Features
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Magical Warfare
Fallout taught fans that war…war never changes. Military historians, however, argue otherwise. Case in point: the stirrup. Before firearms dominated the battlefield, it’s generally agreed that ... -
A Beginner’s Guide to Malazan Characters: ‘Deadhouse Gates’
So, you made it through Gardens of the Moon, and now you’re back for more. While you might be a wee bit disappointed to find so ... -
Qi and Fantasy
Most people associate magic with strange symbols, chanting, and waving a wand around. Dusty books are usually in the picture, along with ritual circles or sacrifices. ... -
Wizards: Old Grey Beards
If you ask someone on the street to name the first three wizards that come to mind, you’ll probably hear the names Gandalf, Merlin, and Dumbledore ... -
True Names, Binary, and Mathematics as Magic
A while ago, I decided to sit down and flesh out the notation and structure of magic in my world. One of the key problems I ... -
Hidden Layers: Spell Maps, Illusions, and Neural Networks
Anyone who’s ever watched Serial Experiments Lain remembers the scene when Lain goes to greet her friends at school, but instead a doppelganger emerges from her and goes in her ... -
Iaido, Wing Chun, and ‘After the Rain’: Reflections on Martial Arts
I started taking wing chun classes at City Wing Tsun in Manhattan recently. It’s been a great experience, partly because the people are almost universally friendly, ... -
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
‘On the second day of Hogswatch I . . . sent my true love back, A nasty little letter, hah, yes indeed, and a partridge in ... -
The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson
I’ve been accused – on many occasions – of harping on about the Malazan Book of the Fallen. I hear things like, “god, do you EVER shut ... -
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Gorgeous. Enthralling. Captivating. Mesmerising. These are all words I certainly didn’t use when I first attempted to read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell a few years ago, ...