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Fun(gus) ways to die

July 31, 2016 by admin

In the category of deep research on creating a fungal-based magic system for my latest fantasy novel, I’m finding out that death and fungus go hand in hand.

Photo from Dan Molter/Creative Commons
The Lovely Eastern North American Death Angel * Photo from Dan Molter/Creative Commons

First off, the cool deadly fungus names

  • Latin American Death Cap
  • Guangzhou Destroying Angel
  • Medusoid Mycelulem
  • Fool’s Mushroom
  • Deadly Dapperling
  • Deadly Parasol

Of course this list does not contain the simply poisonous mushrooms. And, in a nature bats last moment, a number of these murderous mushrooms look like edible varieties of fungus.

How do these little woodland morsels kill you?

They attack your liver, your kidneys, and your central nervous system.

In some cases, they even cause heart attacks as with Yunnan Sudden Death Syndrome.

Here are some of the people rumored to have been poisoned by mushrooms

  • The Buddha
  • Roman Emperor Claudius
  • Pope Clement VII
  • Tsarita Natalia Naryshkina

So should you listen to folk wisdom about which mushrooms to avoid?

Probably not.

Here’s some false folklore that might lead to you getting poisoned or worse…

“Avoid brightly colored mushrooms” FALSE Destroying angels are white!

“Poisonous mushrooms taste bad” FALSE Survivors have reported that the deadly Aminatas taste good. Like chicken. (just kidding)

“Insects avoid toxic mushrooms” FALSE The death cap is often infested with insect larvae.

Autumn Skullcap * Photo by Eric Steinart
Autumn Skullcap * Photo by Eric Steinart

Want to learn about how I use fungus in my fantasy magic system?

Then click right here to sign up for my email list today, get a free book, and I’ll let you know when my novel is released.

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Filed Under: Fantasy

About the Author

Peter Fugazzotto is a fantasy and science fiction author who fights to protect the earth by day and battles his ego with armbars and slashing sticks by night. He lives in Northern California with his wife, daughter, bird and dog. His short stories have been published in Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Grimdark … READ MORE

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