Tag Archives: gulliver’s travels

Morbid and Marvelous

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Nathan

The Chickens of Atlantis and Other Foul and Filthy Fiends, by Robert Rankin – This is the fourth, and presumably the last, book in Rankin’s series of novels taking place in a steampunk Victorian England where War of the Worlds … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Authors, Book Reviews, Christianity, Education, Evolution, Fairy Tales, Humor, Jonathan Swift, Monsters, Philosophy, Poetry, Prejudice, Religion, Robert Rankin, Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Recent Reading

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Nathan

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

Sold Short

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Nathan

Mythology and folklore include all kinds of strange beings, including both the very big and the very small. The ancient Greeks wrote of Pygmies, called that because the pygme was a measurement from the wrist to the elbow. This was … Continue reading →

Posted in Greek Mythology, Mythology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Literary Logic

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Nathan

I came across this article on how Spock and Sherlock Holmes aren’t really as rational as they pretend to be, and other characters often acknowledge them as being. Spock applies logic to situations where it doesn’t really apply, and doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Star Trek, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Magic Castles in the Air

Posted on August 4, 2013 by Nathan

Castle in the Sky – Another Studio Ghibli film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, this one is based on the idea of the lost civilization possessing extraordinary technology. In this case, the society is the flying island of Laputa, … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Cartoons, Jonathan Swift, VoVat Goes to the Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lands of Logic

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Nathan

We all know that Gulliver’s Travels is both an adventure story and a satire, but one thing that seems to confuse critics is how much we’re supposed to read into Gulliver’s worship of the Houyhnhnms. The Houyhnhnms are sentient horses … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Jonathan Swift, Star Trek | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

This Immortal Coil

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Nathan

It seems that, as long as humans have been aware of death, they’ve entertained the possibility of staving it off and living forever. It’s highly unlikely that this could ever be achieved, since everything has to wear out eventually. Actually, … Continue reading →

Posted in Babylonian, Christianity, Greek Mythology, Islam, Mythology, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Dangers of Cucular Power

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Nathan

Dark Lord of Derkholm, by Diana Wynne Jones – This story is based on the interesting idea of a fantasy world exploited by an unscrupulous businessman from our world who somehow gained control of a demon. He brings tour groups … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Book Reviews, Diana Wynne Jones, Jasper Fforde, Nursery Crime | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments