Revised and specially prepared for the printed page, this pair of talks on the craft of writing will be of interest to writers and readers alike. In “Practicing the Arts of Peace,” Crowley addresses the thorny question of whether “writing our little stories, especially we fantasists and poets,” can serve any real-world utility. His response recounts the evolution of his own work while also serving as a stirring defense of the imaginative arts. 

“The Uses of Allegory,” originally presented at Mythcon 50, rescues this “least loved of all literary forms” with an analysis of its connections to fantasy and science fiction, as well as to mythic and spiritual texts. Topics considered include C.S. Lewis, the Owl of Minerva, the intertwining of ritual and story, and the adventures of a Gnostic spaceman.

52 pages | 4" x 6" | ISBN 979-8-9897603-1-2 (print) | ISBN 979-8-9897603-2-9 (ebook)

Part of the Conway Miscellany Series. Printed in the US on 100% recycled paper.

About the Author

John Crowley is the winner of three World Fantasy Awards—including one for Lifetime Achievement and one for his novel Little, Big—as well as two Mythopoeic Awards. In 1992 he received the literature award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.