I Failed A University Subject. Here’s What I Did About It.
Failure offers a special experience in education. During my time as an undergraduate at Macquarie University, I took 25 subjects, or units, in the humanities. A standard Arts degree has 24 units in Australia. The reason I took an extra one was due to failing a unit....
Defining Islamic: The Perspective of a Historian
Controversial words are powerful. The term ‘Islamic’ or ‘Islamism’ will always provoke a reaction. This applies regardless of where you live, your profession or personal beliefs. Usually, this reaction is an emotional one due to understandable reasons. Islam has many...
Fantasy: A Literary Movement?
Fantasy is more than a genre: it’s a literary movement, one with commentary and always in dialogue with the past. Whereas most discussions on fantasy focus on ‘literary merit’ and the nature of escapism, this only covers a small aspect of fantasy literature. In this...
The Difference Between Magical Realism and Fantasy
The debate between magical realism and fantasy fiction is ongoing, and frequently, an emotional affair. The late British author Terry Pratchett, responsible for the meritorious Discworld series, captures the conflict: “(magical realism) is a polite way of saying you...
The Symbolism of the Guy Fawkes Mask: Politics, Revolution and Whistleblowers
“Remember, remember; the Fifth of November… Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgotten…” The 5th of November Song Such is the opening to the nursery rhyme for Guy Fawkes night, November 5th, where English celebrate the...
Penguin Random House, Stay Firm: Amy Coney Barrett’s Book Under Fire
Handling different and conflicting opinions is a skill. This is particularly true in politics and in business. We, in the West, are intellectually diverse with many approaches to life, economics, government and education. This is why censorship is shocking: it...
The Challenges (And Conflicts) Between Novelists & Historians
At this present moment, historians and artists fail to understand each other. Not only is this due to fundamental differences in approaches, but also in the goals and expectations placed on them. One of the most successful books about the Holocaust in children’s...
The History Wars Over Vladimir The Great: Ownership Between Russia & Ukraine
A monument speaks to the people of a civilisation: their past, present and future. This is why some statues, such as Cecil Rhodes in Oxford, have proved both controversial and inspiring. The Anglosphere has undergone years of historical revisionism by fanatics who are...
The Problem With Fantasy Subgenres
Ever since the inception of the internet, the concept of ‘subgenres’ in fantasy has emerged into common view, with some ranging from ‘epic fantasy’ to grimdark to historical. This makes sense: so many fantasy books are published and translated each year and it helps...Welcome To Snowy Fictions
Frequent essays on literature, history & culture. Dedicated to liberty.
