The Croning is a novel by Laird Barron. The story revolves around Donald [[Miller]] and his encounters with [[Old Leech]] and the [[Children of Old Leech]]. The story takes place in, among other locations, [[Olympia, WA|Olympia]] ([[Washington State]]). The final act of the novel gives a (for Barron's standards) detailed description of the the Old Leech mythology: TBA. The first part of The Croning takes place in a different, medieval-like setting that is currently called [[Antiquity]]. This chapter tells a twisted version of the fairytale of [[Rumpelstiltskin]]. This Rumpelstiltskin story is also described in [[The Men from Porlock]]. Meanwhile, the events from [[The Men from Porlock]] are mentioned in The Croning. Both stories feature a protagonist named Miller and feature the location the location of [[Slango Camp]] at the foot of [[Mount Mystery]]. Don Miller and his wife Michelle visit the tavern [[Satan's Bung]] in [[Ransom Hollow]] ([[Olde Towne]]) where they encounter the music group The [[Blackwood]] Boys in a scene not unlike one in [[Hand of Glory (Story)]]. Don's wife Michelle's family apparently has some ties to the area of Ransom Hollow and might be the original founders of the [[Black Ram Lodge]]: "[...] Ransom Hollow, a venerable chain of valley settlements and home to several of Michelle’s ancestors on the Mock side. Allegedly cousins of the Mocks (she couldn’t recall the family name) had settled hereabouts before the Gold Rush and founded a lodge; the family had owned half the valley during their heyday." (The Croning, p. ) Recurring character [[Dr. Green]] is very briefly mentioned in the story. Dr. Herman Strauss, a key character in [[Old Virginia]] is briefly mentioned in The Croning as well. Dr. [[Boris Kalamov]] plays a role in the story as well. #Story #Book