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Thou hast as chiding a nativity
As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make,
To herald thee from the womb.
-PERICLES, from Pericles Prince of Tyre by Shakespeare |
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The Elements
One of the more common magic systems found in fantasy literature is the use of the four classical Greek elements: water, earth, fire, and air. (For now, we'll ignore the proposed fifth element, aether.) But even though it's common, it's so easy to manipulate the elements and use them differently to create unique systems of magic.
For example, in Robert Jordan's never-ending Wheel of Time series, the magic is often controlled by maniuplating various combinations of the four elements. Now, the characters don't sit down and stir up a good heaping of dirt, water, fire, and air, they seem to weave the elements in a wave of power.
One children's show I've enjoyed recently, however, uses the elements in a direct and gritty way. Avatar: The Last Airbender is a show about a young man named Aang who is master bender. "Bending" in this show means the ability to maniuplate the four elements of water, earth, fire, and air. The different elements are linked to different styles of martial arts fighting and there's more than just bands of magic being woven here. When fights happen between benders, there's real danger involved. Imagine a trying to fight a person who could pull water from a nearby river and cause it to encase you in a frozen iceberg? Or what if you were fighting a firebender who can shoot flames at you as well as kicking your feet out from under you in quick, kung fu moves?
Other books employ the elements in different ways, and I'm sure you well-read fantays fans have at least read one book where the elements featured a heavy role.
* * *
Here's a rundown of the elements. I'll try to give examples of each, though I must warn you that since Avatar is the freshest in my mind, most of the examples will be from there! 
Water, in classical Greek thought, is commonly associated with emotion and intuition. Being a fluid, it is also one of the most adaptable elements. Waterbenders in Avatar for example can maniuplate it as a gas, liquid, or solid and can even "bend" jungle vines that have the water in them.
The waterlords of In Legend Born by Laura Resnick use their power much more sinisterly; drying up wells in towns they want to punish, or holding water over an enemy's face until they drown on dry land.
Earth is usually associated with praticality, restraint, materialism, and the physical aspects of life.
Fire is normally associated with energy, assertiveness, and extreme emotion. It's no wonder then that the firebenders of the show Avatar: The Last Airbender are usually full of those qualities. Wizards in other stories with fire affiliation usually have red hair and require anger to get their magic to work. Sometimes, however, this can be a great danger to the user and those around them. A character from Avatar has this to say about fire:
"...fire brings only destruction and pain. It forces those of us burdened with its care to walk a razor's edge between humanity and savagery. Eventually, we are torn apart.
But you the writer, of course, don't have to follow this set course at all. Perhaps your fire wizard or witch will be a timid, shy child or a zealous pacifist.
Air, in classical thought, is often seen as a universal power or pure substance, probably because of how necessary it is to life.
In Avatar air is described as the element of freedom; airbenders generally had great senses of humor and were not concerned with day-to-day affairs of life.
There is so much to be discovered about the elements and so many ways they can be used. I got a lot of help from Wikipedia for this article, and you can find a large list on Wikipedia of more pop culture examples of the four elements. |
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From: Once upon a WellToasted...  
Thanks for your piece this past week in the Fantasy newsletter - it's a subject I find often critical to an epic story (though this is largely for those fantasy tales where there is more imagination and less realism, i.e. high fantasy). Anyway, I've recently become rather intrigued by the so-called "post-apocalyptic fiction" genre, and am writing simply to see if you have any reading recommendations from said genre? I've done a cursory search, but I also felt that asking some of you Fantasy editors would be just as fruitful as parousing the Internet.
Hi!
Well, it's not a genre I'm familar with, but perhaps some of the other readers could recommend something?
I did find a list of books on Amazon.com. Here's the list if you're interested.
Here's what some readers had to say about Harry Potter...
From: Maimai J Saves for Upgrade
I started reading it after the first four books have been released, but as you say, that does not make us love the series any less than someone who's been there from the start. After finishing the book, it dawned on me that that would be the last time that I would meet Harry and the rest of the gang, and it left me teary-eyed. I would surely miss the sense of anticipation that each book creates to its millions of readers. But what a wonderful journey it has been! Well done, JK!
From: Jade is very busy
I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in a week. I thought it was really good, though it did seem to drag a bit in the middle. Other then that it was a great emotional ride. I cheered, gasped in horror, cried, and laughed. I loved the epilogue. It was a good strong finish to a wonderful series and just a great book!
From: mw1993
Hi. Nice to see a Potter-themed newsletter. I loved book seven; unfortunately I wasn't able to get it at the exact release but I did get it on the day. I read it in four and a half hours (and then read it again!!) and absolutely adored it. It was superbly done.I've been with Harry for years now, but didn't join the legions of obsessed fans until book four had already been released, like you, Erin. Now Harry is my life  HPDH was definitely the best, and most unpredictable, book in the saga. Loved it!
From: Klm
This was the first Potter book I read, though both my sister and brother told me they're good. I waited to watch the movies with my kids. i loved them, I loved this book more because i could put a face to all the characters and spent a great amount enjoying the first read and now plan to read it again slowly to enjoy the whole experience again. It was truly great!
From: jemstar74
"Deathly Hallows" is now my most favourite book of the series. It wrapped up all the loose ends from the previous volumes and sent me on a fantastic emotional roadtrip. It's been a very long time since I've felt that way about a book. Cheers to Ms. Rowling!
From: Ladyoz
J.K. Rowling is a classic example of how writing that is not technically brilliant can still be a gripping read, due to great characters. You overlook the "rules" of writing that she breaks (things for which WDC reviewers would jump on you and I) because she's grabbed your interest with the world she's created and the people who inhabit it. And how anybody can read book 7 in only 5½ hours is just amazing, LOL!
From: T.L.
I've been a huge fan since I was six years old! Rowling has had a massive effect on my life and I know I'll always look back and see that those books have been a gigantic part of my childhood. I went at midnight for the last one too! Thanks for the Harry Potter special! Cheers!
From: Lothmorwel
I got hooked on the Harry Potter series when book four was released, I wanted to know what all the fuss was about so I started to read...
I found the seventh book a great round-up of the series. I found the epilogue a little cheesy, but it did the job of letting readers know what happens in the future, and takes away the possibility of JK Rowling writing more HP books.
Not that the series wasn't excellent, I just think that more books would diminish the effect of the first seven, make them seem less important. After all, the greatest evil the magical world had ever faced can't really be outdone by any other storyline.
I can't wait for more of JK Rowlings work, it'll be nice to see whatever else she's got up her sleeve. |
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Fantasy: September 19, 2007 Issue [#1951]
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