Can someone write a novel based on Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Phoenix Rising	12 Mar 2004
How many writers out there, have considered writing a book based on a tarot reader, in a novel form? I would definitely buy it. I've often searched the library hoping to find a good story on a tarot reader etc, trials and tribulations etc etc, you know...a good mystery novel or crime one, so many categories. Or does anyone know of a story like that?

Moonbow*	12 Mar 2004
Hi Lucille Have you read Mercenary30's story in Games and Fun? It starts here: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22133 There are now three parts so you have a bit of reading to do but it's worth it (don't tell I said that though, he's already difficult to control!!!) Moonbow*

RiccardoLS	12 Mar 2004
You should look on the "Il Castello dei Destini Incrociati" by Italo Calvino. (sorry, I don't know the English name). Riccardo

laura_borealis	12 Mar 2004
The plot of Emma Bull's Bone Dance follows a spread that is thrown by one of the characters at the beginning of the story. The reader isn't the central character, but she is an important one. Good book, I recommend it especially if you like sci-fi/fantasy.

Astra	12 Mar 2004
Some years ago Piers Anthony (of the Xanth books) wrote a Tarot based fantasy trilogy, whose titles escape me at the moment. I suspect if you check Amazon used books or www.alibris.com you can find copies fairly easily. Very dark, and very much "early" works for him - the plotting is kind of thin, but there are some interesting concepts there, or were to me as a very new Tarot reader. Don't think I'd go back for a reread now, though.

Tarotmyst	12 Mar 2004
The book by Italo Calvino is called 'The Castle of Crossed Destinies' in english. A group of travellers find themselves in a tavern without the power of speech and use a deck of tarot cards to communicate their tales to each other. I've recently started reading it and it is definitely interesting to see his interpretations of the cards.

Dark_angel	12 Mar 2004
The 'Chronicles of Amber' by Roger Zelazny has at its core a family who communicate via the trump cards in their tarot decks (it's a lot more complicated and beautiful than that, though). It's quite a political fantasy novel, and has its own tarot deck! (and merc's story is really very good! Go read it if you haven't already. :) )

Alissa	12 Mar 2004
The Piers Anthony books I happen to be reading right now, on courteous loan from AT's own mercenary30. The first is called God of Tarot, the second Vision of Tarot, the last Faith of Tarot. Anthony's outlook and sci fi playing with basic Tarot concepts (Tree of Life, other things) is really fun, extremely creative. I believe I am to send the books to luna after I've finished them. The lending library here is getting busier, isn't it? I have a trilogy in mind that I'd like to write someday... it centers around a tarot pack of cards, a deck from 16th cent. Italy. The first book shows the deck's origination (birth) and is used, scandoalously, by a monk in n. italy, who is excommunicated for his beliefs. The second book follows the deck as it is traded from hand to hand, until the 17th cent., where we see it again in France, in the hands of a Romany traveling family/caravan. I haven't decided where to set the last one, but I do know how the deck "dies." I've always been intrigued with writing the lives of inanimate objects - a tribute to Robbins' adventuresome Spoon ('Skinny Legs and All').

mercenary30	12 Mar 2004
(((((((Moonbow*))))))) (((((((Dark Angel))))))) Hard to control? You all can do that easily. As I know you have all seen the Strength card, I am the lion, and you are the person on the card...... Gee, I am under their control and they don't even know it. (((((((Alissa))))))) you get this one just because...... :)

Moonbow*	12 Mar 2004
Merc - your such a womaniser!!!! ;)

Bean Feasa	12 Mar 2004
Hi Lucille, Welcome to Aeclectic - it's nice to meet you. Others have already made lots of good suggestions - I'll just add 'the Wishing Garden' by Christy Yorke. It's a pleasant read, light but well-written - a Tarot reader comes back to stay with her parents because her father is dying of cancer. Lots of unresolved childhood/family issues come up and meanwhile her father, an avid gardener has commissioned a very enigmatic carpenter to make a special bench for his garden... I haven't finished yet, but so far, I'd recommend it. blessings, Kate

tmgrl2	12 Mar 2004
Ditto, Moonbow...Merc can be very bad...but what would we do without him....Ditto on all above about his story. Read all three threads! (Merc'savatar should be the }) he has to use it so much.... Merc...heard you say you can access us at work?! Lucky you! When I'm at school and even type in the word "tarot" it comes up : "That material contains offensive words and cannot be accessed." So much for Tarot and children. I actually got interested in Tarot because I read (among many others) John Sandford's books. He wrote the Prey series...but he also has a series of books with Kidd as a character. Kidd lives on the fringes of society making his money somewhat less than "legally" using all kinds of special computer skills and his own brand of skullduggery. His sidekick is a "burglar" who only does "second story " jobs for "cash only." They are loveable characters and always take jobs that let them act as Robin Hoods...but, to get back to the point, Kidd always has his old Tarot deck with him during situations. His sidekick totally believes in the cards when Kidd does a reading. Kidd makes light of her belief in the cards as a form of divination about their situation. He uses them to "see the situation they are from a different aspect."\ The cards guide him toward different directions...and, of course, later, there is always some "truth" in retrospect about the cards he drew. This literally fascinated me. Last year, when I watched Carnivale, I felt they used the cards in such a "dark" fashion so I became even more curious....and here I am i my new "reality of Tarot" because of "fiction" about Tarot. terri

lunalafey	12 Mar 2004
would a book about myself count??? I have had some major experiences in my life {would have happened even if I did not read}- and tarot becomes a BIG part of it. Like the time I lost my one and only deck for a year. That was a place I was not supposed to live in. or the time I read for a friend and when I got to the KoP, the 'subtitle' of the card was the title of the song that started to in the background- and it was the story of this 'king'- so we just sat and listened to the song......

HudsonGray	12 Mar 2004
There's the Ivory Chronicles by Doris Egan, also. It's a tarot deck that the main character uses, but the cards are labeled more like an oracle. They're science fiction stories. There's a whole list of books that use tarot as plot development (The Labyrinth Gate was one of my favorites) and as the main focus of the story as well. BTW, have you been over to Tarot Totes? They used to have a book section as well as a movie section that tarot showed up in. http://www.tarottotes.com/item.asp?IID=42

Star Spirit	12 Mar 2004
That's an interesting idea, indeed. My first novel has a tarot reader incorporated into it. She's not the main character, but it will play a big part in the overall storyline. That's all I'm giving away :D

Phoenix Rising	12 Mar 2004
thanks guys for all of your book suggestions. Deadstar what is the name of your book? And good on you Alissa for writing as well. Why doesn't somebody also write a book about there own life journey with the tarot?

SongDeva	12 Mar 2004
There are 3 murder mysteries with a wiccan named Bast as the detective, by Rosemary Edghill (it's new and I'm reading it now) but the 3=book compilation is called Bell, Book and Murder. All three mysteries are there, one is called "Speak Daggers to her". ISBN: 0312867689 There has been at least mention of Tarot in it. I got it on bookcloseouts.com for like 4.79 (slight discount off usuall 5.99 cause my copy was dented. :) ) Did a search on Tarot and came up with this one. ***Update on Bast: there is at least a 4th novel, and she does at least one reading in at lease the first two. The confusing reading is part of the plot in #2, "Book of Moons". Also, just ordered "The Tarot Murders" by Mignon Warner. Will let you know how it is. I paid .01 cents on Amazon for this. Finally, a book called "Circle of Five" just started off a new mystery series about a group (almost a coven but not really? ) of wiccans, each with a different talent. One is an herbalist, one uses tarot (and cooks gourmet food). I thought it was pretty good actually. Author is Dolores Stewart Riccio. She's local to me, and so is the setting - Plymouth MA. **Update: the second book in this series, "Charmed Circle" is out. She also wrote a book w/an interested plot description, called "Spirit," not part of this series. I'm a BIG mystery buff!!

tmgrl2	12 Mar 2004
Thank you all...saved the website...Hudson, how far along is the book? Luna, from what I have read so far, you could just take all your great postings, get a good editor and go for it! t2

laura_borealis	12 Mar 2004
I'm working on a novel, too (I call it not writing a novel, though, because I get blocked and bogged down all the time... I think about it more than I write) anyway, tarot is part of it, though I keep changing my mind about it. The flaky character was going to be a reader, then the main character's grandmother, and now I think her older friend/mentor/father figure. But it will change again I'm sure... :P

lunalafey	12 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by tmgrl2 Luna, from what I have read so far, you could just take all your great postings, get a good editor and go for it! AAhhh, but the real-life stuff I have been trough is way better- my life involves many mystical twists - as well as two popular themes, love & murder.

SongDeva	12 Mar 2004
The list is not actually on tarot totes, although they link to it. It's a personal page by Nina Lee braden, and she's really worked hard at it. Nina, if you read this, way to go! http://www.geocities.com/~ninalee/tarot/tarlit.htm It's categorized by lots of tarot, slight tarot mention, no tarot though you might be led to believe it has som (red herrings) etc, personal favorites, has literary merit, etc.

tmgrl2	12 Mar 2004
Now I am intrigued...will you tell us more? What is fiction and what is real? When I think on my own life....oh my.... but I would not change a mote of it....I'm still in the RCircle, contemplating that dream....t

lunalafey	12 Mar 2004
everything that is in the story will be things that really happened but the story will become fiction because names and dates will be changed. but all of it will be about life~ the good and the bad, the awsome & the awful, the ugly {very ugly at times} and the beautiful, Love-Hate life and death.... some of the mystical deals with tarot- some with angels/guides/ghosts psychic lightning bolts & a chain of coincidences & faith in fate.

Star Spirit	13 Mar 2004
Lunalafey--that sounds very interesting. I someday plan to write my own non-fiction novel as well, and I know it will be a tough process, so I admire you for taking on all that work! Quote: Deadstar what is the name of your book? Well...I guess I could tell you :D It was just recently named, and actually just recently rewritten, as I started this novel when I was 15 but lost the first few chapters I had written on a destroyed floppy. I learned my lesson. I remembered it well though so it's no trouble rewriting and making it better. I just officially titled it, "A Rose By Any Other Name". I'm not a huge Shakespeare fan, but this quote popped into my head and it was a total lightbulb moment because it fits the storyline so perfectly I was just amazed to have thought of it. I can't say more though, as it would ruin it :D I hope to have it published in a few years when I'm finished so I'll let y'all know :)

Alissa	13 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Lucille Why doesn't somebody also write a book about there own life journey with the tarot? I know of another excellent manuscript that tackles just this subject, but as of yet, it is not yet published. It was an excellent read, and I think other readers would enjoy it, and benefit from reading it, immensely.

The Can someone write a novel based on Tarot thread was originally posted on 12 Mar 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.