Wandering with the Wendigo

Wandering with the Wendigo: North American Mythology in Genre Fiction

by Chantal Boudreau

Have you noticed the prevalence of the wendigo or the Sasquatch in fantasy or horror stories lately?  How about Raven or Coyote? Glooscap? Okay, that last one’s a little obscure if you’re not local. But, North American natives have a vibrant assortment of creatures and gods in their legends and lore, a treasure trove of tales to be tapped for source material to serve as the basis for genre fiction when you tire of zombies, werewolves and vampires, or have had enough of elves, dwarves and dragons.  Some of the more resourceful writers have recognized a means of offering recognizable monsters or heroes that are not the same-old-same-old fare that’s been appearing ad nauseum in typical paranormal stories.

Look up wendigo at Amazon and you’ll find dozens of examples listed as science fiction, fantasy or horror, some of them referring to the Marvel comic book character, but many of them associated with the creature of lore.  While the ideas are not exclusive to one or two writers, they do not flood the market like the thousands of comparable vampire or zombie books.  It’s a horrific concept, a creature that like to feed off of human spirits or flesh that lurks in the wilderness looking for potential prey.  There’s also a psychosis associated with the monster, where people could become possessed by the same evil drive to devour the flesh of others.  It can make for a very chilling story, in any of its various forms.

You’ll also find examples of the sasquatch or “big foot” in anthologies and novels, sometimes stand alone, sometimes mashed with more common horror creatures like zombies, as in Eric Brown’s Bigfoot War series.  Most people are familiar with the legendary beast, thanks to sightings, hoaxes and tabloid features, so why not work them into your story?  They might not be as romantic or sensual as some of the other monsters out there, but they certainly can be frightening and interesting, considering the mystery that surrounds them.

Monsters are not the only part of North American legend that has made an appearance in genre fiction.  Some of the gods of the mythos have been fodder for speculation as well.  Raven and Coyote seem to be the most popular, perhaps because of the appeal of the trickster aspect (something touched on in Neil Gaiman’s popular American Gods), but they are also viewed as creators and are associated with wisdom and humility.  I guess this gives them dual appeal.

The mythical elements that carry over into genre fiction aren’t limited to monsters and gods alone.  Shamanism and natural mysticism can be found there as well, especially in urban fantasy (Phillip Pullman and Charles de Lint come to mind).  I think the notion lends itself more readily to modern sensibilities than the more typical witches and wizards of fantasy. 

I would have to say it is these influences and a desire to incorporate something esoteric and tribal into my dark fantasy novels, The Snowy Barrens Trilogy, that led to elements of North American mythology making up a significant part of my story, morphed in some ways for an even more extreme fantasy component.  It gave the story a distinct flavour and added mystique to the plot.

So the next time you decide you want to read some genre fiction that is both different and yet somehow familiar, consider delving into a novel or short stories based on North American mythology.  Take a little walk on the wild side – wander off with a wendigo.

Chantal Boudreau is an accountant by day and an author/illustrator during evenings and weekends, who lives by the ocean in beautiful Nova Scotia, Canada with her husband and two children. In addition to being a CMA-MBA, she has a BA with a major in English from Dalhousie University. A member of the Horror Writers Association, she writes and illustrates predominantly horror, dark fantasy and fantasy and has had several of her stories published in a variety of horror anthologies, in online journals and magazines and as stand-alone digital shorts.  Fervor, her debut novel, a dystopian science fantasy tale, was released in March of 2011 by May December Publications, followed by its sequel, Elevation in December of 2011.  The third in the series, Transcendence, is planned for release in 2012.  Magic University, the first in her fantasy series, Masters & Renegades, made its appearance in September of 2011 and its sequel, Casualties of War in June of 2012.  The Blood is Strong: The Snowy Barrens Trilogy #1 is her first YA novel.

Links:

Website: http://www.writersownwords.com/chantal_boudreau/

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Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Chantal-Boudreau/e/B004O1FP2E/ref=sr_tc_2_rm?qid=1339427087&sr=8-2-ent

Twitter: @chantellyb13

Scribd.com: http://www.scribd.com/chantal_boudreau

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4446228.Chantal_Boudreau