We could make up plausible origins. Like old men shaking their canes at kids on the lawn, or children going after fruit trees with a stick–really good trees would have more fruit than you could shake a stick at…

You mean…

“More than you can shake a stick at” comes from Ireland, and the old Irish writing system of Ogham, where histories were inscribed frequently on long, thin, rods.

In Ireland, writing was typically limited to the druids, bards, and warrior classes, but the most prolific writers were the bards who were often grandiloquent when writing the genealogies and histories of the Irish families. In fact, some historians believe that the Irish love of story may date back to this time.

One of the old record keepers, a contrary man named Midac, received the rods for the Bascna clan–more specifically, he received numerous rods detailing the exploits of the warrior Fionn Mac Cumhaill, mainly submitted by Finegas. Midac made disparaging comments about the histories, saying that some of the stories were exaggerations, if not outright lies.

As Midac the Cranky was not particularly popular, and his comments were seen as disparaging not just Finegas, but bards in general, others started submitting tales of Fionn’s exploits for the sole purpose of irritating Midac. After a particularly ridiculous tale involving the Morrigan, Midac said that all the other clans had a handful of tales to their histories “a reasonable number” but the number of rods submitted for Fionn was ridiculous. Standing up and shaking the rod with the latest offering, Midac said that all these Fionn tales were more than he could stand and the way things were going, Fionn tales would be the only history of the people that would survive.

It was later that evening when one of the junior bards, after perhaps a bit more mead than was good for him, reenacted the scene. Unfortunately for him, when he mimicked Midac’s rage over the Fionn rods, he grabbed a heavy walking stick as a substitute, and knocked himself unconscious. It was this telling that took the fancy of the local population, and eventually led to our modern saying.

Today I said something about “more than you can shake a stick at” and then wondered where the heck that came from.

The answer seems to be: no one knows for sure, but I’m going to go home and check my books, just in case.

ADDENDUM the First:
All four of my slang dictionaries are silent on the subject stick shaking.

ADDENDUM the Second:
Or we could just make something up.

Happy Banned Book Week

The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000
(Books I have read are in italics)
(more…)

You’re a pretty imaginative guy. What’s your view on life?

I think, on the whole, it’s infinitely better than the alternatives.

from Neil’s on-line journal.

This tale.

Although the version I first read is slightly different.

An article in today’s NY Times discussing short stories struck me, mostly because it was a sharp reminder of how my reading habits differ from the habits of “the general public”, and how the genre I love best (fantasy) seems strangely separated from the rest of the world.

Almost no one makes a living from writing short stories anymore. The story has to a large extent been severed from its traditional roots – from popular, large-circulation magazines, that is – and it has been transplanted into the greenhouses of the academy.

As I’ve mentioned before, I love short stories. There’s just something about the form that fascinates me. They’re quick to read, and you have to get to all the important stuff in just a few words. Everything is there, in just a few pages.

Not that I dislike novels mind you. There are times when you just want to read more about a character, and only a long novel or (I read lots of fantasy) a nice trilogy will do.

But as far as publishing short stories, if you look through the science fiction and fantasy section at the book store, you’ll find several quality anthologies, including the “Year’s Best in Fantasy and Horror” which is a huge book, collecting some of the best stories and poems from the previous year. And you can also find various collection on different subject, or collections by specific authors. (I love all of Charles de Lint‘s short story collections, probably more than I love his novels.)

So if Science Fiction and Fantasy can produce so many quality short stories, then why not elsewhere?

This may be it for the fun reading for awhile.

Which is why, of course, we went to three bookstores this weekend and bought more books. But really! I needed to replace my copy of Steven Brust’s The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars.

The Blackie Ryan Mysteries by Andrew M. Greeley

Although I like Andrew M. Greeley’s writing, I don’t necessarily recommend a reading marathon of the Blackie Ryan mysteries, primarily because he has written the books to stand alone, so each book gives you an explanation of the nickname punk, Blackie’s relationship with Mary Kate, and why Mike the Cop is called Mike the Cop. Those things aren’t bad in and of themselves, but they get a little old if you’re read the same line three days in a row. He does, however, get a little better about this as the series continues, which is good, because I was getting a little tired of reading about Sean Cardinal Cronin’s gallowglass laugh.

Read More about the Blackie Ryan Mysteries

The Death Gate Cycle Dragon Wing, Elven Star, Fire Sea, Serpent Mage, Into the Labyrinth, The Hand of Chaos, The Seventh Gate by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

It had been years since I’d read the Death Gate cycle, mostly because 7 books is a lot to read for someone who has to complete an entire series as quickly as possible.

One of the things I’d forgotten about the books, is how good the story was.

Read More about The Death Gate Cycle

The Books of Magic John Ney Rieber

In her quest to get me to read comics, Erin gave me book 1, Bindings, for my birthday, and so, finishing the first and being me, I had to read the rest. (Yeah, I know, I’ve got a bad book addiction, but it could be worse.)

Read More about The Books of Magic

Driving music:
XTC Waxworks “Life begins at the hop”
Fixx Greatest Hits
Abba Greatest Hits
Nickel Creek
Sheryl Crow Tuesday Night Music Club
Nickel Creek This Side
Madonna The Immaculate Collection
Duran Duran Decade

New Books:
The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction 15th ed. ed Edward L. Ferman and Gordon Van Gelder
Widow’s Walk Robert B. Parker
Waifs and Strays Charles deLint
Le Morte D’Arthur Sir Thomas Malory
The Mabinogion trans Jeffery Gantz
Shinju and Bundori by Laura Joh Rowland
Myths and Legends of Japan F. Hadland Davis

I was actually quite restrained this trip, at least as far as my book buying goes. But still have some new stuff to read.

Robert B. Parker

So while home sick, I decided to read all the Robert B Parker Spenser books I could get my hands on. I think that would be all of them but two. Here are my thoughts (will probably continue to be updated):

Read More about the Spenser mysteries

I’m home sick; the only good thing about this is that I can lie on the sofa and read. I’ve finished all the Terry Pratchett books in the house, so for a change of pace I’ve moved on to Robert B. Parker’s Spenser mysteries. I’m already in Mortal Stakes.

What I have been reading is as follows:

Men at Arms, Soul Music, Interesting Times, Hogfather Terry Pratchett

Read More about Men at Arms, Soul Music, Interesting Times, Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

The Legend of Nightfall by Mickey Zucker Reichert

Read More about The Legend of Nightfall by Mickey Zucker Reichert

The Lions of Al-Rassan Guy Gavriel Kay

This is a very good, albeit very depressing book. Set in the same world as Sailing to Sarantium, this book describes the battles between the followers of Jad versus the Asharites.

If Sailing to Sarantium reminded me of Rome, this book reminded me of Spain. Of the Crusades. Of Christianity and Islam, with Judaism caught in between.

Read More about The Lions of Al-Rassan

Witches Abroad, Mort, Wyrd Sisters, Small Gods, Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett

I’m still going through Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. This set of books included three books about the Discworld witches Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick; another book about Death, and a book about the Gods of Discworld.

I think I liked Mort, where Death takes an apprentice, best of this group.

Read More about Witches Abroad, Mort, Wyrd Sisters, Small Gods, Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett