This isn't really related to the book per se, but I've got a beef.
Why do wizards always use freaking staffs? Why don't they have freakin enchanted swords? Or, if they have to have enchanted wood sticks, why don't they make wizard spears? That way, they'd be able to cast all kinds of spells, and also chop people up good.
This is actually a good question, because in Chapter 6, Ged is at a point where he cannot use his staff for spells, and resorts to use it to whack his gebbeth. If it had a pointy end, it might have been more effective.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Gandalf has to carry his staff and his sword Glamdring when he goes adventuring in Lord of the Rings. Why don't wizards create a tool that combines both magical and physical defenses/offenses?
Good question Matt. It just really doesn't make any sense.
That's right! I forgot that Gandalf had a bitching sword. Every wizard should have a staff, a sword, and a couple wands for good measure.
ReplyDeleteYay for wands! You know, like in Harry Potter with their wands made at Ollivander's, it is very important in the Wizard of Earthsea that Ged's staff is made of yew-wood. (In fact, I think he ends up having at least two staffs made from that wood.) I always thought my wand would be either yew-wood or birch and unicorn hair.
ReplyDeleteWhy is yew important? Is it a strong wood, or a particularly durable one?
ReplyDeleteI’ve always been slightly put off by the descriptions of wands in the Harry Potter series. I can’t quite get why they have to have a core of some other material, aside from the cool factor. Also, I never figured out how said cores were put into the wands—was it like trying to cram a wet spaghetti noodle up a wildcat’s arse? Was Ollivander constantly in the back of his shop, grumbling to himself, “Every day, I wake up, I cram the unicorn hair into the yew wand, and for what?!”
Sidenote time, children. I was trying to look up the phrase “wet spaghetti noodle up a wildcat’s arse” to make sure that I got it right (I didn’t, it’s “a wet noodle up a wildcat’s ass”) and instead I came up with an absolutely stunning assortment of semi-random ass lines. Google, great is your power. It’s best to give it to you scattershot, so here we go.
-“Did she slurp it down like a wet spaghetti noodle? ..before scurrying up the creek bank, and scampering up a redwood tree…”
-“…Spaghetti. I can barely stand the smell of nacho’s while trying to… a movie is some motherfucker sucking up a long, wet piece of pasta.”
“GRAB-ASS GRAPEFRUIT SALAD. I HAVE A WET DREAM COLLARD GREENS.”
“Slap on that codpiece and eat some goddamn cod!”
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ReplyDeleteContinuing with that, it turns out my favorite semi-random quotes are from a site that makes me feel both angry and hungry. What is that feeling of anger-hunger? Oh yeah. Horny. It's tagline is "Recipes to Get You Laid"... Cook To Bang.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what's so special about yew. Although for me, whenever I hear the name of that wood, I think of unicorns. I always thought the cores of the wands were meant to give them the magical quality they needed. Otherwise, they'd just be bits of wood wizards flipped around like a bunch of robed dandies.
ReplyDeleteMoving along from your random quotes with no comment, ;) I have to say the Cook to Bang website makes me happy and hungry. The "French" recipe from June 18 makes me very happy. I don't quite get the connection between sex and the recipes, unless each one has an ingredient thought by some to be an aphrodisiac. Personally, I would say the Brie cheese (or should I say fromage?) in the French bacon-omelette recipe is the closest thing to an aphrodisiac. One of my favourite cheeses of all time, it's so melty and yummy.
Anyway, so yeah, wands and stuff. Still wish I had my own.