The Farseer trilogy is a series of fantasy novels by American author Robin Hobb (pictured). Set in and around the fictional realm of the Six Duchies, it tells the story of FitzChivalry Farseer (known as Fitz), an illegitimate son of a prince. Fitz is trained as an assassin and possesses two forms of magic: the telepathic Skill that runs in the royal line, and the socially despised Wit that enables a bond between Fitz and the wolf Nighteyes. Through her portrayal of the Wit, Hobb examines otherness and ecological themes. Societal prejudice against the ability exposes Fitz to persecution and shame, and he leads a closeted life as a Wit user, which scholars see as an allegory for queerness. The series follows his life as he seeks to restore stability to the kingdom. Published between 1995 and 1997, the Farseer trilogy was Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden's first work under the pen name Robin Hobb. It met with critical and commercial success, and led to several other series in the same setting.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farseer_trilogy

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1777:

Mission Santa Clara de Asís, a Spanish mission in California that formed the basis of both the city of Santa Clara and Santa Clara University, was established by the Franciscans. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Santa_Clara_de_As%C3%ADs

1918:

An underground explosion at a coal mine in Staffordshire, England, killed 155 men and boys. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnie_Pit_Disaster

1964:

Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah was overthrown by rebels led by John Okello, ending 200 years of Arab dominance in Zanzibar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanzibar_Revolution

2010:

Iranian physicist Massoud Ali-Mohammadi was assassinated while leaving his home for the University of Tehran, where he was a professor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massoud_Ali-Mohammadi

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

by a long chalk: (Britain, informal) To a great extent; by far. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/by_a_long_chalk

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

A solo should do something; it shouldn't just be there as a cosmetic. It should have some aim, take the tune somewhere. I'm not saying I can do it, but I try and take the tune somewhere.   --Jeff Beck https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jeff_Beck