Relationships Beyond Romance: Recap and Your Opinion (Hannah)

Welcome to the Relationships Beyond Romance Index

The Relationships Beyond Romance series is now complete with a total of seven posts!  If you missed one, check it out!

1) Overt Friendships are friendships between non-related people that are characterized by positive interactions.

2) Covert Friendships also involve non-related people who genuinely care about each other, but to outsiders, the interactions between the two do not appear friendly because the characters consistently tease each other, compete with each other, or in some other way act unkindly to each other.

3) Parent-Child relationships are the first and most powerful, because they can prepare a child for a bright future or leave deep emotional scars.

4) Siblings have unique relationships.  Although every situation is different, the defining characteristic here is family.  Siblings generally don't choose each other, like friends do.  Whether through birth, marriage, adoption, or other circumstances, siblings are linked together forever through the special bond of family.

5) Sibling groups can be some of the most riveting bonds in fiction, and can even link together several series.

6) Mentors drive the inner growth of the main character and push him to grow and become a better person.

7) Partners and Companions are the most common types of non-romantic relationships.  Stories are often driven by the cooperation or conflict between teammates.

What did you think?

This is the first series on this blog, so how do you think it turned out?

a) Do you like having a series of posts on one topic, or would you rather have use cover many different topics?

b) Did the series feel too long, too short, or just right?

c) Did you like how the series posts were spread out so there were other posts in between, or would you rather have the series posts closer together?

d) Is there anything you particularly liked, or something we could improve?

e) Most importantly, would you be interested in seeing another series on this blog?

We would love to hear your input!

Thanks so much for reading!
~ Hannah

Relationships Beyond Romance: Top 3 Companions (Hannah)

Hello, and welcome back to the ongoing series Relationships Beyond Romance!  This is the last real post in the series, so if you missed the first few posts, here is a short recap:

1) Overt Friendships are friendships between non-related people that are characterized by positive interactions.

2) Covert Friendships also involve non-related people who genuinely care about each other, but to outsiders, the interactions between the two do not appear friendly because the characters consistently tease each other, compete with each other, or in some other way act unkindly to each other.

3) Parent-Child relationships are the first and most powerful, because they can prepare a child for a bright future or leave deep emotional scars.

4) Siblings have unique relationships.  Although every situation is different, the defining characteristic here is family.  Siblings generally don't choose each other, like friends do.  Whether through birth, marriage, adoption, or other circumstances, siblings are linked together forever through the special bond of family.

5) Sibling groups can be some of the most riveting bonds in fiction, and can even link together several series.

6) Mentors drive the inner growth of the main character and push him to grow and become a better person.

Part Seven: Partners and Companions

Although partners are often friends (overt or covert), their interactions look different because they are framed by a different scenario.  Friends like each other (usually) and will often spend time together because they enjoy each other's company.  While friends are often loyal and would put themselves in great danger for each other, this only occurs in dire circumstances.  Partners and companions, on the other hand, have a relationship that is defined more by what they do than by how much they like each other.  Partners and companions spend large amounts of time together because they are working together to accomplish a goal.

One definition of "companion" is: a person who is frequently in the company of, associates with, or accompanies another.  Whenever I think of a companion, I think of the Fellowship of the Ring from the eponymous book by J.R.R. Tolkien.  In particular, Sam comes to mind as one of the most supportive, loyal, and caring companions I have ever seen.  However, in fantasy, any two or more characters who travel together or work together to accomplish a single goal can be considered companions.  They might be friends, rivals, enemies, or anything else, but at least temporarily, they are companions.

Generally, partners are permanent companions who expect to work together on many similar endeavors over a long period of time.  Companions, like the aforementioned Fellowship of the Ring, stay together as long as the goal has not been accomplished.  Once they have reached the end of their literal or figurative journey, they can go their separate ways.  These heroes often step up to help defeat evil, but once the main villain is defeated, they return to their normal lives.  Partners in fantasy are usually involved in a permanent evil-fighting occupation.  Police, spies, agents, and many more work in teams to fight each new evil as it arises.  These long-term partners often grow close, since they must trust each other with their lives and rely on each other to survive the regular dangerous encounters.

Onward to my Top 3 Partners and Companions!  Beware of spoilers below.

3. Shasta, Aravis, Bree, and Hwin (The Horse and His Boy, by C.S. Lewis)

This third book in the Chronicles of Narnia series is largely overlooked.  It differs greatly from the rest of the series in that it focuses on an entirely new cast of characters and setting.  Only Aslan is an important recurring character.

Shasta, a slave boy in the land south of Narnia known as Calormen, was sold to a cruel Calormene warlord.  Just before he was taken away, the magnificent horse Bree spoke, and revealed that he too was a slave, kidnapped at birth from Narnia, where talking horses were common.  Bree helped Shasta escape and head north for the land of Narnia.

Aravis, the young Tarkheena (noblewoman), was forced into an arranged marriage to an abominable man.  To avoid this, she and her talking mare Hwin fled from the high life of nobility.  On the way, they fled from a lion attack and met Shasta and Bree.  The four joined together to journey north toward Narnia, the horses' birthplace and a land of freedom for Shasta and Aravis.

Although canonically Shasta and Aravis marry once they reach adulthood, this book focuses on their childhood, therefore avoiding any romantic interaction between the two.  At this point in their lives, I would consider them companions.  They worked together to accomplish the common goal of reaching Narnia and finding freedom, and afterward, they were no longer bound to stay together.

I love the way Shasta, Aravis, Bree, and Hwin all have some admirable character qualities, but also must realize their flaws and learn to overcome them.  Aslan, the Christ figure in this series, forced each one to face his or her greatest weakness and choose to follow him instead.  Like a true gentleman, Shasta proved his courage when he defended Aravis from a lion attack.  Aravis herself learned to overcome her arrogance and selfishness in order to be able to care about others.  Bree similarly overcame his pride and found courage instead, and Hwin passed her test of humility as well.  I enjoyed reading about this group because they genuinely cared for each other and were always looking out for each other's best interests.

2. Thorin Oakenshield, Bilbo Baggins, and the dwarves (The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien)

I know I use Lord of the Rings often as an example for my posts, so this time, I chose to include The Hobbit.  In this case, I am referring specifically to the book version, which (I believe) is better.  After all, the book is always better than the movie.

At the beginning of the book, neither Bilbo nor Thorin were happy with being forced into each other's company by Gandalf.  Thorin, a mighty warrior and dwarf king, viewed Bilbo as weak and simple because of his love for his proper home in the ground, food, tea, pipes, and a simple, quiet life.  Bilbo found Thorin too warlike, arrogant, and brash.  This led to many heated interactions between the two, which reached a head at several important points.  While in Rivendell as guests of the elves, Thorin was in no mood to cooperate with anyone, particularly Bilbo.  Later, the conflict increased again while traveling through Mirkwood and the incident with the elves in Thranduil's kingdom.  Finally, their conflict climaxed when Bilbo took the Arkenstone, Thorin's most treasured possession, and attempted to use it to keep Thorin and the hostile Men of Laketown and Elves of Mirkwood from going to war.  After Thorin was mortally wounded, he finally reconciled with Bilbo, resolving the long conflict.

This book showcases the fascinating tension that can arise from a companionship between two hostile people.  By forcing their heated tempers into the confined space of a traveling party, Tolkien masterfully used this conflict among "good guys" to weave a riveting story.

1. Captain America and Black Widow (Captain America: Winter Soldier, Averngers: Age of Ultron, and Captain America: Civil War)

For those of you who read my "Top 3 Marvel Movies" post, it should come as no surprise that at least one super hero team-up appeared on this list.  There are several important pairs in the series: Iron Man and War Machine/Iron Patriot/Rhodey, Captain America and Bucky, Captain America and Falcon, and Black Widow and Hulk come to mind.  However, I would file the first two under "friendships" and the last one under "romance."  I like the Captain America and Falcon pair (and the original comic version even more so), but it hasn't been developed as well as my favorite: Captain America and Black Widow, or Natasha Romanoff.

Captain America (Cap) and Romanoff are both full-time members of S.H.I.E.L.D. and later the Avengers, so I would consider them partners more than companions.  The true beauty of this relationship comes from their built-in conflict.  Yet, despite their great differences and many disagreements, they grow to have a strong respect for each other that seems mostly absent among the other team members.

Reaching adulthood in the midst of World War II, Captain America was the image of a true, noble hero.  Patriotic, sacrificial, and morally upright, he fought for goodness and freedom.  Even after he was torn from his time and thrust seventy years into the future, he acted selflessly and immediately resumed his quest to make the world a better place.  In contrast, Nathasha Romanoff was a Russian super spy, trained to ignore any moral lines and kill without remorse.  After several years of living this destructive lifestyle, she defected and joined S.H.I.E.L.D., an international peacekeeping force dedicated to dealing with alien and superhuman threats.  Nevertheless, she retained her amoral tactics and tendency toward lethal options.

Cap and Romanoff first met in The Avengers, but had little specific, meaningful interaction with each other.  It wasn't until Captain America: Winter Soldier that we saw their differences cause much conflict.  Nevertheless, they were able to work together to survive the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. and foil the attempted Hydra takeover.  Later, in Avengers: Age of Ultron, they are seen leading the new group of Avengers, presumably together.  In Captain America: Civil War, they found themselves on opposite sides of the main issue: should superheroes be forced to be accountable for the destruction caused while they were attempting to save the world, and should the Avengers submit to an outside authority, who would dictate how and when they would be allowed to operate?  Romanoff reluctantly agreed to the oversight, since she never intended to become a vigilante.  However, Cap initially refused because he felt it would bog the Avengers down in politics when their real job was keeping the world safe.  It quickly turned into a personal issue for him, though, when agreeing to the oversight meant he would have to betray his longtime best friend Bucky.  Cap and Romanoff were on opposite sides throughout most of this movie, but the bond of respect and companionship was clearly strong.  In the end, Romanoff allowed Cap to escape capture, and was consequently labeled a traitor herself.

In my opinion, this partnership combines the desirable elements of Shasta and Aravis, and also Thorin and Bilbo.  The camaraderie and strong friendship keeps them together, but the conflict adds depth, conflict and meaning.  Cap and Romanoff share a difficult relationship because of their diametrically opposed viewpoints, but this only makes it more satisfying when they are able to transcend their differences and remember why they became friends in the first place.

What do you think?

Are you familiar with any of these characters?  In books and movies, do you prefer the teamwork that characterized The Horse and His Boy, the conflict and tension that characterized The Hobbit, or a combination of the two, like what we see in the Marvel movies?  Let us know in the comments!

~ Hannah


Thanks so much for reading!  Next time, I will officially wrap up the Relationships Beyond Romance series with a final Your Turn! post, and I hope you will all come give me your opinion on this blog's first attempt at creating a running series.  If you would like to read the other posts in this series, check out...

Part 1: Overt Friendships
Part 2: Covert Friendships
Part 3: Parent-Child Relationships
Part 4: Siblings
Part 5: Siblings (Again!)
Part 6: Mentors
Part 7: Partners and Companions


Attributions
The Horse and His Boy: http://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1388210968l/84119.jpg
The Hobbit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a9/The_Hobbit_trilogy_dvd_cover.jpg
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/marvelcinematicuniverse/images/2/26/Cap_2_poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140131142227
Captain America: Civil War: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/53/Captain_America_Civil_War_poster.jpg

Relationships Beyond Romance: Mentors (Hannah)

Hello, and welcome back to the ongoing series Relationships Beyond Romance! If you missed the first few posts, here is a short recap:

1) Overt Friendships are friendships between non-related people that are characterized by positive interactions.

2) Covert Friendships also involve non-related people who genuinely care about each other, but to outsiders, the interactions between the two do not appear friendly because the characters consistently tease each other, compete with each other, or in some other way act unkindly to each other.

3) Parent-Child relationships are the first and most powerful, because they can prepare a child for a bright future or leave deep emotional scars.

4) Siblings have unique relationships.  Although every situation is different, the defining characteristic here is family.  Siblings generally don't choose each other, like friends do.  Whether through birth, marriage, adoption, or other circumstances, siblings are linked together forever through the special bond of family.

5) Sibling groups can be some of the most riveting bonds in fiction, and can even link together several series.

Part 6: Mentors

From Gandalf to Obi-Wan Kenobi to Professor Xavier and beyond, mentors are one of the most common of the character archetypes.  They fill a unique and necessary role in fiction, and just like their real-life counterparts, are often instrumental in the personal growth and development of their students.

What is a mentor?

Merriam-Webster defines a mentor as "a trusted counselor or guide; someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person."  In fiction, mentors most often appear in stories featuring a character who is discovering new powers, a hidden destiny, or an inherited legacy or conflict.  These often take the form of "coming of age" stories, as is the case with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Luke Skywalker (Star Wars), Gandalf and Bilbo and Frodo Baggins (Lord of the Rings), or Professor Xavier and his X-Men (X-Men).  Mentors also feature when the main character must undergo a drastic change, whether it is a change in circumstances or in character.  Examples of this include Genie and Aladdin (Aladdin) and Dr. Erskine and Steve Rogers (Captain America: The First Avenger).

Why are mentors so common in fiction?

Many stories, especially the aforementioned "coming of age" and "change" stories, feature the main character's personal growth. She will learn an important lesson and become a better person because of it.    The mentor often plays a key role in showing the main character the way to improvement.  He is the one with the knowledge, wisdom, and tools that will allow the main character to learn her lesson, defeat the antagonist, and achieve her goal.

Unfortunately, there is a catch in this simple scenario.  In order for the main character to prove her progress, she must show she doesn't need the mentor's help anymore.  Many writers give the main character a chance to act on her own by removing the mentor altogether.  The most well-known and emotional way to accomplish this is to have the mentor die just before the climax.  Gandalf, Obi-Wan, Yoda, Dr. Erskine, and many, many more have perished this way.  It is so common that TV Tropes created a page for it, and hilariously dubbed this phenomenon the Mentor Occupational Hazard.  In other cases, the mentor is simply kidnapped, disappears, or is busy elsewhere, still giving the hero a chance to act on her own.

Whatever happens to the mentor once his role is fulfilled, he is critically important because he often performs the function of an "Impact Character."  The antagonist is responsible for the surface conflict in a story, but the impact character has a deeper function.  The impact character is responsible for the inner conflict that ultimately drives the protagonist to grow or become a better person in some way.  Every story needs an impact character.  Although the impact character isn't always an older and wiser teacher, using a mentor is one of the safest, easiest ways to help guide a protagonist toward truth.

Do you have any examples?

1) Lord of the Rings

It is virtually impossible to talk about famous fictional mentors without mentioning Gandalf the Grey from The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.  Gandalf played the role of mentor for both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, as well as many other characters.  In The Hobbit, he is the one who "encouraged" Bilbo to join the adventure in the first place, and consistently helped to guide him as they quested toward the Lonely Mountain.

Later, in The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf was the one who taught Frodo the importance of the One Ring and sent him on his quest to destroy it.  Gandalf accompanied Frodo and the rest of the Fellowship for most of the first book, but was apparently killed in the Mines of Moria by the Balrog, just in time to leave Frodo all on his own for the climax.  Without Gandalf, Frodo was forced to face the corrupted Boromir alone, and ultimately escape with Sam.  Gandalf reappeared in The Two Towers as Gandalf the White, an even more powerful wizard than before.  When Pippin looked into the palantir, Sauron believed Pippin was the hobbit carrying the One Ring.  To protect Pippin, Gandalf kept the hobbit close to him for the rest of the book, until Pippin pledged his service to the Steward of Gondor.

2) Screwtape Letters

In this book by C.S. Lewis, we see an entirely different sort of mentor.  Although most people consider mentors to be good, there are many notable exceptions, including Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious (Star Wars), Sebastian Shaw (X-Men: First Class), and Screwtape (Screwtape Letters).  Lewis wrote Screwtape Letters as a series of letters from the older, more experienced demon Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood.  Screwtape advised Wormwood on how to ensure a particular man, known as "The Patient," does not find Christ and therefore eternal salvation.  Lewis used this structure to emphasize different tactics evil forces use to turn us away from God, all through the lens of a unique premise.

Screwtape functioned as a mentor to Wormwood, albeit a terrible one.  Some mentors can be genuinely evil and yet be supportive, wise mentors who prepare their students to excel in the future.  Screwtape was not like this.  He encouraged Wormwood to pursue evil and attempt to bring others down with him, expressed no actual affection for his nephew, and when Wormwood ultimately failed and was condemned to death at the hands of the other demons, Screwtape was the most eager to kill him.   Screwtape is a classic mentor and a fantastic example of exactly what a mentor should not be.

3) The Key of Living Fire

In this third book in the Sword of the Dragon series by Scott Appleton, Specter was guided through his difficult spiritual journey by the great white dragon Albino and the prophet Patient.  In the prologue to the first book, Specter was the leader and mentor for the elite warriors that served Albino, but when they all betrayed him for their own personal gain, Specter grew bitter.  Two of them died immediately, another was later killed by Albino's daughters, but the two remaining warriors turned to dark magic in order to bolster their power.  Specter spent much of The Key of Living Fire chasing his former pupil Auron.  If Auron wouldn't repent of his evil ways, Specter would kill him.  After all, Auron was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocents, and fully intended to continue his rampage of destruction.

Even though Specter was a godly man, he became blinded by his own anger.  His obsession with bringing down his former students consumed him.  Albino was not able to interfere with the situation directly, but he and Patient worked hard to show Specter a better path.  Auron could not be allowed to continue, but if Specter let his anger get out of control, he would no longer be doing God's work.  He needed to remember that God was the ultimate judge, and find the peace that comes with surrender to God's control.  Patient and Albino were devoted mentors to Specter and brought him closer to God even as Specter's own former students followed darkness.

Thanks for reading!

Have you noticed how common mentors are in fiction?  What are some of your favorite mentor relationships?  Do you have a mentor, or are you mentoring someone else?  Let us know in the comments!

~ Hannah


Next time, I will finish up the Relationships Beyond Romance series with a final Top 3s post.  If you would like to read the other posts in this series, check out...

Part 1: Overt Friendships
Part 2: Covert Friendships
Part 3: Parent-Child Relationships
Part 4: Siblings
Part 5: Siblings (Again!)

Part 6: Mentors
Part 7: Partners and Companions

Other Resources
- Dramatica has a comprehensive, in-depth article about the eight major character archetypes.
- K.M.Weiland gives a shorter and more reader-friendly post that covers the same archetypes, plus one more.
- Janice Hardy also complied a list of important characteristics of a mentor.

Attributions
Professor X: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c9/Xav-lopr.png
Obi-Wan Kenobi: http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/4/4e/ObiWanHS-SWE.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/500?cb=20111115052816
Gandalf: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/lotr/images/8/8d/Gandalf-2.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130209172436
Screwtape Letters: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81EDnN1NR2L.jpg
The Key of Living Fire: http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344605459l/13185621.jpg

Relationships Beyond Romance: Siblings (Tales of Starlight) (Hannah)

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the ongoing Relationships Beyond Romance series!  Just a couple of days ago, I completed Camp NaNoWriMo, and what an amazing month of writing it was!  For those of you who are unfamiliar, National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short, is an event in November that encourages people to write a 50,000 word first draft in one month.  The idea is to push past all of the doubts and fears that keep us from writing, and just enjoy writing for its own sake.  In April and July, they do "Camp NaNoWriMo," which is focused on the writing community, and the craft of writing in general.  I will talk more about NaNoWriMo in my next Personal Notes post, but for now, back to Relationships Beyond Romance.  If you missed the first few posts, here is a short recap:

1) Overt Friendships are friendships between non-related people that are characterized by positive interactions.

2) Covert Friendships also involve non-related people who genuinely care about each other, but to outsiders, the interactions between the two do not appear friendly because the characters consistently tease each other, compete with each other, or in some other way act unkindly to each other.

3) Parent-Child relationships are the first and most powerful, because they can prepare a child for a bright future or leave deep emotional scars.

4) Siblings have unique relationships.  Although every situation is different, the defining characteristic here is family.  Siblings generally don't choose each other, like friends do.  Whether through birth, marriage, adoption, or other circumstances, siblings are linked together forever through the special bond of family.

Part Five: Siblings (Again!)

As I mentioned last time, this post is going to cover Frederick, Adrian, and Jason Masters from Bryan Davis' Tales of Starlight series.  Mr. Davis was kind enough to do an interview on this blog, and I have also reviewed some of his other books, including the Dragons in our Midst saga and the Dragons of Starlight series.  He truly is an amazing Christian author.

Tales of Starlight  and Dragons of Starlight are two series that follow the Masters brothers Frederick, Adrian, and Jason, as they join the illegal Underground Gateway, intent on freeing the human slaves that toil under the dragons' tyrannical rule on the far-away planet of Starlight.

In the Dragons of Starlight series for young adults, teenaged Jason took a job as a bodyguard for the governor and ended up getting swept into the Underground Gateway. Unsure whether to believe the stories of human slavery, he was forced into his quest as his entire life came crashing down around him.  Follow this link if you would like to read my synopsis and review of the series.

The Tales of Starlight series is technically classified as "adult."  It followed Adrian Masters, who had been involved in the Underground Gateway from the beginning.  Eager to free the slaves and find his older brother Frederick, Adrian did not share Jason's reservations.  He risked everything to travel to Starlight and bring the captives home.

Accompanying him was the master swordswoman Marcelle.  Emotionally scarred after a strange man tried to take advantage of her mother and left her dead in the woods, Marcelle swore she would never be helpless again.  As a noblewoman, she had access to the very best teachers, and soon became one of the most skilled swordfighters in the province.  Like Adrian, she was determined to destroy the tyranny of the dragons on Starlight, and accompanied him to that strange and dangerous planet.

Adrian was not pleased with his assigned companion.  She was a formidable fighter, but in his opinion, used her strength in situations where she should use her head.  He hoped to learn the dragons' weaknesses and overthrow them once and for all, but Marcelle could not abide the abuse the dragons performed.  She would charge ahead to defend the slaves.  The conflict between his strategy and her passion caused much of the trouble in the first book.

After finishing the Dragons of Starlight series, I came to love Tales of Starlight as well because it expanded the story.  Unlike Dragons in our Midst and its sequels, which added to the story by adding more adventures, Tales of Starlight improved Dragons of Starlight by showing the actions of characters who were important, but in the background.  For example, in Starlighter, Dragons of Starlight book #1, we experience the story through Jason's eyes.  However, in Masters and Slayers, Tales of Starlight book #1, we get to see how Adrian, Marcelle, and others manipulate the situation around Jason in order to bring about their own goals.

If you are interested in reading this series, these are the books it contains:
#1: Masters and Slayers
#2: Third Starlighter
#3: Exodus Rising

Although Tales of Starlight would suffice as a standalone series, it becomes much more rich and beautiful with the addition of the Dragons of Starlight series.  They were both written for the same general audience (YA), but since Tales of Starlight focuses on adult (not teenaged) characters, by standard convention it is classified as an adult book.  I would recommend both series for adults and teens.

However, since the stories are intertwined, it can be a bit difficult to figure out which order to read them.  As I said in my review of Dragons of Starlight, I would suggest completing Dragons of Starlight before reading Tales of Starlight, just because it is easier to follow each series on its own without trying to juggle everything that is happening.  Alternatively, if you are willing to read both series at once in order to gain a more thorough understanding of all facets of the story, this is the author's recommended reading order.

Starlighter (Dragons of Starlight book #1)

Masters & Slayers (Tales of Starlight book #1)

Warrior (Dragons of Starlight book #2)

The Third Starlighter (Tales of Starlight book #2)

Diviner (Dragons of Starlight book #3)

Liberator (Dragons of Starlight book #4)

Exodus Rising (Tales of Starlight book #3)

These two series aren't just telling one big story about lots of characters.  The link that makes them so compelling comes from the bond of brotherhood between Frederick, Adrian, and Jason.  Frederick, the oldest, became involved with the Underground Gateway almost immediately.  He succeeded in finding a portal to the other world, and left a special message for Adrian which was locked by a genetic code.

After Frederick's disappearance, Adrian, the middle child, and his father, Edison Masters, devoted themselves to finding Frederick and helping him succeed in his dream of freeing the captives and bringing them home.  Adrian spent his first book, Masters and Slayers, looking for Frederick while on Starlight.  Like his brother, Adrian left a message behind for Jason.

Unlike the rest of his family, Jason, the youngest, was not so optimistic about the Underground Gateway.  From his perspective, this organization had destroyed his father's credibility and respect, had stolen his brother Frederick, and now had lured away Adrian as well.  Since there was no proof that Starlight, the dragons, and the slaves even existed, Jason lacked the passion his brothers and father shared.  Nevertheless, when he found Adrian's message, he resolved to find his brothers and help in any way he could, despite his misgivings.  Of course, once he reached Starlight and found the proof he needed, he fully embraced the family legacy and devoted himself to ending the tyranny of the dragons.

The Masters brothers were very different, and although Frederick and Adrian worked together well, Jason did not share their optimism.  His pragmatic, skeptical outlook often brought him into conflict with them.  However, they never let their differences cloud their love for each other, and as they faced the most dangerous mission of their lives, they were able to come together and accomplish what they never could have done alone.

Thanks for reading!  Do you like stories that focus on many characters to give an overall bigger picture?  In this series, now that I have covered friends, parents, and siblings, what are some other important relationships you would like me to write about?  Let us know in the comments!

~ Hannah


If you would like to read the other posts in this series, check out...
Part 1: Overt Friendships
Part 2: Covert Friendships
Part 3: Parent-Child Relationships
Part 4: Siblings
Part 5: Siblings (Again!)

Part 6: Mentors
Part 7: Partners and Companions


Attributions
Starlighter: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VQmoUjOXL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Masters and Slayers: http://www.daviscrossing.com/imgs/bryan_davis_masters_slayers.jpg
Third Starlighter: http://www.daviscrossing.com/imgs/bryan_davis_third_starlighter1.jpg
Exodus Rising: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BkiqEwF8L._AC_UL320_SR214,320_.jpg

Relationships Beyond Romance: Top 3 Siblings (Hannah)

Welcome back to the ongoing series Relationships Beyond Romance!  If you missed the first few posts, here is a short recap:

1) Overt Friendships are friendships between non-related people that are characterized by positive interactions.

2) Covert Friendships also involve non-related people who genuinely care about each other, but to outsiders, the interactions between the two do not appear friendly because the characters consistently tease each other, compete with each other, or in some other way act unkindly to each other.

3) Parent-Child relationships are the first and most powerful, because they can prepare a child for a bright future or leave deep emotional scars.

Part Four: Siblings

After parents, siblings are the earliest relationships most people have.  They are family, which means siblings are stuck together, for better or worse.  Because siblings usually grow up together and share at least one parent, they have unique relationships.  They might be inseparable friends, or bitter rivals.  They could hold several years worth of grudges, or their relationship could grow unshakable after all of the hardships they have endured together.  Older siblings might be protective of younger or weaker siblings, or they might take advantage of their strength.  Siblings are unique in that they can be as different as night and day, but as close as a tightly woven rope.

Next time, I will talk about one of my favorite sibling groups: Frederick, Adrian and Jason Masters, from Bryan Davis' Tales of Starlight series.  With that set out of the way, I will introduce my other three favorite sibling groups.

3. The daughters of the dragon Albino (Swords of the Six, by Scott Appleton)

The Great White Dragon, Albino, mentored six of the finest warriors in the land.  When five of them betrayed him and murdered the sixth, Albino formed a new plan to protect the world and deal with the traitors.  He created six dragon eggs, which hatched into six human daughters endowed with powerful physical and magical abilities.

Caritha was the oldest, most responsible, and most level-headed.  Rose'el possessed a cynical temperament; Laura, Levena, and Evela were devoted to their father no matter what.  But Albino loved his youngest daughter the best.  Dantress was impulsive and curious, a bit hotheaded, and determined to do what she thought was right.  She consistently broke the rules, explored forbidden places, and even though she was immortal, she made the ultimate sacrifice for love.

 I lost a lot of respect for Albino because of his blatant favoritism, but it created great tension between the sisters that led to important plot developments.  Caritha and Dantress especially did not get along well.  They were highly competitive, and were evenly matched in fighting abilities.  Caritha usually took a leadership role, but because of Dantress's tendency to run off and get herself in trouble, Caritha came to resent her sister's lack of planning.  Ultimately, Dantress's out-of-the-box thinking was able to solve an apparently unsolvable problem, and Caritha's levelheaded thinking kept Dantress from making a choice she would later regret.  In this book, I loved how the tension between sisters eventually led to reconciliation and growth for all of them.

2. Addie and Meryl (The Two Princesses of Bamarre, by Gail Carson Levine)

Princesses Meryl and Addie loved each other very much, but couldn't be more different.  Meryl was adventurous and loved to take risks.  She was fascinated by magical creatures and and anything dangerous, and hoped one day to be able to fight dragons to protect the kingdom.  Shy Addie was completely satisfied to live safely in the palace.  But when the Grey Death, a deadly disease, struck Meryl, Addie set out on an adventure to find the mysterious cure.  Along the way, she faced specters, griffons, and dragons, and even though she was terrified, she overcame her fear for her sister's sake.  Though not a competent warrior, Addie used her wits and a few magical objects to make her way through every obstacle thrown at her.

As is typical of Gail Carson Levine, this story was set in an incredible and detailed fantasy world.  One of my favorite characters was Vollys, the dragon who took humans captive but allowed them to live as long as they held her favor, or bought it with treasures.  However, the crowning glory of the book was the close sisterly bond that took Addie, a meek and fearful princess, and gave her the courage to face numerous dangers for her sister's sake.

1. Adin and Aletha (The Map Across Time, by C.K. Lakin)
Twins Adin and Aletha were born as the only children of the king of Sherbourne.  Aletha was beautiful and strong, the beloved princess.  Adin was born with a deformity that forced him to walk with a limp.  Scorned by his father, Adin desperately tried to prove his worth.  As the kingdom of Sherbourne fell under a dark curse, the king became more and more obsessed with catching the bird with the massive golden feathers.  In order to prove himself to his father, Adin set out alone to find the bird, but instead, he met an old hermit who gave him a magical gift.  As the stronger sibling, Aletha had always been protective of Adin.  When he set out alone, she followed, hoping to catch him before something else did.  When they finally reunited, they were able to uncover the ancient beginnings of the curse that would bring the kingdom to ruin.

Although the storytelling was wonderful and the plot twists were clever, the relationship between Adin and Aletha was what really gave the story its power.  As they struggled to survive after their mother's death and their father's corruption, they held onto one powerful truth: love is stronger than death.  Because the terrible losses they had suffered, they grew closer and closer together. The bond between these two was one of the most captivating parts of the whole story.

Thanks for reading!  Next time, I will cover one other sibling pair that touched me.  What are some of your favorite sibling relationships?  If you have siblings, what is your relationship like with them?  Let us know in the comments!

~ Hannah



If you would like to read the other posts in this series, check out...
Part 1: Overt Friendships
Part 2: Covert Friendships
Part 3: Parent-Child Relationships
Part 4: Siblings
Part 5: Siblings (Again!)
Part 6: Mentors
Part 7: Partners and Companions


Attributions:

Swords of the Six: http://www.cumbooks.co.za/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/800x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/9/7/9780899578606.jpg

The Two Princesses of Bamarre: http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1231537123l/290732.jpg

The Map Across Time: http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328769404l/9373706.jpg

Relationships Beyond Romance: Parent-Child Relationships

Welcome back!  Father's Day was not too long ago, which means it was the perfect opportunity for me to tie in the next installment in my Relationships Beyond Romance series!  If you missed the first two, here is a short recap:

1) Overt Friendships are friendships between non-related people that are characterized by positive interactions.

2) Covert Friendships also involve non-related people who genuinely care about each other, but to outsiders, the interactions between the two do not appear friendly because the characters consistently tease each other, compete with each other, or in some other way act unkindly to each other.

This brings us back to our next installment:

Part Three: Parent-Child Relationships

Parents have a unique and critical responsibility.  According to Proverbs 22:6, parents must "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  Ephesians 6:4 says, "And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."  Likewise, children also have the responsibility to respect their parents.  Ephesians 6:1-2a says "Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right, honor your father and mother..."  As you can see, parents are very important.  Sadly, as flawed human beings, parents sometimes fail, leaving behind broken and hurting children.  

However, there is hope.  No parent on earth can be perfect, but where parents might fail, God never will.  In Romans 8:16-17, the Bible says this:

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed

we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."

Because parents are so important, they should never be forgotten in fiction.  They are responsible for their children's formative years, which will affect the children for the rest of their lives.  Loving, devoted parents will prepare their children for the future.  In Bryan Davis' Raising Dragons, Jared Bannister and his wife Marilyn raise their son Billy to be a God-fearing, honorable teenager.  When Billy began to discover his special powers and the secret behind his genetics, his parents supported him and taught him everything he needed to know.  Billy respected their wisdom, and they proved they were more than worthy of it.  The strong, steady relationship between Billy and his parents was an important part of the Dragonsin our Midst series.

However, in contrast, Bonnie Silver/Connor suffered much at the hands of her father.  Her mother, Irene, was a devout Christian and loving parent who helped Bonnie hide the "deformity" that distinguished her from everyone else.  Irene's husband, Dr. Connor, discovered Irene's true identity, and soon he became preoccupied with testing his wife and child to discover the hidden dragon genes.  Bonnie grew up as her father's lab rat, and her only solace was her mother.  But when Irene was murdered, Bonnie ran away from home.  She spent the rest of her childhood moving from foster home to foster home, until she met Billy, and was later reunited with her father.  The emotional scars he left changed her, and it took many years for her to recover.

If you would like to read more about our families, Laura wrote about the miracle of her dad's heart, and her loving family.  Liz shared the story of how her parents met, and also told an uplifting story of the struggles her mother has gone through for the sake of her family.

Good parents are a true blessing.  If your parents love you and look out for your best interests, be sure to let them know how much they mean to you.  If your parents have failed you in some way, remember: God is the Heavenly Father who loves you more than any person ever could.  He is the only one you really need.  Find refuge in Him, and He will make you whole.

What are some of your favorite parent-child relationships in fiction?  How have your parents made you who you are?  If you are a writer, how have your main character's parents affected him or her, and what is their friendship like?  Let us know in the comments!

~Hannah

If you would like to read the other posts in this series, check out...
Part 1: Overt Friendships
Part 2: Covert Friendships
Part 3: Parent-Child Relationships
Part 4: Siblings
Part 5: Siblings (Again!)

Part 6: Mentors
Part 7: Partners and Companions

Attributions:

Raising Dragons: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51beBHlsTcL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
Eye of the Oracle: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514pzU828EL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Relationships Beyond Romance: Covert Friendships (Hannah)

Last week, I started a new series called Relationships Beyond Romance.  Romance is an important part of life.  According to God's plan, it brings people together into marriage, which is one of God's greatest blessings.  However, it is not the only important relationship in life.  Friendships, sibling bonds, and parent-child and mentor-student relationships are also important, and without them, it is easy to become unhealthily isolated from the world.  Unfortunately, these other important relationships are often underused and underrated in fiction, where romance almost always takes precedence.

If you are a fan of romance, we have many resources for you here on this blog:

- Laurie shared the story of how she met her husband
- Elizabeth published the story of how her parents met
- Laurie posted about her favorite couples
- Elizabeth also posted about her favorite couples
- Many of the books we review contain romance in some way or another
- Elizabeth's personal blog is mostly dedicated to reviewing YA fantasy romances

If you are interested in exploring some other important relationships as well, this series is for you.

Welcome back to the first official series on this blog!  The first installment in this series, "Overt Friendships," focused on friendships that look the part.  Overt friendships have three main characteristics: 1) the friends must genuinely care for each other, 2) the interactions must appear friendly, and 3) the friends must not be related.  This brings us to...

Part Two: Covert Friendships

What is the difference between overt and covert friendships?

The main difference comes from the second qualification for an overt friendship.  Overt friends, like 

Captain America and Bucky, or Sam and Frodo, act friendly to each other.  Any stranger observing their interactions would automatically assume they like each other.  On the other hand, covert friends are not as easy to identify.   

Sometimes they begin as rivals or enemies, but begrudgingly come to respect or even like each other.  In Anne McCaffrey's Dragonflight, the main character Lessa began the story fighting for her rightful throne.  Standing in her way was the tyrannical Fax, a man who conquered Lessa's home and destroyed the bloodline of rightful rulers... all except her.  When the Dragonrider F'lar visited, Lessa used her powers to manipulate him into helping her regain her rightful position.  Despite his fury at her control, F'lar realized her potential, and brought her back to become "weyrwoman"- the most important female in the land.  Throughout the story, both characters constantly try to manipulate each other to achieve their own goals, and are often frustrated when their goals clash.  Underneath the conflict, though, they come to respect each other, and even though they never really begin to act in a friendly way toward each other, it becomes clear they truly do care.  

Other times, covert friends start as friends, but their opinions or ideologies divert from each other, leaving friends who strongly disagree over important issues.  A good example of this is Professor X and Magneto of the X-Men.  When they were young, they bonded, and developed a great respect for each other.  However, when hostilities between humans and mutants began to escalate, Professor X and Magneto took opposite sides of the issue.  Professor X believed humans and mutants could peacefully coexist, while Magneto thought conflict would continue to escalate until it led to outright war between the species.  Because of this difference, Professor X and Magneto led teams that fought each other constantly.  Nevertheless, Magneto and Professor X continued to consider each other friends.

Finally, covert friends might truly be friends without any real conflict between them, but they still act in a less-than-friendly way.  They might be competitive, or they might just love messing with each other.  Either way, their relentless teasing, trash talk, or one-upping each other makes it look like they couldn't possibly be friends.  In the science fiction TV show Eureka, Sheriff Jack Carter and his deputy Jo Lupo use their common sense to help solve problems caused by the genius scientist residents of the town.  Both are involved in romantic relationships with others, but as partners on the job, they spend a lot of time together.  At the beginning, Jo was upset when she was passed over for the job of sheriff, and frustrated by Jack's lack of experience with the town and other technical knowledge she believed he should be familiar with.  Jack was frustrated by the lack of cooperation by his deputy.  Both characters possessed a sharp wit and a tendency to use it.  Over the course of the series, they came to respect and trust each other, but the banter never really stopped.

What does this have to do with me?

Friendships can be overt or covert, or they can fall somewhere in the middle.  These classifications are more of a spectrum than two opposite dichotomies.  All friendships fall somewhere on the spectrum, but may lean farther one way or another.

So, since this is a Your Turn! post, here is the big question (and a couple more): In fiction, do you prefer overt or covert friendships?  What are the pros and cons of each?  Which are your favorite fictional friendships?  Let us know in the comments!

~ Hannah


If you would like to read the other posts in this series, check out...
Part 1: Overt Friendships
Part 2: Covert Friendships
Part 3: Parent-Child Relationships
Part 4: Siblings
Part 5: Siblings (Again!)

Part 6: Mentors
Part 7: Partners and Companions

Attributions

Dragonflight: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/75/AnneMcCaffrey_Dragonflight.jpg/220px-AnneMcCaffrey_Dragonflight.jpg

Professor X and Magneto: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/xmenmovies/images/1/14/Prof_x_and_magneto_poster_XMFC.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120108101508

Eureka: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/eureka/images/1/10/0000040005_20070523140809.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090817234643

Top 3 Friendships in Books (Laurie)

If you missed Hannah's post last week, she began a series called Relationships Beyond Romance and talked about her favorite overt friendships from books. While I definitely love a good romance, she brought up a great point that romances tend to overshadow other important relationships in books, TV shows, and movies.

So today I'm excited to get to share my favorite friendships from books:


3. Kate and Cecelia from Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

Okay, so Kate and Cecelia are technically cousins, but they are clearly cousins who are the closest of friends, so I think it counts :) This entire book is written as a series of letters between Kate and Cecelia as they get caught up in a magical plot, unexpected courtships, and the social machinations of Regency England. Through their letters, readers get to feel as though they're a part of the entertaining, mischievous friendship between these two characters, picking up on hints of unspoken feelings and references to inside jokes along the way. It's also fun to note that Sorcery & Cecelia actually began as a "Letter Game" between two author friends that had such a great time with it, they decided to turn it into a book. As a result, it boasts not only a memorable friendship between the fictional characters but also a unique glimpse into the humor and enjoyment of the friends who created it.




2. Isi and Enna from The Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale

I absolutely adore Shannon Hale, especially The Goose Girl, the first of The Books of Bayern (which ranked #2 in my Favorite Fairy Tale Retellings post). Part of what I loved about The Goose Girl was the community of friends Isi eventually makes among the other animal keepers at the palace. Enna is the closest of these friends, and balances out Isi's shy, tentative nature with her boldness and strength. But where I thought Isi and Enna's friendship turned into something truly noteworthy was in the second book in the series, Enna Burning. Both girls have talents in nature-speaking, Isi with wind, Enna with fire. But towards the end of Enna Burning, each is being overwhelmed by her respective ability. They team up to find a way to restore balance within themselves, and the concern and care they show for each other and the way they are able to use their bond to bring out the best in each other provides a beautiful example of friendship at its best.

 

1. Harry and Ron from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling


When I reflected on books in which friendships are handled well, the Harry Potter series was the first that came to mind. Over the course of the series so many wonderful, sometimes unexpected, friendships arise that are fun to explore. But the one that holds the dearest place in my heart is the friendship between Harry and Ron. What I think draws so many people to these characters is that their relationship feels so real. They commiserate about school, share jokes, and try to figure out the world around them as they grow and develop together. But they also go through more difficult times. The reader experiences their hurts, jealousies, and misunderstandings right along with them, and in turn shares the relief and joy of their reconciliations. I also appreciate the way in which Harry gets to become a part of Ron's quirky, loving family. I have had the opportunity to share family moments with several of my most genuine, cherished friends, and it's a rare treat to get to see that played out so well in fiction. Despite their moments of turmoil, Harry and Ron have each others' backs, whether they're standing up for each other against bullies or putting their lives on the line to fight against the evil of Voldemort and other dark wizards.


Now I want to hear from you! What friendships have you enjoyed most in books? Do you prefer books with strong friendships, strong romance, or some of each?


Thanks for reading!
Laurie


Attribution:
Harry and Ron: http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Special:Images?file=Herbology_class.jpg&page=11