I'm currently rereading 'Shadowmancer' by GP Taylor, a children's fanatsy novel set in 18th century England. The plot is familiar; a group of children, with the help of various adult and non-human allies, set out to thwart the world-changing plans of an evil sorceror who, in this case, also happens to be the local vicar.
Taylor wrote the book (and its sequels) as a response to the Harry Potter phenomenon. He is himself a clergyman, and was disturbed by the occult elements of the Potter books. His books, whilst filled with sorcery and strange magic, are also chock full of Christian imagery and metaphor, to a level that makes CS Lewis seem subtle.
I'm not sure what to make of this book. I did enjoy it the first time I read it, but the 'message' was as subtle as a charging rhinoceros and that detracted from, rather than enhanced, the book. If I want to be preached to, I think I'd rather read Narnia.
Of course, some books have a more subtle religious agenda.
My personal favourites in the children's fantsy 'genre' are still Alan Garner's 'The Weirdstone Of Brisingamen' (and it's sequel, 'The Moon of Gomrath') and John Gordon's 'The Giant Under The Snow'. It's notable that both feature fantasy in a contemporary (well, 1960s, which for me is almost contemporary) setting; I think they both work well because of this.
The lizard emerging from the egg is a small resin figurine we were given as a present some years ago. It lives on my bedside table, which is where I took this picture. The whole thing was done as one picture, with the exception of the eye (mine, obviously) which is a separate layer. I did something to the eye to make it look more evil. Can you tell what it is? (No, no makeup).
A year ago today I was thinking.
eweliyi 51 months ago | reply
wo, this is so cool, I love it!
Tyla'75 51 months ago | reply
great figurine!
sef_lopod 51 months ago | reply
Upside-down eye.
Nice lizardy-dude. I mostly have dragons coming out of eggs.
Kaptain Kobold 51 months ago | reply
naysheℓℓ64 51 months ago | reply
Awesome idea on the upside down eye!
I never thought children's fantasy books could be so fun, I have never read harry potter and tho I read narnia at school, I can hardly rememebr it!! I can't wait to get more into this genre. It's just so easy to read!
Kaptain Kobold 51 months ago | reply
"It was a dark blustery afternoon in spring, and the city of London was chasing a small mining town across the dried-out bed of the old North Sea."
naysheℓℓ64 51 months ago | reply
that definitely sounds like I want to keep reading... :D
thanks for all the great tips!!
NomadMedic 51 months ago | reply
Very cool foreground
ukimmeru 51 months ago | reply
upside down. Very cool! Wouldn't have thought to do that as a mood technique. cool!!!
~aspidistra~ 51 months ago | reply
This is cool. I read that book a while back but I can't remember it that well. I really enjoy kids' fantasy books - my favourite by far is 'His Dark Materials' and I enjoyed the Mortal Engines series - come to think of it I'm not sure I've read the last one - I'll have to look that up.
--
Seen in the group"The Rogue Players" (?)
Ouissi 51 months ago | reply
This is really cool! I love the focus on the little lizard.
Thanks for playing my day!
--
Seen in a discussion of the group "The Rogue Players" (?)
Dave-T 51 months ago | reply
Awesome shot. After your review, I think I'll skip this one. I hate being preached to.
--
Seen in a discussion of Flickr Group Roulette. (?)