As a writer, something that always tickles me is that the words we use for writing are often the same ones used back in the Olde Days by those of an arcane disposition. The words that go onto a page are spelled, and when something doesn’t come out right it’s misspelled. I can invoke a source in an argument to make my words stronger. A writer’s work is full of symbols and sigils, and portents – although we just call that foreshadowing now. In our finest magic trick of all, with a few keystrokes I can cast an illusion and summon an entire universe for you. So while writers can often tout their many virtues (with effluent prose no less) when it comes to the written word the answer is clear – why yes, I do believe in magic.
But that’s not the only magical thing that exists around us, is there? In a strange way I’m reminded of the Arthur C. Clark quote of “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,” since I feel like we have almost reached that stage. We carry seeing stones made of gems in our pockets and can look into the past as easily as speaking the magic word of “YouTube.” So it is little wonder that as our lives become more and more magical that we find ourselves wanting something that is actually magical. Now boy wizards and sorcerer supremes are part of a conversation that doesn’t involve polyhedral dice, and it’s easy to look around and you may ask yourself, “This is not my beautiful house. How did I get here?”
Thankfully, we’re here to guide you through this new magical world that we live in. This month we’re going deep on magic. We’re bringing you great think pieces about folk tales and mythology, the kinds of magic you didn’t even know existed, and the magic of cartoons and imagination. Later we’re going to feature the Magic: The Gathering Modern Format, which makes me feel like a stranger in a strange land. Then you’re going to want to check out the upcoming (and on theme no less) reviews of Doctor Strange and Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them.
As a bonus we’re sending Seal off to BlizzCon, and we’ll have the inside scoop on that hotness.
All of that, and we’re putting the power of words to work for you in our newest installment of Story Time. Plus the usual surprises.
It’s going to be a great month. It’s so jam packed full of goodness I’m not sure how we’re ever going to manage.
Probably with magic.
Eric Carr
Editor In Chief
