Plot Points, Or, The Media That’s Shaped Me In April
Introduction
Welcome to Plot Points, where I share fantasy-related media, books, non-fiction pieces, and various forms of entertainment that have caught my attention for one reason or another. If I share them here, know that I think they’re worthy of note.
I’m always open to recommendations, so if there’s something fantasy-related (this includes books, podcasts, videos, artwork, games, music, video channels, newsletters, and magazines) that you think I should know about, drop me a line. I’ll make sure to give you a shoutout in the next issue of Plot Points, too!
But first, a little humor…
What’s the bestselling genre of book in the forest?
Elf-help books
Non-Fiction (Articles, Newsletters, Books, etc)
All the New Fantasy Books That Came Out in April!
Meet dead gods, eccentric aristocrats, vampire hunters, and more.
Artist’s fantasy home gets Grade II listed status
Have you ever wanted to decorate your home to resemble an ancient Minoan temple? Or create your own lion-shaped fireplace? Or dreamed of painting murals on your ceilings? One man in Birkenhead, England (near Liverpool) did just that, and hid it for years for fear of being evicted! Ronald Geoffrey Gittins was an artist, an actor, and a “brilliant Buddy Holly impersonator”. He was considered eccentric but no one, not even his family expected to find his Magnus opus in his home after his death in September 2019. He had taken over his flat in 1986 with an agreement that he could decorate his ground-floor flat, the porch, and the garden the way he wished. But perhaps he recognized that some might find his interior design too much. Personally, I think he was ahead of his time and possibly a creative genius.
You want to see the online tour to truly understand Ron’s vision and art.
When we want to read, but don’t have the time to start another novel, magazines are the answer. But so many fantasy-themed mags have folded, where can we find them? One fantasy/sci-fi enthusiast has put together part 1 of a thorough and well-considered list of magazines. Check it out, you might find a new favorite!
Lit Mags That Made Me Love Short Stories Again
Mušḫuššu bas-relief in the Pergamon Museum - Image Credit : Allie Caulfield - CC BY 2.0
The origins of dragon mythology
Did you know the word ‘dragon’, first entered the English language in the 13th century, derived from the Latin ‘dracōnis’ and the Greek ‘drakōns’?
Worldbuilding Magazine
For some time now, Worldbuilding Magazine has been a volunteer written & produced mag. I look forward to every issue, and their newest on waterways has been a long time coming. They’ve covered crime & punishment, social expectations, food, transportation, geography, and so much more. If you’re a writer or a hobby worldbuilder, you can find the free mag at Worldbuilding Magazine.
Digital Media (YouTube, Podcasts, Movies, etc)
Best Living Fantasy Authors With Dan Wells & Brandon Sanderson
Dan & Brandon hilariously discuss the finer points of a food heist in Texas & their top 5 living fantasy authors. Who has contributed most to the fantasy culture? Who is most versatile?
Damsel
I finally got to watch this fantasy-themed movie with Millie Bobby Brown (of Stranger Things & Enola Holmes), Robin Wright, and Angela Bassett. The premise is pure fantasy. A young woman agrees to marry a handsome prince -- only to discover it was all a trap. She is thrown into a cave with a fire-breathing dragon and must rely solely on her wits and will to survive. Her prince will not save her, she’s on her own. The Prince is weak, and complicit in her people’s tradition of sacrificing newly-wed princesses. (I say we throw him over the footbridge and let him become a dragon snack.)
I’m a huge fan of Angela Bassett, and I think she got a raw deal with her lines. I mean, she did the best she could with what they gave her, but geez. Her character though, is not a lost cause. Her husband though? I wanted to slap him most of the time. As with House of Cards, Robin Wright shines as the manipulative and bitchy Queen Isabelle. She just plays “bad” so well!
What impressed me was the way Elodie used her smarts to not only use the limited tools she had at her disposal to survive, but the sheer guts she had. And to not only find … well, I guess I shouldn’t tell you that. But then to go …I shouldn’t tell you about that either. I was a little surprised by how thin the dragon was, but holyhairballs was she badass! Voiced by Shohreh Aghdashloo (who was perfect and should voice every dragon from this day forward, btw!), the dragon was every bit of expectedly rage-filled, scheming, terrifying, and the ultimate protagonist one would expect of a fantasy film.
The ending was satisfying, but left me with a lot of questions and unmet expectations. I’ll give it a 7/10, but only for the acting of Millie Bobby Brown, Robin Wright, Angela Bassett, and the casting of Shohreh Aghdashloo. And the ending.
Did you know there is a Damsel novel? I didn’t, until I stumbled across an interview with its author, Evelyn Skye. Much to my delight, she has a Substack! She discusses why the novel and movie are different, as well as provides us with peeks behind her magic. Among other things. You really need to check it out!
The Peace of Akatosh Ambient video
I enjoy this ambient video because I can write or read (or knit!) while this is playing in the background. Geytkeypur has taken the original Jeremy Soule song, modified it a little, and slowed it down, and the result is rather haunting. Give it a listen!
Fiction (This doesn’t need explaining, does it?)
Last time, I told you I was reading A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland. I finished it the evening the last issue of Plot Points went out. It was everything I hoped it would be. Charming, gripping, and unexpected. It’s set in 1830 in Nova Scotia, and the main character is a midwife who falls hard for a Scottish woman who lives just up the coast and over the hill. But the story is about far more than them. All of the secondary characters, except for two, are interesting in their own right. There are animals we come to care for, (and I still want to know what happens to the fox!), people with backstories only hinted at, and I would totally be there for another story set in that village. The LGBT content isn’t flung in your face, and is very sweet. In fact, this is the sort of book I would be happy to read to my mother or grandmother! I highly recommend it!
(Available everywhere)
Birdmint Julep by S. E. Reid
Gripping, engaging flash fiction that takes little more than 5 minutes to read, but will change your day - if you let it. The very short piece is about fading dreams, and knowing when to admit those dreams need to evolve. It’s a terrific piece of flash fiction that you should totally read!
At long last, I finally read & finished Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I can’t explain why it took so long, other than I was late to the party and there were a lot of other books to read! Anyway, I think Outlander can be included in a fantasy newsletter since the premise hinges on time travel, seemingly unlocked by Pagans. I’m on book 2 now, Dragonfly in Amber. Shortly after I wrote those words, I finished Dragonfly.
(My apologies for the late send-off of this issue. We’ve had a family medical emergency, on top of my ever-increasing care-giver responsibilities. I hope you and yours are well.)
I didn't really care for Damsel. It seemed to me just two hours of Millie Bobbie Brown grunting and making faces. I can see the bones of a good story, there, one that probably worked much better in prose than in a movie, so I appreciate the link to the author's substack! I'll check it out.