Dear Bernard, I wrote to you a few weeks ago and have just noticed youre reply. Many thanks. It is a great pleasure to know that youve taken the time to read and reply to readers comments. I feel compelled to write again to expand on your references to mushrooms (fungi) which is one of my favourite topics. The first reference I came across was in the Grail Trilogy, Heretic I believe. Thomas is hiding in the woods and is desperately hungry. He comes across some black mushrooms but is too frightened to eat them – Anglo-Saxon fear of toadstools. He missed out on a good meal especially if hed be able to make an omelette with them as I suppose you were referring to the Horn of Plenty. The second mention of fungi was in the Saxon books. You say the Danish poets used red capped mushroom as inspiration by this I assume you are meaning Fly Agaric. I have read that the Viking Berserkers (although you dismiss their existence as mythology in the historical notes) used Fly Agaric to get into a frenzy before a rape and pillage spree. I think if the Berserkers had existed their worked-up state would have been down to ale rather than mushrooms. The third citing of fungi is in Stonehenge, which I am reading whilst waiting for the Lords of the North to be available in paper back, and this has prompted me to write. Saban during his stint in the woods, as part of his passage to manhood ordeals, gets a bit peckish and starts munching on Morels after having picked out the woodlice – wonderful detail!! I would like to point out that raw Morels are quite toxic, without being deadly, and, if hed had the misfortune to confuse them with false Morels hed have been in trouble. They are deadly poisonous raw. In any case hed probably have been pretty sick. Having said that I think that the Neolithic man probably had a more robust digestive system than us 20th century whimps brought up on sterilised, pasteurised industrial food and were probably capable of eating things that we wouldnt even give to the dog. Finally youve mentioned both in the Grail Quest and Stonehenge the use of dried Puffballs as tinder. Interessting that. Ill try next time I go camping. I take it you are interested in fungi? Glad to hear that the Saxons will go beyond a trilogy. Thanks to you Ive read more books in the six months than in the last thirty years Best regards, Chris BISHOP, France