Tag Archives: faerie

The Fayborn Series by J. Aleksandr Wootton

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

In tales where a child or young adult is going to save the world, the hero-in-waiting is usually withering away in obscurity, knowing they were meant for so much more but spending their lives doing homework, harvesting cabbages, working fast … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged A First or Family Mischief, American Gods, books, faerie, Fayborn, Guy Gavriel Kay, Her Unwelcome Inheritance, Holly Black, intertextuality, J. Aleksandr Wootton, literature, Neil Gaiman, pastiche, The Eighth Square | 3 Comments

The Fantastic Imagination: An Essay on Fantasy Theory by George MacDonald

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

This essay is a great find, originally an introduction to the collection of The Light Princess and Other Fairy Tales. With George MacDonald’s characteristic wit, it forms a nice partnership with C.S. Lewis’ “On Stories” and J.R.R. Tolkien’s “On Fairy-stories“–and indeed … Continue reading →

Posted in Creative Writing, Fictional Worlds, On Writing, Original Research | Tagged allegory, books, C.S. Lewis, faerie, fantasy, Fictional Universes, George MacDonald, J.R.R. Tolkien, John Donne, literature, On Fairy-Stories, On Stories, Reader Response Theory, The Light Princess | 37 Comments

Faërie Stories in The Labyrinth: A David Bowie Tribute Post

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

David Bowie is dead. We woke up to the news as weather giants threw the sky against our windows and rocked the house in their rollicking. I had just been thinking about Bowie yesterday, but I suppose everyone has. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Fictional Worlds | Tagged David Bowie, Escher, faerie, fairytales, fantasy, Fictional Universes, film, intertextuality, jennifer connelly, Jim Henson, Labyrinth, muppets, music, Ziggy Stardust | 19 Comments

A Scary Story-Within-A-Story by John Crowley

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

Many readers will know that I have a peculiar interest in the story within a story. Part of it comes with the discovery of “The Grand Inquisitor” in my early days. It remains my favourite nested story. I’ve blogged the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fictional Worlds, Memorable Quotes | Tagged books, Chucky, faerie, fantasy, Halloween, Horror, John Crowley, literature, Little Big, Story Within a Story | 3 Comments

Elves and Fairies and Yokai, Oh My!

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

Originally posted on the traveller's path:
“Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.” – J.R.R. Tolkein Elves are fascinating creatures of legend, and their roots go deep into our history. And…