Invitation to a Small Trivia Game
 

I started a thread on a Zulu-based mod in the mod section.

In a recent post, I appended a list of folklore-based magic items.

One of them is a fake, which I lifted from a favorite fantasy author.

Can you spot it?

Can you name the author and source?

Game ends two weeks from yesterday.

post at:
Post##391495

Re: Invitation to a Small Trivia Game
 

The post is not there...

Re: Invitation to a Small Trivia Game
 

Remove the "#" from the URL after clicking on the link...

Re: Invitation to a Small Trivia Game
 

Hmm its either, the Trumpet or the Fairy Bird, im guessing the trumpet.

Re: Invitation to a Small Trivia Game
 

Let's try that link again.

If it doesn't work, the thread itself is easy to find--there's only one on Zulus, and the trivia post was Monday 11/7/05.

Post#391495

Re: Invitation to a Small Trivia Game
 

Interesting guess. Try for source/author?


One author it is not: One of the few fantasy authors I've found writing African-based fantasy is Charles R. Saunders.

I found his novel from the '70s, Imaro.

After more than a score of years out of print, the novel is returning. Next year (2006), Night Shade will be releasing a heavily-revised edition.

A website dedicated to the hero and world can be found here:

Imaro website

And here's a list of short stories for the interested:

Agbewe's Sword, (nv) Amazons!, ed. Jessica Amanda Salmonson, DAW, 1979

Amma, (ss) Beyond the Fields We Know Fll '78
The Year's Best Horror Stories: Series VII, ed. Gerald W. Page, DAW, 1979

The City of Madness ["M'ji ya Wazimi, City of Madness"], (nv) Dark Fantasy Jul '74
The Year's Best Fantasy Stories, ed. Lin Carter, DAW, 1975

Death in Jukun, (ss) Heroic Fantasy, ed. Gerald W. Page & Hank Reinhardt, DAW, 1979

Ishigbi, (ss) Hecate's Cauldron, ed. Susan M. Shwartz, DAW, 1982

Mai-Kulala [*Imaro], (ss) Space & Time Nov '77
Swords Against Darkness #4, ed. Andrew J. Offutt, Zebra, 1979

M'ji ya Wazimi, City of Madness, (nv) Dark Fantasy Jul '74; also as "The City of Madness".

The Pool of the Moon, (ss) Dark Fantasy #8 '76
The Year's Best Fantasy Stories #3, ed. Lin Carter, DAW, 1977


Happy Hunting!

Re: Invitation to a Small Trivia Game
 

BTW,

the previous post should not be taken as a confirmation your item guess (neither am I saying you're wrong http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif).

The contest is still fully open until a week from next Monday.

Re: Invitation to a Small Trivia Game
 

I just guess trumpet and the fairy bird, because those two seem the least african, and of them I would say the trumpet is the odd one.

Re: Invitation to a Small Trivia Game
 

It is late Monday night here, and there is a week to go.

A fair number of people have been looking, but no one seems to be guessing. Of the people not guessing, no one has decided to say why.

It might be easier to approach this game by figuring out the original source and author. Not all that many fantasy authors have used African traditions.

I'll drop a hint or two and see if anyone wants to take a shot at it.

The author is a 20th Century American writer. The source material for the item was written before 1950. The author is best known for an iconic fantasy character other than the one who received the ringer item.


Who it is not: Andre Norton.

Her book Jargoon Pard, part of the Witch World series, always struck me as having a distinctly African flavor. It is the story of a leopard shape-shifter, and is quite good. Many years ago, when I was putting together an African fantasy bibliography, this was one of the few books I found at the time.

If anyone has some suggestions for works that might go on an African fantasy bibliography, feel free to post them here.

Re: Invitation to a Small Trivia Game
 

Sunday Night.

One day to go. OK, we're going to expand the game just a little.

Everyone who sends in a fantasy fiction reference (title author, publisher, year) for an African-based fantasy novel (like the Imaro I-III collections of Charles R. Saunders), gets a victory point.

If no one gets the primary trivia question, whoever has the most points wins.

Contest closes 12:00 midnight Pacific Standard Time Monday. I'll post the results (and answers) Tuesday.

Re: Invitation to a Small Trivia Game
 

OK, game over! No winners!

The ringer was:

Staff of the Sangoma
Legendary witchdoctor’s staff, potent against evil creatures.

The guest Author: Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan.

The source: The Solomon Kane stories
(Moon of Skulls, Red Shadows, etc.).

Classic pulp adventures, somewhat dated today, but still interesting to read.

In addition to his rapier and flintlock pistols, Kane carried the magic staff ("ju-ju stick") given to him by the shaman, N'Longa, and it played a key role in several of the stories. For more info see here.

Incidentally, the Trumpet of Rain was forged by the smith to the gods, Ngungi (from Zulu Shaman by Credo Mutwe), and the other items are all from various folktales collected from the region.

I have another little activity that I'll keep until Friday. Maybe someone wants to play over the weekend.