Caverns of Magic [Paperback]

Hal G.P. Colebatch (Author), Harry Butler (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 2006

As a boy, Hal Colebatch began a love affair with caves through Naturalist Club excursions to limestone and sea-caves in Western Australia. In maturity he continued with speleological journeys in the south-west. His passion is eruditely expressed in this book as he explains part of the relationship of humans and caves in fiction and literature. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. From the Foreword by naturalist Harry Butler The fascination of caves says something about the human appetite for wonder, for mystery and majesty. From grunting cavemen to menancing goblins, caves have played a role in human culture and story-telling. They provide a glittering backdrop to the tales of King Arthur and a depository for legendary treasure hoards from the Norse sagas through H.Rider Haggard to J.R.R. Tolkein. The modern-day speleologist is a romantic, seeking out darkness, discomfort and some danger to find a strange beauty and wonderment. Generally without applause, acclaim or publicity, they seek to touch certain ancient wellsprings of myth, beauty and mystery. Speleology tends to bridge the gap between the so-called two cultures of science and art. To be a speleologist, one needs to be at least a slightly special type of person. Author blurb Hal G.P. Colebatch is a well-known Australian poet and writer. His book Blair's Britain was selected as a Book of the Year by the London Spectator in 1999, and in 2003 he received an Australian Centenary Medal for services to Writing, Poetry, Law, and Political Commentary. While working as a reporter for The West Australian newspaper he was involved in the discovery of several kilometres of extensions to Easter Cave in the south-west of Western Australia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Cybereditions Corporation (April 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1877275018
• ISBN-13: 978-1877275012
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,853,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it!, July 25, 2006

By 

Kevin Dunn (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caverns of Magic (Paperback)

I greatly enjoyed this book which taught me a lot about both caves and mythology. It is written in a delightful, humorous and literate style and gradually casts a spell on one. I will never think of caves the same way again - the author shows how they are full of wonders and magic.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, educational and evocative!, July 4, 2006

By 

Susan Norton (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caverns of Magic (Paperback)

Well-known author Dr Hal G. P. Colebatch gives us a fascinating literary tour through the great stories of caves, covering the ancient myths and legends of dwarves, kolbolds and trolls in the Underworld as well great caves scenes in adventure novels and some scientific anthropoloyy and speleology, all written in a clear style and with many touches of humor. As well as scientific and literary information, Colebatch can evoke the magic of the underground, of faerie and the Celtic, Norse, Teutonic and classical myths.

The distinguished Australian naturalist and television star Harry Butler provides a foreword.

I would recommend this book for many reasons. It is fun, educational and a delight to read. Parents will also find it an excellent way to introduce their children to some of the great classics of adventure writing, such as "King Solomon's Mines,", "She," "The Coral Island", "The Swiss Family Robinson," and more modern works like "The Inheriors" and "The Clan of the Cave Bear," and the lovers of the great works of J. R. R. Tolkien, "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" the works of c. S. Lewis and Count Tolstoy's modern masterrpiece about Merlin, "The Coming of the King" may find their appreciation of these mighty tales enhanced (Many of Colebatch's own stories in the science-fiction series "The Man-Kzin Wars) also take place in caves).

For the tourist, it also gives a guide to many of the great and spectacular caves of the world.

There is also some information on cave conservation, and a strange true story about some great caves north of Perth, Western Australia - said to be among the greatest and most spectacular in the world - which were found and explored early in the last century, but whose entrances have now apparently disappeared under shifting sands.

For anyone who has an interest in the underground, this book will prove a delight and a treasure. Dr Colebatch was awarded an Australian Centenary Medal in 2003 for writing and this book must add to his reputation.