I just finished Season 1 of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Sousou no Frieren). All twenty-eight episodes. What started out as an enjoyable epic about the pain of living a very long life… and the second chances we so rarely get… ended up weaving a breathtaking tapestry I must take several steps back to fully appreciate.Continue reading “Frieren Took Me By Surprise”
Tag Archives: high fantasy
Q&A & Verisimilitude
I’ve gotten an influx of new followers lately. And with that came a surprising number of questions! I thought I’d share some of the Q&A I’ve recently received so you can get to know me better. Who is Nick Enlowe?: I am an author of high fantasy, dark fairytales, and sword & sorcery (heroic fantasy)Continue reading “Q&A & Verisimilitude”
How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: The Ende
Darkness. Stillness. Bastian asks, “Why is it so dark?” “In the beginning,” says the Empress, “it is always dark.” BASTIAN’S MUSE A light from the Empress’ hand illuminates their faces. A single glowing grain of sand. This is Bastian’s act of creation, from which will spring forth a wellspring of creativity. She’s here now withContinue reading “How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: The Ende”
How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Solving the Riddle
The image above represents a powerful moment in my life. And we’ll get there soon enough. “Is it really me?” asks a confused Bastian over the heavy and opened book, battling through waves and waves of cognitive dissonance. “Maybe he doesn’t know what he has to do!” screams Atreyu as the floor of the IvoryContinue reading “How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Solving the Riddle”
How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Part 12
Where we ended our recap last time, Atreyu, riding Falkor, had just wished upon the Auryn. “If the Ivory Tower still stands, take us there.” Lo and behold, the power of the Luck Dragon holds once again – Or perhaps it’s the power of the Auryn this time? Maybe a little of both? Either way,Continue reading “How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Part 12”
How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Part 11
Part 10 should have made it fairly apparent why The Neverending Story became my favorite movie of all-time. It also doesn’t hurt that I have fond memories seeing this (and its sequel) in my hometown single screen theater during simpler times. THE NOTHING’S FINAL ADVANCE To continue the recap, a worried Falkor dives deep intoContinue reading “How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Part 11”
How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Part 10
As I said earlier, people tend to focus singularly on this particular line for the meaning of the story, and the meaning of The Nothing itself: G’mork: It’s the emptiness that’s left. It is like a despair, destroying this world. …which still makes sense, even this far into the tale. As The Nothing approaches, time and timeContinue reading “How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Part 10”
How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Part 9
Falkor assures Atreyu that all he needs is a bit of luck to achieve the tasks the Southern Oracle assigned him. But little do they know both tasks are impossible for Atreyu to achieve. Blissfully ignorant, he and Falkor soar through the skies seeking a way beyond the boarders of Fantasia, only to run intoContinue reading “How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Part 9”
How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Part 8
As terrified as Engywook was of the Sphinx Gate, he’s even more afraid of the second test, the “Magic Mirror Gate”. He’s terrified that Atreyu must face this second gate on his own, armed with no information on what to expect. Because the mirror forces you to face your true self: Engywook: …kind people findContinue reading “How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Part 8”
How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Part 7
Luckily for Atreyu, Engywook is Fantasia’s (self-proclaimed) foremost expert on the Southern Oracle. He explains there are two tests one must pass to reach his goal. And he just happens to have his telescope trained on the first test: The dreaded “Sphinx Gate”. He invites Atreyu to accompany him to the observatory, leading to theContinue reading “How The Neverending Story inspired me to write: Part 7”
Nick Enlowe 