• Magic is ancient, often related with the old language or the old tongue.
• Dragons are, or were, the grand masters of magic.
• The first law of thermodynamics holds; a magician exercising magic loses energy in the process.

I guess you could also argue this demonstrates the limited fantasy of fantasy writers, and I guess there’d be some truth in this claim. It’s just incredibly hard to come up with novel ideas that are original and intriguing.

These days, I take pleasure in reading Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels Trilogy. I struggle to describe these books as great fantasy and reserve this label for the insane craze of George R. R. Martin’s truly epic and insanely complex Songs of Ice and Fire. But, Anne Bishop brings in a new twist and a fresh air into the business. Saetan, the High Lord of Hell (and other places) is a pretty loveable and only very human figure. You’ll always be glad to be back in the safety of Hell. Many of the characters are delightful even though they all seem static, either good or bad, with little character development.

Ah well, that’s where George is needed. If you need to kill the time until A Dance With Dragons finally comes out, Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels isn’t the worst choice.

Five years. Who would’ve thought.

The high-visibility coat that he wore must have magic protective powers.

Click the image for a larger version. Unless you suffer from vertigo, or common sense fear for others taking stupid risks.

I went back later and checked that the guy was still alive. 

If you live in the U.K., you can’t have missed the huge fanfare with which TV and radio presenter Jonathan Ross said Good Bye with his last Friday night chat show on BBC television, and his last Saturday morning BBC Radio 2 show.

Many  came to wish him well and express their sadness to see him leaving.

I wish him well, too. Of course I do, but am I sad to see him leaving? Not really.

I acknowledge that he has gotten better over the years, but he is not half as original and not half as funny as he appears to think of himself, and when not quite sure what to say or do, his humour gets dirty and under the belt. How funny.

It would be very sad news indeed, if nobody can be found who fits his broadcasting slots just as well, and hopefully even better.

So, all the best to you, Jonathan. All the best to the –hopefully young- talent who steps into his shoes.

P.S. It’s Hildegard Knef, not Hildegard Knecht.

I’m under stress these days, stress from various work commitments, domestic duties and my studies. I won’t say that I have better things to do than write a blog, but today and for next week, I shall focus on more important things.

Back on July 19th.