Monthly Archives: March 2018

“Charles Williams’s Arthurian Treasury” by Grevel Lindop

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Brenton Dickieson

If Owen Barfield has been called the First and Last Inkling, Charles Williams has been very aptly called the Third Inkling – and the Oddest Inkling. He was also the oldest Inkling, both publishing his first book, a sonnet sequence, … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Blogs, Inklings and Arthur | Tagged @GrevelLindop, Arthuriana, Bodleian Library, Charles Williams, Grevel Lindop, Inklings, Inklings and Arthur, Inklings and King Arthur, Logres, Malory, mythology, Taliessin Through Logres, Tennyson, The Region of the Summer Stars, War in Heaven | 16 Comments

Octavia Butler’s and Robert Heinlein’s Rules of Writing

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Brenton Dickieson

My most significant alien encounter this year has been in the science fiction of Octavia E. Butler. I have only dipped into her work, enjoying her Xenogenesis Trilogy (1987-89) and a collection of short pieces, Bloodchild and Other Stories (2nd ed., … Continue reading →

Posted in Memorable Quotes, On Writing | Tagged Afrofuturism, Black Panther, Octavia Butler, On Writing, Robert Heinlein, Science Fiction, SF, speculative fiction, Stephen King, Stranger in a Strange Land, writing, Xenogenesis Trilogy | 26 Comments

Call for Papers: 2018 C.S. Lewis & Friends Colloquium at Taylor University

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Brenton Dickieson

While I am looking forward to the biennial L.M. Montgomery Conference in June here in PEI, and while ISRLC in Europe is pretty cool (Uppsala, SE) and I can’t wait to get to my next Mythcon (2018 is Atlanta, GA) or … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Dorothy L. Sayers, g k chesterton, George MacDonald, Inklings, J.R.R. Tolkien, owen barfield, Ransom Trilogy, The Quest of Bleheris, The Screwtape Letters | 5 Comments

“Thor: Ragnarok and C.S. Lewis’ Mythic Passions” by Josiah Peterson

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Brenton Dickieson

We discovered on Monday that Lewis mocked his best friend for comparing works that are as different as the Old English epic with the late Middle English romance by Malory. He then went on to do this very thing: set … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Blogs, Inklings and Arthur, Reviews | Tagged Arthuriana, C.S. Lewis, Inklings, Inklings and Arthur, Inklings and King Arthur, Malory, Marvel, Morte Darthur, mythology, Narnia, Norse Mythology, northernness, Ragnarök, Surprised by Joy, Thor | 90 Comments

C.S. Lewis’ Teenage Bookshelf, and Other Lessons on Reading

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Brenton Dickieson

The Beowulf author, Sir Thomas Malory, Jane Austen, William Morris, Charlotte Brontë, and Shakespeare. With the exception of Morris, who is merely an important author of his period, these are all canonical authors. Notably, though, these are all authors that Lewis … Continue reading →

Posted in Fictional Worlds, Letters, On Writing, Original Research | Tagged A Preface to Paradise Lost, An Experiment in Criticism, books, C.S. Lewis, Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, literature, Malory, Reader Response Criticism, Reading, Shakespeare, Studies in Words, The Discarded Image, William Morris | 54 Comments

What Does My Google Autofill Say About Me? (a little Friday Feature nonsense)

Posted on March 16, 2018 by Brenton Dickieson

I have come to love the google autofill function for sites I frequent. This is partly because I have filled the little avatar-button toolbar thing on my browser. This means that I have 60+ sites that I visit frequently enough … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature Friday | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Google, networking, news, stats, wordpress, Wordpress Stats | 11 Comments

“Chesterton, Arthur, and Enchanting England” by J. Cameron Moore

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Brenton Dickieson

While in the light of Charles Huttar’s contribution last week I should be extra careful to avoid any ‘historicist’ Providentialism, I can’t help thinking this week’s contribution is more than just another serendipity. J. Cameron Moore not only directs our … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Blogs, Inklings and Arthur | Tagged A Short History of England, Arthuriana, Chesterton, fairyland, fairytales, g k chesterton, Inklings and Arthur, The Everlasting Man | 34 Comments

The Lord’s Prayer (North American Contemporary Version)

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Brenton Dickieson

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our venti, soy, low foam 120-degree triple shot latte. Give us this day enough gas for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged culture, debt, environment, prayer, Starbucks, The Lord's Prayer, Theology of Culture | 10 Comments

“Filling the Gaps in History: Mythopoesis as Deep Insight” by Charles Huttar

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Brenton Dickieson

Many of you will know what a pleasure it is to hear Charles Huttar read a paper, to meet and converse with him – and how fruitful to your knowledge, understanding, and further thought. And many more who have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Blogs, Inklings and Arthur | Tagged Arthurian Torso, Arthuriana, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Descent into Hell, Inklings and Arthur, J.R.R. Tolkien, Ransom Trilogy, Studies in Words, That Hideous Strength, The Descent of the Dove, The Figure of Arthur, The Silmarillion | 43 Comments

Despite what C.S. Lewis Says, David Lindsay’s A Voyage to Arcturus is the Worst Book Ever

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Brenton Dickieson

This may very well be the worst book I have ever read. According to my Goodreads ratings, I have only four other one-star reviews. I can’t remember why I so disliked Chrétien de Troyes’ Erec & Enide, but I remember … Continue reading →