Such a Boy

Khirsha is the main character of all of the books in the Swords of Fire saga. Everything we see and learn we see and learn through his eyes and comprehension. There are occasional respites in which we see things from Shatahar's view (Shatahar is the Warlord seeking to destroy Madatar and take control of The Great Sea), but Khirsha is our point of view character.

We meet him just before he turns nineteen. To my intended reading audience this would make him a young man in our society. In Khirsha's world he is still a boy. Physically, he is a young man, capable of all the physical things young men can do. Socially, however, he is much younger. There is much he doesn't know or understand which boys and girls in our society know as young teenagers. But that's Khirsha's society. It's how they all are, so he fits right in.

I like Khirsha. He has his life before him and everything seems possible. He is about to be confronted by things beyond his wildest nightmares, but he will grow with each encounter.

Both Khirsha and Tavaar represent a lot of how I wished I had been at the same age. Both knew fear, but neither was exactly timid. They took risks. As a result, they grew. They improved. They gained knowledge and understanding. All of the things I failed to garner because I was too afraid to try things which needed to be tried, and go places which needed to be visited. What a waste. Now I live vicariously through the lives of characters who never existed.

I guess that's what fantasy is all about, isn't it? A chance to be someone different. To be better. To be what we always wanted to be, but were too afraid to reach for.

In any case, I like Khirsha. He's a good main character.

Surgery Over

This is just an update on my mother, who had surgery this morning for cancer.

The surgeon said all went very well. Better than she expected. Now it is just a matter of Mother getting rest and healing up. That is the current risk. Mother is 82, diabetic, and she has leukemia. These things put her at especial risk for about 72 hours.

Thank you for any thoughts and prayers your gave, and have time to give over the next few days.

Thanks.

God bless.

A Lot Going On

I keep thinking about all of the background elements I have let slide the past few months. I think I finished with determining where all 7,400+ people lived every year of their life, but I'm not sure. I know I haven't finished with the military. That is critical if I am ever to make Tavaar's life into a real book.

At the same time I have Book I - currently titled, A Traitor in the Midst - to refinish. By the way, I have yet to have anyone tell me how that title grabs them. I've gone through so many titles that others hate I'm kind of shy about believing I've got a good one.

That I have a good book I do not doubt. That the book is interesting and fun to read I do not doubt. That an agent could sell it to a publisher I do not doubt. That a publisher could make good money off it I do not doubt.

So what do I doubt?

My ability to sell it to an agent when I finish it again. Damn query letters. I wish query letters were living things. I just might commit murder.

I can't sell. I just can't. It has nothing to do with how much I believe in the product. As soon as I'm supposed to convince someone else something is good I lose all enthusiasm. My focus leaves the product and turns to, "Who in the h*ll am I to be trying to convince this person/these people of anything?"

In the meantime, I still have to finish Book I. When I do then, perhaps, I will return to background work.

Good Ol' Blogger

FairyHedgeHog posted this. I looked at my Follower list and I'm still listed as "public". However, if you used to see me as a Follower and now don't, please let me know.

Thanks to Jennifer, through Sarah, for this explanation of why we're all apparently losing followers.

If you use Blogger as your platform, I'm sure you've noticed that your follower count is down. Apparently Blogger has changed everybody's followers to "anonymous" and anonymous followers don't show. If everyone can do these simple steps, we can all get our followers back:Go to dashboard, you'll see "Blogs I'm Following"Scroll down to the bottom of that list and click on manage.Then you'll see that all the drop down menus have been changed to anonymous. You just need to change them back to public.Hopefully we can get the word out, so everyone can take these steps. I hope this doesn't happen again!

On-Line Status at Risk

Just a heads up. My computer is sick. Here's the post.

Basic Beliefs

Back in December I posted about the Religious Message intended with Swords of Fire. Basically, none is.

All the same, it is difficult to create a world like The Great Sea without including elements which many would consider religious. Foremost among these elements is the idea of creation, and a Creator.

It turns some people off completely. Others are drawn by exactly those elements. And still others (probably most) don't care one way or the other. It's just part of the story.

I suppose it is difficult for a writer to not impart his/her basic beliefs into their writing, even when writing outside their basic beliefs. My beliefs on good and evil are reflected in what I write, for when characters behave in a certain way they are written as "evil" characters. And when characters behave in another way they are written as "noble".

What is difficult - if not outright impossible - is to write God as a character in a story. I've seen it done on movies and television shows, and read it in various other works. NEVER is God's character believable. God is not petty. God is not stupid. God is not ignorant. God does not make mistakes. And God does not answer to us.

I suppose that is why the High King in Swords of Fire is never a physically present character. He is referenced, and perhaps even spoke to. But he never speaks back. Not audibly to the characters. Determining what God would say is not easy to determine, and so often best left unsaid in fiction. Besides, to make the High King a more present character in Swords of Fire would only increase the presence of religion, I think. And I would just as soon avoid that for now. I'm not qualified to write religion. Not yet.

A Portion of Khirsha's Family Tree

I thought I would post this picture and see how well it shows up. If it works I'll post others.

Looking at it now, though, even in the editor, I'm thinking it won't work.

The top of the Tree is Dezro and Magdah. Dezro was Head-of-Family until his demise in the Window. Magdah is still alive and actually plays a small role in Book I.

Dezro and Magdah's first child was a boy: Abro. Abro would marry Zielmae. The second child would be Abrin, Khirsha's grandfather. Abrin would marry Adeliah. The third child was Mezra. A girl. She would marry Delmin.

Abro and Zielmae's children were Rupahrn, who married Valaya; Zenta, who married Mordan; and Ambloss, who married Niema.

Rupahrn and Valaya's children were: Sayla (a love interest to Khirsha), Raina and Pordahn.

Zenta and Mordan's children were: Arvayn (one of Khirsha's companions), Zinkayla, and Chorda.

Ambloss and Niema's children were: Meekel (one of Khirsha's companions), Hogahn (who died as an infant), Biern and Zeef.

Mezra and Delfin's children were: Drofin, who married Giayna; Korfin, who married Traia (who plays a role in Book I); and Daminda, who married Englo.

Drofin and Giayna's children were: Gydia, who married Whesho; and Drogyn.

Korfin and Traia's children were: Kortra, Krofi, and Fahnrit.

Daminda and Englo's children were: Endahn, Danin, and Dameada.

Abrin and Adeliah's children were: Khaiu (important in Book I), who married Tura (also in Book I); Shello (Khirsha's father), who married Klarissa (Khirsha's mother); and Arlae (also in Book I), who married Holan (minor role in Book I).

Khaiu and Tura's children were: Kelso (major character); Thaia (who died young); and Tursa (also in Book I).

Shello and Klarissa's children were: Khirhsa (main character); Kaschira (who died young); and Shirae (also in Book I).

Arlae and Holan's children were: Arlah (mentioned in Book I); Lorae (mentioned in Book I); Ahrlan (mentioned in Book I).

Even with small families it doesn't take long to have a lot of people.

Something Worth Reading, I Think

I am not going to make one of my regular posts here today. Instead, I am going to refer you to something I posted about on A Voice in the Wind.

For me, it is a very moving story I read just this morning. Maybe it touches me more closely because my own mother has cancer, but I don't think so. I think it is a moving story no matter what.

If you have the time, at least read the link to the story I read. You have a good day.

Remembering the Original Plan

From the beginning there were Humans, Elves, Dwarfs, and Ceres. The Figgits, Pennans, and Nomads came later.

At the start, the entire saga was about Khirsha, and Khirsha alone. Only later, when I began to develop the world did I come to realize the more far-reaching concepts of all that was taking place. By then I realized what I was creating was a place in which literally thousands of stories could be told, each distinctive from the others. The worlds, while having similar characteristics, were all different places, which different people. Most of the worlds would be completely ignorant of Elves in particular, but probably even a good number of the other races, too.

A variety of race/creature combinations could be imagined. Think of it.

Nomads - extinct race (presumed)

Pennans - extinct race (presumed)

Humans - hundreds of cultures

Dwarfs - many cultures

Figgits - several cultures

Gargoyls - several kinds

Gnomes - several kinds

Barbarians - many kinds

Trolls - several kinds

Dragons - twelve breeds, two kinds within each breed

Unicorns - eight breeds

As you can see, a lot of potential stories. And this doesn't even include the Children of Fire, Wizards, Teachers, Mortals, Warlords, Assassins, Overlords, gryphons, manticores, etc., etc., etc.

The Great Sea is a place for artists. Painters, Sculptors, writers, and whoever can come to The Great Sea and find a place to express their craft. There are certain things which must be kept true across creations in order for the work to truly be from The Great Sea. I suppose I should compile a compendium, or guide, of some sort to aide in the work.

For General Questions/Comments

Angelic Beings

That the Children of Fire are "angelic beings" is clear from any description I give them. But how close they are to real angels I cannot say. I doubt very. But there are similarities.

The Children of Fire have the power to assume any physical form they desire. These forms can be of real things, familiar to the mortal Free People who populate The Great Sea. Or they can be something entirely new and confusing. There is no limit.

I expect that is true of real angels, too. As spirit beings they are not bound by the physical. They can look like people, animals, or anything else. In the Book of Ezekiel we read how the prophet saw a vision of angels who's descriptions seem to indicate they appeared as machines. Possibly spaceships. More than a few people have suggested that those U.F.O. sightings which cannot be explained by means of human creations, or natural earth events, could possibly be angels/demons flying through the air. Don't know. Could be, I suppose.

The Children of Fire have divided themselves into two groups: those who support the High King's decision that Madatar be given control of The Great Sea, and those who oppose it.

That's kind of true for angels, too. Most of them have remained true to God and serve him with all their heart. But some have turned away. For whatever reason, they now oppose God. In Revelation, Chapter 12, we read how the dragon's tail, "swept down a third of the stars of heaven".

The thing is, though, Swords of Fire is not about our world, our redemption, or even the angels which come here. Swords of Fire is about a different place, with different people, who follow a different code. So don't get too hung up when even my "good" angels don't behave according to scripture. They're following a different book.

The Reality of Unicorns

What is a Unicorn?

Well, to literal, it's a one-horned creature (the horn originating on the creature's head). End of description.

Using that description, any creature with a single horn could be called a unicorn. Rhino's? Single-tusked elephants? Goats?

Yes. According to the literal description, they would all qualify.

The Unicorn of legend is a horse, however. Generally white. Considered beautiful, magical, and extremely shy.

But did you know that God - our God - actually did create a species Adam named Unicorn?

There are no less than nine (9) references in the bible, according to Strong's Concordance.

Here are the references (using the King James Version Bible).

God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. Numbers 23:22

God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strenght of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. Numbers 24:8

His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. Deuteronomy 33:17

Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Or wilt thou leave thy labor to him? Wilt though believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn? Job 39:9-12

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorn. Psalms 22:21

He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. Psalms 29:6

But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. Psalms 92:10

And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. Isaiah 34:7

The passages I find most interesting are those in Job and in Psalm 22. Clearly, God is describing a real animal to Job. And David seems to be talking of someone having taken the horn of a unicorn and made it into a sounding horn, such as with shells from dead sea-animals.

There is a difference, however, between the unicorns of the Bible and the unicorns of legend. The unicorns of legend are graceful animals, shy of people. The unicorns of the Bible appear to be powerful animals, unafraid of much of anything.

I found this article about Biblical unicorns which used other research to support unicorn existence. From it, I gather that the real unicorns more resembled a large ox-like animal.

“a little below the elephant in size, and of the appearance, color, and shape of a bull. Their strength and speed are extraordinary; they spare neither man nor wild beast which they have espied . . . . Not even when taken very young can they be rendered familiar to men and tamed. The size, shape, and appearance of their horns differ much from the horns of our oxen. These they anxiously seek after, and bind at the tips with silver, and use as cups at their most sumptuous entertainments.”

This description appears to fit with the unicorns described by God to Job. Unicorns were not creatures to trifle with. Not because of any inherant magical qualities, but because they were quite dangerous.

Suffice to say that, while I accept the likely description of real unicorns (extinct since at least the 1600s), the unicorns of my stories tend more toward the legendary type. Writing stories isn't about being accurate to the real world. Writing stories is about having fun.