Book Review: The Science of Witchcraft: The Truth Behind Sabrina, Maleficent, Glinda, and More of Your Favorite Fictional Witches by Meg Hafdahl; Kelly Florence

The Science of Witchcraft: The Truth Behind Sabrina, Maleficent, Glinda, and More of Your Favorite Fictional Witches by Meg Hafdahl; Kelly Florence (authors of The Science of Women in Horror and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there” by Film Daddy), is a guide to the history of witchcraft through the stories and characters we all know and love. Reveal the spellbinding science behind the legends and lore surrounding fiction’s most iconic witches, answering such questions as; what is the science behind divination and spellcraft? When did witchcraft begin to show up in literature and media? Has science made it possible to uncover the truth behind the powers of necromancy and employing familiars? How has witchcraft been thought of throughout the world? Through interviews, film and literary analysis, and bone-chilling discoveries, join Kelly and Meg as they learn about the complicated and rich science of witchcraft throughout the centuries and discover why now is the season of the witch!

The Science of Witchcraft is a bit of a scattered read, full of interesting information and thoughts about the witches found in media, and how some of the aspects of those witches and their activities could (or could not) happen via science. It felt like each segment was written for a podcast, which kind of makes sense, hoping for a conversational tone and jumping around a bit as different thoughts came to mind. That works well in a podcast format, since it sounds like a natural conversation, but it did not hold up quite as well in book format. I learned a few things, and found the text to be interesting, but I was often frustrated by the choppy flow and could not sit and read without breaks. This would be much better suited for readers that like to read a section or chapter a day, or perhaps in small bits as and audiobook rather than sitting to read cover to cover.  

Book Review: The Fantasy of the Middle Ages: An Epic Journey through Imaginary Medieval Worlds by Larisa Grollemond; Bryan C. Keene

The Fantasy of the Middle Ages: An Epic Journey through Imaginary Medieval Worlds by Larisa Grollemond; Bryan C. Keene is an exploration of the impact of medieval imagery on three hundred years of visual culture. From the soaring castles of Sleeping Beauty to the bloody battles of Game of Thrones, from Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings to mythical beasts in Dungeons & Dragons, and from Medieval Times to the Renaissance Faire, the Middle Ages have inspired artists, playwrights, filmmakers, gamers, and writers for centuries. Indeed, no other historical era has captured the imaginations of so many creators. This volume aims to uncover the many reasons why the Middle Ages have proven so flexible—and applicable—to a variety of modern moments from the eighteenth through the twenty-first century. These “medieval” worlds are often the perfect ground for exploring contemporary cultural concerns and anxieties, saying much more about the time and place in which they were created than they do about the actual conditions of the medieval period. 

The Fantasy of the Middle Ages: An Epic Journey through Imaginary Medieval Worlds is a well written and researched exploration on the subject matter. I thought the book can appeal to those with a background in medieval studies or literature and those with little advanced knowledge as well. Since I studied Medieval literature in college and am an avid fan of fantasy, this book was a perfect combination of my interests.  I really enjoyed getting to look at the artwork along side the text, the combination made this book equally interesting intellectually and visually.  I wish I had the time and energy to get to the The Getty Museum to see the exhibit this book is a companion for, but if you are lucky enough to be able to attend I think it is worth the time. 

I think The Fantasy of the Middle Ages would make a great addition to the library of anyone interested in the subject matter, and it would be a great addition to public library collections as well.