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Science in Fantasy Novels
So, I was just tinkering with a formula to quantify the relative magic-inhibiting capacities of iron on faery magic (1 horseshoepower = the amount of inhibition produced by a 4 kg wrought-iron horseshoe at a distance of 1 m) when I stopped long enough to check my RSS feeds. Well, what should I find but this observation from i09’s Annalee Newitz: “Science in Fantasy Novels is More Accurate than in Science Fiction.”
Here’s a snippet:
One might argue that good worldbuilding in fantasy always involves hard science. Authors from N.K. Jemisin to George R.R. Martin and Ursula Le Guin have created alternate worlds whose geology, climate, and ecosystems are so good that they’ve captured the imaginations of scientists. These stories represent earnest attempts to create new environments based on what we know from studying the deep history of our own world.
And this:
Given what I already pointed out about how magic and advanced technology are basically indistinguishable in science fiction, we’re going to have to admit that there’s something other than magic that divides “fantasy” from “science fiction.” It seems to be the kinds of science the two genres tackle. The hallmarks of rigorous science fantasy are a focus on Earth science, as well as biology and ecosystems. Science fiction, on the other hand, tends to focus on physics, cosmology, and engineering. Both genres often incorporate anthropology and political science.
What do you think? Does she have a point? And, what sorts of scientific accuracy do you enjoy reading in a fantasy novel?
Christine Amsden’s Review of Maleficent
Thinking about going to see Maleficent? According to Christine Amsden, you should! At her blog Into the Dreaming, she has written a glowing review.
I don’t really want to spoil this movie for you. I did see bits of it coming, but I didn’t even mind because the delivery was excellent. The acting was strong, especially by Angelina Jolie (Maleficent). I cannot recommend this movie enough to adults and older children (not the young ones — I’m on the fence about letting my 6-year-old watch).
Fairy Mythology at Mythic Scribes
Alice Leiper gives a succinct introduction to fairies in myth and literature over at Mythic Scribes.
Sunday Inspiration: Simplicity
Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.
—Dr. Seuss
A Scientific Paper on Mermaids
I’ll definitely be looking this over soon. Too bad I didn’t have it while I was at the beach this past week!
“Mermaids: Their Biology, Culture, and Demise” by Karl Banse (PDF)
(H/T: io9)
English Devil Dogs
Dolly Stolze has this intriguing post up at Atlas Obscura: “The Skeletal Remains of a Hellhound in the Folklore of Devil Dogs.”
Last year DigVentures, a London-based archaeology group, unearthed the bones of a gigantic dog from a shallow grave, about 20 inches deep, in the ruins of Leiston Abbey, Suffolk. Archaeologists estimate that the canine stood more than seven-feet-tall on its hind legs and weighed about 200 pounds. DigVentures researchers believe the canine bones likely date to when the abbey was active, so are likely medieval, but they are awaiting confirmation from testing.
English folklore is full of stories about a supernatural dog, known as Black Shuck, that prowled the countryside around Leiston Abbey about 500 years ago. Due to the size and date of the bones, many have speculated that these large canine remains could be connected to the legend of Black Shuck.
For some reason, The Devil’s Due is shaping up to be pretty heavy with unearthly hounds of various types. I hope they’re not stalking me.
Woof!
Sunday Inspiration: History
History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.
—Maya Angelou
Korreds: The Underground Folk of Brittany
Korreds (also called Korrs) are guardians of treasures and standing stones in the folklore of Brittany (northwestern France). They prefer to live underground, in caves under the dolmens. They might also live under heaths, in sea-cliff caves, or in natural caverns. The related teuz and poulpikan types live in bogs or swamps.
Korreds have the strength of giants despite their small stature. They are said to live beneath the dolmen stones of Brittany. They have bright red eyes, dark skin, and often a hunched back. They are prophets as well as magicians, and are said to know the secrets of all treasures hidden in their neighborhood. They congregate around stone circles and love dancing but are more malevolent than other Gallic faeries. They are sometimes called bogul noz, “Children of the Night.”
The main delight of korreds is in dancing, which they do so vigorously that the grass burns in circles under their feet. They only dance at night, and usually on Wednesday, their traditional day off. They react with violence to mortals who disturb their dance-rituals, although mortals may be swept up in the ecstasy of the dance. Korreds are not always unkind to mortals, but they are never overly friendly.
In ancient times, Phoenician dwarves or sprites arrived in Brittany and intermarried with certain families of korreds. These dwarves were both kouretes (courètes) and karkinoi, another word for kabeiroi (carikines). Modern korreds are divided into the “old korreds,” the original pure lineage, and the “new korreds” who have a bit of this foreign heritage. Old Korred lineages include: Jetins (somewhat shorter), Vihans (also shorter), Hommes Cornus (from Gascony), Corics, Kerions, Kouricans, Gwazig-Gan, Kourils (or Courils), and Korandon. New Korred lineages include: Corriquets, Guerrionets, Korriks, Boudiguets, C’Horriquets, Corrandonnets, and Kornikaned (carry small horns on their belts).
In other parts of France, these beings are known as crions. They are also found in the Pyrenees and in Cornwall, where they are known as spriggans. Unlike spriggans, korreds are apparently unable able to grow to giant size.
The Evolution of Fae
Alas, the title of Leo Elijah Cristea’s most recent post on the fae is not a reference to how these beings emerged and diversified through random mutation and natural selection. It is, however, a wonderful discussion of the varieties of Fair Folk one encounters in myth and literature. In particular, this post tries to tackle those elements that are recognizable as at least suggestive of faeries in world mythology, always admitting that whatever overlap (or identity) is claimed must only be claimed with due appreciation for how the source cultures themselves do different things with their various nature spirits, angels, or what have you.
If we delve back in time and focus on the birth of these various stories, even widening our net and including other “fae-like” beings whose appearance or vocation has led them to be tangled up in the same net as faeries—such as the short, stout Northern Dwarves, the elfin Álfar and Svartálfar who could become the aos sí, as well as the creatures already discussed—it becomes clear that appearance alone is sometimes enough to define the beings from different realms as fae.
In this way, we can trace the evolution of the faeries through their alteration and adaptation, drawing up lines of likeness between similar beings, as well as their manmade transformations throughout literature and popular culture.
This is an excellent article, well worth the read!
Fantastical Biology
Readers here already know I love it when the fantastical elements of a story are rooted in something that at least notionally related to scientific plausibility. Over at Fantasy Faction, Shambralyn Baker has delivered the goods with an excellent article about how ecology might shape the biology of fantasy creatures.
Darrell J. Pursiful 