The Way to Babylon by Paul Kearney
"The Way to Babylon" follows the journey of Michael Riven, who is grappling with the loss of his wife, Jenny, after a tragic accident. In a state of emotional turmoil, Riven retreats to a bothy in Camasunary, where he encounters Bickling Warbutt, a large man seeking shelter from a storm. Despite his ongoing recovery, Riven agrees to embark on a walking tour with Warbutt and two others—Murtagh Mole, whom he met in the hospital, and Ratagan, a Viking-like figure. As they navigate through the fantasy land of Minginish, Riven faces numerous challenges, including attacks from mythical creatures like the Gogwolf and rime-giants.
Throughout their perilous journey, Riven's bravery earns him respect, and he becomes aware of the chaos in Minginish linked to his despair. The narrative weaves themes of loss, friendship, and the struggle against malevolent forces, culminating in a quest to confront the formidable Sgurr Dearg. Riven's experiences lead to encounters with familiar figures, including the spectral presence of Jenny, as he seeks to restore balance to his fantastical world. Ultimately, Riven's adventure is both a physical and emotional odyssey, culminating in a renewed sense of purpose as he prepares to share his tale.
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Subject Terms
The Way to Babylon
First published: 1992
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Fantasy—high fantasy
Time of work: The present
Locale: Minginish, a medieval alternate Isle of Skye
The Plot
Michael Riven is recovering from injuries sustained in the fall from a mountain that killed his wife, Jenny. He cannot face returning to Minginish, the fantasy land that he based on Skye, the area he and Jenny always loved.
Although not fully recuperated, he had gone, almost immediately after leaving the hospital, to his old bothy in Camasunary. One day, a huge dark man arrives, seeking shelter from a vicious storm. He introduces himself as Bickling (or Bicker) Warbutt. Despite his lack of fitness, Riven agrees to go with Warbutt on a walking tour, provided they avoid the fatal Sgurr Dearg (the Red Mountain), which he is not yet prepared to face.
He realizes with a shock that his climb has led to his fantasy land and that one of the two companions who come to join them is someone he met in the hospital; in Minginish he is known as Murtagh Mole. The other is Ratagan, a Viking-like man even larger than Bicker. They head toward Rollarth Rorim, the stronghold ruled by Bicker’s aged father, the Warbutt. Also with them are two tough Myrcan mercenaries.
Almost immediately, they are attacked by a Gogwolf, a savage creature that is almost invulnerable, being made of wood. Riven impresses the others with his bravery. This is fortunate, as they all know he is the Teller of the Tale. He has been brought because his low, even suicidal, mental state has wrought havoc in Minginish; creatures such as the Gogwolf run wild, and winter will not end.
At Rollarth Rorim, Riven again is attacked, this time by three gigantic and ferocious rime-giants. Like the Gogwolf assault, this attack seems aimed directly at Riven. Ratagan and Riven become friends, having saved each other’s lives. Riven thinks he sees Jenny several times in the fleeting form of a wild girl and, disconcertingly, in Jinneth, known as the she-wolf, wife of an ambitious Rorim named Bragad.
A meeting and feast are arranged at Rollarth with other Rorim to try to deal with the troubles. Riven suspects Bragad of treachery. Only Isay’s persuasion of his fellow Myrcans that they have been lied to saves Rollarth. At this point, Riven decides that the situation is remediable only if he undertakes an expedition to Sgurr Dearg. Soon, though, the expedition is attacked by Grypesh, rottweiler-sized rats that seem able to kill anything. One of the Myrcans is killed, and several members of the party are wounded. A merchant, Finnan, conveys them by barge to Tallisker, the largest city in Minginish. They arrive damaged by another Grypesh assault.
They are captured and imprisoned by word of the vengeful Jinneth. With the help of Quirinius, a sage of the subterranean Vyr-Folk who suggests that Riven is a victim as well as creator, they escape. They seek the dwarves, and Riven makes his group accept Jinneth when she arrives.
From the dwarves’ knowledge, Riven constructs the full story of Minginish and can hardly wait to write it. The dwarves also confirm the connection between Jinneth and Jenny. Nearing the end of their journey, the others sacrifice themselves to hold off a vicious ice-worm attack, and Riven and Jinneth go free. Struggling to the peak, they find the wild girl. Jinneth looks at her and jumps over the cliff. Jenny is now restored, but only in Minginish. Riven goes home, feeling renewed, to tell the story.