The Land Within

The Journey of Pearls

HOME     ABOUT ME       MAGICAL REALISM        HISTORICAL FICTION        PICTURE BOOKS      FANTASY

 
 

Oliver shone the light under and over the furniture but they couldn’t see anything other than dust-balls, old wrapping paper, rusty screws and rat droppings. When they began to investigate the other gangway, which was crammed with tables and chairs, the torch beam rested on something lying on the floor – a little mound of fresh earth with the imprint of a trainer.

“They went in here,” he whispered.


Oliver and Terry are at the recycling plant. They have found an entrance to the secret Land Within and now the adventure begins! With them on the journey is the wilful troll-child Fille, and Sabrina who wants her little brother back. And then there is Vollmar who is “of gnome lineage”, should anyone ask.


They meet both good and evil trolls. The witch seems as ordinary as you or me, chatting away on her mobile – at least when she can get satellite cover. And the elves are as mean as they have always been. In other words, this is how things really are in the forest, and a far cry from happy ever after!

 

Rabén&Sjögren 1999

ISBN 978-91-29-66119-4

Legends of changelings are as old as the hills and found in many different versions. Sometimes they are spun into stories like The Changeling by Selma Lagerlöf. The Journey of Pearls is a reversal of that changeling story. It is the little troll Fille who we follow from life in the human world, where he never fitted in, back to Troll Mountain. Sadly he doesn’t fit in there either because he has lived too long among humans.


The Journey of Pearls is about alienation and being unloved. It is not just Fille who is isolated, Oliver’s companion Terry is also looking for someone who cares.

Cover: Alvaro Tapia