Unavailable for more than 70 years, this early but important work is published for the first time with Tolkien's 'Corrigan' poems and other supporting material, including a prefatory note by Christopher Tolkien. Set 'In Britain's land beyond the seas' during the Age of Chivalry, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun tells of a childless Breton Lord and Lady (the 'Aotrou' and 'Itroun' of the title) and the tragedy that befalls them when Aotrou seeks to remedy their situation with the aid of a magic potion obtained from a corrigan, or malevolent fairy. When the potion succeeds and Itroun bears twins, the corrigan returns seeking her fee, and Aotrou is forced to choose between betraying his marriage and losing his life. Coming from the darker side of J.R.R. Tolkien's imagination, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, together with the two shorter 'Corrigan' poems that lead up to it and which are also included, was the outcome of a comparatively short but intense period in Tolkien's life when he was deeply engaged with Celtic, and particularly Breton, myth and legend. Originally written in 1930 and long out of print, this early but seminal work is an important addition to the non-Middle-earth portion of his canon and should be set alongside Tolkien's other retellings of myth and legend, The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, The Fall of Arthur and The Story of Kullervo. Like these works, it belongs to a small but important corpus of his ventures into 'real-world' mythologies, each of which in its own way would be a formative influence on his own legendarium.

Imagine you worked at a company in which every other week, people you knew were dying. But not just dying, being gruesomely murdered. That is the watercooler topic of the month for workers at Showbiz Studios, once the legendary home to the Hollywood silent movie era. Meet Christian McCorkle, a thirty year old man, child obsessed with living each day at work as if it were a TV show. Christian only wants a happy workplace for himself and the clerks he supervises in the studio's mail department. Unfortunately, a serial killer, known as the Whistler, has found a plethora of victims on the massive studio lot, executing each one in a grisly manner. If that weren't enough, a secret cult holds meetings on the premises; ghosts walk the corridors; and Christian's least favorite employee, the always tardy Mu-Chin Chin, may be a spy for the evil head of Human Resources. It's up to Christian and his employees, who call themselves, 'The Unfortunates', to tackle these sinister goings, on before one of their own falls victim to one of the various maniacs who threaten them. Their efforts might even earn these mailroom clerks long overdue raises, if they can survive.

Lively, stark and formidable, the imagery of Norse mythology storms through this classic collection. The fierce glory of Odin, Frigga, Heimdall and their fellow gods of Asgard shines here, with all the great adventures, from Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life, to the legends of Loki. And from the fabled Bifrost to the forging of Thor's hammer, each Viking legend is riven with a vitality that speaks to us still. Here you'll find out how Odin lost his eye, how Tyr lost his hand and read the terrible punishment meted out to Loki. Included too is the Sigurd Saga with its sleeping warrior maidens, treasures and glorious, heroic battles. This wonderful collection finishes with The Death of Balder, the Revenge of the Gods and, fittingly, Ragnarok. The latest title in Flame Tree's beautiful, comprehensive series of Gothic Fantasy titles, concentrates on the ancient, epic origins of modern fantasy.

The traditional stories of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and Wales transport us to the fantastical world of Celtic folklore. Translated and transcribed by folklorists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the 16 stories in this compilation conjure forgotten realms and rare magical creatures in vivid prose. These timeless tales brim with wit and magic, and each one is brought to life with elegant silhouette art by Kate Forrester in this special illustrated edition.