That's my boy
an old story originally on Red Bubble
"How's that, you bastards?"
The heavy ball sailed high and seemed to stay a split longer in the air than seemed natural and landed "plop" in the soft sand next to the jack.
"Truly a bigger arse of a shot can not be found Michael"
"More like you picked that shot out of your arse"
"That'll be the money shot"
Came the replies of his opponents and partner
"Money shot be right, pay up boys"
Money exchanged hands and everyone moved up the pit to collect their balls.
"Oi Bobby I’ll collect mine, just leave it there" he called to his partner.
He needn't worry about his opponents they never got close to the jack.
"My you've really hit your straps lately my friend" said Bobby " Won't be long before no one will plays us"
Michael waddled up to pick up his balls, picking up the last thrown with care and gently polishing it with a towel before putting it in a fur lined carry case.
“Aye it’s been a treat” Michael said more to the case than to Bobby.
The two men separated when they left the park to go to their individual homes.
“When I caught that Leprechaun, I never thought he’d be as sneaky as he was young Jim”
Michael stopped talking as a pair of ladies passed by, he gave them a polite smile. When they were clear he continued.
“My one wish and I only thought of you. Who’d of thought it would turn out like this, hey?”
He looked around and open the fur lined bag.
“To make something useful out of my only son I asked”
He patted his pockets
“ How useful you really have become, hey?”
The ball moved in the bag and let out a little sigh.
Monday, 13 February 2012
Saturday, 4 February 2012
FANTASY MAPS
I’ve greatly admired writers and artists who create their own worlds.
Creating new planets/dimensions/environments and those that dwell in them takes great talent, especially if those worlds, societies and characters are within the fantasy genre.
The following are maps taken from some of the best-loved pieces of fantasy ever written and spans more than 150 years worth of literature,
I’ve gathered this collection from all over the interweb and made notes where I had the information handy.
Click on the image for a more detailed view.
Like most fantasy Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea trilogy became something more and expanded into a seven book series.
Alagaesia is the world of Eragon written by Christopher Paolini.
It was also intended to be a trilogy but suffered writers Elephantiasis
And became the four book Inheritance Cycle.
Neverland is the magic Island that Peter Pan steals Wendy and her brothers away to.
In most movies the compass is actually shown as part of the island when viewed in aerial shots.
Raymond E Fiests Riftwar Cycle once again started as a trilogy and went onto become a whole series of tales from both sides of the warring worlds.
Of course there are two maps for the two worlds Midkemia and Kelewan
The Narnia series by CS Lewis has several maps as the series covers many centuries during the telling of the tale.
These two cover the Lion the Witch and the wardrobe and Voyage of the DawnTreader
Of course no fantasy map essay would be complete without Middle Earth.
L. Frank Baum’s Oz stories have been interrupted and reinvented several times most notably by Ruth Plumly Thompson and Gregory Maguire
Baum changed his maps from the original story to accommodate new story lines.
Oz is surrounded by deserts to stop “outsiders “ coming in. It wa later expanded to show it surrounded by sea..
Maguire’s map expands on the four districts in more detail.
Phillip Pullman’s Northern Lights series tells of a parallel world to Earth and it reflects so in the map. Since the story is placed vaguely in the mid 1800s to early 1900s the names of the countries have their colonial names applied.
Alice in wonderland the times tale by Lewis Carroll has had many maps applied to both it and Through the Looking Glass/
The very popular reworking by Tim Burton added a whole new Dimension to the tale and more maps.
Creating new planets/dimensions/environments and those that dwell in them takes great talent, especially if those worlds, societies and characters are within the fantasy genre.
The following are maps taken from some of the best-loved pieces of fantasy ever written and spans more than 150 years worth of literature,
I’ve gathered this collection from all over the interweb and made notes where I had the information handy.
Click on the image for a more detailed view.
Like most fantasy Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea trilogy became something more and expanded into a seven book series.
Alagaesia is the world of Eragon written by Christopher Paolini.
It was also intended to be a trilogy but suffered writers Elephantiasis
And became the four book Inheritance Cycle.
Neverland is the magic Island that Peter Pan steals Wendy and her brothers away to.
In most movies the compass is actually shown as part of the island when viewed in aerial shots.
Raymond E Fiests Riftwar Cycle once again started as a trilogy and went onto become a whole series of tales from both sides of the warring worlds.
Of course there are two maps for the two worlds Midkemia and Kelewan
 |
| MIDKEMIA |
 |
| KELEWAN |
The Narnia series by CS Lewis has several maps as the series covers many centuries during the telling of the tale.
These two cover the Lion the Witch and the wardrobe and Voyage of the DawnTreader
Of course no fantasy map essay would be complete without Middle Earth.
L. Frank Baum’s Oz stories have been interrupted and reinvented several times most notably by Ruth Plumly Thompson and Gregory Maguire
Baum changed his maps from the original story to accommodate new story lines.
Oz is surrounded by deserts to stop “outsiders “ coming in. It wa later expanded to show it surrounded by sea..
Maguire’s map expands on the four districts in more detail.
 |
| Original map |
 |
| Expanded map |
 |
| Latter expanded map |
 |
| Maguire version from Wicked |
Phillip Pullman’s Northern Lights series tells of a parallel world to Earth and it reflects so in the map. Since the story is placed vaguely in the mid 1800s to early 1900s the names of the countries have their colonial names applied.
 |
| Commonly referred to as Lyra's World |
Alice in wonderland the times tale by Lewis Carroll has had many maps applied to both it and Through the Looking Glass/
The very popular reworking by Tim Burton added a whole new Dimension to the tale and more maps.
 |
| Concept map from Burton's film |
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Early Fiction Part 2
HAPPY NEW YEAR
I'm on Holidays.............
Early published works
GRIPPING YARNS
August 5 1998 Edition Australian Picture Magazine
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