A Quick Look At Owls in Fantasy

August 4 was International Owl Awareness Day, which prompted reflection on the frequency with which owls feature in Fantasy literature. So in slightly belated recognition of the day, here are a few examples that sprang to mind — starting with Owl (or sometimes ‘Wol’) in AA Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh books.

The Owl Service by Alan Garner was published as Middle Grade fiction, but I believe this reworking of the Mabiniogion’s tale of Blodeuwedd, the woman of flowers, has crossover appeal. Needless to say, owls feature strongly in the story’s magic.

The owl is the sorceress Polgara’s avatar in David Eddings Belgariad series, and owls are also the symbol of the goddess in Guy Gavriel Kay’s A Song for Arbonne.

Owls also feature prominently in CS Lewis’s The Silver Chair, including a parliament of owls to guide Jill and Eustace on their quest to find Narnia’s lost prince.

Mercedes Lackey’s Owl Mage trilogy features a young mage who is rescued by an order called the Hawkbrothers, who bond with birds of prey — most significantly owls, in this particular story.

JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series really put owls on the map, though, with a significant degree of magical communication going “by owl.” Harry’s own owl, the snowy-white Hedwig, is an integral part of the story and the series.