(From toward the middle of what is becoming a novella) Callida and I stood in the fog on the bridge, as the frogs rained down upon us. “I hate this job.” she said. “What are you complaining about?” I asked, smiling. “Your armour is protecting you isn’t it?” “The smell.” she answered. “By Vulcan’s…” “They don’t…
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Thomas Piketty Meets the Order of Hermes: Inheritance
Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty is an interesting book, amazingly easy for non-economists to read. There are several ideas Piketty discusses which are of interest to our work as Ars Magica players and authors. In the next series of posts, I’ll examine these insights. Piketty notes that in populations where family size…
Read MoreMirarion : Exuvia 3
The first tribunal meeting I attended after the war is sometimes called the Unveiling by my students. I know the shock of it is still being felt in the Order, but you must recall, for us, it was decades ago. I remember leaving the regio with my children. I remember the pained looks on the faces…
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The Art of Asking
So, I usually keep my writing and librarianing separate (indeed, I’m required to by the librariany people) but for this, I’d like to crack the wall between the two. The Art of Asking By Amanda Palmer is a brilliant book about how to communicate with fandoms. It’s fantastic for other reasons too, but in the…
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Shadow of the Founders: an experiment in Ars Fiction
A short story not suited to the communal anthology we are working on in the Ars noticeboards. *** To Justina of Guernicus, chief Quaesitor of the Normandy Tribunal, Salve! As per your instructions I traveled to the Covenant of the Autumnal Sun to investigate the disappearance of the maga Berenice, filia Petrus Verdi of Bonisagus.…
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Watch “Half-swording – Why grabbing a sharp blade in a s…” on YouTube
I almost never share YouTube videos on the blog, but for Ars fans… Half-swording – Why grabbing a sharp blade in a s…: http://youtu.be/vwuQPfvSSlo
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Mirarion Aside : Exuvia 2
We stood in the small chamber outside the tribunal meeting and Articulo said. “I have sought you out to ask you to not force this debate. If War is necessary I will prosecute it. I know my mother valued you. I do not wish to make you mundane.” I waved a hand in a gesture…
Read MoreMirarion: The Missing Alethia Chapter
(Author’s note…comes late in the book) Alethia began as an idea, which led almost immediately to a debate in the House. I think the correct side won, if only by accident. If some druids surrendered, and we decided not to kill them, what could be done with them? Severing the Gift was an obvious measure, but true diabolists…
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My best books of the year
Over on my work site, I keep a reading journal, and they’ve had me recommend my top books for the year. I’m not allowed to mention Ars Magica books, because I’m not allowed to spruik stuff I’m paid for. Gosh Faith and Flame is good, isn’t it? Hey…actually…must put that in my posts next year.…
Read MoreMirarion : An Aside
I’d been working in Alethia for almost two years when I received the order from my father. I came to the gateway to the real world, worked through the perfunctory locks, and emerged to greet a young maga sent to act as my aide. She stared at me in shock, which she could not disguise. “It’s all right, Augusta.”…
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Games From Folktales 