The Romantasy Explosion

The wizard of love

Since we’re nearing Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about… Romantasy.

As implied by the name it’s a mashup of Romance + Fantasy, a subgenre exemplified, perhaps platonically, by Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series, whose eponymously named first book came out in 2015. Marketed as YA, the fantasy novel was about a human girl’s entrapment in the land of the Fae where she grows to love the High Fae Lord who had kidnapped her. This wasn’t all that happened in the plot. There were adventures, a touch of horror, and family drama as well. But over the years it and its sequels began to be known more for its sensationalized romance and “spice” —  niche parlance for sexual heat and explicitness — than its fantasy aspects.

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Worldbuilding Wednesday 2/7/24: Classical Greek Names (Female)

Women of Hades (AI art)

I covered Greek female names before on this site,  in this post about female centaurs. For that I drew on actual, lesser-known names from the myths of Ancient Greece. But since I had researched so much for that, how difficult would be to generate some in a completely random way?

So, you need a Greek girlie? Here you go. Caveat: these may mean something in ancient Greek that you hadn’t intended, or be complete nonsense, so not suggested for historical fiction.

Word about the AI art above: I was going for a bunch of Greek women lounging about the Underworld with Hades. Hades isn’t in this pic, but the women are clearly suffering from the darkness, hence their fascination with the lanterns, and the main one, on the right, looks more than a little mad from the ordeal.

 

Classical Greek Names for Women

Aetherpe

Aiglamena

Astriope

Bysephe

Calypthera

Cirta

Clydae

Clydice

Clypheis

Clypsohyda

Clythia

Clythoe

Deisce

Didea

Dodice

Eogeria

Erysphe

Eucrethea

Eudicle

Euphillina

Euribis

Hysthera

 Iolippe

Iomne

Isto

Leupia

Mespra

Menede

Nephta

Oepene

Oephidra

Oethrys

Olythera

Ospoea

Pheraeste

Perdea

Psalaphone

Rithoe

Scyrithera

Sippilyte

Strybethe

Thendippe

Thermatrece

Timplaea

 

Worldbuilding Wednesday 1/31/24: Shades of Purple

Art by Midjourney

Though the color purple been democratized these days –- almost every mass-produced clothing item and stuffed toy is available in some shade of it –- it was once very rare and restricted to royalty. This was because its dye depended on a rare, arcane ingredient: the slimy secretions of the murex sea snail. For centuries, only Roman emperors, high-ranking Catholic clergy, and European kings and queens could afford to wear it, leading to the color’s long association with wealth and royalty. Commoners had to enjoy it in the skies of dawn or sunset or the colors of certain flowers; indigo and manganese provided alternate dyes. When synthetic dyes came on the scene in the 1800s, suddenly it was available to all.

Yet even then, the use of purple remained discrete. Victorians were fond of deep mulberry shades or muted lilacs, not the Tyrenian purple of the Romans which would have looked garish to them. It took the shocking paintings of the first modern artists and the Art Nouveau movement to restore purple to its former glory. Because of that, purple has always had an undercurrent of something bohemian and  “naughty” in it, an element by turns sensual, brash, and uncontrolled. It took the 1960s fashion explosion for it to break out into common use.

I remember drinking this.

Even so, it remained, and remains, a hue for those who consider themselves shocking or unique, even crazy. The color was immortalized forever in the Jimi Hendrix song “Purple Haze” and the rock groups Deep Purple and Moby Grape, giving it counterculture associations. A children’s powdered drink product of the time, Funny Face, featured a character called “Goofy Grape” who was a grape in a Napoleon hat, which referenced madness (at the time, delusions of grandeur, such as believing oneself to be Napoleon, was a cartoon staple as a shorthand for schizophrenia). In the 1969 debut of Hanna Barbera’s Scooby Doo, one character, Daphne, wore a shocking purple dress, which contrasted with her red hair. An earlier Hanna Barbera cartoon, The Herculoids, had all manner of purple monsters and aliens.

As the 1960s associations faded the color, as lavender, joined pink as a “girl color” for gender-themed toys and clothing in the 1980s and began to be associated with unicorns and dragons. Due to the influence of a much-circulated poem, elderly ladies began to dress in purple, often entirely so, to shout to the world “I’m here! I matter!” Lesbians adopted a light purple shade as a color of pride, as gay men had appropriated pink. Purple began to be added to Easter holiday shades and the black and orange palette of Halloween, joining poison green.

A trio of purple icons: Barney the Dinosaur (1992); Prince (1984); and Maleficent (1964.) Yes, she’s not fully dressed in purple, but the purple trim is an integral part of her character. Note the background has purple hues as well.

As a child, purple was always my favorite color. I had a fake-fur purple coat with silver buttons and a room painted light purple. At the age of six, I received a new pantsuit for Christmas consisting of bright purple polyester pants and a white and purple striped shirt. Any gift given to me, it had to be purple. I’ve long outgrown that phase of course, but purple still holds a soft place in my heart.

One of purple’s peculiarities is that there’s not a lot of words to describe it, and chances are those words that do are too obscure for some readers. Heliotrope and periwinkle, for example, or dozens of other flower names most people have never heard of. Thus, to come up with novel color names is a bit harder and that leads to another association with purple – purple prose.

So, following is a list of what I made. I’m rather fond of “Reggae Iris” and “Senate Necktie”… how about you?

 

Shades of Purple

Senate Necktie

Princely Pollen

Reggae Iris

Dusky Grape

King’s Orchid

Roman Banner

Prairie Nuptials

Poi Purple

Evening Tempered

Abyssal Blackberry

Rustic Plum

Come Drink the Wine

Hipster Purple

Heliotrope-ical

Plum Basket

Rhapsody in Aubergine

 Russian Highlander

Plum Sorbet

Electric Thistle

Deep Foggy Sea

Royal Dusk

Berried Primrose

Cupcake Sprinkles

Earthy Raisin

Toy Unicorn

Tickle-Me-Violet

Tudor Purple

Amethyst Fields

Chinese Cobalt

Mauve and Melody

Cyberpunk Purple

Bruised Cognac

 

Passing Obsessions 1-24

Creating Chinese New Year coloring book images in Midjourney.

Author Jenny Trout’s’ lengthy recap of Sarah J. Maas’s Faerie fantasy A Court of Thorns and Roses. If you’ve wondered what all the fuss was about, but don’t want to read the book itself, read this instead.

Shipping container houses.

Face/Off, an original Syfy show about makeup artists competing to create the most outstanding fantasy creatures. I’m watching Seasons 3 and 4 on Netflix.

Shawarma.

Worldbuilding Wednesday 1/17/24: Hawaiian Cocktails (ChatGPT)

On my own, I’ve done a pretty good job of generating imaginary cocktails, including those related to Christmas and Narnia. Since ChatGPT has advanced to the everyman level, why not see what it can do?

I used OpenAI’s version, which is free with registration, and the basic prompt was “Give me a list of imaginary cocktails with a Hawaiian theme. List the ingredients.”

It wasn’t quite as creative as my own randomgen would have been but it went a lot faster, and the results were acceptable and plausible if a little on the predictable side. However there were some gems in here, like the Coconut Crashinator and Lava Lamp, and the silliness of using an pirate’s eyepatch as a garnish. (There were also some questionable elements like”Hawaiian ku’ulei necklace glass” and “taro-infused vodka.”)

 

Hawaiian Cocktails by ChatGPT

Lagoon Crawler Coconut rum and blue curaçao, served over ice and garnished with an orange wheel and a cherry.
Hula Heatwave Mix Jalapeño-infused tequila, watermelon juice, lime juice, and agave syrup. Shake well and strain into a salt-rimmed glass with a watermelon wedge on the rim. (NOTE: This recipe seems more Mexican than Hawaiian.)
Tiki Tornado A potent mix of rum, absinthe, and pineapple juice with a dash of chili-infused syrup. Garnished with a flaming pineapple wedge for added flair.
Coconut Crashinator Made with 151-proof rum and coconut cream, served in a coconut shell with a paper umbrella.
Mai Tai Mai Tai Mai Tai (aka Triple Trouble) A concoction of  dark rum, light rum, overproof rum, and a trio of fruit juices, garnished with a pineapple spear doing the hula and a miniature surfboard.
Lava Lamp Everclear, blue curaçao, orange bitters, and a dash of grenadine served in a tall glass with a glowing ice cube.
Rum Rebellion Riot Jamaican overproof rum, falernum, lime juice, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Serve in a pirate-themed mug for extra rebellion vibes. Garnish with an eyepatch.
Volcano Vaporizer Flaming absinthe, cinnamon schnapps, and a splash of passion fruit puree presented in a volcano-shaped glass with caution tape. Rim the glass with chili salt for a spicy kick.
Luau Libation
 Navy-strength rum, grapefruit juice, coconut cream, banana liqueur, and pineapple juice, shaken and strained into a tiki mug.
Ku’s Kava Kick Kava-infused rum, ginger beer, lime juice, and a touch of honey served in a wooden kava bowl with a lime wheel.
Kapua’s Kukui Kicker Gin, passion fruit juice, and a drizzle of kukui nut syrup. Served over ice in a traditional Hawaiian ku’ulei necklace glass.
Pele’s Punch Spiced rum, passion fruit juice, lime juice, and a splash of ginger syrup. Captures the spirit of the 1950s Polynesian-inspired era of Trader Vic’s exotic and imaginative concoctions.
Kane’s Kona Koffee Dark rum, Kona coffee liqueur, coconut water, and a drizzle of macadamia nut syrup. Served over ice with a coffee bean garnish and a cinnamon stick. (NOTE: There were a lot of K’s in these generations)
Taro Twist Taro-infused rum, coconut water, lime juice, and a touch of honey. Served over crushed ice in a tiki mug.

2024 Reading Challenge

Booksmart? No.

I haven’t had much success with reading challenges these past years. In 2023, I finished 5 out of 12. In 2022, it was eight out of twelve, with a little cheating: three-quarters.

So THIS year, I’m only going to pick six. That’s make it a little easier to chew.

19. Like a novel, only real: Creative nonfiction.
Storyteller, Dave Grohl
Nirvana’s drummer, and rock star in his own right, tells some autobiographical stories.

20. What’s your sign?: A book by an author who shares your astrological sign (Greek or Chinese zodiac).
A book by William Golding, we are both Virgos.

21. Do you deliver?: A book where food, cooking, restaurants, chefs, etc. play a major role.
Twinkie Deconstructed, Steve Ettlinger
All the food additives manufacturers use explained.

22. That old black magic: A paranormal novel.
Death of the Necromancer, Martha Wells
Been waiting to read this for a while. An alternate-world Gothic Italy with supernatural hijinx.

23 After the fall: A post-apocalyptic or dystopic book.
The Product, Marine Fontaine
Russian dystopia in the style of Roadside Picnic which I’d enjoyed.

24. Top of the Heap: A book on any Top Whatever list.
Nettle & Bone, T. Kingfisher
Not the usual kind of fantasy I’d read.

Worldbuilding Wednesday 1/10/24: Greek Islands

“It’s over there, dummy. Just look. Look! Follow my hand…”
Athena Appearing to Odysseus to Reveal the Island of Ithaca, Giuseppe Bottani

There are over 6,000 islands in the nation of present day Greece, and to the ancient Greeks they must have seemed many times this number. Their entire world was made of islands, and the sea. From myth we know know the prominent ones, like Lesbos, Naxos, Aenea (home of Circe), Ogygia (home of Calypso), Delos, and Crete. The island of Ithaca was home to the hero Odysseus, whose story was told in The Odyssey. In present times, it’s also the name of a city in New York state that hosts Cornell University.  Undoubtedly, there were many more named islands which have vanished into time.

Need to create a Greek island of your own? Here’s a made-up list.

 

Undiscovered Greek Islands

Arisnaea

Drianos

Eoplene

Eoskoia

Exara

Gleona

Hepeus

Kaias

Lenethia

Mnatem

Memripios

Netemgera

Nithoe

Oeclos

Ostunisi

 Pasteos

Phiasos

Pthadros

Pyrenus

Skeites

Skoete

Strybae

Stusura

Telephene

Thruses

Thrymna

Tsupos

Uelas

Xippus

Zene

Worldbuilding Wednesday 1/3/24: Best of Twittersnips 2023 (Magic Items)

Pocket Bath

My favorite Twittersnip magic items of the 2023.

 

2023 Magic Items (Best of)

Basket of Adoration: Whatever is put into this large woven basket elicits oohs and aahhs of admiration from viewers, and if it is a living being, the desire to nurture and protect it… no matter what sort of creature it is.

Below the Belt with the Belt of True Agony

Belt of True Agony: When a male character wears this, any unarmored blow (that is, a hit with bare flesh) hits them “below the belt” – in the groin. The belt cannot be removed except with a curse neutralizer.

Book Brazier: This cursed item compels the owner to burn their own books in it, and when their own books are gone, they will steal other’s books to burn as well.

Brylan’s Undead Tonic: The drinker believes they have become a zombie, even if others tell them otherwise.

Effect of drinking a Celidway’s Essence potion

Celidway’s Essence: This bright green, glittering potion makes beautiful flowers appear in the drinker’s hair, adding to their charisma, especially towards fairy-kin.

Draconic Divination: Not an item or spell per se, but a method for mages to forecast the future with 75% accuracy by using a set of polished dragon scales procured from around the creature’s eye ridges. It takes several months to learn this skill.

Girdle of the Leopard Queen: For females only. Increases Charisma, Comeliness, and Dexterity by 5 points each when it is worn.

Grillian’s Buffing Poultice:  Used on edged weapons, this creates such a fine, sharp edge the weapon’s damage is increased by +2 for the next few days. It is found in a small tin.

Helm of The Mastiff: In the shape of a fierce, ugly dog, this helm grants the wearer +2 on regular attacks, +4 against feline attacks, and unlimited tenacity and courage.

Helm of the Mountain Goat

Helm of the Mountain Goat: +1 helmet that gives the wearer an extra butting attack with their head once per round.

Horns of The Maiden Moon: This silver weapon is shaped like the curve of the crescent moon and is thrown like a boomerang. It has a +2 change of decapitating or cutting a limb/appendage off any male creature it hits. Female beings are immune to this effect but take edge damage. The weapon can only be wielded by females.

Lozenges of Celestial Patience: Used by clerics when they have to listen to a lot of long, boring confessions from members of their congregation.

Nevé’s Terrible Tankard: Holds whatever alcoholic beverage is put into it until the holder takes a sip. Then the liquid drains out through a surprise hole in the bottom.

Philtre of Whaleface: Makes the drinker’s face so fat and swollen they look like a whale for 12 hours.

Pocket Bath: A 1” white porcelain cube that expands into a fully functional bathroom with toilet, sink, and toiletry items.

Payob’s Glass Orb: The owner of this item gains 1) a sincere heart; 2) the desire to impart peace at all costs; and 3) a +1 to any weapon they use in enforcement of # 2. The orb affects even beings of evil alignments.

Ring of Dodging Artistic Expression: A cursed ring that eliminates an artist’s ability to create original art. Which means they can only make copies of other’s art.

Effect of a Ring of Slumbering Scales

Ring of Slumbering Scales: Lets the wearer cast a sleep spell on any creature that has natural scales: reptiles, pangolins, fish, certain demons, dragons, etc.

Shochart’s Villainous Blue Flask: This beautiful blue glass vial seems to contain a helpful magic potion. But when the owner goes to drink it, it explodes in their hand cutting them severely.

Sunstone of Burn Prevention: When held under the tongue, this small gemstone, which has been blessed by the Fire Gods, prevents first and second degree burns.

Sword of the Parakeet:

Ungeant of the Shipwright:  Soothes, heals, and revitalizes the hands of those who are building a boat, so that the boat is completed in 2/3 of the regular time and also worth twice as much due to the quality of the construction.

Violet Ledger of The Troll: Magic book that contains: 1) A natural history of trolls and troll species; 2) Spells for controlling trolls; 3) Spells for protection against trolls.

Wallily’s Fiery Golden Egg: The size of a sparrow’s egg and plated with pure gold. When placed amongst ripe ears of corn, it makes all the kernels explode into popcorn with a deafening noise. A field up to 100’ can be affected.

Wand of Androgyny: It will be impossible for others to guess the gender of the owner because they will appear both male and female. The caster can use the wand to disguise others as well.

Wand of the Wolf

Wand of The Wolf: Has three functions. 1) Summons and commands wolves. 2) Halts, slows, or speeds up werewolf transitions. 3) The owner can howl like a wolf.

Worldbuilding Wednesday 12/27/23: Best of Twittersnips 2023 (Spells)

 

The Silkcrust recipe makes even the harshest of barbarians want to eat a whole pie.

 

My favorite Twittersnip spells of the year.

 

2023 Spells

Aflen’s Loosen Whale: Makes a whale void its bowels in the middle of the ocean, releasing any ambergris (or other items) it might have held.

Astrological Negation: Nullifies, for a set period of time, the bad aspects of the recipient’s horoscope reading. (If they don’t believe in astrology, the spell has no effect.)

Blessing of the Sea Gods: This clerical spell alleviates seasickness for the duration of any waterborne journey.

Captivity posture spell in action

Captivity Posture: The target stops moving and assumes a position where they can be easily chained or bound by the caster.

Cloud of Calming: Clerical spell that enchants a passing cloud to calm and refresh whoever it passes over. The spell lasts as long as the cleric can see it.

Consecrate Cat: Many temples have problems with mice and other vermin. This cleric spell binds a domestic feline to the holy area to take care of this problem.

Create Sphere Of Equality: Within this 10’ sphere, the levels, abilities and stats of all the characters are added together, averaging them out, making them all equal.

Dated Curse: Used as an adjunct to a regular curse spell. Lets the caster date precisely when the curse will take place.

Desire for Purity: Usable only on clerics, this spell compels them to take up an ascetic lifestyle and live as a hermit in a place far from civilization.

Ecstasy of the Pen: A spell for those who hate copying written materials, such as monks or scribes. While the spell lasts, the writer finds the task the most fulfilling, fascinating, and sensual activity they have ever experienced.

Fraternity of Odors: Allows members of the same secret sect to recognize each other by smell.

Hammer of Dionysus: Anyone hit with this hammer will not be physically injured, but become extremely drunk – “hammered” by the Greek god so to speak.

Igraine’s Irritating Debate: Makes a friendly disagreement go on and on for hours when the speakers really should be doing something else.

Indomitable Maiden

Indomitable Maiden: When cast on a young woman of 25 or under, this spell adds +1 to strength, wisdom, and constitution for its duration.

Infantry Focus: Enables a magic-user to see through the eyes of a soldier on the frontlines. A battle spell.

Lying Armament: Makes the caster appear more heavily armed than they are, or less. For example, a dagger may have the illusion of a sword, and a battle axe might appear as a stick.

Mummyball: Usable only by high-level clerics, this spell compacts a mummy into a round form the size of a soccer ball, allowing them to be kicked down the street. Note any bare flesh hit by the ball will suffer from the mummy’s rotting touch.

Passive Freezing: Makes the target freeze to death through what seems like their own bad choices, like not taking warm clothing, foolishly walking into a blizzard, etc.

Ominous Dwarf

Ominous Dwarf: Gives an aura of foreboding and menace to any dwarven character, whether they ask for it or not. Will likely scare off attackers, but also potential allies.

Red Insanity of the Wizard: Only cast on magic-users, this horrible spell makes them use their most powerful and destructive spells on their friends and comrades.

Relive Labor: Usable only on females who have given birth, this terrible spell makes them re-experience all the physical pain of that birth in real time. The component is a piece of umbilicus cord from their child.

Scroll Strengthener: A high-level spell that grants any scroll a +10 against damage from normal (non-magical) elements.

Silkcrust: Makes a pie taste especially delicious. Those serving the pie will gain a temporary increase in charisma towards the eaters.

Thoughtful Mummy

Thoughtful Mummy: Mummies aren’t known for being very smart. This spell gives them  average intelligence and compels them to ponder weighty questions about the meaning of existence.

Thrystra’s Chatty Companion: Birds of the parrot family are very sensitive and need companionship to thrive. Under this spell, imaginary friends are generated for them with which they will interact happily.

Tomb of Positive Awareness: When cast on a burial place, windows are created that let in light and any visitors will reflect on the good deeds the deceased has done. This spell is permanent.

Transform Harpy Song: Harpies are known for luring humans to death with their hypnotic song. This spell changes that song to a silly ditty that will have everyone laughing at them.

Vital Mouse: Enchants a common mouse to have an AC of 0 and five times its hit points, making it very hard to kill for the duration of the spell.

Voyage of Loneliness

Voyage of Loneliness: This powerful spell enchants a whole ship, sending it off its course to the most remote and forsaken area of the body of water it’s on.

Wand Hunter: Lets the caster locate a wand of a certain type, specified as the spell is cast. The area searched increases with each level.

 

Merry Christmas!

AI-generated art.