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I’m not sure how to classify this article. I’ve added it to the Trivia category but it’s not really trivia. And the article was inspired by a question I received from a reader in June 2025:
Hello, Michael!
Do you know exactly how to pronounce the name ‘Éowyn’? According to the LotR’s Appendix E, éo- sounds like “eh-ah” with the “ah” just barely pronounced, while y is the modified u,nwhich […]
https://middle-earth.xenite.org/how-to-pronounce-names-in-the-lord-of-the-rings/𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜’𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: "𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗹" 𝗯𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗻 -
As an old tabletop RPGer, I grimly accepted this recommendation into the series by Dinniman. Hopefully I am more entertained than the trite humor of writers like Pratchett.
#books #bookreviews #bookworm #readreadread #tbr #tbrpile #tbrlist #quotes #reading #mattdinniman #dungeoncrawlercarl #fiction #fantasy #rpglit #dandd
Briana and Krysta at Pages Unbound are hosting a fantasy discussion meme this year called Fantasy with Friends. Since fantasy is my favorite genre, I thought it would be fun to take part. This week, their question is:
Do you currently prefer standalone fantasies or series? Is there a certain number of books that seems like “too much,” whether that means the series feels intimidating to start or just that the author might need to move on to something else? Is there a point at which you worry that a series is just a “cash grab?”
Once, mostly when I was in high school, I almost always only picked books based on how many books were in the series. The longer the series, the better, in my opinion. It made hunting down my next read easier, and faster. I had a somewhat odd method of finding what I wanted to read next, which took a lot of time.
In a way, I still feel like that. I love getting to spend as much time as possible with some favorite characters in an amazing world. I would gladly take more books with them. I always believe there are more adventures out there, and I always wonder what the aftermath of the big clash is like and how the heroes deal with life afterwards. I feel like the epic high fantasies could turn into delightful cozies as we follow the heroes from the beginning to the big battle and then to what happens next when life settles down.
At the same time, sometimes the story is just over and I don’t feel like I need or want to know what comes next. At that point, it definitely feels like it’s “too much” in that the author should probably move on. Sometimes it feels like some authors just get stuck and they run out of interesting stories to tell. I don’t think I ever feel intimidated by long series; I feel like I never have enough time. Between my never ending work as a mom and my pursuit of publication, I just don’t have as much time as I’d like to spare for everything I want to read. So, if it’s a really long series, it goes on a mental list that I quietly promise I’ll get to one day when I’m old and my kids are, hopefully, self-sufficient. Or at least don’t need me to make food for them every few hours.
During this season of my life, I’ll take either a series or a standalone. I just want a whole story, however many books it takes. Sometimes I feel like a series really needs more than 3 books. Other times, one probably would have been good enough.
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There is a sub-genre of isekai (異世界, other world) which involves arbitrage between the world of today and the historical/fantasy other world.
• (Charles Stross, The Merchant Princes) A clan of secretive world-walkers have been using their abilities to build an empire spanning two worlds. An American gets unexpectedly drawn into intra-clan conflict, the U.S. government's covetousness, and the irrationality in assuming there is a highest natural number.
• (FUNA, #Saving80000Gold for My Retirement) After receiving a blessing which saved her life, diminutive teenage orphan Mitsuha decides to amass a fortune sufficient to retire to either world. Luxury-obsessed nobles, plucky young villagers, and a company of flexible-minded modern mercenaries help her establish a foothold.
• (Makishima Suzuki, Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!) Since childhood Kazuhiro would dream of a fantasy world. When he and and elf are killed while exploring, he learns that his dreams are real and falling asleep or dying allows him and the person he is touching to move back and forth. Cultural and economic exchange transpires.
• (Ren Eguchi, #CampfireCookingInAnotherWorld with My Absurd Skill) The absurd skill is Amazon (actually Online Supermarket).
• (Hiiro Shimotsuki, Peddler in Another World: I Can Go Back to My World Whenever I Want!) Pretty on the nose.
• (Hirukuma, #RebornAsAVendingMachine, I Now Wander the Dungeon) A sapient vending machine accepts coins in a magical world to restock with items and upgrades from our modern world and the main character's love of Japanese vending machine culture.
#Isekai #LitRPG #LightNovel #Arbitrage #Economics #SciFi #Fantasy #CharlesStross #TheMerchantPrinces #FUNA #WelcomeToJapanMsElf
I read James Islington’s “The Will of the Many” this week. What a ride. Finished at midnight because I couldn’t put it down.
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Setting: Ancient Rome, give or take
Theme: Severe indictment of capitalism and colonialism
If You Like: Stormlight Archive, Hunger Games
#QuestionOfTheDay #FavCharacterAtoZ
Who is your favourite fictional character from any work whose name (if they only have one) or first name begins with the letter "P"?
Please include the series/work the character is from and why they are your favourite.
Include the hashtag #FavCharacterAtoZ and #FavCharacterP to it so that we can sort the answers easily.
NOTE: you can always participate in previous letters too (A-O). Or just do the ones you want. Their hashtags are #FavCharacterA #FavCharacterB, etc
#fiction #books #anime #manga #TTRPG #CCGs #VideoGames #superheroes #comics #comicbooks #superheroes #writing #webcomics #poetry #mythology #movies #film #television #tv #musicals #scifi #fantasy
"Oh, The Cats..." - doodle for Kierish on FA featuring with their cato fulfilling every cat's biggest dream, and he won't let go because that's not a cat way of doing things 8)
#Art #furryart #drawing #cute #fantasy #detailed #digitalart #illustration #animalart #feral #feline #cat #cats #snow_leopard
The Neverending Story 💥❤️🔥💫
Do you remember? 🤗
https://youtu.be/lHytjEj7B9g?si=ar__ReG5k38P2E9C
Happy Sunday! 🌻☀️
#silentsunday #love #mercy #children #Nature #Animals #Film #movie #Books #ideas #creation #adventure #rescue #story #storytelling #Fantasy #faith #hope #courage #Art #Artwork #Tiere #kinder #Kino #Dragon #dragons #fantasyart #thank #author #creativity #CatsOfMastodon #Cats #horses #horse #turtles #Furry #friends #courage #Brave #focus #Commons #soul #Freedom #childhood
The 20th century is receding in the rearview mirror.
I bought an e-book of a 1940s #fantasy novel put out in 2011 by Gollancz. In the series foreword, the editor writes that "vast troves of classic SF & Fantasy are almost certainly destined never again to see print".
Dreams of the future staying firmly in the past, yellowing paperbacks on the used book market.
Author: Terry Pratchett
Title: Men at Arms
Publication Info: Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1993
Summary/Review: 
The Night Watch is back, but Captain Samuel Vimes is retiring to lead a life of luxury married to Lady Sybil Ramkin. Before he departs, new recruits are brought in, including a troll, a dwarf, and a woman. The woman is actually also a werewolf, Angua, who becomes a love interest to Carrot. Under Carrot’s increasingly competent leadership, the Night Watch begins investigating a series of murders among the guilds of Ankh-Morpork, including the Assassin’s Guild and the Clown’s Guild. It’s a funny and intricately plotted novel with a lot of great characters and dialogue. And it’s no spoiler to say that Vimes doesn’t actually get to retire as he becomes commander of a suddenly more respectable City Watch.
Rating: ****
No.
Title
Published
1
1983
2
1986
3
1987
4
Mort (radio drama)
5
Sourcery
1988
6
7
Pyramids
1989
8
9
Eric (radio drama)
1990
10
Moving Pictures
11
Reaper Man
1991
12
13
Small Gods (radio drama)
1992
14
15
1993
16
Soul Music
1994
17
Interesting Times
18
1995
19
Feet of Clay
1996
20
Hogfather
21
Jingo
1997
22
The Last Continent
1998
23
24
The Fifth Elephant
1999
25
The Truth
2000
26
Thief of Time
2001
27
The Last Hero
28
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
29
Night Watch (radio drama)
2002
30
2003
31
32
2004
33
Going Postal
34
Thud!
2005
35
2006
36
Making Money
2007
37
Unseen Academicals
2009
38
2010
39
Snuff
2011
40
Raising Steam
2013
41
2015
Other books by Terry Pratchett I’ve read:
#BookReviews #Books #CityWatch #Discworld #fantasy #humor #Satire
#QuestionOfTheDay #FavCharacterAtoZ
Who is your favourite fictional character from any work whose name (if they only have one) or first name begins with the letter "O"?
Please include the series/work the character is from and why they are your favourite.
Include the hashtag #FavCharacterAtoZ and #FavCharacterO to it so that we can sort the answers easily.
NOTE: you can always participate in previous letters too (A-N). Or just do the ones you want. Their hashtags are #FavCharacterA #FavCharacterB, etc
#fiction #books #anime #manga #TTRPG #CCGs #VideoGames #superheroes #comics #comicbooks #superheroes #writing #webcomics #poetry #mythology #movies #film #television #tv #musicals #scifi #fantasy
Ebook and print: https://books2read.com/SheGoesToWar
Also in Ebook omnibus (volumes 1-3): https://books2read.com/AshenBladesOpenWounds
With the return of her arch-nemesis to the world in 1972, the Hunter literally goes to war, finding herself drawn to Vietnam, once more backed up by her demon-hunting allies, but as all that faced the horrors of the Vietnam War, she finds her time there trying and emotionally difficult.
@bookstodon
#indieauthor #writing #fantasy #actionadventure #fiction #books
Via an exchange with another SFF author, I came up with an idea to flip some gender roles: A female knight saves her gentleman in distress (instead of a male knight saving a damsel in distress). I bet somebody has already written something like this, but I have no specific example.
As far as I can tell whoever I choose I will be rescued, so the real question is who do I most want to hang out with 🤔😁 And that is a toss up between Vimes, Susan, and Esme...
@fantasy @bookstodon @books
@humor@fedigroups.social @humor@lemmy.world @aiop
#Discworld #TerryPratchett #Pratchett #SpeculativeFiction #FantasyBooks
#FantasyMemes #Fantasy #Meme #Memes #Humor #Humour #Funny
#Comedic
#Novel #Books #Bookstodon
Happy to have my poem “Stay the Same” published by the literary magazine Malefica Press.
Malefica Press publishes all things horror. They have a great catalogue of content, and I’m honored to be a part of it. What is really fun about this publication is they included an illustration with it as well. It fits the theme of my poem perfectly.
The poem I wrote “Stay the Same” is about a haunted scarecrow that tries to be different, and not fulfill its dark purpose. I love exploring complexity with monsters, it both therapeutic and interesting to me as writer. When those two creative forces coincide, lots of creation happens. The crows that spend their time around this scarecrow have some interest in whether he can continue this murderous journey he’s been on. They’re a vested party.
You can read “Stay the Same” right here.
I will continue to state, that you should not just read my poem, but also checkout the various material from Malefica Press. It is an incredible lit magazine, and I want to continue to support it. They have a ridiculous amount of excellent content to read for free. Please jump into that dark rabbit hole. You can find them right here.
Thank you for reading my work, and have an excellent day!
#author #blogging #books #fantasy #fiction #horror #horrorPoetry #horrorWriting #literaryHorror #monsters #patrickWMarsh #poems #Poetry #poetryCommunity #theGreenlandDiaries #writingOpening quote from the last chapter of Part One of my story The Last Philosopher 😊
@reading @books @fantasy @bookstodon @worldbuilding
#WIPWednesday #WorkInProgress
#AmWriting #IndieAuthor
#SpecualtiveFiction #FantasyBooks #Fantasy #Satire
#Books #Bookstodon
#Reading #Readers
Ebook available here: https://books2read.com/b/m0pJYA
RE: https://mastodon.social/@skipscherer/116682152779929409
Delve 137
In the world of Delve, rewards and nightmares walk hand in hand.
We’ve learned that the deeper you go, the darker it gets. Something good is coming... but the shadows are right behind it.
Are you ready to go deeper, or are you already afraid?
—
Fantasy Serial New Tuesday and Friday
—
#reading #books #amreading #writing #fantasy #entertainment #amwriting #altfic #dakrfantasy #writingcommunity
Omg I sold 1 more book today !!!! (2 copies)
#booksky #books #Kindleunlimited #thriller #suspense #romance #novels #geopolitical #mythological #darkromance #women #contemporary #fiction #fantasy #crime #amazon #sifi #sff #readingcommunity #writingcommunity #author #readers #indie RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:p6si4w333k4rcflapekprz3e/post/3mnblrcz6nk2v
Omg I sold 1 more book today !!!! #booksky #books #Kindleunlimited #thriller #suspense #romance #novels #geopolitical #mythological #darkromance #women #contemporary #fiction #fantasy #crime #amazon #sifi #sff #readingcommunity #writingcommunity #author #readers #indie
Ebook and print: https://books2read.com/SheHuntsDemons
Also in Ebook omnibus (volumes 1-3): https://books2read.com/AshenBladesOpenWounds
She’s small and cute, but this half-demon New Yorker lives to exterminate demons, because they murdered her parents. The demonic curse preventing her from saying anything but “it’s a secret” only fuels her desire for revenge.
@bookstodon
#indieauthor #writing #fantasy #actionadventure #fiction #books
Tirak did not leave Lagash as a hero.
He left with stolen truth on his back, guards behind him, and his mother watching from temple steps.
Some beginnings look like disgrace.
Omg I sold 1 more book today !!!! #booksky #books #Kindleunlimited #thriller #suspense #romance #novels #geopolitical #mythological #darkromance #women #contemporary #fiction #fantasy #crime #amazon #sifi #sff #readingcommunity #writingcommunity #author #readers #indie
#QuestionOfTheDay #FavCharacterAtoZ
Who is your favourite fictional character from any work whose name (if they only have one) or first name begins with the letter "L"?
Please include the series/work the character is from and why they are your favourite.
(Again, stuff like "Lieutenant" don't count unless it's a proper name & not simply a rank)
Include the hashtag #FavCharacterAtoZ and #FavCharacterL to it so that we can sort the answers easily.
NOTE: you can always participate in previous letters too (A-K). Or just do the ones you want. Their hashtags are #FavCharacterA #FavCharacterB, etc
#fiction #books #anime #manga #TTRPG #CCGs #VideoGames #superheroes #comics #comicbooks #superheroes #writing #webcomics #poetry #mythology #movies #film #television #tv #musicals #scifi #fantasy
#QuestionOfTheDay #FavCharacterAtoZ
Who is your favourite fictional character from any work whose name (if they only have one) or first name begins with the letter "M"?
Please include the series/work the character is from and why they are your favourite.
(Again, stuff like "Major" don't count unless it's a proper name & not simply a rank)
Include the hashtag #FavCharacterAtoZ and #FavCharacterM to it so that we can sort the answers easily.
NOTE: you can always participate in previous letters too (A-L). Or just do the ones you want. Their hashtags are #FavCharacterA #FavCharacterB, etc
#fiction #books #anime #manga #TTRPG #CCGs #VideoGames #superheroes #comics #comicbooks #superheroes #writing #webcomics #poetry #mythology #movies #film #television #tv #musicals #scifi #fantasy
#QuestionOfTheDay #FavCharacterAtoZ
Who is your favourite fictional character from any work whose name (if they only have one) or first name begins with the letter "N"?
Please include the series/work the character is from and why they are your favourite.
Include the hashtag #FavCharacterAtoZ and #FavCharacterN to it so that we can sort the answers easily.
NOTE: you can always participate in previous letters too (A-M). Or just do the ones you want. Their hashtags are #FavCharacterA #FavCharacterB, etc
#fiction #books #anime #manga #TTRPG #CCGs #VideoGames #superheroes #comics #comicbooks #superheroes #writing #webcomics #poetry #mythology #movies #film #television #tv #musicals #scifi #fantasy
Finished "Before they are Hanged" by Joe Abercrombie. Good middle-book. Lands a bit flat but carried well, well set up for the end. Starting Tad Williams's "The Dragonbone Chair" since I'm sunsetting Abercrombie's series in one more book.
It's um,... a bit jarring to go from cynical backstabbing to whimsical tale starring a young hopeful teenage lad, but rather than shun it for more hopeful and optimistic outlooks(which ain't happening), I'm trudging on with the hope it grows with maturity as the protagonist ages, if Simon even is the protagonist - NO SPOILERS.
On the backburner, and why I refuse to watch the film right now, is Andy Weir's "Hail Mary". I'm halfway done, but it keeps getting sidetracked by the fantasy novels... and...
Last night I read "Careless People..." by Sarah Wynn-Williams, in pseudo-entirety, a biography from a leading Facebook executive. I skipped a lot of info dumps I already knew from other sources, but a lot I did not know, especially anything pre-2016. I'm 38, but I wasn't politically "engaged" until around 2015.
So that's that!
no Sanderson!? No PRATCHETT?!Not yet, not yet, but maybe soon. I only have two eyes, you know. 😊
#books #literature #scifi #novels #fantasy #reading #kindle #kobo
Briana and Krysta at Pages Unbound are hosting a fantasy discussion meme this year called Fantasy with Friends. Since fantasy is my favorite genre, I thought it would be fun to take part. This week, their question is:
What are some of your favorite fantasy tropes that you never get tired of?
I’ll be honest. I don’t pay much attention to tropes. I don’t pick books based on tropes. I don’t even pay much attention to them when I run across one while reading. I look at every book as a completely separate entity from anything else.
Unfortunately, even if there were tropes I liked and paid attention to, I would probably eventually grow tired of it. There are some parts of my life where I need things to stay the exact same (it makes it easier to keep up with everyone’s schedules and somehow remember to feed everyone and to get the kids to and from school). Then there are others where I just crave something new and different. Books fall right in the middle there. I love it when a story is new and different, but there are some things I do love. For a while, at least.
Of course there are some tropes I do generally enjoy. I like a good chosen one story, but I need the chosen one to be a complicated and complex character. I like found family, but, as a serious introvert, sometimes it feels a little stifling and I need some alone time. I sometimes enjoy a good prophecy, but it’s got to be a really good one that can be read multiple ways. Quests are always fun because I love exploring a world, but I need there to be some kind of time crunch otherwise it feels like a bunch of people frolicking around. Once upon a time I loved magical items. Fantasy had to have magical items. But that was when I was a kid and would eye the frying pan wondering if it was magical and could cook my lunch for me. As an adult, I find it tired and overused and really couldn’t care less if some fancy necklace imparts some great magic.
So, in answer to the question, no, there are no tropes I never get tired of. I eventually get tired of them all, but am more willing to circle back to some over others.
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