The Vine: August 20, 2010
Hi Sars,
I used to have this cassette tape that I listened to a bunch, probably in the early ’90s. It was a story read by a man (I think), that was probably an audio adaptation of a YA book/story. It may have been part of a larger collection of audio stories, but I think this story was pretty long — I remember having to turn the tape over, and possibly even insert a second tape.
I don’t think that the story was a Greek myth, but based on my sketchy memories I feel like it was probably influenced by Greek mythology — it has that “feel” to it. The protagonist was male and he was on some sort of quest. There was drum music, and his quest may have had something to do with drums. I think there was a particular refrain that was repeated a bunch.
The only other detail that I really remember is that he had to go into some spooky caves, and there was some kind of Medusa-like creature that would turn him to stone or kill him if he looked at it, so he had to use the mirror trick. I don’t think it was actually Medusa, but it might have been. I also think that there were snakes. I don’t think they were on the creature’s head like Medusa, but once again, they might have been.
Haven’t thought of this in years, but now that I have, I MUST KNOW
Tags: Ask The Readers popcult
Gary Paulsen did a series of mythology-based YA books called World of Adventure, and the Medusa part of your description makes me think it could be “The Gorgon Slayer”:
http://tiny.cc/guk13
I know this series was available on audiocassette, but I can’t say for sure that there were drums or a refrain in this particular story.
This was my letter. I don’t think that was it – based on the description it sounds like The Gorgon Slayer is set in some kind of real world/mythological world hybrid with some tongue-in-cheek humor going on. I feel like the story I’m remembering was set firmly in a mythological world, with a more serious and kind of dark vibe. Gary Paulsen is awesome, though.
@ Jennifer – I agree with the Paulsen guess; I don’t recognize this particular story, but while I was reading the query the first thought I had was, “sounds like a Gary Paulsen story”.
It probably isn’t the right one, but you reminded me of a tape that my sister had. It was a musical quest called ‘The Hunting of the Snark’ which vanished when they found it.