Tag Archives: Magic!

The Unsung (Beta) Hero

Last week, we chatted a bit about the Alpha Hero: the head of the pride/pack, the domineering, aggressive, demands-first-slice-of-pizza quintessential man’s man of romance novels.

To recoup: ROAR.
To recoup: ROAR.

…But is that all there is?

I mean, Alpha’s are fine.  Someone has to be an alpha, right?  They all, to a man, apparently look fantastic in suits, so that’s a plus.  But, as we also pointed out, if every hero was an alpha…and a worrying number of them seem to be…they’d just spend all day fighting each other.  Or, worse yet, become really boring and predictable elements of romances.

So what is the alternative?

 

Meet the Beta Hero.

images

They’re not always easy to find, because they’re not constantly demanding attention, and not always the source of conflict and tension in a plot.  They tend to be a little quieter, a bit more of a thinker.  But unlike the Alpha, who wears a list of his dominant traits on his designer t-shirt, the Beta Hero often hides a surprising depth under his generally calm exterior that makes him (in my opinion, anyway) a generally far more intriguing character.  Beta Heroes also often tend to be more confident and grounded than Alphas, because they are not constantly in fear of someone stealing their social position–Betas carve their own niche for themselves, and revel in it.  This helps them, in turn, be very supportive of their heroines, allowing them room and support to grow, and that lack of contention and argument can be enormously refreshing.

beta_shirt_largeThis also means that Beta Heroes have a lot more room to grow. Whereas most Alpha Heroes have little choice but to double-down on their dominant tendencies when challenged (although a select few don’t), Beta heroes have room to grow, to assume Alpha tendencies when challenged, or to become something else entirely–and that choice is uniquely theirs.  This often allows Beta Heroes to have a unique story-arc within a story that is as fascinating as the heroine’s journey, rather than forcing him to be a fixed point within a plot.

So just where are these Betas to be found?  Here are a few of my personal favorites to get you started on your quest:

3092802Jason, from Follow My Lead: I’ve gone on and on about this book in the past, but that won’t stop me from going on and on about it a bit more here.  Though this book is, on the surface, all about Winnifred Crane’s journey to prove the authenticity of a painting in order to win acceptance from her father’s Historical Society, that shouldn’t detract from the wonderful Beta Hero who accompanies her–Jason Cummings, Duke of Rayne.  Jason is by no means an Alpha…if he were, this book probably couldn’t have happened, as he would demand to plan Winn’s journey for her, rather than accompany her on a beautiful, delightful roadtrip-from-hell.  The result is a trip in which both hero and heroine grow enormously, and realize just what they are capable of accomplishing, individually and together.  Most Alpha Heroes never laugh…or when they do, it’s at someone else’s expense.  One of my favorite scenes in this book is when Winn and Jason laugh together over a private joke so hard that it ends a scene.

2698785Ian MacKenzie, from The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie: Another favorite book is this remarkable opening to Jennifer Ashley’s MacKenzie series.  Ian MacKenzie would, today (and in the Real World) most likely be diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a condition that exists on the Autism Spectrum; he is highly intelligent, but he is unable to read social cues, has trouble communicating with others, and tends to be deeply, almost obsessively focused on the things that interest him–in this case, his porcelain collection, and Beth Ackerley.  MacKenzie demonstrates the huge range of potential for an alpha hero–he is a failure according to social standards, having spend his childhood in an asylum, and is shunned by many because he doesn’t (and possibly can’t) conform to society’s expectations.  But as Beth comes to know him, we, as readers, realize just how exceptional–and heroic–Ian really is.  And, best of all, eventually, he does, too.

2260048 (1)Jonathan Strange, from Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell: Ok, ok, I know this isn’t a romance per se, but Strange is such a perfect example of a beta hero that I couldn’t resist.  He begins the story without a clue what he wants from life, but when he finds it, he perfectly demonstrates all the ways in which a Beta Hero can adapt and evolve.  Though Strange eventually realizes his desire to become the greatest practical magician in England, he is willing to share the spotlight with Mr. Norrell…that is, until Arabella, the center of his world, is threatened.  Then, Strange becomes something else entirely–a secretive recluse, willing to explore any shadow or practice any arcane bit of magic in order to win Arabella back.  This is precisely the kind of transformation an Alpha wouldn’t be able to make–because Strange is never a villain, but he is willing to act in a very unheroic manner, generally speaking–and also demonstrates the kind of range possible for a Beta Hero when push comes to shove.

3679669Zacharias Wythe, from Sorcerer to the CrownAnd since we’re on non-romance Beta Heroes, we can’t forget the wonderful, Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers.  Even though he, as the first African to achieve the position of Sorcerer Royal, a fearsomely powerful magician, and an extraordinarily diplomatic public servant, Zacharias doesn’t want to be a singular, Alpha-type hero.  Instead, he allies himself with Prunella Gentleman, a woman of enormous magical talent, whose dreams are far bigger than anyone–except, save Zacharias–is able to appreciate.  Zacharias is uniquely able to share the spotlight with Prunella in this phenomenal adventure, and to remain true to himself and those he cares about, forging his own unique path, making him a fascinating Beta Hero, who doesn’t need others adoration in order to know the truth of his own convictions.

Happy Birthday, Houdini!

harry_houdini2

Harry Houdini was born Erik Weisz on this day in 1874 in Budapest, then part of Austria-Hungary, to Rabbi Mayer Sámuel Weisz and Cecília Weisz (née Steiner).  He was one of seven children, and in 1878, he, four of his brothers, and his pregnant mother sailed to the United States (the rest of the family would follow within the next two years).  It was at this point that the young man began using the more English-sounding “Harry”, and made his stage debut at the age of 9 as a trapeze artist.  It wasn’t long before he was performing as a magician under the name “Harry Houdini”.

Though he began performing in 1891, it wasn’t until 1899 that he met manager Martin Beck, who became his agent and launched Houdini’s career as an escape artist with a worldwide tour.  Houdini was assisted by his wife, Bess, who was herself a stage performer.  They remained partners–on stage and off–for the rest of their lives.

Harry and Bess
Harry and Bess

Houdini’s career is the stuff of legends.  He escaped from handcuffs, including a pair fashioned at the expense of London’s Daily Mirror, which reportedly took five years to make.  There are still suspicions amongst Houdini biographers at to whether this particular act was a stunt arranged by Houdini for publicity, and whether his wife, Bess, smuggled him the key after over an hour of work failed to free him.

houdini-poster-4He escaped from a sealed milk crate (while handcuffed).  When this trick became familiar, he had the milk crate locked in a waterproof box.  When that became commonplace, he escaped from a Chinese “water torture box” into which he was locked upside down, with his feet in stocks.  He actually copyrighted this trick so that he could sue people trying to duplicate it–and did.  He escaped from a straightjacket suspended from the roof of an office building.  He was thrown overboard, locked in a box. He was buried alive.  And still, he escaped.

He was also briefly, a movie star, though, sadly, a good deal of the film featuring Houdini was destroyed (though his only full-length feature, The Grim Game, was finally restored by Turner Classic Movies last year).  And, in all things, Houdini was a perfectionist.  He planned his stunts, kept notes on their effect, and insisted on hard work and originality from those around him.  As a result, he made it his life’s work to debunk those who were making “magic” at the expense of others.

Houdini famously debunked a number of other magicians and spiritualists who purported to communicate with the dead.  He performed shows that demonstrated how people made tables tilt, or reproduced photographs to show how people might appear in a photo with Abraham Lincoln (as seen below).  Were it not for a bizarre encounter and a medical emergency, he might have accomplished even more.

Now that's just cheeky....
Now that’s just cheeky….

Many people have heard about J. Gordon Whitehead, the McGill University Student who, according to two fellow students who were with him at the time, asked Houdini “if he believed in the miracles of the Bible” and “whether it was true that punches in the stomach did not hurt him”, before repeatedly punching him in the stomach, below this belt.  A note: this is not a nice thing to do.  Not surprisingly, Houdini remained in enormous pain throughout the night and into the next day.  It was only then discovered that he had a fever of 102 degrees, which continued to climb over the next few days.  He was admitted Detroit’s Grace Hospital after passing out during a performance on October 26, 1926, with acute appendicitis and a fever of 104 degrees.  Now, there is no direct correlation between stomach trauma (like those punches) and appendicitis, but doctors today are confident that the pain of the punches could have masked the symptoms of appendicitis.  It was also enough for Houdini’s insurance company to pay a double indemnity for his death as a work-related accident.

Harry-Bess-HoudiniHoudini and his wife devised a secret code, so that, in case it were possible to communicate with the dead, he would be able to speak to her.  Their code was “Rosabelle Believe”, inspired by their favorite song, ‘Rosabelle”.  For ten years, after Houdini’s death on Halloween, 1926, Bess held a seance to try and talk again with her husband.  Though she herself was nearly taken in by several mediums, she never did get to speak with her husband.  In 1936, following another unsuccessful seance on the roof of the Knickerbocker Hotel, she went home and blew out the candle she had kept lit for a decade next to the photo of Houdini.  Years later, she explained “ten years is long enough to wait for any man.”  She would pass away in 1971–and one can only hope that they finally got the chance to chat again.

If you’re looking for more information on Houdini, or books inspired by him, check out these today!

1712220Houdini! : The Career of Ehrich WeissKenneth Silverman’s work is considered by many scholars to be one of the best biographies on Houdini available.  By drawing on private papers and diaries, court cases, unpublished notes and letters, Silverman very carefully parses the legends that have sprung up around Houdini, and distinguishes between the man and the myth he helped to create.  Best of all, it’s a highly readable book that captures not only Houdini, but the wonderfully vivid, fascinating world in which he lived.

2136556Carter Beats the Devil: I think I’ve already noted that this is one of my favorite books of all times, but for those looking for a great story about vaudeville entertainment and the heyday of stage magicians need look no further.  Charles Carter was himself a magician, whose show featuring him defeating the Devil in a card game–but this story goes beyond his actual bio to tell a beautiful, heartbreaking, and constantly surprising story about love, life, and redemption.  Houdini himself makes a cameo in this story, helping launch Carter’s career, and author Glen David Gold does the great man much credit in his interpretation.

3577408Houdini: This most recent biopic of Houdini stars Adrien Brody as the man himself.  A bit sensationalized?  Quite probably.  Is Brody’s hair a bit…much?  Yes, certainly,  But this is one slick, stylish films that does its best to tell an accurate story, and does so in a way that is, ahem, spellbinding fun.

Some words on Gaslamp Fantasy, Good Friends, and Great Fiction

img_6562

If you haven’t been able to tell as yet, we here at the Free For All really enjoy talking about books–books in general, books we love, books we really need to read soon, and books that should exist, but don’t…yet.  And while this blog provides a beautiful outlet for those discussions, stories, and experiences, those discussions also spill over into Real Life.

Some time ago now, Lady Pole and I were talking about our love of books with historical settings that feature magic, magicians, and usually, a fair bit of mayhem.  And I wished out loud that there was a name for that category of books, so that they would be easier to find, and thus, to devour.

“There is!” Exclaimed Lady Pole, in all her bookish wisdom.  “It’s called Gaslamp Fantasy!”

And then I got so excited I fell over.
(Not really…but almost.)

62d92e28ef11c49995b50e9a3c8a3fc2Because it turns out, Gaslamp Fantasy is a thing.  And it is a beautiful thing, indeed.  According to the experts at the New York Public Library, Gaslamp Fantasy is an offshoot of the Steampunk Genre.  However, Steampunk deals with an alternative 19th century where steam (rather than coal) grew to be the dominant form of energy, resulting in a new world of science and gadgetry.  Gaslamp, instead, deals with an alternative 19th century that thrives on magic, and is controlled by magicians.  These stories can be set anywhere from the Regency Era (broadly speaking, about 1795) to the outbreak of the First World War, and can feature any and all kinds of magic spells, fantastic familiars, and fairy or elfin intervention, and can take on the trappings of any other historic novel; gaslamp can be comedic, tragic, gothic, epic–in terms of plot, they are limited only by the authors’ imagination.

 

2260048Perhaps the most well-known example of this genre is the Free For All Favorite Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrellwhich features two “practical magicians” during the Napoleonic Wars, who begin by working to save England from the French, and end battling each other over the fate of English magic.  In addition to the spellbinding narrative and the so-real-you-miss-them-when-they’re-gone characters, what makes this book such a joy to read is the seamless blend of fantasy and reality–the very real fears in England of the potential of a French invasion are appeased by a massive fleet of ships conjured from the rain.  Mirrors (a fairly new invention at the time) can serve as a gateway to a host of other realms, just as easily as they can be used as a reflective surface.

And therein lies the real magic of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and gaslamp fantasy in general, particularly for those of us who believe that ghosts and fairies and elves are real.  They give us the chance to visit a world where such things are present and visible, and teach us how to see the wonderful and the magical in our own world, as well.  So feel free to come into the library and discover Gaslamp Fantasy along with us–I promise, it will be an adventure you won’t soon forget!

For those interested in Gaslamp Fantasy, check out the following selections:

3269619Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells: A literal smorgasbord of gaslamp fiction, this collection features some of the master of the genre, from Gregory Maguire and Leanna Renee Hieber to  Catherynne M. Valente and  Genevieve Valentine.  As Lady Pole has mentioned short stories are quite the under-appreciated art form, and this book offers some of the best in gaslamp fiction, and really showcases the range of styles and genres that nestle within that broader title.  Even better, you can use these stories to discover what aspects of gaslamp fiction you like best, and use them to help you find more books on our shelves (and we are more than happy to help you find more books, no matter what genre!)

3679669Sorcerer to the Crown: This is a sensational read on its own, but for those of you who also adored Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, this book is a perfect follow-up.  Zen Cho set her novel in a world very similar to that of Susanna Clarke’s–English magic is a unique form of magic that helps secure England’s pre-eminence in the world.  But in this novel, English magic is inexplicably fading away.  The task of restoring English magic falls to Zacharias Wythe, Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers, a man who was born a slave, and now finds himself at the pinnacle of his position, with plenty of rivals eager for his fall from grace.  His companion is the wonderfully complex and powerful Prunella Gentleman, herself an outsider in a society that values neither non-English people, and magical women especially.  But Prunella may hold the key to restoring English magic–if she and Wythe can navigate the trials of Fairyland and English society.  Not only is Cho’s story immediately arresting and consistently intriguing, but she also takes on issues of gender, class, and privilege with grace, wit, and a good deal of insight that make this book a rare treat for any genre.

3575642The Midnight Queen:  Sylvia Izzo Hunter’s tales of magic and true love center around the aptly named Merlin College, Oxford, where the noblest and most talented magicians in Britain learn their craft.  When a disastrous student prank lands the talented Gray Marshall in disgrace, he is ordered to spend the summer under the watchful eye of his professor, Appius Callender–and there meets Callender’s sheltered, but wonderfully wise daughter, Sophie.  Their meeting, and subsequent relationship sets off a series of events that will change them both for the better–and may have enormous implications on the state of British magic for good.  Like Cho, Hunter presents a heroine who has been prevented from realizing her true powers, and finds a way to set her free.  For those looking for a bit of romance with their gaslamp fantasy, Sophie’s relationship with the charming and introverted Gray is just delightful.