Voyage of the Basset

"Voyage of the Basset" is a fantasy novel written and illustrated by James C. Christensen in collaboration with Renwick St. James and Alan Dean Foster. It is about a widowed Victorian era professor, Algernon Aisling, his two daughters, Miranda and Cassandra, and their adventure on a ship called The Basset.

Plot summary

Miranda is sixteen and concerned with being sensible, while Cassandra, nine years and eleven months, likes and believes in magical things. Miranda is outnumbered in this family, because Professor Aisling lectures on mythology and legends at his university, and believes in mysterious and magical things too.

But some of the members of the university think that it is nonsense to teach about myths and legends, because magical and mysterious things cannot be dissected, weighed and measured. One member in particular, Mr. Bilgewallow, takes delight in tormenting Professor Aisling, who wishes, and dreams, of a ship that would take him to the worlds where he might find the creatures of legend.

One evening, his wish comes true. As he and his daughters walk along the river, they come across a curious little ship, with a crew of dwarfs and gremlins. One of the dwarfs introduces himself as Malachi, Captain of H.M.S. Basset. He says that it is Professor Aisling's ship, conjured from his wishes and ready to sail on the "tides of inspiration." Aisling is astonished and delighted, and he and Cassandra waste no time in going aboard. Miranda needs a bit more coaxing.

The Aislings set sail on a magical voyage where they meet a number of creatures from mythology that join them on board the ship. Included among these are the Harpies, who take over the galley, the Manticore, the Sphinx, the Minotaur and a dryad, complete with tree. Disaster strikes when Aisling becomes distracted by the potential of bringing back measurable proof for Bilgewallow and his ilk. He also insists on bringing the lovely but deadly Medusa on board, with predictable results for one of the crew. But through the help of his daughters and Medusa, he recovers his belief and his balance, as all of them must unite against the evil trolls who pursue him.

Tagline

"Credendo vides" - "By believing, one sees."

Quotes

"One evening late in April 1850, the Aisling family's world got turned upside down..."

Adaptations

*The 2001 TV movie "Voyage of the Unicorn" is based on this book.

*The book "Islands In The Sky" by Tanith Lee is the first of a series of books based on the original story. The other books are called "The Raven Queen" (October 1999), "Journey To Otherwhere" (August 2000), "Thor's Hammer" (December 2000), and "Fire Bird" (June 2001).

References

* Scanlon, Donna. [http://www.rambles.net/basset1.html Voyage of the Basset] "Rambles, A Cultural Arts Magazine." Accessed February 21, 2007.
* [http://www.iblist.com/series697.htm Series Information: Voyage of the Basset.] Internet Book List. Accessed February 21, 2007.

* [http://www.bookpage.com/9611bp/fiction/thevoyageofthebasset.html Bookpage interview. Accessed December 29, 2007.]