The Grass-Cutting Sword
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| The Grass-Cutting Sword | |
| Author | Catherynne M. Valente |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Postmodern novella |
| Publisher | Prime Books |
| Publication date | December 1, 2006 |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Pages | 127 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-8095-6230-8 |
The Grass-Cutting Sword is a novella by Catherynne M. Valente. It was published by Prime Books in 2006.
[edit] Plot summary
The tale is a post-modern take on the Japanese folk-tale of Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi ("Heaven's Cloud-Gathering Sword") which is taken from the collection of folk-lore in the Kojiki. The action shifts between the journey of the storm-god Susanoo who has been banished to earth in human form by his sister, the Sun Goddess Amaterasu as he attempts to slay the eight-headed serpent Yamata-no-Orochi. However, Valente also portrays the serpents side of the story but with a twist, because the tale told by Orochi is intercut or added to by the seven maidens that have been sacrificed to the monster.
