For the Fandom of Fantasy Maps

This is an essay about a lifelong love affair with maps. I could have written it; so could my husband have, and any of several of my friends for that matter. We who are fans of maps just generally can be inordinately fond of fantasy maps, for what can possibly be better to a cartophile than a map of a place […]

Reason, and Magic

“The universe of magic is a large place. It contains phenomena ranging from simple good luck charms to complicated systems of belief and practice such as astrology and alchemy, and it comes to us from prehistory, and from every part of the world, and it still flourishes today.” — Philip Pullman I haven’t yet read Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, but […]

Zen and the Art of the Arc

This is not another post on how writers craft stories. I’d apologize, but my best estimate is that there are sixty-three hojillion posts about that on the internet right now, and a half-assed search engine is capable of turning every one of them up for you, listed however you please.  What I wanted to write about this Monday morning is […]

Uncommon Catalysts: Coherent Universes – Using RPGs for Consistency in Your Writing

Metaphor Publications is pleased to present Uncommon Catalysts a series of guest articles sourced in the catalytic intersection between fantasy fiction and role playing games (RPG, or  RPG’s). Irregularly, we’ll be reaching out to irregular writers and gamers and getting their irregular perspectives on how fantasy/speculative fiction and RPG’s compare, contrast, overlap – and lead to new ways to enjoy both. […]

Uncommon Catalysts: On the Nature of First Things

Metaphor Publications is pleased to present Uncommon Catalysts a series of guest articles sourced in the rich, yeasty intersection between fantasy fiction and role playing games (RPG, or  RPG’s). Irregularly, we’ll be reaching out to irregular writers and gamers and getting their irregular perspectives on how fantasy/speculative fiction and RPG’s compare, contrast, overlap – and lead to new ways to enjoy […]

Whether Or Not To Weather

Today, we live in air conditioned houses or flats in concrete jungles, and travel in air conditioned cars and buses and planes. Natural disasters not withstanding, weather is usually little more than a minor irritation or point of idle conversation. It didn’t use to be that way. When it was cold, it was hard to keep warm. When it was hot, there were few ways to cool down. To travel, you had to be out in the weather. Weather was a fact of life – for everybody!