#dozmjir

The small toad hopped up the side of the rocks, trying desperately not to lose its footing as pebbles lost their hold and scattered downwards. A human sat upon the rocks, hooded and cloaked, their soft brown eyes staring up at the thundering falls, lost in thought. Finally the toad managed to reach the human’s ankle and used that as a solid place to hop over to the knee instead. “River!” it said, huffing slightly from the exertion. Slowly, as if returning from very far away, the human turned to look down at the creature perched on his knee. “Yes? Did Dozmjir send you?” “Yes!” said the toad. “He wants to know what you’re doing! You have a story to write! Posts to put up on your blog! Questions in your askbox to answer! Why aren’t you doing any of that? Also he wants you to make Quoth stop reciting the Epic of Gilgamesh, he was on tablet seven and wouldn’t stop when I left.” River giggled slightly, “I can’t make Quoth do anything. He’s his own bird. As for my story and blog, well... I’ll get to them. But sometimes... it’s enough to just stop and let your mind wander away to the sound of running water.” The toad could think of no real response to this but to huff irritably. River smiled down from the shadows of his hood, eyes twinkling in the dark. “Tell your uncle Dozmjir that I’ll work on things soon. Though I might join this impromptu poetry reading Quoth seems to have started. I’ve always liked the Epic of Gilgamesh.”

This week’s recommended book has been brought to you by Dozmjir’s entire council of brethren. Not Dozmjir himself, just the council. “So You Want to Be a Wizard” by Diane Duane is the first book in the rather lengthy Young Wizards series. It reminds one at first of one of those light reading books meant to encourage reading in the reluctant. Yet it has a depth to it. Philosophy and religious discourse, magic, the power of friendships, and even the nature of fear and despair. These books are quite heavy for the age group they are marketed for, and yet somehow it is that very quality which makes them so interesting.

Our book this week is brought to you by Dozmjir. It is called “Watership Down” by Richard Adams. Some think it a dry book, or rather strange and violent for a book about rabbits. But Dozmjir sees it as a book about trust, a book about faith and stories, a book about animality. What does it take to find a home? And what will you do to keep that home? Who will you face? Who will you follow?

This week’s recommended book is brought to you by Dozmjir who insists that it is the pinnacle of literature (it has a talking toad in it so I think he’s a bit biased in its favor). “Dealing with Dragons” by Patricia C. Wrede is the story of the delightfully headstrong and highly intelligent Princess Cimorene who dwells with the perfectly lovely Kingdom of Linderwall. It is a very prosperous and and peaceful kingdom....Cimorene hates it. A fine story that explores notions of taking initiative and learning to control one’s own destiny. Other themes explored are those of traditional (and nontraditional) views on gender roles, efficiency, friendship, expectations, and duty. It is a charmingly amusing and fun read as you follow Cimorene through a fairy tale world where all the people are thoroughly aware of all the tropes and archetypes which turns the whole thing on its head.

This weeks recommended book is actually a recommended series. Brought to you by Dozmjir and Quoth together “The Paper Magician Trilogy” by Charlie M. Holmberg is a book series which takes a unique look at the concept of craft magic, especially concerning paper, and it is a delightfully fun story to follow with mystery and danger lurking around each corner.