The Modern Bookworm

Bookworm

The Modern Fall 2021

What a Myth: The chaos of Greek mythology in our modern world pg 8

The Flourish and Folly of Camerlot: Arthurian legends pg 20

An Ever-Evolving Process: Creating manga and adapting it into anime and live-action pg 14

Night whispers all the secrets To thine own self be Day keeps true from me - William Shakespeare - Lauren Eden

Breathing dreams like air - F. Scott fitzgerald

Live the full life of the mind, exhilerated by new ideas, intoxicated by the romance of the unusuals.

- Ernest Hemingway

Editor’s Letter

Welcome to The Modern Bookworm, a book about books! Our magazine explores some of the various corners of literature that all readers of different backgrounds and interests can enjoy.

We have four main feature stories, each explaining different aspects of different subtopics.

Focusing on the modern part of literature, we talk about what manga means to different people as well as the development process of adapting these stories into separate platforms. Moving on to the ancient parts of literature, our next section discusses Greek mythology and its effects on pop culture. Another one of our stories focuses on Arthurian legends and how they affect modern media! (That seems like the same thing as the Greek mythology section just with a different hat on). It’s important to remember that books aren’t just about writing; the reading aspects are also feature worthy. We explored the libraries, the librarians, and, of course, the readers of Austin.

We’re most proud of our graphics because they took a lot of time and effort to make. When we just started our magazine, we had no idea how to make graphics, but our journey proves that we’ve indeed improved on our technology skills. (Have you?) We’re also really proud of our feature stories because we are very passionate about them. We are very excited to bring some of our favorite topics to the table for different audiences in our community to view.

We would like to thank you in advance for choosing to read this magazine. We’re excited to see you gaze upon these pages and experience the thrill of learning something new. Although it might not be your cup of tea, (does anyone drink tea anymore? It’s all monster energy these days baby!) things may not seem as they appear. Open your eyes to new horizons and wait to see what this magazine may bring out of you.

Flip the page and start exploring!

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14 18 20

Meet the Editors

What a Myth

By Chandana Dubakula

Greek Mythology Family Tree

By Chandana Dubakula

An Ever-Evolving Process: Creating Manga and adopting it into anime and live-action

By Alexandra Valencia

Austin’s Favorite Manga

By Alexandra Valencia

The Flourish and Folly of Camelot

By Kira Auby

24 26

The Knights of the Round Table

By Kira Auby

Book Genres At Austin Public Libraries

By Leonardo Spafford

28

Staff Reviews

30

Special Thanks

Front Cover and Back Cover pages by Chandana Dubakula Inside Front and Back Cover pages by Chandana Dubakula Table of Contents, Meet the Editors, and Special Thanks pages

by Alexandra Valencia Staff Reviews Page by Kira Auby

Meet the Editors

Chandana Dubakula

Chandana Dubakula at your service! I loved the process of creating this magazine, especially when I got to look through everyone’s stories as this team’s copy editor. I’m super proud of my teammates and all of our hard work. I hope to improve on my graphics because I want to create my own comics and become rich and famous (I dream big, what can I say). As for you, sit back, grab a cup of hot chocolate, and get ready to rate this ‘zine with 5 stars. Enjoy!

Leonardo Spafford Good day readers. I am Leonardo Spafford. I am the photo editor on this team of people creating this ‘zine. I like books, so I like that this magazine is about books. I decided to do my story on libraries because libraries don’t get that much attention and it has a lot of books.I hope that I can get good at editing photos so I can know how to do it in the future.

6

The Modern Bookworm

Alexandra Valencia-Serrano

Hello Everyone! My name is Alexandra Valencia and I’m the graphics editor of this magazine. I’m also the creator of the magazine’s displayed pattern. I loved watching this magazine come together with my teammate’s and I’s ideas.

I think we all communicated what we wanted to and that’s something I’m very proud of. Besides that, there’s nothing I love more than manga, music, and technology. In the future, I hope to be an expert Graphic Designer.

Fred The editors don’t know I’m here…. My name is Fred, and my job is to nitpick EVERYTHING! You can see my notes in any parentheses. I want to be a critic when I’m older, it’s the perfect job for me! At least, it would have been if I wasn’t trapped in the magazine.

Kira Auby Heya! I’m Kira Auby, a LASA freshman! I love reading and using my trusty sewing machine to bring about the fashion apocalypse… Forget I said anything, definitely NOT plotting to become a world renowned costume designer and using my status to create giant, allconsuming clothing mechs to destroy the world. Anyways, as the feature editor, I hope you love the first (and only) copy of The Modern Bookworm!

The Modern Bookworm 7

The Trojan War was the blodiest war in ancient Grek. This battle is one of the most poular Grek myths depicted as a battle betwen the gods.

What a myth

The chaos of Greek mythology in our modern society

By Chandana Dubakula 8 The Modern Bookworm

D

ozens of goddesses and gods learning together in a school as children sounds like a recipe for chaos. It became a reality through the imagination of Suzanne Williams in her book ‘Goddess Girls,’ a Greek retelling for children. She and many other people pull out ideas from the ancient Greek myths to use in their retellings.

“I like this kind of writing where you can put the kernel of something into a story and embroider a story around it,” Williams said.

From authors to actors, and everywhere in between, Greek mythology has left a huge impact on the everyday lives of many. Some view it as a blossoming source of inspiration, while others dive into the profound messages of the myths. Nevertheless, Bernadette Nason, who acted in modern Greek plays, mentioned that big or small, Greek mythology has shaped the ongoing advancement of pop culture.

“I’m fascinated by the imagination of the Greek people, coming up with such fantastical stories to explain so much of their everyday lives,” Nason said.

Nason isn’t the only one in awe of the exciting myths. Society as a whole has a noted interest in Greek mythology because of the relatability within the stories. Author PJ Hoover of the Camp Hercules explains the similarities between modern life and the Greek myths.

“It’s so cool to me that these stories had been written thousands of years ago, but they still have all the same human emotions in them, like jealousy and anger and love,” Hoover said. painting by Peter Paul Rubens

“Greek mythology is so complicated, you will never be able to know everything about it.”

Gaylord Libessart, Animator of ‘Gods School’ The Modern Bookworm 9

“Goddess Girls” by Suzanne Williams and Joan Holub

Gaylord Libessart, a french animator, who created the show ‘Gods School,’ agreed with Hoover’s point.

“I like the fact that the gods are extremely human,” Libessart said.

“They are seeking revenge, they are falling in love, and they are really like us. I mean it’s not perfect, but you can really appropriate the story and understand what they are feeling and how they are reacting, even if it’s too much.”

UT Greek Classics Professor, Deborah Beck, focuses on teaching about the ethical dilemmas of the stories as extreme versions of ordinary problems that most people experience.

“I think that’s why mythology really sticks with people; on one hand it’s these really entertaining, out-there stories, but at the same time the human experience that even out-landish, supernatural stories include is really good to think with about...the fact that it’s an extreme version of that problem doesn’t negate the fact that we all experience situations where we have to make a choice,” Beck said.

Although Greek mythology is

10 The Modern Bookworm

relatively easy to connect to, there are still several parts of the stories that are extremely exaggerated, so tellers may have to change and adapt the stories.

very modern and these characters, who all already have different personalities. I have all this to work with and I just recreate the stories,” Libessart said.

“We will make some changes and try to make things make a little more sense within the context of the story,” Williams said.

Beck observed how Greek mythology has always been adapted because there was never a right version. Individual tellers were expected to tinker with the basic outlined story, while still keeping it recognizable to the pattern.

According to Joan Holub, author of the Goddess Girls series, Greek myth retellings appeal to the readers because of the snippets that they recognize from the original myths.

“Basically, mythology is ancient fanfiction, that’s what it has always been. I’m thrilled that people still see it as a source of fanfiction,” Beck said Throughout her teaching career, Beck noticed interesting shifts within her students’ response to mythology.

“Camp Hercules”

by P.J. Hoover

“You can adapt it however you would like to, which I think is a really cool part about the writing process,” Holub said. ”I feel like Greek mythology is a hanger that we can hang our story on because they’ve already got the framework, you just have to pick and choose the pieces.”

“One of the interesting things is how much a students’ ideas about a story change, from when they first read it to over the period that they’re studying it...Watching that change as students think their way through the isolation and the fear is a really interesting process,” Beck said.

Every reader reacts differently to these stories based on their experiences, no matter the era.

According to Libessart, one of the great things about having access to these pieces pulled from the original myth is that he doesn’t have to start working on a blank canvas, but can instead work with the outline of the myths.

“I like the fact that there are these very old stories that are still

Bernadette Nason acting at the Austin Playhouse Photo by Arianna Auber

Libessart illustrated a portrait of the characters from his show, “Gods School”.

Many people are inspired by Greek Mythology.

”One of my favorite things about mythology is seeing how different readers at different times have responded to the same story.

They give you a way to compare yourself or see yourself as part of a community with different kinds of people in different time periods,” Beck said.

All these readers don’t just view Greek myths as sources of enjoyment. A lot of modern advancements and pop culture have been heavily influenced by the Greek community. “[M]any aspects of our modern lives are influenced

by Greek culture. The Greeks made significant contributions to philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine.

Literature and theater were important elements of Greek culture and influenced modern drama,” Nason said.

Throughout time, people have regarded these fascinating Greek stories as a source of inspiration.

These myths were their muses.

illustration by Gaylord Libessart

“Clearly Greek mythology represents a very fertile source of stories for people and it’s been like that forever,” Beck said. “Lots of renaissance and early modern art genres came in part from people’s engagement with classical mythology.”

Holub adds on with her opinions on Greek mythology’s effect on modern society.

“Greek mythology is kind of everywhere,” Holub said. “It’s pervasive and you kind of don’t necessarily notice it.”

“Homeric Conversation”

by Deborah Beck

Greek mythology has been a part of societal culture for centuries and the way its impacts extend past materialistic things, touching even the people, explains it’s popularity.

Different people from separate backgrounds find similar interests within the Greek mythological community because of these wonderful stories and myths.

“I like mythology because I can use my mythology stories to make other people happy,” Hoover said.

“Tea in Tripoli”

by Bernadette Nason

The Modern Bookworm 11

THE GREEK MYTHO Sources: Megan E. Bryant and Leonardo Newtonic

Athena Goddess of Wisdom & Handicraft & Warfare *Born fom Zeus’ head *Symbol is owl *Strategic warrier *Patron of Athens *Girl boss

Welcome to the twisted world of the Greek family!

Hermes

God of Sea & Storms & Earthquakes & Horses *Swallowed by his father at birth *Symbol is trident *Violent temper *Ruler of the oceans *A-hole

Sem

Apollo Artemis

Poseidon

Maia

Lato

Persephone Demeter Hades

Artemis

Hestia

Cronos + Rhea

Goddess of The Hunt & Woman & Childbirth *Helped her mom give birth to brother *Excellent archer *Expert girl boss

Gaea + Uranus 12 The Modern Bookworm

Ze

OLOGY FAMILY TREE Graphics by Chandana Dubakula

Get ready to learn about some of your favorite gods!

Dionysis

mele

Eros

Athena

Zeus God of Sky & 12 Olympians *Killed his father *Married his sister *Ruler of heavens * Symbol is thunderbolt *Expert a-hole/player

Hephaestus

Aphrodite

Aphrodite

Goddess of Love & Beauty *Born from foam/ genitals of Uranus *Started Trojan War *Symbol is dove

Ares

eus Hera Poseidon

Hades

a

I am disturbed

God of Death & Underworld *Also eaten by his father at birth *Ruler of the underworld *Not one of the 12 olympians The Modern Bookworm 13

An

Creating manga

Ever-Evolving

and adapting it

Process

to anime and live-action

Images and Graphics Courtesy of Masashi Kishimoto, Takeshi Obata, Eiichiro Oda, Natsuki Takaya, Jeong Gyeong-Yun, Kim Myeongmi, Yaongyi, Kwang jin, Cheon Kye-young, and Bae Hye-Soo.

by Alexandra Valencia

14 The Modern Bookworm

Graphics by Alexandra Valencia

high school girl who reincarnated as a video game villainess had to evade the doom flags to her death. As strange as the story may sound, it’s more difficult to translate it into different languages and media, but they’re professionals that make the fantastical possible.

A

Manga are Japanese comics that have become popular globally over the 21st century. Their influence on American culture is highlighted by the many manga artists who hope to have their comics adapted into a different platform. Industry insiders describe the process as long and difficult, requiring intense perseverance, support, collaboration, and unending dedication. But for those who succeed, they describe the final production as a dream come true.

There are many reasons why people find manga interesting. To some, it could be the incredible art or writing style. For Ryan Holmberg, a professional manga translator, it’s their themes and messages about the world that matter.

While Holmberg values manga’s potential to capture the world in its full dimensionality, other artists appreciate its accessibility. Ben Dunn, an American manga artist, feels it is a form of expression that anyone can access no matter who they are or where they’re from.

For instance, he states, “I like the fact that you’re not limited by budget, you’re only limited by your own imagination. It’s a very simple medium to get into, all you need is paper and pencil and you can create entire worlds and stories.”

Artists take great pride in creat-

“I like the fact that you’re not limited by budget, you’re only limited by your own imagination,”

“I found manga to be interesting because it has a greater diversity of the things that are in the world,” Holmberg said. “While it has beautiful and refined things, as well as positive messages. It also has a lot of things like the dirt of the world, the ugly things about people, and the difficult things about society.

Not all the artists are what would be called politically correct. So for me, manga is like an art form that represents the full gamut of what humans are in society.”

Edward Elricc courtesy of Bones Studio

Ben Dunn, comic book artist ing these comics, but some want to take them to a larger audience through adaptation to the big screen. Adaptation is the conversion of one platform to another.

In the case of manga, this means turning intricate drawings and stories into breathtaking scenarios and relatable characters on TV and film. This process, however, is far from simple. Artists describe it as a complex and long journey that involves many people and steps.

An important part of the adaptation process is taking that imagination and turning it into a real manga production. According to Heather Horn, executive developer for the anime streaming service Crunchyroll, an intriguing story with broad appeal is essential.

“I think the story is always king, that is the first, last, and everything that we take into consideration is the story good,” Horn explained.

“Having a dedicated and vocal fan club helps and also a clear anime inspiration, whether that’s in the art or the themes of the story tropes. But the story is going to be the first and the last thing that we think about.”

A perfect example of a good story is Ben Dunn’s comic book, Warrior Nun Areala. It is a comic about a nun who battles monsters to protect a power-giving halo and sector of demon-hunting nuns. This story captured the unique trends of the 1990s in an entertaining way that people related to.

So, when it was adapted into a live-action series on Netflix, it was a success that received many strong reviews and a dedicated following.

As Dunn describes, “I came up with the idea of Warrior Nun during the 1990s when there was a trend called the bad girl’s trend. I was very much into the whole lore of Catholicism and its symbolism so I decided to adapt those two concepts into a comic book that I

The Modern Bookworm 15

thought would be entertaining.

So when I came out with the book, it was a huge hit. I sold

the right people, as well as good representation. But it took a long time, it took almost 19 years for it to develop. Some things take a short time, some things take a long time. So it’s just a matter of whether or not you can wait. But like I said, the most important thing is if I hadn’t done it, we wouldn’t be seeing the show today,” Dunn said.

be very selective with who they allow to adapt, you have to really court the publisher and come prepared with an argument for why you’re the best home to be making this adaptation. So money isn’t the only factor, trust is also very important,” With an official agreement in place, the production team officially has the right to adapt the manga into an anime. An anime’s initial art concept and characters can start being drafted. Horn explains how all manga adaptations start with a pilot, the first animation of a series, before going into production.

Turning scattered doodles and in-the-moment inspirations into a worldwide medium like Shoujo anime,“My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes live-action Lead to Doom!”, features the journey of an Otaku who rein carnates as the villainess of the otome game Fortune Lover series is a huge mileand tries to evade her terrible ending. As part of its streaming service, Crunchyroll licenses and streams this anime to fans stone for all over the world.(Courtesy of Crunchyroll) any Manga artist, but it is lots of copies and it got the attennot the last major obstacle. tion of a producer who wanted to Creators, animators, comtake the idea and see if he could posers, editors, and other sell it to Hollywood.” people must come together Creating a story and having it for a long period of time to catch the attention of audiences successfully adapt the story are two of the most critical steps, to a quality production but sometimes the key to bringready for the screen. ing a great idea to life is having From One Platform the right people in your corner. to Another In Dunn’s case, his agent was the make or break factor in delivering “The first thing and the his work to the big screen. most critical thing for “We worked on the idea so that adapting a manga is that he could actually sell it to a studio. you have to have the rights Ben Dunn excitedly meets with the actor And when he did that, he went to to do it,” Horn said. “To get playing as the protagonist of the Netflix TV Netflix to make the pitch and they those rights in the West, it’s series,a“W rrior Nun” based on his comic book liked it, and they picked it up. So usually pretty simple, you just “Warrior Nun Areala”. As a proud comic artist, that’s really all it takes sometimes, have to pay money. In Japan, he’s excited to have his comic adapted into a TV series that everyone can watch and is amazed at you just have to have the right idea it’s not as straightforward. seeing it become a reality. ( ) at the right time and just meet Japanese publishers tend to 16 The Modern Bookworm

Catarina Claes courtesy of SIlver Lin, animation studio

“We need to develop a bible, pilot and attach an Anime Studio to the adaptation,” Horn said. (The bible is a document that displays the initial art concept and characters of a series, which is then used to create the pilot.) “Those are the basic components that we need to make a greenlight decision on a show. Once we make the greenlight decision, then it takes time to actually write and produce the series.”

With the basic components needed for the adaptation in place, the artists, writers, and production team work hard to move forward with the animation. As a result, characters finally start coming to life and the story begins to take place within the canvas of a screen.

The popular shounen anime, , tells the story of a class of high school kids with superpowers learning to become superheroes. Crunchyroll licenses it along with other anime and has it in it’s streaming service.

writers to go out and write.”

Once the scripts have been assigned to various writers, the remaining parts of manga production involve a delicate yet complicated weaving of character designs, prop and background development, and the stories themselves.

“When you’re adapting you usually have to convene a meeting where the writer or multiple writers on the Horn describes this inshow get together to tertwining as follows. localize the story “You might beats, the parallel imtrack, portant which moments means that in a show,” while the said Horn. writers are writShe goes on ing, your studio to say, “Then is doing pre-proyou will figure duction work like out how to pace character designs that out over and prop designs the length of and backgrounds the season and workorder, which Netflix’s recent TV series,“Warrior Nun” , ing out the in anime is recounts the story of a young orphan who wakes usually 12up and suddenly finds out she now has superpow vision and the look of 26 episodes. ers and has become a part of a secret sector of the show. demon-hunting nuns.

The 2 2 show is based on At which en Dunn’s comic book “Warrior Nun Areala” And then as point, you which was published by Antarctic Press in 1994. the scripts will then asCourtesy of Netflix come in, sign scripts you can to different Areala courtesy of Ben Dunn

start to go into production on the episodes themselves… Sometimes you will stagger it, and so you’ll have multiple episodes in production at the same time. And then eventually, you’ll finish.”

After years of work and many sleepless nights, the anime is finally ready for the fans. At this point, writers often reflect on how long and challenging the journey was, but also how satisfied they are with this labor of love.

“It’s an ever-evolving long process, but the important thing is to just get it done,” Dunn said. “It’s important to commit that idea to paper, to do it in a physical form that people can read because the only person you’re sharing an idea with is yourself. You got to show and let people know what you’rwe doing because if you don’t, then no one’s gonna ever see it and what’s going to be the point. That to me is the most important thing; it’s too easy to just sit down and do it.”

The Modern Bookworm 17

Austin’s Favorite Death Note: Light Yagami

Naruto: Naruto Uzumaki

28 Austinites w favorite manga based TV-show they had none,

Fullmetal Alchemist: Edward Elric Fruit Baskets: Tohru Honda One Piece: Monkey D.

Original Artwork Othe r ce

Fruit Baskets

On

22%

eP ie

18 The Modern Bookworm

ote

25%

tal lme st Ful hemi Alc

Right images courtesy of Jeong Gyeong-Yun, Kim Myeongmi, Yaongyi, Kwang jin Cheon Kye-young, Bae Hye-Soo

th N

29%

Naruto

Other: Not Even Bones 66% Homestuck The Croaking Room of Swords Tower of God Omnisciemt Reader

40%

Dea

18% Left images courtesy of Bones, animation studio, Masashi Kishimoto, Takeshi Obata, Eiichiro Oda, Natsuki Takaya

Manga

14%

Graphics by Alexandra Valencia

Itaew on C

Othe

r

lass

34%

Other: My Hero Academia Kayuga Sama: Love is War Attack on Titan 21% Love 020 Boys Over Flowers

True Beauty

m

lar

7%

Mystic Pop-up Bar

Lov eA

10%

With rong t’s W im?

Wha etary K r Sec

were asked about their a and live-action manga ws. Although many said , results say otherwise.

TV-Shows Edition

14%

Itaewon Class: Park Sae-ro-yi Love Alarm: Kim Jojo What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim: Kim mi-so True Beauty: Lim JooKyung Mystic Pop-up Bar: Weol-Ju

Legend Number of People

4

3 2 o The Modern Bookworm 19

Doune Castle in Scotland, shooting location of parts of the well known Monty Python and the Holy Grail film.

While it is not featured in this article, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is widely regarded as one of the most well known and iconic films about arthurian legends. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

THE FLOURISH AND FOLLY OF

CAME 20 The Modern Bookworm

reinvented for every generation.

Arthur is the epitome of the hero – someone who puts others above himself, but who is flawed, and

by Au

Today, authors, screenwriters, and artists of all kinds have new

ir a yK cb

Arthurian legends], with different emphases,” Archibald said. “I don’t watch all the modern versions, I find films very annoying, but the fact that Hollywood makes a film about King Arthur every few years suggests that they still think it’s box office gold, that people are going to go watch these films.”

hi ap Gr

word in a Stone, a Lady of the Lake, a round table of valiant knightsThere’s hardly a soul that wouldn’t instantly understand what story these images came from.

“The stories seem to float out of the mists of time.”

Storytelling has been a part of human culture for the entirety of its existence, and stories themselves tend to evolve further and further into new tales, gaining popularity as time passes, according to Elizabeth Archibald, a former professor of English studies at Durham University.

Few stories have undergone such an evolution as the tales of Arthurian legend, which many people study and adapt even centuries later.

TJ Green, Author of Tom’s Arthurian Legacy

“The public’s being given different versions of [the

stories to tell. TJ Green is an author of the series Call of the King, formerly titled Tom’s Arthurian legacy, a story following Tom nd his family as they explore and adventure through the land of the fey.

betrayed, but commands the respect of many.”

“The legend never goes away,” Green related. “There are so many versions in film, TV and books, and they are enmeshed with the British psyche. The legends seem to be

“Ever since I heard the stories as a child I loved them,” Green explained. “What could be better than a magical king and his wizard Merlin, his knights, and their

The stories may have evolved over the centuries, but the themes and ideals of this world of legend still captivate many.

Arthurian Legends and the People Who Write Them

ELOT

By Kira Auby

The Modern Bookworm 21

mystical adventures? I love the way they cross otherworldly boundaries and involve the world of fey, mythical creatures, dragons, and magic. I also love how Arthur is supposed to return in our hour of need, and that his body was laid to rest on the mystical Isle of Avalon. The stories seem to float out of the mists of time.”

inventing new characters but making minor characters the central figure.” Archibald said.

“Rather than having it all from Arthur’s point of view, they pick some rather minor figure in the story. The other interesting thing in the last thirty years has been the interesting women. A very famous version of the story is the Mists of Avalon in which Morgan Le Fay is really the central character and that completely changes how the story is told.”

survived somehow…” Green cites her inability to include these characters due to the time period the story was set in.

Archibald has some mixed feelings on the way the stories are developing, but she acknowledged that changing the story is not a new concept.

“People have always added in characters and that’s one of the interesting things about the story.”

Archibald said. “All through the middle ages, people would add in The stories can have a different some new brothers or sisters or narrative appeal when, instead of some new knights or some new adding elements, the perspective ladies would be introduced, some is changed. Though this way the new enemies would be introduced. stories are adapted allows for many So that’s always been flexible in creative choices, some things are that way,” lost along the way.

“The books were designed for Brennan had his own thoughts younger readers. Since the sword “It was too rich and powerful a on how the stories are adapted Excalibur was such an important subject for me to tackle properly into the 21st century. He said that element in the legends, it struck in the series,” Brennan said, sometimes a closer analysis into me that there should be a younger regarding his inability to include the evolution of the stories isn’t version in my GrailQuest.” the legendary quest for the grail necessary.

Brennan describes how this into his story.

“I sometimes think they miss the demographic shaped the way he Green concured with a similar point by judging them against the developed his story. sentiment, regretting not being background of modern thoughts While the stories are usually able to add the many knights of the and beliefs,” Brennan said. “The twisted and remixed in children’s round table into her own story. only way you can really understand media, there’s an appeal for more “It would have been fun to the Arthurian legends is to take traditional readers of the legends incorporate more of his knights them at face value; live them rather as well.

– Bedivere, Lancelot, Gawain, than analyze them.”

“One of the main changes that etc, but of course they are long modern writers make, which dead in my tales – although it’s is very interesting, is not just possible one of them may have

Green describes how the stories captured her attention. Many writers agree that the tales have an allure, particularly to younger children. This youthful interest in Arthurian legends is not a recent phenomenon. Author Herbie Brennan, author of the GrailQuest gamebooks, first published in 1984, shares the sentiment.

The Cambridge Companion to Arthurian Legends.

Co-edited by Elizabeth Archibald, a former professor featured in this story.

Courtesy of Elizabeth Archibald.

22 The Modern Bookworm

Herbie Brennan, Author of the grailquest series. Brennan is featured in the above story.

Courtesy of Herbie Brennan.

Rise of the King Box set cover.

Rise of the King was written by TJ Green, an author featured in this story.

Courtesy of TJ Green.

Carved from Water or Stone?

Graphics by Kira Auby

One of the major debates of Arthurian studies is the source of the Arthur’s sword. Debate even remains as to if the sword is called Caliburn or Excalibur. Some say Arthur removed it from the stone, proving him to be the true king of Britain. Some claim that it was gifted to him by the Lady of the Lake. Another popular argument is that the sword Caliburn, pulled from the stone to validate Arthur as the true king of Britain, was broken in battle and reforged by the Lady of the Lake into the stronger Excalibur, hence the name Ex (from, in latin) Calibur. Another argument claims that a different sword, Clarent, was pulled from the stone but was merely a ceremonial blade, and was never Arthur’s main weapon. No real consensus can be reached, the debate being further confused

by Thomas Mallory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, a later text generally

WHOEVER SHOULD WREST THIS BLADE FROM IT’S ROCKY PRISON SHALL BE KING OF ALL OF BRITAIN NOW AND FOREVERMORE

Graphic by Kira Auby viewed as one of the most reputable interpretations of the vast body of Arthurian legends, being so inconclusive on this point so as to have Arthur recover the sword three seperate times, once in battle, once from the stone, and a third time from the Lady of the Lake, each time contiuing to be referred to as Excalibur Source: Le Morte d’Arthur.

Graphic by Kira Auby The Modern Bookworm 23

Sir Gallahad was considered the purest of the knights. He was one of the knights sent on the quest for the holy grail but he did not survive.

Sir Gareth was considered one of the most honourable sons of Lot. He was angry with his brothers after they killed Lamorak, and refused to bear arms against his fellows.

Sir Bors was one of the three knights sent on the grail quest, and h was the only survivor. He managed to return to Camelot with the grail as Lancelot started fighting the other knights, he sided with the former.

Arthur Pendragon ary King of Camel illustrious court an his knights to find bring prosperity to Today, Arthur is re valor and new stor about him every d

Sir Perceval was considered one of the purest of the knights. He was one of the three knigts sent on the grail quest, but he did not survive. He had a rivalry with Kay after Kay insulted his honour as a younger knight.

Sir Geraint is best known for the romance involving him and the lovely Enid.

It was said Enid was very beautiful, but when he caught her talking badly about him, he forced her to accompany

24 The Modern Bookworm

KNIGH ROUND

THE

Sir Kay was Arthurs most truated knight and his adoptive brother. Kay is in almost every Artthurian tale and is depicted as incredibly brash but he still cares very much for his brother.

Art by Kira Auby

Info from: kingart

HTS OF THE D TABLE

Sir Lamorak was considered one of Arthur’s best knights, but not one of the more noble ones. He sought to take revenge on the sons of King Lot, but was eventully killed by Mordred and the sons of Lot as counter-revenge.

Sir Gaheris was one of the sons of Lot. He was usually depicted supporting Gawain, and had a fiercely violent rivalry with his brother, Agravain. (As the least honourable Lot son, Agravain is not on the 12 Knight List)

n was the legendlot. He had an nd worked with d the holy grail and o all the realm. eknowned for his ries are written day.

thursknights.com

Sir Tristan was a very amiable knight, getting aloing well with his fellows, particularly Lamorak and Lancelot, who he befriended after they couldn’t conclude a victor to their duel..

He married Isolde, but his uncle kept them apart.

Sir Gawain was the most well-known of the sons of Lot. As the nephew of Arthur, he was very close to the king. He despised Lancelot after he murdered his brothers, the sons of Lot.

Beddivere was Arthur’s most dependable knight.

Depicted in Welsh folklore as a one handed warrior, he evolvd into the british legends as a right hand man of sorts to the king. He reluctantly cast Excalibur into the lake as his King died.

Sir Lancelot was Arthurs most powerful knight, but he eventually betrayed the king out of love for the Queen, Gwenivyre. First penned by Troyes, a frenchman, he was thought to be a representation of the might of France.

The Modern Bookworm 25

Book genres At Austin Public Libraries Graphics by Leonardo spafford

26 The Modern Bookworm

29 099

105 482

31 313

There are many different book series found around the libraries.

Fiction is the most popular book genre in the world. The genre fiction has been around since the 12th century.

28 536

25 405

21 678 The Modern Bookworm 27

Staff Reviews Book Reviews by the Modern Bookworm staff!

Amy Rose Capetta & Cori McCarthy Scifi, LGBTQ, teen Once & Future is an enthralling take on Arthurian legends.

Though the start was a touch slow, it captivated me the rest of the way through. The characters are full of heart and the twists are compelling.

Courtesy of Random House Publishing 28 The Modern Bookworm

Courtesy of Little Brown and Co.

Kira Auby - Once & Future

Chandana Dubakula - Spinning Silver

Naomi Novik Fractured fairy tale, 13+ Spinning Silver is a classic retelling of Rumpelstiltskin.

I’ve always been a big fan of fairytales and the fact that this novel has women protagonists really sold it to me.

Lemony Snicket Absurdist Fiction, 9+ I recommend this series because it’s different from any other I’ve read before. I like how it takes you through the unfortunate lives of these three orphans in an interesting way.

Courtesy of George Allen and Unwint

Leonardo Spafford - The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien Fantasy, 13+ The Hobbit is a great book and it is a classic. This book is perfect for people who like dragons and medieval things. This book made a whole new genre basically because in its time not that many people made books about dragons and wizards.

Stephanie Meyer Romance, Supernatural, Teen THIS. BOOK. WAS. GARBAGE. Absolutely ludicrously AWFUL and STUPID. Why am I reviewing it?

OBVIOUSLY because these so called EDITORS don’t have. the GALL to give a BAD review.

Courtesy of Little Brown and Co.

Fred - Twilight

Courtesy of HarperCollins

Alexandra Valencia - A Series of Unfortunate Events

The Modern Bookworm 29

Special Thanks To the People that made this Magazine Possible Heather Horn (Crunchyroll’s Development Executive)

Ryan Holmberg (Professional Manga Translator)

Ben Dunn (Professional Comic Book Artist)

Suzanne Williams (Author of “Goddess Girls”, “Heroes in Training”)

Bernadette Nason (Actress/writer of Greek retellings)

Deborah Beck (UT Greek Classics Professor)

Joan Holub (Author of “Goddess Girls”, “Heroes in Training”)

Gaylord Libessart (Animator of “Gods School”)

PJ Hoover (Author of “Solstice”, “Camp Hercules”)

Elizabeth Archibald (Former Durham University English Studies Professor)

Herbie Brennan (Author of “GrailQuest” gramebooks)

TJ Green (Author of “Call of the King”)

Blair Parsons (Central Austin Library’s manager)

Carlos Woods (Central Austin Library’s staff)

Sunny Williams (Central Austin Library’s customer)

Kevin Garcia (LASA’s Ezine Teacher)

“I want to give special thanks to my arms for always being my side and my legs for always supporting me,” Chandana Dubakula, Copy Editor 30 The Modern Bookworm

If your nerve deny you,

If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals - JK Rowling

go above your nerve

- Emily dickinson

Progress is dancing to the same song I used to cry to.

- Orion Carloto “What is it that you express in your eyes?

It seems to me more than all the print I have read in my life.”

- Walt Whitman

In every winter’s heart there is a quivering spring, and behind the veil of each night there is a smiling dawn.

- Kahlil Gibran It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.

-Jane Austen