A man, an elf, a dwarf, and a hobbit walk into Mordor... Stop me if you've heard this one. Except it's not a joke—it's the premise of one of the greatest stories ever told. And unlike most fantasy setups that feel like they're checking boxes on a diversity requirement form, Tolkien's four races of Middle-earth … Continue reading The Portrayal of Different Races in Middle-earth: Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, and Men
Fantasy
The Last Dance of Valdoria
Sir Waylon of Greenhaven had rehearsed this moment a thousand times. The cave mouth yawned before him like the gateway to the underworld, which, he supposed, it might very well be. His armor—still too new, too shiny—caught the morning sun as he dismounted. The horse whinnied nervously, sensing what lay within. "Stay here, Tempest," he … Continue reading The Last Dance of Valdoria
Question of the Week #466
Content Warning: This post discusses sexual topics in a mature, thoughtful manner. While kept at a PG-13 level, reader discretion is advised. As usual, this week's question comes from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions: Do you have a favorite sexual fantasy? If so, what would you give to have it granted? It involves a … Continue reading Question of the Week #466
The Worst 42 – The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter
The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter 1990 Directed by George T. Miller Welcome back to Movie Monday, where we continue our methodical journey through my personal countdown of the 100 worst movies I've ever encountered. This week brings us to number 42: The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, a 1990 sequel that serves … Continue reading The Worst 42 – The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter
The Last Unicorn and the Tax Collector
A Fairy Tale for Modern Times In the kingdom of Eldermere, where morning mist clung to ancient oak trees and starlight pooled in forgotten meadows, there lived a tax collector named Cornelius Quillbottom. He was a man of precise measurements and careful calculations, with ink-stained fingers and spectacles that perpetually slipped down his pointed nose. … Continue reading The Last Unicorn and the Tax Collector
The Healer’s Daughter
The fever had taken hold of Thomas three days ago, and Elisabeth knew with the certainty that comes from watching too many neighbors buried that her little brother was dying. She knelt beside his small form on the rough-hewn bed, pressing a damp cloth to his burning forehead. At eight years old, Thomas had always … Continue reading The Healer’s Daughter
The Magnificent Bumbling of Wizard Fumblethorp
Wizard Fumblethorp adjusted his crooked pointed hat for the fifteenth time that morning and squinted at the scrying crystal that absolutely refused to show him anything useful. Instead of revealing the location of the dreaded Dark Lord Maleficus, it kept displaying what appeared to be someone's breakfast—a rather nice omelet, actually. "Perhaps if you tried … Continue reading The Magnificent Bumbling of Wizard Fumblethorp
The Scarlet Swift: A Hero Emerges
The market square of Eldervale buzzed with its usual afternoon bustle. Merchants haggled with customers, children darted between stalls, and a bard sang tales of ancient heroes near the central fountain. Among them walked Thomas Wheelwright, a slender young man with unruly brown hair who moved with unexpected grace for someone of his station. He … Continue reading The Scarlet Swift: A Hero Emerges
Shimmer and Shadow
The fairy perched on the edge of a neon sign in downtown Tokyo, her translucent wings catching fragments of pink and blue light. Below her, humans hurried past with their anti-fairy nets and protective goggles, standard equipment now in most major cities. Thistle – the name she'd chosen for herself – watched them with a … Continue reading Shimmer and Shadow
A to Z Challenge Reflections 2025
Whew! What a month it's been! As April comes to a close, I'm sitting here with a mixture of exhaustion, pride, and genuine disbelief that I've actually done it—I've written an entire novel in just 26 days as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. For those who haven't been following along, the A … Continue reading A to Z Challenge Reflections 2025
The Confusing Middle 