Post #139351

2026-01-16 22:56 UTC

A challenge for bookworms of the Fedi: I remember reading a book, about thirty years ago, which was as far as I recall a sword-&-sorcery type fantasy novel in which the main character was a man who had as companion and familiar, a raven. Now, this would have passed uncommented on, except that at about the time I was reading the book, I met a raven at a bird sanctuary, and it was enormous! I've a vague desire to read the book again, and I can't remember the title, the author, or even the character's name. Not even the raven's name. Does it ring any bells? Boosts welcome, if you are happy to do so! #AmReading (I wish!) #FantasyReads

Replies (14)

@virtuosew@mathstodon.xyz 2026-01-18 00:48

Further details, from my mother who also read the book at the time: "I remember he was alone as he approached those enormous highly carved gates. The carvings told the story of the city or the land. The soldiers of the winning side were, of course, well disciplined, physically and mentally. In a sequel, some of the soldiers of the losing side sought to emulate these behaviours and would defer to victors, not through fear but through admiration and respect. There was some magic in the books as well." Does that help anyone? #FantasyReads

Open ##1626628
@Bodling@deacon.social 2026-01-16 23:01

@virtuosew #Librarians #Libraries

Open ##1626629
@dandrumheller@mstdn.social 2026-01-16 23:07

@virtuosew don't know the book, but hoping someone here does as I'm interested in reading it!

Open ##1626630
@josgeluk@mastodon.nl 2026-01-16 23:09

@virtuosew why don't you ask this on https://scifi.stackexchange.com, assuming it was a fantasy story. The people there are friendly and able to identify the most obscure stories.

Open ##1626632
@david_bardos@mementomori.social 2026-01-16 23:16

@virtuosew Makes me remember to Ursula K. LeGuin's "A Wizard of Earthsea". The headmaster of the wizard school, Nemmerle, had wise old giant raven as his pet / familiar / animal companion. The programming language "Nemerle" has a raven in its logo referencig to the archmage.

Open ##1626634
@dougmerritt@mathstodon.xyz 2026-01-16 23:38

@virtuosew Famous these days due to conversion to tv show: Neil Gaiman's Sandman had Matthew the Raven accompanying the Sandman. Similar to Zelazny in feel: Poul Anderson (*): Huginn and Muninn with raven guide/companion in "The Sorrow of Odin the Goth" (1961); "The Broken Sword"" (1954); "The Tale of Hauk" (1950s); "The Visitor" (1963). (*) I met Poul Anderson, and his wife Karen, repeatedly at the Contact conference. Nice people to chat with, back in the day. Avram Davidson: "The Man Who Collected the First of September" (1973); "The Lord of Central Park" (1970); "The Enchanted Gryphon" (1962); "The Phoenix and the Mirror" (1969). If you recall further details it would help figure out which of the many raven-companion stories it was.

Open ##1626637
@benchessell@theforkiverse.com 2026-01-16 23:47

@virtuosew There are obviously a bunch of ravens in the GRRM books but also, in the excellent 'A Wizard of Earthsea' the Archmage Nemmerle has a large white raven as his familiar. But he's not the protagonist.

Open ##1626641
@delanthear@mastodon.me.uk 2026-01-16 23:55

@virtuosew I can't answer the question but the whole 'enormous bird' thing resonates! I first saw a Raven in the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland last year and I was stunned at how big it was. #bigbird

Open ##1626644
@annemartine@mastodon.social 2026-01-17 02:45

@virtuosew your question does make me think of this childrens book https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krabat_(novel)

Open ##1626648
@MissTR1@theforkiverse.com 2026-01-17 04:57

@virtuosew I don't know the book you're asking about but I understand your plight. I'm still trying to remember the name of a book I read about thirty years ago as well... Also fantasy, a YA novel, about a girl who gets caught up in a society of dragons and learns of their unique governing system. It's a system based on skill; the dragons have to compete in games/challenges and are ranked King, Queen, etc. to determine their position in the government.

Open ##1626666
@robtherunt@cupoftea.social 2026-01-17 09:04

@virtuosew I can’t help with the book search unfortunately (beyond boosting), but yes, ravens are well big!!

Open ##1626674
@anne_twain@theblower.au 2026-01-17 11:48

@virtuosew I thought every fantasy novel had a raven in it.

Open ##1626678
@courtcan@mastodon.social 2026-01-17 16:18

@virtuosew I'm wondering if it was a character in Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber? But I haven't read that series in 30 years myself, so can't recall clearly. Jennifer Roberson's Cheysuli series centers on shapeshifter humans with animal familiars. One of the books is called "Flight of the Raven." But I don't remember details of that either!

Open ##1626680
@mediaevalfishsandwich@zeroes.ca 2026-01-25 23:18

@virtuosew Any luck yet?

Open ##1626687