Susan Cooper: Fantasy and Literature; Unriddling the World

SARAH MINK

Susan Cooper is the author of more than twenty books as well as plays, screenplays and poetry. She was born in Buckinghamshire, England, and went to Oxford where she studied under the great fantasy writers J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis. She began writing as a reporter for London’s Sunday Times, where she worked under James Bond creator, Ian Fleming. She is best known for the books in the Dark is Rising series, which have received many literary awards since their publication in 1976. She now lives and writes by the sea in Massachusetts and comes to Cambridge to speak at forums.

The presentation by Susan Cooper and open discussion were the second of a two-part program presented by the Cambridge Forum, and were recorded for publication on NPR. The author’s talk was preceded by a musical introduction from two members of Revels (a Christmastime celebration that began in Cambridge). The songs correlated with the theme of the night: ‘Unriddling the world.’ While the songs were intriguing, the audience came to hear the author speak. For this reason, many felt that the singing went on a little too long. Not to mention, audience participation in the songs ruined any possible enjoyment. After the disturbingly off-key audience sing-a-long, Susan Cooper finally took the podium.

A very dignified woman, Cooper wore a large sparkling purple necklace that might have been classified as ‘bling.’ It immediately grabbed the audience’s attention. The necklace seemed as though it could have come from one of the author’s fantasy worlds as it had an ethereal-like quality. She spoke deliberately, and the audience listened attentively to each word.

According to Cooper, humans have invented stories to make sense of the world throughout time. These stories take the form of creation myths and legends that explain the way the world works. She says that there are five myths that we try to ‘unriddle’: life, death, time, good and evil. These five myths are all present in Cooper’s stories, especially good and evil. However, her view on modern culture is somewhat cynical: people prefer facts to metaphors, and they have come to think that technology and science will explain all of life’s riddles. People generally are so rooted in linear time that they repel all fantasy in general.

Cooper’s theory involves her target audience. Her stories are not written specifically for children, she says, but publishers have put her books on the children’s lists because adults do not appreciate fantasy to its fullest. She says that children (specifically pre-adolescent) are more engrossed in the story, and allow themselves to be enveloped in the world of fantasy. This is because children are still looking to unriddle the five myths and feel scientific explanations leave much unanswered. Adults, however, are hardened by their experience in the real world and are less open to the mystical goings-on of the genre.

Mystical stories are more relevant to real-life than one would think. Cooper says that, in her books, the fictional quests to differentiate between good and evil often end up being accidental metaphors for the quest for adulthood and the struggles it entails. She says she “teaches without intending to.” Put simply, sex takes over the imagination beginning in adolescence because the quest of good versus evil is no longer as interesting to readers, or it isn’t relevant to their lives. In no way does she regret the toll growing-up takes on her readership. In fact, Cooper proudly shares letters she has received from young readers. She also talks about how adults have shared how much the books meant to them when they were young.

However, Susan Cooper’s ideas don’t merely pertain to the younger generation’s issues. After discussing the impact of modern religion on the acceptance of her stories, Cooper stated, “I am a storyteller. I tell stories to unriddle the world.” She ended with talking about 9/11 and related it to fantasy world, where good triumphs over evil, “But in real life, things go on, and on, and on.” It is not as simple as us and them, the line is fuzzy. Yet, at times, Coopers’ books do not embody her characterization of fantasy, but rather the real world, something she is the first to acknowledge. When a white horseman comes to save the day from a black horseman, it turns out the white one is questionably evil as well, blurring the lines of morality.

Cooper was a riveting speaker and it is obvious she has a great deal of knowledge about the fantasy genre. She lacks modesty to a point, which is surprising, but mostly because in this day we are not used to confident, smart women who are not afraid to speak boldly about the world. Cooper’s confidence is deserved, as she is a leader in her genre and an excellent (and very quotable) speaker.

* The discussion and presentation were presented by the Cambridge Forum, which organizes many such readings around the city for the benefit of the public. Every day, there are book readings, art openings, speakers and film screenings all over the city. I think students (and adults) should take advantage of the intellectual community we live in, especially before we leave the area for college. Good places to find listings:

1. The Improper Bostonian
   
2. The Boston Globe/http://www.boston.com/ae/books/
   
3. The Boston Pheonix/http://72.166.46.24//boston/arts/books/