Fairy Tale Spotlight: The Uncanny Collared Rat

Those of you who have owned some of the more basic pets may not understand the situation of which I find myself in. Indeed, there are dogs and cats who are among the most basic of animals that keep us company. And I should say that there are those who keep the type of the rodent variety, ie. the mouse, rat, or miscellaneous gerbil. One of the latter belongs to me, but he is of the uncanny sort of rat and I am here to explain why.

I called him Corky the Collared Rat. I capitalize his entire identity because he seems to me to be more than the commonplace variety rodent. There is a spark of yearning in those eyes when he looks into mine. And, indeed, he does look into my eyes quite much. It's a sort of look that speaks of untethered eagerness with a foundation of love. This recipe is garnished with the ever minute dash of what may perhaps be sentience, but I could never be perfectly sure.

Yes, I did collar him. It's a bit more than a ring around the neck, but also extends to a sort of harness that encompasses his entire body, yet the collar is quite present and seems to have given him a variety of pride, I suppose. He stares at me with maw agape and seems to be thinking words that I cannot hear. If I were to interpret the silence, I fancy words such as, "I'd do anything for you, master."

To this I would ask, "Why would you do anything for me, Corky?"

And he would perhaps reply, "Because you gave me this beautiful collar. This collar makes me love you more than anything."

In what may have been a self-induced stupor, I heard these words within the silence of my own mind. I pass him his tiny meal, and my imagination fills with humble thanks that still seem to originate from Corky's quiet. A sort of dedication of feeling strikes me when I peer down at him. I often do it closely. I look into those red orbs and wonder if the rat notices as he feeds on these specially made pellets.

"Thank you," I think. "Thank you for this wonderful food," I think again. And as I think, I am certain they are really being thought by Corky himself.

I sleep alone at night. I keep Corky in what was originally intended as a cage for birds. He spends much of his time crawling about the golden structure admiring his royal entrapments. "Like a king," I once thought he told me. "I live like a king." And I suppose he must have loved it while I was sleeping.

But then I began to notice that he was looking at me from across my room. Upon opening my eyes at a chance, I saw the two red dots staring at me, and so I switched on a light. To my surprise, he was not there, for the light had put the rat's eyes away at the moment they had come about. It must have been my imagination, and, thinking that Corky had moved to the other side of the cage, I decided to go back to sleep.

Upon switching the light off, I soon began to realize that there was a presence quite near my head. The rise and fall of pillow was soon perceived. Movement was assured. I rose my hand to touch my lamp for a second time, before I heard my own thoughts speak to me with these words, "Oh, don't wake up on my account, master. I only wish to be near your wonderful head. I'll sleep much more soundly close to the one who gave me this gorgeous collar."

And just as I heard these thoughts, my arm bore the weight of a large stone. I remained in darkness as something furry pressed against my left ear. Breath became a labor, but there was nothing I could do but listen to my own thoughts tell me, "I love you, master. I love you more than myself. I'll never let you go. Never. Never. Never."

Upon waking the next day, I was alone. I found Corky sitting up quite pleased in his cage. As for the incident I experienced the night before, I do not know if it was real or simply a dream, but I have sat down to write about it regardless. Even as I do, I am being carefully watched and somehow loved by Corky. His dedication and conviction to love and serve me could be real, and, if it is, what could be the consequences if the wall that lies between animal and men becomes broken? And if not that, what possesses a rat to think with the brain of his possessor? These are questions that I have yet to answer.

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This blog was written on December 11, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: S. [Book Review]

I'm so tired. Just... you have no idea how much work this book was. I need to take a break from novelty books after this.

"S." is a book written by Doug Dorst and published in 2013. The general concept of the book was given by J.J. Abrams. It is a novelty book in that it isn't constructed in the usual way. I'll explain.

The idea of "S." is that you come across a novel that originates from a library, and when you open it, you find that it is completely covered in notes written by two other people. The book itself is called "Ship of Theseus" and was written by a fictional author named V.M. Straka. Although it is stated in the copyright page that it was published in 1949, this is also a part of the fiction. Everything you see once you crack open the book is the work of Doug Dorst.

After trying to read both the book and the notes being sent back and forth by two people within the margins, I found that I couldn't do it. I had to read the chapter first and then go back and read through the notes as if it was a separate story. This book was work. It was like reading two books at one time that was the exact same book. It about drove me nuts, but I did it. It only took me forever. (It felt like forever.)

"Ship of Theseus" was not a bad story, but it never quite breaks out of the realm of the surreal. From beginning to end, it feels like a dream. It's about a man only named S. who, despite losing his memory, spends his entire life trying to stop an evil man from running the world through arms deals. It's a bit like trying to take down the illuminate. But S. doesn't ever feel like he is fully inside the reality where all this is happening. At times, it even feels like he is writing the story that he is in, and causing things to happen through his own words. I know this sounds bizarre, but I don't have any other way to explain it. The story just sort of works like this.

At other times, he does feel like he is there and dealing with it first hand, but it always slips back into the dreamlike world where it feels like he is more of a ghost. Don't get me wrong; I liked this a lot, only it took a lot out of me. The story was extremely exhausting.

The notes within the margins were interesting, but I never found them as poignant as the book in which they were written in. It was two college students that were researching the author of the book and going through a bit of intrigue in their own lives. It was interesting how they would often experience similar things as what was happening in the story at the time they would make an entry. Often times this would lead to them underlining something from the book and then commenting on how they were going though a similar thing.

The book also had... items included within the pages. Articles, photographs, postcards, complete written letters, and even a decoder wheel were included throughout the book. This was one of the most authentic aspects, in that everything looked and felt real. The different types of paper used, condition, and even certain stains were added to create the effect that this was a genuine thing you had run across out in the wild world of literature.

In fact, the whole book was designed to feel authentic. It feels like an old library book that had been tampered with far too many times. In that sense, this may be the most beautiful book ever made in the sense that an inordinate amount of work was accomplished to make it feel authentic. I love that. I really do. I think it's beautiful that so much love and effort was put into something like this. It is art and a great example of how art can be genuinely good.

But honestly, after it is all done, I really just want to move on to something simpler. I'm so tired of exploring the world of "S." that I just need to take a break from novelty books in general. But do I recommend it? Here we have a weird issue.

In brief, I do actually recommend it because of what it is, but that doesn't mean I particularly liked the story it had to tell. That is not to say that the story was bad, but it wasn't, in my opinion, as good as it could have been. It left me feeling only slightly satisfied, not because I was hungry for more, but because I just wanted a more definitive ending. In that, I am a little sad. But it is very easy for me to say that there is no other book so well produced as this one, and if you are ever willing to take that strange journey, you should. But if you'd rather keep to the more traditional works of literature out there (and there is no shame in that whatsoever) then Godspeed. "S." is not for the faint of heart. It is work from beginning to end, and I am happy that it exists in this world.

This blog was written on December 9, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: The Book Hoard

My name is Jack. I'm a ferret. I am writing this now that I have come to the conclusion that I have... a problem. The location: the couch. Specifically, behind the couch. Originally, I had been putting things back there. Shiny things. Smelly things. You know, like keys, money, and used socks. The usual! But while I was roaming around my owner's library, something hit me. No, I am serious. Something actually hit me.

A book fell on my head and nearly killed me! I don't know where it came from. It was a direct hit, too. I was a little stunned but also completely on the defensive. I was noodling in various alpha tango loop-de-loop patterns in order to distract my enemy. I might have also had brain damage; I was never quite sure.

After making my way under a desk, I watched my attacker carefully. I'm not stupid. I know what a book is. It's a boring and dusty stationary object... AT LEAST I THOUGHT IT WAS! This thing pretty much deliberately tried to knock me out. Good thing I am so hard-headed. After a while of just staring at it warily, I soon came to realize that it wasn't going to move anymore. Apparently gravity was it's only power.

I decided that I needed to get a little revenge on it. My plan was to yank the thing back to my behind-the-couch hoard. But there were other books still there, and they still had the power of gravity behind them. I had to do it fast.

Three.

Two.

One.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

I nipped at the book cover and dragged it as fast as I could out of the room! I am pretty sure a million of the book's friends were falling all around me! It was chaos, I tell you! Pure chaos! Actually, I didn't actually see any books falling, but I was pretty sure it was happening. Why else would it have felt so intense?

Once I got the book squared away behind the couch, it made its final attempt to best me. It opened up. At first, I thought this was an attempt to attack me, but I think I might have accidently nudged it open. Carefully I peeked inside and found... a lot... and I mean A LOT of words. Like too many of them. They were just scurrying all around and dancing about on the pages. They were mocking me!

"Stop it!" I shouted at them. But they didn't listen! They just kept dancing around, laughing at me like I was some sort of idiot. I tried to bite them, but it didn't work. They were all flat against the page. I spent a good hour just screaming at them. That didn't work either.

I was at my wit's end. I had no more ideas but one. It was a stretch, but I had no choice. I attempted to "read" them. Yes, I, Jack the ferret, attempted to read the dancing words. At first, they just continued to laugh at me and dance, but I didn't give up. I wanted revenge so bad. But over time, the words began to stop dancing as much. It was working! I was beginning to read, and it was making the words straighten up! Woohoo!

I read every single word in that book to get all of them in line. That's when I realized that all the other books were probably in need of reading as well. If I didn't, they would probably jump off the shelf and hurt someone. It was their dancing, I reckoned, that was causing them to fall out of the shelves. One by one, I would dash into the library, and pull them back into my behind-the-couch hoard. Then I would open them up and read every single one of those stupid, dancing words.

The plan was to get all the books in the library behind the couch, and I got about halfway before the master of the house found out what I was doing. He was trying to take the books back! I was violently opposed! I screeched and snapped! I danced around in wild circles! I declared war on the entire universe! Who are these words that they should dance and fall down on people?! Who, I say?!

No matter how hard the master tried to remove the books, I always brought them back. I read all the words. I would look up defiantly when the master would glare. In his ignorance, he judges me! Show respect for your tiny savior! I am Jack, the great book tamer!

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This blog was written on December 4, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: Around the World in Eighty Days [Book Review]

My first Jules Verne book and it wasn't even a science fiction!

"Around the World in Eighty Days" is a novel written by Jules Verne. It was originally published in French in 1872. The story follows Englishman Phileas Fogg on his journey to win a bet by doing exactly what is in the title of the book. It could not be any simpler than that.

Although I should say that there are some complications. Indeed, there was a lot of adventure to be had, but there is also the issue of a man named Fix who thinks Phileas is a bank robber. This is sort of a hanging thread for the entire length of the book, and it's hard to figure out if Phileas really is the man that Fix thinks he is. I won't spoil it though!

The real driving force of this book are the characters and Verne's presentation of said characters. Phileas comes across as intensely stoic. He is so stoic, in fact, that he mostly seems to lack a personality. You have to learn about him through his actions, and his actions describe a very good and moral person. I really did like him, but he doesn't really talk much in the book. I spent most of my time waiting to see what his valet was doing.

Passepartout is one of the most interesting and amusing characters I have ever read about. Even though he is not technically the main character, I kept forgetting that because of how active he was in the story. He easily steals the show from the story's main protagonist.

Passepartout is a jack of all trades, but he has the innocence of a child. The good works of his master will easily bring him to tears, and he will stop at nothing to do likewise in the name of Phileas Fogg. I loved him so much.

The whole reason I picked up this book was because I used to be a fan of the old, forgotten show "The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne," which starred Phileas and Passepartout, although there story was completely different. That said, they must have really gone out of their way to portray the characters correctly, because I could see them quite clearly in the book. It was so wonderful to finally see them together again.

I don't want to spoil anything. You just need to understand how enjoyable this book was to read. It is an adventure with some brief moments of levity brought about by how real these characters feel. I absolutely recommend "Around the World in Eighty Days" if you are seeking a fun adventure to wet your appetite. This one is a bonafide classic!

This blog was written on November 27, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: The Musings of a Lonely Skunk

Today, I found out something that I think I may not have formerly understood properly. Apparently, there are some people that think creatures like me don't smell very good. It had something to do with a famous cartoon series. I looked into it, and I was rather shocked... but not altogether unamused. It's not really based on reality. My reality, anyways.

Now, could this be perhaps why people avoid me when I walk up to them? If so, I don't mean anything by it. I only want to wish you a good day. Perhaps we could talk about other things, or you could talk while I lay here with a rose betwixt my teeth. Just something I like to do sometimes.

The truth is that the whole smelly business is more of a last resort for those who mean to treat us poorly. It's locked away in a special chamber, and only I have the key. I've no intention on being crass without any good reason for it. In all acts of retaliation, there must always be a certain level of provocation.

Personally, I don't see why we can't just get along. I'm a person. You're a person. But then, I don't even know if you're listening right now. You could. You really could. But I digress.

Skunks can be very affectionate, you know? At least I can be. I try to be. I want to get to know you or anyone else. I am a listener, it's true. I like to listen and look into the eyes of my guest. It's my favorite thing. Nothing else really. I just like to do that.

But if everyone is running away from you, how am I supposed to enjoy myself? I don't want to be alone. I want to be with someone. Although I will admit to enjoying the company of other skunks, it's not always something I can rely on. I do like to fiddle about outside of the species whenever I can.

And while I am still writing this, I would like something of a critique about the whole rose thing. Is it too much? Should I lay on my side or on my back? Too exposed? Too vulnerable? What gesture would please you personally while I am in my... listening position? Hmm? I'd like to know. Although I would prefer to keep the whole rose thing. It's sort of something special to just me.

That said, I think I have done enough musing. I might let the fleeing people know that I am safe before they get out of earshot. That's what I'll do. "Come back, darling! I'm not going to hurt you! Let's talk! Or you can just talk! I'm a good listener! Do you like roses?!" Does that sound too desperate? Hmm. It may need work. I'll try different variations. Lovely.

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This blog was written on November 27, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: Movie Adaptations

You may have noticed that I have reviewed a bunch of obscure books based off of older films. It doesn't happen quite as much as it used to, but it has been a long held tradition for a movie producer to commission an author to write a book based on their production. That is assuming the movie is not already based on a book, of course. I tend to look for these book adaptations quite a bit, but I generally am looking for ones that are a bit obscure.

If there was an old movie that I liked, I will pop onto the internet (often Thrift Books) and check to see if there was a book adaptation for it. In many cases, I have found them, and they tend to be incredibly cheap. ($3 to $5 sometimes.)

Because of this personal curiosity, I found a book written to promote the original Adams Family series, a readable version of the movie "Tron," and a books made to promote a rather surprising number of other Disney films going far back into their history. Almost every one of the latter's live action movies had books. Their so many of them.

There are some fascinating novelties out there such as "Return to Oz." That was a book written to promote the movie which was based on two of Baum's Oz books. The fact that it exists was extraordinary, and I got so much out of it. It gave more context to the villain of the film.

The thing about these books that interest me is that they are often commissioned to be written while the movie itself is being made. They do this so that the book can come out at the same time as the film. Because of this simultaneous production, the books are often based off the original script. The author almost never gets to actually see the film while they are writing it.

Since the book is based off the original script, content can be left in there that doesn't make it into the film itself. In some cases, the book can be largely different than the movie, giving me a new perspective on what happened. I live for moments like these.

Two cases that took me by surprise was the sex scene in "Tron" that was cut in the movie but left in the book. There was also the fact that the "Misadventures of Merlin Jones" was presented completed out of order to the movie, yet it still somehow played out the same way.

At times, however, the adaptation can be so precisely like the movie that it can be a chore to read. It can feel more like it is describing the movie rather than actually giving me a deeper context into it. This has happened to me (and it's bad), but more often than not I have enjoyed reading these adaptations.

Since these books were only intended to act as a promotional for the movie at the time, very few of them ever become a success. They would momentarily show up in book stores so people could see the titles, and then after that they would become obscure, making their way around the world. They would sit in dusty bookshelves, unwanted, unloved. After all, the movie was the whole point.

I am here today to say that I do recognize them for what they are. There were authors commissioned to turn these movies into works of literature. Many of them were quite good, and I am pleased with the majority of my experience. Sometimes there are bad moments, such as the case with my favorite movie ever "The Black Hole." The author who wrote that adaptation sadly did not understand the ending of the film and totally blew it. But things like that are still interesting in their own right. I want to see the differences, and differences are what movie adaptations are all about.

Also they are dirt cheap.

This blog was written on November 26, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: Manos: Talons of Fate (Book Review)

"Manos: Talons of Fate" is a book written by Stephen D. Sullivan, and it was published in 2016. It is an adaptation of the low-budget horror film released in 1966 known as "Manos: The Hands of Fate." This is the second adaptation I have read of that movie by this same author. I have already reviewed the previous one.

The first adaptation was intended as a way for the author to make fun of the movie, and I really hated it. I didn't like reading it at all, and I was really worried that I was not going to like this supposedly more serious version. I am happy to say that this second adaptation was far from disappointing.

The thing that makes "Manos: Talons of Fate" so good is that it follows the milestones of the movie extremely closely, yet it gives everything a much cleaner context. That's actually what I wanted. I wanted an adaptation that took the story of the movie seriously, without turning it into a joke. The movie was kind of a joke because there wasn't much effort put into its production, but there was a story there worth telling, and this new book tells it in the best way.

Everything about this story is good. It's sexy. It's often quite scary. It makes you feel secluded and trapped away from safe society. The author does a great job at presenting the wives of the "Master" to you. Their lust for him is often stronger than their disdain. It's surprisingly politically incorrect, but it really hits home as a horror book.

Torgo is still the best character in the whole story. Heck, I even liked him in the comedy book. But it was this particular telling that really opens your mind to who he is and the monster he is becoming. If you ever wanted to know more about Torgo and his backstory, this is the book for you.

That is not to say that the other characters are disinteresting. In the movie, there were some seemingly unimportant characters that kept showing up for no good reason, but the author here has given them a purpose without removing their activities too far away from the film. I don't know how to explain it better, but he was just so good at this. It worked so well, and I am a bit astonished.

I also want to say that, in this version, the author does not shy away from erotica. There isn't a lot of it, but he pretty much just describes it raw. I like this because the book is filled with a lot of lusty imagery between men and women. There's also a bit of lesbian stuff as well. It almost makes me feel dirty for reading it, but I think that may have been the point.

I do absolutely recommend "Manos: Talons of Fate." I recommend it about as much as I do not recommend the comedy version. It's like night and day. This is one of the best adaptations I have ever read, and it seems like a dream come true that it exists. I really wanted this... and the author delivered.

This blog was written on November 21, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: The Tooth Fairy Quits

There's no use making your complaints about it now. I've had it. I've been a mouse a lot longer than I've been a Tooth Fairy, but there isn't enough motivation left in me to keep this job. Do you have any idea of the indignities I have to put up with dealing with all your stupid teeth? No, you don't. You probably won't even care after reading about all this. But I've got something to say, and I want to get it all on the record (and off my tiny chest), before I turn in my letter of resignation.

First of all, what is wrong with all of you Americans? Tall, prettily dressed human women with long gowns that were probably bought at a diamond factory?! Are you really so shallow?! Who told you what the Tooth Fairy was supposed to be?! Let me tell you something. Who is more likely to steal those teeth from under your pillow at night: a big, stompy, human-like person, or a tiny floaty mouse? DON'T SAY HUMAN! The answer was mouse, and you know it!

The thing I really just don't understand about Americans is that they all obsess over pretty women. I do all this work, and then people go around drawing pictures of pretty girls and say, "Mommy! Mommy! This is the person who gave me five bucks!" You know, I was supposed to give you a flipping quarter, you little ingrate! I thought if I paid you more, you'd actually show me a little respect, but I guess not!

Oh, and we can go into the whole tooth to dollar exchange ratio. When are you goofy little brats actually going to be satisfied with anything I give you? Back in the olden times, a quarter was all that was needed to make you happy. It wasn't a penny, or a nickel, or a dime. It was a freaking quarter! That's one-forth of a whole dollar! And it isn't even the inflation that's making this bad. Half the time the children are upset because I didn't leave them a Nintendo Switch or something. I'm not made of money, you idiots! I'm trading off teeth! Just take your money and smile for a change! Sheesh!

Look, I am very sorry about doing all this yelling. Yes, I know that I am technically writing it, but it feels like I am yelling on paper or something. It's just... I'm just tired of being under-appreciated. Being a Tooth Fairy—and a mouse, frankly—is a thankless job. Sure, the other countries accept me, sort of, but I'm tired of all the Americans thinking I'm some nameless Disney Princess. I'm just a mouse, people! I have this stupid pointy hat and a magic wand. That's all they gave me. I'm not some beautiful woman, and I can't help that!

And that's why I have decided to quit. I am done. I do not want to do it anymore. I found a mouse that wants my job. Her name is Greta. She's a little cross-eyed, but she seems really eager to do it. I want to take all my teeth and exchange them so I can retire on the beaches of Acapulco. I want to be waited on hand and foot and served fancy cheeses for the rest of my life.

So—effective immediately—I am resigning as the Tooth Fairy. Maybe you Americans will get it right someday, but until then, you'll have to deal with Greta here. I'm done with all of you.

Acapulco, here I come!

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This blog was written on November 13, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: A Thoughtful Mouse

"Fairy Tale Spotlight: A Thoughtful Mouse" by T.K. Wade

My name is Carl. I am a mouse. I am a thoughtful mouse, who does thoughtful things. On that note, I have chosen to live inside of a library. It is not one of those new libraries. I saw a new library, and I found that it was not conducive to my primary living concerns. What I found was, at best, a very old library. The kind that was built like a small palace, back in days far before I was born. In those days, a library was more of a dignified place, I think. The structure of this classic building is better for me.

I read the books when I can. Yes, I can do that. Any mouse can read a book, but I think I am likely the only one doing it. They are not in my native language, so I am forced to translate everything I read into extremely precise squeaks. I did, at first, have the annoying habit of squeaking what I was reading out loud. This caused me some trouble, but I have learned now that I must think my squeaks rather than speak them as I read through these texts.

Food has not been a problem. As I like reading these books and filling my brain with their translated squeaks, I have found that some squeaks are not as interesting as other squeaks. The books where the bad squeaks come from have been my main source of food. Indeed, eating paper was not my very first idea, but I found another book about a mouse who ate paper and thought to try it myself. It sates me well enough, I suppose. As eating is merely a primary concern for survival--and survival is not as interesting to me as a topic--simply do it, and carry on with my English-to-Squeak conversions.

A somewhat embarrassing thing, and one that I am shy to admit, is how long it took me to understand the concept of fiction. For the first of my reading and translation adventures, I thought that every book I read was telling of a real thing that happened. I began to see the world as a very exciting and interesting place. The notion broke apart when I began to notice inconsistencies between books. Inconsistencies can be used to prove a falsehood when major incidents in one book do not get acknowledged in another.

I saw the word "Fiction" in the area where I obtained these books, but I had not figured out its translation for longer than I would prefer to admit. I mistook it for something having to do with the overall pattern of writing, or some such cerebral machination of which I likely should have given more than two looks at in the beginning. I am very careful about such things now.

History seems to be where the true stuff is, but I did not like much of that. I turned many of those books into my food sources. I still read them though, and found that the human imagination is far more interesting than the actual activities of the same species. They dream bigger than often they accomplish in this world.

In fiction, humans are brave, courageous, and sometimes even powerful. In history, humans seem more dull, easy to push around, and more reactive rather than active. Weak. Powerful people find it easy to control them, and they often are too lazy to do anything about it. Their ideas of heroes are not attributed to the dashing fighters who save them from evil villains, but to very weak dying people who struggle with disease, or to those innocents who are killed by terrible people. In fact, I am unsure where the heroes, as portrayed in fiction, actually are in the real world. It is extremely rare that I read about anyone who meets the proper criteria.

I have come to understand that fiction is likely where the best of humanity lies. It may not be real, but it is often very good. I have found myself pouring through it with satisfaction, and I have only turned a small percentage of them into my food supply. Life within fiction is far more exciting, and if it is not exciting, it tends to be, at the very least, more dramatic and interesting. There is also enough of it so that I shall be satisfied for my entire lifespan, however long that may be.

I do wish to say that this work of which you are reading now is the first and only thing I am going to write. Translating from Squeak to English is more difficult that I thought it would be. I am only doing it as an exercise to better myself. Truth be told, my eyes have been blurring badly the whole time I have been working on it. It is a taxing experience. I intend for it to be found after I have passed on. I shall make sure someone finds it and does what they wish with it. All in all, I think I have lived a better life than most mice, and I accredit my happiness primarily to fiction. With that, I shall conclude this writing.

Respectfully yours,

Carl

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This blog was written on November 19, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: A Mouse Raised by Cheetahs

The Grasslands were rough. Like, I couldn't get anything done at any time... ever. I'm not joking. Do you know what it's like for a mouse in the African Grasslands? You don't. You probably wouldn't have any fun either. Everybody thinks they’re tough. Everybody thinks they can handle anything. Well, no. Nope. You aren't born and bred for the Grasslands like me. Not even other mice. Just me. Not you. Not them. Just me.

My name is Spiny. It's a name that sticks right in your skin. I'm small, but I bite. I bite because I want to. But there are these really big cats that live near me called cheetahs. They are really fast and have all these spots. They think they’re so tough. They think their whole 70 mile per hour thing is so hot. (Well, it is a little hot. I mean, that is kind of fast.) But they shouldn't let it go to their heads.

What is a mouse to that kind of speed? I can barely go 3 miles per hour. I might hit 4 right before I pass out. I figured this was a good time to start making alliances. Early on in my childhood, I covered myself in spots and approached these big cats boldly and without any protection whatsoever! (Although I did sort of wait till after they ate that gazelle.)

I looked up and I said to them, "Hey, kittens! I'm the world's smallest cheetah! I got no one in my life to tell me how to be one, so you guys are gonna have to teach me!" Yeah, they just sort of looked at me funny. It's one of those looks that's supposed to unnerve you so they realize that you're just a joke. I'm not a joke though! I'm the real thing! So, I toughened myself up and yelled, "Which one of you is gonna be my teacher?!"

Well, I got my response. They all sort of volunteered. It was sort of a group "Yes." The only disconcerting thing was that... I think they knew I was a mouse. I mean, they never told me directly, but I could hear a little sarcasm in their voices. It was the way they said "little cheetah." Oh, ho, I know what's going on there! You think this is really funny! I must be some kind of joke to you jerks! I knew I had to stay tough and learn the ways of the cheetah.

The hardest part about it was learning how to run really fast. They showed me their technique. The problem was that whenever they took off running, I had nothing to see. They were just... gone. I couldn't watch what they were actually doing. Oh, I complained about this a lot. I accused them of all sorts of cheating. I even suggested that cheating must be where they got their names. Well, they didn't want to be accused of that, so they helped me out.

One cheetah would let me ride on his back, while another ran aside of him. That way I could watch and learn how to run really fast. And it worked! After tons of practice, I just barely broke 5 miles an hour. I also passed out and may have gotten sun stroke. The whole world was spinning. I think I threw up a little. But, gaaawwd, I felt so alive. Almost dead, but seriously alive.

But after a few weeks I was able to get that 5MPH a lot better, and today I am leveled off at a solid 8. I don't think I can do much more than that. The only thing left that I needed to deal with was food. A lot of the cheetahs were talking about how I'd never be able to take down a gazelle. I gave them a lot of hell about that. I mean have you ever heard of any tiny gazelles out there? I did ask one of the other mice if I could paint a black stripe on their belly and then chase them around. He isn't my friend anymore.

One of the cheetahs, however, told me I could ride on him during the chase, and I could leap off and bite into my prey at the last second. Good lord, that sounded so action packed! How could I resist?! When the time came, I was so ready. The chase was on! I was so ready to stick my teeth into that gazelle meat! I saw the moment coming. I braced for the moment... and then jumped! I probably flew forty... probably sixty feet away. I don't even know where I was. One of the cheetahs came over and checked on me. I played it off real cool. "I just wanted to see how far I could jump, is all." I think he may have bought it.

So, dinner was served. I tried my best to bite into that gazelle. I was able to get into a little bit, but it was just maybe too much all at one time. I still pretended to do it though, and we all had a laugh and enjoyed each other's company. Later that night, I went to dig up some bugs in secret. Maybe someday I can eat gazelle, but I guess a mouse just has to do what he has to, to survive.

My name is Spiny. I'm a really tough mouse, living in the African Grasslands. I was raised by cheetahs and they have accepted me as their own. I'm gonna be real big someday, but today, I'm still pretty small. But I'm super sure anyone can be anything they want to be if they just believe in themselves a little. But as to being a cheetah, I wouldn't recommend it. That's something only a mouse like me can do. If you try it, you might end up being the next gazelle. Leave this stuff to the professionals.

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This blog was written on November 12, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: The Arcade Mouse

It was trouble enough when the children were all running around. They were mingled with adults who were, perhaps, the biggest problem for me. I had to come out during the day. Everything was locked during the night, and that was no good. I may be small, but the only way to actually get into a closed door is to chew into it. Chewing into things create holes. Holes mean that the local pest control is gonna show up and kill a poor, innocent mouse.

Of course, I could have just lived somewhere else. There's not much food here. Maybe a bit of french-fry... and the crumbs of a half-eaten pizza. I mean, I do have standards, darn it!

No, the thing I was the most interested in was... and please don't laugh at this... the prize cabinet. You know what I mean, right? It's the glass cabinet where all the kids exchange their tickets for free stuff. Yes, that cabinet. That's why I live here on the very edge of danger.

All the kids want what's in there, and so do I. I mean not everything. Some of the more expensive stuff is not really my cup of cheese. I am in it more for the cheap stuff. 10 to 100 tickets is my fair. Here you have the cool glow-in-the-dark things and suckers. I love the suckers. Sugar is a major part of my diet. I also like the erasers. They don't taste very good, but they are soft and squishy. I just like that.

Getting into the prize cabinet is hard, but I have to do it during the day. That means sneaking around people's feet. I've been seen a few times, but I always got away. It's okay if a child sees me, but if an adult spots me, the jig is up. I am very careful about the risks I take.

The idea of it is to get the things I want and not get locked in the cabinet. I have a little hidey-hole in the wall where I bring all the things. I set them up and arrange them all by colors. The pencil sharpeners are surprisingly good as little chairs. You might not think that because of the hole, but it has more to do with the side you lay it on. Boy, I'd hate to get my tail stuck in one of those things!

I try and keep a stash of at least five suckers. If I get down to two, I know I have to get back into the cabinet for more. You know, when I moved in here, I noticed the suckers were going for fifteen tickets. Now they are like thirty! I don't think that's fair to all the kids who probably remember them being cheaper. I don't know how ticket inflation works, but there should be more consistency to it. Just to get one up on the man, I put a few suckers in the ten-ticket slot. I think I made one little girl very happy.

So, this is my life. It's very cutthroat, I know. I'm probably gonna get caught eventually, but I do have an escape (and return) plan. You don't need to worry about me. I do wish you could see my little apartment. It glows in the dark. After putting myself through such daily trials, it's a very relaxing room to come back to. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Squeak!

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This blog was written on November 6, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: What is a Conspiracy?

One of the most common plots in all literature is "the conspiracy." This is, of course, when a person or group of people secretly plan against one or more other people. It is a very simple concept and can lead to a very exciting story. Much of the story generally has to do with the plight of the hero who has to unravel this conspiracy to find out about its origins and the people involved.

The reason we have stories like this at all is because there actually has been quite a lot of conspiracies, both big and small, in our history. Governments have conspired against their own people, friends have conspired against friends, and as a child, I would conspire against my parents. The latter is true of most children. It's all about getting what you want. In fact, conspiracies are always about getting something that should otherwise be forbidden.

Stories about conspiracies are almost never just thrown away as silly notions. The reason they are so exciting is because we understand their plausibility. We know that they are a very real and common aspect of humanity since the beginning of recorded time. If we had no conspiracies, we would trust everyone, and we would likely not even bother to lock our doors at night. Conspiracies are real because we are human, and it is a natural and common thing for humans to make them.

Humans, at large, are some of the most untrustworthy creatures in lore. In fairy tales, they can be sneaky and treacherous. You can see the smiles on their faces, yet what it in the mind is being carefully tucked away. It is likely why a lot of competing fantasy races tend to be very careful around humans in those stories. We all know why, although sometimes we like to pretend we are better than we are.

The notion that conspiracies are not real goes against the recorded history of the human race. Don't be so quick to just throw something like that out. Do your own research. Figure it out for yourself. The whole of history is a very repetitive story, and you should be very careful in how you read it.

And just remember one last thing: In a world where people don't believe in conspiracies, evil people have free reign to do as they please.

This blog was written on November 6, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: About Reading Three Books at a Time

If everything in my life is comfortable, and presently it is, I like to get as much reading as I can done. I currently read three books at one time. I traditionally have one physical book and two digital (Kindle) books. Although it's not limited to this, the physical slot usually ends up being either novelty books or really obscure books that never ended up on Kindle. I don't do audio books at all... and I don't have any interest in them.

I have a friend who prefers to do one book at a time in order to focus on it. I have a sort of restless nature that wants to deal with multiple stories at once. I am essentially "focusing" on all three equally with no real drawback to that focus. It's not a problem. The only actual drawback is that all three stories take longer to read. Sometimes I get into a sort of roll where books are ending pretty rapidly, but there are time (like now) where it's going to take a long time for any of them to end.

The current physical book I am reading right now is a monster. I'll probably be on it for a matter of months. The kindle books are shorter, but I started them at about the same time. I gotta say... I don't like being in this sort of spot. Reading is such a restless thing for me. I like to reach endings often. Getting stuck in the middle of three books is rough.

I'm not a sad person by nature. I'm open-minded and inquisitive. I like to explore these fictional worlds and look for ways to apply the fictional knowledge into myself. I do believe that fiction inspires reality, and if it can do that, it can inspire me as well. It's really a simple thing. There's nothing too exciting about what I am doing. It's not special. It's just that there is quite a bit of nice things out there in the written format. I enjoy digging around.

Thank you all for reading my little reviews. Writing them kind of helps me finalize how I feel about the books that I read. They may not always be about fairy tales, but books have a way of sparking the same imagination that creates fairy tales. It is the world's most important medium. It just is... and it should never die.

So I am going to get back to my reading. Three books at a time. Looking for that ending that always seems so far away.

This blog was written on November 2, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: The Time Machine [Book Review]

[Contains some spoilers for a classic book.]

"The Time Machine" is a book written by H. G. Wells. It was published in 1895, and just saying that should give you a good beginning point for what time this book starts. It is the very product of the year it came out, and, from there, you can begin a truly fantastic journey.

The whole idea of this book is to explore the unknown. The unknown, in this case, is time. Although the author was ignorant of what was to come, he still had an imagination, perhaps one based in a bit of cynicism, but an imagination nonetheless. In "The Time Machine," you'll very clearly experience a very surreal yet equally dreadful vision of the year 802701 A.D. It's a time where humans still exist but in a very broken, upsetting state.

And you can criticize or become uncomfortable with this futuristic tragedy that Wells created, but, regardless of how you feel about it, you will not be able to distance your mind away from the nearly unfathomable surreal nature of that world. It's like putting an expiration date on everything you have ever known to be... your world. We often never think about how things inevitably pass away, nor do we like or want to.

This book sought to remind you of the sort of transitory nature of the world and perhaps the universe itself. It does it with a mastery of the English language. I was never once even the slightest confused, yet I can't say I fully understood everything, nor was I meant to. How can anyone fully understand what was presented in this book? The main character barely understood it. It's really just there for our own fascination. A dazzling of the mind as your own unique imagination works overtime, trying to parse it all out. What's there is grand, and you at least know that fact quite plainly.

Using the publishing date as a frame of reference, the Time Traveler also travels to the approximate year of 30001895 A.D. I have nothing to say about that year, but that it was one of the most surreal experiences I have ever found in a book. I can't explain it. You just need to read it to understand. And really that is the whole experience of "The Time Machine:" namely that it is entirely and masterfully surreal.

This book is clearly a masterpiece of writing. I cannot recommend "The Time Machine" enough. I think it should be required reading for any science fiction enthusiast. Regardless of what you think about Wells' cynicism, the journey found in this book will throw you for a loop. Read it.

This blog was written on October 23, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: Jack Snow - Author of Oz

Only two! Jack Snow only wrote two canon Oz books! Ouch! I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful this author is. Although there are other contributions the man made to the universe, he was only able to expand the series by two points, and that, to me, is very sad.

Jack Snow only wrote "The Magical Mimics in Oz" and "The Shaggy Man of Oz." Both are extremely good. The thing that made Jack Snow so good was the respect he had for the original canon material that had been created by L. Frank Baum. This is something that both Ruth Plumly Thompson and John R. Neill just couldn't seem to swing. Jack knew what he was doing, and he did it really well.

I know I said great things about John R. Neill, but it was more in contrast to the often painfully bad books written by Thompson. It was a change of pace, but really not anything like what Baum would have done. When Jack Snow did Oz, it was really Oz. It was the way Oz was always intended to be.

Now even though he ignored the other canon and characters, he still ended up writing a book entitled "Who's Who in Oz," which covered all the characters up to that point. So in a way, he still acknowledged those other characters, and I am happy he did.

I'm serious when I say this, but I really do recommend you read his stuff. It isn't just his respect for Baum's world, but he just seems like he is an even more serious writer than the original creator. He's a solid and talented author in his own right. These are well-written and eloquent books that deserve notice. Thank you, Jack Snow, for everything you did to make Oz wonderful.

This blog was written on October 20, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: The Shaggy Man of Oz [Book Review]

[Contains spoilers for a book nobody reads anymore.]

"The Shaggy Man of Oz" is the thirty-eighth book in the Oz series, created by L. Frank Baum. It was written by Jack Snow and published in 1949. As with in "The Magical Mimics in Oz," Jack Snow completely ignores the canon of Ruth Plumly Thompson and John R. Neill.

What a treat! This book is essentially the sequel to "The Road to Oz," which was the fifth book. It deals with the Shaggy Man and his Love Magnet which was introduced way back then. The book also introduces two new travelers from America, a boy and girl named Tom and Twink. A toy clown named Twiffle joins them on their journey to get the Love Magnet repaired and then return it to the land of Oz.

In many ways, this book reminded me of "The Road to Oz," which was a very wandering sort of book. It made sense that a tramp was the main character of both. It has less to do with Oz and more about just getting a little lost out in the wide fairy expanse of Baum's world.

The villain of the story is a wizard named Conjo. He was hilarious. He was basically a fun, happy guy with a serious problem with selfishness. He was basically a really old child with too much power. There was a scary aspect to him too since he really didn't seem to know the difference between right and wrong. It's one of those situations where the guy just needs to be controlled or else he'll go too far, but under another person's power, he is completely harmless and even charming.

The travelers had to pass through some very interesting areas as they tried to get back to Oz. One was a land in the clouds that had no gravity. Antigravity was a little hard to fathom back in the 40's. They saw it as being able to swim without having to worry about breathing issues.

There was a city that was completely obsessed with theatrical plays. They would kidnap people and enchant them into a sleepwalking state. They would then force them to participate in the same play over and over again. This whole section of the book was great comedy. There was one woman named Lady Cue who was remarkably confused and ditsy. Everything she said and did was scattered and silly. I had a VERY similar character in one of my unpublished books, so I really related to the character-type.

The last thing they had to deal with before the end of the story was a whole land filled with fairy Beavers. Not much to say about them other than the fact that they were extremely adorable. They were all very industrious and friendly. They worked together and were just plain fun to read about.

I freaking loved this book. Jack Snow feels to me like Baum reborn. I don't care that he ignored the other canon. The other canon really wasn't that great. It didn't need to exist. It's too bad we didn't have Jack a whole lot earlier.

I absolutely recommend "The Shaggy Man of Oz." It does help if you have read "The Road to Oz" first. This is really the true sequel to that one, but I guess it's okay if you have not. The author explains what happened well enough without actually spoiling it. Good stuff. Give this one a read.

This blog was written on October 20, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: The First Men in the Moon [Book Review]

"The First Men in the Moon" is a book written by H. G. Wells. Although it was originally a serialized publication from 1900 to 1901, it was fully published as a book in 1901. The fact that it was serialized first makes sense if you read it. I think H. G. Wells really liked making his stories feel like they were real.

The whole idea of the book comes from the idea of two men going to the moon in a time way before such things were possible. In fact, that actually is what it would have been like at the turn of the century. Nobody really knew what was up there, even though we would eventually learn about it many decades later. The imagination it took to write this book as good as it is written is astounding.

Not only does it describe the surprisingly plausible concept of the craft used to get there, but then we find an entire alien race is living there underneath the surface. Almost everything you could want to know is explained but in a way that feels like it's a very real account.

The first section of the book is really just about the adventure of traveling there and getting lost and confused about everything. This section is very fast paced and a bit mixed in feel. The weird thing about this story is that it actually feels kind of goofy when it starts, but then it takes a turn towards horror once they actually get to the moon. I love the contrast.

The last section of the book acts as a lore dump for the "Selenites" who are the moon people. Talking too much about them seems like really bad spoilers to me. It's something the book waits until the end to really dish out. I'll just say that I found their lives and culture extraordinarily fascinating, and it was making me read for longer periods than I am used to. Heck, the fact that they were even up there was fascinating enough.

If you are able to detach yourself from all the information we've been given by NASA, "The First Men in the Moon" is an easy recommendation. And really the best thing about this story is that it is written in a way that makes it seem both relatable and plausible. It almost feels like it is happening as you read it. This one is really worth your time.

This blog was written on October 8, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: Manos: The Hands of Fate [Book Review]

I need a moment to get mentally ready for this review. In fact, I may need about a week and a half. Seriously, I took about that long to write this. It's been pain. Pure pain.

All right. Let's tackle this with a calm mind and spirit.

"Manos: The Hands of Fate" is a book written by Stephen D. Sullivan. It was published in 2015 and based on the movie of the same name released in 1966.

I want you to understand something about the movie first. I really like the film. I take it more seriously than most do. It's not a well-made film. There wasn't much of a budget, and the first 30 minutes of the film was just a car driving around... but the story the film delivered was great. I liked it. I really did, and I just want you to understand that.

The film is often referred to as the worst movie ever made. I don't think that's true, but it has become a popular film for people to make fun of. Even though there is quite a lot to make fun of, I still think the team did fine. A lot of the strange behavior and writing seems to just fit the surreal nature of the story itself. It was good. I took a lot from it.

The book which is a direct adaptation of the movie is a piece of literary trash. It was by design. It was written by a man who really seemed to hate the film and wanted to write a book as bad as he thought the movie was. The book constantly criticizes everyone in the story, and when I say "constantly," I really mean it. Nearly every paragraph is filled with little side comments about the characters.

The author even criticizes them for being too much like 1960's people. It just never stops. I felt like I was going to go crazy from listening to the author go on and on about everybody. The only person he ever is nice to was Torgo, who is the fan-favorite of the movie. I agree with this, but I did like everyone else too.

But there is a very important caveat that needs to be understood with this review. Steven D. Sullivan did write a serious adaptation as well. I did not realize that until I got to the end of the book. This changed my mind a little about how I was going to review this book. I can't really trash a book that was intended to be seen as the joke version of two different adaptations. "Manos: The Hands of Fate" is really just trying to be as bad as most people see the movie.

Don't get me wrong. I really do hate this book. Only my ire against is just slightly diminished. Let's say by an easy 20%. I feel slightly better about it, but I still don't like it, and I have no interest of ever picking it up again. I certainly don't recommend it.

I will be reading his more serious version later though. I'll get to it after I finish another Oz book. At the very least, I am glad to hear that he did like it enough to do a serious interpretation. I really hope it is worth my time. I'll be pretty upset if it ends up being crap.

This blog was written on October 5, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar [Short Story Review]

"The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar" is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe, and it was published in 1945. It was one of the more interesting stories I have read from this author.

I have mentioned before that I have a interest in hypnosis. This story is a surprisingly good horror hypnosis story. The whole idea of it is based on the question: Can you hypnotize a dying man into... not dying? At first, I was having a little trouble realizing that this was the plot, but once I realized just what going on, I got really excited.

I am a big fan of hypnosis being used in crazy or spooky ways. This is sort of a mad scientist type story, but the mad scientist is being taken seriously by the people surrounding him.

A real creepy thing about the story is that the dying man kind of needs to die. It's his time. His body is in the process of shutting down. He's extremely sick, and it's time for him to move on. So the idea of putting a firm halt to his ability to die is where the creep factor lies. Something unnatural is taking place.

I don't want to spoil the ending, but I really do recommend "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar" for those who find hypnosis stories fun. I was pleasantly surprised with how seriously it was taken. Poe did me proud with this one. Give it a read. It's not very long and gets right to the point.

This blog was written on September 19, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: Close Encounters of the Third Kind [Book Review]

[Some spoilers included.]

Yes! There was a book!

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is a book written by Steven Spielberg, and it was published 1977. Even though it is nearly play-by-play to the movie of the same name, it's a little odd to call it an adaptation since it was written by the same man who wrote the script for the movie. But I guess it doesn't matter either way.

This book deals with a lot of strange things involving UFO's, aliens, and their effect on normal every day people. It also deals with how the government interacts with them and how they would rather push us normal people out of it. It all comes together at the end though, and that's sort of where this book shines.

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is not an alien conspiracy book as much as it is an alien encounter book. It's all about the magic of the actual meeting than anything else. And even though it does get a bit scary (it really does), the whole thing feels more like a super awesome global event than something out of a horror story.

The initial encounters themselves are probably the scariest parts. They show a certain level of--I don't want to say cruelty as much as--mischievousness to or against the human race followed up by an open invitation to be their... friends or something. It can be a bit vague at times as to why they are kidnaping children and ruining a man's life. I mean... that seams kinda bad, right? I initially thought so. But the point of the book seems more that all these things are ultimately worth it because the most important thing in human history is about to happen, and I guess that is a bit of a thrill honestly. That's why this story tends to be a compelling experience.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not assuming anything about what's happening here. I'm just taking in a story as it is delivered. I don't want to talk about what I think is going on as much as what the book is trying to say. By the end of the story, I honestly feel like I have mistakenly entered into one of the strangest places that could possibly exist. It's like finding an over-night theme park that only government people are allowed to attend. It's uncanny, surreal, and magical, but I have always loved it whether it be in the movie or this book.

It is this end sequence (the final two chapters) that really make the book worth the effort. And I am not saying that the book was bad. It had trouble with using too many brand names when it should have left everything ambiguous, but those two final chapters are so gobsmackingly magical that it will just about knock you on your ass. It's about as close as you can get to watching a Disney World fireworks display in the form of a book. It's great. I mean... It's just an absolutely brilliant performance of writing and storytelling.

There was a lot of really unexpected Christian references in those last scenes written with shocking respect for the Biblical source material. I know this because... I recently read all that stuff. The thing that I just can't quite figure out is if they think these aliens are angels or if they are asking God's angels to help them on their quest with the aliens. It's vague, but it's written with such candor and respect that I got really intrigued. I don't know another way to say it. The author just went all out in the way that it was written, and it just sort of blows the mind up a little.

I think I'll just wrap it all up by saying that this book is worth your time, if you can find it. It was not a popular book. It did not really sell as well as the movie, but the book does explain a lot of what the movie doesn't. It's a solid read. I wholeheartedly recommend "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" for being every bit as good as the movie and then some. It is a brilliant read, and I think it is really too bad that it doesn't seem to have really stood the test of time like the movie did.

This blog was written on September 18, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: The Magical Mimics in Oz [Book Review]

[Contains spoilers for a book nobody reads anymore.]

"The Magical Mimics in Oz" is the thirty-seventh book in the Oz series started by L. Frank Baum. It was written by Jack Snow and published in 1946. The first thing you may notice about this book is that it entirely drops and ignores the canon created by Ruth Plumly Thompson and John R. Neill. It appears to pick up after "Glinda of Oz," which was published way back in 1920. This means that all progress created by the last two authors rewinds back to before it happened. The roadways, cars, and airplanes they invented are now no longer there.

The story has much to do with the original founding of Oz and the one great trouble in doing so. There were these shape-shifting creatures called Mimics that were extremely evil and horrible to any beings of good. They did not even like themselves, which is why they constantly changed their shapes. They had to be suppressed before Oz could be founded, and in this book, they find a way to break their enchantments and invade Oz. That is the general idea of the book, but I want you to moreover understand the nature of what this book is.

Jack Snow must have seriously fallen in love with the entire lore of Baum's work. He seemed to have a strong understanding of all of his characters and the way his world was built up and presented. "The Magical Mimics in Oz" honestly feels like Baum came back from the dead. It's so eloquently written and really was a joy to read. I never felt patronized or just tossed into a dead formula. Jack Snow breathed new life into this series, and his decision to ignore years of canon did not bother me at all.

I was also happy to see a little nod to the famous wooden dummy known as Charlie McCarthy, who belonged to the late Edgar Bergen. Apparently he was the product of a race of wooden people living on top of a fairy mountain in this book. It was subtlety presented, and if I had been a younger person, I might not have gotten the reference. This whole little side story really made me smile.

The story did a good job at carrying you along. Everything was very eloquent and fluid. I was never confused by anything, and the images they handed over to my mind were always distinct. This is really simply a well-written book in the Oz series. It brought me back to a time when the series was in its infancy. It was also quite a wonderful thing to see Dorothy and the Wizard working so close together to solve the problems in this one. Their friendship was very enjoyable.

If I haven't made it clear yet, I absolutely recommend "The Magical Mimics in Oz." It is one of the best books I have ever read. I'm simply in love with it. What a wonderful thing that Jack Snow gave to us!

This blog was written on September 9, 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: El Shaddai: Lucifer's Fall

"El Shaddai: Lucifer's Fall" is a book that I think was written by Sawaki Takeyasu. It was never published. You actually earn this book for beating the game "El Shaddai." The game is extremely loosely based on the book of "Enoch," which I reviewed a ways back. It is not however the book of "Enoch." It strays far away from it. There was also another problem with the game: it was never finished.

"El Shaddai: Lucifer's Fall" is the ending the game never had, and to be honest, it's kind of needed to understand what the heck was going on in the game. Without it, the game feels like some alternative idea to the book of "Enoch." With the book, everything kinda makes sense. I'm glad I read it.

But to give a little context, in the game, Lucifer (called Lucifel because of a translation misunderstanding), is actually on great terms with God. He is extremely handsome and charming, and is seen often talking to God on a cellphone. He assists Enoch in wrangling up the fallen angels by reversing time whenever Enoch fails and dies.

The book goes further into explaining why Lucifer decided to fall. It's not really based on anything Biblical, but it's an interesting explanation regardless. Everything kind of works out the same way too. It's more of a prehistory story like "Protogenesis" was than a telling of Biblical events.

The author's insights into how everything works was not actually that bad. He's got an eye for what happened and why it happened, but, in true Japanese fashion, he had to make everything over-the-top. But it's not bad! It's actually a fun story, and the book is pretty much required to understand what the game was going on about. It all makes sense in the end.

I do recommend "El Shaddai: Lucifer's Fall," but only if you have played the game first. It will make absolutely no sense on its own. I mean that. It requires you have played the game. If you do not intend to play the game, then avoid the book.

This blog was written on September, 5 2022.

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Fairy Tale Spotlight: Protogenesis [Book Review]

"Protogenesis" is a book written by my friend Shawn O'Toole. It was published in 2018. Funny thing about this one: I actually wrote the Forward to this book. Totally forgot about it. Didn't remember any of it. As I read it, I was saying to myself, "Hey, this guy writes okay."

The story of "Protogenesis" predominantly takes place before Genesis, as the title implies. It talks about an entire human civilization that predates Adam but ultimately leads to the content found in the "Holy Bible." It also has occasional and poignant conversations specifically between Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The latter segments often seem written like something out of Alice and Wonderland. It's a bit of a word salad. That is not to say that it doesn't mean anything. It just takes a little bit of rereading and attention to understand. Sentences are strung together in really odd ways. It's not comparable to really anything.

I think a lot of people have compared this book to the strange writing of the Bible, but having read the Bible, I see no real comparison. Even the strange parts in the Bible were simply people trying to explain something but never in a silly stringy way like found in "Protogenesis." This is actually a common style found in Shawn O'Toole's books, and honestly, I think it's just the way his mind works.

The large portion of the story of "Protogenesis" revolves around a war between Earth and Mars after the destruction of a planet called Tiamat. The instigators of the war were angels, Lucifer being one of them. The whole thing takes a little over an hour to read, and it does feel somewhat truncated. Everything happens extremely fast with no effort to draw it out, but the idea of it is to simply tell you what happened without any embellishment whatsoever. That's fine. It is what it is. The whole idea of the book is to explain what happened and then stop.

A grand portion of what is in this book has little to no correlation to the Bible or the "Apocrypha." All the information is merely gleamed from it. It's done in a way that everything makes sense because nothing in the Bible can really disprove it. It's just filling in blanks, I guess you could say.

My own personal opinion is that the blanks didn't really need to be filled, although knowing something is still cool. I don't mind if this is based on some sort of personal spiritual revelation on my friend's part, but nobody actually needs the information in this book to understand their place in the world. The Bible has that completely licked.

So is "Protogenesis" true? The bulk of it is not proven by the Bible itself. There are tiny little doors within the Bible that open itself up to "Protogenesis" being real. There are also things we know about our Solar System today that agree with this book. So it's a possibility, but with the information that I have (as to comparing it to books I have read and other data), the only way this book can be true is if Shawn had a spiritual revelation about prehistory events. That's my final judgement on this.

But this final judgment comes with a caveat that I do want to make. I highlighted a lot of stuff in this book, but the thing that seriously got to me was actually the Afterward. There is a part in it where Shawn explained how he cried out to Jesus that he would never convince anyone of anything untrue. This sentence should be taken seriously with extreme severity. It may actually be the most important part of the entire book.

Shawn was sincere when he wrote this. It may not be provable, but he cried out to Jesus about it, and the book ended up being published. If there is one thing I can say about this book and the Bible is that Jesus doesn't just abandon people. If this book is based on real events then that is because Jesus allowed this book to exist and get out there. If it isn't real... then Jesus just didn't care about Shawn, which would greatly disturb me because it doesn't quite make any sense to me based on what I know about Him. If you are going to believe or disbelieve in anything in this book, you seriously need to consider this before you make your call.

I absolutely recommend "Protogenesis." There is also an Audio Drama for it on YouTube, which I worked on a while back. Whether it is true or not, the story is worth hearing. Don't just dismiss it outright. People honestly shouldn't dismiss anything so quickly. Work things out for yourself and see if you come out believing in the impossible. It is something worth doing.

This blog was written on August 26, 2022.

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