Cover of The Grass-Cutting Sword, first edition | |
| Author | Catherynne M. Valente |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Postmodern novella |
| Publisher | Prime Books |
Publication date | December 1, 2006 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Paperback |
| Pages | 127 pp |
| ISBN | 0-8095-6230-8 |
| OCLC | 71827154 |
The Grass-Cutting Sword is a novella by Catherynne M. Valente. It was published by Prime Books in 2006.
The tale is a postmodern interpretation of 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. Valente also portrays the serpent's side of the story with a twist; the tale told by Orochi is intercut or added to by the seven maidens who have been sacrificed to the monster. [1]