John the Balladeer

In John the Balladeer, the late Manly Wade Wellman gave us one of the most original characters in fantasy literature - a singer who, wandering through the backwoods of Appalachia, battles supernatural evil with his silver-strung guitar and the magic of his voice.

John first appeared in Wellman's stories in the 1950s, stories steeped in the folklore of the Southern mountains. Now for the first time ever, all 17 of the John the Balladeer stories, plus two sets of shorter vignettes, are collected together in their original, unaltered versions.

…

Here are the hoodoo men and witch-women who dwell in the back hills of North Carolina, strange supernatural beasts, malevolent spirits and even George Washington's ghost. Knowledgeable in the secrets of magic as well as the folkways of the people he meets, John the Balladeer faces these creatures with down-home charm and a brand of resourcefulness distinctly his own.

2 editions

Paperback, 320 pages

English language

Published by Baen Books.

ISBN:: 978-0-671-65418-4
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Subjects

Fantasy - General
Science Fiction - General
Fiction / Science Fiction / General
American Science Fiction And Fantasy
Fiction
Fiction - Fantasy
Fantasy

Reviews

Roy Adams reviewed John the Balladeer by Manly Wade Wellman

Appalachian tales with some magic

No rating

Interesting tales of Appalachian folk tales and life from the perspective of traveling balladeer John with the silver stringed guitar. The stories were written in the y1950s so to me there is an interesting blend old ways (John walks on his travels) and more modern life (automobiles, railroad and even planes).

Roy Adams reviewed John the Balladeer by Manly Wade Wellman

Good stories

5 stars

Interesting tales of Appalachian folk tales and life from the perspective of traveling balladeer John with the silver stringed guitar. The stories were written in the 1950s so to me there is an interesting blend old ways (John walks on his travels) and more modern life (automobiles, railroad and even planes).