The Snowflake Chronicles

Letter Form The Editor (Deadline 4/18/16)

Mythical Creature or Monsters #4

What size is a monster?

Fear enlargers monsters. What size is my fear?

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear,”
H.P. Lovecraft

Fears enlarge our monsters.
Fear make them bigger the what they are
or so I've always heard.

Letter to the Editor

I've often heard that fear makes things larger then reality. I'm not sure that always true because some mythological monsters are about the size of humans or smaller. True some, such as dragons and the kraken, are bigger, but the size of the monster does not always make it more frightening. What makes mythical monsters frightening is whether we consider them evil. If we consider a mythological creature evil then, in most cases, it is portrayed as being monstrous or ugly in some way. I think this gives humans a false sense of security and causes us to judge people by the way they look.

More then half of the mythological creatures and monsters are shown shown as huge, evil creature. Especially those in western cultures. The eastern cultures seem to have a bit more balanced approach to good and evil mythological creature. Myths were created to express basic truths to the people who listened to the stories. In today's society there are many who believe that some of these myths really happened instead of being part of the story telling tradition of a specific culture.

I am challenging the readers of this newsletter to research a specific mythological monster or creature from your cultural background. Write a short article on that creature and submit it to this newsletter. The word count should be between 300 to 1000 words. The deadline is Thursday, May 12. When you write the article be sure to site your sources. If it is a story your parents or your grandparents told you just say that in an authors note at the beginning or the end of the article.

I will give at least one mythology and one fantasy merit badge. All the submissions will be put in the Editors Picks over the next few newsletters. The number put in each newsletter will depend on how many submissions I receive.

Editors Picks

Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2078660 by Not Available.

Excerpt: As was custom, the story teller's hut had been set at the top of the hill on the west side of the village. It was a small hut, but it was clean and comfortable. The one room held bed, shelves, and a sitting area around a small table for when the history keeper came to relate new tales for the young man to pass on to his village. His food was provided, and prepared, by the village women, and his robes were few, keeping his laundering needs down to a minimum. Jason liked it, and that was all that mattered, for he was the one that had to live there. His needs were met, as was set down by the law, and the people of the village he had been assigned to were kind and generous, thus providing him with a few extra creature comforts such as ample pillows for his bedding, soft heavy blankets to ward off the chill of the night, and extra candles to ease his distress when in the dark.

Dragonfire: Genesis Chapter 1  (ASR) The dragon planet is formed, and as one of the first dragons Esti hopes she's not alone. #2078304 by Story Kingdom

Excerpt: In the beginning, an Earth-like planet called Draconis is formed. During these times the planet's surface was red and dotted with volcanoes for miles. There appeared a great dragon with deep blue scales that could blend within any depth of water. This blue dragoness would later become known as Esti. While her method of birth was unknown, some tell of legends that the world was her egg. Her home was the Origin Crater, a vast crater that is believed to be the pieces of her cracked egg. She was very kind to the other creatures around her and chose to feed on large leaves and berries instead. She stayed there and lived as the planet cooled from the events of its creation.

Embers Of A Dying Rose  (E) A flash fiction story about a maiden, the sun god Apollo, and the war god Aries. #2078820 by Alex Stephens

Excerpt: The maiden brushed back her elegant golden hair, as she walked lightly across the enchanted garden. The gentle wind soothed her nerves. Dusk was coming upon the land rapidly. Only the stars could shine through the shadows. She was glorious, and her beauty radiated a loving embrace. Along the waterfalls, the maiden would dance. Gaining her power from such sources. Water was her element, her kingdom. The deep blue eyes attested to her legacy. The maiden stopped when she noticed someone approaching her from the garden. Aries raised his hand to greet her,

Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2078933 by Not Available.

Excerpt: Here on the ledge I wait

Submission from the readers

STATIC

Pegasus Poem  (E) for submittal to Monsters & Myths part 3 challenge #2080724 by GaelicQueen

         Excerpt: On a night of dreamlessness,
         when the stars are aligned in Aquarius,
         I wander through the shadows of the Acropolis
         looking for my friend Pegasus.

Feedback from "Fantasy Newsletter (March 23, 2016)" 

Quick-Quill writes: Thank you for choosing my story for your fantasy character newsletter.

You're welcome.
Prosperous Snow celebrating