"A modern-day bard."—Madeline Miller, author of Circe and The Song of Achilles

"Shaw has so much wisdom and knowledge about the old stories, it emanates from his pores."—John Densmore, The Doors

"Through feral tales and poetic exegesis, Martin Shaw makes you re-see the world, as a place of adventure and of initiation, as perfect home and as perfectly other. What a gift."—David Keenan, author of Xstabeth

"I can still remember the first time I heard Martin Shaw tell a story. The tale that emerged was like a living thing, bounding around, throwing itself at us there listening. I had never heard anything like it before."—Paul Kingsnorth, Booker shortlisted author of The Wake

Today, as we are confronted by not one, but many crossroads in our lives – identity, technology, love, seduction, politics – celebrated mythologist and wilderness guide Martin Shaw delivers Smoke Hole – three ancient myths that serve as metaphors for our world today. Assailed by the seductive promises of social media and shadowed by a pandemic that brought loneliness to an all-time high, Martin argues that we are losing our sense of direction, our sense of self.

He invites us to use these stories to help find ‘a commons for the imagination, a place to breathe deeper, feel steadier and become acquainted with rapture.’ Smoke Hole is a passionate call to arms and an invitation to use these stories to face the complexities of contemporary life, from fake news to parenthood, climate crises, addictive technology and more.

A Note from Martin Shaw:

“The reality is that many of us are lonely, disorientated, sometimes afraid. There was no ceremonial announcement for the initiation we were falling into, but I want to offer us three navigational tools for climbing out.
Growing Your Hands Back: we’ve been encouraged to touch nothing this last period of time. How do we move back out into the world in a new way?
Breaking Enchantments: many of us have spent far too long in our own head, stewing in fantasy not imagination. This has to stop.

Kicking The Robbers Out Of The House: apprehending social media and the internet not as an influencer or savior but as a tool.

Three roads, three strands, three stories.“