Stray leaves from strange literature; and, Fantastics and other fancies

The collection gathers retellings and translations of myths, legends, and parables from a wide range of traditions — ancient Egyptian, South Pacific, Arctic, Indian and Buddhist, Finnish rune-matter, Islamic folk tales, and Talmudic traditions — presented alongside a series of short fantastic sketches and newspaper items. Many pieces render supernatural encounters, moral parables, and folkloric motifs in a lyrical, evocative prose; the second section offers dreamlike vignettes, local scenes, and macabre or whimsical fancies. Together the pieces explore transformation, fate, love, and the uncanny through narrative retelling and impressionistic sketches.