The purpose of this project was to explore the nature of relationships and the concept of light and dark aspects of personality in a fantasy setting.Sisters of Shadow is the story of telepathically linked twin sisters who study in rival schools of magic. When their unique bond is discovered, they must deal with the hostile emotions it inspires in others. The pivotal event in the story is a test both girls must undergo before they can become apprentices in their respective schools of magic. The test forces them to work together, light magic balancing and harmonizing with dark magic. An assassination attempt also serves to bring the sisters together, body, mind and spirit; this results in a closer examination of the telepathic link and its potential uses, and the ethical issues its use raises.The story, intended as the first book, or section, of a larger work is targeted at young adults. It deals with young characters and their struggles to reach maturity. Its primary theme, that light and dark forces, the power to do good and the power to do evil, reside within every one of us, is somewhat allegorical in nature. As the work progresses, the idea that there can be a balance between the two forces in shadow--the mixture of light and dark--will be developed. In this story, however, the sisters have their first encounter with shadow and it is a terrifying one. It is the first in a series of experiences that will lead them to discover that the shadow realm is a meeting place where both girls can use their skills to their fullest.It should also be noted that this story uses a convention specific only to the fantasy genre. To differentiate mindspeech from regular conversation, colons are used in place of quotation marks and dialogue is italicized. / Department of English

In the course of this dissertation, I will interrogate traditional representations of the heroic figure within the fantasy genre. I will argue that the tropes established by some of the most renowned fantasy texts are undergoing a process of evolution and that Steven Erikson (who is the special focus of my discussion) seeks to revision the heroic mould through his construction of Coltaine of the Crow Clan in Deadhouse Gates (2001). Deadhouse Gates centres on Coltaine, who is tasked with escorting tens of thousands of refugees across four hundred leagues of hostile territory. This re-evaluation of fantasy modes has significant ramifications for the future development of the genre as a whole. In order to explore how Erikson interrogates heroic representation, I briefly establish some of the distinctive characteristics of fantasy. I then explore how some major fantasy texts represent heroism, before investigating Erikson’s particular response to these traditions. / English Studies / M. A. (English)

In the course of this dissertation, I will interrogate traditional representations of the heroic figure within the fantasy genre. I will argue that the tropes established by some of the most renowned fantasy texts are undergoing a process of evolution and that Steven Erikson (who is the special focus of my discussion) seeks to revision the heroic mould through his construction of Coltaine of the Crow Clan in Deadhouse Gates (2001). Deadhouse Gates centres on Coltaine, who is tasked with escorting tens of thousands of refugees across four hundred leagues of hostile territory. This re-evaluation of fantasy modes has significant ramifications for the future development of the genre as a whole. In order to explore how Erikson interrogates heroic representation, I briefly establish some of the distinctive characteristics of fantasy. I then explore how some major fantasy texts represent heroism, before investigating Erikson’s particular response to these traditions. / English Studies / M. A. (English)