|
|
Post by hengest on Mar 5, 2021 18:01:21 GMT -5
Suggestive / inspirational quotes or works listed here, specifically for this subforum.
|
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Mar 5, 2021 18:01:45 GMT -5
High waving heather, 'neath stormy blasts bending,
Midnight and moonlight and bright shining stars;
Darkness and glory rejoicingly blending,
Earth rising to heaven and heaven descending,
Man's spirit away from its drear dongeon sending,
Bursting the fetters and breaking the bars.
All down the mountain sides, wild forest lending
One mighty voice to the life-giving wind;
Rivers their banks in the jubilee rending,
Fast through the valleys a reckless course wending,
Wider and deeper their waters extending,
Leaving a desolate desert behind.
Shining and lowering and swelling and dying,
Changing for ever from midnight to noon;
Roaring like thunder, like soft music sighing,
Shadows on shadows advancing and flying,
Lightning-bright flashes the deep gloom defying,
Coming as swiftly and fading as soon.
Emily Brontë
|
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Mar 5, 2021 18:07:12 GMT -5
The Last Unicorn, by Peter Beagle I haven't read this book in twenty years. From what I remember, it probably looks a little dated now, but as I recall, it managed to be immersive in spite of all the little jokes and fourth-wall winks. That seems like an impressive achievement. I remember being completely enchanted by some passages.
|
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Mar 5, 2021 18:10:31 GMT -5
My old post from this thread here: In response to this thread for the Perilous Dreams game, I wanted to bring up the story "The Buried Moon." It's an unusual folktale collected in the 19th century in a fenny region of England. You can read the Wikipedia entry here. More important, you can read the story here. I'm going to try to attach an image from Joseph Jacobs's publication of the story. It shows the Moon, a helpful being, trapped in a swamp. I think this story is exceptionally grabbing. It seems like it would make a great local legend in a game or some sort of adventure hook to get the PCs into a swamp.  |
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Mar 5, 2021 18:17:00 GMT -5
The Autumn of the Middle Ages, by Johan Huizinga I am not an historian, but I would say, if you like medieval fantasy and like thinking about why you like you, you should read at least the first few chapters of this book. It is utterly engrossing. This review of a new translation done by Diane Webb quotes this text:
|
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Mar 5, 2021 18:26:05 GMT -5
Saving the Appearances: A Study in Idolatry, by Owen Barfield One of the central ideas of this book is that when one believes that what one sees (i.e. -- the image itself) is the thing itself, that image becomes an idol. I am unable to explain this fully and do not expect anyone to be wowed by my explanation, but suffice it to say, this book just about blew my head apart, despite my having no background in philosophy or anthropology. For what it's worth, Barfield was an Inkling, and is said to have influenced C.S. Lewis and (somewhat) Tolkien, the latter through his book Poetic Diction, which has also been important to me (sounds like a dry book you had to buy for a class and then wished you hadn't, but it isn't.)
|
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Mar 5, 2021 18:46:05 GMT -5
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, by Wanda Gág. The link will allow you to read the work and see the illustrations. The work is in the public domain in Canada. However, I recommend getting a copy from the public library if you can. This is the familiar story of Snow White, "freely translated and illustrated by Wanda Gág." She was from a German-speaking family and read these works in the German dialects in which they were recorded, I understand. I do not know German, but to my ear, this is a much finer text than many. But it is her illustrations that will have you overpowered. These could be higher-res, but will give you a good idea. Better to see them on paper.   An image from WG's Hansel and Gretel:  And finally, from "Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle" ("It was as though fairy fingers were at work.") 
|
|
|
|
Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Mar 5, 2021 21:55:33 GMT -5
The Last Unicorn, by Peter Beagle I haven't read this book in twenty years. From what I remember, it probably looks a little dated now, but as I recall, it managed to be immersive in spite of all the little jokes and fourth-wall winks. That seems like an impressive achievement. I remember being completely enchanted by some passages. Wow, it has been a long, long time since I read this, back around the early 70s. The only thing that was a bit jarring for me was that the harpy was male. Even before D&D I thought of harpies as being only female. It never occurred to me that their would be males too. Loved the book and love this author. Hard to believe that he was not born about 60 years earlier than he was. |
|
|
|
Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Mar 5, 2021 21:57:16 GMT -5
My old post from this thread here: In response to this thread for the Perilous Dreams game, I wanted to bring up the story "The Buried Moon." You remind me of another thread I have not finished yet. |
|
|
|
Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Mar 5, 2021 22:08:56 GMT -5
Saving the Appearances: A Study in Idolatry, by Owen Barfield One of the central ideas of this book is that when one believes that what one sees (i.e. -- the image itself) is the thing itself, that image becomes an idol. I am unable to explain this fully and do not expect anyone to be wowed by my explanation, but suffice it to say, this book just about blew my head apart, despite my having no background in philosophy or anthropology. For what it's worth, Barfield was an Inkling, and is said to have influenced C.S. Lewis and (somewhat) Tolkien, the latter through his book Poetic Diction, which has also been important to me (sounds like a dry book you had to buy for a class and then wished you hadn't, but it isn't.) Just what I read at the Wikipedia page was enough to my head hurt. That is deep stuff. |
|
|
|
Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Mar 5, 2021 22:09:45 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by hengest on May 13, 2021 16:06:33 GMT -5
The Fairies Have Never a Penny to Spend
The fairies have never a penny to spend, But theirs is the dower of bird and of flower, And though you should live in a palace of gold You could never be poor as the fairies are, Since ever and ever the world began They have sung their song through the centuries long, And though you be foolish or though you be wise, You could never be young as the fairies are, Rose Fyleman
|
|
|
|
Post by mao on May 19, 2021 6:38:33 GMT -5
It might not seem like it but these fairies are very dangerous. There capricious manor makes it very risky to deal with them but they have a ton of items and knowledge to gather from. Beware!
|
|
|
|
Post by The Perilous Dreamer on May 22, 2021 15:18:25 GMT -5
It might not seem like it but these fairies are very dangerous. There capricious manor makes it very risky to deal with them but they have a ton of items and knowledge to gather from. Beware! Fairies are always dangerous especially when the look innocent. |
|
