Ask the Author: Matthew R.R. Morrese
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Matthew R.R. Morrese
The War of Wonder in 8 Fyts is a series written with the utmost respect and regard for and to the greatest imagination of his time, Lewis Carroll. The Preface gives you, the reader, the reason—or is it rhyme?—why I felt this work needed to be written. After studying Dodgsen’s collective works as Carroll for many years, and witnessing rather unenlightened, nigh barbaric references by others to his imaginations without any attempt to understand them or him, his life, or the context of the very words and ideas presented, I embarked on a journey to do the opposite. Modestly, I believe I’ve accomplished that task (at least in part).
In the preface to “Bruno and Sylvie”—the existence of which many of you may not be aware—Carroll writes, “Perhaps the hardest thing in all literature—at least I have found it so: by no voluntary effort can I accomplish it: I have to take it as it comes—is to write anything original. And perhaps the easiest is, when once an original line has been struck out, to follow it up, and to write any amount more to the same tune. I do not know if “Alice in Wonderland” was an original story—I was, at least, no conscious imitator in writing it—but I do know that, since it came out, something like a dozen story-books have appeared, on identically the same pattern. The path I timidly explored—believing myself to be “the first that ever burst into that silent sea”—is now a beaten highroad: all the way-side flowers have long ago been trampled into the dust: and it would be courting disaster for me to attempt that style again.”
Those were the words of Carroll just in his lifetime, let alone the decades of imitators to come, that have chosen a single inspiring image from the book, or a line (like “we’re all mad here”) as the driving force of their own stories. Of course, let me be clear, there is nothing wrong with this – inspiration is what fuels all storytelling; it’s a necessity. I am neither down-casting nor antagonizing those who found such amazing brilliance in Carroll’s work that they took their own journey derived from it – that’s part of what makes his figure in the literary world such a giant. However, I have endeavored to return to—and tread upon—that beaten highroad to confront the imaginings of a man who knew no limit to his own, to continue his work, and honor his legacy as a storyteller.
In the preface to “Bruno and Sylvie”—the existence of which many of you may not be aware—Carroll writes, “Perhaps the hardest thing in all literature—at least I have found it so: by no voluntary effort can I accomplish it: I have to take it as it comes—is to write anything original. And perhaps the easiest is, when once an original line has been struck out, to follow it up, and to write any amount more to the same tune. I do not know if “Alice in Wonderland” was an original story—I was, at least, no conscious imitator in writing it—but I do know that, since it came out, something like a dozen story-books have appeared, on identically the same pattern. The path I timidly explored—believing myself to be “the first that ever burst into that silent sea”—is now a beaten highroad: all the way-side flowers have long ago been trampled into the dust: and it would be courting disaster for me to attempt that style again.”
Those were the words of Carroll just in his lifetime, let alone the decades of imitators to come, that have chosen a single inspiring image from the book, or a line (like “we’re all mad here”) as the driving force of their own stories. Of course, let me be clear, there is nothing wrong with this – inspiration is what fuels all storytelling; it’s a necessity. I am neither down-casting nor antagonizing those who found such amazing brilliance in Carroll’s work that they took their own journey derived from it – that’s part of what makes his figure in the literary world such a giant. However, I have endeavored to return to—and tread upon—that beaten highroad to confront the imaginings of a man who knew no limit to his own, to continue his work, and honor his legacy as a storyteller.
Matthew R.R. Morrese
Christmas is my favorite holiday; therefore, I wanted to explore what Solstice traditions would be like across the Realms of Aegis. Obviously, they can't have Christmas; however, they can have much and more akin to it. In general, I write the stories of Aegis for readers who are tired of rehashed fantasy worlds. There are no elves, no dragons, and no dwarves, but with the 4,000 years of history developed for Aegis, holidays and festivals must be accounted for, all originally based on traditions of our own nations - so you might find one familiar! We are a family of creatives producing art, music and even film inspired by the literature I write, and "The Life and Lore of Winterstide" is one snow-covered cog in the mix.
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