Kell with a more enigmatic color of magic In the fantasy novel "A Darker Shade of Magic" by V.E. Schwab, the protagonist Kell possesses a unique ability: he can travel between parallel universes, each with its own distinctive color of magic. While most Antari, those who can wield magic, can only access one color, Kell is a rare exception - he can access multiple colors. However, the true extent of his power remains a mystery throughout the story. Kell's main color of magic is red, which grants him the ability to manipulate the elemental forces of fire.
He has been painted as a deluded man who looked to the stars for guidance, dabbled in alchemy and communed with angels. But an alternative view is that he was one of the most brilliant men of the Renaissance, whose contribution has been muddied by centuries of slander. He was a polymath, engaged with the most cutting-edge science of his day, which at the time was intertwined with magic and the occult.
His contemporaries, such as Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake and William Shakespeare who is said to have based the magician Prospero in The Tempest on Dee are securely bookmarked in our catalogue of British history. But an alternative view is that he was one of the most brilliant men of the Renaissance, whose contribution has been muddied by centuries of slander.
Kell's main color of magic is red, which grants him the ability to manipulate the elemental forces of fire. This color is typical of his home universe, Red London, where magic flows freely and is revered. However, Kell's affinity for red magic is not limited to just one universe.
John Dee: Elizabethan 007, scientist, magician and spy
One of the foremost thinkers in England, John Dee combined science with spiritualism to rise to the top of Elizabethan politics and cast a spell over the queen with his counsel. And while his enemies would ensure that he was ridiculed and forgotten, he lives on in the codename for beloved superspy James Bond
Published: October 8, 2021 at 9:05 AM Save Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on whatsapp Email to a friendWho was John Dee? His contemporaries, such as Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake and William Shakespeare – who is said to have based the magician Prospero in The Tempest on Dee – are securely bookmarked in our catalogue of British history. Dr Dee, astrologer and confidant to Queen Elizabeth I, has no such acknowledgment.
AdvertisementHe has been painted as a deluded man who looked to the stars for guidance, dabbled in alchemy and communed with angels. But an alternative view is that he was one of the most brilliant men of the Renaissance, whose contribution has been muddied by centuries of slander. He was a polymath, engaged with the most cutting-edge science of his day, which at the time was intertwined with magic and the occult.
John Dee was born on 13 July 1527 in London. His father was a minor courtier who sent his son to Cambridge at 15. His appetite for knowledge meant he slept only four hours a night, spending his waking hours studying Greek, Latin, geometry, mathematics, astronomy, navigation, scripture, law, medicine and cryptography – the art of writing codes.
While still in his 20s, Dee was invited to lecture on algebra at the university in Paris. He swiftly became the most successful lecturer on the continent, packing halls and introducing the public to the addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (x) and division (÷) signs for the first time.
He lifted astronomy from obscurity, taught mathematics and developed navigation systems that later would help to establish England’s naval superiority
He was England’s foremost scientist, respectful of, if not an advocate for, the controversial theory of heliocentrism (the astronomical model in which the planets all revolve around the Sun). Dee lifted astronomy from obscurity, taught mathematics and developed navigation systems that later would help to establish England’s naval superiority.
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While at the University of Louvain in the Netherlands, Dee studied the occult. This was not uncommon for the era’s intelligentsia, for whom science and magic were part of the quest to understand God.
A storm on the Spanish
When Elizabeth I took the English throne, she consulted Dee on a regular basis. He even chose her coronation date. It was said he cast a spell on the Spanish Armada in 1588, which sent huge waves crashing down on their ships – although a more likely explanation is that because he knew about meteorology, he was able to anticipate the storm.
When the Spanish ships approached England, Dee suggested waiting, correctly predicting that the Spanish fleet would be severely hit by the storms so it would be best to keep the English ships at bay. Most of the Spanish ships were lost or damaged and, when the storms subsided, the English ships disposed of the rest. It was Dee’s greatest moment.
- Read more about why the failure of the Spanish Armada was a lucky escape for Tudor England
Elizabeth knew that Dee could do more for her and the nation. The queen needed a spy who could gather information about her enemies, and the well-travelled and loyal Dee was her man. He used his position as a scientific and astrological adviser to accumulate the largest library in England at his house in Mortlake – boasting some 2,670 manuscripts, as opposed to Cambridge’s 451 and Oxford’s 379 – and to build a network of scientists, intellectuals and courtiers throughout Europe, which he likely used for intelligence gathering.
He accumulated the largest library in England at his house in Mortlake – boasting some 2,670 manuscripts, as opposed to Cambridge’s 451 and Oxford’s 379
Dee signed his letters to Elizabeth ‘007’. The two circles symbolised the eyes of Queen Elizabeth (‘for your eyes only’) and seven was the alchemist’s lucky number. Dee played an essential role in what one day became the British intelligence service, both the real and fictional version – centuries later, his sign off would be picked up by James Bond creator Ian Fleming.
- Read more about Ian Fleming's real-life inspirations for James Bond
Angels and demons
In his later years, Dee spent his time trying to communicate with angels. He attempted to apply his knowledge of optics to scrying, or conjuring spirits into a crystal. His experiments were unimpressive until 1582, when a bizarre character entered his life. A 26-year old alcoholic with cropped ears (a punishment for counterfeiting coins), Edward Kelley was a scryer with a reputation for sorcery. Dee’s wife Jane loathed him, but Dee, believing Kelley had the knack, signed him up.
Over the next ten years, the pair devoted themselves to contacting angels. When the spirits appeared, they would allegedly transmit prophecies and give pronouncements on the spiritual nature of mankind.
Unfortunately, all that survives from these sessions are ‘spirit diaries’, which were dug up in a field a decade after Dee’s death. These contain a completely new language, with its own grammar and syntax. Was it celestial lingo or, as 17th-century scientist Robert Hooke suggested, a code that Dee used to send top-secret political information back to England?
In the 1580s, Dee left England for Poland, entrusting his house and library to the care of his brother-in-law. While away, his home was ransacked and his manuscripts burnt or stolen. Then shortly after Dee returned to England, plague swept the country, for which he was blamed. The plague took his wife and four of their eight children.
When Elizabeth died in 1603, Dee lost his ability to defend himself from his many enemies – including the queen’s successor James VI and I, who liked to personally oversee the torture of women accused of witchcraft.
Dee spent his final days alone in poverty, selling his books and casting astrological charts. He died at the considerable age of 82, and was buried in Mortlake. His gravestone, however, has since disappeared so there is no monument to mark the life of this most learned and unusual scholar.
- Read next: why James VI and I hunted witches
While on the way to Kananga's heroin fields on San Monique, Bond and
He can also access the color of magic from Grey London, where magic is all but extinct, and White London, a dangerous and unstable universe ruled by power-hungry tyrants. The fact that Kell can wield multiple colors of magic sets him apart from other Antari. While the color of magic each Antari can control is determined by their birthplace, Kell's versatility demonstrates his unique status. His ability to travel between different Londons allows him to experience and understand different cultures, politics, and magical practices. This makes him a crucial and sought-after figure in the world of the novel. Throughout the story, Kell's enigmatic power is further highlighted by the mystery surrounding his true heritage. Though adopted by the royal family of Red London, Kell is suspected to be more than just an ordinary Antari. The true origin of his power and the reason for his ability to access multiple colors of magic are not fully explained. The ambiguity surrounding his abilities adds an additional layer of intrigue to his character and keeps the reader guessing throughout the narrative. Overall, Kell's possession of a more enigmatic color of magic sets him apart from other characters in "A Darker Shade of Magic." His ability to access multiple colors and traverse parallel universes makes him a rare and powerful individual. The mystery surrounding his powers and his true heritage adds depth and intrigue to the story, leaving readers eager to uncover more about his enigmatic abilities..
Reviews for "Unleashing the Full Potential of Kell's Enigmatic Color of Magic"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to "Kell with a more enigmatic color of magic" because I loved the original series. However, I was really disappointed with this book. The storyline was all over the place and it felt like the author was trying too hard to make it mysterious and enigmatic. The characters were underdeveloped and I couldn't connect with any of them. Overall, it was a letdown and I wouldn't recommend it.
- Jason - 1 star - I had high hopes for "Kell with a more enigmatic color of magic" but I found it to be incredibly confusing and convoluted. The plot was hard to follow and the author seemed to be adding random twists and turns just for the sake of it. The world-building, which was one of the highlights of the original series, was lacking in this book. I couldn't immerse myself in the story and I was left feeling frustrated and unsatisfied by the end. Not worth the read.
- Emily - 2 stars - As a fan of the original series, I was excited to dive into "Kell with a more enigmatic color of magic". However, I found myself struggling to get through it. The pacing was slow and the plot felt disjointed. It didn't have the same magic and charm as the original series, and I was left feeling underwhelmed. The characters lacked depth and I couldn't connect with any of them. Overall, it was a disappointing read and I wouldn't recommend it to fans of the original series.