Tag Archives: magic

Back in the High Life Again

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Nathan

Robert R. Pattrick’s Unexplored Territory in Oz was a seminal work in the field sometimes known as Ozian Research, which is basically research that treats the Oz books as true history rather than fiction. Not a very practical field of … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Characters, Eloise Jarvis McGraw, L. Frank Baum, Melody Grandy, Oz, Oz Authors, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Magical and Mechanical Modification

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Nathan

When discussing Oz and its motley assortment of characters who are alive despite not containing genetic material (at least as we know it), or as in the case of Tik-Tok NOT alive although they can perform pretty much all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cartoons, Characters, Futurama, Greek Mythology, Greek Philosophy, L. Frank Baum, Mythology, Oz, Oz Authors, Philosophy, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Language of Magic

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Nathan

When magic words appear in books and other media, they’re usually either total nonsense or based on some dead language, often Latin. The common term “abracadabra” is thought to be based on Aramaic, with the phrase “Avra Kadavrai” meaning “I … Continue reading →

Posted in Harry Potter, L. Frank Baum, Oz, Oz Authors, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Stereotype of the Stubborn Skeptic

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Nathan

I mentioned while talking about Once Upon a Time that the protagonist, Emma Swan, was yet another skeptic who wouldn’t believe what was in front of her face until something major happened. This is a pretty common trope, with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Once Upon a Time, Philosophy, Religion, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Wizardly Education in the Dark Ages

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Nathan

One of the most memorable parts of Disney’s animated version of The Sword in the Stone is the wizards’ duel between Merlin and Madam Mim. If you read The Once and Future King, however, you’ll find no hint of this … Continue reading →

Posted in Arabian, British, Cartoons, Harry Potter, Mythology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

House of Smoke and Mirrors

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Nathan

One of the strangest and creepiest bits of an Oz book occurs in The Patchwork Girl of Oz, not too far into the story. Ojo, the Patchwork Girl, and the Glass Cat have left the Blue Forest to find an … Continue reading →

Posted in Oz, Places | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Magic vs. Military

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Nathan

As a nation, Oz doesn’t have much of a military force. It’s often stated that the Soldier with Green Whiskers is Ozma’s entire army, although we’re never told for sure what happened to the other officers and privates mentioned in … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Oz | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Healing Doesn’t Stop the Feeling

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Nathan

I’ve mentioned before how weird the hit point system from role-playing games really is when you think about it, and I know I’m not the only one. Hit points basically keep track of how close to death a character is, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments