On Fury and Fairies and the Remnants of Gods by Gillian Polack
The other day, someone said to me that Tolkien’s elves were the real thing, because he was a Medievalist and so he knew. I’m a Medievalist and I know, too, and what the real thing is depends so very much on where one is and what one is writing. I’m not at all certain that Tolkien would have liked to be told that the closest thing to his elves in Old French tales are the blonde fairies (with hair that is red-gold, like fine wire, and the palest of skins and the prettiest of rose colouring on their cheeks) in the Arthurian romances. They are not the stuff of folkdom. They’re not even terribly legendary. They’re the object of quests by knights who don’t quite fit at court. They have the best tents and the most beautiful horses and an unlimited number of handmaidens more beautiful than anyone else in sight apart from the fairy herself. They’re not that real. When I stop and think about Tolkien’s elves, they’re not quite as perfect, but they come close at times. They’re not perfect because they’re annoyingly “I know so much and don’t see why I should tell you.” Neither of them have wings. These fairies are not the hidden folk of any of the various regions in Western Europe. They’re a literary construct. In fact they appear in the Marvel and DC of their time. I shall refer to the lead fairy (the one who the knight wins) as the Nick Fury of the magic realms from now on when I need to, on panels.
Around the Podosphere #12: Podcasts of Note for 8/17/15
A new slate of podcasts has arrived. In this edition of Around the Podosphere, we’ve got a few bad movies, some intense book discussions, a lost ship, and at least one Texas conspiracy theory! There’s plenty stuff here to keep you busy for the rest of the week. What have you been listening to? Tell us in the comments! Here’s our list:
266. Juliet E. McKenna (a.k.a. the Historian) — An Interview at LonCon3
http://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SandFEpisode266JulietEMcKenna/SandF%20–%20Episode%20266%20–%20Juliet%20E%20McKenna.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSLondon, airplanes, and history degrees, oh my! Author Juliet E. McKenna joined Shaun, Julia, and Paul at LonCon3 last year to discuss her work, politics and their influence, her experience with historical research, and feminism! We hope you enjoy the episode! Note: If you have iTunes and like this show, please give us a review on our iTunes page, or feel free to email us with your thoughts about the show! Here’s the episode (show notes are below): Episode 266 — Download (MP3) Show Notes:
The Muse of Research: An Interview with Lev Mirov
The Muse of Research is a monthly column in which E. P. Beaumont interviews poets, medievalists, and speculative writers about their research. This week, E.P. Beaumont talks to Lev Mirov. E. P. Beaumont: Talk about your nonfictional obsessions! (could be academic training, stuff you like to read about, topics that pique your curiosity) Lev Mirov: I’ve studied medieval Europe widely, and I have put a lot of time and energy into the history of western magic, folk Christianity, 12th century England, ritual studies, and the relationship between western religion and esotericism and indigenous cultures. In 2011, I wrote an undergraduate thesis on gender and military leadership in 12th c. England and France, and, in 2014, a master’s thesis about magical rituals as expressions of religious life in later medieval England.
196. Fran Wilde (a.k.a. Chadwick’s Prodigy) — An Interview at ICFA
http://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SandFEpisode196InterviewWFranWildeAtICFA/SandF%20–%20Episode%20196%20–%20Interview%20w%20Fran%20Wilde%20at%20ICFA.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSTowering cities, the history of death, and waste, oh my! Fran Wilde, author of the upcoming Bone Arrow from Tor (coming in 2015, which is far too long to wait), joins us to talk about such mundane things as waste management in cities built to the heavens, proper disposal of the dead, plagues, and writing words on websites. Needless to say, we had a blast! We hope you enjoy the episode! Note: If you have iTunes and like this show, please give us a review on our iTunes page, or feel free to email us with your thoughts about the show! Here’s the episode (show notes are below): Episode 196 — Download (MP3) Show Notes: Fran’s Website Fran’s Twitter Cooking the Books Fran also has a story in the April/May 2014 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction, which should still be available in print at your local newsstand or via various online retailers. The story is entitled “Like a Wasp to the Tongue.” Check it out! You can also support this podcast by signing up for a one month free trial at Audible. Doing so helps us, gives you a change to try out Audible’s service, and brings joy to everyone. Our new intro music is “Time Flux” by Revolution Void (CC BY 3.0). That’s all, folks! Thanks for listening. See you next week.
168. Science Fiction, Then and Now w/ Sarah Zettel and Mike Reeves-McMillan
http://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SandFEpisode168SarahZettelAndMikeReevesMcMillan/SandF%20–%20Episode%20168%20–%20Sarah%20Zettel%20and%20Mike%20Reeves-McMillan.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSScience fiction past, present, and future, oh my! Authors Sarah Zettel and Mike Reeves-McMillan join Stina Leicht and Shaun Duke to talk about how they perceive science fiction to have changed since their younger days. They talk zombies, narrative traditions, the cyclical nature of isms in SF/F, and mountains more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Note: If you have iTunes and like this show, please give us a review on our iTunes page, or feel free to email us with your thoughts about the show! Here’s the episode (show notes are below): Episode 168 — Download (MP3) Intro and Discussion (0:00 – 1:17:06) Sarah’s Website Mike’s Website Indie Books Worth Reading Book View Cafe You can also support this podcast by signing up for a one month free trial at Audible. Doing so helps us, gives you a change to try out Audible’s service, and brings joy to everyone. Our new intro music is “Time Flux” by Revolution Void (CC BY 3.0). That’s all, folks! Thanks for listening. See you next week.
