* Lisa Mantchev's "Threads of Red and White" (short story, fantasy): An immigrant's confusion

This sequel to her "A Dance Across Embers" is set 20 years later. My interpretation of Ventsei's escape in original story turns out to be wrong; he escaped not to be a hero, but to find safe life elsewhere. I wonder if original story's ghosts were Nazis or some kind of communist police; I am not familiar with European history.

We now meet Ventsei well settled in life as a doctor in a foreign land. Family includes his mother (Tereza), wife (Kimberly), & baby daughter (Damascena). That is when he is confronted with visitors from his now long forgotten past - his childhood friend Milena, her godmother, etc.

Some remembrances, & a bit of tension. But all ends well. Not completely satisfactory for everyone, but well enough.

What struck me about the story were two things. First, the immigrant in me could identify with some of emotions of Ventsei - yeah, there are happy memories of childhood but leaving current life doesn't seem to make sense.

Second is the apparently Bulgarian practice called "martenitza" that the title is named for - a ritual of tying red & white colored threads to your wrist or some inanimate object nearby. This is supposed to bring luck. This is almost identical to the practice, called "mollie", rather common in many parts of north India - only the thread is just red colored, no white.

I recall a very similar situation in Jostein Gaarder's novel "Sophie's World". Somewhere it tells a Norwegian folk tale that is identical to an Indian one! And I'm not aware of much historical contact between India & Bulgaria or Scandinavia. How far back in time the roots of these practices & folktales go?

Fact sheet.

First published: Clarkesworld, December 2007.
Rating: A
Download full text.

Note: This is a repost. Reason.

Clarkesworld magazine, December 2007 issue: 3 stories, 1 good

All three are fantasies, & the last one is not an original (though the story doesn't mention it). First one has talking animals, second has ghosts, third is a fairy tale.

1. Lisa Mantchev's "Threads of Red and White" (A); download; anchor: An immigrant's confusion.
   
   This sequel to her "A Dance Across Embers" is set 20 years later. My interpretation of Ventsei's escape in original story turns out to be wrong; he escaped not to be a hero, but to find safe life elsewhere. I wonder if original story's ghosts were Nazis or some kind of communist police; I am not familiar with European history.
   
   We now meet Ventsei well settled in life as a doctor in a foreign land. Family includes his mother (Tereza), wife (Kimberly), & baby daughter (Damascena). That is when he is confronted with visitors from his now long forgotten past - his childhood friend Milena, her godmother, etc.
   
   Some remembrances, & a bit of tension. But all ends well. Not completely satisfactory for everyone, but well enough.
   
   What struck me about the story were two things. First, the immigrant in me could identify with some of emotions of Ventsei - yeah, there are happy memories of childhood but leaving current life doesn't seem to make sense.
   
   Second is the apparently Bulgarian practice called "martenitza" that the title is named for - a ritual of tying red & white colored threads to your wrist or some inanimate object nearby. This is supposed to bring luck. This is almost identical to the practice, called "mollie", rather common in many parts of north India - only the thread is just red colored, no white.
   
   I recall a very similar situation in Jostein Gaarder's novel "Sophie's World". Somewhere it tells a Norwegian folk tale that is identical to an Indian one! And I'm not aware of much historical contact between India & Bulgaria or Scandinavia. How far back in time the roots of these practices & folktales go?
2. Loreen Heneghan's "The Buried Years" (B); download; anchor: A man about to be married has a confession to make to his would be wife. Great prose, but the plot didn't quite strike a cord with me.
3. Samantha Henderson's "Curse" (C); download; anchor: Not an unreadable story, but you've probably read or heard this fairy tale before. A woman can weave gold from hay; king employs & exploits here for her unusual ability, etc.

Note: "anchor" links let me link to specific story inside this file from elsewhere, when necessary.

Lisa Mantchev's "A Dance Across Embers": A freedom fighter is born

This is very readable political story - presented as a parable with talking animals & ghosts. And it can be read without any political overtones too - in case you just enjoy fantasy.

There is a mention of Bulgaria - so I suppose that is the place where the story is set - though the character names were generally unfamiliar for me.

Full text of the story is available as a free download.

Story summary.

In a forest community of bears with very human traits, "ghosts" in dark suits & with guns have been taking away grown people at night; some families are more haunted then others. Nothing is ever heard again from those thus taken away.

There is also a Party doing mysterious activities, & apparently with interests opposed to those of ghosts.

We learn of the development through the characters of two nine year old friends. Milena's parents keep going to Party at night. Ventsei has his grandfather picked up at night; his dad went after him & got picked up too.

The event matures Ventsei beyond his years, as he steps into his grandfather's shoes.

Title comes from fire-dance on burning coals in the parable - a feat that Ventsei's grandfather used to perform, & he will too prematurely as part of his growing up to redeem his people.

Fact sheet.

"A Dance Across Embers", short story, review
First published: Clarkesworld, October 2007.
Rating: A