Few inventions have shaped history as powerfully as gunpowder. It significantly altered the human narrative in at least nine significant ways. The most important and enduring of those changes is the triumph of civilization over the “barbarians.” That last term rings discordant in the modern ear, but I use it in the original Greek sense to mean “not Greek” or “not civilized.” The irony, however, is not that gunpowder reduced violence.
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We live in a globalized world, but mobility is nothing new. Set on a huge continental stage, By Steppe, Desert and Ocean tells the story how human society evolved across the Eurasian continent from Europe to China.
The post A history of firsts [slideshow] appeared first on OUPblog.
Authentic historical reenactor in buckskins (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
One of the hardest realities for me is that almost anything can trigger a story or poem. I don’t have to go looking for something. A prompt will always find me. I’m writing this post instead of my usual one for a reason.
I’m out of town for three days. Yes, it’s true. I went to attend a rendezvous: the annual Mountain Man Rendezvous here in Montana. It’s been many years since I attended such an event, and I find a great sense of anticipation toward this one.
In case you don’t know what a Mountain Man Rendezvous is, I’ll give you the quick skinny on one. Take pioneering/explorer types from the modern world; dress them in period 18th Century mountain man costuming; hand them black powder rifles and hand axes; and tell them to find out who shoots the best and throws the straightest, and you’ll have the makings of a Rendezvous.
Sprinkle in skills test for both men and women from those days from history, and you have a great weekend. When you combine the whole thing with one town’s annual celebration of town-hood and the like, you have a free-for-all from two countries. Yep, those mountain men and women will be coming down from Canada, too. It’s going to be great!
Therefore, in honor of our weekend activities, I thought I’d put a few poems prompted by the coming events to hold everyone over until I return on Monday. I hope you enjoy the fare here during my absence. Be sure to leave a comment to let me know if I’ve hit the target or not.
It’s All in the Wrist
How many westerns have passed
Behind my mind’s eye, pointing out
The Throw–the flight–the target
Smacked a solid THUNK!
Tomahawk embedded, buried
To mid-point up the blade?
How many times did baby bro
Recreate those scenes, practicing
The Throw, closer to center each time,
Always taking a step back to lengthen pace?
Did he have plans for needing an axe
Or just a need to prove himself to self?
Watching both men and women take
Places on the line, raise arm, tomahawk
Shaft gripped with purpose, steady–strong,
I see that need to prove to self, to others
That history can repeat itself, can come alive
To find a place now, appreciated and honored.
© Claudette J. Young 2012
Slow Antique, Still Deadly
Crack!
Black powder report,
Smoke drifts from lock’s contact,
Sulphur permeates with each repeat.
So goes the rifle shoot out
Made for mountain men,
Crack!
© Claudette J. Young 2012
One of the benefits of having your television blow up is it gives you the chance to catch up on some reading. In the 48 hours I was gogglebox-less, I read the above three publications.
First off, I read Gunpowder by Joe Hill. A dark sci-fi novella in which Hill introduces us to a group of children genetically engineered to terraform a planet with their special skills. The characterisation is outstanding (who couldn't love Charley, and Jake, and Niles etc). The plot builds steadily, growing darker with each breath. The conclusion is satisfying and lingers with you for days. For a more indepth, infinitely better review head over to The Fix. Oh, and it's selling out fast. The signed copies (drat, I was too slow) sold out before publication and I doubt the trade edition will be in stock much longer as it is limited to 500 copies.
Next up was issue 1 of Murky Depths. They are currently up to issue 7 (my copy arrived today, but as I''m yet to read number 6 it will have to wait awhile), and I received a copy of issue 1 free when I signed up for a subscription. It's a beautifully produced magazine with a mixture of comic strips and short stories, and there's not a dud in the whole magazine. My favourite stories were Looking In, Looking Out by Gareth D Jones - I defy anyone not to feel at least a twinge of sadness at the end - and CyberRevenge Inc. by Eugie Foster (which left me with the sweats as I'm convinced the story I currently have subbed with Murky Depths, 'PlasticineCoffins.com', is too similar, although it has nothing to do with revenge and Foster's story had no plasticine people in it - sigh).
Finally, I read Tainted, an anthology edited by Aaron Polson. It's always a little harder plugging a book/story/magazine by someone you know. It feels tainted (no pun intended), but I couldn't let this little gem gather dust on my shelf without mentioning it at least once. My favourite story was Fish Balls and Mushrooms by Natalie L Sin - and again, as I know and admire Natalie it feels a bit like - well of course she would say that, but bare in mind I also have a blog acquaintance with several others on the TOC and although I enjoyed their stories they didn't make number one - sticks tongue out and runs away. The stories in Tainted where inspired by stories from Poe, Blackwood, Bierce, Wells and Benson. Of the old masters, my favourite story was E.F. Benson's The Caterpillars.
That sounds absolutely remarkable. Must be really good fun to watch (and participate in) Great poetry prompt too, evidently. I’ve given you a blog award over at my place:
http://navigatingcyberloss.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/one-lovely-blog-award/
Best wishes,
Casey
Ah, Casey. Thank you. We just returned and I can say that we had a fantastic time. A bit sun-burned around the edges, but okay. We met some marvelous people, saw things I never would have remembered from my childhood days without seeing again, and generally learned a lot. We also made some new friends who will remain in the foreground in the future of our lives.
Anytime I can expand my experience journal, I try to accommodate. I did get some new poetry from it, too.