I am particularly interested in the holdings of St Albans Abbey in the Domesday book due to living near there and also writing a novel based on a fictional version of the town. So here’s a map that I generated using the new Pase Domesday Book online.

It’s quite pretty, but somewhat lacking perhaps? Some basic additional information would make the map come alive and also be a lot more useful. For instance names of the vills and also the shires would help a lot I think. Perhaps some sort of adaptation of a Google map might work?

The Meteor Shower tonight goes back to the Middle Ages

August 13, 2010 Mark Leave a comment

Apparently the Perseid meteor shower which will come across the skies tonight has been happening every August since the Middle Ages.

In medieval Europe, this meteor display became known as the fiery “Tears of St. Lawrence”. The story of why is told at One-Minute Astronomer:

In 258 A.D., to distract the masses from constant war under his reign, the Roman emperor Valerian ordered the merciless execution of dozens of leaders of the Catholic church. Among those martyred was one of the seven deacons of Rome, Laurentius, just 33 years old. The Roman authorities, rarely subtle, tortured Laurentius by roasting him alive on an iron stove. Though doomed, Laurentius taunted his captors and cried out, “I am already roasted on one side and, if thou wouldst have me well cooked, it is time to turn me on the other.”

With that brave comment, Laurentius, now called St. Lawrence, became the patron saint of comedians. But the date he died, August 10, was also known throughout the world for an annual display of meteors or “shooting stars”.

The Perseid shower is the most spectacular because there are more than 108 meteors an hour. I wonder where they’re all going to end up? Perhaps Superman will be in one of them? Or Perseus?

Perseid Meteor Shower (cbsnews.com)
Your Last, Best Chance to View 2010’s Perseid Meteor Shower (cbsnews.com)
Perseid meteor shower peaks (independent.co.uk)

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers

Reissue of the Illustrated Eric by Terry Pratchett out in November

August 13, 2010 Mark 1 Comment

The Illustrated Eric has been out of print, but is now getting an anniversary reissue this autumn, with illustrations from Josh Kirby.

The title is available for pre-order at Amazon, and here’s some more information about the book:

Eric is the Discworld’s only demonology hacker. The trouble is, he’s not very good at it. All he wants is the usual three wishes: to be immortal, rule the world and have the most beautiful woman fall madly in love with him. The usual stuff. But what he gets is Rincewind, the Disc’s most incompetent wizard, and Rincewind’s Luggage (the world’s most dangerous travel accessory) into the bargain. Terry Pratchett’s hilarious take on the Faust legend stars many of the Discworld’s most popular characters in an outrageous adventure that will leave Eric wishing once more – this time, quite fervently – that he’d never been born.

Who is the mystery-writer equivalent of Terry Pratchett? (ask.metafilter.com)
Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter Collaborate for Two Books (nethspace.blogspot.com)
[Books] Wyrd Sisters (geeky-guide.com)
Book Review: Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett (blogcritics.org)
[TV] Terry Pratchett’s Going Postal (2010) (geeky-guide.com)

Book Review

The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie: Sneak Preview and Back Cover Copy

August 13, 2010 Mark 1 Comment

I feel awfully late picking up on this, but there’s a new Joe Abercrombie book in the works called The Heroes. It won’t be out until January 2011, so expect lots of teaser material until then from Joe and his publishers Orion Books.

Here’s a bit to be going on with:

Firstly a sneak preview at the Orion Books site of the first chapter. While Joe himself promises a longer extract in due course.

And secondly the back cover copy:

They say Black Dow’s killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbour, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they’ve brought a lot of sharpened metal with them.

Bremer dan Gorst, disgraced master swordsman, has sworn to reclaim his stolen honour on the battlefield. Obsessed with redemption and addicted to violence, he’s far past caring how much blood gets spilled in the attempt. Even if it’s his own.

Prince Calder isn’t interested in honour, and still less in getting himself killed. All he wants is power, and he’ll tell any lie, use any trick, and betray any friend to get it. Just as long as he doesn’t have to fight for it himself.
Curnden Craw, the last honest man in the North, has gained nothing from a life of warfare but swollen knees and frayed nerves. He hardly even cares who wins any more, he just wants to do the right thing. But can he even tell what that is with the world burning down around him?

Over three bloody days of battle, the fate of the North will be decided. But with both sides riddled by intrigues, follies, feuds and petty jealousies, it is unlikely to be the noblest hearts, or even the strongest arms that prevail.

Three men. One battle. No Heroes.

“HEROES is cancelled” and related posts (thewertzone.blogspot.com)

Book Review

The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Dr Jekyll and Mr Holmes

August 13, 2010 Mark 1 Comment

The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Dr Jekyll and Mr Holmes With the excellent Sherlock BBC series getting such a good audience at present, anything Sherlock Holmes related is bound to be popular. I see that Titan Books are releasing another in their series of Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series in October 2010, titled The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Dr Jekyll and Mr Holmes

Here’s the synopsis:

When Sir Danvers Carew is brutally murdered, the Queen herself calls on SHERLOCK HOLMES to investigate. In the course of his enquiries, the esteemed detective is struck by the strange link between the highly respectable Dr. Henry Jekyll and the immoral Edward Hyde. Can he work out what it is that connects the two men or is it mystery even beyond the skills of the great Sherlock Holmes?

Sir Arthur Conan Doyles timeless creation returns in a new series of handsomely designed detective stories. The Further Adventures series encapsulates the most varied and thrilling cases of the worlds greatest detective.

Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review recently reviewed an earlier title in the series and didn’t give it particularly good reviews, so I’m not sure if I would read this one or not. However, I think the author might be different.

The ideal Holmes show: Benedict Cumberbatch is a revelation as supersleuth Sherlock Holmes (independent.co.uk)
Sherlock Holmes, more like Shergar! (mirror.co.uk)
“Splendid Trailer For The New Sherlock Holmes” and related posts (bleedingcool.com)
Why Sherlock is still sleuthing (bbc.co.uk)
TV Review: Sherlock and Orchestra United (guardian.co.uk)

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers

Dangerous Ways by Jack Vance – another Subterranean Press volume

August 13, 2010 Mark Leave a comment

Subterranean Press have announced yet another Jack Vance publication. It looks like they’re planning to publish his complete works at this rate!

Here’s the blurb from their site:

Dangeous Ways, a hefty (560 pages) omnibus gathering three of his best mystery novels: the Edgar Award-winning The Man in the Cage, the unforgettable hider-in-the-house thriller, Bad Ronald, and the exotic South Seas murderfest, The Deadly Isles.

Whether featuring exotic locales such as Morocco and the Marquesas, forgotten corners of his beloved California, or even more modest, mundane settings like downtown San Francisco and Oakland, these beguiling, often hard-hitting tales explore the same depths of greed, obsession and depravity as mark his highly praised Demon Princes novels, feature the same resourceful, often cool, sometimes fraught protagonists as travel Tschai, Halma or Cadwal, show the same canny insights into the workings of human nature, the familiar trademark wit, the same fabulous gift for language and creating a living, breathing sense of place.

Subterranean Press Movin’ Out Ebay Auctions (whatever.scalzi.com)
The History of the Ioun Stone from Jonathan Drain’s D20 Source: Dungeons & Dragons Blog (d20source.com)
2010 Locus SF/Fantasy Award Winners Announced (omnivoracious.com)
Fantastic Omnibustastic! (ask.metafilter.com)

Medieval Literature

Gentilnesse: Middle English Word of the Day

August 13, 2010 Mark Leave a comment

entlnes(se (n.) Also gentelnasse, ientilnesse.

From Old French. gentillesse

Gentilnesse, or Gentilnes seem to be the most common spellings.

This is the firs of a regular series of posts about the meaning behind Middle English words.

What is gentleness? Is it being kind to people? Does it mean talking quietly to them and not upsetting them.

The word didn’t really take on that meaning until about the 17th century. In the time of Chaucer the word mean that one acted in a way that was appropriate for someone of noble or gentle birth. I.e. you acted like a gentleman. That might mean one acted in a temperate and kind way, but that was the behaviour expected of a noble person or gentle birth and thus the meaning.

Here’s a good example from Chaucer’s Parsons Tale (I. 585):

“He seith hit cometh him of gentilnes of his auncetres.”

Full meanings from the entry at the University of Michigan Middle English Compendium are:

1. (a) Nobility of rank or birth; (b) of animals or birds: excellence of breed or kind; (c) of fruit: excellence; of a bird: beauty, elegance.

2. (a) Nobility of character or manners; generosity, kindness, graciousness, etc.; also, good breeding; (b) as a title of address: your ~; (c) a kind or gracious act; don ~ to, to be kind or generous to (sb.).

3. People of rank, gentry; also, a person of noble rank.

Deceptive Compounds, Part 2 (oup.com)
Chaucer and Shakespeare (opinariwriters.blogspot.com)

Games, Medieval History

HISTORY Great Battles Medieval RPG Battle Game

August 12, 2010 Mark 1 Comment

This looks quite interesting, but shame there are no screenshots or videos. Wonder how it will compare to Medieval Total War? The screenshots of their previous game HISTORY^TM Great Battles of Rome, look very Total War like.

Here’s some info:

HISTORY^TM Great Battles Medieval is based on the historical events of the Hundred Years War, the most famous conflict of medieval times fought between France and England that shaped the future of both countries for centuries to follow. It features Slitherine’s cutting edge graphic engine and a brand new game play system that allows players to be in complete control of massive armies. From the thunderous charge of the knights to the men-at-arms fighting for their lives in hand-to-hand combat, the game will recreate the epic feel of medieval battles, featuring thousands of characters simultaneously.

Licensed and TV supported by History^TM, one of the best known brands for factual historical programming.
As the English you will fight under the Black Prince, Henry V and other heroic characters from history, and as the French you fight for Joan of Arc and the King.
70 Medieval battles, including 26 historical encounters from the Hundred Years war, 1337-1453.
Command more than 20 different units all accurately researched and carefully modelled in amazing detail.
Customise your squads of archers, cavalry, knights, etc with over 100 unique fighting, combat and weapon skills.
Free form quest maps that allow players to decide when and where to fight within an historical framework.
Innovative Battle Card system that gives realistic bonuses and penalties in battle.
Multiplayer: join a game or host your own in 2 player head to head.
Extensive added historical documentary clips from the library of HISTORY^TM TV channel.

EA Announces The Sims Medieval (1up.com)
Play free online RPG game Algadon (geniusgeeks.com)
Sims To Go Medieval In 2011 (g4tv.com)
The Sims goes medieval in 2011 (geek.com)

Medieval History

Where is Palmyra?

August 12, 2010 Mark Leave a comment

Enter this Medieval City themed competition to win some suitcases! I think I know so I have entered already, but why don’t you have a go too! The closing date is 18th August.

Film

Whatever Happened to Season of the Witch

August 12, 2010 Mark Leave a comment

Season of the Witch (2010 film) — Image via Wikipedia

I blogged about the Season of the Witch film earlier in the year, and that seems to have given it the right royal kiss of death! It’s not been released yet and according to various sources including BD Horror News has been scheduled for reshoots in September. It seems that there was a clash with the similarly themed The Last Exorcism, and also some of the initial screenings weren’t that impressive.