Elemental Masters
Encyclopedia
Elemental Masters is a fantasy series written by Mercedes Lackey
, about an earth where magic exists and focuses on the Elemental Masters, people who have magic
al control over air, water, fire, or earth. Each elemental master has power over elemental
s, as well. Each book in the series is loosely based on a fairy tale.
Baen Books
published The Fire Rose. DAW Books
published the remaining books in the series and as part of this invented the "Elemental Masters" series name and numbered them starting with The Serpent's Shadow. Technically, The Fire Rose is not part of the Elemental Masters series but as it follows the same theme as the series it is included here.
, with The Fire Rose
taking place in North America and focusing on the San Francisco area. While history does tend to follow the real-life time line, historic calamities such as the great urban fire of Chicago and the earthquake in San Francisco are attributed to the elemental mages that serve as the series namesakes.
: the elemental magic that plays an important part in the series and ESP
that is largely explored in The Wizard of London
. There have been mentions of different types and degrees of magical ability in the series.
of a particular elemental affinity. Elemental magicians are classed by their affinity (Earth, Air, Fire, and/or Water) and by their mastery of their magic; one can be an Elemental Magician or an Elemental Master.
, the power of ice is seen as a perversion and innately destructive, as it calls for a basic twisting of a master's nature as well as the world around them.
. While the talented in most part fit the descriptions and abilities given psychics in the modern world, there are two main differences. First, certain psychics are able to gain familiars; the second difference is that powerful talents or the talented have psychic Avatar
s that represent their duties as champions of the light. These avatars tend to draw imagery from fiction and the past.
. Sensitives are those who do not have direct magical talents but are able to see and feel to a degree, magic cast by the Elemental Wizards. Some are capable of seeing and sometimes communicating with elemental spirits. Some sensitives may also cast small magics that are often based on emotions. A powerful Sensitive can use their powers to influence people. Sensitives often form the bulk of an Elemental Wizards's household.
of England and avatars of the Hindu gods
).
Mercedes Lackey
Mercedes "Misty" Lackey is a best-selling American author of fantasy novels. Many of her novels and trilogies are interlinked and set in the world of Velgarth, mostly in and around the country of Valdemar...
, about an earth where magic exists and focuses on the Elemental Masters, people who have magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
al control over air, water, fire, or earth. Each elemental master has power over elemental
Elemental
An elemental is a mythological being first appearing in the alchemical works of Paracelsus in the 16th century. Traditionally, there are four types:*gnomes, earth elementals*undines , water elementals*sylphs, air elementals...
s, as well. Each book in the series is loosely based on a fairy tale.
Books
- The Fire RoseThe Fire RoseThe Fire Rose is a fantasy novel written by Mercedes Lackey and part of her Elemental Masters series. It is set during turn-of-the-century Chicago and San Francisco and is based on Beauty and the Beast.-Plot summary:...
(1995, ISBN 0-671-87750-X) based on Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale. The first published version of the fairy tale was a rendition by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, published in La jeune américaine, et les contes marins in 1740... - The Serpent's ShadowThe Serpent's ShadowThe Serpent's Shadow is a novel by Mercedes Lackey, part of her Elemental Masters series. It is set in London in 1909 and is based on the fairy tale Snow White.-Plot summary:...
(2001, ISBN 0-7564-0061-9) based on Snow WhiteSnow White"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm... - The Gates of SleepThe Gates of SleepThe Gates of Sleep is the third novel by Mercedes Lackey in her Elemental Masters series. It is based on the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. The novel is set in Devon, England around the year 1912.-Plot summary:...
(2002, ISBN 0-7564-0101-1) based on Sleeping BeautySleeping BeautySleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault or Little Briar Rose by the Brothers Grimm is a classic fairytale involving a beautiful princess, enchantment, and a handsome prince... - Phoenix And AshesPhoenix and AshesPhoenix and Ashes is a fantasy novel written by Mercedes Lackey, a well-known fantasy author. Based on the story of Cinderella, Phoenix and Ashes is a stand alone book, though it is usually grouped with her other Elementals books.-Plot summary:...
(2004, ISBN 0-7564-0272-7) based on CinderellaCinderella"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune... - The Wizard of LondonThe Wizard of LondonThe Wizard of London is a novel by Mercedes Lackey, part of her Elemental Masters series. It is set in London and is based on the fairy tale The Snow Queen...
(October 2005, ISBN 0-7564-0174-7) based on The Snow QueenThe Snow QueenThe Snow Queen is a fairy tale by author Hans Christian Andersen . The tale was first published in 1845, and centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by a little boy and girl, Kai and Gerda.... - Reserved for the CatReserved for the CatReserved for the Cat is a novel by Mercedes Lackey, part of her Elemental Masters series. It is set in England and is based on the fairy tale Puss In Boots.-Plot summary:...
(October 2007,ISBN 978-0-7564-0362-1) based on Puss in Boots - Unnatural Issue (June 2011) based on DonkeyskinDonkeyskinDonkeyskin is a French fairy tale told by Charles Perrault.Andrew Lang included it, somewhat euphemized, in The Grey Fairy Book.It is Aarne-Thompson folktale type 510B, unnatural love...
or similar tale
Baen Books
Baen Books
Baen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by long time science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. It is a science fiction and fantasy publishing house that emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, military science fiction, and fantasy...
published The Fire Rose. DAW Books
DAW Books
DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company therefore claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was...
published the remaining books in the series and as part of this invented the "Elemental Masters" series name and numbered them starting with The Serpent's Shadow. Technically, The Fire Rose is not part of the Elemental Masters series but as it follows the same theme as the series it is included here.
World
The setting of the "Elemental Masters" is an alternative Earth during the early 1900s. The main and perhaps sole difference between this world and our reality is that magic exists, controlled by those who have mastery over the four classical elements (fire, air, water, earth). The majority of the tales take place in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, with The Fire Rose
The Fire Rose
The Fire Rose is a fantasy novel written by Mercedes Lackey and part of her Elemental Masters series. It is set during turn-of-the-century Chicago and San Francisco and is based on Beauty and the Beast.-Plot summary:...
taking place in North America and focusing on the San Francisco area. While history does tend to follow the real-life time line, historic calamities such as the great urban fire of Chicago and the earthquake in San Francisco are attributed to the elemental mages that serve as the series namesakes.
Magic
The world of the "Elemental Masters" is home to two main types of magicMagic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
: the elemental magic that plays an important part in the series and ESP
Extra-sensory perception
Extrasensory perception involves reception of information not gained through the recognized physical senses but sensed with the mind. The term was coined by Frederic Myers, and adopted by Duke University psychologist J. B. Rhine to denote psychic abilities such as telepathy, clairaudience, and...
that is largely explored in The Wizard of London
The Wizard of London
The Wizard of London is a novel by Mercedes Lackey, part of her Elemental Masters series. It is set in London and is based on the fairy tale The Snow Queen...
. There have been mentions of different types and degrees of magical ability in the series.
Elemental magic
Elemental magic is the most commonly seen form of magic in the series, with every book having at least a couple of elemental masters as major characters, with one serving as the antagonist. The masters' abilities are tied with their ability to see and control spiritsElemental
An elemental is a mythological being first appearing in the alchemical works of Paracelsus in the 16th century. Traditionally, there are four types:*gnomes, earth elementals*undines , water elementals*sylphs, air elementals...
of a particular elemental affinity. Elemental magicians are classed by their affinity (Earth, Air, Fire, and/or Water) and by their mastery of their magic; one can be an Elemental Magician or an Elemental Master.
The Power of Ice
The power of Ice can be the seen as a partial exception of the normal abilities of an Elemental mage. Ice can be controlled by a skilled master of Fire, with cold being the inverse of heat. As seen in The Wizard of LondonThe Wizard of London
The Wizard of London is a novel by Mercedes Lackey, part of her Elemental Masters series. It is set in London and is based on the fairy tale The Snow Queen...
, the power of ice is seen as a perversion and innately destructive, as it calls for a basic twisting of a master's nature as well as the world around them.
The Talented
Most of the details given about the talented (those who have some degree of psychic abilities) are seen in The Wizard of LondonThe Wizard of London
The Wizard of London is a novel by Mercedes Lackey, part of her Elemental Masters series. It is set in London and is based on the fairy tale The Snow Queen...
. While the talented in most part fit the descriptions and abilities given psychics in the modern world, there are two main differences. First, certain psychics are able to gain familiars; the second difference is that powerful talents or the talented have psychic Avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
s that represent their duties as champions of the light. These avatars tend to draw imagery from fiction and the past.
Sensitives
Details are given in Reserved for the CatReserved for the Cat
Reserved for the Cat is a novel by Mercedes Lackey, part of her Elemental Masters series. It is set in England and is based on the fairy tale Puss In Boots.-Plot summary:...
. Sensitives are those who do not have direct magical talents but are able to see and feel to a degree, magic cast by the Elemental Wizards. Some are capable of seeing and sometimes communicating with elemental spirits. Some sensitives may also cast small magics that are often based on emotions. A powerful Sensitive can use their powers to influence people. Sensitives often form the bulk of an Elemental Wizards's household.
Other forms of magic
While psychics, wizards and elemental masters are portrayed as the more common magic users in the western world, the series also focuses on other forms of power such as the Hindu sorcerers of India and the various spirits of the world (such as the feyFairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
of England and avatars of the Hindu gods
Hindu deities
Within Hinduism a large number of personal gods are worshipped as murtis. These beings are either aspects of the supreme Brahman, Avatars of the supreme being, or significantly powerful entities known as devas. The exact nature of belief in regards to each deity varies between differing Hindu...
).