Of the Thing that is Neither God nor Beast
A prophet named Yadin embarks on a quest for wisdom, driven by a sense of futility in the pursuit of happiness and knowledge. He travels to Bodraháhn, where he prays to Hoodrazai, questioning the nature of the gods and their indifference towards humanity. His prayer is carried by the wind, leading him to encounter three flamingoes that symbolize freedom and the allure of the South. As he follows the flamingoes, he experiences a transcendent journey above the Earth, witnessing the beauty of landscapes and the call of the South. However, he soon realizes that these birds are not of this world but messengers of Hoodrazai, guiding him beyond the known realms to the Rim of the Worlds. There, he meets Trogool, a mysterious entity that exists outside the dichotomy of god and beast, who is tasked with turning the pages of a cosmic book that records all existence. Trogool's actions dictate the cycle of day and night, and the prophet learns that everything that has been and will be is inscribed within this book. Yadin, confronted with the inevitability of fate and the finality of existence, pleads with Trogool to reverse the turning of the pages, to bring back the names of those lost to time. Trogool, however, reveals the futility of such a request, emphasizing that the past cannot be altered. Ultimately, Yadin finds himself back in the desert, where he is rescued and taken to Bodraháhn. The locals debate whether his experiences were a dream or reality, but some believe in the existence of Trogool, the entity that governs the fate of all beings through the unchangeable pages of its book. The narrative explores themes of destiny, the nature of divinity, and the human longing for understanding in a universe governed by forces beyond comprehension.
By Lord Dunsany · First published 1917 · Genre: Fantasy, Philosophical Fiction, Mythopoeia · 1,076 words
First lines
Seeing that wisdom is not in cities nor happiness in wisdom, and because Yadin the prophet was doomed by the gods ere he was born to go in search of wisdom, he followed the caravans to Bodraháhn. There in the evening, where the camels rest, when the wind of the day ebbs out into the desert sighing amid the palms its last farewells and leaving the caravans still, he sent his prayer with the wind to drift into the desert calling to Hoodrazai.
And down the wind his prayer went calling: "Why do the gods endure, and play their game with men? Why doth not Skarl forsake his drumming, and Māna cease to rest? " and the echo of seven deserts answered: "Who knows? Who knows?"
What this Textopian page supports
Of the Thing that is Neither God nor Beast is listed on Textopian as a short story by Lord Dunsany, dated 1917 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Lord Dunsany
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Philosophical Fiction, Mythopoeia, Speculative Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 1,076 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative features mythical elements, gods, and a surreal journey through otherworldly realms.
- Philosophical Fiction — The text explores deep existential themes regarding the nature of existence, wisdom, and the divine.
- Mythopoeia — The story constructs a mythological framework with its own gods and cosmology, characteristic of mythopoeic literature.
- Speculative Fiction — The work speculates on the nature of reality and existence beyond the known world.
Tags
Fantasy · Philosophy · Mythology · Symbolism · Allegory · Fable · Mystery · Speculative Fiction · Literary Fiction · Short Story Collection · Anthropomorphic Animals · Cosmogony