The Demon Cycle Series

The Demon Cycle Series, is a fantasy book series written by author Peter V. Brett. There are currently three books in the series, the first is The Painted Man, second is The Desert Spear, and the third is The Daylight War. There are also two books that will complete the series. Each novel follows multiple characters in the first person. In the world that the books take place in is plagued by demons, that originate from the center of the world or the ‘core’, but they can only be on the surface during the night. People live in small villages and walled cities, known as the free cities. The only way to protect themselves from the demons that plague them is using defensive wards, which are a kind of magical symbols that repel the demons. But humans cannot easily harm the demons because their skin has something that closely represents plated armor that cannot be penetrated by any blade known to humans for hundreds of years. These wards can be drawn, carved, or constructed, and are drawn on posts that are placed around villages as a sort of wall to protect them from the demons. But these ward posts often break or get damaged, so demon attacks on villages are common.

The first book of the series, The Painted Man (The Warded Man in the US), follows three characters. The first and most followed is Arlen Bales. At the beginning of the book he is a ten year-old who is living with his family in the small town of Tibbets Brook. One night there is a demon attack that takes the lives of his mother and sister, in which he sees the cowardice of his father. And decides to run away and become a messenger, who is a nomadic warrior who is in charge of making sure that news, mail, and other things get to one town to the next. Arlen soon wants to try and find ways to fight the demons, which drives him through the first and part of the second book and gives him the title, the Warded Man. Arlen’s hero’s journey is a very unique on that is not even complete after the third book, although he becomes wiser as the story progresses.

The second character that is introduced to the story is Leesha, a thirteen year-old, who is from an area known as the Hollow. Her family is one of the wealthiest in the Hollow. Her father is one of the kindest and most well respected people there, but her mother resents her for not being a boy, and not marrying as soon as she can. Leesha soon becomes the local herbalist, who is a sort of healer, which stops her from having to marry for seven years and a day. She soon becomes a major figure in the Hollow as a healer during demon attacks.

The third character introduced to the story is Rojer, who is a toddler at the beginning of the story as the only surviving member of his family after a demon attack. He is rescued and taken in by a jongleur, who is a type of roaming entertainer. Rojer becomes a jongleur himself and plays the fiddle. And he soon develops the ability to control demons with his music.

In The Desert Spear and The Daylight War, more characters are followed. Some of the characters that are introduced are Jadir who is the leader of the people of Krasia, which is a desert civilization to the south of the Free Cities. Their culture shares similarities with Islamic culture. His wife Inevera is also introduced as a character in the third book. There are also many chapters that are flashbacks to her past with involves Jadir's past as well. Abban is also another character that is follower. He is a Krasian merchant who works with Jadir and is very powerful. And Renna Tanner also becomes a major character. She is an old love interest of Arlen when he was still in Tibbets Brook. She fights a abusive father at home, while trying to get away from Tibbets Brook.

This is a great book series for anyone who enjoys fantasy novels. The world that Brett creates is amazing,and  full of magic with some mystery. The characters are greatly developed over the first three books, and the plot is great. Currently there are three books out. The Warder Man, The Desert Spear, and The Daylight War. With two more books that have yet to be written. These are amazing books, and I would strongly suggest them to anyone looking for a new book to read.

Making History

The Teens Make History logo

How would you like to go down in history? Teens Make History is a program implemented by the Missouri History Museum, open to students ages 15-18. Applicants first enter the eight-week Academy, a series of intensive hands-on workshops in which students learn various aspects of working at the museum--everything from advertising to writing labels for an exhibit. Activities within the Academy include writing and performing plays about history, learning about genealogy and curation at the LIbrary and Research Center, and delivering pitches to potential donors. It is an interesting and unique way to both get workplace experience and learn more about an occupation in museum work.

This year is the third year of the Academy. Crossroads students Solomon Cooper, Tia Rounsoville, and Darian Randle are current participants. Darian describes the experience as “cool.” He particularly likes the fact that the Academy helps students to acquire new skills, such as marketing. But the Academy does not just involve job skills; participants also get an in-depth view on history research and education. “I really enjoy learning how people remember history in different ways,” said Darian when discussing how different groups might see a particular event with different perspectives.

Those who successfully complete the Academy are eligible for paid positions within the museum, either with the Teens Make History Players (putting on historic plays with themes from current exhibits) or Exhibitors (who work together to put together an exhibit of their choice). I was in the Academy last year, and am currently working with a small group to put up an exhibit, “Between Two Worlds: Veterans Journey Home.” The exhibit is scheduled to open mid-April.  I encourage anyone interested in the humanities or in getting some job experience to consider joining the Academy next year.

Call for Submissions

Be a part of the Crossroads Chronicle! We are currently accepting art, comics, music, or other creative pursuits that you wish to share with the school.


If you are interested in submitting something, send it in an email to the address yeseriniam[AT]gmail.com. Be sure to make the subject of your email “Crossroads Chronicle: Your Name.” We’re looking forward to seeing your work!

If you are interested in putting in your two cents, consider joining the Journalism activity for the fourth quarter!

New Virus Emerges

Recently a new virus has developed the ability to travel from human to human. The new virus is known as novel coronavirus, or NCoV. The virus is part of the same family as the SARS virus that began in China in 2002 and infected about 8,000 people, and killed around ten percent of the infected. Both viruses share similar symptoms of difficult breathing, fever, and coughing. The current risk of this virus is low, but it can mutate. So far only 11 people have contracted the disease, but five of them have died due to the virus. The countries that so far have reported cases are Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Britain, and Germany, but all the patients in Britain had recently been to the Middle East, and the patient from Germany is from Qatar. Coronaviruses are spread like many other respiratory infections, through coughs and sneezes. Currently there is no need for great concern, but it something that should be closely watched for any changes.

A New Meaning of “Kafkaesque”

kafkaesque -- of, relating to, or suggestive of Franz Kafka or his writings; especially: having a nightmarishly complex, bizarre, or illogical quality (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kafkaesque)

Franz Kafka, the Jewish German-speaking author, is one of the iconic authors of the 20th century. Although he published few works, his name is well-known to many people and schools of thought like existentialism are traced back to his work and influence. Known for the bizarre worlds he creates through dark stories like “The Metamorphosis” or “The Trial,” the tales he depicts are known loosely even by those who have not read his works. But James Hawes, in his book “Why You Should Read Kafka Before You Waste Your Life,” argues that the traditional interpretation of Kafka’s life and work is on the whole incorrect.

James Hawes creates a list of the common “Kafka myths,” such as Kafka being an archetypal genius neglected in his lifetime, or a lonely and tormented soul struggling to make ends meet with his writing. Hawes uses evidence from other scholars, as well as the letters and diary entries of Kafka himself, to depict the “true” story of Kafka’s life.

While some might be put off by the fact that this biography reads more like a sensational magazine article than a scholarly work, Hawes gladly takes up the difficult task of story of Kafka’s life in sharp contrast to the traditional telling by everyone from tourist guides to college professors. Due to the fact that few have argued this point before, the citations are minimal. This also means that some background on Kafka is helpful in understanding the arguments in this book. Still, despite its flaws, this book is interesting, conversational, and creates a gripping worldview of the time and the place in which Kafka lived.

Overall, Hawes urges the reader to take a more critical look at the systems surrounding biographical and literary critique. He argues that Kafka himself has become an icon rather than a person, and that interpreting his work in this light detracts from the true meaning and intentions behind the man. If not a wholesome biography, it at least offers a critique of the tendency to see an author’s work in hindsight, rather than as a product of the time. For those who know Kafka’s work or are seeking a new interpretation of Kafka’s life, this book is a definite read.

Merlin

Merlin is a show starring Colin Morgan, Bradley James, and John Hurt. It is loosely based on Arthurian legends, but in this story the protagonist is Merlin, who must protect Arthur who is prophesied to bring forth a great kingdom and a golden age. Merlin (Colin Morgan) in the series is the serving boy of Prince Arthur(Bradley James), although the two are shown as having a close friendship. But here’s the twist, Merlin is gifted with magic, but Uther, who is Arthur’s father, has outlawed magic and its users. Uther has also imprisoned the last dragon (John Hurt) under the castle, who gives his advice to Merlin throughout the series. Merlin’s episodes consist of Merlin protecting Arthur from magical dangers, such as monsters and warlocks, as well as enemy soldiers, while he tries to influence Arthur to think of magic in a better light than his father.

The show was first shown on BBC one, and due to its ratings there, a second series was commissioned for the U.S. The show was first shown on NBC, but was later moved to Syfy. It’s 5th and current season will be the final season of the show. I would suggest the show to those who enjoy some of the other BBC shows that are popular right now, or who enjoy Fantasy shows and movies. It has a wonderful cast as well as pretty good effects for a TV series.

There are new episodes on Syfy every Friday at 9:00pm CT, and a majority of the show can be viewed on Netflix.

Rivers and Streams

Will Sheff is the lead singer and songwriter of Okkervil River, a small rock band founded in 1998. Sheff has recently acquired a dedicated recording space, giving rise to his new project, “Lovestreams.” In an email, Sheff stated that the goal of the project was “to make an album completely by myself and for myself.” To him, the project was intended as a direct and intimate experience, the creation of which he likened to the four-track tapes he recorded in high school. After over a year of working on the project, Sheff has finally released the second track of the album, “Shock Corridor.”

The beginning of the song is moody and surreal, the soft vocals drawing the listener into the abstract imagery typical of many Will Sheff songs. The chorus reads “I don’t care who you are and don’t care what you were -- you can’t look away from the Shock Corridor.” Catchy and interesting, it runs through the song, a challenging voice to the narrator.

Much like Will Sheff’s other songs, the lyrics to the piece read more like poetry than typical song lyrics. The detached images within the piece slowly come together to not only tell a story but to set a mood of longing and loss.

A few days ago Sheff released the song’s individual tracks so that people may use and manipulate them. As a free project that is open to the public, Lovestreams seems like a very immersive and interesting project. It hearkens to an intimate connection between artist, music, and listener, one that is quite rare in music production today.

Visit the Lovestreams Tumblr page here: http://lovestreamsdreams.tumblr.com/

For more on Will Sheff, visit his page here: http://www.willsheff.com/

Deadly Cats

How much do cats kill? A new study gives us an idea of the amount of wildlife killed by cats each year in the United States. It is estimated that between 1.4 and 3.7 billion birds are killed annually by domestic cats. Between 6.9 and 20.7 billion mammals are killed by domestic cats as well. The study also says that a majority of the animal deaths are caused by unowned cats rather than those who have owners. In my opinion  they are one of  the least domestic animals that have been domesticated. They kill both for fun, and for food. Most cat owners with outdoor cats know how much they hunt, and its something that just happens. They are cats, and they are doing what cats do. Below is a link to the abstract of the study.

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v4/n1/full/ncomms2380.html

Former Lives Review

Benjamin Gibbard

Former Lives Album Cover

Benjamin Gibbard is best known from his work with the indie rock group Death Cab for Cutie with songs such as “Cath”, “I Will Possess Your Heart", and “Soul Meets Body” as well as the group The Postal Service with the songs “Such Great Heights” and “The District Sleeps Alone”. Recently he has released the album Former Lives in October of 2012 which is the first album that has been released under his name. The album includes musical guests such as Aimee Mann in the song “Bigger Than Love”. The songs in Former Lives have a similar sound to the Death Cab for Cutie album Codes and Keys but does not sound as much like the groups earlier albums. In Former Lives most of the songs have the theme of the difficulties of love and heartbreak. But the sound of the instruments that accompanies the vocals vary in sound. Sometimes they have a warm sound to them, and others more or a sad tone. The album even features a short acapella song “Shepherd’s Bush Lullaby”. Overall Former Lives is a great album that features the iconic voice of Benjamin Gibbard. All of the songs on the album sound beautiful. If you enjoy listening to either Death Cab for Cutie or The Postal Service I would suggest listening to Benjamin Gibbard’s Former Lives. Below are two links, one to a NPR video of Benjamin Gibbard performing three songs, and the other is a performance by Gibbard on the Colbert Report.

http://www.npr.org/event/music/165279053/ben-gibbard-tiny-desk-concert

http://www.hulu.com/watch/444244

"The Hobbit" Review

“I’m not a hero, I’m not a warrior... I’m not even a burglar.” These are the words of protagonist Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) at the end of The Hobbit, the stunning prequel to the popular Lord of the Rings trilogy. The movie, based off the book by J.R.R. Tolkien, follows the antihero Bilbo as he is unwittingly pulled into an adventure with a troop of twelve dwarves and old friend and wizard Gandalf the Grey. Though the band sets off to fight the terrible dragon Smaug, they face more than enough trouble on their journey to Smaug’s lair--from evading capture by trolls or facing Goblin-Kings to trying to get along with high-minded Elves.

To me, when reading The Hobbit the dwarves often came across as a list of names rather than characters I should be invested in. This movie gave each dwarf a unique attitude and personality, adding much to the spirit of the journey and expanding upon the ways of the Dwarves in ways unseen in previous films. Bilbo is also skillfully portrayed, demonstrating the perfect blend of caution and determination that allow the viewer to empathize with this man longing for the comforts of home.

This movie did have a version with increased frame rate. While this seemed to garner mixed reviews by many, I personally think the visuals were stunning in both versions of the film. Other complaints may be that the movie was too long, that it kept in extraneous information and is still releasing two more parts. While this pleases many Lord of the Rings fans (particularly those that have the extended releases of the films) I can see why the lengthy production for The Hobbit might seem tedious and manipulative. To this, I can only say that Tolkien spent much of his life crafting an intricate world, complete with its own language and personality. He was one of the builders of high fantasy. He created maps and family trees and stuffed appendices full of information for people to glean more into the world of Middle Earth. Honestly, I wonder if three movies will be enough.

The Hobbit trailer is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0k3kHtyoqc

Crossroads College Prep Winter One Acts

This week is the week of the Crossroads College Prep Winter One Acts, a collection of student directed short plays. Many of the students who participate in the One Acts really enjoy them. Eric Wildsmith, a senior who is co-directing one of the one acts this year, says that his favorite one act memory “was the first one and I did, “The Laundromat” by Eric Gregg. It was the perfect acting experience and it got me hooked on theatre.” But the acting experiences are not the only things that people involved with the One Acts enjoy. There are also students who work on the sets, lights, and other technical aspects of theatre. “I was on the stage crew and just being able to hang out with everyone backstage and seeing the fruits of everyone’s labours” was Zane Spencer’s answer to the question of ‘What is your favorite One Act memory?’. Zane is co-directing a one act with Eric. Students who are taking part in the One Acts have been rehearsing for them since December. When asked what he likes about the One Acts director Nick Henke answers “It’s great how they are student driven. And how there is not someone who is safety netting everything...Everyone is doing their best work”. Sammy Longstreth, who is also directing a one act this year, was asked the same question and says how he likes that there is “lots of variation in the different one acts...It can vary on what the director wants”. The One Acts are a great experience for anyone interested in theatre, directing, or the technical aspects of theatre. The One Acts are this week with a free show tonight at 7:00pm, a show on Thursday the 24th at 7:00pm, Saturday at 7:00pm, and Sunday at 2:00pm. I would strongly suggest for people to go see the One Acts because they are going to be great.