If I can't be a dragon-whisperer, can I at least have a talking dog?
I've written before about the misconception that fantasy is just an escape and has nothing to do with real life. My own experience proves otherwise. When I made a Sirius Black doll based on a moment in a Harry Potter book, I didn't realize at the time that I was copying a moment that resonated... Continue Reading →
When I first heard the name of the wizarding school in America (Ilvermorny), I was unimpressed. When I heard the names of the houses, I was disappointed. Sure, Thunderbird and Horned Serpent are pretty cool, but Wampus? Pukwudgie?? Get serious. So I did what we all do when life isn't treating us right: I complained... Continue Reading →
I'm not a horror fan, but it's hard to read or watch fantasy without tripping over the more common figures of terror like vampires and werewolves. I think of them as iconic, fixed horrors and am often surprised by the way they are portrayed these days. After thinking about it, I've realized that we have to... Continue Reading →
Fantasy gets a bad rap. When it's not referred to as escapist or mindless fluff, it's criticized for being unrealistic, the province of dreamy teenagers (or adults) who don't want to face the real world or deal with real life. But is that true? SPOILER ALERT: Details about the stories of Frodo Baggins, Harry Potter,... Continue Reading →
The Harry Potter series is full of big ideas and great advice, which makes for great quotes. This is one of my favorite because it gets at the moral heart of the series: that we must make an effort, possible even make sacrifices, in order to do the right thing. Dark times lie ahead of... Continue Reading →
