Growing up, I was always daydreaming about portals to distant lands—magic doorways that could take you to new and wondrous places full of adventure and excitement where brave deeds awaited heroes. We didn’t have any wardrobes in my house, but we did have a good number of closets as well as one of those little attic access doors in my bedroom. I can’t tell you how much time I spent cramped in ridiculously small places, hoping beyond hope that this time it would work. The door would magically open, and I would find myself in Narnia, Middle Earth, or some new fantastic world. Inevitably, the door would open. But instead of seeing myself hailed as a hero by the poor and enslaved of whatever fantasy world I found myself in, I would see my mom with a stack of clean towels in her arms, or my sister coming to ask me to play. And so with a reluctant sigh, I would emerge to the real world and softly close the door behind me, lingering just before releasing the knob in the hopes that the magical world might yet still appear through the crack. Today’s Fantasy Reflection is about … you guess it … portals! Magic doorways. World traveling. 
When I dreamed of traveling to the fantasy realms, it never bothered me that most fantasy realms seemed to be in a constant state of upheaval, embroiled in a ferocious battle between good and evil while their armies laid waste to the countryside. Now I must admit that there are some places it’s a lot of fun to read about … but I might have second thoughts before choosing to drop in for a month’s visit. Still, if I were gifted with the ability, I would travel to Middle Earth without a moment’s hesitation. Some worlds are worth the danger. Some fights are worth the risk. I would not want to enter the Final Empire from Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Trilogy. It wouldn’t be so bad during the events of books one and two … especially if I just happened to discover hitherto dormant Mistborn abilities. But knowing my luck, I would wind up stranded in the Final Empire smack-dab in the middle of the climax of the events of book three, and that is something I would prefer to avoid. How about you? Which fantasy realm would you visit first? And which fantasy realm would you never wish to enter? As always, answer in the comments! Feel free to pin or share the picture, post, or question elsewhere online to continue the discussion—all I ask is that you link back to this original post. Thanks!
Fantasy Reflections: Jail Birds
Morning lads and lasses! Welcome to your weekly fantasy reflections post—my favorite time of the blogging week. We’ve covered a lot of ground since starting these reflection posts. We’ve talked about everything from moving to a fantasy world, to stealing a fantasy character’s identity, to building your own Fellowship of the Ring. Today, we’re taking this discussion a step or two down the proverbial ladder to the dungeons. That’s right. The dark, dank, damp dungeons. 
At first glance, it looks pretty easy, right? Wrong. It’s only easy until you think about all the different options there are! This time I’ve decided to branch out a bit from my “safe” answers always relating to the Lord of the Rings, and go with Gonff, Prince of Mousethieves, from Mossflower by Brian Jacques. After all, if you’re going to be “locked up,” it might as well be with someone who opens locks for a living. And whenever things got too dull, Gonff could sing a song or play a tune on his reed flute to keep up our spirits. How about you? What fantasy character would you choose to keep you company in the dungeons while you plan a daring escape? As always, answer in the comments! I love hearing from people. Also, if you like, you are welcome to repost the picture or question elsewhere to continue the discussion. All I ask is that you link back to this original post. Thanks!
Fantasy Reflections: Humble Beginnings
And it’s Friday! Time to close out your week with a bang and a mind-blowing puzzle. (Since you’re obviously not already exhausted enough at the end of a long week.) Pray excuse me a devious chuckle. We’re talking about chosen ones again today … and humble beginnings. 
Whenever I think about humble beginnings, I can’t help remembering what Dr. Erskine tells Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger on why he was chosen to become a super-soldier. “Because a strong man, who has known power all his life, will lose respect for that power. But a weak man knows the value of strength and knows compassion.” Perhaps this is why so many of the Chosen Ones in fantasy novels tend to come from humble beginnings. Perhaps it’s simply because we love watching someone rise from the dust, shake off the ashes, and step out into the spotlight wearing the victor’s crown. A Cinderella story … of sorts. As for me? Well, I would probably start out as something terrible ordinary … like a stable-hand. Mucking out stalls. Grooming horses. Cleaning tack. Trudging through muck and mire in all sorts of inclement weather and bedding down at night on a pile of musty straw in the corner. Sounds about right, doesn’t it? Until the call for adventure arrives at which point I would saddle the best horse in the saddle and dash off for parts unknown! Heroic deeds await! How about you? What humble beginnings would you come from?
Fantasy Reflections: Job Fair
Hear ye, hear ye! Gather ’round. All lads and lasses are hereby cordially invited to attend the fantasy job fair. Bring your resumes, unique (and sometimes remarkably strange) skill sets, weapons, and references. Oh, and don’t forget your sense of adventure. If there’s one thing fantasy occupations have in common, it’s that no matter how dull they seem at the start, adventure is always waiting just around the next corner. Today’s fantasy reflection question: 
For me, this was a bit of a no-brainer. Don’t get me wrong, there are scads of awesome, exciting fantasy occupations out there. Assistant Pig Keepers. Dragon Slayers. Chosen Ones. Ringbearers. (Actually, let’s not become one of those …) But for me, there’s no contest. I would want to be a Dunedain Ranger. Admittedly, it can be a bit of a thankless job at times. Few people were as misunderstood and mistrusted as the Rangers were in Eriador. Yet the very people who called them “Long-shanks” and “Strider” were still breathing free air because of the sacrifices made by the Rangers. *sigh* You just have to admit. They are pretty cool. Who wouldn’t want to be a ranger? How about you? What would be your chosen fantasy occupation? As always, free free to respond in the comments. You are also welcome to share this post on your blog, please just link back to my original post. Thanks! :)
Fantasy Reflections: Step Aside Samwise
Welcome, ladies and gents! Step right this way for another mind-boggling fantasy reflection guaranteed to get the old brain cells moving … and stop hair loss. Disclaimer: this post was penned in a spurt of mad creativity fueled by an overabundance of coffee and Dr. Pepper. Consider yourself warned. 
No, I’m afraid I can’t tell what the quest is beforehand. Top secret and all that. Must take precautions. Obviously how you decide to go about said death-defying quest will influence your decision on which fantasy creature to choose as a companion. If you prefer stealth mode, I can almost guarantee Smaug is not the best choice. Good try though. A- for effort. I plan to start my quest in stealth mode and see how far I get before my cover is blow—because, let’s face it, covers are almost always blown. One that happens, I’ll race in with guns blazing—swords flashing—to finish the quest and save the day … Mounted on Shadowfax. Yes, I would choose him for my companion. Who wouldn’t want to ride one of the Mearas? A horse swift as the wind, capable of covering vast distances with a speed that would kill a lesser beast. The lone steed to stand undaunted before the arrival of the Witchking. Aye, Shadowfax is the companion for me. Wind in my hair, face to the sky, faithful steed beneath, I’d gladly face any perils the road has to offer. How about you? Who or what would you choose as your fantasy creature companion?
Fantasy Reflections: Gimmie the Grub
I was supposed to have written this last night, only I was distracted by the incredible awesomeness of Captain America: Winter Soldier. sigh Such a good movie!
Anyway, our next fantasy reflection has to do with … you guessed it … food!
I know, I know. Not as earth-shatteringly difficult as some of the others we’ve answered. But it’s not a bad idea to give our brains a break every now and then and just have fun!
And this isn’t actually quite as easy as it looks. I mean, anyone who’s ever read the Redwall books with all of their mouthwatering feasts–the critters of Redwall are the only questers who ever feast like kings while journeying in the wild–knows how difficult this could be.
I will have to go with lembas. Ever since the first time I read Lord of the Rings, I’ve been dying to try just a mouthful. That or the fruit from “inside” the stable in The Last Battle. Can you imagine?
How about you? What food would you want to try?
As always, answer in the comments! Feel free to copy the picture and paste it into your blog to continue the discussion elsewhere. I ask only that you link back to this original post!
