Famous Books
From ThornsWiki
This is a list of some notable books in Vita and their authors.
Magical Theory
Innocent's Minds: Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely
by Anonymous
A general treatise on magic. It goes over the fields of galdori and passive in great detail and puts forth several theories about mona, including magic's addictive qualities--at times suggesting the use of magic causes mental damage which leads to a perceived dependence on it. Has an extensive section on passives and experiments involving them. Within its pages are many theories concerning just why passives occur, ranging from the god's displeasure to genetic abnormality to sexual abuse. It contains no spells whatsoever, but its great insight into the inner workings of magic and mona are invaluable to any researcher or teacher.
The Earth, Our Mother and Healer
by Paulose Hearth-heart
An extensive book that covers the basics of Living magic in great detail. While a wonderful source on exercises and theory for Living magic, it his highly heretical. Along with the great knowledge that can be gleaned is also a great deal of information concerning a particular cult that denies the existence of many gods. This cult focuses on one god, the "Earth Mother" which they say is the genesis of all life. The greater majority of the world finds this "religion" highly offensive, leading to its growth underground. Paulose, the author, is also one of the founders of this religion. He theorized that because all living things are comprised of mona, the mona themselves were the gift of the Earth Mother. The cult is strangely supportive of racial equality, citing that all living things are equal and return to the Earth Mother (at their death and decomposition).
General Nonfiction
Into Madness and Ruin: Fall of the Sky Queen - The Biography of Angel Aribeth (Firehair)
by Anonymous
Briefly tells of her childhood and schooling, highlighting occurrences that may have led to her madness--particularly her being struck by a misfired spell and the suspicious circumstances of her parent's death. The known exploits of her pirating and singing career are heavily analyzed (and possibly romanticized) as they seek for some sign or cause of her "madness". The author (anonymous for several reasons) cautions the reader from falling into the same traps of lust and illusions of grandeur as Angel. At the end, it is assumed that Angel died during the explosion that engulfed her ship and those of the two Seventen.
Professor Prilla's Dictionary of Plants and Vegetation, 12th Edition
by Professor Prilla Manne, PhD.
An illustrated encyclopedia of all manner of plants (local and exotic), with comprehensive and exhaustive lists of scientific nomenclature, common household uses and medicinal 'remedies', plant derived toxins used in warfare and hunting, edible roots and vegitation, etc...
The twelfth edition is most noted for it's in-depth discussion of Prof. Manne's most recent biological discovery, the spirulina veritacus, or 'truth weed'. Legends surrounding the plant have been passed down through the ages, telling of its seemingly magical and highly potent ability to prohibit the telling of falsehoods upon ingestion. While many exotic tribes and cultures claim to use the plant's leaves to glean truth from enemies in captivity, the plant has yet to be tested using modern scientific conventions.
Dr. Wiesenhower's Proper Methods for Preparing a Wound for Surgery
by Dr. John Weisenhower, PhD.
Written by a human author, this instructional book covers methods and practices of nonmagic field medicine. Others in the series include:
- Proper Field Practices for Medicinal Care
- Proper Techniques of Anesthesia
- Surgery done Proper
Dr. Wiesenhower thought that there were "proper" ways to do things, and then there was the way everyone else was doing it. Despite his elitist mentality, his methods were "proper" and much can be learned from his work, if you could stomach the dry read.
Coruscate, Scintillating Dwarf Astral Bodies; An Examination of the Actuality and Substance of Constellatory Masses Performing their Various Outlying Circumscriptions in their Distinguished, Resplendent, Adamantine Occupation of the Heavens
by Professor Mozdus Amart
This is one of the more helpful books on Astral Physics, though many would-be readers are daunted by the title.
Religious, Feminine, and Feline Figures: Trickery in Algebraic Functions
by Kit Sevensack
A famously controversial book that almost no one has read in its entirety, but almost everyone claims to have read in school.
Fiction
Kahirasheba
by Maku Daku
Taught in every school when it comes to foreign classics, this is an ancient tale of a prince who has fallen smitten with a cunning princess (Kahirasheba) who will not marry any man unless they solve her 27 riddles. If they fail to bring the true answer to any riddle to her, her father cuts off the head of the suitor. This epic tale, though often nothing more than a simple fairy tale, goes deep into Mugrobi philosophy as well as asks some very interesting philosophical questions about morality in general. The end of the story reveals that it takes the prince 30 years to solve all the riddles, but is still in love with the princess of his youth and lives with her happily ever after while her older siblings and their children run the kingdom.
Sagra of the Wastelands (series)
by Jela Sutom
One of the few recent classics from a female, this Mugrobi adventure revolves around a Wick named Sagra who is the child of Sabu the Thief King, and the captured Princess Koku. Once the negotiations are made for her safe return after 3 years, she is threatened with her life if she reveals she had their son. Sagra is then abused by his father and raised to be the next Thief King while using his magical gifts given by the royal bloodline. His adventures through various obstacles have given rise to a romantic ideal of bygone Mugroba; a place of sand labyrinths, ancient caves full of treasure, and scantily clad females. Despite being from a galdori writer, she does a wonder job of remaining objective in view about wicks, though cunning humans tend to be the villains, there was one book about a corrupt galdori who was trying to force marriage on his mother while trying to take the thone. It is considered the best in the series (and a favorite among wicks) as it really portrays the tragedy of Sagra's existence.
Mistress of the Sea; The Exploits of the Pirate Queen Albanaya
by Alfonze Cortesco
This is book had an intensely popular debut amongst underclassmen in Brunnhold. Fraught with both hair-raising action and clandestine romance (and very good descriptions of both), it has since faded out of public thought.
The Lone Starwatcher
by Learon Destic
A startlingly deep fantasy about a galdor boy who is swept across the ocean into the a far-away land. He, using only his wits and kindness, tries to make his way home by singing to the mona and charting stars. It touches upon the innate nature of 'home,' as well as the slightly taboo thought of equality amongst the races.
The King of Storm Mountain
by Farriera Lusco
In a far away land, a girl is forced to take the mantle of her people and goes out in search of a way to cure a disease sweeping through the land. In her journey, she discovers only the King of Storm Mountain has the power to cure it. After various attempts to get an audience with the king, she finally decides to sneak in as a maid and try things that way. After more failed attempts, she begins having troubles with a bullying noble, who both mocks her and abuses her. She refuses to back down, and the violence escalates, until her purpose is revealed. The noble shows himself to be the King, and the girl is able to rescue her people, under one condition; she marry the king. She accepts, both thrilled and terrified of the possibilities.
The Good Farmer's Son
by John Pinkerton
A series of short fables written for children. A nameless farm boy travels Anaxas looking for the cruel mage that killed his father. He survives a strange and twisted landscape using only his wits, courage and unyielding faith. Along the way he meets many friends and prevails against many enemies. The stories serve as parables and morality tales, emphasizing the necessity of solidarity and valour.
Jenny Wise
by Jane Anausie
Jenny was born lame and unloved, cast out into a world full of cruelties. She survives a childhood full of abuse only to find herself alone in the darkest streets of Old Rose. Through her kindness and daring spirit she wins loyal companionship but all is threatened when a group of malicious seventen blackguards descend upon the port. Can Jenny defend her friends against the onslaught or will all be lost in a barrage of unnatural flame?
The Uncanny Tales Of Balderick Londersom
by Professor Marcus Richards Inspector Balderick Londersom, an Anaxi fictitious Seventen character who is the lead hero of a series of books about crime and investigation. Charming, clever, and always gets the bad guy. A lot of youngsters looking for career pathways in Brunnhold are inspired by his fiction. and then are bitterly disappointed when Seventen life isn't quite like the books. Due to the unquestionable smarts of the character, the phase "No shit, Balderick!" was coined, as a sarcastic stab at someone who says something that is blatantly obvious.
Infamous Underground Literature
Golden Eyes
by Anonymous
A haunting and powerful poem, written it appears, by a galdor or possibly a passive. Its a strong piece about fear, pain and horror - either of being a passive or the fear of become one. Perhaps the author even had an insight into the hardships of the lower races. Contriversial and quelched when it first came out, Golden Eyes experiances a high underground fame. If found by Seventen, it is usually destroyed on the spot along with a severe punishment, but still somehow the poem circulates.
- I drempt I saw through Galdor Eyes
- And all the world was Gold
- All that I could see was mine
- As Far as I could behold
- And all the world was crisp and clean
- And all my clothes were satin
- With mirrored walls so I could preen
- From the royal chairs I sat in
- Reaching out a flawless hand,
- To sup from fragrant cup,
- My servant drew e're near me and
- With Golden Eyes I did look up.
- A sudden revulsion within me swelled
- In anger striking down the abomination
- And then with dawning horror beheld
- My own warp-twisted reflection.
- Was this the creature I became,
- With bloodied hands to sully wealth?
- And as my servant cringed away,
- I saw the servant was myself.
- I knew this bruised and battered body
- As well the familiar rags it wore
- I'd felt these aches of every folly
- every scar where whipped skin tore.
- As my beggar self regained its feet,
- On legs trembling with starvation,
- My Golden Eyes were forced to meet
- That hateful gaze of accusation.
- Reaching out with hands of bone
- With cold eyes that spoke of death
- With haggard face so like my own
- My own hands stole my breath
- Then standing tall victoriously
- Before the toppled throne
- I laughed at life's cruel irony:
- Myself the master overthrown.
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