Magic Story

Fantasy games with deep lore behind them are not uncommon, as what is great Fantasy without a rich, complex, and compelling universe? Not worth the time in my view, and the sophisticated, book-worthy story is what I love about so many games. RuneScape, Golden Sun (which has my heart in a way few books even do), Fire Emblem, Radiant Historia, Suikoden Tierkreis and a couple others. 

Yet the justly and globally popular card game Magic: the Gathering has done more. They have actually written the story, easily a novel's worth or more of text, which is why I am making a post out of this. I am going to read it all. A major endeavor, to be sure, to say nothing of the fact that I already have Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time to tackle – but well worth it to explore and the wonders and do battle across the Multiverse. (How quickly I finish, though, is another matter entirely 😅)

A toast to the planeswalkers Gideon Jura, Nissa Revane, Jace Beleren, Chandra Nalaar, Liliana Vess (the not entirely trustworthy necromancer), Ajani Goldmane, Teferi. and Kaya.

My father and I just finished reading Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell

My father and I just finished reading Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell.

Do not let the tittle fool you, for it is written in an irony that becomes plain as the story evolves. Speaking of story, Haskell has for the third time proven that while she not as skilled as Jones or McKillip, she is equally incapable of writing an ordinary tale. So join the lame-footed Princess of Alder Brook as kidnapping blends with running away with two friends and would-be dragon slayers. Only what they find is the Wild Hunt, a marvelous pair of metal horses, and dark sorcerer. But mostly a reality about Dragons, themselves, and that love is most keenly felt when shown from all parties. As the Hunter says, “ignorance does not make the wrong choice into the right one”, and such choices can make a terrible tangle when other kinds of trouble comes; but unraveling tangles both personal and mystical is what Merrie Haskell does best.

Cheers to Most Illustrious Princess Matilda of Alder Brook, Judith, Parz, Sir Hermanus, Father Ropertus, and Curschin.

Earthsea TV Series

Lookfar approaches the Dragon of Pendor

His Dark Materials. The Wheel of Time. The Lord of the Rings. Now Earthsea. One thing we owe GRRM, the popularity of HBO's Game of Thrones broke the barrier between the Fantastic and TV Series.

 

But Earthsea is special. The characters are non-white, the landscape is an archipelago, and the emphasis is on understanding nature and human nature rather than possessing power over them. Ursula K. Le Guin was a master, so let us pray to Segoy and the freed soul of Erreth-Akbe that the TV Series will be worthy of her.

"When it rained Ogion would not even say the spell that every weather-worker knows, to send the storm aside. In a land where sorcerers come thick, like Gont or the Enlades, you may see a raincloud blundering slowly from side to side and place to place as one spell shunts it on to the next, till at last it is buffeted out over the sea where it can rain in peace. But Ogion let the rain fall where it would." – The Wizard of Earthsea

The red ship draws nearer...

The editing of the Fantasy series I wrote is now finished. All that remains to be done is formatting along with the sadly many and varied other little tasks required before sending it out to a publisher. That and several related logistical decisions. But the lion's share of labor is complete.

"You are the ocean’s gray waves..."

Almost two years ago today I finished playing Fire Emblem: Fates - Birthright, but what would have happened if Corrin did not choose Nohr or Hoshido? Today I begin the journey to find out in starting Fire Emblem: Fates - Revelation. Indeed, the great joy behind all Fire Emblems games is that the plotlines are worthy of books, poignant and heart-shattering often enough, with fully developed characters to pull those heartstrings. Anyway, now it is time to get to the bottom of several mysteries left unsolved in Birthright, as well a likely not so Bottomless Canyon and a lake. And, hopefully, save a few lives I could not before.

"You are the ocean’s gray waves
Destined to seek
Life beyond the shore 
Just out of reach
Yet the waters ever change
Flowing like time The path is yours to climb." - Azura's song

August 22 in the year 3019 of the Third Age

On this date in Middle-earth: on August 22nd in the year 3019 of the Third Age, the Fellowship of the Ring reaches Isengard and there the eight members meet Treebeard. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli bid farewell to Gandalf and the four Hobbits, and Aragorn says that, while some of them may and likely will meet again, never again will they all be together and thus the Fellowship of the Ring is now at an end. Aragorn then returns with his knights to Gondor while Legolas and Gimli head (much to the latter's displeasure) to Fangorn. Gandalf, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin continue on to the Shire (with Galadriel and Celeborn traveling with them for a time).

The Wheel turns

Usually I do not do this with books, but then few books are as long as The Wheel of Time: a fourteen volume series each book of which is 700+ pages. Hence I knew from the start that I would be reading Robert Jordan for years, and indeed it was the  excessive length (even by my standards) alone that for a decade kept me from picking it up. But I did, and a year ago today I witnessed the tragic death of Lews Therin Telamon, called the Dragon, Lord of the Morning, and lastly Kinslayer. A year ago today I started The Wheel of Time and took the first steps on the great journey with Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, and his friends Egwene al'Vere, Mat Cauthon, Perrin Aybara, and Nynaeve al'Meara. It has been a thrilling ride thus far, a thoroughly enjoyable and truly unique Fantasy, and I am happy to report that the rumored glacial pace has yet to materialize. Of course, having recently started book #6 and hence being less than halfway through the series, I must acknowledge that a year ago I also said that "unlike usual, I do not silently swear to finish this series, but by the Light I mean to try!" A double-oath I mean to keep but, right now and come what may, I have every intention of seeing Tarmon Gai'don through to the end.
Meanwhile and as the Aes Sedai say, the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills.