Tag Archives: J.K. Rowling

Tolkien’s “I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but size)” in Context

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

I don’t know that there is any more famous Tolkien quote than his claim to, in fact, be a hobbit. It’s really quite a delightful statement and worth quoting more fully: I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Charles Williams, Franz Kafka, Harry Potter, Hobbit Day, I.A. Richards, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, literary criticism, literature, Lord of the Rings, new criticism, practical criticism, Stephen King, The Hobbit, Ursula K. LeGuin | Leave a comment

When Sam Gamgee Wrote to J.R.R. Tolkien

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

As far as I know, no one named Puddleglum or any Pevensie has ever written to C.S. Lewis. Has anyone named Ged or Arha ever written to Ursula K. Le Guin, if there is anyone with those names? Among the various Potter … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Arha, C.S. Lewis, Ged, Harry Potter, Humphrey Carpenter, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Patrick Rothfuss, Puddleglum, Samwise Gamgee, Ursula K. Le Guin | 9 Comments

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Put Them

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

In a recent SignumU panel on the films Rogue One and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (see below), I admitted I was disappointed with the original Fantastic Beasts book. I love J.K. Rowling’s fantastic writing, and find myself hungry for more … Continue reading →

Posted in Fictional Worlds, Reviews | Tagged bestiary, cryptozoology, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Holly Black, J.K. Rowling, Quidditch Through the Ages, The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Tales of Beedle the Bard | 22 Comments

“One Fantastic Rogue Beast” Live Discussion

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

Last Friday night I had the privilege to be part of a unique panel discussion. Signum University hosted an impromptu Signum Symposium called “One Fantastic Rogue Beast.” The discussion featured a team of fantasy bloggers and podcasters who spend their time … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links | Tagged Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Feature Friday, film, film adaptation, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, pop culture, Rogue One, Signum University, Sorina Higgins, Star Wars, Theology of Culture | 6 Comments

“One Fantastic Rogue Beast” Live Discussion Tonight!

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

Originally posted on ravingsanity:
This Friday, starting 7pm Eastern Time, I’ll be joining several friends to discuss the latest installments of the Harry Potter and Star Wars film franchises: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Rogue One. The…

12 Reasons not to Write Lord of the Rings, or an Ode Against the Muses

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

I’ve never understood images of the Muses as seducers. Perhaps I am not truly inspired, but I get the same cold, clammy response from the Muses as I did from girls when I was in Junior High School. Fortunately, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged art, C.S. Lewis, Frank McCourt, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Leo Tolstoy, literature, Lord of the Rings, mythology, Out of the Silent Planet, Stephen King, Steven Pressfield, The Hobbit, the muses, The Silmarillion, The War of Art, writing | 23 Comments

The Haunting Death: Lewis, Buechner, and Me on the Loss of my Parents

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

On Friday, February 12th, I watched my mother finally succumb to cancer. She was only 61. In her death she taught me a great deal about how to live. You can read a brief story of her life here. I am now … Continue reading →