An elf (plural: elves) is a type of supernatural being in Germanic mythology and folklore. Elves are first attested in Old English and Old Norse texts and are prominent in traditional British and Scandinavian folklore.
Elves were originally thought of as ambivalent beings with certain magical abilites capable of helping or hindering humans, but in later traditions became increasingly sinister and were believed to afflict humans and livestock in various ways. In early modern folklore they became associated with the fairies of Romance culture. The Romanticist movement revived literary interest in folk beliefs and culture, and elves entered the 20th-century high fantasy genre in the wake of works published by authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien.
The "Christmas elves" of contemporary popular culture are of relatively recent tradition, popularized during the late 19th century in the United States, in publications such as Godey's Lady's Book.
The English word elf is from the Old English ælf or elf; in compound as ælfadl "nightmare," ælfsogoða "hiccup," afflictions apparently thought to be caused by elves.
Terence Dean "Terry" Brooks (born January 8, 1944) is an American writer of fantasy fiction. He writes mainly epic fantasy, and has also written two movie novelizations. He has written 23 New York Times bestsellers during his writing career, and has over 21 million copies of his books in print. He is one of the biggest-selling living fantasy writers.
Brooks was born in the rural midwestern town of Sterling, Illinois, and spent a large part of his life living there. He is an alumnus of Hamilton College, earning his B.A. in English literature in 1966. He later obtained a J.D. from Washington and Lee University. He was a practicing attorney before becoming a full-time author and now resides in Seattle, Washington, with his wife, Judine. Brooks' thorough familiarity with and love for the city of Seattle are clearly expressed in "A Knight of the Word" whose plot is set in that city.
Brooks had been a writer since high school, writing mainly in the genres of science fiction, western, fiction, and non-fiction. One day, in his early college life, he was given a copy of The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, which inspired him to write in one genre. While Tolkien inspired the genre, Brooks stated at the Charlotte Literary Festival that he credits the inspiration of his style of writing to William Faulkner's works. With this inspiration, he then made his debut in 1977 with his first novel The Sword of Shannara. This novel became the first fantasy book ever to appear on the New York Times bestseller list, where it stayed for five months.
Graham Hancock (born 2 August 1950 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a British writer and journalist. Hancock specialises in unconventional theories involving ancient civilizations, stone monuments or megaliths, altered states of consciousness, ancient myths and astronomical/astrological data from the past. One of the main themes running through many of his books is the possible global connection with a "mother culture" from which he believes all ancient historical civilizations sprang.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Hancock's formative years were spent in India, where his father worked as a surgeon. Having returned to the UK, he graduated from Durham University in 1973, receiving a First Class Honours degree in Sociology.
As a journalist, Hancock worked for many British papers, such as The Times, The Sunday Times, The Independent, and The Guardian. He was co-editor of New Internationalist magazine from 1976–1979 and East Africa correspondent of The Economist from 1981-1983.
Plot
A few weeks before Christmas, André, a chubby middle-aged office worker in Ghent, arranges an Internet date with a woman who tangos. Trouble is, André doesn't know how to dance, so he begs Frans, a co-worker, to teach him. Frans refuses - he's a superior type, proper, erect, immaculately, separate from the others, while Andre is a bit of a shlub. André calls Frans's bluff, calling him boring and staid, so Frans accepts the challenge. They practice long hours; the passion of the tango infuses André and when the night comes, he's ready. Frans accompanies him to a nightclub where he meets Suzanne. She and André begin to dance. Then, something goes wrong. Is this all for naught?
Keywords: angel, bar, bing-crosby, boutonnière, challenge, chat, chin-up, christmas, christmas-tree, cleavage
Plot
Episode Two - "Space Boogies" - The Saturn Patrol team arrive on-board the Hyperion (their spacecraft) for the first time only to find that it might be haunted! - Episode Three - "En Espanol" - The Patrol is on a collation course with the Space Orphanage! They are helpless to do anything because the ship's controls are stuck in Spanish mode. -- Episode Four - "A Very Saturn Christmas" - While most of the crew is snuggled into their beds something roams the ship! Find out why the Christmas star was so bright. - Episode Six - "Time Tripper" - Captain Cosmos goes back in time to 'fix' a problem. As expected, he only makes things worse! - Episode Seven - "Alternate Realities" - Rafe finds himself in the wrong reality and must find a way back home.
Plot
In the tiny town of Harmony, thepeople have been working so hard they've forgotten music even exists! Then, three determined little orphans set out to find a giftthey can give the hardworking townsfolk. And with a little night-before-Christmas advice from kindly Mrs. Santa Claus, they give the town the most amazing present anyone could imagine: Christmas caroling!
Keywords: christmas
When will the good Scotch return?
In all its scarred, splendor,
When will the price of Scotch come down?
Here's him in nearly '85
Hanging around with pop scum
It's not the business I despise
On this train, extended ride
It's the Scotch end of the market now
And steel glasses
And bad music corpses
Cannot hide the new rock scum
Spitting on what's good and gone
Spitting on what's good and gone
When will the price of Scotch come down?
Arrangement before job done
Alignment before job done
Assignment before song sung
Alignment before job done
All of this fantastic league's against me
The Fantastic is in league against me
Tin-can rattle on the path
The [bestial greed] is on the attack
The cat black runs round the tree
The siamese reached the shore
The siamese reached the shore
No never, no never no more
will I trust the elves of Dunsimore (repeated)
I cried for you, what a waste of time
I gave away into, oh my weaker side
Now my heart's in two, 'cause I made you lie
Oh whoa, oh whoa
Oh whoa, oh whoa
I go out for a while, always ends up in a dial
'Cause I run out of the trust that I had when I was a child
So I make you into just another chip in my smile
Oh whoa, oh whoa
Oh whoa, oh whoa
And I walk 'til I erase it
But I call 'cause I can't replace it
And my voice, yeah, I betrayed it
And I fall, because I can't face it
I've played into a part just to make you mine
Yeah, we had a failed start, didn't know why we tried
Now it's been so long and far since the time it died
But I know that in my heart, better say our goodbyes
Oh whoa, oh whoa
Oh whoa, oh whoa
And I walk 'til I erase it
But I call 'cause I can't replace it
And my voice, yeah, I've betrayed it
When will the good scotch return? In all its scarred, splendor, When will the price of scotch come down? Heres him in nearly 85Hanging around with pop scum
Its not the business I despise
On this train, extended ride
Its the scotch end of the market now
And steel glasses
And bad music corpses
Cannot hide the new rock scum
Spitting on whats good and gone
Spitting on whats good and gone
When will the price of scotch come down? Arrangement before job done
Alignment before job done
Assignment before song sung
Alignment before job done
All of this fantastic leagues against me
The fantastic is in league against me
Tin-can rattle on the path
[bestial greed]
is on the attack
The cat black runs round the tree
The siamese reached the shore
The siamese reached the shore
No never, no never no more