A Magical World


Book Description

Spanning some of the most vibrant and fascinating eras in European history, Cambridge historian Derek Wilson reveals a society filled with an ardent desire for knowledge and astounding discoveries—and the fantastic discoveries that flowered from it. Thinkers were drew from surprising intellectual traditions: some from folk religion, which in its turn had deep roots in a pagan past; others referred to spirits or tapped into stores of ancient wisdom and herbal remedies. This was the world of wise women, witches, necromancers, potions and incantations. Even the mighty Catholic Church, which permeated all elements of life, had its own "magical" traditions.In 1663, the Royal Society in London received its charter. Just three years later, the French Academy of Sciences was founded, and other European capitals rapidly followed suit. In 1725, the word "science" was at last defined as "a branch of study concerned either with a connected body of demonstrated truths or with observed facts systematically classified." Yet just nine years before, the last witch had been executed in Britain. Fascinating and thought-provoking, A Magical World is a reminder of humanity's paradoxical nature—our passionate pursuit of knowledge alongside deep-rooted fears, superstitions, and traditions.




Magic World: Fantasy Roleplaying in Worlds of Epic Adventure


Book Description

FANTASY ROLEPLAYING IN WORLDS OF EPIC ADVENTURE Enter a world of fantastic adventure, where your destiny is limited only by your imagination. Where powerful sorcerers manipulate the very essence of reality, and where warriors decide the fate of kingdoms with blade and spear. A world of magic, myth, and menace... A MAGIC WORLD! Magic World is a self-contained fantasy roleplaying game using the classic Basic Roleplaying system. The game allows you to play characters in a world of fantasy, adventure, and excitement. The rules of Magic World are simple to grasp, while having enough options and complexity to suit any gaming style. Characters grow in experience organically, without relying on artificial constructs such as classes, levels, etc. Any sort of fantasy character you can imagine, you can play. Magic World contains: Full rules for creating characters in a world of magic and fantasy. A robust magic system with nearly one hundred spells. Any character may become a spell caster with the right combination of raw talent, and training! Detailed, yet streamlined skills and combat rules. Complete rules for nautical adventures. A bestiary of more than sixty creatures to use as foes for the characters, or as the characters themselves! Play as any species imaginable: Human, Elf, Orc, Centaur, Troll, Talking Beast, and more! Gamemaster advice, and resources. A gallery of enchanted items which might be found in your characters adventures. A complete sample campaign setting, "the Southlands", to jump start your adventures. And more!




The Magic World


Book Description

The Magic World (1909) is a collection of twelve children’s fantasy stories by English writer Edith Nesbit. Using elements of magic and mystery familiar to readers of her beloved Bastable and Psammead Trilogies, Nesbit crafts tales of wonder and adventure for children and adults alike. In “The Cat-hood of Maurice,” a young boy learns firsthand the consequences of mistreating the family cat. One day, Maurice attaches an empty sardine can to Lord Hugh’s tail, terrifying and traumatizing the poor cat. When his father gets home, Maurice is told that he will be spending the next week at Dr. Strongitharm’s school for wayward boys. At the last moment, Maurice discovers Lord Hugh in his room, who reveals to the boy a magic word that will turn him into a cat. In “Accidental Magic,” a boy named Quentin is sent to school in Salisbury. Immensely interested in archaeology and history, Quentin is excited to learn that he will be able to visit Stonehenge while at school. After getting in a fight with a bully, Quentin runs away in fear of expulsion and escapes through the fields toward Stonehenge. There, he searches for the fabled altar stone, where, exhausted and scared, he falls asleep. When he wakes up, he finds he has been transported to the lost world of Atlantis, where the people call him the “Chosen of the Gods,” but fail to reveal what it is he is chosen for. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Edith Nesbit’s The Magic World is a classic of English children’s literature reimagined for modern readers.




Early Mormonism and the Magic World View


Book Description

In this articulate and insightful book, D. Michael Quinn reconstructs the world view of an earlier age in America, finding ample evidence for treasure seeking and folk magic in Joseph Smith's formative years. Folk magic was not unusual for the times and is important in understanding how Mormons may have interpreted developments. Quinn's impressive research provides a much-needed background for the environment that produced Mormonism's founding prophet.




The Uncommoners #1: The Crooked Sixpence


Book Description

Anyone with a Hogwarts-shaped hole in their lives can’t miss this fantasy series opener. Dive into a secret underground city below London where ordinary objects are capable of extraordinary magic! "Part Tim Burton, part J.K. Rowling! A terrific debut." —Soman Chainani, New York Times Bestselling Author of the School for Good and Evil series Welcome to a world where nothing is quite as it seems… When their grandmother Sylvie is rushed to the hospital, Ivy Sparrow and her annoying big brother Seb cannot imagine what adventure lies in store. Soon their house is ransacked by unknown intruders, and a very strange policeman turns up on the scene, determined to apprehend them . . . with a toilet brush. Ivy and Seb make their escape only to find themselves in a completely uncommon world, a secret underground city called Lundinor where ordinary objects have amazing powers. There are belts that enable the wearer to fly, yo-yos that turn into weapons, buttons with healing properties, and other enchanted objects capable of very unusual feats. But the forces of evil are closing in fast, and when Ivy and Seb learn that their family is connected to one of the greatest uncommon treasures of all time, they must race to unearth the treasure and get to the bottom of a family secret . . . before it’s too late. Debut novelist Jennifer Bell delivers a world of wonder and whimsy in the start of a richly uncommon series. "An auspicious trilogy opener." -Kirkus Reviews




Welcome to the Magical World of Books


Book Description

An attractive and professionally designed Reading LogBook. A Must-Have for everyone who wants to keep a record of what they read and learned. Features : Handy 6" X 9" (152.4mm X 228.6mm) size. Light-weight paperback. 6 Index pages. 100 log pages. Guided sections on every page.




The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter (revised edition)


Book Description

The indispensable source guide to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels—the perfect gift for Harry Potter fans! What was the model for The Order of the Phoenix? Where do those names come from? What is the real-life legend behind Voldemort’s Dark Mark? Could Snape’s potions actually work? J.K. Rowling’s young heroic wizard, Harry Potter, lives in a world populated by dragons, centaurs, trolls, giants—and a three-headed dog named Fluffy—among other creatures from ancient myths and legends. Discover the astonishing origins of supernatural beasts, clues to hidden meanings in names, and amazing facts about real-life wizards and magic spells. From Alchemists to Unicorns, Basilisks to Veela, this fascinating compendium brings another dimension to Harry’s adventures—from The Sorcerer’s Stone to The Deathly Hallows. This book was not authorized, prepared, approved, licensed or endorsed by J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any other individual or entity associated with the HARRY POTTER books or movie.







It's a Magical World


Book Description

A Calvin and Hobbes collection.




The Magic Garden


Book Description

"Chloe lives in a magic garden, but she doesn't know it! Incredible things happen there all the time: caterpillars become butterflies, insects change their colors and light up the night sky, and birds weave their nests. Trees lose their colorful leaves in the fall, but each spring, they grow again--just another enchanting bit of magic that happens year after year in the world of nature"--Back cover.