Truth in Fiction

[Cybermancer]

Those of us who visit this site know that there are many stories that are taken to be flights of fancy but are in fact a deadly truth. Secrets passed down to us over the ages disguised as fiction. It is not unusual for those of us who are in the know to scour over ancient tales of ghosts, faeries, vampires, were-beasts and other alleged myths.

Sure we all know to check these ancient works for lost knowledge but what of more recent literature? I think that in tales published as recently as the last hundred years is full of hidden truths. In our own living memory there may have been authors who have encountered things beyond the natural world and have tried to tell the world in a way that would allow the message to get out. Other authors may have come across some enchanting story from their family history or an 'urban legend' that they have reworked as fiction, never realizing that there was more than a kernel of truth to what they were reporting.

I think perhaps that relatively recent fiction is sometimes overlooked by some of us. Therefore I am opening this thread to present and discuss stories published in the last hundred years that board members know or believe to have some surprising kernel of truth.

Naturally, I will go first.

There is an old story that was published in 1958 by Phillippa Pierce. Its name is Tom's Midnight Garden and is a classic piece of children's literature. I myself enjoyed it as a child.

The premise of the story is a young boy by the name of Tom is sent to live with his aunt and uncle after his brother catches the measles. They live in a flat with no garden and an elderly land lady.

Tom is lonely because he is not allowed out to play. Supposedly due to the lack of exercise he is up later than he ought to be and is thus able to hear a clock strike 13 times in the middle of the night. Going to investigate he finds a sunlit garden. He is not the only person in the garden as a young girl named Hatty is also present.

Tom visits Hatty and the garden many times but each time he does, she gets noticeably older while her remains the same relative age. Eventually she becomes too old to 'play such games'. She is a young woman being courted by a young man. Tom will not be able to visit again.

But that is not their last meeting. Indeed, the garden wasn't even where they first met as the old land lady turns out to be Hatty, near the end of her life.

So why do I bring up this story? Well, there are elements that do hearken back to older tales. Especially the time displacement that occasionally occurs when one is dealing with the fey. There is also the idea of visiting other worlds that are presented as some sort of fanciful paradise.

There is also the fact that I am aware of a similar story. In this story, there is also a young boy, although when it starts he is a bit older than Tom. Nevertheless I will continue to refer to him as Tom. He doesn't visit a hidden garden at the stroke of 13. Some other fanciful device made of brass and crystals is the means of transportation for this tale. The catch is (and there is ever a catch in these stories, isn't there?) that it must recharge between trips and can only ever transport one person.

It is not only the means that is different but the location. The location is not a garden but a library. A library that is the repository for all knowledge ever. Every fiction and every truth can be found here. Tales told to many and a few all share shelf space here.

Like the garden however, the library had another resident (although I don't really know if resident is the best word to use here). Like Hatty, this girl was about the same age as the Tom of this story. Thus I will refer to them both as Tom and Hatty.

Unlike the protagonists from "Tom's Midnight Garden", these two children aged at different rates between meetings. Sometimes Hatty would be older, sometimes they would be the same age but eventually, it seemed as though Tom was the one getting older, quicker.

As Tom got older, he began to perceive certain things that were odd. For example, Hatty would never let him explore outside the library. Indeed, she wouldn't even show him where the door out of the library was for fear he might attempt to circumvent her rule. In fact she was quite cross with him one time when he arrived and she wasn't about so he had gone exploring. Afterwards she made him promise to always meet her in the same place and to never stray until she was there to guide him.

There were dangers beyond the library, dangers that perhaps she had to face but she would not let him even know about. Yet she could not always hide the bruises or the flinching at every noise. She could not always hide the pain.

As wondrous as he had first found the library, Tom realized that there was a hidden darkness here and that his friend was suffering for it. So when he was old enough and mature enough for self-sacrifice, he offered her his device so she could escape. It was a solution that she would not accept as it would trap Tom there to face the darkness that she had tried so hard to hide from him.

Tom knew enough about the device by then that he felt that with a little help from his brother, it might be possible to make a second one. So he made Hatty a promise. He promised her that some day he would return and when he did, he would save her from the darkness that was beyond the darkness.

He did return with two devices but the library was destroyed to its foundations. Every page or scroll burned, engulfed in the blackness of ignorance. There was no sign of Hatty but there was plenty evidence of darkness all about.

Interestingly, Tom did grow up and find a way to save Hatty.

There can be no doubt that this story is impossible by the rules of natural science. Yet even those who believe in the supernatural might find the tale hard to accept and perhaps even say it was impossible. So does that make this something that is beyond the supernatural?

[Hannah]

I'm he managed to save Hatty in the second story. I do so love happy endings on these sorts of stories.

Hannah

[Tms3]

I will not say it is untrue. does any one else see a connection with the Fey bride in the 2nd story? and yes there are myths in my family that one of my fore fathers took a fairy queen for a bride. and given some of my dealings with the fey I would have to say that I think there is some truth to it..

[Hannah]

I saw a few and of course that brought about my natural sympathies for her.

Hannah.

[Rowan]

The books Chronicles of Narnia and Caroline come to mind. “Natural” science?

[Cybermancer]

I remember the Narnia novels from when I was young. They certainly contain aspects that would be familiar to Gaelic or Greek story tellers.

Although C.S. Lewis did consider himself to be using fiction to deliver truths through allegory.

[RAVEN]

Perhaps -- and this is just a supposition -- Tom did save Hatty from the library by writing the first story. The second story did specify that the library contained all truths and all stories. If he created a new story, it would restart the library and hopefully make Hatty accessible again. But why just settle for regaining access? Tom would have realized that as the author of the tale, he would have had great influence over events. Tom then changes the library to sunny garden, and he sets up the new story so that Hatty enjoys a long and full life. Now, he no longer needs to carry her out. He has redefined her as someone who does not need the help.

[Cybermancer]

It sounds to me as though you may subscribe to the "World as Myth" theory of multiple dimensions. In any case, an interesting supposition.

I will say this, however. The story has been 'rewritten'. In this new (or is it the original?) version, Hatty is quite capable of reinventing herself in any way she may choose. She does not need Tom or anyone else to come rescue her.

The ending of this story is not yet written. It is barely begun. While I am no believer in happily ever after, I am hopeful that she will live long, well and will be mostly happy in her adventures.

[Hannah]

I'm sure Hatty would be quite fine with that version of the story.

Hannah.

[Cybermancer]

The best stories are always the ones where the protagonist takes control of their situation and fate.

Which reminds me of another movie, Labyrinth. Another tale I loved from my childhood.

Of course even as a babe myself, I knew it to be a work of fanciful imagination.

So why do I bring it up here in the "Truth in Fiction" thread?

There are many scenes in it that can make one think of a fairy wonderland. Either that or a surreal nightmare.

But that is just imagery of course. Perhaps there are deeper truths. The sorts of truths that those who have explored dreams have encountered and dealt with from time to time. Dreams can be a wonderful or horrific place. They can rule you... or you can rule them.

[Hannah]

I've never even heard of this movie.

I so have to watch this.

Hannah.

[Cybermancer]

You definitely should see this movie, Hannah. In fact if you haven't managed to see it by the end of next week, I'll bring my copy for you to watch.

[Hannah]

I may just wait then and watch it with you, since you're a fan.

Hannah

[Cybermancer]

Sure, it'll be nice to see it through new eyes again.

Hopefully I haven't spoiled it too much with my links above.

[Hannah]

That'll be great! See you in a week.

Hannah

[Grace]

Don't do anything I would do.

[Hannah]

I don't think I could . . .

Hannah

[RAVEN]

The Monkey's Paw
This short story saw print in 1902 which does not fit within the 100 year rule. Fortunately, I don't live by your rules.

This story is about a family which receives the gift of a mummified primate appendage. I gave just such a gift this Valentines Day, but I digress (more and more). The paw is capable of granting wishes, but each wish is granted in a way as to make the wisher miserable. The remarkable aspect of this story is that it was written generations before dungeonmasters began sadistically perverting wish spells.

Perhaps our author, W. W. Jacobs, had something similar up his own sleeve. He worked as a postal clerk in England for twenty years, and then retired in 1899. That retirement came *after* he turned down a big payday for selling a collection of his short stories. So how does a writer who doesn't sell out and works as a clerk manage to retire comfortably twenty years later -- retire, I might add, with a twenty year old wife and two servants. Three years after retirement from the post office, The Monkey's Paw is published.

[Cybermancer]

I'm not going to sweat the rules too much, RAVEN. I think the story you presented still fits the spirit if not the absolute letter of my intent for this thread.

I'm familar with the story you're referring to. It was also one of my favorites as a child and now that I'm adult, I do find myself wondering how much of it is truth, and how much fiction. You raise some very good points about the authors success as well.

Sorry I didn't respond sooner, I've been very busy and have had a lot on my mind of late. Last night however I had the most remarkable sleep so am feeling re-energized.

Glad to see you're posting again, RAVEN.

I hope the trend continues.

[GhostSpider]

Truth and fiction are ever more malleable than most people think. The only thing that keeps them seperate:belief.

[Tms3]

What is true for one person is not true for anther. How can that be? as some one with faith about the creation of the world and how it came about. He if he is Christian will porbly tell you that g-d commend it into being. A more progressive Christian will tell you that G-d set up the laws of physics and then used the laws of the universe to create it. and when you ask about the age of the earth the Christian may well tell you that it is between 5 and 8 thousand years old, where as a geologist will tell you its about 4 million years old. all of the above statements are fact. Fact is something you can prove throw repeatable experiments. The pea will fall as fast as a rock of dropped form a height. Newton proved that. and if we want to test it are selves all we have to do is repeat his experiment but opening the window and dropping a pea and a rock. Fact is what Science deals with, Truth that is for philosophers and religion

[Rowan]

The very definition of faith—for good or ill—excludes it as a fact—doesn’t it? One may believe the earth to be so many years old, but truth and fact exist separately and exclusively as truth.

For example, the earth was round before people believed it so. The laws of physics existed before Newton discovered them—they exist—even function--although we don’t understand them fully.

[GhostSpider]

When i say belief, why is it that you think i speak of faith?

[RAVEN]

The very definition of faith—for good or ill—excludes it as a fact—doesn’t it? One may believe the earth to be so many years old, but truth and fact exist separately and exclusively as truth.

Yes and no Rowan, that is a particularly Western concept of faith. None of the eastern religions have faith which works that way. For example, Sufis reject the practice of taking anything on faith, and instead they recommend direct spiritual experiences which result in a deeper connection to heaven. Confuscists, I believe, consider faith to be a matter of actions rather than beliefs; performing the right actions and ceremonies enhance order in the universe and lead to a better position in the afterlife.

[Tms3]

Raven I agree with you but still truths gained throw experience will never been the same for to people because every thing is shaped there experiences. truths will never if we are honest with or selves are never exactly the same as any one else s that is why I separate fact for truth. Faith does not inter it for me I have spretuel truths and knowledge, spirtuel truths if you will.

based on my personal experiences. Which are never the same as any one else s in fact if asked I tell them I can not tell them any truths for they must find there own and if there willing to work for it I can help them find them. and once they have they are there s which are more valuable to them then mine could be to them. Just as there's are worthless to me

[Rowan]

When i say belief, why is it that you think i speak of faith?

I didn’t—my post was aimed at Tms3—if yours was in response to mine.

That definition of faith isn’t any more Western than the dictionary’s, RAVEN—which is probably Western anyway. Regardless, I fail to see the difference between “East and West”—where your example is concerned on how the Sufis obtain their faith and how the Confuscists practice it—and my own.

[Nemesis]

I have a story I'd like to share that should also help bring this thread back on track.

Perhaps you think you know the story of Cinderella? What is more likely is that you know a story of Cinderella, with the most common telling in Western culture was animated by a large production studio. It is not my intent to tell you that this tale is wrong, only that it is just one version of a story that has been told through out history.

Given the number of academics and those interested in myth and folk tales on this site, there are no doubt those of you who know some or even many of these other tales. For example in an ancient Greek version of the tale, the girls name was Rhopodis (Rosy Cheeked). She was a slave, along with Aesop. She was freed in Egypt by the poet Charaxus who paid a large sum for her.

There are many, many other versions of this story that can be found easily by anyone with the interest to look for them. But I know a version you may not. This tale of Cinderella has not often been told.

It all begins a long time ago in a house for slave girls. This house was a strange, haunted place. Parts of it were in the world but others were not. Some rooms were the places of nightmares and dreams. In some parts of the great house, the sands of the hourglass fell more slowly than in others.

These girls were all orphans, foundlings or stolen from their rightful mothers. Their origins no longer mattered. All these girls were sisters if only because of the adversity they shared. But some of the girls really were sisters.

These girls were all brought to this house to learn their chores and duties as slaves and warriors. They trained hard and those who could not handle the training were killed, often at the hands of their very own sisters. Only the strongest of the sisters would be allowed to continue to perform their chores.

But it was the real sisters who had it hardest. Their chores and training were greater and harder than any of the others. The master of the house had decreed that they would be either the greatest of all or nothing at all. Anything less than that would be met with only one fate.

Cinderella was one of these sisters. One by one she had seen the sisters that came before her and those she was raised with fail and fall. Until there was only three others besides herself. And they all knew that what was expected of them was more than any of them could possibly manage. They all knew their eventual fate.

Though knowing her fate, Cinderella had not yet accepted it. It was not that she held out hope that her destiny would change. Rather she had decided that she would go down fighting. Her sisters felt the same. So had all who had come before them.

Despite all being the same, for some reason it was Cinderella's nightmares that attracted the attention of the Dark Lady. She came to Cinderella in the darkest hour of night and watched her dreams. Through those dreams she came to know Cinderella. In knowing Cinderella, she learned what the Master of the house was up to.

She liked what she saw.

Thus the Dark Lady adopted Cinderella, becoming the only mother she had ever known. She taught Cinderella secrets that gave her an edge over her sisters. She blessed Cinderella with her dark power. Those secrets and that dark power allowed Cinderella to achieve the standards set before her.

Though all her true sisters perished, Cinderella survived and grew strong and powerful. All the other sisters of the house knew she was their better and paid her the respect she had earned as her due. Even the Master of the house praised her before the others as his favoured one. She had proven what was possible. It was the Master's hope that she would continue to grow in power and strength until she was a Queen of the Night.

This Cinderella had no gown of magic to wear. This Cinderella had no magnificent carriage to carry her away. This Cinderella had no glass slippers upon her feet to be found by a love struck prince. But this Cinderella had something better.

This Cinderella had a real mother to come and take her away from the house, the other sisters and the Master. Cinderella has real mother that wants her daughter to be something other than a slave.

I wish I could tell you that this story ends happily ever after like that animated one. But unlike in cinema when the reel ends and the lights come on, the story doesn't end. No one can know if there is happiness or tragedy in the future. Only time will tell if this version of Cinderella is a good one, or a bad one.

I hope it will be a good one.

-Cynthia

[Grace]

That's a very interesting take on the old story, Cynthia. Also, you choose the right thread to post it in, I think.

If you want to share other stories with us, I think that would be a good idea. It's important that you find ways to express yourself.

[Gotham Witch]

Very interesting, Cynthia.

I can't wait to hear the end someday.

[RAVEN]

I hope it will be a good one.

A good ending it will certainly be -- but for which character, Cynthia? Is it the Master, the Dark Lady, or Cinderella for whom you are cheering?