ice "glyph", wooden "glyph"... fire "glyph"?

[blunglin]

I remember enjoying a fantasy series, around about the late 80s, but I've forgotten the author and titles. The plots centered around magic relics, which looked something like a "glyph", or Celtic design in a circle. I clearly remember a "glyph" of ice. Perhaps there was a wooden glyph, a fire glyph, and a water glyph as well? I don't recall the term used, it may not have been glyph.

Thanks for any leads!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

It sounds a bit like The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper.

 

[blunglin]

Ah, the Signs in The Dark is Rising series do sound like an excellent fit, although there may not be an ice sign? Oddly enough, I started reading (re-reading?) the first book recently, and it hasn't rung a bell upstairs yet! I'll keep at it. Thanks!

 

[Lacivetta]

There was both a water and a fire sign. There was a supernatural deep freeze with them all sheltering up at the local aristocracy's place until one of these (I forget which) was found. Mm mmm they are a great read. (Link has spoilers).

The first book is quite different from the others I think. I read them out of sequence as a child - the Marie Llwyd gave me nightmares I recall.

 

[HareBrain]

I'm not sure it is the Dark is Rising. There is no ice sign, and if that is the one the OP remembers most strongly, I'm not sure it could be accounted for by the deep freeze. Also, it's not a Celtic design, just a straightforward cross.

Having said that, they are fantastic books -- agree about the Marie Llywd!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

No, there was no ice sign. I said it sounded a little like The Dark is Rising. After more than twenty years, memory can play tricks.

Oddly enough, I started reading (re-reading?) the first book recently, and it hasn't rung a bell upstairs yet!

I used to remember all the books I read with amazing clarity. But now, I'll sometimes pick up a book I know I read twenty or thirty years ago, and I keep asking myself, "Did I really read this book?" because everything about it is so unfamiliar. Then maybe somewhere in the last third one or two small things will jog my memory, and I'll know that, yes, I really did read the book, even though I remember nothing else about it.

Of course I don't know if that ever happens to you.

 

[Lacivetta]

When the Dark, comes rising, six shall turn it back;
Three from the circle, three from the track,
Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone;
Five will return, and one go alone.

Iron for the birthday, bronze carried long;
Wood from the burning, stone out of song;
Fire in the candle-ring, water from the thaw;
Six signs the circle, and the grail gone before.

I forget books all the time - used to be able to recite passages of anything I read as a child but most things pass like soup through my head these days. (Oddly, I could remember several lines of that poem though)

 

[nixie]

No, there was no ice sign. I said it sounded a little like The Dark is Rising. After more than twenty years, memory can play tricks.



I used to remember all the books I read with amazing clarity. But now, I'll sometimes pick up a book I know I read twenty or thirty years ago, and I keep asking myself, "Did I really read this book?" because everything about it is so unfamiliar. Then maybe somewhere in the last third one or two small things will jog my memory, and I'll know that, yes, I really did read the book, even though I remember nothing else about it.

Of course I don't know if that ever happens to you.

I know this has started happening to me over the last couple of years.