About this series
Waifs of history put under the Stamp. Fixed imperishable to skivvy forever for the groanhuffs. Scarpered to live wild, fight back, liberate every scruff still in chains.
Orphans, foundlings, latchkey kids...
It's over a century now since the Scruffians nicked the Stamp, done for the last of the Waiftaker Generals, and brung down the whole bleeding Trade. Still, there's cribs being raided & scruffs being scrobbled, which means there's comeuppances called for, innit. So sharpen yer shivs, scamps, and get ready to rumble. It's time for a little old school Halloween fun, on the night when every scruff is hellion and every groanhuff best be scared.
Urchins, changelings, live-by-wits...
Like fugitives from the musical Oliver! by way of Clive Barker, like some queer punk bastard brat born of Neil Gaiman and William Burroughs, the anarchic Scruffians should appeal to readers of dark fantasy with a wicked sense of black humour and a fierce passion for social justice. Ain't no escapism without equality, mate, far as scruffs are concerned, so for those who've lost their spoons to the fuckeries of power and privilege, well, yer new cribmates have spoons to spare, innit. Sharpened to shivs, natch. Wielding whimsy in the service of satire then, with a wink to Peter Pan, a nod to The Borribles, and a salute to Sweeney Todd, this is punk fiction for yer inner feral child.
Rascals, scallywags, ruffians, scamps....
From short stories boiled down to pack the punch of a three-minute garage rock song to sprawling novellas as the pint-sized picaresque adventures of scallywag heroes of yore, here you'll find a panoply of postmodern fabbles ("it's like a fable with a bit of fib and a bit of babble thrown in for fun, innit!") packed full of the profane and the poignant. Offering humour in the face of horror, farcical and slapstick as a Punch and Judy show, solace in the face of sorrow, heartwarming as a locket from a dead mum set in a sniffly orphan's hand at Christmas, these are tales to break yer heart and remake it bigger than ever.
Scoundrels, hellions, Scruffians STAMP!
Whether it's a quiet contemporary fantasy story of gay foster kid runaways drawn into this queer found family or a riotous historical fantasy yarn told by the fabbler of their new crib to "explificate" the Dire Situation of waifs down the centuries scrobbled and Fixed to serve as mill workers, chimney sweeps or worse, every story stands alone, self-reliant as a Whitechapel guttersnipe. Across and between these stories though, in the sneaky hints and clues of a Big Picture, there's shenanigans and malarkey afoot too, for any reader ready to play along and delve ever-deeper into the world of the Scruffians.
Praise for the Scruffians
"The post- post- modern Victorian fables that comprise Hal Duncan's A Scruffian Survival Guide inhabit a unique dark fantasy world – a feral dream. The language is mad genius." — Jeffrey Ford on A Scruffian Survival Guide
"Hal Duncan's cheeky and charming Scruffian stories hide a steely shiv of inspection that digs uncompromisingly into the ribs of the establishment. This latest volume, populated as always with wonderful characters old and new, deepens that exploration and brings it bang up to date. I loved every word of it." — Neil Williamson on A Scruffian Survival Guide
Titles in the series (4)
- A Scruffian Primer: Fabbles, #0
0
Meet the Scruffians, workhouse tykes & street arabs scrobbled by the Waiftaker General, dragged to the Institute & put to the Stamp, Fixed ageless, imperishable... the perfect child labour. Meet the scruffs escaped to live free & fight back: Flashjack & Puckerscruff; Squirlet Nicely & Vermintrude Toerag; Yapper, the Scruffian what speaks Dog; Whelp, the dog Fixed as a scruff; and Rake Jake Scallion, not a scruff, but the finest friend a scruff ever had! Park yer arse, stray, and we'll learn yer the ABCs of being a scruff. We'll learn yer how us Scruffians STAMP! Like fugitives from the musical Oliver! by way of Clive Barker, like some queer punk bastard brat born of Neil Gaiman and William Burroughs, the Scruffians should appeal to readers of dark fantasy with a wicked sense of blackest humour. Wielding whimsy in the service of satire, with a wink to Peter Pan, a nod to The Borribles, and a salute to Sweeney Todd, this is punk fiction for yer inner feral child. * "The post- post- modern Victorian fables that comprise Hal Duncan's A Scruffian Survival Guide inhabit a unique dark fantasy world – a feral dream. The language is mad genius." — Jeffrey Ford on A Scruffian Survival Guide "Hal Duncan's cheeky and charming Scruffian stories hide a steely shiv of inspection that digs uncompromisingly into the ribs of the establishment. This latest volume, populated as always with wonderful characters old and new, deepens that exploration and brings it bang up to date. I loved every word of it." — Neil Williamson on A Scruffian Survival Guide "[A] wickedly entertaining collection of short fiction fantastical and queer in nature... sharp-tongued and a bit dark—I'd even say a little roguish, sometimes—these stories are delightful and provocative, and I'd certainly recommend picking them up for a read." — Tor.com on Scruffians! * NB: The Taking of the Stamp is only available in the print edition of this book or as the standalone ebook novella available from Popcorn Books.
- A Scruffian Feastiary: Fabbles, #1
1
Fixed imperishable by the Stamp, sold as slaves, escaped to run wild, fight dirty and plot revenge, Scruffians might look no more'n filthy guttersnipes, but it's a daft groanhuff who crosses em. From the Children's Crusades to the chimney sweeps of Ripper Vicky's London, from Jack Scallywag to the Beast of Buskerville, Scruffians have learnt the hard way to carry a shiv and mind yer mate's back. We'll learn you too, scamp, with these fabbles of Liberatings and Come-Uppances, carnival carnage and Christmas feasts. So cosy in and grab some grub. It's stew tonight, and if yer finds a finger... that's good luck! Like fugitives from the musical Oliver! by way of Clive Barker, like some queer punk bastard brat born of Neil Gaiman and William Burroughs, the Scruffians should appeal to readers of dark fantasy with a wicked sense of blackest humour. Wielding whimsy in the service of satire, with a wink to Peter Pan, a nod to The Borribles, and a salute to Sweeney Todd, this is punk fiction for yer inner feral child. * "The post- post- modern Victorian fables that comprise Hal Duncan's A Scruffian Survival Guide inhabit a unique dark fantasy world – a feral dream. The language is mad genius." — Jeffrey Ford on A Scruffian Survival Guide "Hal Duncan's cheeky and charming Scruffian stories hide a steely shiv of inspection that digs uncompromisingly into the ribs of the establishment. This latest volume, populated as always with wonderful characters old and new, deepens that exploration and brings it bang up to date. I loved every word of it." — Neil Williamson on A Scruffian Survival Guide "[A] wickedly entertaining collection of short fiction fantastical and queer in nature... sharp-tongued and a bit dark—I'd even say a little roguish, sometimes—these stories are delightful and provocative, and I'd certainly recommend picking them up for a read." — Tor.com on Scruffians!
- A Scruffian Survival Guide: Fabbles, #2
2
Urchins scrobbled down the centuries from yer poor and persecuted. Foundlings Fixed in imperishable waifhood by the Stamp & sold to rich groanhuffs as child labour. Hellions with spirits as resilient as their flesh, less like to cower from a kick than nick yer boot, hamstring yer and fuckin leg it. That's what it is to be a Scruffian, mate, and there ain't a rhyme sung or tale told in a Scruffian squat that ain't, at the end of the day, out to learn yer how to survive. So cosy in, scamps, quit yer fidgeting, and hark to the fabbler of this here crib... Like fugitives from the musical Oliver! by way of Clive Barker, like some queer punk bastard brat born of Neil Gaiman and William Burroughs, the Scruffians should appeal to readers of dark fantasy with a wicked sense of blackest humour. Wielding whimsy in the service of satire, with a wink to Peter Pan, a nod to The Borribles, and a salute to Sweeney Todd, this is punk fiction for yer inner feral child. * "The post- post- modern Victorian fables that comprise Hal Duncan's A Scruffian Survival Guide inhabit a unique dark fantasy world – a feral dream. The language is mad genius." — Jeffrey Ford on A Scruffian Survival Guide "Hal Duncan's cheeky and charming Scruffian stories hide a steely shiv of inspection that digs uncompromisingly into the ribs of the establishment. This latest volume, populated as always with wonderful characters old and new, deepens that exploration and brings it bang up to date. I loved every word of it." — Neil Williamson on A Scruffian Survival Guide "[A] wickedly entertaining collection of short fiction fantastical and queer in nature... sharp-tongued and a bit dark—I'd even say a little roguish, sometimes—these stories are delightful and provocative, and I'd certainly recommend picking them up for a read." — Tor.com on Scruffians!
- A Scruffian Funferal: Fabbles, #3
3
Waifs of history put under the Stamp. Fixed imperishable to skivvy forever for the groanhuffs. Scarpered to live wild, fight back, liberate every scruff still in chains. Orphans, foundlings, latchkey kids... It's over a century now since the Scruffians nicked the Stamp, done for the last of the Waiftaker Generals, and brung down the whole bleeding Trade. Still, there's cribs being raided & scruffs being scrobbled, which means there's comeuppances called for, innit. So sharpen yer shivs, scamps, and get ready to rumble. It's time for a little old school Halloween fun, on the night when every scruff is hellion and every groanhuff best be scared. Urchins, changelings, live-by-wits... Like fugitives from the musical Oliver! by way of Clive Barker, like some queer punk bastard brat born of Neil Gaiman and William Burroughs, the anarchic Scruffians should appeal to readers of dark fantasy with a wicked sense of black humour and a fierce passion for social justice. Ain't no escapism without equality, mate, far as scruffs are concerned, so for those who've lost their spoons to the fuckeries of power and privilege, well, yer new cribmates have spoons to spare, innit. Sharpened to shivs, natch. Wielding whimsy in the service of satire then, with a wink to Peter Pan, a nod to The Borribles, and a salute to Sweeney Todd, this is punk fiction for yer inner feral child. Rascals, scallywags, ruffians, scamps.... From short stories boiled down to pack the punch of a three-minute garage rock song to sprawling novellas as the pint-sized picaresque adventures of scallywag heroes of yore, here you'll find a panoply of postmodern fabbles ("it's like a fable with a bit of fib and a bit of babble thrown in for fun, innit!") packed full of the profane and the poignant. Offering humour in the face of horror, farcical and slapstick as a Punch and Judy show, solace in the face of sorrow, heartwarming as a locket from a dead mum set in a sniffly orphan's hand at Christmas, these are tales to break yer heart and remake it bigger than ever. Scoundrels, hellions, Scruffians STAMP! Whether it's a quiet contemporary fantasy story of gay foster kid runaways drawn into this queer found family or a riotous historical fantasy yarn told by the fabbler of their new crib to "explificate" the Dire Situation of waifs down the centuries scrobbled and Fixed to serve as mill workers, chimney sweeps or worse, every story stands alone, self-reliant as a Whitechapel guttersnipe. Across and between these stories though, in the sneaky hints and clues of a Big Picture, there's shenanigans and malarkey afoot too, for any reader ready to play along and delve ever-deeper into the world of the Scruffians. Praise for the Scruffians "The post- post- modern Victorian fables that comprise Hal Duncan's A Scruffian Survival Guide inhabit a unique dark fantasy world – a feral dream. The language is mad genius." — Jeffrey Ford on A Scruffian Survival Guide "Hal Duncan's cheeky and charming Scruffian stories hide a steely shiv of inspection that digs uncompromisingly into the ribs of the establishment. This latest volume, populated as always with wonderful characters old and new, deepens that exploration and brings it bang up to date. I loved every word of it." — Neil Williamson on A Scruffian Survival Guide
Hal Duncan
Hal Duncan is the author of VELLUM and INK, more recently TESTAMENT, and numerous short stories, poems, essays, even some musicals. Homophobic hatemail once dubbed him "THE.... Sodomite Hal Duncan!!" (sic), and you can find him online at http://www.halduncan.com or at his Patreon for readings, revelling in that role.
Related to Fabbles
Related ebooks
Styx & Stone #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings10th use: Giant Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelightful Questions for Children Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFlying Saucers Vs. the Earth #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVincent Price Presents #31 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRookie Rescuer: Learning about God and 'First Responder' Work through Real Calls! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegend of Isis: The First Flight of Horus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJudo Girl: Silencer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhitetail Deer Facts and Strategies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJeremiah's Path to Confirmation: And his Pocketbook of seven, nine plus three Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTom Corbett: Space Cadet: Classic Edition #8 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhispers From The Word Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMisadventures of Adam West #10: Volume 2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLogan's Run: Aftermath Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings15 Minutes: Kim Kardashian Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBruce the Fire Dog and His North Pole Friends Say Hello Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTony & Cleo: Beginnings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGrit Book I: The Voices You Form Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFemale Force: Sarah Palin #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Adventures of Eli and Jake Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlackbeard Legacy #0 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGlobo Arte March 2022 magazine Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlackbeard Legacy Gallery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChildren's Ten Commandments Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsConfessions for the Narrow Road: It's Within You! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMy Sonoma - Valley of the Moon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVincent Price Presents: Tales from the Darkness #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFemale Force: Gabrielle Giffords Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe First Extraterrestrial Signal: The Global Reaction to the Signal from the Outer Space Aliens Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Fantasy For You
The Priory of the Orange Tree Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tress of the Emerald Sea: Secret Projects, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Silmarillion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Stories of Ray Bradbury Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Piranesi Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This Is How You Lose the Time War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Picture of Dorian Gray (The Original 1890 Uncensored Edition + The Expanded and Revised 1891 Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fellowship Of The Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Pirate Lord: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The City of Dreaming Books Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Talisman: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Phantom Tollbooth Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Empire: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Desert: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Don Quixote: [Complete & Illustrated] Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Immortal Longings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wizard's First Rule Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fairy Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Underworld: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Warrior of the Light: A Manual Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Titus Groan Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Eyes of the Dragon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nettle & Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Fabbles
0 ratings0 reviews