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An elf holds Blanche Prentiss hostage while talking to her husband, Jan. The elf was banished from the island of [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]] for their mutant ability to use [[PsychicPowers their mental powers]] to [[ShockAndAwe generate electricity]]. It believes this mutation represents a new era for elfkind, because now they can take full advantage of the technological achievements humans have created. Once Jan junior is home, Jan senior is sent to the library to collect engineering books on electricity and the internal combustion engine. Once he gets far enough away, however, Jan junior is able to squash it, and everyone is fine.
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An elf holds Blanche Prentiss hostage while talking to her husband, Jan. The elf was banished from the island of [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]] Myth/{{A|rthurianLegend}}valon for their mutant ability to use [[PsychicPowers their mental powers]] to [[ShockAndAwe generate electricity]]. It believes this mutation represents a new era for elfkind, because now they can take full advantage of the technological achievements humans have created. Once Jan junior is home, Jan senior is sent to the library to collect engineering books on electricity and the internal combustion engine. Once he gets far enough away, however, Jan junior is able to squash it, and everyone is fine.
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* TheFairFolk: An elf has appeared in the Prentiss household, holding the wife hostage while it plans to abduct the entire family to [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]].
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* TheFairFolk: An elf has appeared in the Prentiss household, holding the wife hostage while it plans to abduct the entire family to [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]].Myth/{{A|rthurianLegend}}valon.
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* MugglesDoItBetter: Accourding to the elf, when humans started really developing (around two centuries ago), electricity and dynamite outclassed what the elves could do with PsychicPowers. It admits that the elves suffered from an inferiority complex at seeing humans surpass them, so they retreated to [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]], in the Atlantic Ocean and other similar {{Hidden Elf Village}}s.
to:
* MugglesDoItBetter: Accourding to the elf, when humans started really developing (around two centuries ago), electricity and dynamite outclassed what the elves could do with PsychicPowers. It admits that the elves suffered from an inferiority complex at seeing humans surpass them, so they retreated to [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]], Myth/{{A|rthurianLegend}}valon, in the Atlantic Ocean and other similar {{Hidden Elf Village}}s.
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* RealEventFictionalCause: The elf from [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]] says the country is in the Atlantic Ocean, hidden using psychic powers. When the UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic crashed into the island, it took the focus of the whole population to make the island [[PerceptionFilter look like an iceberg]].
to:
* RealEventFictionalCause: The elf from [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]] Myth/{{A|rthurianLegend}}valon says the country is in the Atlantic Ocean, hidden using psychic powers. When the UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic crashed into the island, it took the focus of the whole population to make the island [[PerceptionFilter look like an iceberg]].
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** The elf is from Avalon, and Prentiss immediately associates the name with the fae from ''Myth/KingArthur'' stories.
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** The elf is from Avalon, and Prentiss immediately associates the name with the fae from ''Myth/KingArthur'' stories.Myth/ArthurianLegend.
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* SuperBreedingProgram: The elf is a {{Mutant|s}} member of its own race, capable of using its PsychicPowers to [[ShockAndAwe generate electricity]]. Once it has shown to the rest of [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]] how its genetics are superior, it plans to breed its children together and develop a race of super-elves.
to:
* SuperBreedingProgram: The elf is a {{Mutant|s}} member of its own race, capable of using its PsychicPowers to [[ShockAndAwe generate electricity]]. Once it has shown to the rest of [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]] Myth/{{A|rthurianLegend}}valon how its genetics are superior, it plans to breed its children together and develop a race of super-elves.
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* {{Ultraterrestrials}}: Accourding to the elf, his race had evolved before even the dinosaurs. For thousands of years, they lived alongside humans as "fairies", but a few centuries ago, when they saw that, despite their telepathic powers, MugglesDoItBetter, they had a bad case of inferiority complex and withdrew to [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]].
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* {{Ultraterrestrials}}: Accourding to the elf, his race had evolved before even the dinosaurs. For thousands of years, they lived alongside humans as "fairies", but a few centuries ago, when they saw that, despite their telepathic powers, MugglesDoItBetter, they had a bad case of inferiority complex and withdrew to [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]].Myth/{{A|rthurianLegend}}valon.
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* SocietyMarchesOn: Jan’s writings are regarded as childish because of their subject matter, involving elves and fairies. Nowadays, fantasy literature directed at adults, as well as kids Junior’s age, is much more prevalent.
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* SocietyMarchesOn: Jan’s writings are regarded as childish because of their subject matter, involving elves and fairies. Nowadays, fantasy literature directed at adults, as well as kids Junior’s age, is much more prevalent.
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* {{Mutants}}: The elves in this story have a suite of psychic powers, and the elf antagonist is a mutant who demonstrates their mutation allows them to [[{{Technopath}} turn on a bare lightbulb while holding it]].
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*** Kids believe in ''ComicBook/DickTracy'' stories.
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*** Kids believe in ''ComicBook/DickTracy'' ''ComicStrip/DickTracy'' stories.
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* FeaturelessPlaneOfDisembodiedDialogue: The [[{{Antagonist}} elf]] and [[{{Protagonist}} Jan Prentiss]] are described in detail, but the office where the story takes place only has a desk and typewriter, and the wife and son are only given short descriptors.
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* FeaturelessPlaneOfDisembodiedDialogue: The [[{{Antagonist}} elf]] elf {{antagonist}} and [[{{Protagonist}} protagonist Jan Prentiss]] Prentiss are described in detail, but the office where the story takes place only has a desk and typewriter, and the wife and son are only given short descriptors.
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* ChangelingTale: According to the elf, some members of his race had allegedly used their mind control powers to get milk as fresh as possible.
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* MugglesDoItBetter: Accourding to the elf, when humans started really developing (around two centuries ago), electricity and dynamite outclassed what the elves could do with PsychicPowers. It admits that the elves suffered from an inferiority complex at seeing humans surpass them, so they retreated to [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]], in the Atlantic Ocean.
to:
* MugglesDoItBetter: Accourding to the elf, when humans started really developing (around two centuries ago), electricity and dynamite outclassed what the elves could do with PsychicPowers. It admits that the elves suffered from an inferiority complex at seeing humans surpass them, so they retreated to [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]], in the Atlantic Ocean.Ocean and other similar {{Hidden Elf Village}}s.
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* NoNameGiven: The elf, who drives the conflict as the {{Antagonist}}, never tells the Prentiss family its name (or even gender). A JustifiedTrope if [[IKnowYourTrueName fairy tales about names]] are real.
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* NoNameGiven: The elf, who drives the conflict as the {{Antagonist}}, never tells the Prentiss family its name (or even gender). A JustifiedTrope if [[IKnowYourTrueName fairy tales about names]] are real. Of course, considering they are telepaths, it is quite likely the elf names simply can't be pronounced by humans.
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* SupernaturalProofFather: Inverted. It's the dad who is used by the elf, because he, as a fantasy writer, can accept elves as real, but a comic book raised son proves problematic. Good thing the elf didn't keep up with the times enough to claim he's from Alpha Centauri.
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* {{Ultraterrestrials}}: Accourding to the elf, his race had evolved before even the dinosaurs. For thousands of years, they lived alongside humans as "fairies", but a few centuries ago, when they saw that, despite their telepathic powers, MugglesDoItBetter, they had a bad case of inferiority complex and withdrew to [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]].
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* MostWritersAreWriters: Jan Prentiss is a writer, like Dr Asimov, writing for a BlandNameProduct version of the same PulpFiction {{Magazine}} that printed this story.
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* MostWritersAreWriters: Jan Prentiss is a writer, like Dr Asimov, writing for a BlandNameProduct version of the same PulpFiction {{Magazine}} PulpMagazine that printed this story.
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* AlienCatnip: Catnip with honey, it seems, affect elves much more stronhly than alcohol.
* AlienFairFolk: {{Ultraterrestrials}}, in this case.
* AlienFairFolk: {{Ultraterrestrials}}, in this case.
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* AlienCatnip: Catnip The elf mocks Jan Prentiss for trying to ply it with honey, it seems, alcohol because drink doesn't affect elves much more stronhly than alcohol.
the way it does humans. Literal catnip (with honey), however, is implied to have a similar inebriating effect.
* AlienFairFolk:{{Ultraterrestrials}}, Accourding to the elf, elves [[{{Ultraterrestrials}} evolved before even the dinosaurs]], but they remain very alien in this case.their body shapes (insectoid) and [[PsychicPowers abilities]].
* AlienFairFolk:
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* MugglesDoItBetter: The whole reason for the elves leaving humanity is their inferiority complex at seeing it surpass them.
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* MugglesDoItBetter: The whole reason for Accourding to the elf, when humans started really developing (around two centuries ago), electricity and dynamite outclassed what the elves leaving humanity is their could do with PsychicPowers. It admits that the elves suffered from an inferiority complex at seeing it humans surpass them.them, so they retreated to [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]], in the Atlantic Ocean.
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* PsychicPowers: Elves in this story have a suite of abilities, mostly of the {{Telepathy}} and [[CompellingVoice mind control]] variety, while the elf antagonist is a mutant who also has the power to [[ShockAndAwe generate electricity]]. It demonstrates this by [[{{Technopath}} turning a bare lightbulb on while holding it]].
* RealEventFictionalCause: The elf from Avalon says the country is in the Atlantic Ocean, hidden using psychic powers. When the UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic crashed into the island, it took the focus of the whole population to make the island [[PerceptionFilter look like an iceberg]].
* RealEventFictionalCause: The elf from Avalon says the country is in the Atlantic Ocean, hidden using psychic powers. When the UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic crashed into the island, it took the focus of the whole population to make the island [[PerceptionFilter look like an iceberg]].
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* PsychicPowers: Elves in this story have a suite of abilities, mostly of the {{Telepathy}} and [[CompellingVoice mind control]] variety, while the elf antagonist is a mutant {{Mutant|s}} who also has the power to [[ShockAndAwe generate electricity]]. It demonstrates this by [[{{Technopath}} turning a bare lightbulb on while holding it]].
* RealEventFictionalCause: The elf fromAvalon [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]] says the country is in the Atlantic Ocean, hidden using psychic powers. When the UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic crashed into the island, it took the focus of the whole population to make the island [[PerceptionFilter look like an iceberg]].
* RealEventFictionalCause: The elf from
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* SuperBreedingProgram: The elf wants to start one.
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* SuperBreedingProgram: The elf wants is a {{Mutant|s}} member of its own race, capable of using its PsychicPowers to start one.[[ShockAndAwe generate electricity]]. Once it has shown to the rest of [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]] how its genetics are superior, it plans to breed its children together and develop a race of super-elves.
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* AlienCatnip: Catnip with honey, it seems, affect elves much more stronhly than alcohol.
* AlienFairFolk: {{Ultraterrestrials}}, in this case.
* AlienFairFolk: {{Ultraterrestrials}}, in this case.
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* MugglesDoItBetter: The whole reason for the elves leaving humanity is their inferiority complex at seeing it surpass them.
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* SuperBreedingProgram: The elf wants to start one.
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First published in ''Magazine/BeyondFantasyFiction'' (September 1953 issue), this ShortStory by Creator/IsaacAsimov is a FairyTale about a [[MostWritersAreWriters fantasy genre writer]] who encounters an elf that wants to kidnap him.
An elf holds Blanche Prentiss hostage while talking to her husband, Jan. The elf was banished from the island of [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]] for their mutant ability to use [[PsychicPowers their mental powers]] to [[ShockAndAwe generate electricity]]. It believes this mutation represents a new era for elfkind, because now they can take full advantage of the technological achievements humans have created. Once Jan junior is home, Jan senior is sent to the library to collect engineering books on electricity and the internal combustion engine. Once he gets far enough away, however, Jan junior is able to squash it, and everyone is fine.
This story has been reprinted six times; ''Magazine/BeyondFantasyFiction'' (the UK March 1954 issue), ''Literature/EarthIsRoomEnough'' (1957), ''{{Magazine/Galaxy}}'' (Italy #57, February 1963 issue), ''{{Magazine/Sirius}}'' (Yugoslavia/Croatia magazine #106, April 1985 issue), ''Literature/TheCompleteStoriesVolume1'' (1990), and ''{{Literature/Faeries}}'' (1991).
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!!Examples of tropes within this work:
* BlandNameProduct: Jan Prentiss submits stories to ''Farfetched Fantasy Fiction'' rather than ''Magazine/BeyondFantasyFiction'' (which is where this story first appeared).
* CompellingVoice: Combined with {{Telepathy}}, the elf is able to exert mental control over the entire Prentiss family, mostly using it to dominate Mrs Prentiss.
* TheFairFolk: An elf has appeared in the Prentiss household, holding the wife hostage while it plans to abduct the entire family to [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]].
* FeaturelessPlaneOfDisembodiedDialogue: The [[{{Antagonist}} elf]] and [[{{Protagonist}} Jan Prentiss]] are described in detail, but the office where the story takes place only has a desk and typewriter, and the wife and son are only given short descriptors.
* HistoricalInJoke: The elf from Avalon says the country is in the Atlantic Ocean, hidden using psychic powers. When the UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic crashed into the island, it took the focus of the whole population to make the island [[PerceptionFilter look like an iceberg]].
* IronicEcho: At the end of the story, Jan Junior takes a look at his father's manuscript in the typewriter, and [[TheNamesake calls it kid stuff]].
* MostWritersAreWriters: Jan Prentiss is a writer, like Dr Asimov, writing for a BlandNameProduct version of the same PulpFiction {{Magazine}} that printed this story.
* TheNamesake: The story is an oblique defense against the [[ScifiGhetto Fantasy genre ghetto]]. Blanche would prefer her husband wrote MysteryFiction so that she could proudly tell her neighbours what her husband did for a living and dismisses the whole {{Fantasy}} genre as "kid stuff". Their son, ten years old, also dismisses such stories as "kid stuff" ([[IronicEcho despite killing an elf only hours before]]).
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Jan Prentiss sends in stories to editor Horace W. Browne instead of Creator/HoraceGold (the editor who published this story).
* NoNameGiven: The elf, who drives the conflict as the {{Antagonist}}, never tells the Prentiss family its name (or even gender). A JustifiedTrope if [[IKnowYourTrueName fairy tales about names]] are real.
* OurFairiesAreDifferent: Fairies/elves (it uses both names) are insectoid creatures that evolved PsychicPowers and use them to dominate humans. They come from many different types of insect families, such as beetles and butterflies.
* PerceptionFilter: One of the PsychicPowers available to the elves is the ability to create illusions, such as {{Invisibility}} and [[HistoricalInJoke icebergs]].
* PlayingDrunk: The elf seems to be getting inebriated from the eggnog that Jan Prentiss intended for his writer friends, but it was a ploy to break his morale.
* {{Precursors}}: The elves evolved before even the dinosaurs did, surviving for over half a billion years. Two centuries ago, they decided to hide themselves away from the human world, to avoid the effects of the industrial revolution.
* PsychicPowers: Elves in this story have a suite of abilities, mostly of the {{Telepathy}} and [[CompellingVoice mind control]] variety, while the elf antagonist is a mutant who also has the power to [[ShockAndAwe generate electricity]]. It demonstrates this by [[{{Technopath}} turning a bare lightbulb on while holding it]].
* RealEventFictionalCause: The elf from Avalon says the country is in the Atlantic Ocean, hidden using psychic powers. When the UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic crashed into the island, it took the focus of the whole population to make the island [[PerceptionFilter look like an iceberg]].
* ShoutOut:
** The elf is from Avalon, and Prentiss immediately associates the name with the fae from ''Myth/KingArthur'' stories.
** Jan Prentiss explains to his wife that kids today don't believe in [[TheFairFolk fairy stories]] anymore.
*** Kids believe in ''ComicBook/TomCorbettSpaceCadet'' stories.
*** Kids believe in ''ComicBook/HopalongCassidy'' stories.
*** Kids believe in ''ComicBook/DickTracy'' stories.
*** Kids believe in ''Series/HowdyDoody'' stories.
*** Kids believe in ''{{ComicBook/Superman}}'' stories.
* ShockAndAwe: The elf demonstrates electric powers by holding a light bulb and making it glow. When it channels the energy from a human, it can make the bulb glow blindingly bright.
* {{Telepathy}}: The elf demonstrates telepathic powers by responding to [[PointOfView Jan Senior's narration]].
* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: InUniverse, Jan Prentiss often makes this argument with his wife. Modern fantasy stories are full of mature and complex plots, he says, it uses fantastical motifs to comment on current events. Blanche isn't convinced until their son is able to resist the PsychicPowers of an elf because he doesn't believe in them.
----
An elf holds Blanche Prentiss hostage while talking to her husband, Jan. The elf was banished from the island of [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]] for their mutant ability to use [[PsychicPowers their mental powers]] to [[ShockAndAwe generate electricity]]. It believes this mutation represents a new era for elfkind, because now they can take full advantage of the technological achievements humans have created. Once Jan junior is home, Jan senior is sent to the library to collect engineering books on electricity and the internal combustion engine. Once he gets far enough away, however, Jan junior is able to squash it, and everyone is fine.
This story has been reprinted six times; ''Magazine/BeyondFantasyFiction'' (the UK March 1954 issue), ''Literature/EarthIsRoomEnough'' (1957), ''{{Magazine/Galaxy}}'' (Italy #57, February 1963 issue), ''{{Magazine/Sirius}}'' (Yugoslavia/Croatia magazine #106, April 1985 issue), ''Literature/TheCompleteStoriesVolume1'' (1990), and ''{{Literature/Faeries}}'' (1991).
----
!!Examples of tropes within this work:
* BlandNameProduct: Jan Prentiss submits stories to ''Farfetched Fantasy Fiction'' rather than ''Magazine/BeyondFantasyFiction'' (which is where this story first appeared).
* CompellingVoice: Combined with {{Telepathy}}, the elf is able to exert mental control over the entire Prentiss family, mostly using it to dominate Mrs Prentiss.
* TheFairFolk: An elf has appeared in the Prentiss household, holding the wife hostage while it plans to abduct the entire family to [[Myth/KingArthur Avalon]].
* FeaturelessPlaneOfDisembodiedDialogue: The [[{{Antagonist}} elf]] and [[{{Protagonist}} Jan Prentiss]] are described in detail, but the office where the story takes place only has a desk and typewriter, and the wife and son are only given short descriptors.
* HistoricalInJoke: The elf from Avalon says the country is in the Atlantic Ocean, hidden using psychic powers. When the UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic crashed into the island, it took the focus of the whole population to make the island [[PerceptionFilter look like an iceberg]].
* IronicEcho: At the end of the story, Jan Junior takes a look at his father's manuscript in the typewriter, and [[TheNamesake calls it kid stuff]].
* MostWritersAreWriters: Jan Prentiss is a writer, like Dr Asimov, writing for a BlandNameProduct version of the same PulpFiction {{Magazine}} that printed this story.
* TheNamesake: The story is an oblique defense against the [[ScifiGhetto Fantasy genre ghetto]]. Blanche would prefer her husband wrote MysteryFiction so that she could proudly tell her neighbours what her husband did for a living and dismisses the whole {{Fantasy}} genre as "kid stuff". Their son, ten years old, also dismisses such stories as "kid stuff" ([[IronicEcho despite killing an elf only hours before]]).
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Jan Prentiss sends in stories to editor Horace W. Browne instead of Creator/HoraceGold (the editor who published this story).
* NoNameGiven: The elf, who drives the conflict as the {{Antagonist}}, never tells the Prentiss family its name (or even gender). A JustifiedTrope if [[IKnowYourTrueName fairy tales about names]] are real.
* OurFairiesAreDifferent: Fairies/elves (it uses both names) are insectoid creatures that evolved PsychicPowers and use them to dominate humans. They come from many different types of insect families, such as beetles and butterflies.
* PerceptionFilter: One of the PsychicPowers available to the elves is the ability to create illusions, such as {{Invisibility}} and [[HistoricalInJoke icebergs]].
* PlayingDrunk: The elf seems to be getting inebriated from the eggnog that Jan Prentiss intended for his writer friends, but it was a ploy to break his morale.
* {{Precursors}}: The elves evolved before even the dinosaurs did, surviving for over half a billion years. Two centuries ago, they decided to hide themselves away from the human world, to avoid the effects of the industrial revolution.
* PsychicPowers: Elves in this story have a suite of abilities, mostly of the {{Telepathy}} and [[CompellingVoice mind control]] variety, while the elf antagonist is a mutant who also has the power to [[ShockAndAwe generate electricity]]. It demonstrates this by [[{{Technopath}} turning a bare lightbulb on while holding it]].
* RealEventFictionalCause: The elf from Avalon says the country is in the Atlantic Ocean, hidden using psychic powers. When the UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic crashed into the island, it took the focus of the whole population to make the island [[PerceptionFilter look like an iceberg]].
* ShoutOut:
** The elf is from Avalon, and Prentiss immediately associates the name with the fae from ''Myth/KingArthur'' stories.
** Jan Prentiss explains to his wife that kids today don't believe in [[TheFairFolk fairy stories]] anymore.
*** Kids believe in ''ComicBook/TomCorbettSpaceCadet'' stories.
*** Kids believe in ''ComicBook/HopalongCassidy'' stories.
*** Kids believe in ''ComicBook/DickTracy'' stories.
*** Kids believe in ''Series/HowdyDoody'' stories.
*** Kids believe in ''{{ComicBook/Superman}}'' stories.
* ShockAndAwe: The elf demonstrates electric powers by holding a light bulb and making it glow. When it channels the energy from a human, it can make the bulb glow blindingly bright.
* {{Telepathy}}: The elf demonstrates telepathic powers by responding to [[PointOfView Jan Senior's narration]].
* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: InUniverse, Jan Prentiss often makes this argument with his wife. Modern fantasy stories are full of mature and complex plots, he says, it uses fantastical motifs to comment on current events. Blanche isn't convinced until their son is able to resist the PsychicPowers of an elf because he doesn't believe in them.
----
