Tag Archives: baba yaga

Drainpipes and Dragons

Dragons are a mainstay of fantasy fiction, and of course have appeared in a number of video games. Even Metroid has them, and that series is more science fiction than fantasy. Dragons in the Super Mario universe in particular are … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Biology, Cartoons, Chinese, Final Fantasy, Japanese, Language, Magic, Mario, Metroid, Monsters, Mythology, Names, Science, Semitic, Television, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Daughter of Disease, Maker of Snakes

Picture by Tero Porthan In my ongoing search for topics from mythology and folklore, and specifically in terms of ogres and witches, I saw a mention of the Syojatar (properly spelled with marks above the letters, but that’s a hassle) … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Fairy Tales, Finnish, Health, Magic, Monsters, Mythology, Norse, Russian | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Iron Constitutions

I’ve been looking a bit into witches, and I latched onto one physical trait the Russian Baba Yaga is sometimes said to have, which is iron teeth. Such teeth seem to be associated with witches in general in Slavic lore. … Continue reading

Posted in African, British, Christianity, Fairy Tales, Finnish, German, L. Frank Baum, Magic, Monsters, Mythology, Oz, Oz Authors, Religion, Russian, Slavic, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Koschei Deal

Her Majesty’s Wizard, by Christopher Stasheff – I saw this book on a list of recommendations somewhere, and I didn’t realize at the time that the author had just died in June. This is the first book of the Wizard … Continue reading

Posted in Authors, Book Reviews, Catholicism, Christianity, Diana Wynne Jones, Fairy Tales, History, Magic, Mythology, Nursery Rhymes, october daye, Religion, Russian, seanan mcguire, Slavic | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Knight Time Is the Right Time

The King Arthur Collection – I’ve been reading this one on and off for about a year and a half. It’s long, but worth reading. There are six separate works included, as well as some background information about the historicity … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Arthurian Legend, Authors, Book Reviews, British, Christianity, England, Fairy Tales, Final Fantasy, History, J.R.R. Tolkien, Magic, Mythology, Poetry, Religion, Roman Empire, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Frosty Reception

Since our President-Elect is in love with Vladimir Putin and insists that everyone should constantly say “Merry Christmas,” I guess we’d better learn about Christmas in Russia, right? It might seem a little late for this, but Orthodox Christmas is … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Authors, Christianity, Christmas, Discworld, Eastern Orthodox, Fairy Tales, History, Holidays, Mythology, New Year's Day, Religion, Russian, Terry Pratchett | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Unnatural Creations

Baba Yaga: The Wild Witch of the East in Russian Fairy Tales, translated by Sibelan Forrester – This volume collects a number of stories involving the infamous Russian witch, as well as some analysis of her character. It’s a bit … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Book Reviews, Fairy Tales, Humor, Monsters, Mythology, Russian | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent Reading

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and The Moon of Gomrath, by Alan Garner – These two books take place in and around Alderley Edge in Cheshire, where Garner grew up. Twin children named Colin and Susan come to stay there, and … Continue reading

Posted in Authors, Book Reviews, C.S. Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia, Humor, Magic, Mythology, Norse, Russian, Slavic | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mayhem in the Mythosphere

The Game, by Diana Wynne Jones – Another story from Jones dealing with mythology, this time focusing largely on the Greco-Roman, but bringing in other cultures as well. A girl named Hayley learns from her grandfather about the mythosphere, a … Continue reading

Posted in Authors, Book Reviews, Diana Wynne Jones, Fairy Tales, Greek Mythology, Mythology, Roman | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Less Deathless Than Advertised

An interesting character I came across recently is Koschei the Deathless, a supernatural villain from Slavic folklore. Despite his name, he can be killed, but it is by no means easy. In the paradoxical-sounding “The Death of Koschei the Deathless,”, … Continue reading

Posted in Fairy Tales, Monsters, Mythology, Russian, Slavic | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments