Category Archives: fantasy

Review: Songs for a Machine Age

Posted on April 24, 2013 by

Songs for a Machine Age by Heather McDougal My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book is a delightful journey through an unusual fantasy world where machines and magic co-exist. While I didn’t find the heroine initially engaging, her talent … Continue reading →

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What’s in a Name? The Naming of Elisha

Posted on April 17, 2013 by

It has come to my attention from two different and equally interesting directions that some people are wondering about the name of my protagonist, Elisha Barber, specifically, his first name. Some folks have even wondered if it’s my name (it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in books, character development, Elisha Barber, etymology, fantasy, fiction, history, medieval, writing process | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Why We Love Violence

Posted on March 6, 2013 by

Time Magazine’s March 11 issue features a cover story about Oscar Pistorius, Olympic athlete and accused murderer. A little later on, it includes an article called “Serial Killing” about the addiction of television drama to blood. The link is the … Continue reading →

Posted in essays, fantasy, fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Werewolves in Medieval History

Posted on February 27, 2013 by

Whether you’re more Team Jacob or “Werewolves of London” you know that werewolves are hot right now (both in sales, and apparently, in sex appeal). But their prevalence in the Urban Fantasy genre might obscure their long history. My eyes … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, fiction, history, magic, medieval, Uncategorized, witchcraft | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Edgar Allen Poe Meets King Charles VI: the True Tale of Hop-frog

Posted on February 20, 2013 by

I came across the most remarkable image and tale in Barbara W. Tuchman’s A Distant Mirror, one of the foremost works on the 14th century (the “calamitous” 14th century, as Tuchman calls it.) The illustration, from a French chronicle dated … Continue reading →

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The Next Big Thing Blog Hop: Elisha Barber

Posted on January 2, 2013 by

I was tagged to participate in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop by the marvelous Heather Albano, author of two (so far!) steampunk novels you can learn more about at her post:  http://www.heatheralbano.com/2012/12/26/the-next-big-thing-blog-hop/ So without further ado: What is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elisha Barber, fantasy, fiction, historical medicine, history, magic, medieval, The Dark Apostle, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Bilbo Baggins’ Bathrobe: an example of poor world-building

Posted on December 14, 2012 by

Like many of you, I am excited to see the new film(s) based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.  I’ve been following its production from a distance, and was interested to read the Wall Street Journal review of the … Continue reading →

Posted in essays, fantasy, history, medieval, medieval technology, movies, research, worldbuilding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Racism and the Problem of the Hybrid Hero

Posted on November 14, 2012 by

It has been said that there are really only two plots:  A stranger comes to town, and someone leaves home.  What I want to look at today is the first one, the stranger–but not just any stranger, the stranger who … Continue reading →

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It was a Dark and Stormy Night. . .

Posted on October 31, 2012 by

Those of us in the Northeast are bracing right now for the “storm of the century” (yep, another one), and thinking about that old saw on New England Weather, if you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute.  Me, … Continue reading →

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Dream Big, with Elephants!

Posted on October 17, 2012 by

One of the comics I have cut out and stuck on my board is a decade-old strip meant for kids, “Mudpie” drawn by Guy Gilchrist, who also does “Nancy.” I’m one of those who reads the whole comics page, whether … Continue reading →

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