“Nothing is all good or all bad,” she says. “Life is so much messier than that.”

― V.E. Schwab, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

This quote brought to mind a Chinese proverb that I’ve heard from several different sources. It’s stuck with me, so I thought I’d share it with all of you this week. I’ve shortened it a bit, but essentially is goes like this:

A farmer had a prized stallion and one day it ran away. “Oh, how terrible!” the townspeople told him. “Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The next day, the stallion wandered back to the farm. “How fortunate you are!” the townspeople cried. “Maybe,” the farmer replied.

A few days later, the farmer’s son was riding the stallion when he fell off it and broke his leg. “What bad luck!” the townspeople lamented. “Maybe,” the farmer replied.

Two weeks later, the emperor’s army passed through the town, drafting young men to be soldiers. They left the farmer’s son behind because his leg hadn’t healed yet.

We can never foresee all the consequences of a single event, so it’s best to take everything–both the good and the bad–in stride. Avoid the extremes–nothing is ever the most terrible or greatest thing that could have happened. Keep your perspective, look for the good in everything, but don’t permit windfalls to blind you to reality.

Will this be the best advice to read today? Maybe.

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

“You could even say that Readers are the one force in our world more powerful than me. Because as long as there are Readers who believe in Good’s power over Evil, Good will still win, even if I obliterate every kingdom in the Woods. Because there will always be Readers, no matter what I do. Readers who put their faith in the Old stories, passing them down, forever and ever, keeping Good alive, beyond my control.”

-Soman Chainani, The Last Ever After (The School for Good and Evil #3)

Here, Chainani strikes at the heart of the tragedy in the Spoken Books Uprising. In the land of Oration, the Readers have (perhaps ironically, given their name) withheld literacy from a vast swath of the population. To strive for a better way of life, one must first appreciate the experiences of their fellow human beings. Yet, without the written word, the spread of ideas is nearly impossible, which favors those who would oppress others. 

As I’ve said so many times before, that is the beauty and power of reading. It entertains, it teaches, and it can even liberate. Just as Baz has used his forbidden power of Reading in The Spoken Books Uprising to lead a rebellion against the Triumvirate’s plutocracy, so too should we use that power to remain educated and demand better from the world around us.

It’s said that knowledge is power, but if that is true, then reading is the energy source. Keep yourself fueled. 

This week’s quote was submitted by Jan. Thanks, Jan!

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

“We need metaphors of magic and monsters in order to understand the human condition.”

― Stephen R. Donaldson (author of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, among many others)

If you’ve been reading this newsletter for any length of time, you know I’m on a mission to explore how novels classified as fantasies can nonetheless have real world implications. Well, Mr. Donaldson hits the nail on the head here.

There are many things in life that are both difficult to understand and challenging to discuss. Most humans are predisposed to avoiding such topics because they can lead to conflict, and our animal brains tell us that conflict is dangerous.

That’s where stories come in. Want to examine the evils of prejudice? It may be tough to face that your very own society has issues, but less so when confronted with the cruelty of a scar-faced colonel toward the blue-skinned inhabitants of another planet.*

How about the importance of friendship and love? For some, it may be too emotional to tackle directly. And yet, we can all relate to the story of a girl with a magic compass and problematic parents who nonetheless uses the power of friendship (including that of a giant, armored polar bear!) to save the world.^

What about mental illness? That’s surely a tough subject for most. Still, many of us gladly explore it through the eyes of a physician’s son who is drafted into the army, loses his brother, and is then enslaved, only to discovery he has an invisible faerie friend and innate powers that allow him to summon blades from midair.~

Perhaps the most beautiful thing about fantasy is that, often when we begin a new story, we don’t even realize the lessons we’re taking away from the book. We’re just looking for a good time! But the lessons imbedded in these tales become part of us, and as we read more and more, we’re exposed to a greater diversity of circumstances than our own experiences could ever produce, and with such knowledge comes empathy and understanding for others. It’s a wonderful benefit to this genre that so many of us have grown to love.

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

* Avatar (movie) by James Cameron
^ His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
~ The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

“Evil in general does not sleep, and therefore doesn’t see why anyone else should.”

― Terry Pratchett, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

We might not be fighting actual demons or dragons or orcs on a regular basis, but their are plenty of every-day evils that keep us up at night. Some are simply out of our control, and the process of dealing with the anxiety they produce is part of being human.

But some things are in our control. If we want to increase our chances of occasionally having a good night’s rest, we should do our best to set ourselves up for success each day so that the nagging worry of unproductivity doesn’t plague our dreams.

Often, we worry over things we have put off. But with all the other things going on in your life, don’t lose sleep over this! Take five minutes at the end of each day or in the morning–whatever works best for you–and reflect on what you really need to get done. Don’t set impossible goals. Start with 1-3 items and write them down. As we all know from the Spoken Books Uprising, there’s power in words, and getting those tasks down on paper helps make them more real. For an added dose of motivation, try starting your list with, “Tomorrow, I need to…”

I like making this list at night for the tasks I want to complete the following day. It’s almost like I can trust it a bit more this way, because being a day removed from the actual doing allows me to be more objective, rather than deciding in the moment what has to be done, which is when procrastination can take hold. The next day, it feels a bit like a different person decided what was important, and I can just put faith in the judgment of that past version of me.

Do whatever works best for you, but do do it! You’ll rest easier at night knowing you accomplished something important during the day. 

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

“There is magic in words. Power in persuasion. The subtle difference between the words melancholy and sad can unravel a kingdom. Learn to use words with the precision of a sword, and you will have more magic at your disposal than Gantric the Great.”

―Brielle D. Porter, Jester

What would you do if I told you there’s a simple way to both become smarter and more persuasive? Probably either beg me for the answer or tell me I’m chasing a carbolic smoke ball*.

But I’m neither a genius nor a charlatan. The answer, as I said, is simple: reading and writing. These, in my estimation, are the greatest skills any person can foster. One can learn just about anything from books, and writing is the best way to both impress and convince, but also (in the case of bad writing) destroy your credibility.

Now, I said it was simple, not easy. One must make the time for both of these endeavors–not easy in today’s face-paced world obsessed with instant gratification. And writing in particular is a skill that takes years to learn and master. 

And yet, it is time well invested, as no skills will serve you better. Effective written communication is vital in many aspects of life–everything from simple work emails to job applications to winning arguments. And there’s no better way to improve your writing (aside, perhaps, from putting your butt in the chair and actually doing it) than reading.

As Stephen King has said, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” But if you take the time to nurture these skills, then Ms. Porter is correct: You will have powers greater than those of any wizard.

This week’s quote was submitted by Jan. Thanks as always for your support of the newsletter, Jan 

*An infamous case in introductory contract law involved this item of medical quackery, which was essentially a rubber ball that you squeezed to inhale the smoke inside it to (allegedly) cure influenza. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t. The English Court of Appeal held that an advertisement stating that the company would award $100 to anyone who tried the smoke ball and wasn’t cured was a valid contract offer that was legally binding upon anyone purchasing the smoke ball based on the ad. Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co., 1 QB 256 (1893). 

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

“Often does hatred hurt itself.”

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

Hatred, or any other negative emotion, tends to feel good in the moment. We are hurt, or angry, or distraught, and we need somewhere to direct our anguish. Somewhere other than ourselves.

But that which we do for quick relief is rarely a true remedy. Indeed, it is likely to do the opposite: make a disease out of what was only a temporary discomfort. Hatred, anger, or even simple dislike are things we must cling to like drunks to the bottle or, given the upcoming holiday, shopaholics to their credit cards. Letting them go would force us to face ourselves, and it’s so much easier to shift the blame elsewhere.

But hiding behind negativity is like grasping at the jagged rocks of a cliff–it may delay your fall, but it still hurts you. So look past your spite, your ire, your discontent, and instead choose acceptance and peace and love. Especially this time of year. Embrace the positive and count your blessings, not your frustrations.

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

“One must always be careful of books and what is inside of them, for words have the power to change us.”

― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel

When considering how to address this week’s quote, part of me wanted to disagree with it. Do we really need to be “careful” with books? Is reading and expanding your knowledge ever a bad thing?

After some reflection, however, I think I agree, provided we understand what is meant by “careful.” You shouldn’t avoid certain books because you disagree with them or they make you uncomfortable. Indeed, those may very well be the books you should to read.

The trouble arises when one reads a book with a closed mind, either going into it already believing they’ll disagree or, conversely, expecting to accept everything it says as absolute truth. The act of reading itself is never bad, but doing so without applying your own critical thinking can be.

Everyone should avoid ignorance and pursue all the knowledge they can. But we must also thoughtfully consider the information we consume so that we can sort out fact from fancy.

(This week’s quote was submitted by Jan. Thank you for participating in the newsletter, Jan!)

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

“My definition of an adult is someone who lives their life aware they are sharing the world with others. My definition of an adult is someone who knows the world was here before they showed up and that it’ll be here well after they walk away from it.
My definition of an adult, in other words, is someone who lives their life with a little f*cking perspective.”

-Paul Jackson Bennett, City of Miracles

The 17th Century French inventor and physicist Blaise Pascal once wrote,  “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” I think there’s a lot of truth to that, but Bennett might nail the issue even better than Pascal did.

So often, we only think of ourselves. Now, that may sound like an insult, akin to being called selfish. But, generally speaking, I don’t think it’s a bad thing. We often think too much of others, and we suffer for it. At the end of the day, you have to live with yourself, and if you’re not happy, you certainly can’t hope to make others happy. So go ahead, think of yourself.

That said, how much better of a place would the world be if we all considered others just a little more often? I’m talking tiny fractions here. Like, what if every person in the world tomorrow was 1% more considerate of others? Where would that leave us?

There’d be fewer doors slammed in faces, a drop in arguments, less crime. Perhaps what Pascal was really getting at was, if we were all more comfortable sitting alone in a room, we’d have more time to think, and then we’d quickly realize how our actions negatively impact others and correct accordingly. The world ought to try it. It could use a new perspective.

(This week’s quote was submitted by Kris. Thank you for participating in the newsletter, Kris!)

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

“Do you think it’s ready?” I [Silenus, The Poet] asked.
“It’s perfect… a masterpiece.”
“Do you think it’ll sell?” I asked.
“No f*cking way.”

― Dan Simmons, Hyperion

Another quote I really appreciate for the dual roles it plays. To give some context, the character asking the question in this quote is Martin Silenus, an acerbic and jaded poet, who turned out to be one of the most famous writers of his time. Obviously on the surface, this exchange is meant to elicit a laugh from the reader, playing on misdirection and the age-old trope of writers never making any money.

But there’s more here beneath the surface. There’s certainly something to be said for finding a mentor or two and learning all you can from them. But at some point, there’s also great benefit in valuing yourself, having confidence in your work, rather than needing the validation of others. 

It can be difficult to persevere when it feels as if no one believes in you. We’ve all been there. But the fact is, very few people can actually predict with any reliability whether a certain story or artwork or career choice will be successful. No one has perfect information–everyone’s decisions are based on incomplete pictures, biased by our own lifetime of experiences. Having the self-awareness to recognize this about yourself will get you far, but nearly as important is the realization that everyone else also suffers from this paucity of prescience.

When someone tells you an idea is dumb, or boring, or a sure loser, all they’re really saying is, “I don’t have any experience suggesting that will work.” When you realize this, you see how little value there is in such a statement. Few people have sufficient experience to definitively state whether you’ll be successful. And even those choice few who do have overwhelming knowledge of your field only know how they became successful. But the paths to success are nearly infinite, and you may just be on a different one.

So listen to others and evaluate, but also have the courage to hold your head high, believe in yourself, and push onward. At the end of the day, there’s really only one thing the successful have in common: perseverance. 

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

“Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate
And though I oft have passed them by,
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the bidden paths that run
West of the Moon, East of the Sun.”

―J.R.R. Tolkien

A quote about travel seemed appropriate today since I’m headed off on a trip this week. As usual, our friend Mr. Tolkien came through with eloquent words.

This is the Walking Song, two versions of which appear in The Lord of the Rings. The first is in Chapter 3 of Fellowship. The four Hobbits are singing it right before they encounter their first black rider. The version we have here is a slightly modified one that Frodo is singing to himself at the end of Return of the King when he and Sam are on their way to The Havens.

This is the second verse of the song. Fans of the movies will likely best know the third (final) verse, which was set to music and sung by Billy Boyd (Pippin) while Denethor was noshing on tomatoes as Faramir rushed into the hopeless battle at Osgiliath.

Traveling is full of excitement and new experiences, so it’s easy to get caught up in the feeling that you must do EVERYTHING when you visit somewhere new. Often this isn’t an issue. For most of us, travel is a rare luxury and we want to see all the sights while we have the chance.

But sometimes we try to see everything at the expense of enjoying nothing. I am guilty of this. In my household, I’m known as the one who “blows the whistle” when we travel. “Come on. On to the next attraction! Move it!”

And so, I write this as much for myself as anyone else: A single meaningful experience is worth more than a dozen photos that you’re going to post on Facebook or Instagram, then promptly forget. Often, when I look back on trips, my most cherished memories are of those moments I didn’t plan. So the next time you have an opportunity to stroll down a hidden path west of the moon or east of the sun, crumple up your itinerary and take it!

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.