into the major narrative. Yet, due to some issues or the way the events unfolds, one at one time or the other is not able to connect to the characters, and the feeling of being mixed only ends after one completes reading the novel (Frost, 1986). This is something that I have experienced in almost all his books. At the start, one is not in a position to comprehend the gist of the matter, and total understanding comes in after completing the whole book. It’s fascinating. Upon completing the novel, I guessed of how better it would have been if the novel had been set up as a single novel, Instead of it being written in a duology manner, instead of restraining the story to a single introduction, characters and themes. Creatively, Gregory, is just as, if not more, very imaginative than most of the narrators. I find no nitpick in this novel, since the characterization and the world building used was very deep as it had been expected of an imaginative type of narrative, also there is some romance developed in the story, mostly amid the King and his inequitable wife. However, this is not very much dev eloped and requires one to pick this theme depending on one’s analysis. Precisely, Tain by Gregory Frost would be lauded for its imagination and comprehensive unfolding events, thus described as an award –worthy, and applauded as a classic- in-the making, and such an acclamation is not complete without merit. Comparatively, Tain, is a much better novel and different novel. To this far, if there is anyone who have not read the novel, it is one of the richly rewarding experience, and thus one of the few must-read fantasies of the time (Frost, 1986). Reference Frost, G. (1986). Tain, Chicago: Ace Fantasy Books. Frost, G, Datlow, E, Cadigan, P, McCrumb, S. (2009). Poe: 19 New Tales of Suspense, Dark Fantasy, and Horror Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, Chicago: Solaris Frost, G. (1988).Remscéla, New York: Ace Books Read More