Tag Archives: Neil Gaiman

Philip Pullman as a Reader of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Brenton Dickieson

Philip Pullman is for me a hot-and-cold writer who, fortunately, usually leads with heat. His accomplishment in drawing modern fantasy readers into the worlds of Milton and Dante with the His Dark Materials trilogy is an important one. Lyra in The Golden … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Dante, fantasy, Golden, Golden Compass, His Dark Materials, J.R.R. Tolkien, Milton, Narnia, Neil Gaiman, Paradise Lost, Philip Pullman, The Book of Dust, The Last Battle, The Problem of Susan | 41 Comments

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

Ragnarök’n’roll! The Poetic Edda and Tolkien’s Sigurd and Gudrún

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

My son and I have been talking about Ragnarök. Besides the super cool sound of this Norse word and the deep world behind it, we are being fueled by Neil Gaiman’s new book, Norse Mythology. I listened to the author read it … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links, Reviews | Tagged Edda, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jeramy Dodds, Neil Gaiman, Norse Mythology, Ragnarök, Signum University, Sigurd and Gudrún, The Poetic Edda | 6 Comments

From Golgatha to the Gallows: On the Crucifixion of Elie Wiesel (1928-2016)

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

Jewish people have a deeply difficult relationship with the cross. Once a Roman instrument of torture and oppression, the Christian transformation of that symbol brought Jewish people no relief. Racial antisemitism begins in Europe beneath the symbol of that cross. … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged American Gods, Anna Fisk, Chagall, Chaim Potok, crucifixion, Death, Elie Wiesel, feminism, François Mauriac, holocaust, Judaism, Moltmann, My Name is Asher Lev, Neil Gaiman, Nietzsche, Night, Shoah | 36 Comments

“You’re one of me too”: Venn Diagram Friends by Neil Gaiman and C.S. Lewis

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

It is one of the of the more moving moments in C.S. Lewis’ autobiography, Surprised by Joy. Lewis was living a largely lonely childhood, his only friend being his older brother. Then something utterly surprising happens: It is a curious truth, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Arthur Greeves, books, C.S. Lewis, Discworld, fantasy, friendship, Good Omens, literary friendship, Neil Gaiman, Surprised by Joy, Terry Pratchett, The Colour of Magic, writing | 19 Comments

Farewell Terry Pratchett

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

To say that I’m a fan of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld is an understatement. Among the humorous fantasy writers, Terry Pratchett has pride of place. At his right and left hand are Douglas Adams in sheer satiric glory, and Neil Gaiman, … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links, Reflections | Tagged Death, Discworld, Douglas Adams, fantasy, Fictional Universes, fictional worlds, Multiverse, Neil Gaiman, Reaper Man, speculative fiction, Terry Pratchett, The Colour of Magic, threshold | 24 Comments

3 Pop Culture References to The Great Divorce

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

While there seems to be no end to C.S. Lewis fans, biographers, and bloggers—like the digital network connected with A Pilgrim in Narnia—I have found surprisingly few pop culture references to Lewis’ books other than Narnia and The Screwtape Letters. … Continue reading →