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 theyāre worthy of note.Ā
Iām always open to recommendations, so if thereās 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. Iāll make sure to give you a shoutout in the next issue of Plot Points, too!
But wait!
Pun-of-the-month: Whatās a dwarfās favorite thing to listen to?
(Answer revealed at the end of this issue!)
Letās get into itā¦
Non-Fiction (Articles, Newsletters, Books, etc)Ā
Mystical Animals, Fairies, Vampires & MonstersĀ
Romantasy is not only a genre filled with magic and romance, itās also a genre more diverse than classic sword & sorcery stories are. Thatās true of both characters and authors, in both gender identity and sexual orientation. Romantasy is a hot genre to write in these days, not to mention read! Whether youāre on TikTok or Instagram, itās hard to avoid the pull of the mystical when mixed with the promise of happy-ever-after. No matter how you identify, or your preferred spice level, thereās something for everyone in this exploding genre.Ā
Spicy Romantasy Genre's Staggering Sales Figures explains why.
I had high hopes for an article on Psychology Today on The Importance of Fairy Tales. I neednāt have gotten my hopes up. One would think that a magazine/website that many look to as an authority on psychology would have some meaty insights to offer. Not so. Iāll save you the bother of looking it up.
TL/DR: Modern children need to hear the old fairy tales, even though the older versions are scary (cannabilism, anyone?), so they can have a safe place to extend their fears and hopes.
Iām not even going to bother linking the article. Thatās what a waste of time it was!
However, the author of Why Children Need Fairy Tales: A Psychological Breakdown reports that Marina Warner, author of Once Upon A Time āchildren begin to see symbols in the tales they read; they learn to see the forest as the unknown, the palace as classism, and the poisoned apple as the concealed truths.ā I must have been a very odd child indeed. I never saw a forest as anything but a forest. Mysterious, yes, but not as a representation of the unknown. A poisoned apple was a poisoned apple. A tool for jealousy maybe, but never a concealed truth.
I do agree with the author of the essay when they state, āFairy tales help develop the imagination, which allow children to see themselves living in the story, going on all sorts of crazy adventures. They begin to understand that they need to have an imagination because it will help them throughout their life.ā This is true of stories that are not fairy tales such as āThe Hobbitā, and of beloved modern tales such as āAnne of Green Gablesā, who was a fantastic enthusiast of having a robust imagination. There were a number of solid and intriguing ideas in the essay, and I recommend giving it a read.
Stone By Day, Warriors by Nightā¦
With a charming trip down memory lane, I read an article called 10 Amazing Fantasy Cartoons That Completely Flew Under The Radar. The article brought back memories of snuggling with my son while we watched Gargoyles, but this piece offers other examples of fantasy cartoons that were largely overlooked back in the day. Not sure anyone is ready for a live-action reboot of Gargoyles thoughā¦
How Were Led Zepplin & J.R.R. Tolkien Connected?
āSix degrees of separationā is the idea that all people are six or fewer social connections away from each other. While the concept is an interesting thought experiment, it is sometimes surprising the connections we can draw between artistic influencers. I donāt think thatās an understatement. Both Led Zepplin and Tolkien have been influential in many writer's and musician's lives. Did you know that Robert Plant and Professor Tolkien were both raised in the same area north of Birmingham, England? I didnāt, so I read the following article with great interest. āThe Story Behind āOver the Hills and Far Awayā by Led Zeppelin and How It Was Inspired by a Tolkien PoemāĀ
Digital Media (YouTube, Podcasts, Movies, etc)
When I was growing up, āStairway To Heavenā was among my most beloved songs. The images embedded in the lyrics of that song (and others by Led Zepplin) fed my imagination in ways too numerous to get into here. So, I think itās only fitting that I should include the video from the prestigious Kennedy Center event when Led Zepplin was honored on December 2nd, 2012
Itās terrific to watch Michelle Obama rocking out to one of the greatest bands of all time.
While I include the video in the Kennedy Center Honors link below, please BE AWARE THERE ARE FLASHING LIGHTS THAT MAY HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON SOME VIEWERS.
Fiction (This doesnāt need explaining, does it?)Ā
The Midnight Library (published in 2020) by prolific author Matt Haig is one of those books that is a delight to hold, assuming you have the print version. (Over 9 million copies sold as of September 30th, 2023! Mind-blowing!!) The paper is thick, the edges feel rough cut (which is also known as ādeckled edged), and the cover has a unique, tactile-friendly feel to it as well. My copy came to me through a second-hand bookstore, and Iām so glad they hung on to a copy for me! Thanks Rad Zone!
Hereās the blurb;
āBetween life and death there is a library,ā she said. āAnd within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choicesā¦Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?ā
Itās an interesting premise.
Iām about halfway through the book, and itās very much a more ācommon-manā (or woman, in this case) imagining of āA Wonderful Lifeā
Pun-of-the-month: Whatās a dwarfās favorite thing to listen to?
Answerā¦Rock music!
Have any recommendations for what I should watch, read or listen to next? Let me know!
If you enjoyed this edition of Plot Points, or any of the content here at An Enchanted Life, please recommend it to your fantasy-loving friends!
Coming next week, a new way to help support An Enchanted Life! See you then!
If you are interested in psychology and fairy tales, Marie-Louise von Franz is a brilliant Jungian scholar who focused on fairy tales and how they illuminate unconscious processes.
Do follow Sharon Blackieās The Art of Enchantment here on substack? Her work is centered on fairy tales and mythopoeia. Highly recommend!