Ah, yes, you’re right, as I found when I dug out my copy and skimmed through it to check.
There’s a sequel, outlined by Miller and completed by another SF writer after his death, but the reviews on Amazon.com were brutal and I doubt I’ll pick it up.
Everyone I’ve spoken to says exactly the same thing- the sequel isn’t very good, has little to do with the original book, and for all intents and purposes should be regarded as not existing in the first place…
The matter was resolved. This person submitted a complaint to the School Board about the “Potter” books and asked that they be removed from school libraries. The School Board, by its own policy, must investigate every complaint. They asked the head librarian for her written opinion and she gave it. It was very eloquent, thorough in it’s defense of the “Potter” books, and adament that the books stay on the shelves. The School Board agreed and voted against the complaintant. End of story.
This is actually a good news story about what happens when a government agency plays it right. The parent got her complaint heard and nobody got inconvenienced in the process. It was the press that blew it way out of proportion. The complaint never had a chance, but to say that wouldn’t sell any papers, would it?
It does.
A witch (or what we would, today, probably call a medium) is portrayed rather favorably in the story of the Witch of Endor in 1 Samuel 28:4-25. She is portrayed as actually being able to call up the ghost of Samuel.
There’s lots about blood sacrifices- Leviticus is basically a rule book for making them. Jephthah even sacrifices his daughter in the book of Judges.
There is a procedure recommended for punishing an adulterous wife that is basically a spell in Numbers. She is made to drink a potion, and if and only if she is guilty, it’s supposed to make her thigh sag and her belly distend. It’s described as a “curse” or “spell” (depending on the translation).
I’ve read it. They’re right. I don’t know how much was Miller’s and how much was by the other writer, but the other writer wrote the last few pages, which were much better than the rest of the book.
I reread Canticle just before reading Wild Horse Woman, so the pain was ever greater. Save yourself and avoid the sequel.
Not that favourable. Saul goes along to see her in secret because he knows durn well that what he’s up to is a big no-no, and when Samuel’s shade turns up he asks Saul “WTHF do you think you’re doing?”. (And then sternly informs him that they’ll be meeting again shortly.)
About the funniest thing in there is where they say that telling you that it’s sunrise means that it’s about sun worship. I guess someone should tell all the christians that they’re really sun worshippers, after all it’s made quite clear in the bible that the empty tomb (and presumably the resurrection) is discovered at…SUNRISE!