Some days refuse blogging. Others demand it. Today is not one of the latter, but I still have 25 minutes left until my thrilling Geology class (today: Mass Movements, as in rock slides, avalanches, etc.) with little else to do except read Supremacy by Stealth subtitled “Ten Rules for Managing the World,” in the Atlantic Monthly. But I really know all that stuff already, being Queen of the World and all, so I thought that I would do a blog instead.

I am wondering: why does it seem like so many fantasy books are set in medieval times? There is this allure, this far-off gleam of romanticism imbedded in our minds that associates Middle Ages and Magic. Perhaps we can more readily grant an author credibility when they set their impossibilities in a long passed time. There may also be an aspect to this in which we know the Middle Ages were fairly primitive (even compared to their predecessors, the Romans (for instance), due to various factors, the Black Plague not least among them) so we can also more easily accept the fact that magic happened then whereas now – and the future – belong more to the realm of science fiction. There are, of course, several notable exceptions. Piers Anthony’s Incarnations of Immortality are set in present day, and Mythago Wood, by Robert Holdstock, is set just post-WW II. Still, when you consider the preponderance of medieval-set fantasy stories you have to wonder what about that time period allows people to accept the impossibilities of fantasy more easily than in other settings. Any thoughts?

I’m finishing this entry at home, having actually enjoyed our lecture on Mass Wasting – slides, avalanches, flows, creeps, and slumps are actually much more interesting than I would have guessed. I ran into my prof a little after class and we chatted briefly – the more I talk to her, the more I like her. She is very nice, however long her pauses may be between words in lecture. Also regarding academics, my math quiz went easily because he practically gave us the answers in terms of “hints” and I got my new TI-83 calculator today. It is exactly like my old one but the screen actually works, and it’s not as worn around the corners… and now Ian and I have three TI manuals, though we know how to do most everything on them anyway. However, I’m pleased in the assurance my calculator won’t just randomly die now (also this one doesn’t have battery acid remains in its battery case, so that makes me feel a little better too).

Now for four days of either wild debauchery and game-playing or actual studiousness involving study for exams that come after break. I’ll leave it up to your imagination which I’ll be doing.

– KF –

2 thoughts on “

  1. RE: fantasy

    Try the “Dog Wizard” Trilogy by Barbara Hambly. Ok, a lot of it is more-or-less medieval (a different world, actually) but it’s also set in comtemporary California, which works great, IMHO. I have it if you can wait till Christmas.

    Gary

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