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| Research Research for your story or poem. Ask about history, technology, language etc. |
07-10-2005, 06:20 AM
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#1
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Best Seller
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Christchurch, Southwest England (Dorset)
Posts: 566
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Alchemy
What is it? I know its almost a cross between science and magic, but i've never really been that sure about what it is.
I'll take any information i can get - from real alchemists of the olde days, to different author's interpretations and any standard fantasy 'rules' about alchemists.
Can anyone direct me to a good fantasy novel involving them?
kintaris
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07-10-2005, 06:37 AM
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#2
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Ink Slinger
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Gender: Male
Posts: 4,549
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__________________
*He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway) 
*Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words? - Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)
*Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it - Moses Hadas
*He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know - Abraham Lincoln
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07-10-2005, 06:53 AM
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#3
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Best Seller
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Gender: Female
Posts: 729
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"The alchemists cat" by Robin Jarvis.
A fantasy novel, i think was set in London at the time of the black death... its been a while since iv read it.
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"A robin redbreast in a cage, puts all heaven in a rage"-William Blake
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07-10-2005, 09:07 AM
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#4
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Wordsmith
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Back 'home' on Tinian!
Gender: Female
Posts: 11,445
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far as i know, it's not much more than attempts to turn base metals into gold... and formulae purporting to achieve said goal... so, is it?...
curious reader wants to know.................
__________________
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"You must BE the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
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07-10-2005, 02:21 PM
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#5
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pliable
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Posts: 12,607
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That's essentially what it is. Through trial and error (because you can't turn another element into gold), alchemists discovered all sorts of other things about the elements and how they react to the world. They were the precursors to chemists.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Drzava
Usually it takes at least 100 [posts] before people start to hate Hodge
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Science
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07-10-2005, 03:12 PM
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#6
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Addict
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 100
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Don't forget the 'religious' pov - it is allegory.
Base = human, gold = super human or angel, immortal etc.
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Ted Truscott
That's the difference between me and the rest of the world! Happiness isn't good enough for me! I demand euphoria! ~ CALVIN
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07-16-2005, 03:19 PM
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#7
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Scotland
Gender: Male
Posts: 323
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Ted T. :that is so wrong, there are no religous connotations in alchemy. They were actually persecuted by the church (at least in Europe they were)
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Three men walk into a bar, one of them is a bit stupid, and the whole scene unfolds with a tedious envitability
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07-20-2005, 05:42 PM
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#8
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Adept Writer
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Middle of Nowhere, New York
Gender: Female
Posts: 839
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There's the GREAT alchemy site but I don't know the adress... Just search on google "alchemy" and the first link should be the one.
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07-20-2005, 06:17 PM
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#9
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Profound Writer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Northern Colorado
Posts: 1,052
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What alchemy ISN'T is anything from Cartoon Network.
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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Ronald
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07-20-2005, 07:02 PM
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#10
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Wordsmith
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: New York
Posts: 5,240
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"The Alchemist," by Paulo Coelho.
It's one of the best books I've ever read in my entire life. Definitely top three on my list.
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Ruthless comments encouraged!
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