Tadiana Jones at FANTASY LITERATURE praises Jane Yolen’s THE TRANSFIGURED HART.

THE TRANSFIGURED HART, a 1975 novella by the talented Jane Yolen, was recently republished as part of Tachyon Publications’ Particle e-book imprint. It’s a lovely, evocative tale, juxtaposing fairy-tale-like fantasy and a contemporary rural setting.

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THE TRANSFIGURED HART has a bit of an edge to it, particularly when the hart is tracked down by a deerhound and a brief, bloody encounter ensues. It’s a brief, shocking scene, a reminder that death can cruelly strike at a moment’s notice.

Readers who are fond of classic fantasy like Peter Beagle’s The Last Unicorn are likely to enjoy THE TRANSFIGURED HART. It’s imbued throughout with a delightful sense of childlike wonder.

Photo: Jason Stemple

EARL GREY EDITING SERVICES enjoys the story.

First published in 1975, THE TRANSFIGURED HART by Jane Yolen is getting a new edition thanks to Tachyon Publications. It remains an enchanting tale about the power of belief and the importance of trust.

The novella sits squarely in mythopoeic tradition, in that liminal space where it’s never quite clear what’s fantasy and what’s reality. The two children have very different ideas about the creature they spied in the woods: for Richard it’s a unicorn, whereas Heather is certain it’s an albino stag. And even though some of the story is told from the perspective of the creature, this doesn’t settle the issue. Nor is it supposed to; it’s the sort of story that allows space for the reader’s interpretation.

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All in all, THE TRANSFIGURED HART is a delightful read that shows why Jane Yolen is a master of fantasy.

For more info on THE TRANSFIGURED HART, visit the Tachyon page.

Art by Thomas Canty

Design by Elizabeth Story