For the Love of Stabby Things and a Sword Named Tim

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Photo by Alicia Pack

Here at Dragon Con (especially the Daily Dragon), we have a longstanding love for all things sharp and stabby. So much so that the High Fantasy track hosted a panel dedicated to our favorite stabbity object, the sword, Friday at 11:30AM in the Marriott L401–403 with authors Brian D. Anderson, Mac Edelheit, Cat Rambo, and Constance G.J. Wagner.

According to Anderson, the sword is the pinnacle of weapons, meant to protect yourself, your family, and your land. Not to mention, stabbing your neighbors and stealing their land and family. The sword is often seen as an extension of the hero (not phallically—well, probably phallically), almost taking on a reflection of the wielder’s personality. Being the big bad boy of the group, the sword has grown to mythical proportions over the centuries. Thrusting a weapon that could shatter other swords, one that was passed down through generations, was magical to those warriors.

Since men love to name their swords, the legends behind them take on a life of their own. Think about how you feel when you’re near a centuries old weapon. Who owned it? What stories could the cold steel tell? Swords have the power to invoke raw emotions to anyone who looks upon them.

The truth is that to really handle and fight with a sword, it takes a lot of dedication, training, and stamina. Swords are heavy and tiring (and the Daily Dragon can confirm this). In the end, the most realistic sword fights are the ones where the fighters are utterly exhausted and breathless.

Authors of the article

Not everyone can say they watch television for homework, read novels for inspiration, and are paid to follow what’s trending. For Alicia Pack, it is all part of life as a writer and media enthusiast.  When she isn't lost in the world she is trying to create, you can find her with her nose in a book or catching up on her favorite supernatural shows.  She has a Master’s degree in Mass Communications and a Bachelor’s degree in Radio, Television, and Film.  Her nine years of diverse media experience include news writing, copywriting, website content management, social media, promotions, television production, and teaching.

Debbie Yutko lives near Atlanta with her husband and two cats. When she isn’t gardening, rescuing homeless kittens, or cramming math formulas into teenagers’ brains, she can be found stringing words together at her computer and dreaming of adventures in far-off lands. She is a lifelong reader of Science Fiction and Fantasy and a veteran of Dragon Con, where she enjoys attending panels and working with the talented staff of the Daily Dragon.