Myths & More

A red dragon as seen in D&D Fantasy (n): The faculty or activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable. Fantasy Fiction: A popular genre that involves fantasy universes, world building, myths, magic, and other-worldly creatures. Typically the story will follow the protagonist as they progress through the main quest. Sub-genres of Fantasy: Children’s Fantasy: children’s literature with fantasy elements. Comic Fantasy: focuses on humor and comedic tone in fantasy. Fairy Tale Retellings: fairy tales retold with the same structure, different elements. Fantasy Romance: focuses on relationships (social, political, romantic) in fantasy. Gothic Fantasy/Dark Fantasy: incorporates darker or frightening themes in fantasy. Grimdark Fantasy: incorporates a dystopian, amoral or violent tone in fantasy. High Fantasy/Epic Fantasy: focuses on the epic nature of a fictional world in fantasy. Historical Fantasy: represents fictitious versions of an era. ...

Purple sage in Texas Link to story. Title: The Maiden Who Loved a Star Publication: When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends, 1936 Author: Florence Stratton Illustrator: Berniece Burrough Notes: Florence Stratton (1883—January 28, 1938) was an American journalist and writer Having returned to Texas for her career in journalism, she published the Tejas Indian folklore anthology “When the Storm God Rides” in 1936. Characters: Young girl Sky dweller Old woman Great Spirit Places: Texas Events: A young girl forages for prickly pear fruit in the desert The girl catches a glimpse of a winking star The girl dreams about the sky dweller living in the stars The girl goes out to the desert to see the star for a week She continues to dream of the sky dweller, but they can’t be together The girl asks the old woman how to die to join the star The old woman suggests another option in order to live The girl drinks the old woman’s potion and turns into a desert shrub The sky d...

A rainbow hanging over a cactus Link to story. Title: When the Rainbow Was Torn Publication: When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends, 1936 Author: Florence Stratton Illustrator: Berniece Burrough Notes: Florence Stratton (1883—January 28, 1938) was an American journalist and writer Having returned to Texas for her career in journalism, she published the Tejas Indian folklore anthology “When the Storm God Rides” in 1936. Characters: Rainbow Cactus flowers Places: Texas Events: There are flowers with every color of the rainbow The white cactus flowers looked to the rainbow for their colors The rainbow stays away from the cactus’ sharp thorns The rainbow is trodden after a heavy rainfall The red, orange and yellow bands get caught on the cactus The cactus flowers remain colorful to this day