Based on an article in the New Yorker, the following seven fantasy novels are essential books for the novice, literary adult reader: The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams Anything by Guy Gavriel Kay, but particularly Tigana, The Lions of Al-Rassan, Sailing to Sarantium, and The Fionavar Tapestry (a trilogy that… Read More »Seven Essential Fantasy Reads
He was the pious king, the saintly king, one of the last Anglo-Saxon rulers to sit the English throne. He was St. Edward the Confessor, the son of King Ethelred II and Emma, the daughter of Richard II of Normandy. Exiled due to Danish invasions and unrest among the English… Read More »Edward the Confessor (c. 1003 – 1066)
Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (August 1, 2009) ISBN-10: 1402215274 He was the son of a traitor. The prisoner of a queen. The lover of two women. The soldier of a king. And the target of something greater than all of these. He was… Read More »Review of Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham
The finalists have been announced. Categories include novels, novellas, short stories, anthologies, collections, and artists. Finalists in the Novel category include: The House of the Stag, Kage Baker (Tor) The Shadow Year, Jeffrey Ford (Morrow) The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins; Bloomsbury) Pandemonium, Daryl Gregory (Del Rey) Tender Morsels, Margo… Read More »2009 World Fantasy Award Nominees
I’ve been doing research, trying to find e-zines that publish short stories focused on historical fiction or fantasy. Using the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market book, I’ve compiled the following list. Some publications accept historical fiction, others accept fantasy, and then some accept any genre of fiction as… Read More »Online Publications for Short Stories
My friend Linda McCabe has posted an article about a medieval castle being built in Arkansas. It’s part of a project to reconstruct a castle based on the actual methods used in the Middle Ages. The project is called the Ozark Medieval Fortress, and it began in June 2009. By… Read More »Construction of a Medieval Castle in Arkansas
On this day, July 27, in medieval history: 1214 – Battle of Bouvines: King Philip II of France defeated the forces of Otto IV (Holy Roman Emperor), the count of Flanders, and King John of England, in effect establishing a stronger position for the French monarchy Read contemporary accounts of… Read More »Timeline: Today in Middle Ages History
Old Wardour Castle, located near Tisbury in the English county of Wiltshire, sits on a slight rise above a lake and was once the home of Baron John Lovell, the fifth Baron Lovell. John Lovell acquired the land from the St. Martin family when Sir Lawrence de St. Martin died… Read More »Medieval Castles: Old Wardour Castle
I’m in the process of reading (actually listening) to Armageddon’s Children (The Genesis of Shannara Book 1) by Terry Brooks. I’ve been listening to it on my commute to work. It’s not a great book by any means. Actually, I plan to return it before finishing, which is not something… Read More »Discussion Topic: Audio Books vs. The Printed Word