March 2020 Recommended Reading/Viewing

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

And so we move into March, with Spring and Daylight Saving Time right around the corner. This month, I have some medieval-themed recommendations in mind that may pique some users' interests for sure, both being classics. So let's get to it.

Reading: Three Hearts and Three Lions (1961) by Poul Anderson

One of sci-fi legend Anderson's most important fantasies, this tale follows Danish engineer Holger Carlsen, who, during a secret missing in WWII, is mysteriously transported to another world, one where the French chansons du geste are reality and he himself seems to be a character of great importance. In order to return his own world, Carlsen, accompanied by a noble dwarf, a young swan-may, and a Christian Saracen, and aided by his scientific background, must fulfill his purpose in the "Middle World", caught between the opposing forces of Law and Chaos, and find out exactly who he is and why he is so revered and feared. A novel-length expansion of an earlier novella, this classic high fantasy is one of the titles for which the author himself wished to be best remembered, and as such, it's a compelling and engrossing page-turner sure to please fans of Tolkien, Lewis, and other masters of fantastic literature.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Three-Hearts-Lions-Poul-Anderson/dp/1504054962/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1583115119&sr=8-1
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Three-Hearts-Lions-Poul-Anderson-ebook/dp/B016CQUL4U/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1583115119&sr=8-1



Viewing: The Secret of Kells (Tomm Moore, 2009)

Young Brendan is an inquisitive lad living at the Abbey of Kells under the watch of his stern uncle when a newly arrived abbot - a master illuminator carrying a special book - enlists his help in finishing the manuscript. To do so will bring Brendan into the nearby woods, where he will encounter both a mischievous faerie and an vicious Celtic deity, but the real danger lies in the invading Viking hordes who draw ever closer to the abbey. Inspired by both Celtic mythology and such works as Richard Williams's groundbreaking unfinished magnum opus, The Thief and the Cobbler, this rather brief Academy Award nominated Franco-Belgian-Irish co-production is one of the most magnificently animated films of the modern era and a love letter to classic hand-drawn animation that should not be missed by anyone. Believe me, you won't regret it!

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Kells-Brendan-Gleeson/dp/B0036TGSW6/ref=tmm_dvd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1583115337&sr=8-3
Blu-Ray/DVD Combo: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Kells-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo/dp/B0036TGSWG/ref=tmm_blu_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1583115337&sr=8-3
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Kells-Brendan-Gleeson/dp/B0045XIFQY/ref=tmm_aiv_swatch_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1583115337&sr=8-3


That's all for this month, but before I go, I have to REALLY insist that you see the movie listed above. It's one of the most surprisingly engrossing movies I've ever seen. To drive the point home, if you haven't seen it already, here's the trailer for it to give you a taste of what you're in for: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UuUOXfiz9Q

See you next month!

[Raven]

I've watched the Secret of Kells before. It's got lovely animation. Some of my favorite art is medieval Christian illumination and iconography.

By the way, Coir, I did some upgrades in the forum and it appears your name issue is resolved. Let me know if anything else isn't working correctly.