The Hunting Companion
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Hunting Companion |
| Publisher: | The Nut Hatch |
| Editor(s): | Kathy Keegan |
| Date(s): | 1987 |
| Series?: | yes |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | The Professionals |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Hunting Companion is a slash anthology of two volumes in the elf AU Professionals series noted below.
Many of the characters are fan casted, using such actors as Rutger Hauer, Mel Gibson, and Michelle Pfeffier.
For more on this series, see The Hunting Universe.
Pseudonymous
Note: The editor, Kathy Keegan, wrote that "all the fiction is by Jane; all the artwork by JJ; there are poems by Barbara Jones and Sue-Anne Hartwick, as well as by Jane, and music by JJ. Non-fiction is by Kathy Keegan, who edited this opus." When Keegan goes on to say that "it is as self-indulgent for the reader as for those of us who put it all together," she isn't kidding; this is because all these people, except for Hartwick, are pseuds for the same person.
Also from the first volume, another comment about occupying several bodies: "I get to write two segments for the price of one here, so I'm going to switch hats and become someone else entirely."
From an Early Flyer
From an uncharacteristically succinct flyer by Jane of Australia, one was printed in the Tanglewebb Press, zine The Book of Strife:
Raven is as fey as Bodie has always supposed. He learned to his cost, in the Eyrie of the Gods, that to be fey can be dangerous...
Issue 1
The Hunting Companion 1 was published in 1987 and contains 250 pages.
Most of the content is by Jane.
It is a fancasted novel.
Issue 1: Flyer Description
From a flyer:
A vast volume of Raven/Bodie stories by Jane under one cover...
The entire text of this zine is based on the fantasy univese THE HUNTING, created by Jane. The stories follow on from the close of Part VI, and fall between THE HUNTING and the second Raven/Bodie opus, THE KINGDOM OF SUMMER.
All the characters return, including Kevin/Raphael, Feyleen, Amber, and the subsidiary characters. All the fiction is by Jane; all the artwork by JJ; there are poems by Barbara Jones and Sue-Anne Hartwick, as well as by Jane, and music by JJ. Non-fiction by Kathy Keegan, who edited this opus.
[snipped]
280 pages, with rafts of illustrations depicting not only Raven and Bodie but also the "rest of the cast" ... Michael Gothard as Amber, Rutger Hauer as Kevin, Mel Gibson as Raphael, Christopher Lambert as Dominic, and so on! The HUNTING predates computers, so like all other issues this one was done on an electonic typewriter, backed up by an Amstrad wordprocessor ... and then then fun began. The graphics were all done by hand, and this issue remains one of the best examples of a pre-electronic "underground" book. Is it a fanzine?? Is it even fannish?? From page one, THE HUNTING took off with a life of its own, and it's not fannish at all, since it derives from no show, movie or novel. THE HUNTING is ... THE HUNTING! [2]
Issue 1: From the Editor
From Kathy Keegan (editor), from the zine:
The hardest thing about editing this zine was knowing where no stop. We started with a zine of about a hundred pages; then Sue-Anne sent some beautiful poetry and JJ went wild with her pencils, and Barb was bitten by the inspiration bug (more lovely verse), and JJ 'got a tune', then another —
And we weren't up to the stories yet! Very early on, we realised that a 100pp zine would leave an awful lot out, necessitating another issue, possibly two other issues. Well, it's almost as much hassle doing a small zine as a large one (almost!), so we made the decision: gather everything together, all the stories, poems, songs, the art, the nonfiction, the lot, and do one vast treasury...
You're holding it now. It became a monster, ran away on its own and became 250pp before we could control it again. For a start, the story AVALON became something very special, with some characters you should come to love —
Characters, incidentally, who will be taking part in the second book of THE HUNTING. Dominic, the chief of the corsairs, for a start! Some fans have been asking about the second Raven/Bodie book, to follow from the finale of Book One, and to talk about that, I'll close this segment of our introduction and turn you over to the creator and divine force behind this fandom...
Issue 1: From the Author
From Jane (author), from the zine:
When I wrote the original short story — the first 44pp of THE HUNTING... I thought I was finished. But a few weeks later I realised I could not leave those characters alone; besides which, there were so many things left to resolve, so many questions left to answer. The rest of the book went like a single leap. Much, much harder than writing it was the typing of it, and it was wonderful to get access to a computer (at last!) so that word processing could make the whole job easier.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have written to me over the past year, telling me what the liked about the book, how they pictured the characters, what they hoped would happen to those characters. The hardest thing in the job a writer does is (conversely to public opinion!) not the writing but the plotting. There's a huge difference! A well written story can be thoroughly tedious or too long, and with a story the size of the saga of Raven and Bodie, I was terrified the narrative would become tedious. I tried to bring in fresh material, fresh challenges, every thirty or forty pages, and at last I decided to make it into six parts instead of the nine that had originally been slated. It made life hard for the typists — Part VI ran up to 115pp (oooh, our aching backs!), but it got the whole saga out in record time: 362pp, six segments over ten months.
Newcomers to the story are collecting the whole thing in one big block of paper and getting the chance to read it in one sitting... I hope this Improves the cohesion of the piece! Because Book Two is all plotted and just waiting to be written (and typed. Oh dear). I'm not going to tell you the story (actually, a whole set of interconnecting stories), but I can say that Kevin and Raphael are there, and Amber, Feyleen — plus Dominic and some characters you're going to meet in this anthology...
Think of THE HUNTING COMPANION as Book One-And-A-Half ~ or, perhaps more accurately, a 'tv series' based on the book, as if the original book was a film! That's the way I think of it, and I find that the artwork has brought it even more to life, because you've got your favourite actors — mine, anyway! — cast in the parts, not merely two wonderful British stars of an action show that has (I freely admit) little to do with this fantasy, but others, many of whom will be your favourites also. To talk about the artwork, I'll turn my segment of this introduction over to the distracted artist responsible for the illustrations...
Issue 1: From the Artist
From JJ (artist), from the zine:
Getting 'saddled' with the task of producing art for a big zine can be a major headache. But -- illo a Raven/Boden zine? Where did I start? And more importantly, where did I stop? Stopping was harder than starting! Inspiration came from the actors I could see in the parts. If you'd like to imagine for half a minute that this is a film, I'll give you the 'cast list' for your further entertainment!
- Raven -- Mr. Shaw
- Bodie -- Mr. Collins
- Kevin -- Rutger Hauer as seen in Ladyhawke
- Feyleen -- Michelle Pfeiffer as seen in Ladyhawke
- Raphael -- Mel Gibson in his youth, say around the time he made the film TIM, and add longer hair
- Amber -- Michael Gothard, a cross between his appearance in Arthur of the Britons and Warrior Queen
- Dominic -- Christopher Lambert as seen in the earlier parts of GREYSTOKE
To say I had fun producing the art for this zine is a huge understatement! I took the opportunity to work in full colour some of the time too. As a matter of interest, I will be making laminated/mounted prints of the colour artwork for sale — if you would like to buy a colour repro of Raven or Bodie, write to me and I'll send details as they are available
But the main source of inspiration was the way the stories wove themselves, and the way the poems, by Sue-Anne and Barbie, expressed the feelings of characters I have come to love. It's always a challenge drawing what someone else sees.
Which brings me to the subject of elves, and what they look like. This is an interesting subject, since you can see so many renditions of the elven looks. You've got Tolkein's tall elves on the one hand and the Elfquest people on the other; you've got elves with ears a foot long and childlike proportions, others with humanlike appearance and smaller ears. Ultimately, I drew what I liked to look at.
'My' elves (or Jane's, if you prefer), are based on the tall elf concept of the LORD OF THE RINGS -- a few modifications. I draw them with unshorn hair, since barbering is an affectation of 20th Century European society, and not a terribly attractive one, at that. For their ears, I draw little Vulcan points, which I think are more attractive than the kind of ears that are more suited to foxes, deer, and so forth. When I'm drawing figures, I make them very slender... I trust you will enjoy the results! Costuming was an interesting factor, too. The clothes worn by the characters are based on Celtic garments — tunics and linen shirts play a large role in costuming. You can picture the clothing in any number of ways; the text of the original book was quite detailed.
I get to write two segments for the price of one here, so I'm going to switch hats and become someone else entirely...
Issue 1: From the Musician
From Jane:
I spent one rainy Sunday afternoon arranging the lyric written for Raphael in Part VI of the original book, for voice and guitar, only to find that in proper manuscript form, the darned arrangement was going to run about seven pages! Cutting out the guitar part was a source of disappointment to me, as I had worked a fair length of time on it, but editorial opinion was sensible.
How many people will even want the guitar part? How many people who do indeed play the guitar play with plectrums and therefore could not tackle the intricate arpeggios? Drat. So, at length, I decided to put the arrangement away and just publish the tune and organ chording for people who have a Casio or some such thing that does one-finger work...
There are two songs, the second of which is not drawn from the first book of the Raven/Bodie saga, but is from a lyric that came spontaneously in the manner of a poem. I hope you like the tunes —especially the tune to which Raphael's Song is set. Iwas trying for a melody that had that sweet, wistful, minor-key sound of the Middle Ages, which is why much of it is arranged in A-minor, with a major section in the middle.
Losing the guitar arrangements is a disappointment to me, not merely because I slaved away to do them, but because they add to the lyrical, wistful quality of the music. If anyone would like to have them, please write to me. Even though it was not really feasible to include them in the zine, for reasons of space and general interest, they are there to be had —and played.
The subject of lyrics leads me to poetry, and on that subject I’ll pass back to Kathy.
Issue 1: More Editorializing
From Kathy again, from the zine:
One of the most wonderful things about Raven/Bodie has been the way it has inspired poetry. It lends itself to poetry very well, being set in a fantasy realm with more lyrical speech... It's tough trying to be romantic in London slang as spoken in 1987! Tough, also, trying to find new ways to say things that, in our era, sound anachronistic. Our poets have turned up trumps — and I Include the song lyrics in this, for what is a song but a poem set to music?
I don't think Sue-Anne Hartwick needs any introduction, and certainly neither does Jane. JJ is not well known as a poet, however — better known as an artist and editor! Barbara Jones is known to the readers of the CROSS MY HEART zines, of course. They come together with some lovely words in this fantasy realm.
Editorially, artistically, whichever way you want to look at it, this is a wonderfully self-indulgent zine, but it's got a good excuse. It is as self-indulgent for the reader as for those of us who put it all together — intended specifically for people who have fallen in love with a fantasy empire called THE HUNTING, and with its characters and places.
If this zine is Book 1.5, as its creator asserts — where is Book Two —? It's title, when it appears, will be THE KINGDOM OF SUMMER — a title change for very good reasons. The 'hunting' theme that welded the story together through the first 362pp has been resolved now, and the new book sets off to explore new areas with fresh material — material which will develop the themes suggested in this zine.
For example, as Jane admits (sheepishly), in the whole of the first book, she did not quote us one single god of the elven pantheon by whom to swear! They have a big pantheon, but no names were given, and the elven mythology was barely touched on, while human mythology was left — for later. There is still a wealth of material, all of it fresh and new.
Which is a good note to close on here, with a whole zine filled with fresh Raven/Bodie tales right before you. Enjoy!
Issue 1: The Contents
The stories are arranged in chronological order, springing directly off the end of Part VI of THE HUNTING. "For Raphael" overlaps, being a "missing chapter", and would take place, chronologically, at about page 350 of the original book. "Avalon" can be considered a prequel to THE HUNTING, Book Two, KINGDOM OF SUMMER.
- 32 interior hand-drawn illos by JJ, most of them full-page
- various editorials and statements by the author, editor, artist, musician, and poets (4)
- Summer Thunder, poem by Barbara Jones (9)
- Elvenkind, article with a map by Kathy Keegan (10)
- Riches, poem by Sue-Anne Hartwick (17)
- For Raphael, fiction by Jane - The Hunting #2 ("The "missing chapter" from Part VI. Raphael was promised the gift of his freedom. Human tradition is as binding as the elven, and Kevin has planned his gift with great care...") (18)
- Dark Demons, poem by Sue-Anne Hartwick (26)
- Home is the Hunter, fiction by Jane - The Hunting #3 ("Raven and Bodie are delighted to take Kevin and Raphael to their home in Morhod; but their return is shadowed by a cloud. Jade is on the Syrae estate, and he is there to prey. On Abelard? Jade has long despised the Syrae, and it is up to Bodie to catch him in a trap of his own making.") (28)
- Hunter's Moon, poem by Barbara Jones (68)
- Wait Upon the Wind, fiction by Jane - The Hunting #4 ("Hungry for elven ritual, Bodie persuades Raven to ride with Amber to the equinox celebrations on Morn, a mountain in Rynn country. His experiences there are a new awakening.") (70)
- At First Sight, poem by Sue-Anne Hartwick (88)
- Brandywine, fiction by Jane - The Hunting #5 ("The Syrae gather to do Raven honour on his feast day, but he has other plans -- which include Bodie, to the human's delight.") (90)
- Raphael's Song, sheet music by Jane and JJ (99)
- Avalon, fiction by Jane - The Hunting #6 ("A whole HUNTING novel presented here in entirety. This is the major story introducing a "suite" of new characters who take such a large part in THE KINGDON OF SUMMER... Spring comes to Morhod, and the new season's horses are taken to market in Osiri, on the Avalon River. The journey should have been a pleasure, but turns into a vengeance hunting as the Rynn take to the war trails. At the heart of this hurricane is a tortured, haunted figure whose only hope for salvation may be Amber ... if Raven, Bodie and their party can survive long enough to help him. He's a seafarer, and his name is Dominic... ") (103)
- For Raven, sheet music by Jane (217)
- The Lark, fiction by Jane - The Hunting #7 (218)
- Embers, poem by Barbara Jones (230)
- The Talisman, fiction by Jane - The Hunting #8 (232)
- A Midsummer's Daydream, poem by Jane (248)
- Lastword (Or, Author, Author!), comments by Jane (250)
- Shadowplay, uncredited poem (252)
Issue 1: Sample Interior
from issue #1
from issue #1, sample text
from issue #1, fan casted Rutger Hauer?
from issue #1
from issue #1
from issue #1
from issue #1
from issue #1
from issue #1
from issue #1
from issue #1
from issue #1
from issue #1
from issue #1, sheet music
from issue #1
from issue #1, Mel Gibson is Fan Casted
from issue #1
from issue #1
from issue #1
Issue 2
The Hunting Companion 2 was published in June 1989 and contains 178 pages. All of the written content is by Jane and the art is by JJ.
From the introduction by Jane:
Raven's world surely needs no introduction! However, I would like to say a few words about the map at right. Those with an eye for very fine detail will pick certain differences between what appears here, as per the central Kith country, and the detailing which appeared on the last map. There are several reasons for the differences, the most obvious being also the most accurate! Much was in flux, much had to be tied-down, and a scale of distance was not as easily worked out as might be assumed. The principal factor in deciding "how far is A from B" had to be, "how long did it take them to ride there! Then, how far can a horse travel in a day? Unfortunately, that is a difficult question to answer... Horses go faster over dry ground than wet, faster downhill than up — and so on! So, accuracy is not something easily pinpointed! The map is about as accurate as it's going to get, and at least will help the reader get a clear grasp of what's where. Many of the towns and tribal tuaths appearing on it have yet to feature In the story. Don't worry, you haven't missed anything. The artist, in self-defence, has included locations and tribes which appear in the notes for future R/B novels. Two at least are begging to be written. By putting all the odds and ends of locational detailing into this map, it saves making another map later on!
As several people have asked, how does the elven calendar work? Some 'irritating clues' were dropped about 200pp ago — time to clear it all up here. Like many of the ideas behind the stories in this opus, the elven calendar evolved out of readers' questions. You see — letters of comment make writers think!
Several of you have asked — how much of the herbal medicine In THE HUNTING is genuine? Well, all of it And — how much of the elven magic is based on Wicca? Well, none of it. Elven lore is based on the Celtic magic which predates Wicca, and upon which Wicca itself is based.
To briefly answer a few other questions: I borrow little or nothing from Tolkien, but borrow a lot from 'Celtic Myth And Legend' and the old faithful 'Mabinogion.' However, I do draw material from textbooks on other races: 'The Vikings' provided source materials for the Triad peoples, for example. The humans from Garth's side of the hills are drawn from the impressions one gets reading 'The Anglo Saxon Chronicles!' Do I set the whole plot down in notes prior to setting off to write it up? Yes! The whole "grand plan' is in note form before I begin (otherwise, heaven help me!), and I try to stick to it. But individual scenes take their own shape and the characters seem to do strictly as they want to, as if I'm just names come from? Often, from the indexes of the 'Mab' and 'The White Goddess,' though most elves are named after birds or plants etc. {Raven, Elm, Ash, Shrike, Amber, Jade, Willow and so on). Does 'Morhod' mean anything? Yes: the root is mor [equals] moralis (Latin) [equals] 'custom' + Hod [equals] (angel of) wisdom (Qabballsm). Many thanks for your comments and questions! I hope you will continue to enjoy this universe for a long time to come! -- Jane
Author's notes for "East of Midnight":
This story is for Tammy, Sue-Ann, Judy D. and Lauren, in no particular order. Various comments made over the space of many communications stuck in the author's feverish mind, and this little plot was the result.
Someone (for the life of me, I can't remember who!) said, 'affairs of state are all very well—but what about a 'who done it'? This is not really a 'who done it', but the inclination is there in part! I am wondering how a murder case would be approached by such a legal system as the elves have evolved!
A very interesting point I must make about the civilization- models framed in these stories is that, on the criteria favoured by modern archeologists, humans are civilized —elves are not. The criteria are: (1) large size towns of at least 5000 people; (2) written language; (3) a state religion with monumental religious centers or palaces. Elves are a rare people with only hamlets as their permanent towns, no great religious edifices, a very 'relaxed' religion and no particular 'state' at all! On the other end of the scale, humans with their barbarous ways and over—population, fill all the criteria, I was asked why I fly in the face of archeological convention, The reason is, civilization as we know it irks me. Alternatives to it fascinate me!
- Introduction (4)
- Map of Raven's World (5)
- The Firebird -- The Hunting #10 ("Abelard comes of age, and there is a price to be paid for his growing. This is a bittersweet time for Bodie, one to be treasured even though joy is so often tinged with stronger, darker emotions.") (6)
- Moonshadows -- The Hunting #12 ("Falcon has left Amber, since the touchstone came into the hands of the new/old Kith shaman. Now, for the first time, Amber and Lilith are alone.") (64)
- Arran--The Fey -- The Hunting #13 ("Raven is as fey as Bodie has always supposed, and the human learned to his cost, in the Eyrie of the Gods, that to be a fey can be dangerous indeed. Raven must learn to control his skill, for if he does now, it may well be the end of him. Already the rot has begun...") (74)
- East of Midnight -- The Hunting #14 ("The Power of the touchstone can be used to create or destroy, and when it is used to wreak havoc, its destruction is random and terrible. Bodie and Raven are in the west country when mercenaries strike up out of the south, and a supposedly peaceful assizes session becomes a maelstrom of anguish.") (100)
- Heron Summer -- The Hunting #15 ("For Raphael life has not been the same since the day Kern died -- how could it be? And what of Feyleen? Somehow, Kevin will find a way to manage, caught between them, and in love with both.") (160)
- The Chronology (172)
- The Elven Calendar (173)
from issue #2, map
from issue #2
from issue #2
from issue #2, sample text
from issue #2
from issue #2
from issue #2, Mel Gibson is fan casted
from issue #2, "The Chronology"
References
- ^ from Palely Loitering
- ^ flyer