I&F - August Issue – 2010

mfc and Fairydust.

The ffcroines ofStarW,

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Ink and Fairydust

A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away... a little girl curled up next to her father as he cracked open an old paperback book, with a crudely drawn picture ofa boy, a girl, a weird woman, and a scary woods. At last she was going to hear the stories that had been hidden away on her father's bookshelfas long as she could remember...Namia...

Not long later, her cousins and brother persisted in playing something called "Star Wars." It seemed to have space ships and aliens, but when Daddy told her the whole story, it seemed pretty cool. And then she got to watch the movie and her new role modal became pretty Princess Leia. (Oh yes, and one ofher earliest crushes was on that dashing scoundrel, Han Solo.)

Then came the days ofHobbits and Elves, and a fan film project that would take a year ofwatching Jr. high boys run around with swords, and a binder full ofpictures and articles about that fabulous tril "The Lord of the Rings."

"Good" Christians didn't read "Harry Potter", but when the young woman went off for college she decided to research the matter for herself. After much thought and consideration, she decided to meet the Boy who Lived for herself, and was astounded by the beauty, depth and Christian symbolism in the stories ofHogwarts.

She vowed not to read "Twilight." After all, it was a story about 'good' vampires. Who had ever heard ofsuch a thing? But then she heard about the parallels with the story ofGenesis and decided to pick it up... and was completely bewitched by the fascinating Cullen family and the emotional power ofStephanie Meyer.

Spiderman and Batman didn't do it for her, but The Fantastic Four, X-Men and above all, the love story ofGambit and Rogue drew her into the Marvel universe like a magnet rushing towards the north pole. Who would have thought that those funky 70's costumes could become so dear, or that superhero stories could hold such truth, such amazing illustration, and such powerful stories?

Then there was the Doctor. With his ability to travel into the past and meet such personages as Shakespeare and Agatha Christie, his tireless enthusiasm and that irresistable portrayal by David Tennant well, it was worth a few Weeping Angels to enjoy that show!

Why are these stories so powerful? Partially because they tap into subcreation, partially because they set our imagination on fire. Yet also because, despite all the special effects, they are intensely personal stories. Whether LOTR or X-Men, we can all find aspects that we can relate to. We know loneliness, but through these stories, we can learn the power offamily... or the need to find the strength to stand alone to make a better world. We know love, and we know unrequited love. We know passion and strength and truth, all magnified by the fact they are relevant whether one is facing Daleks or one's next research paper.

I, of course, was that girl. And I think God for the gift of imagination, that allows us to learn about the world not just in our own experiences, but in the dazzling worlds offantasy and science fiction. ~Elizabeth Hausladen Editor Photos the property of the BBC, New Line Cinema, Fox, Marvel, Summit Entertainment and WB.

o/'/uJse D/Jmtiticl: "nwnks/iJr nolhing, _vou useless replile 1" I hemca sigh of frustration and sit back in my chair. glaring nt the beast in front ofmc. Seemingly unconcerned that it J ust crashed the internet and lost all rn� tn bs and a post. the computer stares unblinkingly back.

Now 1 ·111 not quoting "'How To Train '{our Dragon·· just because it makes me feel better when I call the Dell XP sitting on tlhc desk here a useless reptile. Oh no. it goes deeper than that. I am ,con, meed that computers arc not just the lumps ofplastic and hard dri,c they appear to be. Oh no. the.')· arc more: they arc nothing other than dragons in disguise.

I can just sec all you skcpitics out there shaking your heads. Rut before �011 pass me olTas a total nutcasc. let me present m:,. proof First. my thoo� 1s that dragons \\enl rnto hiding during the times when people where terrified silly ofthem. l\'laybc the.: figurc.-d that their huge. scaly. fire-breathing persona ,,asn ·• the best way lo iCOC\:ist. l\faybc the� got tired of people trying 10 ride them. I don·, kno\\ then reasons for hiding'. all I knO\\ 1s that the) hme ,come back. This tune. the� arc scak-less. ,,ithout the fire and ha,e one

hug,·, square eyeball.

Dragons arc reptiles. right'' As such. they must he poikilothennic (thats cold-blooded for all non-Greek scholars) Ha,en·t you c,cr noticed that computers tend to be the temperature ofthc1r surroundings'? ·11tm ·s wh� you hme to remember not to lea,e your laptop in the car in the sun or else it may o ,·crheat and die. (Or someone ,,ill steal it- but thafs off topic). Add to that the hard skin prolocting it

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The e�c of this llC\\ dragon. ho\\e,cr. is the most important part. for in contcmplatrng it \\ c find the grc.atest proof of m� theory. Just listen to this passage from the talc ofTUfin. ..But Glaunmg with-held his blast and opened wide his serpent-eyes and gazed upon Tllrin. \Vithout fear Tllrin looked into them I I and straight\\ ay he fell undn the binding spell ofthe lidless c�cs ofthe dragon and \\as halted mmclcss."

Doesn·1 that .1ust perfi.x:tl� describe almost c ,crJ Lime- ,,c sil do\\n in front of our computer'.' How many limes do we sit for hours. starlllg into the dragon·s eye. time flying back unheeded and then suddenly ,,e ,make and. like Tiirin. d1scmcr Lhat much has gone on a.round us unheeded \\hilc \\C \\Crc under its spell.

Yet looking through the dragon·s eye is not wholly a bad thing There arc many times ,,hen it shows up things we other \\ise could not ha,e seen like Saphira helping F.ragon to sec through her c� cs. We can sec other lands th.it \\ c ma� nc,er get a chance tu , isit oursehes: bcaultful and inspiring buildings: strange and cool animals that he on other continents; friends whom ,,c·,e met onlinc. but hmc nc,er talked to ofline Ofcourse. cmllion is nccessar�. for these dragons arc treacherous ..ind \\ ill sometimes sho,\ us things ,,e do not need or ,,ant to sec 1 think I l1:1Yc sufficicntJy proYcn now that computers arc indeed dragons in disguise. HO\\CYer. as a final word of ad,ice. I ,,ould caution m� readers to not dche into the matter too dccpl�. They may noL be ,cr y happ� m being d1scmcred. you kno,,. In the words of the cYcr-\\lSC Anonymous ..

"Do not meddle in the affairs ofdragons. for you arc crunchy and good with c.atsup. ·· �a Elbercth ,cria. le (May Elbcreth protect �ou) Second quote 1aken from The S,lmanlhon b, J JU{ Tolkien.

Ballantine Books c.-dition.

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Now is your chance to prove it!

Help Regina publicize her novels, especially her latest, "Alex O'Donnell and the 40 Cyberthieves," and earn points and prizes!

The contest runs until the 31st of August. At the end, the person with the most points will win all sorts of cool prizes, including a hardcover copy of "Alex" and a DVD of "The Shadow of the Bear." There will also be prizes for 2nd and 3rd place, plus anyone who collects 26 points will get a download of the music for the SOTB Audio Drama!

You can collect points by making T-shirts and other merchandise, writing reviews on your blog and other websites, getting libraries and bookstores to carry the books, sporting a banner on your blog or a forum, getting photos with Regina or another Chesterton Press Worker, and recommending Regina as a speaker at your school or conferance. You can even get points for completing these same activities for the John Paul II High books!

To learn more, visit Regina's website at www.fairytalenovels.com.

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of the Christian analogi�s that you can find in l.Ji.. them. My favorite one is The Last Batlle because, of the hope of eternal life that is in it. I love these books so much that I even read them in French because then I have the best of three worlds: Christian analogies, French, , and Narnia." ,., \ ·· .

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"The reason why I love 'Narnia' is be­ cause C.S. Lewis created a world � pure, wonderful magic that everyone can relate to.•J. - Princess-At-Heart -

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;:,! r�lly..like the Narnia books, by C.S. Lewis, because they are a fun. easy read, while at the same time including Christian values. I also happen to love anything set in l!!l-'�unreal" or made-up world; even though it is made up, however, Narnia is still entirely believable. It was only recently that I actually realized it did not exist." - Girl4God •. ,'\ . .

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"I love the Narnia books for a ton of reasons. They're all-around- • awesome books. But I think the,t' �"_.,...... ,..of them, the thing that best aspect • keeps them pure and beautiful and �:."I've loved The Chronicles ofNamia wonderful is the sense of magic. It is so easy to step into the �rid of ever since my mom first read tl,em out Narnia and let yourself dissolve from loud to me and my siblings. It's such a the •real• world! It's so easy to believe .,refreshing story with a simplicity that in! Even though outsi_de, we might act especially appeals to younger children, like Peter and Susan, sa>fog; �It's just but has something to offer to every age. a dream,• I think that the real reason Every time I reread them I tine! some new piece of symbolism that I never no­ everybody loves those bboks is because ticed before. And since·1 grew up reading, we believe in•iH It _is so magical I And,, and playing, and wiching Namia, it feel we're all lo�l!(ifor our Narnias, every ,like I'm stepping back in time each time I day." - Roseloi·fr .pick a book up." - Lillian "I love Narnia for a lot of reasons. For.one thing, C.S. Lewis' style of "Why I love Narnia. Big subject. writing is so magical! I mean, getting randomly swept away to a totally go on for hours. You could say I love it different world, becoming kings and queens, and then coming back and because of the deep Christian undercurrent, nobody knows. And the imagery is awesome. Another reason is that the or the fantastic story line, or the great wri­ allegory is amazing! Asian is so kind and so just at the same time And ting, the characters, or just the land itself It the kids are so real too. Eustace and Jill are so fun to read about. They're always seems as if l can just step into the just like nonnal schoolchildren. And, of course, I like it because it has Ui9', story and watch. I even used to have day­ who I an1 obviously a big fan of She is so trusting and childlike." dreams about living there. And it's all so -Lady Lucy magical. The fauns, dwarves, talking Mice (it would be so fun to meet Rccpichcep) and l0yage of the Dawn Treader goes on his little boat, and then is the Unicorns ... I guess I love it because it's raised into what could be heaven... and then of course Aslii'ii.' In writte� so-�ell that the characters come alive." the Lion. the Witch and the Wardrobe, when Asian comes and - llleana winter is no more, that part is just so touching, because the reality that he's representing Christ, and that this right now is the state "Although it's been a while since I've actually of winter and Asian is going to come and make ii't.'tiiimer again. read the books, I've watched the movies over I don't know, sounds kinda cheesy when I put it like this, but and over again. I love them because of the whatever. parallels to the Bible and God's story, like C.S. Lewis meant it to be. For instaince, in the I also enjoy tliem because of all the adventure in them. I love Magician's Nephew, how the witch goes into adventure books, and it's not one of those boring religious books the worlds and makes them evil and things like that make me want to fall asleep; but it's one of those books that that, I can tell that that's meant to be Satan and make me want to read more."~ 1risscar stuff. .. ya'know? And then Reepicheep in the

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An Overlooked reasure

hy Rose Dominick The setting: A little country, quiet and peaceful - for the 111ost part. Our hero: A farmer with a red beard, comfortable and set in his ways - until one night something happens. The des­ tination: the mountains away up North past the hills and the Standing Stones - and a dragon's lair. The result: A wonderful and entertaining tale that will keep readers enthralled - even the non-Tolkien-ites.

It was in my first whirl ofTolkien-maina when I discovered this jewel of a book. I had gone trea�ure hunting at my local library with the intent to uncover anything and everything by that famed author. I recall looking at the shelf in expectation, passing over The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings since I had already read both, and then coming to a worn paperback with the title Farmer Giles of Ham and Smith of Woot­ ton Major - two books in one. I snatched it and brought it on my family's camping trip. I fell in love with the story and the characters immedi­ ately. Farmer Giles is written in Tolkien's lighter style, like The Hobbit, and it is equally enjoyable.

1 don't think I ever finished the poor Smith of \Nootton Major, but I did return again to the dear Farmer Giles of Ham. And what is not to love? Tolkien's wit is in fine form in this short tale which occurred "somewhere in those long years after the days of King CoeI maybe, but before Arthur or the Seven Kingdoms of the English'.' lhe events keep you just as enthralled and his descriptions and narration bring a de­ lighted laugh to your lips with their humor and charm. The characters are no less life-like or

memorable than his more well known creations'.

If I had to give an exact reason why I love this creation ofTolkien's so much, I would have to lay the blame on the scaled and winged shoul­ ders of Chrysophylax Dives. Poor Chrysophylax Dives, a dragon "of ancient and imperial lin­ eage, and very rich. He was cunning, inquisitive, greedy, well-armored, but not over bold.[ ...) and he was mortally hungry'.'

Tempted by the story of a dull giant (who was rather hard of hearing and near-sighted) who went away to the lands south for a walk and was turned away by horseflies - (well ... they were actually naDls ·stuffed down the barrel of Farmer Giles' blunderbuss. A definition of'blun­ derbuss' can be obtained from the Four Wise Clerks of Oxford). Now where was I? Oh yes, tempted away by the giant's story, Chrysophylax soon discovers that he is in for a lot more than he bargained for when he runs into Farmer Giles of Ham - who realizes that he is in for more than he bargained for when he relishes the heroism bestowed on him for scaring off the giant.

Haud res utrum vos es an vetus lector , vel a tener lector aTolkien fanatic necne , vos vos ero laetus per /Egidius Agricola de Hammo.

Or, in the vulgar tongue: No matter whether you are an old reader, or a young reader, a Tolkien fanatic or not, you will be delighted with Farmer Giles of Ham. •

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The Heroines of Star Wars

In a world tiJll of men and their light sabers 1he two female leads of the Star Wan ftanchise definitely stand out. Both Padme Amidala, with her smnge clothing and makeup and Princess Leia, mth her unique hairstyles are striking figures against the predominantly male cast. But what makes than good heroines? You can't simply place a beautifial girl in a movie, let her do whatever doesn't get in the way of the plot and call her a good heroine. What makes these two such good role models? What doesn't? Why are these things so important in the creation of a movie's heroine?

Queen Amidala: Our people are dyillg. Senator. We must do something quickly to stop the Federation.

Senator Palpatme: To be realistic, your Majesty. I think we are going to haw to accept Federation con­ trol for tl1c time bei ng, Queen Amidala: That is something I cannot cb.

Morals. We want our heroes and heroines to be peo­ ple of character. People we can respect. We find it disappointing when our heroes don't live up 1D a cer­ tain standard. Both Padme and Leia repn:sem posi­ tive morals and are able to conununicate them clearly in their political careers.

Princess Leia: All troop carrien will assemble at the north entrance. The heavy transport ships wil leaw as soon as they're loaded. Only two fighter =mflr" per ship The cner�•y shield canonlv be opened for a short time, so you'll have to stay very close to your transports.

Derek 'Hobbie' Klivian: Two figl1ters against a Star Destroyer?

Princess Leia : The ion camion will fire several shots to make sure any enemy ships will be out of your flight path. When you've gotten past the energy shield, proc­ eed directly to the rendezvous point. Understood• Good luck.

truly reftesbing to see in fi:male leads. H°''C\?�'I are not the picture perfect heroines either. Leia strugglts,�v�Clting go of control; the idea of trusting people is ba for lier espe­ cially c.onsidering her ties to the secret rebel �l �hb has an overly sharp tongue which although funny can "!,Jlrsastrous for her personal relationships. These become a r<i!..61ock in her life, especially in her relatinnship "'th Han Solo

Padme, MID starts out as a strong and fearless leader. dedi­ cated to her people, becomes entangled in a relationship that goes against every single moral bone in her body. She goes against her core values when she starts up a romance with the troubled Jedi in training. Anikan Skywalker. something that simply was not allowed at the time.

Unable to distance herself from the situation she becomes helpless in her ability 10 decide what is right and wrong in the events unfolding around her. And "hen she and Anikan are married in secret she loses her good standing "'th her peen and she loses her dignity "'" being pregnant when no one knows that she bas marnCll.;"ovcrwhclrncd by her str­ ong "'illed husband instead of standiog up and telling him he's wrong is in incapable of seeing the warning signs. And when her children need her the most she cannot overcome the loss of her husband and dies because of it

In some ways each character is influenced bythe plotline of the entire trilogy. In episodes IV-VI there is a feeling of vic­ tory and success. Leia as a character grows throughout the three movies, till at the end of the third movie she has blossomed into caring, commanding \\oman. In episodes I­ m the plotline is degrading, the Empire is being formed. and the plan to eliminate all Jedi ,s put in place. ln that re­ S))<!Ct Padme's character must also di.-gradc. bocomiog part of the chaos. However I wish that she could have done so with more dii,'llll)· towards who she was prior to falling m love with Anikan.

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Being a writer, as I know many ofyou a�;' learning ends.'J.R.R Tolkien heartily disliked it and thought it the story behind the writing ofyour favorite books can too hastily thrown together, and not consistent enouglj m te�fm)thology. Lewis, who greatly respected be especially fascinating. The way..f.S Lewis came to write The Chronicles ofNamia may seem familiar to � Tolkien, was hurt by this, and nearly abandoned the some ofyou • the storyline didn't come to him all in one project, even though he did not feel he had written it piece, but in random scenes that appeared in his mind; carelessly and did not find a problem with mixing varhapr,enings in real life, and even dreams. , ious mythol ,ogical traditions, But a former student, Ro­ gerGreen, fellow Inkling Robert Havard, !_n� Havard's For many years, Lewis had been a best-selling writer daugl)ter � Clare, all enjoyed it and offere_d their ofphilosophical works, a professor at Oxford Universi�. encouragement that he continue. So The Lion, the Wi­ and a literary critic. As he was a middle-aged bachelor tch, and the Wardrobe was published just before Chriand had never been around children much, it seemed un­ stmas in 1950. usual that he would write a book for them. But he had a ' lively imagination and a desire for Q:ie t�e-�d wonderful, The remaining six books - Prince Caspian, The Y<!Y· , and, as he wrote, "A fairy tale addressed to children ... is , age ofthe Dawn Treader, The Silver Ch� The Horse exactly what I must write - or burst". And as he pointed and His Boy, The Magician's Nephew, and The Last which out, "A children's story is enjoyed only by children B'rttle - appeared in the following six years. is a bad children's story. The good ones last." The fact � 4 I that The Chronicles ofNarnia definitely falls in the latter My own personal favorites are The Voyage ofthe category is evidenced by how mt1ch_th_ey are enjoyed by Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair, even though I multitudes of teenagers and adults. love all ofthem and it's almost impossible to pick fa. ' vorites! I've always loved the vivid, sea-faring aspWhen Lewis was a teenager, the image of11 fa . un �ct ofTlie Voyage ofthe Dawn Treader, and the wide walking through a snow-covered forest, carrying pva':-iety ofthe different islands they visit. The Silver eels and an umbrella, suddenly popp_(?ll into ,his head � Chair has_ such a thrilling storyline, eerie and almost • horrifying a�ects in the adventures \vith the Giants one day. This image had remained in his memory 1 throughout his life, and when he began work on Tlie ,: ofHarfang and in the Underworld, but in the end, the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, it appeared as good wins out, the King ofNarnia is restored to his Tumnus, when Lucy meets him on her first visi� throne, and everyone is able to return home.

Narnia. Other images, such as the Witch riding in her sleigh, came to him, and he started piecing them iog� • Lewis certainly wrote a good children's story - one ther into a story. An incident in his everyday .!ife also . • that lasts. Eve/ since mymother read The Chronicles found its way into his book - several school-aged girls 1 ofNarnia to me when I was eight years old, they from London were staying with him and his friend Mrs.,_ have captivated me and helped form an important......

Moore at the Kilns during the bombing in London, and • · part ofmy imagination. Now that I'm older and� one ofthem asked ifshe could play in the large ward­ erested in writing myself, Lewis's path to writing robe in a spare room. But something seemed to be therntiecomes even more interesting. The Chronicles missing, and after he dreamed oflions one night, Lewis ofNarnia is tlie prodifct'o.f a profoundly Christian says that Asian "came bounding into it (Narnia)". After mind, one in which logic, philosophy, and an ever-preAsian had filled up this very important missing link:, sent sense ofwonder were blended. And this wondwell as tlie erful, fantastic story, which has provided so much en­ . the rest of the story fell into place, as . storylines of-the remaining six books. joyment and formation ofthe imaginatiori ~ to genera�tions ofpeo-ple, all began in his youth with the simple After Lewis finished The Lion, the Witch, and the image ofa faun, parcels and umbrella in hand, walkWardrobe, it was met withrnixed criticism by his friing in a_ �n,owy wood. ,• . -;-, ·'«''·'·'"'·�·..,,.,_,-.'_ -

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BRINGING.BYYOU STAR WARS IN THREE EPISODES OR L�S NERI PRESLIN A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE

Scene Some Rebel base Pnncess Leia Let's have an awards ceremony I

Princess Leia I'll never tell you anythmgl

Han Oh snap I They're gonna blow us upl Seeyal

R2 Help me Obi Wanl Love Pnncess Leta

Luke I'll blow up the Death Star l

Luke We better help her

*Even bigger shootout•

Han Only ,f I get my money

Luke Well everybody else ,s dead, guess it's up to me

Luke You will

Han Just kidding I We're back I

Darth Vader Ob1 Wan 1s here, I must kill him

De�th St;;:": Kab�!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! !

Governor Tarkin Okee

Darth Vader: GAHi I definitely don't have them now well ... good thing there's a sequel

Chewy We're all gonna d1el

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Princess Leia Yayl Awards ceremonyI EPISODE V - THE EMPIRE STRIKES BAcK

Darth Vader I wml •slashes Ob, m half" Obi Wan: Psych! I win"'I •shootout• Luke I kiii1mill youl

RebelLion So even though we won at the end of the last movie, we thought 11 would be a good idea to retreat to an eternally frozen planet where the Abommable Snowman hves Yeah 1!1lperial Probe Droid· rill a. ineteorl.fo. st kidding-: I foimd You I I•• •• _ Han I'm leavmg

M1llenmum Falcon •hyperspeed• Han I can't wait till we can argue some morel Princess Leia Me tool

Leia Luke's nussmg

Luke: Even though I eventually find out she's my sister I think she's cute.

Han Do I have to save him agam?

Han: You've got issues

Luke •wakes up• Hey, theAbommable Snowman -AHi

Ghost Obi: Luke get out your OPS we're going on a road trip.

Han I found himl Rogue 2 I found theml

Vader: Even after all my failures I'm somehow still the Emperor's right hand man .. strange, since I air choke anyone who forgets Jaba: Welcome to my creepy den of thieves I Let me show you around.. This is my party room for criminals ...

CJPO Lovely Jaba My fightmg cage of death, Mth retractable seatmg

Leia Time to go *Most epic snow fight ever takes place• Han Time to go Oh perfect, and asteroid field

Jaba And my life size Han Solo actton figure I

Leia Aie you kidding me?!!!

C3PO Uhhhhh

Luke Degema system here we come I

Chewy Oh snap, I've been captured

Lando: I'll help you. this is a trap�

Bounty Hunter Leia Give me money or I'U blow you up

About that

UmpaLurnpas We're here to freeze you Luke: Oh snap! They're gonna freeze Han! By';' Degema system Yoda: Words in incorrect order I have yet to say ..

Han Gee thanks, now rm blind

L<:ia: Han, you're totally ,wcsomc.

Luke WatchaI I am Jed1I Hear me roar

Han I know •freezel•

Jaba Time to feed you to the beasue'

Vader •splices off Luke's hand*: Give Daddy a hug

Han I still can't see

Luke NOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIII

Leia Thanks for the bathing suit, but no thanks *chokes Jaba*

Lando Guess it's time to JOm your rebellion

Luke Back to the Degem;i system

Luke: Leial

Commander We're gonna blow up the Death Star, again

Leia: Luke!

Lando Pick mel

EPISODE

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RETURN OF THE JEDI

Rebels: So we're gonna have to blow up another Death Star by the end of this movie. You would think that they would have improved the plans a fter last time ... ,

Weeeeeeeee1

Yoda Tmung of yours 1s bad I d1e now Commander Okay, so Lando will blow up the Death Star Luke And steal my thunder? I don't think sol

Commander: Aren't you going to fight Darth Vader Darth Vader: Why did you have to walk strait into my trap? I or something? wanted to chase you!!!

Luke: Oh, right.

Luke: Dude, that's what you've been doing the past two movies.

Han: Let's go, time to get ourselves killed.

Darth Vader: Oh, right. Tune to go meet the Emperor.

Darth Vader: Muahahaha, I get to kill them this time. Lando: Surprise! We're here!

Emperor: Have fun!

Han: Quick we have to blow up the satellite dish thingy!

Leia: We've been spotted!

•epic forest battle•

*forest chase scene•

Lando: Here we come!

Teddy Bear: Come with me! I'm cute!

Emperor: Fools. We'll kill them all!

Leia: Okay.

Luke: I kill you!

Han: Great now we have to go find Leia.

Darth Vader: I thought you were killing me ...

Chewy: Hey look, dinner!

Luke: Good thing Leia's not here.

Luke: Oh snap.

Darth Vader: Ooooh, so I have a daughter too. Good to know.

Teddy Bear people: C3PO is our god!

Luke: Die, die, die!

Luke: 1 \viii use my mind powers so they won't eat us!

Emperor: This is better than WWE.

Luke: No, I can't kill you Daddy.

Teddy Bear People: We set you free. But only if we can help you blow up the death star.

Emperor: Then feel my lightning of doom!!!!!!! .... Okay?

Darth Vader: I kill you!!!!!!! I

Luke: Hey, remember when you kissed me back in episode five?

Lando: Maybe flying into the center of the thing we're going to blow up wasn't the best policy.

Leia: About that ....

Han: You love him don't you?

Luke: Yeah, we're siblings.

Leia: As a brother.

Han: Yeah right.

Leia: No really - we're siblings.

Han: This might be the best day ever.

Darth Vader: Even though I tried to kill all of you tell your sister I was a nice person.

Leia: Well that makes things easier.

Luke: Got to go kill Dad bye' Han: ls everything okay?

Leia: No!

Luke: Can do.

Death Star #2: Ka - BOOM.

Han: Okay.... Confusing.

Teddy Bear People: Party time!

Teddy Bear: Let's go blow things up!

Ghost Yoda, Obi and Darth Vader: Are we invited?

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"<'fanfliU!J remains a human ri_Jhf. . . 6ecause we are made: anlnot on& made, 6ut made in tlie ima..9e antillk,,eness ofa "Mak,.er. • [1"0/kjen, Tree antif.eaf}

At the heart of author J.R.R. Tolkien's work is his understanding of"sub-creation." Sub-creation is an imaginaI)' (secondary) world which mi1Tors our own in the deepest sense. We Humans create; it is a part of our nature. We can take the green from grass and blue from the sky-but we cannot deny the existence of Truth, whicb penetrates all worlds. Sub-creation allows us to recognize that Truth with the fresh eyes of a secondary world.

God is eternal. He is. Many things are a part of Him: love, goodness, and trnth are just a few words that come to mind. These things, like God, cannot be changed. To do so-to deny their existence or to warp them-is to deny God. But His creation can change. What is to say that He could not have made people with eight legs and no arms, or blue skin and tails� Couldn't He have made talking animals? He could have created a world in which people Hy in and birds swim. Gravity could repel!

When I was little, I wondered what people meant when they said, "God made everything." I did not see God's hand appear in the sky and set a house on the ground; I saw carpenten-s hammer and saw.

My mother explained that people create houses using God's gifts. In this case, His gift was the creation of tree and stone.

When you throw imagination into the mix, things get more confusing. I can create a mental image of a floating house made out of orange water. Am I using God's creation of water to make that image? I cenainly am not using the laws of physics!

The reason I can create that image is because creation is changeable. The same mind that thinks of light and heavy can concei,·e of something that makes heavy things light and able to fly. That is why an

author like Tolkien can write a story about dwarves, elves, and magic. This"secondary world" with evil rings and mighty swords, however, cannot change the unchangeable. Nothing can escape truth.

We would not idemify with Frodo's journey to Mount Doom if we did not recognize our own strnggles with the devil-his plight is just too remote.

We would not understand Sam's loyalty if it was not driven by the same Love that created our world. The same truth, justice, goodness, and beauty breathes in both our world and the"Secondary Worlds."

The relationship between the "real" and "imaginary" worlds can be startling at times. The writer G.K. Chesterton famously said,"Any scene can be more freshly and clearly seen when it is upside down." Artists often turn their anwork on its l1ead in order to correctly see the underlying shapes and shadows. Likewise, fantasy makes the real world do a handstand. We see absolute truths portrayed in a different way than a realistic story. We can look everyday events with fresh eyes and reawaken wonder and joy.

Tolkien says in one of his letters that his object was the"elucidation of truth, and the encouragement of good morals in this real world, by the ancient devise of exemplifying them in unfamiliar embodiments, that tend to 'bring them home' ... to make visible and physical the effects of Sin or misused Free Will by men.''

Every author and every story uses sub-creation, especially those of famasy. We may not know the strange worlds, but we will recognize the deep truths that govern all worlds.

•

One Sunday morning in November 1995, New Zealand-born movie director Peter Jackson was lying in bed trying to decide his next film­ making endeavor. Making a movie similar to the book series The Lord of the Rings i1nmediately came to mind. It wasn't long before he decided that a faithful adaptation of].R.R Tolkien's fa­ mous series would be his next project. Little did he know that this project would span near!)' a decade, become an almost instant classic, culmi­ nate in a movie that would be nominated for 11 Oscars, and, more importantly, win a very spe­ cial place in the hearts of millions of fans.

Jackson's primary goal was to make the movie as faithful a� possible to the books, both because of the richness and beauty ofTolkien's writing and for the more practical reason that the books already had millions offans who would not be happy to sec an unfaithful adaptation. Everyone involved in the production always had a copy -0f The Lord of the Rings on hand and referred to it frequently, slavishly following Tolkien's vivid descriptions.

Middle Earth would need to be brought to life with care and meticulous attention to detail, beginning with the talented people of \.Veta \.Vorkshop, a special effects firm in New Zea­ land that had already worked with Jackson on several of his earlier films. For nearly rwo years, the employees of Weta worked from early in the morning until early evening--brainstorming, constructing models, drawing concept art, and designing the first miniatures. Alan Lee and John Howe, two long-time illustrators ofTolkien's

work, worked closely with the "\-Veta-ers•: and between the shared visions of]ackson, \Neta, and the two artists, Middle Earth began to come to life. But then disaster struck!

Miramax, who had agreed to finance the project as two movies, was worried at seeing how high production costs were becoming, and told Jackson that it would have to be restructured into a single movie. Jackson refused, and for a time it seemed that this marvelous, exciting project, which had already seen so manr hours ofhard work, would simpl)' have to be shelved.

But Jackson refused to give up, and in time New Line agreed to take on the project, with the exciting proposition of making not only two movies, but three! \.Veta got back to work on designing, but meanwhile many other fac­ tors started rolling into place. New Zealand was thrilled and honored that the movies were to be filmed on location there, and location scouts were soon finding Middle Earth on the beautiful North and South Islands.

Some locations were less than ideal--such as part of the landscape of Mordor containing a dormant volcano--and others were nearly inac­ cessible, surrounded by narrow gravel roads that would need to be utilized by the over 50 trucks in a single film unit. Other locations, however, looked as though they were trul)' in Middle Earth; particularly Mount Sunday, where the city ofEdoras was located. Seeing a storehouse of the sets and props for The Lord of the Rings would be a fascinating experience, and the amount of work that went into all the details is incredible.

For example, many of the dead horses you see in the battle scenes are models, meticulously crafted and costing around two thousand dol­ lars each; and Boromir's body, seen by Faramir in a boat as it drifts down the Great River, is an incredible likeness that is made of silicone.

There were multitudes of wigs made for both the main actors and the extras, and great quan­ tities of hobbit feet, elf ears, and ore bodies. A remarkable, ground- breaking blend of acting and special effects that had never been quite realized before The Lord of the Rings was found in Gollum. Andy Scrkis brought the complex, tortured character of Gollum to life, and the special effects team was able to translate it to a visual reality onscreen.

Costumes, too, involved much thought and design. So much can be shown by someone's clothing, and knowledge of that is evidenced by the amount of thought and careful detailing that went into each costume, so that they would help truly transform the actor into the character they portrayed.

The actors themselves are a huge part of what makes the movie what it is. Everyone was care­ fully and brilliantly chosen, although there was one role that had to be recast - that of Aragon1.

Stuart Townsend, who had been originally cast in the role, mutually agreed with the directors that it was a mistake, but this left scarce! )' any time to find a replacement. Viggo Mortensen, who originaUy didn't want the part, finally decid­ ed to accept it and left for 15 months of filming halfway across the world.

Despite his initial reluctance, it wasn't long before he had fully embraced his part--even to the point of constantly rehearsing his sword fighting (and being arre!ited for practicing in a public park!), and being the only actor who did nearly all of his own riding. It is very interest­ ing to read about the actors and see how closely their true life personalities mirror their personae onscreen - yet another example of the close at­ tention that was paid to detail and excellence.

And, of course, one of the most beloved parts of The Lord of the Rings is the wonderful music.

Howard Shore both composed and directed the extensive, beautiful score, drawing extensively on references to music contained in Tolkien's descriptions of the various locations in Middle Earth. In Moria we hear "drums, drums in the deep", and the "doom, doom of drumbeats that shake the walls"; the Last Homely House was a place of song, which is realized in the choirs you hear in the track "Many Meetings"; and Lothlo­ rien is a place that is fu II of mystery, and many exotic instruments are used in its music, giving it an otherworldly sound.

The Lord of the Rings has truly become a classic of our time. Every person who worked on it realized this, and felt that it was an honor to be part of the making of such a great film. But, despite the brilliant and groundbreaking special effects, meticulous commitment to detail, and overall excellence of quality, what gives ·1 he Lord of the Rings its lasting appeal is the story at its heart. It is a story, penned by a British profes­ sor, that takes place in a fantastical world--but through the fantasy reality is brought into focus even more clearly. 'vVe can all relate to Frodo's trepidation at this enormous ta�k that has been given to him; take comfort from Gandalf's advice that "We cannot choose what time we live in - all we can choose is what to do with the time that is given to us"; be inspired by the heroism and bravery of a peo­ ple who will not let evil walk in unchallenged; and be encouraged by the words of Galadriel: "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future" To learn more about the making of Lord of the Rings, I highly recommend The Lord of the Rings: Tue Making of the Movie Trilogy, by Brian Sibley. It was very helpful in writing this article!

'lhe pedect family- we all know that nn one is perfect; we're humans. Perfection is unreachable, but that doesn't mean we don't try. Striving to be better people is a good thing, but we can become defeated when things don't go right Despite our best efforts we fail. If we fail again we sta£t to give up hope ...we become la1,y, convinced we will never succeed; complacent. And like it or not this affects our relationships, especially with our family. Take the Parr family for example.

We first see them as a young couple, joining their lives together, ready for anything that comes their way...

Helen; I love you, but if we're going to make this v,mrk, you have to be more than Mr. Incredible. You know that, don't you?

Priest: ...so long as you both sl1all live?

Mr. Incredible: I do.

Helen is reminding her husband that life is more than bis job. Life will mean father­ hood, it will mean long nights and longer days v,;ith her, and their children. It requires him to abandon his "I work alone" status of the super hero world and Join a team.

Helen: Now it's perfectly normal...

Violet: [interrupting] Normal? \Vhat do you know about normal? \Vhat docs any­ one in this family know about normal?

I Jelen: Now wail a minute, young lady...

Violet: \Ve act normal, mom! I want to be normal! "lhe only normal one is Jack-Jack, and he's not even toilet trained!

[Jack-Jack bursts out laughing] Dash: Lucky...

I Violet and Helen look askance at him I Dash: Uh, I meant about being normal.

A few years down the road and our fam­ ily is having problems. Their secret lives and abilities which drav,; them closer also make them sick of each other. Not being able to have relationships outside of the family causes problems within. The former Mr. Incredible, stuck in a dead end job, is only a shadow of his former energetic self. Elastigirl is now us­ ing her powers to wrangle children instead of bad guys.

Getting caught up in the day to day prob­ lems, they forget to find ways to connect outside of the family as a couple. So when Mr. Incredible begins his secret super hero work,

instead of sharing this secret with his wife, he decides it would be easier to keep it from her.

In turn, when Elastigirl begins to suspect her husband of infidelity, instead of confronting him about her worries she decides to investi­ gate behind his back.

When she realizes that something is wrong she is at a loss as to what she should <lo ...

"Pull-yourself-together! 'What will you do?' Is this a question? You will show him you remember that he is Mr. Incredible, and you will remind him who 'you' are. Well, you know where he is. Go, confront the problem.

Fight! Win!"~ Edna

Bob: Not... J'm not strong enough.

J!elen: Strong enough? And this will make you stronger?

Bob: Yes. No! Helen: ·1 hat's what this is? Some sort of work out?

Bob: [shouts) I can't lose you again! [calms down] Bob: I can't. Nol again. I'm not s-strong enough.

Helen: [kisses him] If we work together, you won't have to be.

Getting back to a good place can be hard when people in a family fight. The lncredibles only solve their problems because they work together to become stronger. Instead of deny­ Edna is reminding her friend of the fact that nothing is solved by avoidance. She also ing their differences they confront them, and reminds her that getting caught up in one this manages to bring them closer to each other. Realizing that they need each other's dif­ aspect of their lives has affected who they are as a couple. To each other they cannot simply ferent talents to make their own stronger is an be Mom and Dad, they must remember who important lesson we can all learn. they were when they met, and that they are still Often we get mad at siblings for not seeing these people underneath it all. things the same way we do, instead of real­ izing that this is a powerful tool for us to help Bob: \\'ait here an<l stay hidden. I'm go­ expand our range of understanding. Realizing ing in. that we don't have lo fix everything for every­ Helen: \Vhile what? I watch helplessly one - that sometimes letting someone else pick up the lead i5 better than micro managing from the sidelines? I don't think so.

Bob: I'm asking you to wait with the everyone. Accepting that things will change that families are made up of individuals, and Helen: And l'm telling you, not a chance. their personal experiences change the family You're my husbund, I'm with you for better or <lynumic. worse.

Some changes might not be for the best­ Bob, I have to do this alone.

-jumping on another family members' case Helen: \Vhat is this to you? Playtime' and running them down about it is not the best way to get things back to normal. "Jhe ln­ Bob: No. Helen: So )'OU can be Mr. Incredible credibles are a perfect example of the adapting again? family unit, a family that is not at all perfect but strives towards perfection. This is why they Bob: Nol Helen: "Ihen what? \Vhat is it? can be considered not only super heroes but a super family.

Bob, l'm not..

Helen: Not what' pictures property of Pixar Animation Studios

-1

EN DE-R S--GA·M E

by Rebekah Hall

School to train future captains and generals.

So, through no fault of his own, Ender was a living reminder that they were not one of the lucky few, and his abusive older brother Peter, like his other peers, took it as a personal insult. For Peter,"' ·-tlioiigh, the insult hit particularly close to home, because when the--"" officials asked for a third child from the Wiggins, they were look- 1 ing for a quality that the highly-intelligent Peter and his sister Val/ __i'i ., �- entine lacked, and Peter could never forgive Ender for that. Desr I pite Valentine's efforts to protect Ender, Peter knew how to make--• ' /. � 1 - ,Jf,) · ·. �life miserable for it, too. When Ender is finally accepted at the not much changes in his favor. Where being brighter f-!� · ,_., _: J Battle-School, than average can be inconvenient, being a genius amongst geniuses ,:'#1 , • I , can be downright dangerous, :sl?;cially when the teac_�s .':!'v�e�a:'.- --• � -�knack of calling attention to it. ' c• · . .,91\ . "' . ,1 .� -' �J.t._ p.l-•-,,_.., •• At the School, the education revolves around "games," battle sim�� 1 1 -{;1- 1 ulations that teach the students to think strategically, and End_er_ . : __ ) begins to excel at every one of them. As he becomes more familiar �• '...:. < ( }, 1 r � < "' l__�L ""'_�__'iiil-v · · "'. · · · with their rules and nuances, though, he starts to suspect that there is another, entirely different game being played by the teachers, a •.

1 , 1.1vd, , they called him. game in which he is a far more important piece than a pawn; and-'T'-� --.::...------- he would be right, they are. Ender's Game had originally appeared as a short story in a science-fiction magazine; and while the novel Though his peers' taunts were nothing could very easily be called science-fiction, it should be �ve� another short of aggressive, Ender Wiggin would ignore them. He knew they hated - --chance by those who normally disregard the genre. Unhke its counterparts, Ender's Game takes the very personal approach that would him. Their reasons for it were simple appeal to many readers, telling the story through more or lest EmJ_e"'r'-''s::..a• enough. He was the smartest child of eye s, and playmg 1t more hke fantasy rather than bona fide science - - their first grade class, he was a special _ fiction. exception from the two-child law, and, more importantly, he still had his momtor.

Orson Scott Card was a playwright before he was an author and it__ __ out in his writing, making the dialog one of the most delicious comes :--· p That monitor was perhaps the main ro parts of the entire book. Yet, Card proves himself worthy as an aublem ofit all. It recorded all that he heard thor too, and Ender's battles, real and simulated, are thoroughly invior saw, said or did, and the fact that he still had it after six years meant that apparently gorating and exciting, both in their fast-paced style and the clever he was still worth watching; or, at least, acstrategics. This, readers, comes from a reviewer who normally grcording to the officials watching the monitor oans when she sees the Military History channel. In Ender Wiggin, he was, and iit was their opinion that really Card introduces the readers to an intriguing character; one who has. ma�;rcd. W ?' the cver-loommg danger of the trust and naivete of a child, and thus inspires our pity, and at the the Buggers'. on the honzon, i�s�ct-hkc al---same time has the intellectual capacity of an adult and ga ers our m. , . . .

1cns that had threatened humamty s cx1stc. adrmrat1on.

In that way, Ender s Game has one more lastmg quality; . 1s ,vcrc 1 ook'mg � nee t\\1cc no,v, thc offic1a ,or , 1hat 11. s memora ble. the best and brightest to send to the Battle--�--· -

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Your boy's suit I designed to withstand enormous friction withmlf heat;ng up or wearing out, a useful feature. Your daughter's suit was tric/..y, but Ifinally created a sturdy material that can disappear completely as she does. Your suit can stretch asfar as you can without injuring ymirse/j. and still retain its shape. Virtually indestn1ctible, yet it breathes like Egyptian cotton. - Edna (The Incredibles 2004)

What are the three things that every superhero needs to take into account when creating their super suit? Color, cut and cloth. Sound strange?

Well it's not that far off from what we do when choosing are own clothing. And it's essential to creating our own super outfits.

First you must decide what color you want to be your dominant color. The color that all oth­ ers in your wardrobe will revolve around; in deciding this you want to choose something that goes with a lot of other colors, but also provides a unique quality to your outfits. This doesn't have to remain just one color, but it makes it easier to mix and match pieces if they are all in the same color scheme.

Second, you must decide which cut, or style, of clothing you want to wear - what looks best on you. Are you a classic-look person, maybe you go for the funkier retro looks, are you a skater or a skinny jeans type of person? Different styles can work for diff­ erent events, but it's the same as before, generally sticking to one style has many ad­ vantages over a melting pot of styles.

Third, cloth is much more important than we give it credit for. In general you're not going to want to wear a heavy fabric shirt ,vith shorts during the hottest summer months. It might be cute, and it might look good on you

but the most important question you can ask yourself is "will I actually wear this on a daily basis?" Making sure you have the right weight clothing for each season is very important and shouldn't be overlooked.

Don't be afraid to go bold. This fairy's best winter/fall outfit was a bright purple cardigan from the Gap and a pair of black skinny jeans with boots. You know your strengths and we­ aknesses when it comes to your looks. Don't be afraid to play up your beauty. Remember, it's a gift from God that should be used, not hi­ dden away, but it should always be used app­ ropriately. Going back to "will I actually wear this on a daily basis?" the second question you should ask is "Do I feel comfortable wearing this in public?"

There are cute, modest clothes out there. And it's our job as superheroes/heroines of the fash­ ion/modesty world to show the world just how fabulous (and modest) we can look all at once.

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Where you can find pieces to recreate the outfits from Waking Rose

If one were to try to find a theme for the women in Tolkien's world, with only one exception, the general consensus would be, "beautiful beyond imagination." Of course, one sees the attractiveness of writing about beautiful elves and adorable hobbits. I mean, who wants to read a description ofEowyn as, ''Not quite, but almost beautiful. Like a malnourished iris pushing up bravely through grey soil." No, we like to read of the White Lady of Rohan as a flower frozen by the frost, cold and fair and beautiful.

The first female actually mentioned in the Lord of the Rings is the one who is not beautiful-Lobelia Sackville­ Baggins, the old lady with a face that would curdle fresh milk (as vividly described by Merry). Not exactly your kindly grandmother. We see her grasping impatience to lay hold of Bag End, and perhaps she could be described as a sour-faced parasite, even though she doesn't exactly steal the life from those around her.

Goldberry is the next woman we encounter, and unlike the other women her image in our mind is not altered by Peter Jackson's casting, as she did not play a part in the movie. We learn little of her, not much other than the fact she is called the "river-daughter." She is more like a bubbling stream than the elves to whom she is compared.

Like an elf-queen she is, but merrier and earthier. Her joy is like a container in a pool in which water is poured, and the water flows out of the urn and into those surrounding her.

She, like her husband Tom Bombadil, has a close affinity to song, and is often singing. She is swift, as her river­ father, and is almost interwoven with the nature that

surrounds her. We see during her "washing day," and find out she holds some authority over the weather. Like an elf, but not quite an elf.

We hear of Luthien during a talk with Aragom, or Strider as he is called then. She was the most beautiful elf ever to bend a blade of grass with her foot. She was brave, going into the halls of Morgoth, enchanting him with her singing to obtain a silmaril, the bridal price her father demanded of Beren. She became the first elf to willingly gave up her immortality, and died for Beren.

The story of how Beren met Luthien dancing in a clearing was inspired by a moment Tolkien had with his wife. They had gone walking, and in a clearing Edith began dancing for Tolkien. The image stuck with him, and eventually was immortalized in Tolkien's epic.

Edith, unlike the story she inspired, met Tolkien when he and his brother moved into the boarding house where she lived. She was three years his elder, and they would spend much time together, and romance eventually sprouted, but the two were forbidden to continue the relationship until Tolkien was older. Edith got engaged during their separation, but after a letter she received from Tolkien declaring his love for her, she broke off her engagement and became engaged to Tolkien instead.

Due to Tolkien's insistence, she gave up Protestantism to become a catholic, and this was a long struggle for her.

Something particularly unexpected is Edith's lack of intellect. This made it hard for her during Tolkien's years as a professor. Something even more unexpected and much sadder is her dislike for C. S. Lewis, thinking

of him as an invader into their family. However, it was apparent to those who knew the Tolkiens that they loved each other dearly, and on their graves, underneath their own names, were the names "Beren" and "Luthien."

Along the theme ofLuthien-like characters, Arwen followed the beautiful elf's example, and gave up her immortality for Aragom. The comparisons between the two elf-princesses do not stop there, as Arwen is described at one point as Luthien come again. While Frodo observes her at Rivendell, Arwen is described queenly, with thought and knowledge in her glance, having seen many things the years bring.

Galadriel is probably the most extensively described of the female characters. There is no sign of age on her face, except in the depths of her eyes, which were as keen as lances, profound, wells of deep memory. Her voice was clear and musical, but rather deep for a woman. One sees her character in her treatment of Gimli, the dwarf who at first is the most suspicious of her, then later the one who loves her the most purely and devotedly. But even before he changes his opinion of her, she shows him love and understanding.

Galadriel is one of the wise, and was the summoner of the White Council that drove Sauron out of Mirkwood.

She is a ringbearer, and with Nenya she creates the beauty ofLothlorien. When Frodo freely offers the ring to her, though she is tempted, she conquers her own desire for power, something only she and Sam, and to a lesser extent Gandalf, seem able to do. Her aid to the fellowship, particularly the gifts she gives them, show her understanding of people. At first to the fellowship she seems terrible and beautiful, but later only beautiful. She and Arwen, her granddaughter, are contrasted as morning and evening, with Galadriel the golden morning.

We are introduced to Eowyn in the Two Towers. Called the "White Lady of Rohan," she is tall, slender, stem as steel, fair and cold. Filled with a desire for greatness, she attaches her love to Aragom and the echoes of greatness that sound within him. When he refuses her, she despairs and seeks death, but is denied even that in the end. She resents being forced to stay behind while the men go and fight. Pain and death hold no power of fear over her, but a cage does.

Piecing together her words and actions, Eowyn is seen as Images the property ofNew Line Cinema

a restless, strong young woman, with morbid tendencies.

When disguised as a man, she is described as slighter than most men (which is hardly surprising) but well-knit.

She's the type of girl who men would not challenge in a fight, being afraid of the age-old taunt, "You got beat by a girl!" Eowyn's bravery is not to be ignored, for she faced the most fearsome of Sauron's servants and, thanks to Merry's timely intervention, able to kill him.

The final woman we meet in the Lord of the Rings is Sam Gamgee's sweetheart Rosie Cotton. She is not described much, but from what she says and how she acts one sees an sweet, caring, and pretty three-foot tall being.

She is patient, waiting for Sam's return with only a slight indication of how hard it was for her to wait in her words and actions. Compared with the other women, she is the most accessible, down to earth. Arwen, Galadriel, Goldberry, and even Eowyn somewhat, seem slightly out of reach, beyond us. Rosie seems like somebody you could meet and become friends with quickly, whereas the elves and the river-daughter would be held in awe and Eowyn too cold.

By: Little Wanderer immediately, continuing her search, whileWALL-E just It may surprise you to know that there are actually some great parallels between the relationshipWALL-E sighs happily, loving her all the more. and Eve• have and the relationship between Christ and WALL-E tries to make her happy by making some­ the soul. thing for her: a handmade statue of Eve• herself. She "WALL-E" begins withWALL-E finishing another only glances at it, and flies away, ignoring it. Eve' con­ day of work.We see him collecting unexpected, simple tinues searching. but becomes increasingly frustrated as she can't find the object of her mission.When she can't items; items probably of no consequence to you and me: Rubik's cubes, plastic silverware, a paddle-ball take it anymore, she lets off some steam by blowing up racket, and so fo11h.WALL-E certainly is a queer little an old ocean liner and watching the chain reaction. robot, finding such joy in simple items, but his little WALL-E approaches her at this time and attempts to mischievous adventures are just adorable. Notice, how­ make her feel better. Soon after they become acquaint­ ed, danger approaches in the form of a dust-storm. ever, that none of the items he picks up are I-pods, cell phones, or other such electronic devices.

Eve', however is unwilling to accept WALL-E's help.

WALL-E is all by himself due to the fact that he But once she finally realizes just how much danger she's and his fellows were left behind when humans took to in, she's calls out toWALL-£. He takes her hand and the skies, because of too much garbage on earth and leads her to safety. the fact that everyone just wants to have fun.WALL-£ WALL-£ takes Eve' to his home, showing her all is quite content however, despite being lonely. l3ut he of his treasures. Soon Eve is enthralled byWAI.L-Es finds beauty in human love, such as his favorite scene many treasures.WALL-E. however. is focused on her. in "Hello, Dolly!" His sweet innocence is further shown He wants to hold her hand, but Eve• glances at him and when Eve' first shows up. She comes to life, asWALL-£ he refrains. WALL-E goes to get another treasure, a tiny plant he discovered while he was working. Eve' scans it gazes at her in awe, and quietly says, "Oooooo .. :' Eve' takes no notice ofWALL-E at first. Not seeing and finds it's what she's been sent to earth for. Immedi­ him, she immediately starts looking for the directive ately, she takes the plant and doses up.

Even while she's like this,WALL-E continues car­ of her mission. As the ship leaves. however,WALL-E alone sees Eve''s true self come out. He watches, awe­ ing for her. He tries to shelter her from rain and snow, despite all the trouble that it brings him: being struck struck, as she tlies about with such grace and beauty.

Eve• suspects someone watching her whenWALL-E many times by lightning, shivering in the cold, and so forth. He even takes her out on a date, showing her the accidentally knocks over a rock, and then fires a shot of warning. Then she continues her search for what she sights and trying to make her happy. However, Eve" is still closed off to reality and he can't reach her. thinks she needs.When Eve• again gets a suspicion thatWALL-E is watching her, she shoots at him again, When the ship comes back for Eve•.WALL-E determined to keep him away. Missing, she approaches refuses to let her go and hitches a ride to the Axiom, him and scans him. wishing to know who he is. '!he the space cruiser where aU the humans have retreated to.When they get there,WALL-E nearly loses Eve' in light on her chest loads up, and the final light turns red, negative: hes not what she's looking for. She leaves the crowds of people and robots. but is able to catch up

and stay by her side. W hen Eve' awakens again, she's not exactly happy to see \.VALL-E. She even tries to send him back to earth! However, once she thinks she's lost him forever, she's devastated. When she discovers WALL-E is alive moments later, she's overjoyed and she and WALL-E fly around the Axiom in a harmonious dance-like routine.

Eve\ however, doesn't believe it's an appropriate time to get serious. She hurries back to her mission, to return the plant to the captain so the humans aboard can go back to earth. 1l1e captain of the Axiom, in the mean time, has become intrigued with earth. Wanting to see what it's like now, he attaches a memory viewer gadget to Eve'. Earth looks nothing like what he thought, but the captain reali1.es that they must go back to earth so things can be set straight and earth can be made a better place to I ive.

Eve· also views the memories, including what she never actually saw. She secs all that WALL-E did to take care of her in that time. She realizes that he really loves her, and she loves him, too. However, she's kept by an unexpected danger. 1he ship's Auto-pilot and a robot named Gophr are plotting to keep the Axiom from ever returning to earth. The plant is thrown down the gar­ bage chute, but WALL-E, trying to get to Eve', decided to climb up the chute. He catches the plant, and refuses to give it to Auto-pilot or anyone. 'lhose who have seen the movie know the rest, and for those who haven't, I won't spoil the end, partly due to the fact that it's not realli• related to Ill)' article's topic.

Now, how does this parallel Christ's relationship to the soul? Well, when Jesus sees you, He sees a beauti­ ful/handsome woman or man. More importantly, He secs a soul. Only He can know the state of that soul but it doesn't make Him love that person any more or any less than another person. In other words, "0000000.. :' Like Eve", often times we are as horrible to Christ as she was to WALL-E. Most of us spend a lot of time searching for something other than God, even though He's what we really need, and the one who can satisfy all our desires. We search and search for what we think will make us happy. But none of these earthly things make us truly happy. As we lack the happiness despite our search for it, we become increasingly frustrated.

Once the pressure becomes too much, we vent. In that moment of desperation Christ is there for us, if we will only take notice of Him. When we do, we try to learn who He is.

Then all too soon, our soul is endangered again.

Jesus, like WALL-E, offers to help us, but we may be

unwilling to take His help at first, not realizing just how much danger we are in. When we find just how much help we need, we call on His Name, asking for help.

He takes us by the hand and leads us to safety, if we let Him. In our time of peace from turmoil God may choose to reveal the treasures of life to us. Not Rubik's cubes or egg-beaters like WALL-E's, but perhaps violets growing in a forest, sunbeams shining through the trees, a mighty thunderstorm, or some other beautiful creation.

As He reveals the great works of His hands, we may mistake something else, either one of the treasures or something from the outside, to be what we're looking for in our lives: maybe a boyfriend, a certain job, accep­ tance into a certain group of kids, etc. We dose up, like Eve' and are deaf and blind to Jesus' voice calling to us and His love for us.

However, through it all Christ cares for us, shield­ ing us from dangers we never sec coming. He loves us dearly, even if we don't return any of the acts of love He carries out. We are carried away by our desires, but He never abandons us. ,-vhen we again become aware of Jesus' presence, we may not be pleased at the time. Eve' tries to get rid ofWALL-E just as we try to forget Jesus and go back to our regular lifestyle. Yet when we think that we're lost to Christ for good, we can't help but be sorrowed. But learning about and experiencing His mercy can change our sorrow to joy. If we repent and return to Him with a firm intention to sin no more, live for Him, and love Him, we'll find ourselves happily dancing through a life with Christ as a partner.

Maybe some of us, like Eve' with WALL-E, don't believe it's a good time to form a relationship with Christ. We may think, ''Yeah, this is great. But it can wait until later, after I've gotten what I'm working towards:• Taking a look back on our lives, though, and realizing just how much Jesus loves us and all that He has done for us and is doing for us will hopefully change that attitude. Jesus suffered immensely and died the humiliating death on the Cross for us. What are we willing to do for Him in return?

1l1e parallels, I find, are quite intriguing, and watch­ ing "WALL-E" with these parallels in mind gives it almost a whole new meaning. Let us strive to live our lives for Christ, doing as He would do, and being Him to others. Hopefully, by living the two greatest com­ mandments, our soul's relationship with Christ will hav,e a happy ending, as did WALL-E and Eve•:� love story.

Picturesproperty ofPixar Animation Studios

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Planning ReginaCon was a crazy blast, but a fun one.

I started working on it with Andrew and Regina back in March. We threw around ideas and came up with basically all of the main activities right away. I knew I wanted to take everything to the next level this year and was thrilled to have pretty much free rein. My favorite parts were directing "The Importance of Being Earnest" and writing the Murder Mystery Game.

The Mystery game was a LOT more work than I expected. I had to write up bios for everyone, determine how everyone was connected and somehow leave enough clues for the murderer to be discovered!

I alsoenjoyed working with Paul and Laura to craft the Namia game. We based it on something Regina had done several years ago, but added plenty of our own touches. One thing about coordinating is knowing how to delegate, and I'm so thankful that I had Rose and her sisters to help with the Jane Austen Ball! My favorite part of that had to be the Austen Mafia game we played afterwards, and the brilliant line of our Margaret Dashwood - "I would never kill Mr. Darcy - he's too cute!' ~ Elizabeth Hausladen

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most fruitful and provided the gathering with snacks for the rest of the week.

Upon the return home, it was discovered that more fans had made their appearance and introductions were quickly and happily made. The afternoon was spent in happy enjoyment of a talk, given by Regina Doman, on "Evangelizing the Imagination and How to Create an Evil Character if you're a Christian."

Some Evil Character Tips and Ideas:

~ The world usually portrays evil characters as varied, mysterious and exciting and good people as boring, plain and the same. W hen you look closely though, it's actually the opposite! ~ "I never base my heroes off of myself... usually I'll pick one of my friends. W hen I create my villains however... I take my own temptations anc faults and exaggerate them."

Thursday afternoon also saw the arrival of a rather fierce thunderstorm which had the audacity to arrive whilst the fans were outside attempting to erect Once upon a time, in the land of Virginia a gathering some tents. A fierce battle ensued between the wind was held at The Black Cat Inn, home of authoress Regina and the tents, and it must be reported that the tents lost Doman. From far and wide came fans of Regina's books and had to be quickly bund1ed into the garage in °rder in order to meet their beloved author as well as their fellow to avoid damage. fans. This was the third gathering of such a kind, and, we That evening, the residents of The Black Cat Inn are told, the largest one yet. It was a joyous gathering, filled gathered in the great hall for a demonstration of talent with excitement and festivities. and skills by the various participants at the gathering. .

B ut you were not able to attend you say.? v iou w1sh ' . ..

The talents were great and wondrous to behold, and to know what manner of fest1v1tles there were ?. Read on, then, . .

• 1 read mg of "The were cone1uded by a 1ove1y theatnca gentle reader, and you shall learn of the events of RegmaCon • • Earnest,,, given Importance of B emg by 'The sh·irefi1eld 2010_ Players'.

Day One It was Thursday, the first official day of the gathering.

The night before had seen the arrival of many of the fans, their enthusiastic greetings of each other and a midnight swim in the pond. Breakfast was prepared and served Thursday morning by Lord Andrew and the Holy Rosary followed soon after. (For such was to be the routine every morning.) The fair maidens and noble knights then alighted into the various cars for an expedition to the blueberry fields. The expedition proved

"I loved the talent show as well, particularly the first ever family thread adventure I'd ever seen acted out!

And I loved getting to throw ninja throwing stars during the weapons demonstration! I loved just watching everyone, too... it was so awesome to be able to see what my dear friends looked like, whom I'd (mostly) ever only 'seen' on the forum or talked to on the phone." ~Sara F.

Day Two Friday's events were no less enjoyable than the events of Thursday. They began with a thought­ provoking talk, given by Lord Andrew, on "Preparing for Marriage - How to Live Happily Ever After".

He shared with us his and Lady Regina's fairy tale romance, in brief, as well as helpful thoughts on what helped him in discovering his vocation and in making his marriage beautiful.

Three Signs to Know Your Vocation As given by a professor at Franciscan University 1.

You know that you know 2.

A deep sense of peace 3.

A great desire for that vocation.

That afternoon, the maidens and knights in attendance exchanged the world of Virginia for the magical land ofNarnia. When they arrived, they discovered that Queen Susan was in need of their assistance for she had lost her magical horn! Aided by Prince Caspian, Prince Rillian, Ramandu's Daughter, Queen Susan herself, Puddleglum the Marshwiggle, Uncle Andrew and a friendly messenger, the lords and ladies ofNarnia and schoolgirls from England followed the clues given them, defeated the Lady of the Green Kirtle and dodged the White Witch, at last finding the horn and restoring it to its owner.

Upon the conclusion of the quest the visitors to the land ofNarnia traveled back to Virginia, 2010, arriving just in time for a talk on filmmaking given by Lady Elizabeth Hausladen, director of "The Shadow of the Bear"! Her audience listened spellbound as she explained the tools and terms of filmmaking, what goes into making a film and finished the talk with two roughly edited clips from "The Shadow of the Bear".

That evening, the worlds ofNarnia and filming were left behind for a world where fantasy met murder and intrigue. Modernized characters from various fairytales gathered at "The Ever After Resort" for what seemed to them like a normal vacation or work day. Their enjoyment was shattered, alas, when an attempt at murder was made, creating confusion amongst the guests and staff. The confusion turned to fear when an actual death occurred. Characters such as Al Diarmond (Aladdin), Isabelle Francois (Belle), Bianca D'Winter (Snow White of Snow White and Rose Red), Ella Ash (Cinderella) and Marina Littleton (The Little Mermaid) mingled, trying to uncover the mystery, until at last the mastermind behind the

mayhem was discovered ... Elsa Doore (mother of the Twelve Dancing Princesses)-played by Regina Doman!

I have to say that the Murder Mystery was my favorite part of the adventure! I thought it was brilliant how Elizabeth crafted modem characters out of classic fairy-tales and comprised quite the mystery. I had to drift from the written script in order to put the pieces of shattered business deals and friendships together in order to find the crowned queen of crime, Regina Doman! - Paul Xavier

Day Three The last official day of the gathering dawned bright and early; beginning with another splendid talk

by Lady Regina titled "How to Create and Write Characters of the Opposite Gender". The Lady's audience was made mostly of maidens, and so her talk focused mainly on crafting male characters, but helpful insights were given for both genders.

Helpful Tips:

~ When creating a male character, remember that the most important thing to a man is respect and honor. A man can live without love as long as he is respected. ~ When creating a female character, recall that to a woman the most important thing is to be loved. A woman can live without respect so long as she is loved.

Following the midday feast, the fair maidens departed for the wondrous land of Thrift Stores while the knights and Lord of the Land remained behind for the more manly task of fireplace building. The maidens enjoyed themselves immensely, hunting down the gorgeous garments and delightful deals with all the enthusiasm of a knight hunting a fox. (Though be assured, gentle reader, 'twas far less bloody.)

Regina's second talk was very interesting and I learned a lot from it! I really like how she talked about writing a male character, and how one of the most important things to a male is respect, it really helped me understand a lot about why my brothers will react to some things the way they do. Oh, and I loved going to the thrift stores and trying on wedding dresses! ~Teresa D

Following one round of hunting in the world of Thrift Store, some of the maidens rejoined the knights at Shirefield, for two gentlemen of exceptional skill in weaponry had arrived to demonstrate their skill. From ninja stars to sword fighting, Andy O'Neill and Ben Hatke - the inspirations for the Sacra Cor and choreographers for many of the fight scenes in the Fairy Tale Novels - kepth their audience captivated.

That evening Virginia was once again left behind in the future, this time for the world of Jane Austen's England. Accompanied by the sounds of The Woodhouse Band, characters from Austen's tales danced and talked amongst themselves.

The entire Bennet family made an appearance, as did the Darcys, Bingleys, Dashwoods, Emma Woodhouse, Harriet Smith, Fanny Price and Catharine Morland. Together they danced away the hours of the night, finishing with a round of Austen-style Mafia, narrated by Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Few were beyond the Mafia's reach, Mr. Darcy having the particular honor of being killed every single round. The narrator was in fine form, giving the victims all rather gruesome deaths - Mr. Bingley's throat was slit and Miss Kitty Bennet was found at the bottom of the pond where her face had begun to be nibbled on by the fish! 'Twas a fine and exciting time for all the well-bred gentlemen and ladies.

"I loved the Jane Austen Ball the best out of all the activities. It was so much fun dressing up and pretending to be Jane Bennet and sisters with Elizabeth (as in Elizabeth Hausladen and Bennet!)

It was such fun helping to organize the ball and teacl the dances - and I was delighted to discover that Mr. Bingley was the best dancer out of all the gentlemen there. Since I was Jane, I could claim him as my partner whenever I wished! The mafia game was delightful, though I never did get killed and true to Jane's character I never killed anyone.

It was hilarious, the first time Mr. Darcy was killed, he had been taking pictures while his eyes were shu and he just so happened to get a photo of one of the Mafia pointing at him!"ďż˝ Rose Dominick

While the Austen Mafia concluded the ball, it most certainly did not conclude the night! The ladies and gentlemen made the travel back to modem United States and gathered around the computer screen to enjoy "Capitol Crimes" (a mystery in St. Paul MN)

and "Little Women" (based on the book by Louisa May Alcott), two of Lady Elizabeth's film productions.

Gradually the maidens and knights wandered off to the land of dreams, all becoming quiet at last somewhere around the time the clock struck four.

"My decision to attend ReginaCom 2010 is a decision I will not regret. I knew that it would be something I would thoroughly enjoy. There were highlights to every day, with my favorites being the first evening, picking blueberries, swimming at night in the pond, talking to Regina about my writing, attending three great writing talks, and of course, good times with friends. The overall atmosphere was one I enjoyed, as Regina and Andrew really made me feel welcome. This has definitely been an awesome experience that I will always remember." - David Farrell

Thus the third ReginaCon came to its end. The visitors to Virginia took their leave of The Black Cat Inn and of each other, returning home with new memories, new friendships, and new hopes for the future.

They hope, dear reader, that you have enjoyed hearing of their adventures and with you they look forward to next year when once again the fans of Regina Doman shall gather, this time in Minnesota, and share in their love of the Fairy Tale Novels.

The End.

Photographs by Rose Dominick, Teresa D. and Paul Xavier

:: Boudreau The Character Tolkien Left Out Now, none of you faithful Lord of the Rings followers have ever heard of me. Unfortunately, when Mr. Tolkein wrote the fabulous history of Middle Earth, he neglected to include me in his chronicles. \.Vhen I confronted him about it, he muttered some excuse about the book already being published but I soon got him to admit the real reason. Apparently, he wanted the story to be a serious tale, withSauron as a crue], heartless villain. Mr. Tolkein said that if he included me, it would turn the story into a comedy, as well as ruin his portrn),al of good vs. evil by making Sauron a sympathetic, long-suffering guy who was tortured into grumpiness and world-conquoring by his trouble making sister. (I'm the trouble mak­ ing sister, by the way.)

The only way I could set things to rights was to tell the story myself. lvly brotherSaucon and I never really got along well. Just like every other brother and sister in the world, we had our share of fights and quarrels. And like the other siblings in the world, wea make up after an argu­ ment. \.Veil, actually we occasionally made up. Oh, fine. I'll admit that the times we made up were few and far between.So, yes. I was the typical, an­ noying little sister.

He hated especially that I looked human, and he looked like a monster. It was always some­ thing I was able to hold over him. He bestowed many titles on me, none of them terribly flat­ tering, but I always acted as if he'd given me the highest honor one could be given. Needless to say, this annoyed him. I am certain that he wanted me gone, but that was the one thing he could not do, even with the ring. You see, when mother died, she told us to always stick together. "That is what brothers and sisters do;' she said. If there was one

thingSauron was afraid of, it was mother's wrath.

I-le was convinced that if he ever broke his solemn promise and drove me away, mother would come back to life and direct her wrath toward him. So, he put up with me. Grudgingly, of course, but that made it all the more amusing.

So where was I? Oh, yes, I digressed. My personal favorite of the titles he gave me was, "Trouble Maker of Mordor" which I received during the War of the Ring. Most everything began when a few ofSauron's ores returned from a mission, bringing with them this disgusting creature that always sounded like he was about to puke. Sauron had gone practically insane since he had lost his ring. I never thought it was a big deal because it was the most boring of all of his rings, and told him so, which he didn't appreciate.

Once, when he seemed especially upset and gloomy about the loss, I came up to him and said, "Sauron. You'll never guess what I've got! I have your ring!" He jumped up, eye full of hope, but then I continued, "Well, it isn't the ring you wanted, but this is much better! Look!" So I held out a ring such as little kids use for dress up, painted silver, with a fake pink jewel in the center.

Sauron just glared at me and turned away. So I said, "But wait! Look! Ifs got a pretty pink jewel!

Your other one didn't have any jewel! This is much better!" Clearly to all of you, he didn't buy that one. The next time he moaned about not having his ring, I told him, "Why do you want that gold thing? Gold is so last year. Silver is much nicer!"

Anyway, he tortured this creature, who exclaimed something about bags in the shower.

Sauron immediately sent the Nazgul, not to the shower to get the bags out, but to theShire. No one ever did take the bags out of the shower,

which I thought was stupid because everyone but me obviously needed a shower and of course they couldn't use it without clearing the bags out! Men. Anyhow, alter torturing the whiny crea­ ture, the witch king of Angmar came and reported to my brother. "v\le all are ready, Ssssssssauron, king." The witch king is a big hisser. He loves it. \<\That is absolutely hilarious is to make him say tongue twisters ..My favorite to give him is to have him say, "Screecher, screamer, shrieker!" ten times fast. He says it, "Ssssssscreeeeeeeecher, ssssssscree­ aamer, ssssssshhhhhrieker." Then when his tongue twists, 'screecher' sounds like 'squeaker'. Priceless.

I ran down to the stables to see the horses before the Nazgul departed. I always had felt rath­ er bad for those animals. They looked so dejected.

The Nazgul never looked cheerful either, so I decided to have some fun, and perhaps it would rub off on them. I just "happened" to have a large number of pastel colored ribbons with me, and I proceeded to braid them into horses' manes and tails. They looked lovely, and the horses actually seemed somewhat happy.

But good things in Mordor never last long.

The witchking chose that moment to enter the sta­ bles, followed closely by the other eight screamers.

They all took one horrified look around at their horses and completely froze. I smiled brightly and said, "Don't the horses look lovely?

The witch king then screamed and pointed his finger at me, "You - you -" It seemed as if he couldn't think of the word.

I decided to help him out. "Helpful sister of Sauron?"

"No!" he shrieked. "You trouble maker!"

Then he made me take the ribbons off I of course only agreed to do so in ex­ change for a ride on their flying beasts. \.Vhich was awesome because Sauron wouldn't give me one of my own. Flying rocks. The entire flight I kept throwing my hands up high and shouting "Wheeee!"

When Eowyn killed the Witch King, all of Mordor except for me was thrust into mourning.

So, I said we should have a funeral. Or at least

a time where we could talk about what we liked most about the Witch King. Anyways, I stood up and began my tribute first. '"!he witch king of Angmar will always be remembered by his friends. Not that there are many, but that is not the point. Although he really creeped me out at times, and got angry with me quite a bit for my tricks, he would do things with me when I was bored. My favorite was when I taught him to play Go Fish. You have not lived until you have heard a Nazgul say, 'Go lisssssssshhh! "' One time, I walked into Sauron's private study. I never knocked because I knew it annoyed him. \•\That I saw horrified me. He was gazing into the palantir, talking with someone. I ran up to him, fully intending to help him, and threw my cloak over the palantir.

He jumped up, full of wrath. "\•\That did you do that for, you troublemaker?!"

"Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?" I asked him.

Annoyed, he said, "vVhat are )'Ou talking about?"

"You never know who you are talking to on a palantir!"

"J was talking to Saruman!"

Undaunted, I said, "Well, it could be some­ one dressed like Saruman! It could be a stalker!

You never know!"

Sarcastically, he answered, "Oh yes. And I'll meet a predator over a palantir that will dare to come through my army, my black gate, and my fortress to come attack me. Think tl1ings through a little bit before you say anythinf' Then he flipped my cloak off the palantir.

As soon as he left the room, I went over to the palantir. I was angry that heel been so sarcastic when I was only being a helpful, aware sister. So, I gazed into it. Saruman appeared in it. He seemed irritated to see me. So, the first thing that popped into my head was this, and I said it. "You know, Saruman, Sauron just told me that you are the worst subject he has. He says you mess everything up and he can't believe he is trusting you:• Well, that started a huge argument between Sauron and

Saruman, and me. Although I was not arguing. I was trying to keep my life.

I used to drive him nuts by knocking on the doors in Barad Dur, proclaiming to everyone that I had had a bad dream. Then I'd go to Sau­ ron and make him read me a bedtime story. He thought I was so immature, and it was just great.

He really blew up at me when I comment­ ed, "How can such a powerful person as yourself have such trouble catching one of those adorable little hobbits'" Once I sent out an urgent call to all the Nazgul for them to return immediately. ,,vhen they arrived, and puzzled over the summons with Sauron, I was able to laugh silently--for a very short time. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that lcl done it.

Once during a speech to his troops, Sau­ ron said something about doom coming to the world of men. So, as soon as I heard him say "doom;' I launched my own special series of echoes... "Doom, dooooom, dooooom, dooom, doooooooooom'.' I faded out when he glared at me. TI1e next time he talked about the destruction of Middle Earth and then paused, I said, "Dun dun dun... :• He didn't like that either.

When he was having a secret consultation with the Nazgul, for some strange rea;on he let me sit in on it. It was incredibly boring, so I started reading the newest Cosmopolitan maga­ zine. He'd called my name at least five times before I looked up and said, "Huh? Sorry, I wasn't listen­ ing. Did you know that yellow is so in this year?

'We should redecorate:' I kept pressing the topic of redecorating, saying that the tower clashed with his eye and we should paint it orange so it would match. He didn't agree, so I painted it anyways to show him what a good idea it was. He made me paint it back.

When the wild men arrived to Mordor, I greeted them all with gift bags that included shaving gel and razors. My accompanying greeting was, "You really could use this:' The ores received body wash and lotion. Sauron, however, put a stop to that, too.

Once I decided that I wanted fresh bread,

since I was never going to eat that disgusting bread the ores ate. So, I started baking some. Un­ fortunately, I didn't know how to cook very well.

1 figured Icl make a whole bunch of batches since there are lots of creatures in Mordor, so I put what I thought was a proportional amount of yeast in.

Well, I must have put way too much, cause the bread was risen all over the place. Ores running down the halls slipped and fell in giant heaps. It was funny...

Yeah ...it seems like everything I did made him mad in some way. But I think he was the angriest when I taught his entire arm)' of ores a rousing new song to sing while marching. I went out to the ore general and told him that I wanted to inspect the troops. He questioned my author­ ity, so I just told him that I was the sister of Sau­ ron, and what I say is law. Unless, that is, Sauron overrides me. He stood aside and let me do what I wanted, and he listened well. vVell, it proved what I've been telling Sau­ ron since we were young kids. If you act like something you want is going to happen, chances are, it usually does. So, I taught them all to sing "The Ants go Marching One by One:• It is a catchy tune. Also, when you supervise marching ores from a tower, they do look like little ants. It's perfect! I told them that anytime they marched they had to sing it. $0, do you want to know the real reason that the Mouth of Sauron, who was a pathetic fool, by the way, came out? He was stall­ ing for time.

TI1e entire army was singing about the ants. Oh, boy was Sauron mad. He said it made his army look like a pack of wimps and that my timing was absolutely catastrophic. "You trouble maker! You wreak havoc in Mordor! I am trying to do the very serious task of TAKING OVER THE WOOOOOOORLD!!!! Do you have any idea how difficult you make this?" I replied, 'Tm not a trouble maker. I'm just a girl having as much fun as I can as fast as I can before I get caught:' So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Sincerely, Sauron's sister

Welcome to the August issue of I&F! The great thing about fantasy is not only that it animates the imagitlatiott attd provides whole ttew worlds to discover, but that it can show us truths about our world in a very creative way. We've put a lot ofwork into this issue, and hope you enjoy it! ~ Shaylynn Wbcw! Being away for awhile this month, and having graphic issues •glares at computer" I was unable to finish most of rny layouts on time... but thank you, Shaylynn, for being a great help! I really hope everyone enjoys this issue's layouts! ~ Alice In keeping with the cover artwork I was able to use a few sketches from a artist friend ofmine, Nick Halloway. He graciously allowed us to use both the eye you see behind the header of"The Trouble Maker ofMordor" & the dra­ gon behind "Dragons in Scripture". ~ Neri

"I like the Fantastic Four best, I think. And out of them .. .I think I like the Human Torch, because he's so cool. He gets all the good lines too, plus he has an awesome power. Wouldn't it be fun to spontan­ eously combust all the time?" ~ Miss Wendy "Gambit! He has an awesome accent, sense of humor, and powers." ~ Cor Mariae

Our Favorite Marvel Superheroes!

Poll Results:

Spiderman... 6.6% Iron Man..... 20% Wolverine .... 26.6% Batman......... 26.6% Any X-Man.. 13.3% Other.............. 6.6%

"I picked Wolverine 'cause well, yeah, he's awesome. I guess I like him because he's not depressed or depressing.

Not saying that the other heroes are. But that, even though he's like had every bad thing in the world happen to him. he still gets up in the morning. And he didn't have to fall into a vat oftoxic waste to tum awesome. Also, I like how he's a rogue, a runaway. He makes up his own rules, not because he doesn't have respect for other people, but be­ cause he is independent. And he's got the coolest haircut." ~ Roselover "Yay for Batman! He is just so real. No superpowers, just a ton of courage and dedication (and a lot ofmoney)." ~Lady Lucy "Okay, Batman is the best! He is merely a man who makes himselfamazing by his own talents and his love for goodness." ~ Billy Jo

"Spiderman. I love the storyline ofa normal, nerdy kid who becomes a nerdy kid with super­ powers. And he has a great theme song." ~ storylover "Without a doubt, I love Gambit and Rogue. I love Rogue because she's a no-nonsense kickbutt girl who nonetheless is an extremely 3-dim­ entional character with depth and powers and history that create no end ofinteresting introsp­ ection! And Gambit is awesome, both because he's got the coolest costume, accent and weapons ever, and also because ofhis character. He acts tough, and womanizing, but inside he's ex­ tremely tender and has a really soft spot for damsels in distress. Despite his work as a thief, he has a sense ofhonor and does try to do the right thing, even ifhe's not always sure what that is. He and Rogue have their difficulties, but he's ·stent in following her as much as she'll let him." ~ Elenatintil

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EMAIL US AT INKANDFAIRYDUST�YAHOO.COM

A quote from some medieval tale? A description from a piece of poetry featuring a dragon? Think again, Believe it or not, that passage is taken from the book

of Job in the Bible That's right, the Bible

The book of Job is not the only place where dragons

are mentioned. These fire� breathing beasts also are referenced in Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel and Revelations.

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�.J1 , ■�"2a�J;�;f ,Uff�!"' �-•�l""'it ;� • ;:.. fj �.. said Hugh, '\\'here s Mother . -� • .. · I had a feeling that Hugh was nght.:1�1� i e on'

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� Kate, � t: .·:s he's in tl�e kitchen," replied Kat�; ·:c..9m mother would know what to do. I retume_?� . . ·, � - It s. almost tune for supper, anyway. She • . 1 ;< her. smile and said, "Thank you. so much. half' " Hugt{;s of the archway and down the · ·'We were just about to eat · ,,[Jiskippcd out . · ·, q'ahead of us. Hugh and I followed more slowly, and . mother continued. "Kate, will you pl��se . � Adelaide ambled along behind us, already again ,.: ·take this dish of potatoes to the.table, and ,engrossed in her book. '1 - '., . , :· Adelaide, will you please set th; sil{crware ff I "Helena." whispered Hugh, "I know ):9u're not -around'/ Here, Hugh, you can put this on the.· 1 used to being around families. It's fine. l�know · l table." She pulled a large chicken out of the that my sisters can be slightly overwhelming.at. f_oven and handed it to Hugh. . \: . � times - well, Kate at least." He smiled.

Unsure what to do, I stepped back and "Oh, they're wonderful!" I replied. '·J watched the proceedings quietly until guess....yes. I'm a bit shy." I shrugged my .•t ' Hugh's mother smiled at me, an<l, pulling a shoulders. It was hard to explain to myself why I chair that had been sitting beside the fire up had suddenly retreated into a shell at meeting to the table, said, '·Jlctena, you can sit here."

1 I lugh's sisters, and I marveled that he had been "Thank you," I said, settling myself in my -� able to guess my emotions so well. chair as the rest of the family gathered By this time we had reached the kitchen.

It was around and sat down. Hugh's mother said � ll!JJ a cozy room towards the front of the house, set off grace, and then began passing around the dishes of food. It was all so good' I couldn't � the main hall like all the others. Kate grabbed my , hand and pulled me into the middle of the room. believe it - I was actually eating two good "Mother,'' she exclaimed. "here ·s l lelena!" I meals in one day. I conldn 't even remember blushed with awkwardness at this loud the last time that had happened' Mounding announcement of my arrival, but as Hugh's mother my plate with chicken, mashed potatoes, • ·, turned around and gave me a wide, 1velcoming asparagus, and bread . I ate heartily. · • smile, I felt myself more al ease. She was quite "Mother," said I !ugh, 'Tll need to talk to .;� ·. tall, with dark hair in a braid wrapped around her you privately this evening." head and the same direct, confidence-inspiring "Oooh, about what?" demanded Kate. blue eyes as her son.

"Kate, I said privately. That means secret, "Welcome," she said, approaching me and got it'l" Her older brother raised an eyebrow · taking one of my hands in both of her own. "Hugh at her. has told us about you." Her 1,>rasp was strong and Kate pouted, and JIugh's mother nodded ·\' · her eyes were kind, and I felt a wave of relief rush and said, "All right. After the girls go to · -' � over me bed . ?

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So what have you been keeping yourself busy with today, IIugh? You got home late.''

"Oh, I'm sorrv!"

Hugh . ' looked shamefaced. "I • ran into Helena after work, and l invited her for a .ride in the boat, and then we stopped for a bite to �eat at Owen's Cafe." He stopped a bit abruptly, obviously not wanting to reveal what had happened at the cafc.

Trying to make the sudden stop seem less apparent, I smiled and said, '"I had a wonderful time1 That is a very good restaurant."

-. "It is," said Hugh's mother. "Hugh's father and � · I went there often while we were comting." . nodded, and I suddenly realized that he I Iugh had never mentioned his father. I wondered where he was, or 1vhat had happened to him.

As she saw we had all finished eating, Hugh's mother rose and picked up my plate. "Girls, will iyou please clear the table'1" she asked. They promptly began taking the dirty dishes to the '.. counter, and, after a moment of hesitation, I .; \' · helped them. Hugh poured hot water from a tea � kettle into a pan on the counter, added soap, and .,,.,.... . ' . ; . began to wash the dishes, wlule lus mother began ' ' kneading bread dough she had taken from a wooden bowl sitting on the stove. Kate and Adelaide took dishtowels out of a drawer near the sink, and Adelaide handed one to me. A bit cautiously, I picked up the dishes and dried them off, rather fearful of breaking them. They were so pretty, painted with brightly-colored flowers and bordered with gold.

So this is what helping with the dishes is like! I thought, smiling happily. It was another of those nonnal human activities I'd read about many,

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Soon the last dish had been dried and put away, the bread had been formed to be baked the next morning, and everyone retired to the large room at the back of the house Hugh had led me to first. Hugh's mother took her knitting out of a basket and sat do\\11 in her rocking chair beside the fire, and Kate sat in a chair across from her, stitching on what appeared to be a sampler. Hugh took a sketchbook and collection of pencils down from a shelf and settled himself on the hearth rug

4

Adelaide picked up her beloved book of fairy talcs and sat on the ledge of the fireplace, turning the book so the pages would catch the light. 1 lingered in the back of the room for a moment and then sat down beside Hugh. There were no more chairs, and he was still the one I knew best. f3csidcs, I wanted to sec some of his drawings.

1Ne had been sitting in silence for a short time, each busy with our own occupation, when Hugh's mother said, "Adelaide, why don't you read to us from your book?''

Adelaide looked up, her face shining with excitement. "Okay!" she replied eagerly.

'Tll read you "East o' the Sun and 'w'est o' the Moon''."

"Oh. I love that name I" I couldn't help but exclaim. Adelaide nodded her head. "I know ... so do I. It just sounds so wonderful and mysterious, and the story is tool" Flipping to the correct page, she began to read in her small, soft voice, and I was immediately swept away to the wild lands of the North. I was filled with wonder and fear along with the youngest daughter when the white bear took her to his palace and she discovered her strange bedfellow; groaned when she lit the candle, for I was pretty sure I had figured out the White Bear's true identity: was thrilled by her journey with each of the four winds: and breathed a sigh of relief when the ordeal in the palace of the trolls was over.

Want your fiction here? send your short story submissions to inkandfairydustsubmission@gmail.com

And your fiction could end up in an issue of Ink & Fairydust

One young woman's opinion on art, {ife, fiterature, andfaitli.

"Visit the persona[ 6wg ofCÂŁ[iza6eth Jfaus[aden, editor ofIr:J}F, director of ''The Shadow of the (}3ear" and administrator of the Pairy 'Ta[e :Novd Pan Porum.

Pind movie and 6ook,reviews, 6ehind the scenes info on projects, and rej{ect-ions on [ife.

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Alex O'Donnell.

Remember this guy?

He was first introduced in Waking Rose, but even first-time readers will quickly jump on board this rollicking adventure with the sword-wielding Alex O'Donnell and his nearly techno-phobic · , Kateri Kovach, who yes, cyberthieves.

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She thought in music, not in words. A symphony of sound endlessly welled up from inside her, waves of song swirling and mixing together in continuously repeating, yet always different, patterns. The melodies within her were sometimes happy, sometimes sad, but they were always beautiful. Even when she was angry, and the music within was harsh and discord,tnt, there was a savage sort of beauty in it.

She never spoke: when she wished to communicate what was inside her, she sang. There were no words to her song, or rather, the words she sang were of no Ianâ&#x20AC;˘ guage but her own. But her song needed no words, for the voice that sang the song was no human voice: in it

and tilled with hard, clashing noises. And although she longed to both to understand and be understood, the longing worsened the loneliness, for only the more fully did she realize the futility of it.

She knew there was a purpose for her song; she had not been created with a song inside her for naught. But with every sunrise, she looked at the sun, so old and so new, that both withered the earth and gave light to it, and silently her soul cried out in a forlorn burst of song. And when there was no answer, as there never was, the music within her sank into dark and dreary tunes as her hope sang itself to sorrowful slumber. Time swam purposefully onward, and it swept her farther

Wherever she went, whatever she did, music was her every thought, for she had been created out of Song and would return to the one Song when her own song was done and her life finished.

She was alone in her song, for she was the lone child of the Song that had created all things. She loved the tuneless, unmusical folks that filled all the hnds, but she did not understand them, and although they listened in awed wonder to her songs, they, too, understood her not. And although she had wandered far, l.ike a songbird carried on the winds, she had never found another like herself. And so it was that the music of her heart was sad, and grew sadder. "lbere was naught to alleviate her loneliness. She sometimes listened to the birds and sang back to them, but there was a sameness to their melodies.and they had no mind to understand her with. And no longer did she walk among the songless ones, for her soul was deeply attuned to beauty, and she found little in their harsh, unmelodious voices and their speech, so rough

towards a foreign land and an end she knew not. But as she was carried along on the tide of Time, she grew to wondering if there was indeed another shore at the end of Time.

Was it not more likely that the ocean of Time was an endless one, sweeping on ever, with no end, carrying all away on its tide, yet taking none to their destinaâ&#x20AC;˘ Lion? And as she doubted, so her heart'.5 music became filled with doubt, and there was no relief from it. And Time went on, went on, went on, and the world, too, grew darker. 1be songless ones grew proud and envi­ ous, and did horrible deeds beneath the eternal sun that died with every night, and rose a thousand times crueler. And the earth grew parched as the wellsprings of the earth were drained by the songless ones, and was not replenished, for the only other water was the ocean, and that was tilled with the tears of giants that had wept themselves to death, and entombed their bodies within their own tears.

When next she returned to walk among them,

was the sound every instrument of 111usic C'ICr created.

and farther from the shore fron1 whence she had con1c,

her song was greeted with curses and blows, and she was driven away, bewildered and weeping. There was nothing of envy in her heart, and so she knew not why they should act thus: her only thought (a low, mourn­ ful melody within her heart, filled with the guilt of she

bright than the sun. He took them as a trophy, and as a proof that the songwitch who had sang her curses and enchanlments upon his people throughoul many ages, draining the very light from the sun, and the very water from the eard1, was dead. He would have taken her

knew not what) was that she had wronged them some­

he<id as well but for a supers1ition that 11111 deep among

how. But she could not speak their language, and they could not sing hers, and so she resigned herself to a life of greater loneliness, hiding herself from those who could not understand her.

And again she wept, for although they had not un­ derstood her, they once had welcomed and listened to her song, and she had loved them. And now she wan­ dered in darkness, beneath the empty night sky where no light ever shone, for when the sun left the sky. there was nothing: only empt iness, and a world shrouded in black below.

And she was alone by day and even more alone by night, for although in day the sun scorned to take notice of her song, still it was, and at night, there was nothing. And so often she would wander within the primal forests beneath the bright sunlight, for the music of her soul grew dark and wearisome as the void of the night sank into it. And she thought herself safe, for the ones without music scorned the heavy, cool forests, preferring instead the empty. open plains. But with the coming of one sun, there was a sound of the hoof-beats of horses in the forest, and the barking of dogs, and the songless ones came with spears, and although she Aed from them, the)' pursued, shouting harsh calls with their guttural voices.

She ran between tree and tree, twisting and turning, but she could not escape them, and when she found herself in a large clearing where there was a gap in the trees and no cover, she knew the end was come. One of the songless ones came close upon his horse, and thrust his spear into her throat, and she fell, the blood choking her as ii poured from 1he wound. And the others ringed round her so that she could not escape-although wounded as she was, it was all she could do to remain conscious-and thrus1 their spears again and again in10 her until her bat1ered body gaped open in many places, and the blood gushed in crimson rivers, soaking into the clean earth and staining it irrevocably with the mark of violence.

And when she stirred no longer, not even when they stuck their spears into her already broken body, they left her for dead. Bui first, the one who had firsl stuck her down dismounted, and, kneeling beside her limp, bloodied body, unsheathed his dagger and severed her hair, her long, long locks of a gold more pure and

the ones riding with him: that there would be a curse on any who took the head of a witch, and that she would work her accursed magic still through the head, dead though her body be, for the head was the focus of the magic. Or so they said, and he heeded them.

And so he took her tresses, and away they rode, with blood on their spears and the one daughter of the Song lying in her blood behind them. But she was not dead. And the Song was wilh her, and it sang a dirge all around her, invisible, inaudible 10 all but her, and the air stirred faintly about her. A keening, mourning, weeping dirge it was, but not one of death, for she was not dead.

It was inslead a dirge for the songless ones, the children of ea1th and stone, of sea and sky-but not of Song.

And as the Song sang over her, the wounds that gaped and sireamed blood closed slowly, and a new life beat within her chest, and finally her eyes opened, and she began to cough the blood out of her lungs.

And the Song remained with her for many days, weaving around her shattered body until it slowly healed. And finally, the sun rose upon a day when she stood again, and walked. But when she opened her mouth to sing for joy. no song came oul, and she stood mute, in dismay. And the Song brushed gently against her soul, stirring it with a breath of the music from which is was crell!ed, and then it was gone, although her hea1t's song cried out for it to stay. But a breath of it lingered, and that breath seemed to whisper to her to be patienl, to w�it. And so she wailed ...

She thought in music, not in words. A symphony of sound endlessly welled up from inside her, waves of song swirling and mixing together in continuously repeating, yel always different, patterns. But she never spoke, and neither did she sing, for although the music within her remained, her voice would sing no more, and there was a scar upon her throat where the songless ones in their hatred and envy had destroyed her song.

She walked no more beneath the hating sun 1hat chuckled cruelly in the sky over her silence: instead she wandered beneath the primordial darkness of night, where no light had ever shone. And in the darkness did she wait ...

Time swept on, and pulled all the world behind in its current, and there came yet another change. One

night, there was light in the void of the heavens. She gazed up in astonished silence, and a great burst of joyful song sounded throughout her soul, for tnis was why the Song had sang softly for her to wait. And as she gazed up at the little dots of pure, white light against the black, she wept and her he<lrt sang a song or th<1nksgiv­ ing to the Song that had created these lights in the sky, these sister-daughters of the Song.

And they ga1.ed back at her, and each seemed like a tiny white eye that twinkled merrily. filled with a secret laughter, until she began to wonder what secret joy pOS$CSSed them so, that while the whole world wept and fought and killed, they laughed. And she longed 10 sing to them, for they would hear her and understand, for al­ though they sang not themselves, the Song was glowing with a radiant briUiance within them, dancing inside them. so that they laughed.

But her voice was gone, and she could sing no more, and so she wept: that all throughout Time she had wan­ dered alone, longing ever to understand and be under­ stood, to sing and be sung to in response, but always with no fulfillment of her hopes-and then, when they should be fulfilled. that she should have no more song of the voice but only of the soul! It was bitter indeed, and she wept anguished tears for what could have been, but never could be.

And her sisters of light looked down from the dark heavens and saw her tears, and wept, too; for that she looked upon them and knew them, and that they looked upon her and knew her, but yet coL�d not sing to her, for although the Song had made then1, it had made them out of light, and not song, and although they laughed in merry, lightfilled voices, they had no music within them as she did. And their tecrs poured from heaven, tears of light: pure, untainted by the salt of the earth. And they mingled with her tears. and in that moment, they knew each other, the children of the Song: one the weeping, ancient girl with the shorn head and the scarred throat, and the music within but silence without; the other the children of joy, the laughing, brightly shining white lights that the Song had called stars.

And she saw their sorrow, and they saw hers, and she knew what she must do: indeed, what the Song had intended for her to do. But while once she might have resented it, and refused, now she did it out of love. And as the tears of the stars came down in the first rain the dry world had ever known, she took a knife and cut across her arm, and held it up. blood dripping from it, to mix with her tears and the tears of the stars. And her spirit poured out all its song, and the song dripped out

with the blood and tears and rain, and left her, and flew upward toward the stars.

And the stars paused in their weeping as her song took flight and soared with red wings born of love and sacrifice, splitting and fragmenting as it flew, until it w;is like unto" Oight of sm;ill, red winged birds. And each flew to a star, and the star looked at it in wonder, and then the bird of song and the star were one, and the stars laughed and sang to one another in delight, for now their starry voices were filled with song as well as laughter. But then they remembered the one who had given the gift of song to them, and paused in their rejoicing to weep again. And then they sang to her, and their song was one of both love and sorrow.

Oh sister, what you have given for us' Beautiful, bro­ ken sister; poor, songless one! How is it that we should sing, and you be filled with emptiness? Take it back. for we do not deserve such a gift!

But she smiled through her weeping, for it gave her greater joy to see their rejoicing over the music but newly received than to hold it all silent within her, and although she could neither sing nor speak, they un­ derstood. and knew. too. that she would not accept her gift of music back. And so they sang a new song to the broken, weary soul so far below them, that had once been filled with all the music and joy of life, and now was empty.

Bleeding sister, come to us' Come, sing with us!

Leave the broken, bleeding body behind, shed the silence and the fetters of the flesh. and come to us! Let your soul become light in the Song, and sing and laugh with us for all of time!

And she gazed up at them in longing, and all that was in her longed to be with them, but she had no music within her to sing a song of entreaty to the Song, and no voice to cry out with. And so she wept. and the blood trailed down, and the tears and the blood became her song amid her silence: a song of silence, a song of sorrow. And as it was all the music her spirit had left, the Song that heard all songs heard, and it was an­ swered.

Death was but a single rest in the song of a life. a brief measure of silence, and then the song became an eternal symphony. and one that was not sung alone.

And for all of forever. the star daughters and the song­ filled daughter of the eternal Song, that governed all, wandered the midnight skies together, and laughed and wept and sang as one: they, the pure, white orbs of light. and she. marked red with sorrow and the blood that had been her lot upon the earth. but shining all the stronger for that.

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Sunday August 1st - Lady Eliza - I year member

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Monday August 4th.- Lady· Saerweo - l 1/2 year member . '

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Sunday August 8th -Andri3359 - 4 month ·member

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Wednesday Au_gust 11th - Oare - 2 year member

. · Wednesday August 25th - Lady Kathryn - l year member . · Friday August 27th - Ranyalassi - 2 year member

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This month we are celebrating seven birthdays! Let us applaud our grand members on turning another year older! *applause* This month :S question: Ifyou could chose would you rather be a character in The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, X-men, or a faity tale?

Lady Eliza - I would choose The Lord of die Rings. Ever since I first saw it T've wanted to be a character'

Lady Saerwen - I'd be a character in Lord of the Rings.

AndriJJS9

_ Hnunm, I'm not sure. Eid1er LOTR. Namia, or X-Men. I can't decide... Probably XMen, I guess.

Clare _ Hm, that's a tough question... I think I'm going to say Hany Potter, though. ifl can't decide? They are all so awesome! Well... IfI must, Harry Starwarz/harrYpotter buff_ What Potter, by a VERY narrow margm.

- I would love to be a character in the Lord of the Rings. It's always been my dream to go to the Shire, see Gandalf and Aragom, and run away from Ringwraiths. However, it's a close toss-up between the Illeana - Chronicles ofNamia, since it would simply be amazing to live in Namia.

Probably... The Chronicles ofNamia, or a fairytale! Ifl could only choose one, I'd probably go with being a character in a fairytale... a fairytale with a happy ending, of course. And a fox.

Lady Kathryn - Forget Prince Charming, I wouldn't be happy in a fairytale unless d1ere was a fox.

That is a tough question! I've always wanted to be in Middle Eanh, but having a super power in X­ Ranyalassi - Men would be so cool. In the end, I still think T'd have to go with Lord of the Rings, though.

tips and tricks for writers

Young Ogdio brushed past the blue branches of the yacknah tree. Something oily spilled onto his hands and he jumped back with a shout. Burning pain exploded across his skin.

"What is it?" Lylliana shouted, whipping out her sword, Jasfire, and swinging it in a wide circle. "Tumocks? Aftermonsters?"

"No," said Master Weadon, moving to Ogdio's side. He sniffed at the bluish purple oil on Ogdio's hands. "Yacknah oil.

The same oil that was the downfall of Lydiion the Wise when..."

"You don't like it," said Jessica as her professor set the manuscript down with a frown. "What was it? Too many descriptive words? Or not enough? Or is it calling the tree the Yacknah? I thought about Albone, but that didn't seem quite right. Or shoudl the tree be purple?"

Professor Jones looked down at her over his narrow-rimmed spectacles. "Your problem, Jessica, is that you're trying too hard to be the next J.R.R. Tolkien."

"What do you mean? The Chronicles ofOgdio the Young are nothing like The Lord of the Rings!"

"That is not the point. Jessica, tell me again why you are writing fantasy."

Jessica blushed. "Well, I mean, I do love Tolkien. I mean, the world he created... the hobbits... Rivendell... the ores... shiny swords! I really want to write my own mythology like he did! I mean, I know my world will never be as great as Middle Earth, but I'm taking Classical Greek VI next semester! Maybe that will help my development of Ogdio's language..."

"Drop the Greek," said Professor Jones. "You need to take my Foundations ofNovel Writing."

"But why?" asked Jessica. "I know all about writing! I took every single English course our school offered!"

Professor Jones nodded. "Of course you did. And that is just / the problem. High School English teaches you nothing about writing the proper novel. You need to learn how to create

realistic characters, how to set up and pay off, how to write in the three act structure... and not to worship worldbuilding."

"Huh?" Jessica frowned. "I don't worship worldbuilding!"

Her professor picked up her manuscript and handed it to her.

"Oh, I think you do. You're not writing this book because you have an exciting story to share, or engaging characters to read about. The story is little more than a parody of Star Wars and Harry Potter, and your characters are completely stock.

Everything you write is designed to highlight this world you have created. But Jessica, you can't keep an audience engaged just by creating a new world. And certainly not a strange one.

Upside down animals? Blue trees? These may seem fascinating to you, but they are so foreign to the audience that it will hinder rather than help their reading."

"But Tolkien did it!"

Professor Jones smiled. "Tolkien wrote about short people, and magical rings, and dragons. Things we can all imagine with very little effort. J.K. Rowlings took ordinary things - a broomstick, a fireplace - and turned them into fantastical modes of transportation. They took the ordinary, and turned them into extraordinary. They doused them with magic, but didn't turn them into things unrecognizable. And they gave them names that at least have some semblence of order. Frodo isn't a name you see in our world, but it's very near to Fred. 'Expecto Patronum' resonates with us not because it's unique, but because it's based on words we know - 'expect' and 'patron.' We can subconciously understand the meaning of the spell without ten paragraphs of explanation."

"So," said Jessica, staring down at her manuscript. "What you are saying is that I need to make my focus on my characters and my story, not my world? And I need to make my world more accessible to my readers?"

"Exactly," Professor Jones agreed. "But don't give up worldbuilding entirely. It has its place in a well told story, and you have wonderful God-given imagination. Just keep it in its proper place and if you find yourself worrying more about the proper name for your blue trees than whether the audience will resonate with your hero...well..."

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Before you get ani1hing else. you need a sketchbook. Ignore the bells. whistles. and price tags. A beginning ar1ist needs something that works for all mediums. The paper should not be so thin that it is sligh1ly see-through. It needs to ha\'e more Paper texture than computer paper wi1bout feeling rougl1.

T,y to get a spiral-bound book that easily ope11s. 1 did all of my drawings--<)VCl)1hing from sketches Paper can't matter that much. can it? It has to be clean. of course.

Drawing paper usually shouldn't have lines (goodb)'e. loose leaJ). It's to "rear· artwork-in cheap sketchbooks for years. tempting to grab a fresh sheet out of the printer ... but that just won't cut These days. I opl for 1he more expensive. sturdier iL sketchbooks and some Bristol paper for my It is very important to keep in mind what medium you are using. drawings. I still lug around a small. c-heap Graphite aud colored pencils work well on most papers. Pens and sketchbook for those terrible practice sketches-no markers need thicker paper. Watercolors need watercolor paper. What are artist can create a work of art withoul first filling you planning to draw? Sketchbooks work well for quick drawings, but a pages wil11 such atrocities. full-blown work of art deserves something nicer. Also, pay auention to Bristol paper (aka Bristol Board) is the main the texture. Rough paper holds charcoal and pastel rny nicely. but a paper I use for artwork. It is perfect for graphite. detailed portrait needs smoother paper. Don't go too smooth and glossy colored pencil, and pen. It is thick. sturdy. has good -it needs enough "tooth" to hold the graphite. Keep these three points tooth, and is perfect for more finished pieces. It is (mediwn. type of drawing, and texture) in mind when shopping for paper. not ,·ery expensive. but at 50 cents a sheet, it is not There are three major kinds of paper: hot press, cold press, and good for quick drawings. rough. Hot press is smoother and good for detail. but it won't hold Other than that. experiment! Try colored cl1arcoal or pastels. Cold press and rough paper arc rougher. allow for construction paper or brown paper for charcoal and darker tones. and hold more-they arc also prone to bleeding ink. Some pastel. Rice paper leads to some interesting texture tcnns to keep in mind: tooth refers to tJ1c roughness: weight g_cncra11y results. You might even make your o,vn paper! Just refers to the paper·s density and tJ1ickness-tJ1e heavier tlte weight. the keep in mind your medium. the type of drawing. hardier the paper, Shoot for the acid-free paper or it will quickly fade. and the text\trc. You'll be surprised how much Sketchbooks are the building blocks. paper affects your artwork.

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In September

Martial

Arts

Chivalry and Pro-Life

Sleeping Beauty Allegory and Ethics

And All Things

Waking Rose . . . a nd Mo r e !