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February 14, 2004

the black cauldron

Having watched the truly awful Black Cauldron for the second time in my life (the first time was when I was nine, when I thought it pretty good) I find myself wanting to take a crack at Lloyd Alexander's books. I can't imagine the idea of an oracular pig came from Disney writers, and I also can't imagine disliking a book that features porkomancy.

Where is it written in the Big Book of Fantasy Clichés* that the home base of the badguy must always dissolve like a sugar sculpture out in the rain the instant said badguy is dead? It seems to me like a great opportunity for a joke. "Is Foul Lord Halitosis dead?" "His castle collapsed after I stuck him with a sword, so he must be!"

Also, I ate at a place called Nacho Mama's today. Yes, really!

But now I must go to...Wal·Mart. Ugh. And when I come back I may make cornbread in my new cast iron skillet, and even if I don't I'll still be down at some point to write. Ta!

* I'm sure Diana Wynne Jones probably addressed it in the sublime Tough Guide to Fantasyland. I'll have to check.

Posted by sdshaver at February 14, 2004 07:04 PM