I Might Believe in Faeries

15/09/2024

Christopher Tompkins (Darkly Bright Press) returns to the show to discuss Arthur Machen's literary theories.

We discuss Machen's book, Hieroglyphics, what he means by ecstasy, and whether Jane Austen is Fine Literature or not (according to Machen - don't cancel me!).

However, he may have a point.

Listen to Aaron Irber's I Might Believe in Faeries podcast on Apple Podcasts.

19/08/2024

Good Morning!

The IMBIF book club discussion of A Canticle for Leibowitz is scheduled to take place this Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 09:30 AM Central Time.

Participants need to be paid subscribers on my substack (unless you really, really, want to join, can't afford the monthly rate, then DM me).

As always, the episode will be free for anyone who wants to listen when it comes out at the end of August.

Writings from fairyland Myth, folklore, fiction, Catholicism. Click to read I Might Believe in Faeries, by Aaron Irber, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

16/08/2024

That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis

Andrew Snyder returns to the show to discuss the final book in The Ransom Trilogy by C. S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength!

‎Show I Might Believe in Faeries, Ep That Hideous Strength (fr. Andrew Snyder) - Aug 15, 2024

15/07/2024

Andrew Snyder and I continue our discussion of C. S. Lewis’ Ransom Trilogy on this new episode of IMBIF!

Perelandra is book two of the trilogy and it is one of my favorite books of all time.

Check it out:

‎Fiction · 2024

29/06/2024

It might be now considered cliche, but John Carter and Dejah Thoris' love for one another is quite moving.

They desire one another, not only for their beauty, but for the fact that they equal each other in virtue. Both are courageous, but in ways specific to their sexes. John's strength does not always win out and Dejah is fearless in the face of imminent death, or worse.

The thing to remember is that the love between a man and a woman is always relevant and resonates with readers no matter the time period.

"I can see her shining in the sky through the little window by my desk, and tonight she seems calling to me again as she has not called before since that long dead night, and I think I can see, across that awful abyss of space, a beautiful black-haired woman standing in the garden of a palace, and at her side is a little boy who puts his arm around her as she points into the sky toward the planet Earth, while at their feet is a huge and hideous creature with a heart of gold.

I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something tells me that I shall soon know."

- A Princess of Mars

24/06/2024

"The creature was considerably less than half as tall as the green Martian warriors, and from my balcony I could see that it walked erect on two legs and surmised that it was some new and strange Martian monstrosity with which I had not as yet become acquainted."

-A Princess of Mars

23/06/2024

“But I can say without shame that if the sensations I endured during the next few minutes were fear, then may God help the coward, for cowardice is of a surety its own punishment.”

-A Princess of Mars by E. R. Burroughs

04/06/2024

"Without mystery all religion must wither into barren rationalism."

Greek Myths and Christian Mystery

02/06/2024

What is a seafarer?

"He is one who is only a guest upon the firm land of earth, a deserter of his native soil, a battler against storms, a gladiator of the sea. Ever uncertain of salvation, a neighbor of death, and yet the sea's lover."

- Greek Myths and Christian Mystery

02/06/2024

"To go to sea, to embark upon the great deeps with a piece of wood of wholly contemptible size was to dice with death, to become a direct neighbor to Hades; this alone made it easy for the sea voyage to become a symbol of our journey through life which ends in the haven of death.

'Tomorrow the terrible voyage will be over,' says the Greek sailor in an epigram to Antiphilus, 'yet hardly has he said the words ere the sea becomes a Hades and swallows him. Therefore never say 'tomorrow'".

- Greek Myths and Christian Mystery by Hugo Rahner

15/05/2024

On this episode of IMBIF, we discuss Michael Flynn’s Eifleheim!

Aliens! Medieval Villages! Feudalism! Death!

Check it out:

‎Show I Might Believe in Faeries, Ep IMBIF Book Club 4 - Eifelheim by Michael Flynn - May 15, 2024

30/04/2024

What do Flower Songs and ancient Mesoamerican myth have to do with St Juan Diego?

Tune in to the newest episode of IMBIF to find out!

I’m joined by Joseph and Monique González to discuss their new book:

Guadalupe and the Flower World Prophecy

‎Show I Might Believe in Faeries, Ep Flower World and True Myth (ft. Joseph & Monique González) - Apr 30, 2024

27/04/2024

Updates (April 22-26, 2024)

Flower Songs, Krenkish Aliens, Ovid

https://open.substack.com/pub/aaronirber/p/updates-april-22-26-2024?r=e7hhi&utm_medium=ios

20/04/2024

Check this out!

Two interviews in a single week! This time, it's the wonderful Tim Powers. Don't miss this one:

https://thewoodbetweentheworlds.substack.com/p/replay-on-faith-and-writing-with?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=kf7si&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

15/04/2024

The newest episode of IMBIF is here!

Jonathan Geltner and Gregorio Montejo both return to discuss Brian Christopher Moore’s Beneath the Silent Heavens from Angelico Press.

Noah’s Ark, typology vs allegory, David Jones, Charles Péguy, R. A. Lafferty and more!

‎Show I Might Believe in Faeries, Ep Beneath the Silent Heavens (ft. Jonathan Geltner & Gregorio Montejo) - Apr 15, 2024

01/04/2024

It’s finally here! The complete John the Balladeer from HaffnerPress. They look absolutely stunning!

31/03/2024

I can’t articulate why, but the defeat of death itself by Christ is one of the many reasons I associate the Christian story with fairy tales.

Not that I think the Christian story untrue, but that fairy tales participate in the same pattern and show us a cosmos full of wonder.

31/03/2024

Christ is Risen! Death has been defeated. The righteous souls in the Limbo of the Fathers have been liberated and the New Adam reigns supreme. Easter is a glorious time and reminds us that death has no sting and is not the end for those who are Christ’s friends and God’s children.

God bless you all and happy Easter!

23/03/2024

Part 2 of my 2 part series on the meaning of the name “Andrew Hale” from Declare is done and out now in substack.

Tim Powers really packed the meanings in on this one!

Hale Hunting Leviathan

15/03/2024

The newest episode of I Might Believe in Faeries is here!

Frederick Gero Heimbach ()and I discuss his book, The Devil’s Dictum. It has evil, satanic pirates and Richard Nixon in a giant robot. What more could you want?

‎Show I Might Believe in Faeries, Ep The Devil's Dictum (ft. Frederick Gero Heimbach) - Mar 15, 2024

15/02/2024

What are the British supernatural beings known as fairies? Where do they come from? Are they diminutive pagan gods or something else? Scholar and folklorist, Francis Young, addresses all of these questions in his new book, Twilight of the Godlings: The Shadowy Beginnings of Britain's Supernatural Beings.
This show wouldn't live up to its name if we didn't discuss fairies from time to time.

‎Show I Might Believe in Faeries, Ep Twilight of the Godlings (ft. Francis Young) - Feb 15, 2024

15/01/2024

Check out the newest episode of I Might Believe in Faeries!

Donald Jacob Uitvlugt () joins the show to discuss his book, Jiao Tu’s Endeavour. We talked about lagomorphs, worldships, Chinese culture and much more!

‎Show I Might Believe in Faeries, Ep Lagomorph Warrior (ft. Donald Jacob Uitvlugt) - Jan 15, 2024

31/12/2023

It’s finally here! The long awaited Gene Wolfe episode.

It even came out on New Year’s Eve (something something symbolism).

Wolfe scholar, Marc Aramini joins the show to discuss the Pringles Man.

‎Show I Might Believe in Faeries, Ep Gene Wolfe (ft. Marc Aramini) - Dec 31, 2023

31/12/2023

My wife commissioned a painting of St George in a Japanese style for me for Christmas!

Our good friend, Sarah Norton, painted these excellent pieces.

If you are interested in more of her work, then she can be found at ConversionStreet Studio

Thank you Sarah!

conversionstreetstudio.com