Two years ago I posted about how Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea was getting a graphic novel adaptation, illustrated by acclaimed artist Fred Fordham whom already has similarly and reportedly brilliant adaptations of To Kill a Mockingbird and Brave New World to his name.
Well, today I am pleased to note that it won the 2026 Hugo Awards. Fordham’s first Hugo nomination and win, as well as Le Guin’s third posthumous Hugo, as it turns out.
Tal'kamar took Licanius to the Wells to learn the truth, but also to change. To best prepare against the enemy of El and those Venerate who remained duped. One question answered, or two considering that is likely the ancient power that Davian's teacher out of time claims fooled the Augurs. Though Now I very much want to know Malshash's relationship to Tal'kamar. In the meantime, the other questions lingers, most notably where the Shadows and whether even an amended Treaty is to little to late. Oh, and whether the Shadows' leader is one of the Venerate and how many Echoes will sow death. Licanius means Fate, so let us see if the future is truly as predetermined as the Old Religion claims.
They call the war than ended Augur rule the Unseen War, but was it truly? Davian is the center of the events of this time as long foretold by Augurs past, but how long will this new war last considering Asha's unexpected encounter with him and what we know of time travel? Is the future truly set in stone, or can it change? How will Tol Athian react? What is Taeris hiding? What did Tol Shen know and what role did they and seek now to play? Will Wirr manage his new position? What of the Shadows? Tal'kamar took Licanius to the Wells and learned the truth, yet it makes little sense for if it is true then who commands the enemy?
Countless questions, yet one thing I know beyond doubt. While I would not yet compare The Licanius Trilogy to The Wheel of Time, I can see why others might. For it is truly as sophisticated and expertly planned a masterwork as I have even begun. So let us see what Fate has in store.
The Song of the Mounds of Mundburg, a tune any true Tolkien fan will appreciate.
Made by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the Father of FINAL FANTASY, Fantasian Neo Dimension is one the longest and most addictive RPG games I have ever played; to the point that I actually delayed fighting the Final Boss because I did not want the story to end. And what a story it was! Turn-based-combat RPGs with multiverses are not new concepts for me in literature or gaming, yet Hironobu Sakaguchi pushed the limits with this one – creating something utterly unique. Traversing every corner of not one but several worlds in a grand quest that began with Leo's total case of amnesia and ended with them safe from Vam's emotion-and-life-draining Mechteria and Jas' goal of ending Chaos to reach the state of Zero. The lesson of course being that even Gods – or those who call themselves such – cannot stand against the overwhelming power of human emotion. Or just emotion period, given Jas' and Vam's motives.
The game really has everything one would want both from overall plotline to individual character stories perspective; the old guard of RPGs with a new coat of paint, as it were. I will not say more for fear of spoilers, for why would I rob others of such an epic interdimensional voyage?
Farewell and happy journeys to Leo & Kina, Princess Cheryl of the Queendom of Vibra, Ez, Zinikr & Valrika, Prickle and Clicker, and Tan, with a special thanks to Queen Cynthana.
"One of the biggest ways people get caught up with listening is when they hear something they don't agree with. Our gut response is to think, "Well that's wrong" and stop listening. The key to listening is not agreeing with what the other person is saying, but rather understanding why they feel the way they do. Part of listening is going deeper into the understanding of what they're feeling." - Mark Rosewater
Getting that Perfect Book Cover is no easy task in general, mush less for an indie author such as myself and I have posted various iterations on this mostly humble blog. Now, however, I believe I am quite satisfied with the results.
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| Click the image the view the series on Amazon. Tis also available at Barnes & Noble. |
