Plastic Armor and Wooden Swords: Prepare for Battle

Homemade Warrior I have a 7-year-old son who is … well, a boy. That’s the best way to put it, really. He likes mud and bugs and Transformers and wrestling with his Dad on the floor and making his own sound effects when he pulls a cool move … and believe me, he's got a [...]

The Fairy Tale Gospel

This is a guest post by Brent King. Deeper than our deepest longings, fairy tales tell truths about our inner and outer world, truths that are either too obvious for modern men or too truthful. Take, for instance, Little Red Riding Hood. It affirms that the world is dangerous, that there is an evil wolf [...]

A Few Things About Dragons

“Never laugh at live dragons.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien   “Fairy tales do not give the child his first idea of bogey. What fairy tales give the child is his first clear idea of the possible defeat of bogey. The baby has known the dragon intimately ever since he had an imagination. What the fairy tale [...]

Dragons: Naughty or Nice?

I love dragons. I’ve always loved dragons. I can’t explain it, really. The sheer size and power of them, the wonderful, horrible way fire explodes from between their rows of gleaming teeth, the flap of their great leathery wings as they darken the sky overhead, their hoards of treasure, their dark caves, their deep, shivering [...]

Fairy Tales Are For Boys, Too

I’ve often thought that fairy tales are unfortunately named. Not many boys want to get near any story that has the name “fairy” or “princess” in it. That sounds like a stereotype – but go ahead, ask the next boy you see how many fairy stories he’s read lately. Or ever. But I say that [...]

Fairy Tales … Truer Than Real Life?

Escapist. Nonsensical. Childish. Delusional. Those are the words that come to mind when many people think of reading fairytales and fantasy. Far-off worlds full of mythical creatures and over-blown heroism. Dragons, swords, magic, fairies, and epic battles. What could be further removed from reality …. right? For the longest time, when asked what I was [...]