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Curtis Weyant

Literature. Language. Liberty. Life.

fantasy

Who Is The Stranger in The Rings of Power?

September 7, 2022 by Curtis 1 Comment
The Stranger, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

One of the mysteries that J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay have set up for the first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is the identity of the unnamed character who comets to Middle-earth near the encampment of the nomadic Harfoots. Known simply as “The Stranger” (Daniel Weyman) in marketing materials … [Read more…]

Posted in: Literature Tagged: fantasy, reviews, Tolkien, TV

Building Fantasy Worlds

May 21, 2015 by Curtis Leave a Comment
Panorama

The Guardian book blog posted a piece earlier today arguing that fantasy cannot build its imaginary worlds in short fiction. The crux of the argument is that fantasy authors need not just novels, but mega-novels (single stories split into multiple volumes, like The Lord of the Rings or A Song of Ice and Fire) to build out their ideas. Rather than simply acknowledging that … [Read more…]

Posted in: Literature Tagged: books, fantasy, literature

Mythmoot III and Mythgard Spring courses

January 9, 2015 by Curtis Leave a Comment
Mythgard Tree

So in an hour or so, I’ll be off to Baltimore for Mythmoot III: Ever on…, the third installment of the (nearly) annual academic/fan gathering for the Mythgard Institute. As with last year, I will be presenting a paper. This year, my subject is Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness, specifically about her descriptions of … [Read more…]

Posted in: Literature Tagged: Amy H. Sturgis, education, fantasy, literature, Mythgard, Mythmoot, scholarship, science fiction, Signum University, Tolkien, Tom Shippey

Review: “Over There” by Will McIntosh

March 1, 2013 by Curtis Leave a Comment
image courtesy of SuperFantastic @ flickr

“Over There” was published in the January 2013 issue of Asmov’s Science Fiction. When a trio of scientists attempt to simultaneously observe collapses of a wave form, reality gets split in two. Everyone, not just the scientists, begin to experience a dual existence, in which their selves in each reality acts independently while simultaneously being … [Read more…]

Posted in: Literature Tagged: fantasy, reviews, sci-fi

Review: “The Water that Falls on You from Nowhere” by John Chu

February 28, 2013 by Curtis Leave a Comment
image courtesy rodrigomezs @ flickr

Published at Tor.com on 2/20/13. In the near future, when you tell a lie, you will be hit with cold water, either a torrential dousing or a cool misting, depending on the intensity of the lie. That’s the world Matt lives in when he decides to tell his traditional Chinese parents that he is engaged … [Read more…]

Posted in: Literature Tagged: fantasy, reviews, sci-fi

Review: Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, by J. R. R. Tolkien

February 5, 2013 by Curtis Leave a Comment
Unfinished Tales, by J. R. R. Tolkien

I’ve read quite a few parts of this previously, either due to individual curiosity about specific topics (such as the Quest of Erebor, Istari, Palantiri) or as part of other works (Narn i Hin Hurin – most of which is incorporated in The Children of Hurin), but I had not until now sat down and … [Read more…]

Posted in: Literature Tagged: books, fantasy, reviews

A toast to Tollers*

January 3, 2013 by Curtis Leave a Comment
J. R. R. Tolkien

Today is Tolkien’s birthday — his “twelfty-first,” as some have pointed out, in reference to Bilbo’s “eleventy-first” birthday celebration at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring — and all across the world, folks are lifting a pint (or whatever amount) of ale (or whatever drink) in remembrance of one of the greatest author’s of the twentieth … [Read more…]

Posted in: Literature Tagged: birthdays, fantasy, Tolkien

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as a Twitter feed

April 3, 2012 by Curtis Leave a Comment
#DeeperMagic

I wrote this back when my Mythgard class was talking about C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Not sure how good it is, but hey, you can let me know. Lucy Pevensie @LucyPev goin to the country #bombssuck Lucy Pevensie @LucyPev check out this wardrobe I found: pinterest.com/pin/47147127318515647/ #old #furniture Lucy Pevensie … [Read more…]

Posted in: Literature Tagged: books, fantasy, writing

Grossman’s “The Magicians”

March 11, 2012 by Curtis Leave a Comment
The Magicians, by Lev Grossman

So, I’m a little late to reading Lev Grossman’s The Magicians, considering the sequel is out now. But then, I didn’t even hear about it until last September when I sawa brief mention at The Volokh Conspiracy, and have only just had the chance to get to it. Anyway, I liked it a lot. The … [Read more…]

Posted in: Literature Tagged: books, fantasy, reviews

Mythgard’s Spring Courses

November 25, 2011 by Curtis Leave a Comment
Mythgard Tree

The Mythgard Institute just posted a list of books in theirbookstore for their Tolkien and Lewis course next semester. Seeing this, it occurred to me that I haven’t followed up on my impressions of Mythgard’s inaugural offering on Tolkien and the Epic. The course has been quite excellent, to say the least. I honestly did … [Read more…]

Posted in: Literature Tagged: education, fantasy, Mythgard

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