User:DoctorWho42/The White Sybil

"The White Sybil" is a short story by American author Clark Ashton Smith as part of his Hyperborean cycle, and first published in the 1935 book Men of Avalon / The White Sybil.

Publication history
According to Emperor of Dreams: A Clark Ashton Smith Bibliography (1978) by Donald Sidney-Fryer, "The White Sybil" was first published in the the SCIENCE & FANTASY BOOKLET NUMBER ONE by Fantasy Publications. It was included in the books The Abominations of Yondo (1960) and Hyperborea (1971).

Plot
Tortha the poet has traveled far and wide but returns to Cerngoth in Mhu Thulan. A mysterious woman appears before him. He soon learns she is "the White Sybil." Tortha hears stories of her appearances which is sometimes accompanied with the prophecies of glaciers. The White Sybil becomes all he can think about. Tortha goes to a meadow outside the city and falls asleep. He wakes to find the White Sybil before him and follows her a great distance until he reaches Polarion. As snow surrounds him, he finds a new world where all is illuminated but without stars, sun, nor moon. The Sybil greets him and relates a great many things. However, as soon as he tries to embrace her, Tortha finds his hands around a corpse and the new world is replaced by a chill void. He is recovered by mountain folk. They find the mark of a kiss on his brow. A maiden named Illara takes care of him while he confuses her for the White Sybil. Despite this, they live on contentedly.

Reception
Reviewing Hyperborea in Whispers, Fritz Leiber said "Of the Hyperborean stories, three are wholly first rate: "The Weird of Avoosl Wuthoqquan," "The White Sybil," and Ubbo-Sathla."