Gilderoy Lockhart: Attempted Murderer
Prolific author, repeated winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award, and inept teacher. Handsome but harmless? Quite the contrary!
Books
Fight or Flyte? The Poetic Tradition in Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
Ever wanted to tell a colleague exactly what you think of them and not have it become a HR issue? Here we delve into a brief history of flyting – the poetic exchange of invectives – as found in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter. Herein are links to more information and what we can do in support as well as an overview of some of our favourite books by BAME authors.
Gender-Inverted Trope: Philosopher Queens
In art, as in life, the trope of the philosopher usually depicts a male character, sage-like, with a tendency to impart useful information. In this short but sweet piece of pop(culture)corn, we highlight gender-inverted instances of the Philosopher and Philosopher King.
Mass Effect & the Problem of Other Minds
Given that I only have access to my own mind, is it rational to attribute minds and mental states to others? What if the others in question are drastically different to us – such as the aliens in Mass Effect? Here we introduce the problem of other minds and the argument from analogy.
Rainbow Rowell, Carry On: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow
The highest compliment The Master can pay Carry On, his George Cross or Légion d'honneur, is that his childhood (a somewhat more distant realm than he's currently prepared to recognise) would have been immeasurably improved by its presence.
On Persistence & Memory
What makes you the same person from one day to the next? How can your favourite character survive a brain swap, teleportation, or shape-shifting? This article explores the Persistence Question, as it arises in your favourite fiction. But it isn't just a matter for philosophers or fiction: problems of personal identity have ramifications for your everyday life...
Prescriptivism v Descriptivism: A Very English Affair
In this piece, the Master clarifies this most contentious of binaries, prescriptivism and descriptivism, and in the process of doing so, exposes the illogicality of the former and reveals the delicious sense of superiority so craved by self-anointed ‘Grammar Nazis’ that attends the latter.
Sherlocked in Samarra
Sherlock's back and so are we, discussing fate, death, and a very important appointment in Samarra.
Schrödinger’s Hippogriff (Part 2)
This series looks at three famous paradoxes from the philosophy of time travel, as exemplified in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Part 2 introduces the Grandfather Paradox, and more generally, the problem of changing the past.
Adrian Tchaikovsky, On Tropes, Writing, & Children of Time
Adrian Tchaikovsky - acclaimed British fantasy and sci-fi author - chats with The Doctor about tropes, genre, and the nitty gritty of his Arthur C. Clarke-winning Children of Time. Insightful and informative for both fans and newcomers alike.
“A ferlie he spied wi’ his e’e”: Examining the Apologetic Apostrophe
A brief summary of the apologetic apostrophe and its evolution from marketing tool to characterisation device.
Kazuo Ishiguro, The Buried Giant
Another thought-provoking review from Rob Maslen, exploring myths, language, memory, and fantasy. Guaranteed to enrich your reading of Ishiguro.
Nor Have I Yet Outrun the Sun (Part 1)
This series looks at three famous paradoxes from the philosophy of time travel, as exemplified in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Part 1 serves as an introduction to the puzzles and the plot that brought them to life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
What do Ankh Morpork, Blade Runner, and Casablanca have in common? They all feature in Rob Maslen's review of Terry Pratchett's "Guards! Guards!". A warning: Here Be Dragons.
Introducing the 'F' Word (Part 1)
If someone knows our future, can we still be free? This first instalment concentrates on the difference between it being true that you will perform a given action, and it being necessary, drawing on examples from the Matrix and Harry Potter.