The Strange Land Trilogy is a compilation of the first three books in The McGunnegal Chronicles series, including “Into a Strange Land”, “Taming the Goblin”, and “The Witch and the Waking Tree”.

To purchase the entire trilogy as paperback, audio book or Amazon Kindle, click this link.

The McGunnegals are all strange, and it has been that way for generations. They are too strong, or too fast, or too smart, and odd things happened when they are around. The neighbors say they are witches or devils, or have been snatched by changelings. Mothers hold their children close when they walk by, fearing they might catch the McGunnegal strangeness. But misfortune besets them when their mother, Ellie, disappears, followed by their crazy grandfather, but not before he reveals a family secret to Colleen and Frederick – a secret that reveals the source of their strangeness, and also threatens to cast the dark shadow of famine on Ireland. He has opened a portal to the world of the Others, where their mother has gone, and a dark creature – a goblin – has come in her place and is spreading death and disease. They fall through this portal, and find this strange land filled with dark creatures that are crushing its people and now threaten to come through the portal and take up their abode in the world of Men, as they once did long ago. Yet in this dark world of oppression, this poor family discovers who they are, and also what it means to be truly human.

“Taming the Goblin” is the second book in The McGunnegal Chronicles series, continuing where “Into a Strange Land” left off. The strangeness of the McGunnegals continues to unfold as Colleen begins to glimpse the latent power of the ancient bloodline that runs true in her veins. Frederick also has something within him – the poison of the Goblin Phage that threatens to transform him into one of the hideous creatures of the night. He must leave Colleen in this strange land in order to save himself, and to seek the help of a long-dead king back in the world of Men. Colleen goes on without him, but has again encountered the goblin, Nous, whose life she once saved. She must convince her companions that he is worth befriending. She must trust him to lead them to the Witch’s dungeons, and there help her to free its captives, and hope that he does not betray them all. High adventure, storms and monsters at sea, creatures of legend and myth, captures and escapes, magic and invention, terrible loss, fool-hearty daring, and a journey toward finding one’s true self all come together in these epic tales.

“The Witch and the Waking Tree” is the third book in The McGunnegal Chronicles series, continuing where “Taming the Goblin” left off. Twists and turns, dead goblin armies and giants, cracks in the universe, phantasms and wishing wells, and tons of high adventure, carry Colleen and Frederick far apart and back together again through time and space and between worlds until they encounter the ancient Witch that has ruled the Strange Land into which they have fallen – and find her to be someone totally unexpected.

THE AUTHOR

Ben Anderson is the author of the McGunnegal Chronicles, a song writer, rock climber, backpacker, outdoor enthusiast, father, husband, and Orthodox Christian.

When his children were young, he told them bedtime stories almost every night, and these stretched out for years. They enjoyed these so much that they encouraged him to write them down, and these became The McGunnegal Chronicles.

Ben gathers inspiration from the great outdoors, fairy tales and legends, the teachings of the Orthodox Church Fathers, and from the funny and amazing stories that people tell.

To learn more about Ben and his work, go to his website.