Fantasy offers us a variety of takes on religion. From Martin's Sparrows to Pratchett's Omnians, religion add flavor and plausibility to a secondary world. It is a part of the human condition, and good fantasy treats it with same complexity as any other aspect of humanity. The worldbuilding that I appreciate does not pose faith … Continue reading Review: The Nine
The Dangers of a Shortened Season
Game of Thrones is a favorite show of mine. It is a must watch for me and Sue, and during the week, friends and I will dissect the show and speculate on upcoming episodes or longer story arcs. The political machinations, the emotional beats, the terrific visuals, and the excellent storytelling make for a satisfying … Continue reading The Dangers of a Shortened Season
Scalzi on Writing in the Trump Era
This is my current state when it comes to my blog: The rapid-fire pace of events is such that you (or at least I) end up sitting at the computer sort of paralyzed. In the last few weeks we’ve had (in no particular order) the healthcare vote, hurricane Scaramucci, North Korea and racists marching with … Continue reading Scalzi on Writing in the Trump Era
Review: Mage: The Hero Discovered (Vol. 1)
Back when I first discovered comics, I read only superhero stories, and soon, I grew frustrated with the never ending storylines and having to chase another comic to maintain the story in the one I was reading. It quickly became apparent that I wanted more than a superhero story. There's nothing wrong with those types … Continue reading Review: Mage: The Hero Discovered (Vol. 1)
A Few Vacation Photos
Vacation! We are back from a ten day vacation in Europe. This vacation fulfilled my lifelong goal to visit Europe, in general, and Paris, specifically. As I readjust to everyday life, I decided to post these few vacation photos. My wife and I spent three days in Amsterdam, three in Paris, and five in Munich. … Continue reading A Few Vacation Photos
Review: Noumenon
Sometimes, a book or song or movie will come along at just the right time and strike a resounding chord. Noumenon hit that sweet spot for me. On my blog, I’ve been thinking about generation ships. Suddenly, the stars aligned, and Harper Voyager gave me the opportunity to review Noumenon. It was SF love at … Continue reading Review: Noumenon
Go, Watch Movies with Mikey
One of the reasons that I love Twitter is that people share excellent art. There is so much art on Twitter, and I don't remember who exactly shared the Movies with Mikey video shown below. But I do know that the one video was enough to ensure I would watch all the other ones. It's … Continue reading Go, Watch Movies with Mikey
Noumenon and Coincidence
This week Harper Voyager granted me access to an advanced reader copy of Noumenon by Marina J. Lostetter. The first chapter is about - wait for it - a generation ship project, sort of. Part of chapter one has characters discussing a long term space travel project, and I loved it. My blog project for … Continue reading Noumenon and Coincidence
You Know What They Say About Assumptions – Generation Ships
Generation ships are important to science fiction for the fact that these giant vessels are sent out on a one way voyage into the unknown. The following article is part of a series exploring creative ways to make generation ships viable. Part one was an overall introduction to this series. But before we jump right … Continue reading You Know What They Say About Assumptions – Generation Ships
Review: The Darkness That Comes Before
Years ago, I saw rave reviews for this debut novel, The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker. Each review highlighted the book's departure from the standard western European setting for an epic fantasy. Based on my reading at the time, that was enough to sell me. I read it back when I lived … Continue reading Review: The Darkness That Comes Before