My nanofic story “Garden Time” can be read in this issue of Cadaverous Magazine. At six words it will take you all of one second to read it.
(Nanofic is what I call a story under 10 words, as opposed to microfic, which is under 50, and flash fiction, under 500)
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Be careful who you trust; the devil was once an angel. I viewed my fellow man not as a fallen angel, but as a risen ape. We cannot pass our guardian angel’s bounds; resigned or sullen, he will hear our sighs. |
Angels have a long history in Western culture. The word itself came from the Green angelos, a translation of the Hebrew mal’ahk, meaning messenger. As such they acted as intermediaries between gods and man. The ancient Sumerians were the first to depict them with wings; the halos were an idea copied from Roman non-angel art. In the Bible, they are manlike enough to wrestle and awe onlookers with their might and power. But other particulars were not recorded. Later theologians posited them as beings made of light, or genderless, or being “without desire.” If any of you are like me, you know them from Christmas cards, fine art, and Catholic churches: girly-looking blonde-haired men in nightgowns.
Modern depictions show a more sinister and sexual side. Storm Constantine’s novels about the Grigori, fallen angels who bred with human women, depict them as amoral, brutal beings prone to anal rape. In the movie 2010 Legion, angels act as God’s army to destroy the mortal world and cleanse it. The Twilight knockoff YA novel Hush, Hush depicts a hunky male angel falling in love with a teenage girl and stalking, humiliating, and abusing her. These depictions are a far cry from the dimply guardian angel of Facebook gifs.
Hebrew tradition lists about two dozen different kinds of angels and a like number of individual beings. From these, it wasn’t too hard to random gen my own.
| Betelach
Tinerzriel Amphalra Uxrah Irulael Marach Zamyel Phaaneth Eluseel Chanbhayel Taphone Yseth Zeunmaral Chabiel Urys Seltramineth Perusiel Elfmral Lukach Telekanzel Peranus Tanon |
Aragiah
Gazeth Dhilah Ranach Linanon Ankheth Patrimal Alraeth Uidellus Yungael Saldut Saanah Baranael Elfrial Lyraniuel Saphach Tzeniel Karial Shumal Karlbaranach Gediael Hardfariah |
Thimyael
Minyel Jorkaha Chabut Denah Symbolas Sataut Myrus Nemzaryel Lukudraeth Geribuel Tassosut Chantsael Anulturuseth Asmaael Abeth Marsuel Dhilut Selenasma Geribus Kentiah Sapharaiz |
Yaschmel
Torazel Thysial Shispersiel Ectraphone Anthmal Hallabha Gyruel Bhaateth Ketiah Shaujmid Aresius Ehleth Pilger Nebyel Villuel Chardeth Marsah Saddeth Sybhaatuel Zaasfael Yvach |
by Jack Weatherford
Broadway Paperbacks, New York, 2010
[Challenge # 9: A book about a person you know little about.]
Winding up my book challenges for 2017. Am looking forward to next years’ reading. Who knows where it will lead me?
On to the Challenge. I hadn’t read any Asian history before this book (or anything about Genghis Khan, really) so I came in totally blind, and it took me a while to get into because I had no reference points. But I was glad I did, because, what an inspiration! It read like an outline for some fantasy series yet to be written.
The author had written a previous history of Genghis Khan and I am guessing this book was to serve as a companion to that one rather than an afterthought. Though the author focuses on the roles of women in this one — wives, daughters, daughters-in-law, mothers — among the ruling Mongolians, I felt it gave me a good, basic grasp of Mongolian history, which was something I might not have tackled in a more conventional text. At the end of it, I was eager to read more.
The only thing I can fault the book for was that the maps were inadequate for a newcomer to Asian history like myself. I would have preferred a macro view, that called out into smaller views as the chapters progressed.
The little children couldn’t wait for Krampus to arrive spreading joy and fear.
Who doesn’t like a strong draft of beer?
Beer brewing is one of the most ancient of arts. Evidence exists for it in writing dating far back to 5000 BCE in Egypt and Mesopotamia. It went into eclipse during the days of the Roman Empire with its taste for wine; but came back in strong during the Medieval era, where it diversified and began to be sold in specialty taverns, the forerunners of today’s pubs and hop shops.
When you’re in Seattle, |
Those very shops offer a dazzling variety to choose from in large urban areas. A perusal of the offerings of my favorite, the titular Chuck’s Hop Shop in Seattle, came up with these evocative names:
Ill Tempered Gnome Winter Ale Melon Session Pale Brewdocky Fat Monk Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout |
From similar parameters, it wasn’t too hard to random gen my own, with all the colorfulness weary adventurers deserve after a hard day of sacking and looting or overthrowing the dark lord.
| Virgin’s Hammer
Mossborne Cream Stormdraft Knebflan Saltguts Flambech King’s Nectar Birdbone’s Salty Whistle Shortwhack Sweet Horndinger Shingobble Scullysmack Orange Dogberry Delicious Tunksalt Bitter Tierson’s Grim Catdraft Buckshort Shillnoddy Gorgon’s Tit |
Goodwive’s Cross
Chestnut Envy Savorskin White Sunbury Zest Gillygobble Nine Savorfern Wormguts Aldinger Pale Gladlouse Ginger Stout Hamwhistle Penslim Amber Prophet’s Moon Shunknack Sour Grindyshalling Poorlbech Rundyline Round Red The Plague Doctor’s #9 Brew Yardbird Yellow |
Eye will always speak the truth to you.
Distinctive stars have distinctive names. Polaris, for example, is also known as the Pole Star, and at various places in its past Angel Stern, Cynosura, the Lodestar, and The Star of Arcady. Arcturus was known as Guardian of the Bear to the ancient Greeks. Constellation descriptions in old astronomical catalogs give descriptions such as “Regulus, the heart of the lion” and science fiction writers often reference stars created in their works by location, color, and brightness, e.g. “A yellow G2 star slightly smaller than Sol.”
Here’s some random gen names for your own work.
Torsnilam, a dim star in the constellation of the Peacock
Delphwad, the Physician’s Wrist
Churalrai, the Star of Betrayal
Taungiethi, the Star of Malice
Quesraph, a brilliant white star in the constellation of the Badger
Torrara, a dim yellow star in the constellation of the Viper, also called The Corpse Star
Schiralpha, the Bloodlust Star. Its reddish color foretold battles and strife.
Olchab, a blue-white star in the constellation of the Goblin
Hamtut, the barbels of the Catfish
Thysaris, the star of Inner Transformation
Tasgenubi, the Goldsmith’s Friend
Translurops, the Star of Good Swordsmanship
Oudgenubi, the Winter Star
Yungedi, the Star of Glory
Mulrak and Mornax, the Dawn Stars
Pellanan, a bright orange star in the constellation of the Badger
Dhamgenubi, the Bright Heart of the Toad
Jalectra, a bright star in the constellation of the Boar, also known as the Giver of Forbearance
Grantaka, the Centipede Crown
Yeshchard, Heart of the Ibis
Khangeuse, a bright reddish-orange star also known as the Goblin’s Liver in the constellation of the same name.
Kivkha, the Hippogriff’s eye
Kyhaut, Eye of the Phoenix
Dengete, the Vulture’s beak
Shauntaka, the Tanner’s thumb
Qugieba, the Sage’s star
Umwaad, the Maiden’s head
Kallinan, the Warrior’s finger
Tamhaut the Unlucky. To see it at dawn invited misfortune.
Coffinmakers showcased their wares with miniature creations like these.
Not only did ancient peoples look to the night sky’s constellations as cultural touchstones, they also looked to individual stars. The star Thuban helped the Egyptians align their pyramids, and Sirius, when it rose at dawn, let them know the flooding of the Nile was soon to come. The stars of the Pleiades star cluster signaled the start of the sailing season to the ancient Greeks.
The stars of the modern world have official names of the Latin possessive of the constellation they belong to, preceded a letter of the Greek alphabet (e.g. Zeta Reticuli). When the Greek alphabet runs out, Latin letters are used, and then numbers. Prominent stars also keep their ancient names, Anglicized, easier-to-pronounce versions of the Arab ones. A few are more ancient, and a few more modern. Stars containing a system of planets were recently named through an internet vote sponsored by the International Astronomical Union in 2015, for example. There are also stars named for people, like Barnard’s star and Tabby’s star.
Through the magic of random generation, here are some Arabic-sounding starry names you can use for your own fictional skies.
| Ghilchardi
Tamsules Nashrius Taunoros Halyat Delmeisa Vanyoros Fornabi Vyrnah Merara Trintzam Felnavi Ulregel Tasbhaat Lokwaid Olnscha Elfsata Saanzed Sedshira Jalgete Ladkar Ardnax Menzipheda Mirlnax Khanramin Hanrab |
Ghanineb
Pholectra Churud Morlzar Jolraph Amphectra Karalrai Ulchab Kahrudra Gerphoros Torsudra Irulzinda Grisus Ranthamar Zinstard Grannavi Mirlgeuse Halijidma Prosersim Shenbah Ranthellus Eliskab Betelthim Purmalopus Psunroperus Wesulnubi |
Aralfrash
Zamtanscha Arakakhra Phoraani Duneira Kabrius Baliales Zedani Zarules Alphaules Phadian Ashtut Rudashira Zistuben Charcyon Barkzim Psalturus Polkephora Zimchard Irulatna Murahbens Zenropar Ulzamard Pamopus Werosma Tristaurus |
Brandy’s eyes could steal a sailor from the sea.