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Why They Call Me John Hancock

WE THE STUDENTS OF THE WORLD here proclaim that we are disgusted and frustrated with the required reading novels in our respective classes.

THIS IS NOT a petition against literature, nor against hard work and comprehension. It is merely a statement that we believe the English department should employ more careful consideration of the material it obligates high school students to read and discuss. Many of the novels required in 9th-12th grade English courses—of all levels—are vulgar at best, and utterly repulsive at worst; frankly, the world is a dark enough place without demanding that teens read fiction that the most worldly adult

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Submitted: January 12, 2011
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Born to Run--Firebringerby *TheAntimonyElement

Artisan Crafts / Folding & Papercraft / Papercutting & Scherenschnitte

*Download for larger view*

So, this summer I discovered Meredith Ann Pierce's "Firebringer Trilogy." Hoo boy. Hoooooooo boy. Where were they for like, my entire childhood? WHERE? D: If you like unicorns, read these. If you dislike unicorns (me), read these ANYWAY. THEY ARE THAT GOOD. First book is "Birth of the Firebringer," and once you read it you will never again doubt that unicorns can be badass.

Also, there are gryphons and dragons and wyverns and pans and etc. Phenomenal writing, great characters, and a magnificently rich world. OMNOMNOM.

So I was overcome by the need to make some appropriate unicorn-y fanart a few months ago, and since I felt like fooling around with scissors again I did some inking and cut out silhouettes of a few key characters from the series. This proved to be ridiculously fun. So I did some more. And then I did just about every protagonist in the series, and started leafing through the books for more. XD Aaaand here you have it!

This has been like 90% done since September, but that last 10% was a bear. I just couldn't seem to get the thing done! Finally I buckled down and I can't even tell you how glad I am that it's out of my hair now. XD

Also, you can't really tell from this image, but this thing is really freakin' big--about three feet long. Each of the unicorns is about the size of an outspread palm.

* * *

This is set after the battle of Endingfire in the final book...hopefully you can tell who all the characters are, but if not, from left to right, we have:
Jah-lila, the pan sisters Sismoomnat and Pitipak, Teki, Oro, Lell and the gryphon Illishar, Calydor, Ses, Culu, Ryhenna, Dagg, Tek, the twins Dhattar and Aiony, and Aljan himself. Overhead is the dragon Wyzasukitan. (I love the unicorns' colors, btw...most of them have totally normal horse-colors, and then you have the occasional Calydor and Tek thrown in to keep things interesting XD)

This is 100% ink-and-papercutting...all of the individual pieces are actually taped on, because I'm a huge wuss and too terrified to actually glue. XD Probably for the better, considering how much I rearranged this thing. Also, there is some gold metallic pen and some white gel pen in there somewhere.

Hope it doesn't burn your eyes too much...patching all the different scans together did a real number on the colors. XD

Whooooo it's done! Enjoy! ^^

love 4 4

joy 2 2

wow 5 5

~~mad 0 0~~

~~sad 0 0~~

~~fear 0 0~~

~~neutral 0 0~~

~Lumday Feb 10, 2013

so good so good so good. I'm on the last book right now. xD

~javavenos Jan 4, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

Wow this is so amazing!

~Equinox97 Dec 9, 2012 Student Digital Artist

This piece is amazing! The whole thing is beautifully done.

I read the Firebringer Trilogy awhile ago, and I can honestly say it's one of my favorite fantasy series.

~charade539 Nov 28, 2012 Filmographer

You seriously need to put these things on Etsy. I'd buy one in a heartbeat! It's gorgeous!

~Sparky-Lurkdragon Nov 25, 2012 Hobbyist Digital Artist

Oh my goodness!

How wonderful to see such a great piece for this series - and it's all paper cutouts? What splendour! Love it a million!

*kaikaku Oct 12, 2012 General Artist

That's all papercutting? Holy moly canoli... O_____O

It is amazing! Love the dome-composition of the sky. I've always wanted to try doing this sort of art but it seems like it would be so time consuming... my hat's off to you! Wonderful work!

~DaNoodleBox Aug 7, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

This is really cool. Really really cool. I like how you did the looping tale at the top...that looks like it'd be difficult without it falling apart. >_<

I am always looking for good fantasy to read, especially ones with mythical creatures. I get so disappointed when books mention a gryphon or unicorn...and then the creature just kinda disappears after a chapter. *sigh*

*TheAntimonyElement Sep 7, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

Augh, tell me about it! That always frustrates me...but I guess that just makes it even more special when you find a book that is really excellent, right? :3 If you're looking for books about unicorns, I'd recommend this series for sure (first book is "Birth of the Firebringer," by Meredith Ann Pierce) and also Bruce Coville's Unicorn Chronicles (first book is "Into the Land of the Unicorns.") Both those series also have dragons and gryphons, for extra funtimes.

For gryphons, I just read "Song of the Summer King" by Jess Owen and really enjoyed it.

did the cover, check it out: [link] Awesome! :3 Mercedes Lackey's "Mage Wars" trilogy is also really good...first book is "The Black Gryphon," although I like "The Silver Gryphon" best. Diana Wynne-Jones' "Dark Lord of Derkholm" is a ton of fun if you like comic fantasy, as is Elizabeth Kay's "The Divide" trilogy. "Beyond the North Wind" by Gillian Bradshaw was pretty enjoyable too.

I also just read "The Dark Gryphon" by K.J. Taylor...I really wouldn't recommend it, actually. XD I found it rather boring and frustrating, but it is about a city of gryphon riders and you could check it out if that appeals to you.

As for dragons...oh my, there are so many good ones!

E.E. Knight's "Dragon Champion" series and "The Halfblood Chronicles" by Mercedes Lackey/Andre Norton (first book is "The Elvenbane") are phenomenal. "The Dragon Knight" series by Gordon R. Dickson (first book is "The Dragon and the George") is excellent and inspired the equally-excellent movie "Flight of Dragons." The "Dragon Slippers" trilogy by Jessica Day George and "The Enchanted Forest Chronicles" (first book is "Dealing with Dragons") by Patricia C. Wrede are hilarious. If you're into romance, I recommend Elizabeth Kerner's "Song in the Silence" trilogy and Barbara Hambly's "Dragonsbane." The cream of the crop (from my childhood, anyway

) are the short-but-wonderful "Dragonling" series by Jackie French Koller, Bruce Coville's "Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher," Susan Fletcher's "Dragon's Milk" trilogy, Jane Yolen's "Dragon's Blood," and Laurence Yep's "Dragon of the Lost Sea" quartet. I also read "A Book Dragon" by Donn Kushner this summer and really really loved it.

Soooooo don't despair! There are so many awesome series out there!

And thank you so much for the lovely comment! I had such a fun time making this piece, and I'm so happy to hear that people like it and that it's inspired a few to read the books!

~DaNoodleBox Oct 14, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

I just finished Song of the Summer King. What a fantastic book...it desperately needs a sequel!

~DaNoodleBox Sep 7, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

This response is AWESOME! Thank you so much for getting back to me and for the suggestions!!

I love Mercedes Lackey

The Mage Wars series were the first books I read by her and my first real exposure to gryphons!! That was back in middle school...so wow almost ten years?! I need to pick them back up. About a year ago I read The Phoenix Unchained by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory. They kinda introduced a mythical creature and then quickly withdrew her from the story again...but the story has epic dragons too so it was well worth the read. I just bought Song of the Summer King for my kindle! I have a lot of books on my cue and I've now copied your suggestions to it!

Honestly for how much I enjoy a good fantasy story I barely read the genre. >_< Mostly because when I started reading a good fantasy novel I'll be preoccupied with it for the eight hours that follow so I have to limit my intake, or something lol.

Thank you again for the comment and your artwork is lovely!

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