tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81677224189352570212024-03-19T04:43:15.190-07:00FootnotesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17807297860948659408noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-65183337120572827082015-03-16T10:11:00.001-07:002015-03-16T10:24:55.701-07:005 Tips for InPrint 2015<span style="font-weight: normal;">The InPrint Festival of First Books starts tomorrow, and I'm excited. I wrote this post a day or two after </span><a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2014/03/inprint-festival-of-first-books-2014.html" style="font-weight: normal;">InPrint 2014</a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and have been saving it for a year. I hope my advice proves useful to attendees. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36uTxgzAeo5pN0sYIzHnyDmiIzQ_ImIw6Dz0EhSBM_0mQPXRHPofnXjFqEDw_xFwFOsj7wZmk3t58FKjR4rP0Lu8SrE7X6zpk-MFav6RArDFZn58zPcRo14cHhjRAD8RSZQ-npdBTCpc/s1600/10590610_10153162537491672_8338843216055357172_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36uTxgzAeo5pN0sYIzHnyDmiIzQ_ImIw6Dz0EhSBM_0mQPXRHPofnXjFqEDw_xFwFOsj7wZmk3t58FKjR4rP0Lu8SrE7X6zpk-MFav6RArDFZn58zPcRo14cHhjRAD8RSZQ-npdBTCpc/s1600/10590610_10153162537491672_8338843216055357172_n.jpg" height="255" width="400" /></a></div>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
Learn you a Books</h4>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Read the InPrint books, or if you don’t have time<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="which you do, the question is are you using it well?">1</a></sup> read the one in the genre you
know best<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="or worst, if you want to learn more about it, which may be more valuable">2</a></sup> and then figure out what about it intrigues/bamboozles
you. If it’s something that raises
questions, ask about it, if it’s something impressive, ask <i>how</i> they did it and try to use that technique.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="This advice is way cooler if you think of it as adding a new spell to your spellbook">3</a></sup> Maybe
google the books and the authors,<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Don’t balk, a cursory google
takes 5 minutes">4</a></sup> see if they’ve done any interviews or panels anywhere that
might help you understand the books better, and ask better questions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiH1xmgjqt1Gr4CUce6IYZfnc4bEOKZNNAyCSDec2yAYfZj_qv3fGf6buUwIankfrCdmyx4wk-_OxIvNvYW99aN3Rl_5jgjNv79Hll8SrL-_ZNXFafjEbCU6kN8L0F3ku99FvHHXmzok/s1600/gobblecover4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiH1xmgjqt1Gr4CUce6IYZfnc4bEOKZNNAyCSDec2yAYfZj_qv3fGf6buUwIankfrCdmyx4wk-_OxIvNvYW99aN3Rl_5jgjNv79Hll8SrL-_ZNXFafjEbCU6kN8L0F3ku99FvHHXmzok/s1600/gobblecover4.gif" height="200" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.tylergobble.com/morewreck">More Wreck More Wreck</a></i> <br />
by Tyler Gobble</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h4>
By the spear of Odin, <i>ASK
QUESTIONS</i></h4>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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You only get about an hour or so with these authors so mine their brains
for every last bit of wisdom. Ask
yourself “What writing thing I worst at?”<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="craft, networking, advertising, editing, motivation, finding places to publish">5</a></sup> and then ask “How do you do the thing?” It might seem like an obvious
question, but the more basic it is, the more likely other people are wondering
it too, and then everyone benefits. Save
more individual questions “What’s going on with this poem on page 45?” for
after the panel or for the class visits.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="What? You’re not going to that because you have class? Skip it, the visits are more valuable.">6</a></sup> The best questions are ones that all the panelists can answer. Even if you feel dumb, a dumb question is a
better use of everyone’s time than awkward silence. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoT4C4MWAKZIdzWYIf3LF3Zh7Wr7cycGbtPxttRH9DQD8oX9MRfNLYXyVAfZ5IzqGpZDKWJCMT8TZEAHnIP5p2m0uSULG43QkyZpjkXR9OdLoSJ-bg2kTMOfkIr4_Pv0OQ4P8C4mK08M/s1600/HowleyRGB+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoT4C4MWAKZIdzWYIf3LF3Zh7Wr7cycGbtPxttRH9DQD8oX9MRfNLYXyVAfZ5IzqGpZDKWJCMT8TZEAHnIP5p2m0uSULG43QkyZpjkXR9OdLoSJ-bg2kTMOfkIr4_Pv0OQ4P8C4mK08M/s1600/HowleyRGB+(1).jpg" height="200" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sarabandebooks.org/new-forthcoming/thrown-kerry-howley"><i>Thrown </i></a><br />
by Kerry Howley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2985039.Austin_Kleon">“Find the
most talented person in the room and go stand next to them.”</a><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="I honestly can’t stress enough what a fountain of wisdom this book is">7</a></sup></h4>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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When you get to InPrint, don’t sit down. That’s the worst thing you can do. Go find the InPrint Authors, or the
organizers and professors, anyone getting a lot of attention, and listen. You don’t have to say anything, just soak up
some knowledge. If you’re the most
talented person in the conversation, find another conversation. Don’t sit down until you have to, and once the
reading or panel is over get up immediately and find another good
conversation. This turns a 1½-hour event into
a 3-hour event, assuming you stay as long as you can. Alternatively, find an interesting-seeming stranger
and make a friend. Leave as late as you
can. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<h4>
The Authors are People Too</h4>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s important to remember that these authors are people,
just like you, and as such benefit just as much from praise and admiration as
you would. Showing that you’ve read
their books enough to ask specific questions about them is a high form of
praise. I guarantee you, no amount of
praise is unwelcome.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Until you get into Misery territory but that really should go without saying">8</a></sup> It’s
vitally important not to put authors on too high a pedestal, as the further you
remove them from yourself the less you’ll be able to learn from them. Remember, they were just like you less than
ten years ago.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Especially BSU Alum Tyler Gobble.">9</a></sup> The only
difference is that they are published authors and you are (I’ll assume)
not. That said…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h4>
None of this “Real Author” nonsense</h4>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVfo-ncTo7eBcCvNmRVB5aCcobm0UMhb272-HGen2BHTT37OvtyXeG6fHrD9NyVkj51R0nHr1-pP4S6E_QeRKcdVMrVH7cc1FuBQsPgP7baxGFWoOJwrdnoH4crO1hZOAP9ZOS_BmEBc/s1600/81XbzO1loHL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVfo-ncTo7eBcCvNmRVB5aCcobm0UMhb272-HGen2BHTT37OvtyXeG6fHrD9NyVkj51R0nHr1-pP4S6E_QeRKcdVMrVH7cc1FuBQsPgP7baxGFWoOJwrdnoH4crO1hZOAP9ZOS_BmEBc/s1600/81XbzO1loHL.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693763-everything-i-never-told-you">Everything I Never Told You</a></i><br />
by Celeste Ng</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not to belittle the InPrint Authors (who all seem like
fabulous people) but please don’t go around saying things like “At last I’ll
get to meet a Real Author<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">™</span>!” I've heard variations on that theme all year, which I feel delegitimizes other Real Authors™<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">, such as</span> <a href="http://cathyday.com/writing/circus-in-winter/">Cathy </a><a href="http://cathyday.com/writing/">Day</a>, <a href="http://www.markneely.com/writing.html">Mark Neely</a>, <a href="http://seanlovelace.com/">Sean Lovelace</a>, <a href="https://cms.bsu.edu/academics/collegesanddepartments/english/facultyresearch/fadeinfadeout">Matthew Mullins</a>, <a href="http://www.uiowapress.org/books/2007-fall/mixavoc.html">Deborah Mix</a>,
<a href="http://bloofbooks.com/ppp.html">Peter </a><a href="http://www.barnwoodpress.org/Site_2/Hitlers_Mustache.html">Davis</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creation-Narrative-Tabletop-Role-Playing-Games-ebook/dp/B003UNLF4Y/ref=la_B003LGTRFY_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395533904&sr=1-1">Jennifer Grouling</a>, other faculty I’m forgetting, <a href="http://thebrokenplate.org/">any current students who have been published
in the Broken Plate</a>, and <i>you</i>, if you’ve shared your work with anyone,
ever. What I’m saying is, respect the
authors, but don’t forget that your professors are probably published authors
as well and probably would be delighted to give you advice if you ask
nicely. The value of the InPrint Authors
is that they’re probably much closer to you in the timeline from Student to this fabled Real
Author™<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="because the timeline is simple and the same for every author who has ever published anything">10</a></sup> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span>than most teachers,
and also are a perspective you can't get at <i>literally any other time during the semester.</i><br />
<br />
<i></i>
<i></i>
<i></i>
The InPrint Festival of First Books is in the Student Center Ballroom from 7:30pm-9pm, the 17th and 18th of March. I hope to see a lot of people there! </div>
Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-23742963668088695052015-02-22T20:20:00.000-08:002015-02-22T20:20:18.713-08:00Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaria - Review<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18140047-love-letters-to-the-dead"><i>Love Letters to the Dead</i></a> is a book in which a high school
freshman who has just lost someone they care about relates the year through a
series of letters to someone. Over the
year, they deal with substance abuse, a queer friend’s difficult love life,
alienation from parents, and first love.
Eventually it is revealed that the protagonist is <span style="color: white;">a rape
survivor</span>. A teacher and a boy and girl
about to graduate influence the protagonist’s journey towards no-longer-a-yearling
status as they mature, find their voice and sense of self, lies in a road at
one point, and if this sounds very familiar to you then you probably won’t be
at all surprised to find out that <i>Love Letter</i>’s author, Ava Dellaria, is a
friend of Stephen Chbosky, author of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22628.The_Perks_of_Being_a_Wallflower"><i>Perks of Being a Wallflower</i></a>, and helped produce
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1659337/">the movie adaption</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Then Natalie said, very seriously, "It's like, really sad that people die." </i></span><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="vertical-align: super;" title="Page 198">1</a></sup></div>
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I’m <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_491045222"></span>not <span id="goog_491045223"></span></a>the first person to note that <i>Love Letters</i> is very similar
to <i>Perks</i>, to the point of being a near adaption, and opinions are divided. <a href="http://www.myshelfconfessions.com/posts/review-love-letters-to-the-dead-by-ava-dellaira/"> My Shelf Confessions</a> feels
it stands on its own, where the similarities are the downfall of the book for <a href="http://www.paperiot.com/2014/03/review-love-letters-to-the-dead/">Paper Riot</a>.
<a href="http://effortlesslyreading.com/2014/03/book-review-love-letters-to-the-dead-ava-dellaira/">Effortlessly Reading</a>’s review praises it in direct contrast to Perks, in
the minority as a non-fan. To be fair, Dellaria states that <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2014/04/01/love-letters-to-the-dead-ava-dellaira">working on the film was a big inspiration for her</a>, and rightly so. Perks is a superbly written
narrative with a good structure to it.
And while there are similarities, the issues involved are ones that most
teenage drama narratives are going to deal with: Complex love, substance abuse,
other kinds of abuse, and failed parents.
See <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1327801/"><i>Glee</i></a><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="vertical-align: super;" title="Please don't take this as a recomendation to watch Glee, when you could be watching The 100 instead.">2</a></sup>, <a href="http://maggiestiefvater.com/the-raven-boys/"><i>The Raven Cycle</i></a><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="vertical-align: super;" title="My Two-Part Review of which is coming soon to a screen near you.">3</a></sup>, <a href="http://libbabray.com/the-gemma-doyle-trilogy"><i>The Gemma Doyle Trilogy</i></a>, heck, even <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0147800/"><i>Taming of the Shrew</i></a>. No, the reason they’re so similar is the
epistolary framing device, and this for me is the first thing I like about <i>Love Letters</i> that
<i>Perks </i>doesn't have: The letters are addressed to an actual person, not an empty
shout box, and thus we get reflection on the dead.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pgP9LmQEtto9fIBfSEEH9wxmPjxvszqNQfMyXlbEoSaz_l-BalF46v7u9TcKFwjvDdR7wVELRGYCctRUZSDo2rrtKQjlLUxwxp5K9zPNRNBQSfQtUJRkIxeoA3aMVAS7r9i3JmGLxZs/s1600/Amelia_Earhart_-_GPN-2002-000211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pgP9LmQEtto9fIBfSEEH9wxmPjxvszqNQfMyXlbEoSaz_l-BalF46v7u9TcKFwjvDdR7wVELRGYCctRUZSDo2rrtKQjlLUxwxp5K9zPNRNBQSfQtUJRkIxeoA3aMVAS7r9i3JmGLxZs/s1600/Amelia_Earhart_-_GPN-2002-000211.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
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I learned a lot from the interludes where Laurel, our
protagonist for the evening, would give mini-biographies of Kurt Cobain, River
Phoenix<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="vertical-align: super;" title="Who, apparently, was originally named 'River Bottom' and that's the dorkiest thing since Jaden and Willow Smith">4</a></sup>, Judy Garland, Amelia Earhart, and others. These were some of my favorite bits, as you
could see how Laurel connected to them. Her
acknowledgement of their lives, and their deaths, gave them their own
character, a bit like a Greek Chorus, and in her own way brought them back to
life. While at times I lost track of who was being written to when the
narrative was happening, it still created a good framing device, and her musings
about the eternal mystery of Amelia Earhart's disappearance hit me a lot deeper
than I thought they would. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I wonder what it was like, Amelia, in the final moments of your life. Did you stare up at the clouds that you had soared over? Did you wonder if you were going back there, to live in your beloved skies forever?</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="vertical-align: super;" title="Page 264">5</a></sup><sup></sup></div>
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As a reader and writer of ghost stories, as a pagan, and as
a dreamer who’s lost friends this year, I’m okay with the idea that the dead
never really leave us. They linger in words they leave behind that teach us how to
avoid their mistakes and share in their triumphs, and if we love them well,
they’ll love us back. This book is as much
about coping with death as it is about coping with life, and while I won’t
spoil why, it’s a more complex take than I’ve seen in a YA book and for that I
commend it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1QjCgYIqTS_7IeRuV0NDGTXTI0aLB43H0kF7RTFtDh90_LA39rp2jDzVTd0TGOMzaTwy2asVacZ1sOQS89twUngiu_0qLEBAGddczLVaHIVDun9bRidF62VjIpkXg3uArJsILIRZQ7o/s1600/Queers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1QjCgYIqTS_7IeRuV0NDGTXTI0aLB43H0kF7RTFtDh90_LA39rp2jDzVTd0TGOMzaTwy2asVacZ1sOQS89twUngiu_0qLEBAGddczLVaHIVDun9bRidF62VjIpkXg3uArJsILIRZQ7o/s1600/Queers.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured: My Shelves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I really wish I’d made this a queer books blog, because my
superpower is finding books with surprise queers in them. I didn’t expect that in this book either, but
then, suddenly, the B Plot is “Will the cute lesbians make it work?” And here’s the other way in which I like <i>Love Letters</i> better than <i>Perks</i>: They do. In
<i>Perks</i>, the gay best friend loses his boyfriend to homophobia and 90’s
stereotypes about two thirds of the way through, and ends the book single. But then two decades passed, and now the
queers in our books can have happy endings that include not being single. Sure,
there’s levels on which we shouldn’t write books where all the queers have
happy endings because reality doesn’t work that way, but there need to be
some. And this book delivers. I was so grateful for that. </div>
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The books are different in other ways too. <i>Love Letters</i> is, I’d argue, not quite as well
written, but also a bit lighter and softer. It’s a bit more accessible, but a
little more popcorn-y. Tasty, but I don’t
think it has the same kind of staying power.
That said, I still want a not-nearly-as-good movie version. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjql6YV7SYA-4BEAnKsyDoZN2UNZY93_Q0xGmLlxLzg4mLmQjTo8KiLrD4FTXUfiYcX9UJ4cbucSBLpwejmATzveWWJDtBb70N0tdf1nZSJV9aZjz5y5IV2Do8_5gmxEWWxCKC0KghNdkc/s1600/18140047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjql6YV7SYA-4BEAnKsyDoZN2UNZY93_Q0xGmLlxLzg4mLmQjTo8KiLrD4FTXUfiYcX9UJ4cbucSBLpwejmATzveWWJDtBb70N0tdf1nZSJV9aZjz5y5IV2Do8_5gmxEWWxCKC0KghNdkc/s1600/18140047.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The thing about traditions is they hold up<br />the shape of your memory." </td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17807297860948659408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-58079594470727944182014-08-18T16:39:00.000-07:002014-08-18T16:39:46.580-07:005 Things GenCon taught me about WritingA friend of mine was kind enough to give me her ticket to <a href="http://www.gencon.com/">GenCon Indy 2014</a>, "the best four days in gaming," which I'd say earns it. While I was there, I was reminded of what should be obvious, that these Sourcebooks have a unique publishing industry all their own, that the same writing skills you might need for that epic fantasy novel can apply just as well to the 3rd Edition of <a href="http://mutantsandmasterminds.com/">Mutants and Masterminds</a>. I think it's a downfall of our creative writing education system that such opportunities never even get mentioned. I only got a tiny glimpse into this world, and wish I'd had time for more. I thought I'd share a few things I learned.<br />
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<b>1. GET EVERYTHING IN ON TIME</b><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="This ought to be obvious but it's always nice to restate it.">1</a></sup></div>
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Some of what I learned was basic writerly things. Don't overuse words<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Especially dominate. If the Piano isn't wearing leather and sexually arousing the rest of the furniture, don't say that it 'Dominates' the room.">2</a></sup> or punctuation marks, and think about how they look when on the page. Read your work aloud, especially if it's going to be read aloud in game. And of course, get everything in on time. Publishing <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYkf73ZC3nXl_1T68vw2xyAYxFVURu8ehtgt_eMuCf5Mv0gF8eG1RYyX2QAn71UTxT-18AnYO9NWQveTC0fBEq4HlK_hfNbfF37JeAeEUJgQuwoGxIWIaarbOLRwX1qI3Wpq0lCJ7psA/s1600/3c2e77ad6549ad385902ea699b568d25-d614pg9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYkf73ZC3nXl_1T68vw2xyAYxFVURu8ehtgt_eMuCf5Mv0gF8eG1RYyX2QAn71UTxT-18AnYO9NWQveTC0fBEq4HlK_hfNbfF37JeAeEUJgQuwoGxIWIaarbOLRwX1qI3Wpq0lCJ7psA/s1600/3c2e77ad6549ad385902ea699b568d25-d614pg9.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured: Average Paizo, Inc. Freelancer</td></tr>
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always has a lot of moving parts, a lot of people waiting on the one before them in the assembly line. Getting your work to someone sooner makes it more likely they'll still be waiting next time. After all, </div>
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<b>2. Publishing is a Relationship</b></div>
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An important part of a relationship is of course, communication. It's important to be honest with your ability. If you can't pump out 20,000 words in two weeks, your editors should know, rather than wait on you and shatter a schedule.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Because of how long publishing takes, the Pathfinder Tales division of Paizo is further planned out than anyone else, which is saying a lot.">3</a></sup> Many writers will be afraid that by asking questions, seeking clarification or further instruction, they might be annoying, but, at least in Paizo, Inc.'s case, questions are good. Far better to ask "How do people in the River Kingdoms feel about <span style="color: #cc0000;">Cheliax</span>?" early on than to structure a subplot around an incorrect assumption, and take advantage of the</div>
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<b>3. "Distributed Memory"</b></div>
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At one of the panels James Sutter talked about how he's been spoiled working with the shared universe of Golarion. With so many people building the world together, he doesn't have to keep track of <i>all</i> of it, he just has to keep track of who is best to ask about, say, <span style="color: #351c75;">Ustalav</span>.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Hint: It's Erik Mona.">4</a></sup> This idea of "Distributed Memory," and the way fans will make <a href="http://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Pathfinder_Wiki">wiki </a>entries for everything, creates a safe, comfortable world to work in, but the gaps in the built world are all fertile, open territory. However, the downside of "Distributed Memory" is that an editor might blindly trust that the writer did the fact-checking. So,<br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
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<b>4. Don't try to sneak anything past your editor.</b></div>
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If you want to write an epic chase across <span style="color: red;">Molthune</span>,<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Gonna keep namedropping Avistan's nations to accumulate Nerd Cred">5</a></sup> but don't feel like bothering with the river? Sure, you might be able to not mention it. Sure, maybe your editor won't notice, and it'll all get through. But the <i>fans</i> will notice. Fans can smell continuity errors like sharks can smell blood in the water, and that can ruin a writer. It's the downside to "Distributed Memory." If you forget something important, everyone will remember this horrible breach of trust. Because, after all, </div>
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<b>5. Writing for Games is about Love and Trust</b></div>
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When <a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2013/02/adventures-in-time-and-space-doctor-who.html">I reviewed <i>Adventures in Time and Space</i></a>, I didn't talk nearly enough about how flawless the adventure paths that come with it are. Because, well, they're flawless. They're fun to read and fun to run. Full of personality and perfectly capturing the spirit<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Space Fairy Tales">6</a></sup> of <i>Doctor Who,</i> they're<i> </i>probably some of the best adventure paths I've ever encountered. I said as much to a man selling the books only to realize I was talking to <a href="https://twitter.com/peregrinecorone">Andrew Peregrine</a> himself.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="And he's super nice.">7</a></sup> It hit me that writing for games requires a full awareness of the way storytelling requires both writer and reader to create a world between them. To write for an established universe, like Goalrion, the Whoniverse, etc, it's an invitation to the readers more than most books are, to enter a world of wonder and merriment. It's a sacred duty, bound by trust and respect, to be the one to create these portals. Which is a heavy task.</div>
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<i>Many thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/cpcarey">Christopher Carey</a>, <a href="http://paizo.com/people/JudyBauer">Judy Bauer</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanMacklin">Ryan Macklin</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisAJackson1">Chris Jackson</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/gabrielle_h">Gabrielle Harbowy</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardAndrewJon">Howard Andrew Jones</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/jameslsutter">James Sutter</a> for their excellent and informative panels. </i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17807297860948659408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-70096364482946402182014-08-08T22:37:00.000-07:002014-08-09T11:25:38.388-07:00 Black Dragon of England, Red Dragon of Scandinavia<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9V1degbMxSc42OaaDMP8q-vhZgkaP51r2ZRSqULsx6AW6gACHYIWbT1CSSkxKsTDvnLFTPIPgwmWhQFi2wINC8S0kLF5cmVjEqffB0XG08iFNmpIY37uYcLMfpvQhVqL859WcCMkUk6Q/s1600/mhysa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9V1degbMxSc42OaaDMP8q-vhZgkaP51r2ZRSqULsx6AW6gACHYIWbT1CSSkxKsTDvnLFTPIPgwmWhQFi2wINC8S0kLF5cmVjEqffB0XG08iFNmpIY37uYcLMfpvQhVqL859WcCMkUk6Q/s1600/mhysa1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#GrittyRealism</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've seen <a href="http://medievalpoc.tumblr.com/post/74505170627/things-were-just-like-that-back-then-thoughts-on">posts arguing</a> that because Westeros isn't real, there's no need for it to conform to historical arrangements of race (or gender, sex, etc.), that because it's a fantasy there's no reason it couldn't have "<a href="http://www.socialjusticeleague.net/2011/09/how-to-be-a-fan-of-problematic-things/">Women and PoC equal to white men and stuff?</a>" But here's the thing. Many of these articles ignore the fact that we already have a universe where a Medieval European Inspired Epic can have racial diversity: Our own.<br />
<br />
For whatever reason<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Illustrations in History Books, Actors for the History Channel, Wagner, Historical Retroinertia, etc.">1</a></sup> we like to envision Medieval Europe as an entirely White-Skinned Continent. Our virtual past<sup><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1871423-cloud-atlas" title="The present presses the virutual past into its own service, to lend credence to its mytholoies + legitimacey to the impositon of will. Power seeks + is the right to 'landscape' the virtual past.">Cloud Atlas Quote</a></sup> portrays the whiteness of Europe, despite actual past being somewhat more complicated. What I'm presenting here are a few reasons why it really is perfectly okay to have people of color in your Medieval Fantasy Epic.<br />
<br />
1. <b>Romans</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL2WPBI48m4U9_cUvkOv_miMQDvcTAqqOtr3hKgf6yAuJ0hcigpNeYJVKwbQnLvYsOLG2i6D7YAlBXmTxze67rdQrNAVjvEjwqKg4y7AOZ4jcI7NDEsUoYoMzSKS27qNwrhn-_9EPaR8/s1600/25map07paxromana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL2WPBI48m4U9_cUvkOv_miMQDvcTAqqOtr3hKgf6yAuJ0hcigpNeYJVKwbQnLvYsOLG2i6D7YAlBXmTxze67rdQrNAVjvEjwqKg4y7AOZ4jcI7NDEsUoYoMzSKS27qNwrhn-_9EPaR8/s1600/25map07paxromana.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did you know the columns weren't white either?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At its height the Roman Empire covered over a million miles of conquered territory, many of whom would join<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="or be drafted, hired, enslaved, etc">2</a></sup> the Roman Army in order to become proper roman citizens for all of the benefits that entailed.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Money, land, the vote, etc.">3</a></sup> However, rebellions happen, and the last thing an Empire wants is to train soldiers only for them to rebel. The solution? Train soldiers and ship them off to the other end of the world. A Romanized Citizen from Memphis might be tempted to fight for their people, but would be less excited about joining the rebels in Londinium.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Partially because they were still 'The Other' just as much as the Romans did, partially because history has shown a bias against anyone helping the Celts, ever.">4</a></sup><br />
<br />
This means you're going to have people from Cypress shuttled up to southern Brittany and people from Assyria moved to the German lowlands. Assuming my Londinium example, odds are Africans ad Middle Easterns were setting down roots in England <i>before the Anglo-Saxons did</i>. <br />
<br />
There wouldn't necessarily be more than a couple dozen or a perhaps a hundred<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="At a wide estimate">5</a></sup> Romans of Color in the British Isles who would be phased out over the generations, but your big historical romance about the Celtic Woman and her Roman Lover torn apart by the war has no reason it couldn't be about a black couple.<br />
<br />
2. <b>Arabs</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wZqael3JXMNohY8USXdnScBoYNBQu7ka8lpoS98ylxm_vbZw-KwVw8io4rdbZGzpI3XscymMEaw9VYjK-8OSbIJeONUbXVOEVLmyivQD9SrnK7IuYPvSLsfhq3H3xpK7q4mFAHMk1FA/s1600/Ibn_Fadhlan_expedition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wZqael3JXMNohY8USXdnScBoYNBQu7ka8lpoS98ylxm_vbZw-KwVw8io4rdbZGzpI3XscymMEaw9VYjK-8OSbIJeONUbXVOEVLmyivQD9SrnK7IuYPvSLsfhq3H3xpK7q4mFAHMk1FA/s1600/Ibn_Fadhlan_expedition.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In all fairness, the Arabic world were pretty racist to Europe.</td></tr>
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Another part of the "History no one talks about" is that while Europe turned into Chicago, the Middle-East and Asia carried on just fine without us, making great strides in culture, mathematics and technology, and anthropology too. A number of accounts we have of Europe include Muslims travelling north to meet the Barbarians. Ahmad ibn Fadlan<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="(Yeah, the protagonist of that Antonio Banderas movie you never got around to seeing was a real guy! Who knew?)">6</a></sup> and Ahmad ibn Rustah have told us just as much about the Vikings as the Vikings themselves did<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="You know what has no way of backfiring on us? Oral History!">7</a></sup>. <br />
<br />
While there weren't an excess of Arabs settling in what was basically a sprawling, continent-sized version of Detroit, it isn't at all strange to see an Arabic man wandering around with some Celts, especially in the 10th century when Europe was the place to be. Of course, the Crusades also led to racial diversity, but people keep telling stories about the Crusades making crusaders into good people and it'd be great to scrap that genre altogether.<br />
<br />
3. <b>The Vikings</b><br />
This is where it gets a little ridiculous. We love the idea of the <a href="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7p7rocHEecE/maxresdefault.jpg">Big </a><a href="http://wallpapershots.tk/wp-content/uploads/ragnar-lothbrok-2.jpg">Blond </a><a href="http://images1.fanpop.com/images/photos/2300000/Eric-s-profile-eric-northman-2306826-400-300.jpg">Northman</a>. Sexy fair skinned people are a prominent Swedish Export.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Not too toot my own horn.">8</a></sup> But it needn't be so. There was a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Thor2011-by-Marvel-Studios/180374758655178" title="Why is this page still around??">big stink</a> when Heimdall was played by black actor Idris Elba, because as we know the Norse Gods can't be people of color, the Vikings hadn't heard of black people! But the idea of a <a href="http://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/summer-solstice-2014/asgard-as-a-multi-racial-society/">multi-racial Asgard</a> isn't really that ridiculous.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstemBhBP3UBDXsq6SuND3FfnjDwMt_hQnuD-nNXdzKWDHpeyWx6O8SSiViFm9M1isD8jgJ6TYoM044PUeC-KTb8NFptQsJjKehoOGptAbjsewyuf_RXEvwjAWRfimqou-45m3B-rj5aE/s1600/Vikings-Voyages.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstemBhBP3UBDXsq6SuND3FfnjDwMt_hQnuD-nNXdzKWDHpeyWx6O8SSiViFm9M1isD8jgJ6TYoM044PUeC-KTb8NFptQsJjKehoOGptAbjsewyuf_RXEvwjAWRfimqou-45m3B-rj5aE/s1600/Vikings-Voyages.png" height="272" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Vikings were equal-opportunity invaders! We oppressed everyone!"</td></tr>
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The Nordic Cosmology details a merger between two tribes, the Aesir and the Vanir. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=KlT7tv3eMSwC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q&f=false" title="I own a copy of this book!">Some historians</a> have speculated a cultural merging between native Scandinavians and an Eastern Indo-European Pantheon, a racial diversity forgotten by gene pool but preserved in lore.<br />
<br />
But you're not here for mythology, you're here for the raiders. Vikings raiders saw the Capsian Sea, the Byzantine Empire and Newfoundland in their search for cattle, jewelry, gold, slaves, and women. In the 9th to 11th century they established presence in four continents. The reason Scandinavians are so attractive<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Objective viewpoint. No bias here at all.">9</a></sup> is because the most beautiful and strong people were the ones taken as slaves or concubines. This means mongols, africans and arabs were all up for grabs, exoticism in a slave being an easy way to identify them as "The Other." However, as slaves in Scandinavia could earn, buy, or be given their freedom over time or generations, you would likely see a number of free people of color tending farms or minding cattle on the slopes of the fjords. So when you're getting around to adapting <i>Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar</i>, would it really be so bad if Þornbjörg were played by Zoe Saldana?
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hEPhUzoSSs1bA6XweI7hfTywFDd_6VxHkerEIXhfmkQYuhDNfShpvXplPBdk-k2WcmrSkwxbeNEvmcskExQu_bRDxGLBZFC1CcnO9mY3059OXsSDkVEJcsAs10k_iZFIvFdvwtt0mhc/s1600/Queen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hEPhUzoSSs1bA6XweI7hfTywFDd_6VxHkerEIXhfmkQYuhDNfShpvXplPBdk-k2WcmrSkwxbeNEvmcskExQu_bRDxGLBZFC1CcnO9mY3059OXsSDkVEJcsAs10k_iZFIvFdvwtt0mhc/s1600/Queen.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know it turned into #AbuserDynamics<br />
by the later seasons, but <i>Merlin</i> was at<br />
least pretty colorblind in its casting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are other examples of a racial diverse Medieval Europe, including a <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/feb/26/roman-york-skeleton">black woman buried with honors in Rome</a>, an <a href="http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/slave-general-abram-hannibal">African Slave who became a Russian General</a>, a <a href="http://medievalnews.blogspot.com/2010/05/medieval-african-discovered-in-england.html">Tunisian man buried in a 13th century priory</a>, and <a href="http://news.discovery.com/history/us-history/vikings-native-american-woman.htm">this fascinating DNA study</a> showing Indigenous American ancestry within viking populations. And these are only the ones we know about. While non-white folks may have faced some scrutiny for being outlanders<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Speaking of Movies you Never Saw, Outlander (2008) is Beowulf BUT WITH ALIENS. Go find a copy.">10</a></sup> and difficulty due to often starting at the bottom of the social ladder as slaves, racism wasn't as deeply ingrained as we like to imagine and a person could still be seen as an equal.<br />
<br />
<br />
Am I saying you <i>have </i>to include people of color in your Historical Romance/Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Dystopia? Not necessarily. There are times and places of racial homogeneity, and there were probably few places after the fall of Rome that were likely to have no more than a few token people of color. A realistic Medieval Europe would probably not look like a 90's kid's show. But the idea that you <i>must not</i> include people of color in your European Fantasy Epic is ludicrous, and romanticizes a period of history as a Whites Only zone, and allows us to perpetuate that never-extant norm into other fictions as well. When we Europeans stop telling our own story as one devoid of racial diversity, maybe we'll stop thinking its acceptable to tell other stories in the same way.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv17IZ_AHTh-kWZgBqpM1mdEdkjZnu-Tos06XfB35nTWgJmVP-wA6eevPU96b8Jt02uqm38RBfcrIMX7XW7SevSdrzhoUFNgoyAmuIUU6WkinNgwKB3cmbmdz2JGPjB2DJT3j8KLea5O0/s1600/Vikings+School+Bus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv17IZ_AHTh-kWZgBqpM1mdEdkjZnu-Tos06XfB35nTWgJmVP-wA6eevPU96b8Jt02uqm38RBfcrIMX7XW7SevSdrzhoUFNgoyAmuIUU6WkinNgwKB3cmbmdz2JGPjB2DJT3j8KLea5O0/s1600/Vikings+School+Bus.png" height="279" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured: Not actually a thing.<br />
Sadly.<br />
<br />
Like, tell me you wouldn't watch "The Magic School Bus Raids Northumbria"</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17807297860948659408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-43906243414203684922014-08-02T17:27:00.003-07:002014-08-02T18:04:06.098-07:00Salsa Nocturna by Daniel José Older - Review I think it’s fair to say that <a href="http://ghoststar.net/">Daniel José Older</a> was the Protagonist of Midwest Writers Workshop 2014. A lot<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="As in, he packed rooms to the point of needing more chairs. Most of them white, too.">1</a></sup> of people responded positively to his presentations on the issues of <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/danieljoseolder/fundamentals-of-writing-the-other">Writing About the Other</a>, especially in terms of his genre, Urban Fantasy. His critiques of the genre and its relation to power are sharp, poignant and precise.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
We can’t keep raising generations of kids of color on the notion that there’s only room for them to be bad guys or doomed sidekicks <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MWW14?src=hash">#MWW14</a><br />
— Sarah Cannon (@Saille) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saille/statuses/492724488728248321">July 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
"When I think about ghost stories, it's more than slamming doors. It's about history and how the past moves with us." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MWW14?src=hash">#MWW14</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/djolder">@djolder</a><br />
— Olivia A. Cole (@RantingOwl) <a href="https://twitter.com/RantingOwl/statuses/493091249629712384">July 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
"Urban books is code for black books. Add fantasy to it and now it's 90% white." <a href="https://twitter.com/djolder">@djolder</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MWW14?src=hash">#MWW14</a><br />
— Sarah Hollowell (@sarahhollowell) <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahhollowell/statuses/492767364413681664">July 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
</blockquote>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgeEvVM6qlr7aG9MtL5MERIXvRMdRo53lC0jyKEOoK0kXe5097W3CF__Z38_GvMXjhy7cUMIrH7xDj1IpF0V1U0wEVhaN_Wc6_5FvsqVxI9bW8DGaSqqTYH1UGp7-CjGMKuXd7QhNedw/s1600/ministry_of_changes_by_juliedillon-d6bus6y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgeEvVM6qlr7aG9MtL5MERIXvRMdRo53lC0jyKEOoK0kXe5097W3CF__Z38_GvMXjhy7cUMIrH7xDj1IpF0V1U0wEVhaN_Wc6_5FvsqVxI9bW8DGaSqqTYH1UGp7-CjGMKuXd7QhNedw/s1600/ministry_of_changes_by_juliedillon-d6bus6y.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What? You try to find a picture of a<br />
Ghost of Color. <a href="http://www.juliedillonart.com/">Source</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
He asks why Gentrification isn't a bigger issue within the Urban Fantasy Genre, given that it's an actual urban issue, which is why it's a major theme in <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13568836-salsa-nocturna">Salsa Nocturna</a>.</i> It's marketed as an anthology of ghost stories, and the full title seems to be "Salsa Nocturna Stories" based off of the cover, but honestly it reads less like an anthology and more like a novel with an eclectic approach to narrators, a la <a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-six-gun-tarot-by-r-s-belcher-review.html">Six-Gun Tarot</a>. I think this may have been a marketing fail, as Short Story collections <a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/02/21/sorry_the_short_story_boom_is_bogus/">don't sell</a> nearly as well as Urban Fantasy. Then again, Older has seen success with <i><a href="http://longhidden.com/">Long Hidden</a></i>.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Because publication follows rules of inertia, it's hard to know why choices are made.">2</a></sup><br />
<i></i><br />
<i></i>
<i>Salsa Nocturna</i> has two primary protagonists, Carlos, a withdrawn half-dead ghosthunter and Gordo, a laid-back old Cubano who writes music with the dead. Their narratives slowly start to intertwine as they and the other characters deal with paranormal trouble in the streets of New York. The cast is diverse, colourful, heartfelt and often hilarious.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Kids will ask, "Tio Gordo, why you so big?"
And I get real serious looking. "Because I eat so many children."
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SalsaNocturna?src=hash">#SalsaNocturna</a><br />
— Jackson Eflin (@JacksonEflin) <a href="https://twitter.com/JacksonEflin/statuses/494211281683894272">July 29, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed reading this book, how thoroughly attached I was to all the characters or their struggles, or how satisfying it was seeing a lot of characters of color managing to one-up their predominantly white bosses or antagonists. That old idea<sup><a href="http://bsu.edu/dlr/documents/DeadEndJob-ACriticalEditionof-TheTransferredGhost-byFrankStockton.pdf" title="I wrote about this in an article for the Digital Literature Review. Click to view.">3</a></sup> that race and class power dynamics persist even into the afterlife says a lot about how pervasive these imbalances are in our world. <br />
<br />
Which brings me to the thing about <i>Salsa Nocturna</i> that I want to talk about.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQr0AblB63PAOE82iP8G7terNm5qFTWrtb8CG3VjerOWGnnE3huPoUegBmVAuuhYjXaFbBbU7tif3w-xdRamQPnm-9qJtNsybRpRhL5DrML3j4FrtF6VQsE8X1SGThNDbedRnj1MU6pqc/s1600/IMG_1977%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQr0AblB63PAOE82iP8G7terNm5qFTWrtb8CG3VjerOWGnnE3huPoUegBmVAuuhYjXaFbBbU7tif3w-xdRamQPnm-9qJtNsybRpRhL5DrML3j4FrtF6VQsE8X1SGThNDbedRnj1MU6pqc/s1600/IMG_1977%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The Publisher's Weekly quote can be read two ways, given the dualistic nature of the word "Original." On the one hand, it means that this work is unlike others. Ghost mammoths, burgundy hurricanes, shape-shifting slave sorcerers, this book is very new. But Older's origins, as a musician, a paramedic, and a man of color are ever present in the narrative. It is original in that it has clear origins. This history saturates the narrative, makes these stories about the dead come alive. <i>Salsa Nocturna</i> isn't afraid of its blatant racial commentary,<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="'Sicka white dudes being all primary in shit. He can be the sidekick or the nosey neighbor. That's it.' -Riley, pg. 109">4</a></sup> which is why it's very important.<br />
<br />
Because here's the skinny: the publishing industry is full of a lot of deeply ingrained racism.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="And also Queer characters, disabled characters, fat characters, etc,">5</a></sup> Writers of color, trying to tell stories about people of color, have a harder time getting published, and when they do they're shelved in their own sections (African-American Lit as opposed to Sci-Fi).<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Once again, Native American religions being shelved as folklore but the Bible shelved as religion is telling and political. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MWW14?src=hash">#MWW14</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/djolder">@djolder</a><br />
— Olivia A. Cole (@RantingOwl) <a href="https://twitter.com/RantingOwl/statuses/493093003184324608">July 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
Dealing with this massive problem that haunts the publishing industry is the reason #WeNeedDiverseBooks exists. People reading, and publicaly talking about, books like <i>Salsa Nocturna</i> will help counter the ridiculous notion that "White people can't connect to the stories of People of Colour." So when I say "Everyone, go read <i>Salsa Nocturna</i>", this time I'm not just recommending it as a moving, action-packed urban fantasy novel, I'm recommending it as an actual political act.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13568836-salsa-nocturna"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zhhHYNOtXxaPgkKhZFjGBy9KDrrigC6RYBN7h9_AHpTwyJkIX3wssaH5eAqDE1YO9nSX4Jz71VCLlvnnqfnFp-3VJvIGobPWziu_tlL858EE6LLEUCxHChLbb1m2mWJYcLkM_cyJkVU/s1600/SNcover-front-1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zhhHYNOtXxaPgkKhZFjGBy9KDrrigC6RYBN7h9_AHpTwyJkIX3wssaH5eAqDE1YO9nSX4Jz71VCLlvnnqfnFp-3VJvIGobPWziu_tlL858EE6LLEUCxHChLbb1m2mWJYcLkM_cyJkVU/s1600/SNcover-front-1000.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Do not, under any circumstances, hurt the ghost pachyderm."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh, and watch out for <a href="http://ghoststar.net/blog/cover-reveal-half-resurrection-blues"><i>Half-Resurection Blues</i></a> when it comes out.<br />
<br />
Look at that cover.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuYRxAxeNPrYieheOAMMVbmVPZb_C2qhhP-oPYua2vW8ryb1MfsKyB-ijJZ6mpS4ddLwRcKNsEzSWKuS9VFHCd5oSWXDa5RrHX5hrIlKTik4w_-hcwUPgBOz7WXWU3sJ1DvkrxTD6pUA/s1600/Half-Resurrection-Blues-Final-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuYRxAxeNPrYieheOAMMVbmVPZb_C2qhhP-oPYua2vW8ryb1MfsKyB-ijJZ6mpS4ddLwRcKNsEzSWKuS9VFHCd5oSWXDa5RrHX5hrIlKTik4w_-hcwUPgBOz7WXWU3sJ1DvkrxTD6pUA/s1600/Half-Resurrection-Blues-Final-Cover.jpg" height="320" width="198" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This cover is gorgeous.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17807297860948659408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-80175545564437110562014-06-04T20:09:00.000-07:002014-06-04T20:16:34.148-07:00Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith - Review<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29Bp5KSzrmFltH2UYW2NjqXzDH3MdcDLqGVgummi61LkPNArOhsccxx_9SWksIXpf2E-wF2S9B6qmq7O7DeGme2ISU58TOgOmpkAroOSJl19KxNSORII49Ep7jIfXRpZNG6IU91aCzjw/s1600/Casimir.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29Bp5KSzrmFltH2UYW2NjqXzDH3MdcDLqGVgummi61LkPNArOhsccxx_9SWksIXpf2E-wF2S9B6qmq7O7DeGme2ISU58TOgOmpkAroOSJl19KxNSORII49Ep7jIfXRpZNG6IU91aCzjw/s1600/Casimir.png" height="200" width="154" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saint Kazimirez shows up a lot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Trust me, you’ll want to have read this book. Get hyped. It’s <a href="http://www.hbook.com/2014/05/news/boston-globe-horn-book-awards/2014-boston-globe-horn-book-awards-excellence-childrens-literature/">winning awards</a> and taking names. Sony is all over <a href="http://shelf-life.ew.com/2014/03/07/on-the-books-grasshopper-jungle-movie/">the movie rights</a>. And deservedly so. <br />
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18079719-grasshopper-jungle">Grasshopper Jungle</a></i> by <a href="https://twitter.com/marburyjack">Andrew Smith</a><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Who's really cool on the Twitters">1</a></sup> is an incredible book. What’s it about?<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Everything. Good books are about everything.">2</a></sup><br />
<i>Short version:</i> Teen deals with being bi while giant praying mantises attack. <br />
<i>Long Version: </i>Austin Szerba is in love with his girlfriend and his best friend, and narrates his struggle as it intermingles with the lives of the people of<sup><a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2014/05/syzygy-beauty-by-t-fleischmann-review.html" title="T Fleischmann’s 'Syzygy, Beauty: an Essay' is a good companion read.">3</a></sup><br />
Ealing, Iowa, as a plague of giant praying mantises emerge from the townsfolk. Along the way, he explores the nature of art, history, truth, and sexuality.<br />
<br />
<i>Grasshopper Jungle</i> shouldn’t be thought of as a book though. Think of it as a very, very long symphony. It uses repeating phrases like musical motifs, creating a musical flow to frame the increasingly complex story.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 120%;">It was not a good idea.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 120%;">No one knew anything about it. </span><span style="line-height: 120%;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 120%;">And that was our day.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 120%;">A real dynamo.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 120%;">Bugs only like to do two things.</span></li>
<li><i style="line-height: 120%;">You
know what I mean.</i></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 120%;">“Um.”</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
But there are more complicated ideas that repeat as well. For instance, Austin’s mother takes a lot of Xanax, which look like “little blue Kayaks.” The payoff? A chapter later we get the following: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>I’d never seen my mother run one time in my life. Who wants to run when you can kayak everywhere?</i></blockquote>
Austin will continue to speak of drugs as Kayaks for the remainder of the novel. Simmiliarly, he regards his writing as “Recording history” and parallels himself to the cave painters of Lascaux and Altmaria, saying that neither tells the whole story, but merely shows the important parts, and lets you work the rest out.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>We killed a big hairy thing. And that was our day. You know what I mean. </i></blockquote>
It’s a beautiful device, as it allows the narrator to be 1st Person Omnicient, a rare perspective and a bit challenging, especially for YA. It’s full of all these big grand ideas explored through how they relate to the protagonist, how precisely Austin is juxtaposed against the Vice President’s testicles. This perspective is a tad self-centered, but it fits the protagonist perfectly. Sometimes teenagers are self-centered, especially when they’re trying to figure themselves out.<br />
<br />
<i>Grasshopper Jungle</i> <b>gets </b>being a teenager. For a while a problem I had with the book was that it was overly focused on the love triangle as Austin struggles to choose between Robby and Shann. The protagonists didn’t realize there was a plague of praying mantises attacking until 3/5ths of the way through the narrative because they were too wrapped up in their worries about love and sex.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Like seriously the world ends because the narrator and his best friend spend a few crucial days angsting about having drunk sex one night. I ran the math, if they’d just waited a few more days they could have prevented the apocalypse.">5</a></sup><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM-L0odPJO_fMIaaCQ2uaa4d7ycUOKyBH91VzJ1UGvFTGqHtViGASSRQ-2Etx44B46tZSkyAvEe-CGWxrhKZZCET45wVS4C0l-fxsZD1Dh49McDUavU8-qj-8C5EjzaBocnLRCMEaaAE/s1600/tumblr_n22lo2ZgnG1r0yglfo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM-L0odPJO_fMIaaCQ2uaa4d7ycUOKyBH91VzJ1UGvFTGqHtViGASSRQ-2Etx44B46tZSkyAvEe-CGWxrhKZZCET45wVS4C0l-fxsZD1Dh49McDUavU8-qj-8C5EjzaBocnLRCMEaaAE/s1600/tumblr_n22lo2ZgnG1r0yglfo1_500.gif" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: white;">No quote. Just enjoy the gif. It's adorable. </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then I realized, that’s a flawless metaphor for teenagehood.<br />
<br />
Now, I know not all teens categorize things into “makes me horny” and “does not make me horny” <sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="You think representation of homosexuals is rare in YA? Try representation of Asexuals. I found like, three titles.">6</a></sup> but it has a ring of truth to it. Whenever the narrator responds to a stimulus with “[this thing] made me horny” or “I was thinking about having a threesome with my best friends in [this new, probably dangerous place]” I was nodding along going “Yep. Been there, done that.” It’s a realistic portrayal of a teenage mindset.<br />
<br />
The characters are realistic teens too. Robby Brees, acquiring a nosebleed from being punched in the face by bullies, tries to write “<span style="color: #990000;">Grant Wallace Murdered Me</span>” in his own blood. Spiteful, but believable. And hilarious.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="And also the thing that kicks off the apocalypse">7</a></sup> Meanwhile, Shann spends most of her time investigating the mysterious past of her house and how it connects to the mysterious things in her stepfather’s office.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="You know, important things that actually matter. Shann got shit done.">8</a></sup><br />
<br />
The narrator’s struggle to work out what he is and how to define himself is heartfelt, and does a good job of mirroring the sort of struggles I feel like a lot of queer teens go through. Austin more or less knows that he’s in love with a guy and a girl for the whole novel, but his coming to terms with it takes him a long, long time, and the word “Bisexual” is conspicuously absent from the narrative right up until right before the climactic battles with the giant praying mantises. He points out how hard it is to work it out, again bringing back the Altmaria paintings: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8sQAvwdGYpJM1AFUh6jzlNbwYlzYj5Q2AlnGwNty5BkeaaCHVruyMLUU1PJgq9vMLdCldW42MGXeFwXBny3Eu390N_wsafEItRwiMsMrD4XniQD0zINjrEQ6ynx2IVJB6WojQNcIZAA/s1600/Altamira+cave+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8sQAvwdGYpJM1AFUh6jzlNbwYlzYj5Q2AlnGwNty5BkeaaCHVruyMLUU1PJgq9vMLdCldW42MGXeFwXBny3Eu390N_wsafEItRwiMsMrD4XniQD0zINjrEQ6ynx2IVJB6WojQNcIZAA/s1600/Altamira+cave+painting.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>We made this stupid rule and this stupid rule.</i></div>
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i>Boys are not allowed to love each other.</i></i></div>
<i>
</i><i></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i>Then we painted bison on the wall.</i></i></div>
<i>
</i></blockquote>
I will say this, towards the end of the novel the increasingly wide scope slows down what could have been a tighter, more action-packed narrative. But it’s a minor complaint about an otherwise stellar novel. I could rave for ages about it, but instead of that, why not go <a href="http://www.authorandrewsmith.com/Author_Andrew_Smith/Grasshopper_Jungle.html">pick up a copy </a>and save us both time?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOu5MxUWdcNNGMkE0n49tdnZz25K2_TxhBRBnKaXgAl0fxuYQ8uaCjiD9x3yo6ghYUFWUSa42oOnLsrtWIMpFNGXQEW9yR0k059JlB5mUmeXjzXx9SF5gWodGzEtd_WldWPiTgZQHHOcE/s1600/GrasshopperJungle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOu5MxUWdcNNGMkE0n49tdnZz25K2_TxhBRBnKaXgAl0fxuYQ8uaCjiD9x3yo6ghYUFWUSa42oOnLsrtWIMpFNGXQEW9yR0k059JlB5mUmeXjzXx9SF5gWodGzEtd_WldWPiTgZQHHOcE/s1600/GrasshopperJungle.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
"Bad Buisness Plan," Robby said.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"What?"</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Fixing people's feet in a town everyone's </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
desperate to run away from."</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-12754086084870544502014-05-30T01:54:00.001-07:002014-05-30T01:55:03.484-07:00What to learn about Exposition from Skin Game: A Novel of the Dresden Files<i>Preface: I’m not gonna say much about the quality of <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19486421-skin-game">Skin Game: A Novel of the Dresden Files</a> by <a href="http://www.jim-butcher.com/">Jim Butcher</a>. Of course it was phenomenal. Butcher always brings the goods. If you like Urban Fantasy, you need The Dresden Files. But given that the book came out 3 days ago and there are already over 200 reviews, <a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2013/01/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html">once </a><a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2014/05/who-needs-neopagan-rites-by-isaac.html">again </a>I’m not needed to help sell this one either.</i><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="For a blog dedicated to publicizing books that need love I keep reviewing things that don’t need it">1</a> </sup><i> So instead, I’ll use it as an example of how to do exposition right. </i><br />
. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bxIwIU554dHvtHD0MXiLstadEOYuH61W382G8J3SaZ5A7v7lQr2T43E-dt2fEjp1g2h98X3h8YvVox7RFu60BJx1KcaW2-7Sipoma6KsUQtW53OBQGlFboXmtYiE4hVzx2Wkr7PIFBw/s1600/skingame_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bxIwIU554dHvtHD0MXiLstadEOYuH61W382G8J3SaZ5A7v7lQr2T43E-dt2fEjp1g2h98X3h8YvVox7RFu60BJx1KcaW2-7Sipoma6KsUQtW53OBQGlFboXmtYiE4hVzx2Wkr7PIFBw/s1600/skingame_lg.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Warning: From here it’s spoilers all the way down.
</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Butcher is a master of exposition. We’re fifteen novels into this series and his fantasy ‘verse is VAST.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="It contains vampires, the other vampires, the recently extinct vampires, the Asian vampires, dragons, a plethora of faeries, angels, fallen angels, knights of the cross, Valkyries, Gods, God, the Fomor, eldritch abominations, wizards/warlocks/witches, ghosts, werewolves, necromancers, the three billy goats gruff and, as of now, a lightsaber forged from one of the nails of the Cross. Yes, that one. And that’s just the fantasy stuff.">2</a></sup> Butcher views world mythology like a giant treasure vault that he’s got the keys to, so pretty much anything can show up. <sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Dresden fought a Xenomorph once. It made (some) sense in context.">3</a></sup> As this book brought back a lot of old characters for a big multiplayer heist narrative (They knock over the Vault of Hades. It takes like three days because Harry’s a badass.) Butcher was free to bring a lot of past stuff in.
<br />
<br />
One thing he brought in was The Genowska, one of the Forest People. Now, I’m an avid reader, but I didn’t remember them at all. I was wondering if I’d missed a book, and it turns out I had. The Forest People were introduced in a short story published in an obscure anthology I haven’t read.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="It’s coming soon in a collection of Dresden Files Short Stories, under the title of ‘Brief Cases’ which is a wonderful title.">4</a></sup> However, because Butcher is a master of exposition, he managed it subtly.
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4_hcksaU3r7ObJf_sBQ50-adoe4aVLkdGqQlvS5QbmnH2q-pSov0HQTi7JDOvBwK8don0aeuctEY4OmyvqeeprizkfWGA-5mO2CJ6SAUzElxqcKxx33_oKZAG8pHIrxiIlTzLV3StAY/s1600/thumb.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4_hcksaU3r7ObJf_sBQ50-adoe4aVLkdGqQlvS5QbmnH2q-pSov0HQTi7JDOvBwK8don0aeuctEY4OmyvqeeprizkfWGA-5mO2CJ6SAUzElxqcKxx33_oKZAG8pHIrxiIlTzLV3StAY/s1600/thumb.png" height="166" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Presumably the <a href="http://dsillustration.deviantart.com/art/Harry-Dresden-and-Sue-the-T-Rex-352673214">Zombie T-Rex </a>has it?)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We’re introduced to The Genowska subtly. In the abandoned slaughterhouse being used as a base there’s a pen containing eleven goats.<br />
Then ten. <br />
Then eight. <br />
<br />
Something’s eating them, one at each meal. We get about 170 pages to worry about what terrible, invisible monster Dresden’s employer is feeding. Dresden, being tactful as a jar of live bees, gets tired of being in the dark.
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Whatever big, ugly, stinking, stupid thing you've got hanging around in here with us probably doesn't deserve to be in this company. Given our goal, I don’t see the point in taking along a mindless mound of muscle.”
</span></blockquote>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXuPlhvmIAbquCCE7d30ZMFWlwdayqApdTBj9KqzfV-UfMUeCUYIzGDguwZdYw_NjUE7xPxtddRX0xbKPWyTg6W09sIxxqj76rsLMIenaqhvrqQFIxaPp_AvQoAklqQGAPQinlv_Xt88/s1600/sasquatch-scary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXuPlhvmIAbquCCE7d30ZMFWlwdayqApdTBj9KqzfV-UfMUeCUYIzGDguwZdYw_NjUE7xPxtddRX0xbKPWyTg6W09sIxxqj76rsLMIenaqhvrqQFIxaPp_AvQoAklqQGAPQinlv_Xt88/s1600/sasquatch-scary.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>But then the Genowska removes its veil. We get a good paragraph of description of a big, hulking thing, like the side of a mountain, growling at Dresden’s rudeness. But it’s not the size, or the growl, or the eyes “glinting like an assassin’s knives from a cave’s mouth.” It’s that Dresden stops being a wiseass.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“An ogre?” Ascher asked. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Not an ogre,” I replied immediately.</span><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="When Dresden says things quickly, you know he’s worried">5</a></sup><span style="font-size: large;"> “He’s one of the Forest People.”
</span></div>
<br />
Dresden then launches into a description of a Forest Person tearing through “about twenty ghouls in a fair fight.” However, note the technique: Butcher doesn’t just tell us that the thing mighty, but gives us an example of exactly how mighty. We’ve seen Dresden struggle with just three ghouls a few chapters back, so this is an impressive juxtaposition.
<br />
<br />
To reinforce that he’s worried enough about this thing to be respectful, he apologizes to it. “Sorry about what I said earlier. I figured [my employer] had a troll stashed around here somewhere. Didn’t realize it was one of the Forest People. I’ve done a little business with River Shoulders in the past. Maybe you’ve heard of–”
<br />
<br />
And then the Genowska punches Dresden across the room.
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZZ2iMTVGddv0WSqSyGL5QH_I2vyw1xFr9ruBOA3ySYcMYPS0uybDrM2DJ4pMc4zBmbuehqY8CrdWSdDVVZmmSgPZlBJ1Qm6U0HaDOUbuiH9BfJkJI8CLF0mqSCD7TY7M530pLCn_1dc/s1600/HBigfoot_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZZ2iMTVGddv0WSqSyGL5QH_I2vyw1xFr9ruBOA3ySYcMYPS0uybDrM2DJ4pMc4zBmbuehqY8CrdWSdDVVZmmSgPZlBJ1Qm6U0HaDOUbuiH9BfJkJI8CLF0mqSCD7TY7M530pLCn_1dc/s1600/HBigfoot_01.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Ice that should have entombed him just...drained away..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Consider this a friendly warning. I am not one of the whimpering Forest People. Speak of me and that flower-chewing groundhog lover River Shoulders in the same breath again, and I will devour your offal while you watch.”
</span>
<br />
<br />
This is what's called “<a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheWorfEffect">The Worf Effect</a>.” When you have something badass, if something else beats that thing up it proves how dangerous it is. Here we have the Genowska calling something that can tear through a score of Ghouls “Whimpering” and “flower-chewing.”
<br />
<br />
And thus we have a dangerous and powerful foe established, juxtaposed against characters the reader hasn’t met (if they didn’t know about the short story, like me) and a mythology built up around them, all done through a single scene that builds on a history that, for all I knew, could have been only in the author’s head, but I still understood all of it.
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1QbpWVebO-FKQ4suzo0c4130J8bdS_c37myJVzJOUZIIhuHTB2X9XoXeESA8VWzhPYsluMz8G5dk7MSsTgltAUyZ8QTESTuuXJSRcPCxCUxy-PeG30JU5Q_kpE9MoByKGam0Dei-2xY/s1600/2830-8x10-RGB-cropped-177x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1QbpWVebO-FKQ4suzo0c4130J8bdS_c37myJVzJOUZIIhuHTB2X9XoXeESA8VWzhPYsluMz8G5dk7MSsTgltAUyZ8QTESTuuXJSRcPCxCUxy-PeG30JU5Q_kpE9MoByKGam0Dei-2xY/s1600/2830-8x10-RGB-cropped-177x300.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Dean of contemporary<br />
urban fantasy." <span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">– </span>Booklist</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In this single scene, we learn enough a suitable amount about<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The Forest People </li>
<li>How dangerous <i>they </i>are </li>
<li>The Genowska </li>
<li>How much <i>more </i>dangerous he is</li>
</ul>
<br />
To review, Butcher built up this monster by<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Hinting at its presence several times </li>
<li>Revealing it visually </li>
<li>Showing how a character reacts to it, to give context </li>
<li>Gives it an action and a line of dialogue</li>
</ul>
<br />
At no point does the book flat out say “The Genowska is dangerous.” We learn that through action.
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/08/09/25-ways-to-make-exposition-your-bitch/">Exposition </a>can very easily bog down a book, especially a fantasy book. The lesson here is that when introducing something important to the novel, give it its own scene, show how it interacts with the world in action, as opposed to exposition.
<br />
<br />
If you want to learn more about how to write good fantasy, go pick up these books. It’s one of he best choices an aspiring fantasy author can make. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1XpEkW_r8l9pCj0BCqL7ruuKfBESfRWNRZr_cACIkajao6v9OPoJQKSehjoy39hdH-iP9B8zhYQxePA49BYBl_Jry2-tszS55tYFaZpDjbWR5J5Tg0UVLbHe8zGTpz-_rliL5w0kWdc/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1XpEkW_r8l9pCj0BCqL7ruuKfBESfRWNRZr_cACIkajao6v9OPoJQKSehjoy39hdH-iP9B8zhYQxePA49BYBl_Jry2-tszS55tYFaZpDjbWR5J5Tg0UVLbHe8zGTpz-_rliL5w0kWdc/s1600/0.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This isn't really related to writing, I just wanted to remind everyone that<br />
<i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feXqHknhDOc">this </a>is canonically part of the Dresden Files now</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-10347171711202196832014-05-27T15:55:00.001-07:002014-05-27T15:55:21.024-07:00Who Needs Neopagan Rites by Isaac Bonewits?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9A0R3vh6i6jMyX_eNWISjNBVVlfN8g1Ypr047gLg5KAoiayN_V8en26qC3xp9zkT1DyAtVsu60n25eVKw20yLP7305EyFGoObDosG5MpDq3pGdtPLn7TVd32Qbla1Gq8_d1Gm6fDdD-U/s1600/isaac-bonewits-big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9A0R3vh6i6jMyX_eNWISjNBVVlfN8g1Ypr047gLg5KAoiayN_V8en26qC3xp9zkT1DyAtVsu60n25eVKw20yLP7305EyFGoObDosG5MpDq3pGdtPLn7TVd32Qbla1Gq8_d1Gm6fDdD-U/s1600/isaac-bonewits-big.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"That which is <br />remembered lives."<br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I’ll start by saying that <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Neopagan-Rites-Creating-Public-Rituals/dp/0738711993/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401227058&sr=8-1&keywords=neopagan+rites+isaac+bonewits">Neopagan Rites: A Guide to Creating Public Rituals that Work</a></i> is an excellent book. It doesn’t surprise me that so many of my pagan friends have copies, shared around to the point where people have lost track of whose book is whose. Written by the late Isaac Bonewits<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Taken too early at 60, his influence can be felt in almost any Neopagan group, ritual or book, especially since he invented the term">1</a></sup> it is enlightening and well researched, benefiting from Bonewits longstanding importance in the community and years of writing liturgy. Exploring all the considerations necessary for creating Neopagan Liturgy, it manages to be an enjoyable read even in the slower sections, crackling with wit.<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"…you may be forced to have paper cups and plates on hand, but for Goddess’ sake, have them at least look dignified. Using Styrofoam is probably a sin."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br />
This book doesn’t need my help to be read<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="And besides, its author is dead, he doesn’t really need my help either">2</a></sup>, so instead of praising it, I’m going to give a bit of advice for potential readers.<br />
<br />
This book is not for everyone. Somewhat light on examples, it assumes a certain familiarity with Neopagan ritual, especially group ritual, and a knowledge of some of the history of Neopaganism and magic. I would not advise this book if<br />
<ul>
<li>You are only just starting out on a Neopagan path<sup><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wicca-Beginners-Fundamentals-Philosophy-Practice/dp/0738707511" title="This is where I recommend something like Thea Sabin’s ‘Wicca For Beginners’">3</a></sup> </li>
<li>You live in an area without an active pagan group </li>
<li>You aren’t ready to take part in the Neopagan Clergy </li>
<li>You have never participated in a public/large group Neopagan Rite </li>
<li>You are easily offended by occasional jibes at Christianity<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="It’s a good book, but it occasionally gives into the ‘casting snide aspersions at Christians’ urge that many Neopagans have">4</a></sup></li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9zsTKAoM46w9c8uVXXEyx49yxnTTYn6ZzZ_kaE5hrQTVpq7xieSq_cRPENlDcV-vXD6AXiTfPNmwObEiSi9zKTNzUkbXyX37Ga5eBm-cxjd7D44gFH0rpZHlCyIzxzHWYfKGCPH_1XQ/s1600/Wellspring209+241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9zsTKAoM46w9c8uVXXEyx49yxnTTYn6ZzZ_kaE5hrQTVpq7xieSq_cRPENlDcV-vXD6AXiTfPNmwObEiSi9zKTNzUkbXyX37Ga5eBm-cxjd7D44gFH0rpZHlCyIzxzHWYfKGCPH_1XQ/s1600/Wellspring209+241.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"The Gods are watching us, so let's give them a good show!"</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I <i>would </i>advise this book if<br />
<ul>
<li>You are or plan to start leading group pagan rites, especially public ones </li>
<li>You have practice with Neopagan rites and think you know what you’re doing<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Trust me, you’ll learn SOMETHING you didn’t know">5</a></sup> </li>
<li>Your local Neopagan group needs to spice up its liturgy/shake up traditionalism </li>
<li>You have a solid grasp of Neopagan theology/thealogy<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="The study of goddess(es)">6</a></sup> and history </li>
<li>You want a valuable addition to any Neopagan library, personal or group </li>
</ul>
Or, and this is the biggest reason: You don’t have any experience. You’ve only got a handful of other Neopagans in your area. You’ve got no leaders, no practice, no real unity, but you want them. An important aspect (often overlooked) that Bonewits stresses is for a ritual to include a reminder of continuity with rituals of the past and the future. This book provides that. It carries the feeling of growth, of little rituals building to big ones, faith groups that should flounder managing to soar. If you’re going to start from scratch, this may be the best place to start. If you’ve got nothing to go on, just pluck and sincerity, this will at least provide you with some sort of ground to stand on.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="But remember, Sincerity is no substitute for competence.">7</a></sup><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Neopagan-Rites-Creating-Public-Rituals/dp/0738711993/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401227058&sr=8-1&keywords=neopagan+rites+isaac+bonewits" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm8iitz_4Eta1wHnVsW4s4Qmf30TZT13NIj_ORs6d4F00otOmvtAoE-L9t3mWKJu2HviU3YBG1djnoOuJbbH6fFE3GFMkbjVTOfCThbHzGV7kdHOAj5hp5R08EfnFZKZk6qZP__bTN9A/s1600/ll-neopagan+rites.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Remember that if you do a fall equinox rite at sunset, you will probably not be able<br />
to get the sun to delay setting while latecomers straggle in."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-72094760612878090602014-05-13T15:26:00.003-07:002014-05-13T15:29:01.147-07:00Syzygy, Beauty, by T Fleischmann - Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_HkWdaQxvmxnQblnEnKxaeQGf_an79WXuVhzZnKxT2LSo5iptqhlWAfXSt9b_QWsC7Sf2tLpxY6zcal4g3_pN7F_BoMnWVRYnz7zBiexDGaB56s6lsN-rr7OZYyaOwMu99w6XNhspR4/s1600/Diffusion.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_HkWdaQxvmxnQblnEnKxaeQGf_an79WXuVhzZnKxT2LSo5iptqhlWAfXSt9b_QWsC7Sf2tLpxY6zcal4g3_pN7F_BoMnWVRYnz7zBiexDGaB56s6lsN-rr7OZYyaOwMu99w6XNhspR4/s1600/Diffusion.png" height="346" width="540" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My friend recently finished <i>Dark Lord of Derkholm</i>.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Diana Wynne Jones, 1998">1</a></sup> When she gave it back to me, I darted upstairs to fetch <i>Year of the Griffin</i><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Diana Wynne Jones, 2000">2</a></sup> for her, and she told me “I don’t think I’ll be able to get to it until the end of the Summer, is that okay?” I pshaw’d<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="What? You conjugate 'to pshaw' then.">3</a></sup> and told her not to worry, “I almost never reread books.”<br />
<br />
T Fleischmann’s essay <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12964215-syzygy-beauty">Syzygy, Beauty</a></i>, <a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2013/04/let-me-clear-my-throat-by-elena.html">the second nonfiction book from</a> <a href="http://www.sarabandebooks.org/">Sarabande </a><a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2013/04/let-me-clear-my-throat-by-elena.html">that I’ve reviewed</a>, is a rare exception. In the picture above is one of my favourite quotes, and when I was first making it, it was only going to read "I have been so many places I must be sunlight. Listen, I have been diffused by clouds, by everyone who has touched me."<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Page 8">4</a></sup> But when I went back to check I hadn’t messed it up, I read the last bit, and understood the subtlety of being "destined for the earth."<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="It's a very Grave idea.">5</a></sup> The whole book is like that, every time I thumb through it I learn something new.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRxwQqs0dsn6LJUizekHgW_IjJ8x-E5u0EmlS5BcSNbBsE2dNT9pLGrLywaJWe2auZ2kP9TXxf9zWmazJofhw0hlIID9_m9HUkKLfAaCJIbr2EwnfR2qauATQsyQiBX59ZG86OpZFaEM/s1600/Syzygy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRxwQqs0dsn6LJUizekHgW_IjJ8x-E5u0EmlS5BcSNbBsE2dNT9pLGrLywaJWe2auZ2kP9TXxf9zWmazJofhw0hlIID9_m9HUkKLfAaCJIbr2EwnfR2qauATQsyQiBX59ZG86OpZFaEM/s1600/Syzygy.jpg" height="200" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Your boyfriend is an atmosphere, there before <br />
me and remaining to sustain you now."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Half art-critique and half meditative memoir over a series of relationships, <i>Syzygy, Beauty</i> explores art, gender, love, travel, loneliness, and a wide variety of other subjects. Fleischmann’s relationship with the omnipresent but never truly defined "You" feels both intense and ephemeral, the "You" always at arm’s length even in intimate moments, occulted<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="This adjective shows up a lot in the essay. Meaning ‘to hide,’ I’ve started using it a lot around the Occultists I know.">6</a></sup> by their lack of name and their other boyfriend(s) who often seem to eclipse the narrator. Intriguingly, <a href="http://thebrokenplate.org/">when asked</a>,<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="In the interview with them that ran in The Broken Plate">7</a></sup> Fleischmann said that "You" was not a single person, but an amalgamation of a variety of similar relationships. "If I ever said something bad about 'You', I could always say 'Oh no, that wasn’t you, it was the other one'"<br />
<br />
This hits at the core of why I love this book, and what it represents, the untruthing of the nonfiction genre. It’s easy to assume that nonfiction must succumb to what <a href="https://twitter.com/WolfeEsther">Esther Wolfe</a> once called "The fetishization of reality" but <i>Syzygy, Beauty</i> deconstructs the ideas of reality and truth. While it may not tell the True-True or the Whole-True,<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="To borrow Mitchell’s phrases from Cloud Atlas, 2004">8</a></sup> it still tells truth, possibly more truth than it could tell if bound by reality. Fleischmann, in this book, is blurring the lines of reality and fact, the result being somewhere in-between.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpOOletU1eFYBucra-VheaRbgSO6hC9A6FnkR574jTV5GS0F3X_DJfWa5jJaHlULZ-klIn3AHC76QSz2El6qNXPRsJ7ZWETVJs6DM1Ru9nbrnfzMaHAB1GvB7-JkG-aynO0sZgfQKmyQ/s1600/Golden+Ghosts.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpOOletU1eFYBucra-VheaRbgSO6hC9A6FnkR574jTV5GS0F3X_DJfWa5jJaHlULZ-klIn3AHC76QSz2El6qNXPRsJ7ZWETVJs6DM1Ru9nbrnfzMaHAB1GvB7-JkG-aynO0sZgfQKmyQ/s1600/Golden+Ghosts.png" height="320" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Keep kissing me, you'll see,<br />
new houses aren't haunted yet."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This works remarkably well with many themes of the novel, whose narrator always seems to be in a state of transience. Between lovers, between city and nature, between boy and girl, the narrator always seems most <sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="page 17">9</a></sup> However, while the essay complicates ideas of gender and beauty and place, it never offers real closure. Most pages will open and close with a sentence about, say, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grayson-Perry-Portrait-Artist-Young/dp/0099485168">Grayson Perry</a> or <a href="http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/louise-bourgeois">Louise Bourgeois</a>, juxtaposed with a body of narrative in-between.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="The reverse is just as common. I think this is making a point.">10</a></sup> The reader is presented with ideas and left to make their own meanings, which might be the most nonfictional thing in the world.<br />
happy in the middle, where what all of those things mean can be complicated. “When you held my arms to the bed, I felt like a femme fatale who could swing a hammer…”<br />
<br />
A fantastic and emotional read, I've been slow to review it only beacuse I've been throwing it at everyone I know. I think a lot of people could benefit from this book, especially people encountering this brave new world, that has such non-binary gender ideas in it. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0vAwzkgiZnmhcG5DZAK7v4q4PvjhUSH4WKEaOzLq46znQEaGqRwVDY8fZKQdQPtXfdTvEec-RN5l0bakavB4SnCw4P0INgG8xiswQ7GqbfCcGJ_NwDT5wMMlQB9H389cL92PQzOKtQ0/s1600/12964215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0vAwzkgiZnmhcG5DZAK7v4q4PvjhUSH4WKEaOzLq46znQEaGqRwVDY8fZKQdQPtXfdTvEec-RN5l0bakavB4SnCw4P0INgG8xiswQ7GqbfCcGJ_NwDT5wMMlQB9H389cL92PQzOKtQ0/s1600/12964215.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Even God can't really say what something is without burning stars."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-32730814011450015902014-03-20T09:09:00.001-07:002014-03-20T09:13:22.684-07:00InPrint Festival of First Books 2014<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23InPrint14&src=hash">9th Annual InPrint Festival of First Books</a>, and I’m so glad I went. The
authors were, as always, absolutely charming and unfalteringly personable. In the words of T Fleischmann, "Y'all should realize you're really lucky to have this."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyy14Uni5GfS50po7jOSXjqK6qASD4qC8qx8K0zpoxmYk_A86gkM2vT0mDY1q88Ybf-XiFwPblNNVuRUjX5zhCxYfoP4ZY7u3voxdl0cVved1mcAaf0-zTb9HtegvS66miWLPysGAWwM/s1600/IMG_1606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyy14Uni5GfS50po7jOSXjqK6qASD4qC8qx8K0zpoxmYk_A86gkM2vT0mDY1q88Ybf-XiFwPblNNVuRUjX5zhCxYfoP4ZY7u3voxdl0cVved1mcAaf0-zTb9HtegvS66miWLPysGAWwM/s1600/IMG_1606.jpg" height="266" width="540" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxCo3Nabk2HKSMWVCjmjKJE-SwbdnGsYrQfF5KKFbyTImbxCFqTOW8SroHnzhS814zktv35gQH8Z3kTzEwY8s1TWj_GTqJ1gEdhK_GFHv2l3Oe5_nLxavF9aIjCxCs_7SVozNqsQSbdc/s1600/IMG_1594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxCo3Nabk2HKSMWVCjmjKJE-SwbdnGsYrQfF5KKFbyTImbxCFqTOW8SroHnzhS814zktv35gQH8Z3kTzEwY8s1TWj_GTqJ1gEdhK_GFHv2l3Oe5_nLxavF9aIjCxCs_7SVozNqsQSbdc/s1600/IMG_1594.jpg" height="200" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suggested reading: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Extremely-Incredibly-Close-Jonathan-Safran/dp/0618329706/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0">Extremely <br />Loud and Incredibly Close</a>, </i><br />
<i>Proust, Virginia Woolf</i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://marioalbertozambrano.com/">Mario Alberto Zambrano</a><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Who has a gorgeous website">1</a></sup> read a
few cards from <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/loteria-mario-alberto-zambrano/1113499712?ean=9780062268549">Lotería</a></i>. Hearing him read
is a real treat, as he really lets the voice of Luz, his protagonist, shine
through, which makes sense, as it turns out her in-universe writing process mirrors his own process: both drew cards to inspire the next chapter. He brings out her innocence, making his words
feel vulnerable and therefore honest.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"You have to spend a lot of time with this person in your
mind, if they don’t respond, be patient.
You have to meet their parents, ask where they came from."</i></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrEopsrGVhCl0V03BHt9UFFP6P0xoCLYouxqWb19FKJC2mRzvkFb3yU5FssJ0ZaFPSNDexC2FbHwJlNuevYWiyQ_NA188WADFrXrNGu4KkNNKgjWny30aaQN7RfQz8SDndUqBWUw4-Wk/s1600/IMG_1598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrEopsrGVhCl0V03BHt9UFFP6P0xoCLYouxqWb19FKJC2mRzvkFb3yU5FssJ0ZaFPSNDexC2FbHwJlNuevYWiyQ_NA188WADFrXrNGu4KkNNKgjWny30aaQN7RfQz8SDndUqBWUw4-Wk/s1600/IMG_1598.jpg" height="200" width="162" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suggested Reading: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Essay-Jenny-Boully/dp/0979118921">The Body</a>,<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Times-Square-Red-Blue/dp/0814719201">Times Square Red, Times</a></i><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Times-Square-Red-Blue/dp/0814719201">Square Blue</a></i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
T Fleischmann gave a reading not from<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/syzygy-beauty-t-fleischmann/1110796063?ean=9781936747269"> <i>Syzygy, Beauty</i></a>, but
from an upcoming work.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="I can't wait to read it, but to be fair I could read T’s autobiographical art reviews forever">2</a> </sup> For having a theme of breaking ice was
surprisingly warm and fluid, the narrative exploring things taken away and things left behind.
Also,
they are the second <a href="https://twitter.com/elenavox">InPrint Nonfiction </a><a href="https://twitter.com/daycathy/status/446473704042532864">writer</a> in a row who told <a href="http://www.sarabandebooks.org/">Sarabande </a>“Yeah I
have a thing almost done” before rushing to finish it.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Following in the footsteps of Elena Passarello, author of Let Me Clear My Throat">3</a></sup> The lesson here is to <i>always say you have something ready</i>.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"People will say 'How dare you change this one little thing?' and, I never think each thing is literally true. To me, pure truth doesn't exist."</i></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3ZPxtrMUHWbXoYGSndj8aIkqXBChzfOcOnq-jkC3ZL1-_JaYgZyX_xI-qEqogRSQf0tKheQp9efRVdMZOrKnGskNNzJQfym5x4tojCP9CWHYhYWagqmXtR6CvhEXMTy5QbEyg7CNGzc/s1600/IMG_1602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3ZPxtrMUHWbXoYGSndj8aIkqXBChzfOcOnq-jkC3ZL1-_JaYgZyX_xI-qEqogRSQf0tKheQp9efRVdMZOrKnGskNNzJQfym5x4tojCP9CWHYhYWagqmXtR6CvhEXMTy5QbEyg7CNGzc/s1600/IMG_1602.jpg" height="200" width="162" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suggested Reading: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Black-Aperture-Poems-Whitman-Award/dp/080715086X">Black</a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Black-Aperture-Poems-Whitman-Award/dp/080715086X">Aperture</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1297980.Heart_s_Needle">Heart's Needle</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/natalie-shapero">Natalie Shapero</a>’s reading may have been my favourite
however. Her voice while reading from <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-object-natalie-shapero/1113837326?ean=9780983368670">No Object</a></i> (and some new poems!) snaps
and crackles, both charming and acerbic all at once, an interesting contrast to
her normally bubbly personality. In
response to an audience question she gave the great advice that a writer
shouldn’t worry about filling some sort of quota of gendered characters, an important thing for writers to remember.<sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="She also said Bless you when someone sneezed, and I think the blessing of a poet should be one of the most coveted benedictions">4</a></sup> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"An bird screams out my window like an alarm I have set to
inform me that a bird is there."</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmp5KylbK6cC6Cct7YGI9YEZ-Lapr90psWx0211MQ-AAJcVoZBblPX4jBLKaBB8A_FOt5R0wY7WBbmTGAYnThxZixsJ-keFdmiamCPQbDzNEdo7nNphYqlonOysVv2AK_ojw9jprYhoU/s1600/Robert+Stapleton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmp5KylbK6cC6Cct7YGI9YEZ-Lapr90psWx0211MQ-AAJcVoZBblPX4jBLKaBB8A_FOt5R0wY7WBbmTGAYnThxZixsJ-keFdmiamCPQbDzNEdo7nNphYqlonOysVv2AK_ojw9jprYhoU/s1600/Robert+Stapleton.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a></div>
I want to give a lot of props to<a href="https://www.facebook.com/robert.stapleton.7545"> Robert Stapleton</a> who filled
in for <a href="http://creativewriting.english.illinois.edu/faculty/jodee_stanley/">Jodee Stanley</a><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="who couldn’t make it, unfortunately, but is still way cool">5</a></sup> on such short notice and had great advice. An editor for<i> <a href="http://booth.butler.edu/">Booth</a></i>, my favourite of his advice was “I’m always after the right
surprise.” He doesn’t generally publish
things if he knows what’s going to happen, which made sense to me, as I found
that my favourite fiction piece from this year’s <a href="http://thebrokenplate.org/">Broken Plate</a><sup><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="which released at InPrint to great acclaim!">6</a></sup> was “Kiss” by <a href="http://ciderpressreview.com/contributors/terry-savoie/#.Uypg1vldVko">Terry Savoie</a> which goes to some
strange, unexpected places <i>and it’s awesome.</i>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"I get the sense people don’t know what a story is anymore. A
story is about arriving at a place where the world is different than it was in
the beginning, the old world has evaporated."<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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There's something invigorating about a reading, not just hearing words come to life from a book but also about being <i>there</i>, being surrounded by other people who love to read and write. At a reading, you go for the words but stay for the listeners. Both are vital in that reminding us that the written world is still alive, still growing. <br />
<br />
Oh, and before I forget, props to <a href="https://twitter.com/MittanyBreans">Brittany Means</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/KCritts">Kaiti Crittenden</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Malorie__Kay">MaloriePalmer</a> for giving great introductions to the authors. <o:p></o:p></div>Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-53121179830483246352013-08-21T21:14:00.006-07:002013-08-21T21:18:18.812-07:00Three Reasons "I, Robot" is good for modern readers<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/i-robot-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/i-robot-10.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture is entirely unrelated.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During class introductions I said I liked Fantasy/Sci-Fi,
only to be accosted by my classmates for having never read any Asimov.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was jokingly tasked with reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I, Robot</i> and bringing in a book report
by the next class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">did.</i><sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Nothing motivates me like being a little rediculous.">1</a></sup> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My report, which I’m putting up here, highlights three<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="I could go on, but I like to keep it short.">2</a></sup> reasons I think <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I, Robot</i> would be a
good read for modern readers.</div>
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Firstly, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Humor</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a conception in much of modern
science fiction of grit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
demonstrated primarily in the videogame genre, which features protagonists with
such broad shoulders and stubbly faces that they make <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown_(1974_film)">Jake Gittes</a> look
soft-boiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The protagonists of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I, Robot</i> are no such macho-men, instead
they are primarily scientists and technicians who given an impression of early
baldness and pocket-protectors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Geeks.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5LWa5qUPf-74mOBBLqDwaVBKK8laFpu2-dvkB1dfVmzpf9s1D8T15LRB3qD5Ulc0veKzWAhPQweO46jIJ0Bq_5CVVOKGHPQ19myhsRYNBoMpMJpxiJS1aklPA3lzQfcjuebTbw1Cs-k/s1600/tumblr_m9u15v1OVx1r4dsjko1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5LWa5qUPf-74mOBBLqDwaVBKK8laFpu2-dvkB1dfVmzpf9s1D8T15LRB3qD5Ulc0veKzWAhPQweO46jIJ0Bq_5CVVOKGHPQ19myhsRYNBoMpMJpxiJS1aklPA3lzQfcjuebTbw1Cs-k/s320/tumblr_m9u15v1OVx1r4dsjko1_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donovan and Powell, in their other job arranging<br />
spring break activities for College Kids.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But they’re fun, loveable geeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me, the muscle gods of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gears_of_War">Gears of War</a> are just as Alien as
the Locust they fight.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="They fight The Locust, right? I play Gears of War like, Never.">3</a></sup> But the protagonists, especially Powell and Donovan, who are
ALWAYS the ones that get the short end of the stick as far as Malfunctioning
Robot Shenanigans go, and their world-weary attitudes towards these Shenanigans
make them delightfully relatable, both to the kid whose user mod for League of
Legends won’t render right to the office worker who can’t get Microsoft Excel
to behave.</div>
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Secondly, right now people love a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Strong Female Character</b><sup>TM</sup>, but more even than that they
love arguing over whether or not someone qualifies as a Strong Female Character<sup>TM</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Susan Calvin, the other primary
protagonist for most of the book and arguably the most prominent character, is
clever, quick-witted, and doesn’t rely on men to get things done, but at the
same time the only chapter which has her showcasing strong emotions has her
tearful over lost love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I am by no means a Gender Studies expert<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Unlike most of Facebook,">4</a></sup> , and so I won’t
comment on whether Susan Calvin is or is not a good feminist role model.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever else she is, she is an
extremely compelling character, and watching her cleverly deduce the problems
with robots, especially ahead of the men in her field, is highly
satisfying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book reads just as
much like mystery as it does Sci-Fi.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="And for once, I actually solved a mystery before the book got there!">5</a></sup> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, a third issue I find prescient is the issue of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Religion</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Chapter 3, “Cutie”<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="I dig the naming conventions. QT becomes 'Cutie', RB becomes 'Robbie', etc">6</a></sup>, a Robot who is meant to be running a
power converter, goes a bit rogue, developing a Cult of the Master and teaching
other Robots to join in as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This leads to trouble for, of course, Powell and Donovan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To be fair, I too would assume that Powell and Donovan couldn't be my<br />
makers due to their inferior intelligence.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The Clerical Fiction is of course delightful, but what I
find interesting is that in the text you could interpret either side as being
Theist/Nontheist in the debate, which resembles many that go on between Theists
and Nontheists today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cutie
appears to be the “Religious” one, given that he is “The Prophet of the
Master”, he also resembles a Militant Atheist<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Of the Trench-coat wearing, euphoric, enlightened by his own intelligence variety.">7</a></sup> in his utter refusal to accept
anything on faith, such as the existence of Earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think in the end, the story is more of a caution against
radical religiosity than any particular side of Theist/Nontheist view.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I, Robot</i> is a
satisfying read, start to finish, and definitely worth checking out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those not into Science Fiction,
don’t worry, most of the stories revolve around characters solving Logical and
Philosophical problems than figuring out some way to reverse the polarity of
the neutron flow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s top quality
Sci-Fi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go grab it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Robot-Isaac-Asimov/dp/055338256X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377144403&sr=8-1&keywords=i%2C+robot" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://liblarge.ru/image/753.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"[You could not have made me]. I mean, look at you! Periodically<br />
you pass into a coma and the least variation in temperature, air pressure,<br />
humidity or radiation intensity impairs your efficiency. You are <i>makeshift.</i>"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-34335370877641297702013-08-01T22:51:00.002-07:002013-08-01T23:13:14.029-07:00Hook & Jill by Andrea Jones - Review<i>There are spoilers, highlight to view!</i><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BODI2NzU2NDkxN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNzIzMzg2._V1._SX485_SY314_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BODI2NzU2NDkxN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNzIzMzg2._V1._SX485_SY314_.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"For one long moment, she held hope in her hand. Then,<br />
like sunlight, peter slipped through her fingers."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a lazy summer I'm back to blogging and Book Reviewing! Today it's <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6793385-hook-jill">Hook & Jill</a></i>, by <a href="http://www.reginettapress.com/hookandjill/">Andrea Jones</a>, first in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HookJill">Hook & Jill Saga</a>. The story is an adult interpretation of Sir James M. Barrie's Peter Pan stories, taking liberties with the source material<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Children age, slightly is gay, and...other, darker stuff">1</a> </sup>in order to explore themes of emerging sexuality and desire, with the story mostly told from Hook's perspective. The story's convolutions and complications of Hook and Wendy's near DeathNote level gambits are fun to watch as they unfold and unravel. Equally fascinating are the complexities of morality presented.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs2.modthesims.info/img/4/6/4/3/2/6/MTS_circa1700-392331-jasonisaacshook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://thumbs2.modthesims.info/img/4/6/4/3/2/6/MTS_circa1700-392331-jasonisaacshook.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316396/">Jason Isaac's Hook</a> is closest to <br />
Book Hook, but I think we can all <br />
agree that Dustin Hoffman's <br />
Hook from <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102057/">Hook</a></i> is <i>Best</i> Hook.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hook is a bad man, there's no real denying that, but so too is Peter. Peter was terrifying. Sure, he's happy-go-lucky and puckish, but he holds an aura of menace over the Lost Boys that gives you a feeling of constant danger whenever he's around. His puckishness gives the impression that he could snap at any moment, and his border-line control freak personality creates an impressive threat.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Wendy's sexuality is turned up a bit. In the novel, the children are aging, and Wendy's hitting puberty like a chevy slamming into a brick wall. We get this repeated image of "A kiss sitting on the edge of her mouth" that functions as an effective McGuffin throughout the story.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="I'm fairly sure this is borrowed from Barrie, but why would you NOT steal that? It's amazing.">2</a></sup><br />
<br />
The language is rather interesting in the novel as well. Many characters are referred to by monikers as much as their real name.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="This is basically all Norse Poetry ever does, so to me it felt like coming home.">3</a></sup> "The Golden Boy" or "The Italian Sailor." It's a welcome change, it keeps the book from getting to repetitive as different characters take the stage with increasing rapidity. There are also some fantastic bits of wordplay, for instance, Captain Hook contemplates Wendy thusly: <br />
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<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #444444; line-height: 18px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>"Pluck. And abandon. Exactly the traits he required of her. He nodded to himself. Exactly the things he would do to her."</i></span></span><sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Hook, Page 44">4</a></sup></div>
<br />
That line makes me shiver<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Shiver...me timbers, you might say. ">5</a></sup> with how good it is. The book is a wild ride, especially towards the end, after Wendy <span style="color: white;">dies</span>, Slightly and his boyfriend<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="The portrayal of GLBT issues ties in well to the emerging sexuality theme, and is also believable. I really ship Lightly/Rowan.">6</a></sup> discover Pan's darkest secret<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Pan kills all the children who grow too old. Holy shit, that's so dark, but so cool. It's the sort of thing the internet comes up with all the time, and Im glad to see it properly explored.">7, Spoilers</a></sup>, and the Crocodile gets <span style="color: white;">sprinkled with Fairy Dust</span>. I will admit that as things get a little chaotic it can be a little hard to tell what's going on, but then again I was somewhat sleep deprived after <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mww13&src=tyah">#mww13</a>. Also, the last full chapter, "Seas of London" must have been written under the influence of the Mead of Poetry or something, because it simply sings. I could almost smell the Chimney Smoke and hear the tinkle of the Kensignton Garden Fairies. If you're a fan of fairytale or women's coming of age lit, I'd definitely grab this book. I'll probably pick up the sequel.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6793385-hook-jill"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sffbookreview.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/hook-and-jill.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="220" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #444444; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Disarming women was his forte.
One only had to identify their weapon and use it first."</span></td></tr>
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Oh! And did I mention I actually got to meet Andrea Jones at the <a href="http://www.enchantedlakesfaire.com/">Enchanted Lakes Renaissance Faire</a>? She signed my book! I love signed books!<br />
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<br />Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-12905892626986627552013-06-08T23:23:00.000-07:002013-06-08T23:34:56.275-07:00Dead Man's Hand by Nancy A. Collins - ReviewNow that Mono is done punching me in the throat<sup><a href="" title="In the words of Archer, 'I can't hear you over the sound of now I'm Punching You!'">1</a></sup> I've had a chance to enjoy a book!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/298413.Dead_Man_s_Hand"><i>Dead Man's Hand</i></a> by <a href="http://truesonjablue.blogspot.com/">Nancy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nancycollins">A. Collins</a> is a series of Weird West<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="In the tradition of Deadlands, The Devil Went Down to Georgia, The Dark Tower and that one bitchin' time-travel episode of Supernatural with the Phoenix.">2</a></sup> stories that, by and large, deal with all the classic Western themes: Freedom, guilt, revenge, duty, and questions of allegiance. The book contains five stories (three medium length and two shorts) that exist mostly independently, thus I'll review them all on their own before talking about the book.<br />
<br />
Also, as the book is published by a subsidiary of White Wolf, who make the World of Darkness games, I've sorted into different White Wolf Gamelines.<sup><a title="#Tabletop Gamer Street Cred">3</a></sup><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoeOd0okhBjw_DoBYpk7ruXDnaNet9OIpDoQKHkhgqEfzlIrD3m8yiuSUrn4ka8eKe3cXzITmTjmwUWnqZBMd3bsK1Rc-UZpYVgVfKKBqg5RBsoAgDK3BZykWRCs8A0vkNgeK-yC9Wf0/s1600/Hell+Come+Sundown+-+Nancy+A.+Collins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoeOd0okhBjw_DoBYpk7ruXDnaNet9OIpDoQKHkhgqEfzlIrD3m8yiuSUrn4ka8eKe3cXzITmTjmwUWnqZBMd3bsK1Rc-UZpYVgVfKKBqg5RBsoAgDK3BZykWRCs8A0vkNgeK-yC9Wf0/s200/Hell+Come+Sundown+-+Nancy+A.+Collins.jpg" width="148" /></a><b>Hell Come Sundown</b> <i>(Vampire: The Requiem) </i>- A Texas Ranger turned monster-hunter named Sam Hell deals with a Vampire Conquistador who wants to start his own empire of the dead. <br />
<br />
This is a great way to start the book, as it goes into the existence of various beasties so that you know what kind of universe this is taking place in. Two parts really stick out to me, the opening where a boy is menaced by <i>something</i> from under the bed, and later, a man in the one church in Golgotha<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="No relation to Six Gun Tarot, although I choose to believe that it's the same place.">4</a></sup> tells the story of how the town fell. Both are creepy and draw you in, the way any good ghost story should.<br />
<br />
The story as a whole is generally good, full of nice set pieces, although I found some sections a little more Hollywood than Deadwood. Still, the Vampire Conquistador is cool and I haven't really seen that before. A solid opening. <span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I forgot to mention, there's a cannibal horse.<br />
It's awesome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Lynch </b><i>(Promethean: The Created) </i>- Johnny Pearl, a man with a history of violence and a pearl-handled gun<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="And yes, it is a Chekhov's Gun">5</a></sup> that whispers wicked words into his ear tries to remake his life only to wind up lynched and brought back from the dead by one of Viktor Frankenstein's old accomplices.<br />
<br />
This is my favorite of the longer stories, tied for favorite story in the book. Pearl/Lynch is a delightful character, as is Mirablis, our Not!Frankenstein for the evening. The explorations of how Frankenstein's experiments interact with the West is fantastic, especially Sasquatch, a flesh golem made from most of a tribe of Native Americans.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Because why wait for lightning to strike when you can use Hollywood Shamanism to do it for you?">6</a></sup> His spotlight chapter exploring what it all <i>means</i> is amazing.<br />
<br />
The whole story has this very satisfying feeling of all the ends of a very disparate book being tied together very well, and has some excellent moments that really make use of the setting and the character's strange natures. Best of the three longer stories. <span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woof woof.</td></tr>
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<b>Walking Wolf</b> <i>(Werewolf: The Apocalypse) </i>- Walking Wolf, a Werewolf from the Old Country raised by the Comanche has a shitty life, and then it sucks to be a Native in Post-Civil War America, and then everyone dies. Also, Racism. Everywhere.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Mostly against Whitefolks, and while it fits the character and the time, it's still a little uncomfortable.">7</a></sup><br />
<br />
This for me was the weakest of the short stories. It has this good premise of Werewolves being immortal, meaning the story is being written by someone in our time looking back on history. While the history of the fall of the Indigenous Tribes is interesting the story spends a long time on it and somewhat looses its thread, and I'll admit I spent parts of this story not knowing where it was going. However, the mythology is well thought out<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="A character actually asks what else beyond Werewolves exists! Thank the gods! No one ever asks what else exists!!">8</a></sup> and the various strange things that the white folk do were just weird enough to be based on real history. Like the man with a harem who cut out his wives tongues, so they invented a strange, hissing language.<br />
<br />
An interesting story that probably deserves more examination by people who know more about race and history, though I think it would have been stronger if it had been tightened up a little bit. <span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrisiKQlYpaaNwhvx9BEECbSpU3MU-rN_YHq3ekaUK1M0V7nopOX5kaXTWdNlACFlnJOJwzXyblNss-onxP8l9eeY6JmYgSS1vMXuhb0dMGNyd4fnMTUfInM2mxFFgxmn4_YtlZRSjBcA/s1600/Tortuga.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrisiKQlYpaaNwhvx9BEECbSpU3MU-rN_YHq3ekaUK1M0V7nopOX5kaXTWdNlACFlnJOJwzXyblNss-onxP8l9eeY6JmYgSS1vMXuhb0dMGNyd4fnMTUfInM2mxFFgxmn4_YtlZRSjBcA/s200/Tortuga.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Man this needs a cooler<br />
cover.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The Tortuga Hill Gang's Last Ride</b><i> (Changeling: The Lost)</i> - Everything goes south for a gang of outlaws when they let a simpleton with strange powers into their gang.<br />
<br />
This is my favorite of the two shorter stories. The characters are all unique and strong, and I really like the way we get into the different outlaw's heads despite only having about 20 pages with them. Little Red, the <i>Sidhe</i> outlaw, is a very dangerous being, but you really pity him as more conniving characters take advantage of him. I'll probably steal him<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="like an Artist">9</a></sup> for a story one of these days. The shortness and the troperific nature of the story makes it a good little campfire read, and I'd love to see it done as a longer story at Sundance.<br />
<br />
A marvelous little read. My only complaint is that there isn't more of it. You can get the whole thing for only two bucks <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tortuga-Hill-Gangs-Last-ebook/dp/B0087TFPNS">right here</a>, which I'd advise everyone to do. <span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one needs a cover at all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Calaverada</b> <i>(Geist: The Sin-Eaters)</i> - A Gang of bounty hunters chases a man into Mexico, but it's a bad idea to kill a man on The Day of The Dead...<br />
<br />
This story is quite short, so it's hard to say much about it. I do quite like how vivid the author makes <i>Dia de los Muertes. </i>The characters here are some of the stronger characters, despite having so few pages devoted to them, and while their eventual fate was, perhaps, a tad predictable, I still think it was carried out very well. It also feels a bit like one of Aesop's Fables, only with gunslingers and ghosts!<br />
<br />
Not bad, and again I'd like more, maybe with a bit more mystery or surprises. <span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 12pt;">★</span><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: 'Zapf Dingbats'; font-size: 16px;">★</span><br />
<br />
There's my final roundup. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to any fans of the Weird Western. All of the stories but Calaverada are available online, so at the very least go grab <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lynch-Cemetery-Dance-Novela-Series/dp/1881475514">Lynch</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tortuga-Hill-Gangs-Last-ebook/dp/B0087TFPNS">The Tortuga Hill Gang's Last Ride</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9781588468758_p0_v1_s260x420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9781588468758_p0_v1_s260x420.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most Weird-Western image you could<br />
possibly have. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<div>
If you're interested in other Weird West stories, check out <a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-six-gun-tarot-by-r-s-belcher-review.html">Six-Gun Tarot</a> as well!</div>Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-79608519794555607212013-04-18T15:04:00.002-07:002013-05-01T14:05:53.007-07:00Game of Thrones vs. Vikings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: inherit;">Game of Thrones</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is currently the biggest Juggernaut on air. It’s got massive backing, a rabid fanbase, and it’s the most illegally downloaded show out there. This is all while being on HBO, which you have to pay to watch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Vikings </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">is on the History Channel and sorta
slides in after </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> because the
History Channel doesn't want to come down solidly on one side of religion or
the other.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why am I comparing them?
Well, partially because presenting at the East Central Indiana Social Media
Group took a lot of time out of reading time this week, partially because a lot
of people are going to anyway. It’s like
<i>Buffy </i>and <i>Charmed</i>, you can’t NOT compare them, even if you don’t want to. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Both shows are historical dramas in the dung ages and focus
on kings, battles, religion, and morally grey characters. They’re visually similar, both having a Grey
Filter for a lot of shots. They both
have actors you've probably seen somewhere else.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, which is better?
Let’s find out. I’ll split this
into four categories: Characters, Story, Addiction, and The Prestige.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://nerdapproved.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Tyrion-Lannister.jpg?cb5e28" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://nerdapproved.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Tyrion-Lannister.jpg?cb5e28" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'm not questioning your honor, Lord Janos. I'm denying its existence."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Character:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If we go in terms of quantity, <i>Game of Thrones</i> has
more. Dear gods, <i>Game of Thrones</i> has
more. Tyrion, Arya, John Snow, Robb,
Lady Stark, Daenerys Targaryen, Stannis Baratheon, Theon Greyjoy, Sam, <i>and that’s just the main characters</i>. I probably forgot some. Each has their own individual plotlines. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 6.75pt; margin-right: 6.75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-table-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-table-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-table-left: right; mso-table-lspace: 9.0pt; mso-table-rspace: 9.0pt; mso-table-top: 67.75pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 184px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 73.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tyrion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★★★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 73.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Arya<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★★★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 73.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">John
Snow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 73.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Robb
Stark<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 73.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lady
Stark<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 73.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Daenerys<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 73.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Stannis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 73.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Theon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 73.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #95B3D7; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 73.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="97"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Average:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #95B3D7; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #e26b0a; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile, <i>Vikings </i>is more focused on Ragnar, the
guile-hero, who’s clearly the main character, but his Nakama definitely gets
their own screen time. Athelstan,
Lagertha, Rollo, Floki, Ragnar’s kids, even some of the villains get their own
arcs. The characters aren’t all as
likeable, and only one is female, but since there’s LESS of them we get to know
them much better. It’s hard to judge
characters, so I’ll give them stars out of five for how interested I am in
their arc.<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 6.75pt; margin-right: 6.75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-table-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-table-anchor-vertical: page; mso-table-left: center; mso-table-lspace: 9.0pt; mso-table-rspace: 9.0pt; mso-table-top: 582.05pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 195px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="108"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ragnar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="108"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lagertha<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★★★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="108"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rollo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="108"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Floki<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="108"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Athelstan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★★★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="108"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Earl
Haraldson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #DCE6F1; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #f79646; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #95B3D7; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="108"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Average:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #95B3D7; height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #e26b0a; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">★★★★<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While I care a lot about Tyrion, Arya and Daenerys, because funny,
cool and dragons, respectively, the Starks don’t interest me much and I’m ready
for Theon and Stannis to just go away.
Sam is only interesting because I’ve heard he does cool things in like,
three books from now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile, I’m really interested in all of the focus
characters from <i>Vikings</i>, because they all raise interesting questions. I’m most excited about Athelstan, because he’s
questioning his religion and it’s fascinating to watch it play out. Point to <i>Vikings</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/02/24/arts/24VIKINGS1_SPAN/24VIKINGS1-articleLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/02/24/arts/24VIKINGS1_SPAN/24VIKINGS1-articleLarge.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"We're going to see Floki."<br />
"Like the Mad God?"<br />
"Not exactly."<br />
"How's he different?"<br />
"...he's not a god."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;">Plot</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Second verse, same as the first. <i>Game of Thrones</i> has approximately ALL of the
plots. John Snow is up north getting
involved with the wildlings who are marshaling for war with the White Walkers
who are chasing Sam to the Wall which is north of the ruins of Winterfell where
the Starks lived until they started waging war to rescue their sisters who are
captives of oh gods no. If you really
want to know, watch the show or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCUblRB7M8g">watch this video. </a><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile, Vikings has a few plots, most of them subtle
things (Rollo trying to become Earl, Athelstan’s conversion) but most things
center around Ragnar’s progression from nobody to hero to outcast to Earl to…who
knows what, and his conflict with Earl Haraldson. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That said, Vikings has a fairly simple plot, whereas <i>Game of
Thrones</i> has…<i>all </i>of the plots (no
really, all of them) and still manages to tell good stories. It takes a long time, but they CAN make the
plots work, even if it’ll be about four years before they actually resolve most
of them. That said, each season some of the plots do get resolved satisfyingly. And I’ll admit, I’m more interested in seeing
what happens to all the characters in <i>Game of Thrones</i> because, well, Dragons
vs. Sorcerers vs. Zombies vs. Armies vs. Shapeshifters vs. Tyrion Lannister So, in the end, Point to <i>Game of Thrones</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.history.com/s3static/video-thumbnails/AETN-History_VMS/464/663/History_Vikings_Meet_Athelstan_SF_HD_still_624x352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.history.com/s3static/video-thumbnails/AETN-History_VMS/464/663/History_Vikings_Meet_Athelstan_SF_HD_still_624x352.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athelstan: "There is a time to sow, a time to reap. A time to <br />
heal and...and a time to kill."<br />
Ragnar: "Sometimes your God sounds like one of ours."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Addictivity</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This comes down to which do I want to watch more as the weeks go on. As it stands, I want to watch Vikings more, every time. You’d think <i>Game of Thrones</i>, because of all the cliffhangers, but no. That’s the trouble with having nine (or more, hell, I totally forgot Sansa and Jeoffry) characters to keep track of, half of them will be</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"> in peril at the end of the episode INEVITABLY. (Oh and also Bran, he’s got a separate plotline too. Christ!) Because I know there’s going to be a cliffhanger and probably no satisfying ending, and because I’ll often forget which of four cliffhangers happened first. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile with </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Vikings</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, each episode ends with either a
single cliffhanger or with conflicts mounting, but having a stasis, however
uneasy, at the end of each episode.
Also, the character development is slow and interesting, and I want to
see how things will change and if there’ll be a big payoff. I’ve mentioned Athelstan the Monk. Ragnar’s slave, friend, and almost lover, he
has a fascinating and slow building arc towards possibly converting from Christianity
to Paganism. It’s fascinating and
treated with subtlety, and they show a lot of reasons why he would apart from
just loneliness and separation from others of his own faith. Right now, that’s what I most want to see
played out over the week. So, point to
</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Vikings</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.hbowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Game-of-Thrones-Arya-Sword-Fighting1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://cdn.hbowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Game-of-Thrones-Arya-Sword-Fighting1.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"There is one thign we say to Death:<br />
'Not Today.'"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;">The Prestige</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Prestige is which show delivers the goods. Essentially it’s judging which exotic dancer
manages to flash its gussets better.
While on the Point to<i> Game of Thrones.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sorry, <i>Vikings</i>. I love
you, but you don’t have Dragons or Zomibes.
And while I’m delighted by your frequent use of the mythology I hold
most dear, there’s still only so much you’re going to do on a lesser budget
with only so many characters. That said,
Vikings is quite enjoyable to watch, both in terms of visuals and story. I’m always glad to see what Floki is up to,
and I need more Lagertha like I need my shower in the morning. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But in the end, <i>Game of Thrones</i> is more magnificent and will
probably last longer. It’s also more
memetic. You see “House Lannister”
shirts all over the place, or shirts with a squid that read “We do not Sow” and
I’ve heard my neighbors shouting “THE KING IN THE NORTH!” at all hours of the
night. So, this Point goes to <i>Game of
Thrones.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As you’ve noticed, now the points are even. In the end, they’re both great shows. <i>Vikings </i>is personal and fun, whereas <i>Game of
Thrones</i> is big and Epic and Flashy. Both
deliver different thin</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">gs and have different reasons to exist. I’d say watch both of them, you’ve got nothing
to lose. But if you have to choose which
to watch as it airs, watch </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Vikings</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">, because it needs viewers. Even if it does have a second season. </span></div>
Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-74641016651315911112013-04-11T14:57:00.002-07:002013-04-11T15:04:21.522-07:00Let me Clear my Throat by Elena Pasarello - Review<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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A marvelous read all the way through, <a href="http://www.elenapassarello.com/">Elena Passarello</a>’s
first book, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13592069-let-me-clear-my-throat">Let Me Clear My Throat</a></i> is
a charming and enlightening read all the way through. The book comprises a series of short essays on the human
voice, its limits, failings, and potential to soar. Each essay is well placed
and contains a variety of thoroughly well researched essays on the subject of
voice and what it means</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The voice of war can turn gossip into<br />nicknames, dialogue into mythology."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The book is divided into three sections, <i>Screaming Memes</i>, <i>Tips on Popular Singing,</i> and <i>The
Thrown</i>. Screaming Memes
goes into subjects such as the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdbYsoEasio">Wilhelm Scream</a>, the <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/video/What-Did-the-Rebel-Yell-Sound-Like.html">Rebel Yell</a>, and the "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=D5FzCeV0ZFc#t=75s">BYAH</a>" that ended Howard Dean’s presidential race. I’ll admit this first section was my favorite, particularly
the last chapter, <i>Harpy</i>, which
details Passarello’s loss of voice that drove her to victory at the Stella
Screaming Competition, viewable <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-b6BZwfahw">here</a>.
The essay is the first personal essay in the book, and feels very
intimate. We really understand
where Passarello is coming from, and after all this radiant description of the
human voice that she cares so much about, the idea of someone losing theirs
seems repugnant.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Tips on Popular
Singing’s</i> “Space Oddity” delivers possibly the best possible commentary on
the launch of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcwPMeqS97Y&playnext=1&list=PL9317BCA48A22C99F&feature=results_main">Golden Record</a> on the Voyager Probe:</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"Once the Voyager
Probe was loaded with telemetry modulation units and spectrometers, we then
made the decision to attach human voices to the contraption's flanks. And we
added not just the voices of our leaders, but singing voices, including [Chuck Berry's "Johnny B Goode."] This is what beats out speeches and formulae and
IBM The Ring Cycle. According to
NASA and Carl Sagan (and me) this is what the universe wants to hear. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Which is another way
of saying that we have more faith in popular music than anything else on the
planet."</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her insights into various popular singers, from the rise and fall of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQo2PNnwOww">Castrati</a>
to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnr7iMN_yS4">Judy Garland</a> to the crows outside her window paint a vibrant portrait of music over the years, and had me scrambling to update my iTunes with an
impressive variety of music. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Thrown</i> is a
bit harder to summarize. I suppose
you could say it’s simply meditations on the human voice, what it means to us
and why it matters so much to Passarello. This section is more freeform, and
more fascinating for it. It’s
conclusion, an account of a Ventriloquist Dummy’s search for a voice all its
own, is surreal and insightful all at once. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Passarello impresses me by pulling off that trick that <a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2013/01/up-jumped-devil-by-michael-poore-review.html">made me fall in love with</a> <i>Up Jumps the Devil</i>, the trick of compressing sound into words.
From a scream that “Cuts a big yellow gash in the air” to an ‘Eew’ that
skips out perfectly like a smooth stone across the audience, the visual,
textural feeling of sound comes through magnificently. I definitely advise reading this book
with a computer handy, so you can listen to each song Passarello mentions, so
that you can have the experience of nodding, as you read her words, and say “Yes. Yes, those words are exactly the right
ones for what I’m hearing.” </div>
<!--EndFragment-->
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<i style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">So I've been thinking for a while about the way the Dungeons and Dragons RPG, in its trappings and mechanics, has some really useful applications for Creative Writing. The Dungeon Master's Notebook is a series of to organize such thoughts. </i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><b>Dungeon Master's Notebook: Publishing and Skill DCs</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
This week over in <a href="http://literarycitizenship.com/">Literary Citizenship</a> we’re writing Query
Letters, and in Screenwriting we’re discussing genre. Near as I can suss it, it's easier to get things
published when your story has less <i>Stuff</i>. <i>Stuff</i>,
here defined as ‘things that deviate from the norm,’ includes Superpowers,
Aliens, Different Time Periods, GLBT Romance, and many other things. Getting something published with Stuff
is much harder than a work without <i>Stuff</i>. It’s a bit like a skill’s DC. </div>
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<br /></div>
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DC, in Dungeons and Dragons, means the Difficulty
Challenge. There's a different DC for every Skill. (Climbing, Crafting Potions, Linguistics, etc) and a player must roll<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="On a 20 sider, makes it easier">1</a></sup> to surpass the challenge. Say it’s a <a href="http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/perception">Perception Challenge</a>.
A character rolls to see if they can hear a bow being drawn in the
forest. The DC is 25. Two players roll, add skill ranks, and
get a 27 and a 31. The third only
gets a 17, and fails to hear the bow.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #eeece1;">Conditional Modifiers<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #eeece1;">DC<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Through a closed door<o:p></o:p></div>
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+5<o:p></o:p></div>
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Roaring Tempest<o:p></o:p></div>
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+2<o:p></o:p></div>
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Target is invisible</div>
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+20</div>
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Creature making the check is asleep<o:p></o:p></div>
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+10</div>
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Now, DC 25 is under normal conditions. Say that there’s a battle raging. The DC goes up by +1 per 10 feet
away. It goes up by +10 for
every foot of Wall in the way.
That seems to be how it works in publishing, the more <i>Stuff</i>, the more the DC goes up. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Say you’re submitting your story to <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">QuirkyUnafiliatedIndependentPress</span> </i>(<i>QUIP</i>) and <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">SeriousLiteraryUniversallyRespectedPress</span></i> (<i>SLURP</i>). Now, <i>QUIP</i> likes a lot of stuff, but they’re not well known. The base DC is only about 14. Any sufficiently mid-level writer can
make that DC. But <i>SLURP</i> is harder to get into, because
they’re very prestigious. That DC
is 25, fairly high. You’d have to
roll well AND be pretty high level.
But wait! </div>
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<br /></div>
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Let’s say your story is about a man in a polyamorous triad
who dies and comes back as a ghost to take care of the child his girlfriend is
having while helping his girlfriend and boyfriend fix their relationship.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="I'm still waiting for this plot to crop up on Being Human">2</a></sup> The DC goes up, because your story has the following <i>Stuff</i>. <br />
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<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #eeece1;">Stuff <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #eeece1;">DC<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Heavy GLBT themes<o:p></o:p></div>
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+1<o:p></o:p></div>
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Polyamory<o:p></o:p></div>
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+2<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ghosts<o:p></o:p></div>
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+5</div>
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<br />
Now the DCs are 22 for <i>QUIP</i>
and a rather high 33 for <i>SLURP</i>. However, <i>QUIP</i> likes weird, genre-queer stories. The DC only goes up by half for the Ghost, and doesn’t
change at all because <i>QUIP</i> is run by
sufficiently advanced liberals.
The DC to get your story into <i>QUIP</i>
is only 18. A good cover letter
and writing talent and boom, they publish your ghost story.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Because in this example it's JUST THAT EASY.">3</a></sup></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The trick to getting published is finding somewhere with a
baseline DC you think you can beat and giving them something that doesn’t raise
the DC too much. (Although, it
still has to be a good story. That's probably the most important thing for writing. You have to be able to write.)<br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Previous Notes: <a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2013/02/dungeon-masters-notebook-ability-scores.html">Ability Scores</a>, <a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-dms-notebook-using-d-for-creative.html">Random Encounter Tables</a></i></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-82985513620706627092013-03-28T15:08:00.003-07:002013-03-28T15:08:50.187-07:007 Things to Bring when Trying to Get PublishedThis week my Literary Citizenship class is talking about Publishing A Book, and our challenge is to write what we've learned from our homework. A bunch of it is in the links over <a href="http://literarycitizenship.com/">here on Literary Citizenship.com</a>, under <b>Publishing a Book 101</b>. <i>Also, check out some of my classmates blogs: <a href="http://sarahhollowell.com/2013/03/28/what-about-publishing/">Sarah's</a>, <a href="http://kaylaweiss.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/publishing-the-great-and-powerful/">Kayla's</a>, <a href="http://jekcarter.com/2013/03/28/learning-about-publishing-5-things/">John Carter's</a>, <a href="http://www.blackonmanilla.com/1/post/2013/03/5-things-ive-learned-about-the-publishing-world.html">Mike's</a>, </i><i><a href="http://www.kjneal.com/2013/03/dispelling-glamour-of-publishing.html">Kiley's</a></i><i>, and </i><i><a href="http://lindseynoelriley.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/publishing-books-vs-publishing-news/">Lindsey's</a>. </i><br />
<br />
I keep thinking of the author as a traveler, with different tools in their bag that will help them along the way. As far as I understand, these are such tools as an Author needs:<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>1 - The Manuscript and Errata</b><br />
Your manuscript is important. Don't send it out until it's ready to be published. But have offerings for the Agents. A <a href="http://janefriedman.com/2012/11/09/start-here-how-to-write-a-book-proposal/">Proposal</a>, with a synopsis, a query letter, a perfectly polished chapter. Pluck is great, preparation is better. Make sure the Agent knows the book's genre and cool factor, how it would appeal to people, who those people are, and be ready to tell an Agent how it ends.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>2 - The Grappling Hook</b><br />
<div>
When talking to an Agent, you're not going to get picked at first. It's like a grappling hook, you can throw it but if you don't find a niche for it to grab it won't hold. That's cool. Pull it down, aim somewhere else, and throw again. Eventually you'll find some way to scramble up the cliff face. It helps if you have something (like the Bishop's Ring, or The Leg) under your belt.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>3 - The Bishop's Ring</b></div>
No matter how good you are as a writer (or in this metaphor, an intrepid detective), it helps to have something to get noticed. In ye olden days you could show the bishop's signet ring to someone to make them sit up and take notice. Nowadays, it's a Namedrop, but it works the same way. Being able to namedrop someone of note to the Agent will mean you're <i>connected</i> in the web. The Agent takes interest, you get five more minutes.<br />
<br />
<b>4 - The Leg</b><br />
An Agent wants to be <i>seduced</i> by a proposal. Show a little leg, just enough to entice. A paragraph. Half a page. The less you show, the more the the author will want to know. As long as it looks good, the rest must be good, and now there is so much more to discover! Give an Agent too much and they won't have time for it.<br />
<br />
<b>5 - Self Awareness</b><br />
In one of our readings there was an exhaustive Author Questionnaire from <a href="http://www.simonandschuster.com/">Simon and Schuster </a>covering everything from basics (Author's name, address) to inquisitive (religion, business affiliations) to oddly specific (do you shop at Costco's, Sam's, or BJ's?) I took from this that it's important to know yourself and to be willing to share your biography. Also, if you want to publish, now would be a good time to be the sort of person who gets published.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>6 - Thy Friends</b><br />
In my notes I keep writing the reminder, "You are Not Alone." Not only do you have help publishing (From agents, editors, the various people who work at the publishing house who have the job of advertising) but the people you've known or helped along the way. Other authors you've supported, fellow students, old friends with connections at that local library. These are people who can point you to the places you need to go, and can help tell people about your book once it's in the pipeline, or yammer about it on Goodreads. Related, <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/PatrickBR/goodreads-how-people-discover-books">Goodreads</a> Explained.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>7 - The Clouds</b><br />
<div>
Just as a vagabond knows how to watch the clouds for rain, or strong winds, someone getting published should watch The Cloud for trends, emerging markets, new players, lightning flashes that might draw people from all around, where you can share directions, news, helpful herbs. Right now two big thunderheads are rolling in: <a href="http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2012/10/15/literary-press-selfpub/#.UVSeTnxoTAX">Small Press and Independent Publishing</a>. Both will blast trees to pieces with a thunderclap, both will enrich the soil and new things will grow, <a href="http://www.thereviewreview.net/interviews/why-small-presses-matter-paul-harding-rocky-road-">whether</a> <a href="http://www.salon.com/2011/03/29/jacqueline_howett_greek_seaman/">or not </a>we want them to.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
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There's a lot more a person needs. Time, Tenacity, Ingenuity, money helps too. And as I learned at In-Print last week, the road to publication is rarely straight, there are bound to be lots of twists and curves. It's more about keeping up with the journey. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-54227859480351493552013-03-20T21:26:00.002-07:002013-03-23T15:34:47.105-07:00In Print Festival of First Books<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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There’s a silence that comes with writing. The problem is that so many of us spend
so much time trying to find the perfect word, the word made from diamond and
moonlight, and put it in its perfect place in its sentence. But there isn’t that time in the world,
so fast and so hungry, to find those perfect words, but we don’t know how not
to. And thus cobwebs form in our
throats, little spiders hatched from disuse and imperfection. So how then do writers tell the world
that there is magic happening?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqQoN1eF6jSzjcHMQwH0FMIs322IT90zYmqI-vfnA6SkuYxSKygTnwx_HBJ-9O0gx7Tqwfk57Iak3Xt92LgCy1JZb-cL82uyNlxoWkMFCC-I9mofaNMRTaR2jvfCmeGiG3dj7x7ZWMYc/s1600/DSCI0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqQoN1eF6jSzjcHMQwH0FMIs322IT90zYmqI-vfnA6SkuYxSKygTnwx_HBJ-9O0gx7Tqwfk57Iak3Xt92LgCy1JZb-cL82uyNlxoWkMFCC-I9mofaNMRTaR2jvfCmeGiG3dj7x7ZWMYc/s320/DSCI0161.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The writers, up close and personal,<br />
so happy to talk to students. Such<br />
nice people.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With the printed word of course. Writers will do anything for the sake of words already
formed, words already put down.
Writers will walk through snow, into bars we’ve never entered and down
streets we’ve never walked to hang posters all over, telling the world “Come,
please, there’s magic here, syllables that cascade out of stardust and paint
bliss across your ears!” </div>
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This week was the 8<sup>th</sup> Annual InPrint Festival of
1<sup>st</sup> Books. In
acquiesce<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Acquiesce, by Sarah M. Wells, from Finishing Line Press.">1</a></sup>
to a bit of mandate from Cathy Day I indulged my curiosity to see if our
advertisements were worth it. I
went up to the throng of guests asking everyone “Hi! Why are you here?”<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Said more eloquently.">2</a></sup>
The first night was a thoroughly dissatisfying commiseration of “I’m here for
class, I’m here for class, I’m here for Cathy Day’s 307, I’m here for my 104,
I’m here because I need to graduate and this requires no commitment.”<br />
<br />
A few though, like Brett, whose hair is
still not grown back from when he cut it early this year, came because they “Just
like these things” and by heaven it was a relief, he was the first who came
just to come. There were more like
him, more literary citizens, quiet but present, fluttering like moths to the
fires of their choosing.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Fires of Our Choosing, by Eugene Cross, from Dzanc">3</a></sup>
There were another smattering who
came for <a href="http://thebrokenplate.org/">The Broken Plate</a>,<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Ball State’s Literary Magazine, which just came out with their latest edition. ">4</a></sup>
which came wearing its new wine dark lipstick of a publication, skirt pulled back,
ankle bare, and it was a buffer, a book-end, its table opposite the writers as
if to say “This place between word and sound is for you, you have come into the
garden. Here you are safe."<br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6XP56TakvaOZjuUJnvlbnq4Hfr0VYW9LpADepo7C09pWDHBMqTxkjhdaPkIFbrVX2iXmoadpFsT6rv8EAUGz6MM-vn19MXTggzFoFr1EenRRRU_UVG8iccSPf0MfGqJV-FRzSLWhaN0/s1600/DSCI0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6XP56TakvaOZjuUJnvlbnq4Hfr0VYW9LpADepo7C09pWDHBMqTxkjhdaPkIFbrVX2iXmoadpFsT6rv8EAUGz6MM-vn19MXTggzFoFr1EenRRRU_UVG8iccSPf0MfGqJV-FRzSLWhaN0/s320/DSCI0147.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"If you go on this...pilgrimage to Prairie Lights, they will<br />
BUY YOU COFFEE AND CRUMPETS." </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And the writers were magnificent. That first night there was <a href="http://www.elenapassarello.com/">Elena Passarello</a>, who made us
laugh and smile as she transfixed us with a dead woman’s voice. There was <a href="http://www.marcuswicker.com/">Marcus Wicker</a>, whose poems
had punch line titles and punch gut conclusions. There was <a href="http://eugenecross.com/">Eugene Cross</a>, whose smile is a giddy puppy and
whose writing is vivid and sharp and sad, maybe the saddest thing<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Maybe the Saddest Thing, by Marcus Wicker, from the National Poetry Series">5</a></sup>
I’ve read in months. </div>
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The audience raised spirits the second day. While the first night was a “The Place
was packed” sort of night, now on the second night it had dropped to just “A
lot of people came.”<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="I’m not sure what it would be in Metric. ">6</a></sup>
BUT, the people who did come had less
of this “I’m here for class,” more of this “I’m here for fun” OR “I’m here for
Extra Credit” which is important because they still CHOSE to come, AND people
who come for extra credit <i>care enough
about the thing for that credit</i>.
They care, they just don’t know how to show it yet. And then of course there were those who
came because they wanted to support the poets, who’d been to every InPrint
Festival since its inception, who praised the group’s dynamic and the
advertisements that they’d seen, and I swelled with pride that someone, anyone,
had noticed the work.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBfVrw6ad6ekIQnhWYhXSItHrnNUDdaErjgn060N6HQYzscnQVg6DhbzKh7jqEQHhYqz_O1lL4_DMf8hucnxZ2fJQRvsAgg7MvRsh5M5EIBIc-cD6vMbdgJv6fs6B1aW5ZjSj3cD798k/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-20+at+11.35.20+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBfVrw6ad6ekIQnhWYhXSItHrnNUDdaErjgn060N6HQYzscnQVg6DhbzKh7jqEQHhYqz_O1lL4_DMf8hucnxZ2fJQRvsAgg7MvRsh5M5EIBIc-cD6vMbdgJv6fs6B1aW5ZjSj3cD798k/s400/Screen+shot+2013-03-20+at+11.35.20+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That happy moment when more people came back because they chose to.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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The panel of the three writers who read the night before was joined by <a href="http://www.sarahmwells.com/">Sarah M Wells</a>, an editor with a snappy personality who's somehow still alive despite doing everything in the world; writing, publishing, editing, mothering. A human thunderstorm. Their answers to questions showed me something vital: That Abyss between us and Published Writers is not so vast, is a matter of words. They are not gods, or if they are, so too someday might we be. Audience members praised their dynamic, the excitement and honesty of them, the way they made the room come alive.<br />
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxux795v2ks4TyxU51SCZOhvnaF3WtpvFIFp3Ix2za02mM-OWTJvnDxnRWAVfZ3R13zfGYI2qb0C1PVrrslTkNyMvYezcjhqGEY-_KH80b-ZJAHUdexJVXkpMNr6bj-iKmOLDBPEA8p0A/s1600/DSCI0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxux795v2ks4TyxU51SCZOhvnaF3WtpvFIFp3Ix2za02mM-OWTJvnDxnRWAVfZ3R13zfGYI2qb0C1PVrrslTkNyMvYezcjhqGEY-_KH80b-ZJAHUdexJVXkpMNr6bj-iKmOLDBPEA8p0A/s640/DSCI0159.JPG" width=100% /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone wanted an autographed book and every author was so delighted to talk to people that we ran delightfully over time and had to be hurried out by the management. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The conversation that had the most
resonance to me was with Guy With Camera, who’d filmed the whole thing for a
TCOM class. I asked him, “What
brings you here?” and he said that he was here for a class, “but I do some
writing too”. There was some
defensiveness in it, but also some aspiration, some acknowledgement that here,
in this room, books and writing are the hippest things imaginable. It made me smile, let me clear my throat<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Let Me Clear My Throat, by Elena Pasarello, from Sarabande Books">7</a></sup>
of the last of the cobwebs, let me rave and ramble about all this to my
roommates when I got home, with no fear of imperfect words because there were
enough of those today to last a lifetime.</div>
<div>
<div id="ftn">
</div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-83166810733114418682013-03-14T14:48:00.000-07:002013-04-04T21:06:57.879-07:00The Lost Episodes of Revie Bryson by Bryan Furuness - Review<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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A woman makes up stories of the Devil's dad painting his portrait.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Portrait of Lucifer as a Young Man, available from Freight Stories #5">1</a></sup> A man has the idea for an
indoor golf course. A
substitute-teacher goes to a rough-and-tumble café and for the polka music. An Ordinary Boy realizes that he simply <i>must</i> be the Second Coming<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="He's not. Probably. Whether you think he is or not says more about you than about the character">2</a></sup>. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Lost-Episodes-Revie-Bryson/dp/193785423X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362003652&sr=8-1&keywords=lost+episodes+of+revie+bryson"><i>The Lost Episodes of Revie Bryson</i></a>, the new book from <a href="http://www.bryanfuruness.com/" title="His websitei s really cute, not gonna lie.">Bryan Furuness</a><i> </i>perfectly captures that
area of Northern Indiana known as “The Region,” with its feeling of empty space
and jittery doldrum, where the mantra seems to be <i>“Bizarre is better than boring.”</i> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.turningstone.com/pressclub/img/photogallery/low/TS_Dome_%20(18).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://www.turningstone.com/pressclub/img/photogallery/low/TS_Dome_%20(18).jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">The Golfdome is a primary set piece because even nature<br />
cannot stop a hoosier from golfing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the story, young Revie Bryson’s life is shaken to pieces
when his mother, who makes up “Lost Episodes” from the Bible, leaves one day to
go be a movie star.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="It’s not a spoiler, it’s on the back of the book.">3</a></sup> The stretches over the following year as he and his father have to learn to cope with the change. At times hilarious, at times tragic,
the Lost Episodes brings us into Revie’s world. As he grows far faster than any twelve-year old should, we
see the people around him change even as the country utterly fails to. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Furuness captures The Region<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="A place so full of empty Space is doesn't even have a proper name, just a vague description, like San Francisco calling itself The City.">4</a></sup> with documentary precision. I’ve been to the Region, I’ve smelled
its air, and it smells just like the words in Furuness’s book. I’ve been baffled by how fast children
grow up there, how fast they <i>have to</i>. Revie is a perfect example of this. As the focus of the book, Revie is
wonderfully genuine. His antics
to sabotage his father’s diet, his escapade with the camels, his attempts to
manipulate his parents back into a relationship all had me going <i>yeah, that’s how a kid from the Region would act</i>. </div>
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Burried in the fiction (which reads so much like memoir I
had to keep reminding myself it was not, <i>a
la</i><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ingenweb.org/injennings/photos/IMG_4631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://www.ingenweb.org/injennings/photos/IMG_4631.JPG" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">"The universe is like a Toilet: everything swirls together<br />
faster and faster in the end."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54881.Towelhead">Towelhead</a>)<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Actually this book is weirdly similar, and would make a good companion book.">5</a></sup> is quite a lot of philosophical introspection, especially on
the nature of the universe, people, and religion. The book makes no firm stance on faith, but does a good job
portraying the faithful, from the priest who recurs as a sounding board for
Revie’s emotions to his Grandmother, whose imperious palm reading was either
dead on or way off. How you call
it says more about you than the character.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="This line shows up a lot in the book, and thus in this review.">6</a></sup></div>
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If you’re from Indiana, especially The Region, this book is probably something you’d enjoy. It's down-to-concrete tone gives you that feeling like getting in touch with an old friend and/or your inner self. Alternatively if you’re from Florida, or California, or New York, or other places that only exist in the movies, but you like novels about local people doing local things and local…people<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="There’s a THING that happens about two-thirds of the way through the book that I really can’t talk about because of REASONS. When you get there, resist the urge to drop the book and put it in a circle of salt and holy water and know that that particular subplot is handled extremely well. What you think about it says more about you than it does about the book.">7</a></sup>, this is also a good read. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Lost-Episodes-Revie-Bryson/dp/193785423X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362003652&sr=8-1&keywords=lost+episodes+of+revie+bryson">Go pick it up.</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blacklawrence.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/furuness-cover.jpg?w=193&h=300" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://blacklawrence.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/furuness-cover.jpg?w=193&h=300" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Anything that has Mass exerts Gravity. You have mass, right?"<br />
"I'm a Presbyterian."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!--EndFragment-->Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-48383645178623007052013-02-21T08:31:00.000-08:002013-02-21T08:37:28.491-08:00Adventures in Time and Space: the Doctor Who RPG - Review <i>So, this weekend was
really, really, really long. I’m
taking a break from my standard book reviews and reviewing…a book. Namely, the
Sourcebook(s) for the Doctor Who RPG, </i>Adventures in Time and Space.<i>
I picked up the Eleventh Doctor Edition, because, I mean, Eleven.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt322/McDeannaBanana/Doctor%20Who/11Thumbsup.gif" style="-webkit-user-select: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I wear a bow-tie now. Bow ties are cool."</td></tr>
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<i>I came downstairs to
sit at the dining room table and write and roll dice, a clump of Doctor Who RPG
Sourcebooks under my arm. My
housemate Jay, sitting on the couch looked up from his laptop, noticing my
armload. </i>“So how is it?”<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I marshaled my
thoughts.</i> “It’s…actually
really good, to be honest. In the
right setting. It doesn’t really
work for playing magical characters or finessed swordfighters or…time travelers, but
for simple, non-complex games it works really well.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyVfYY-E1oanJlfyb1UP9iV_zWW4s8bWQOTFW8RZljG616HXE1K0rtk10iNlvt2WggUs0cuyrtC5LD3ymTd8QcoHKUWMPA-9ozaxJyxg6_2u8YM8ZJ0TbZCQOEUTjQocLMV13wFHH5r4/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-02-19+at+11.49.20+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyVfYY-E1oanJlfyb1UP9iV_zWW4s8bWQOTFW8RZljG616HXE1K0rtk10iNlvt2WggUs0cuyrtC5LD3ymTd8QcoHKUWMPA-9ozaxJyxg6_2u8YM8ZJ0TbZCQOEUTjQocLMV13wFHH5r4/s320/Screen+shot+2013-02-19+at+11.49.20+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like the Stats here much better than the ones for D&D to be honest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like, you’ve got the six attribute<span style="font-family: inherit;">s<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Not!Ability Scores">1</a></sup></span> and twelve skills, you
add your flat attribute and skill and roll 2d6 and boom, that’s what you get
for everything. But it’s kinda
cool, like, if you beat the Difficulty by enough you get bonuses (you’re able to hack
the computer AND the files are organized easily). But if you fail by a little, it’s not too bad (You don’t
hack it, but you can try again).
But if you fail by a <i>lot</i>, it’s
bad AND it gets worse. (You don’t
hack the computer, and it activates a silent alarm that alerts the guards to your location.)”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s…pretty cool.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Right? Like I
said, it works really well for simple things. I mean, look at this character sheet.”<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzc1Msoc8Zp8AtziGPACCWp08iUUZsSvEE4l93DgU-AIKWUJk45EMVc3cK3nIaccmSxeeOJJGQr8ieDHGNOTaWMFTqa2Va1LhcqzgwasbJduRLwBsfptpaHRkdpByB9CTyxZUXwF_5M8/s1600/Character+Sheet+DW+RPG.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Click me to go to a PDF of this." border="0" height="246" href="http://www.cubicle7.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DWAITASEleventhDoctorEditionCharacterBlankSheet.pdf" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzc1Msoc8Zp8AtziGPACCWp08iUUZsSvEE4l93DgU-AIKWUJk45EMVc3cK3nIaccmSxeeOJJGQr8ieDHGNOTaWMFTqa2Va1LhcqzgwasbJduRLwBsfptpaHRkdpByB9CTyxZUXwF_5M8/s320/Character+Sheet+DW+RPG.png" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back has more or less all the actions you can do, which<br />
is really useful for quick play.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Jay squinted at it.</i> “Kinda sparse.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah. There’s only twelve skills. Which is cool, I mean, I love D&D, but…there’s a <i>lot </i>to
keep track of. Here there’s like,
just Attributes and Skills. Oh and
gadgets and stuff. But yeah, with
the skills, you can specialize if you have enough ranks. So, at Knowledge<4><span style="font-size: 13px;"><sup><a title="It's 1 Specialty for each Skill Rank over 3.">2</a></sup></span> I can
Specialize in History and Literature, and I get bonuses to any Knowledge check
involving books or history. Same
for Convince, I can Specialize in Bluff or Intimidate or things.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xbpCXOvhP0f-DNob_jxKCX0uXqsFPPPNFNYfMR6O3sS5SzdwkHBd6sBKgs-icWKyaxGSR07R_WeTRYuCT64I9qSmEWZEgBP7xyMbsHTpe7gVn5QWto71CM0SRQJ_4ABWEFy9KbJa12E/s1600/Medusa.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xbpCXOvhP0f-DNob_jxKCX0uXqsFPPPNFNYfMR6O3sS5SzdwkHBd6sBKgs-icWKyaxGSR07R_WeTRYuCT64I9qSmEWZEgBP7xyMbsHTpe7gVn5QWto71CM0SRQJ_4ABWEFy9KbJa12E/s320/Medusa.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wouldn't it be cool to see Medusa vs. The Weeping Angels?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So say I’m hacking a computer on a Spaceship piloted by
Not!Medusa<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Because half of the Doctor's antagonists are mythology based">3</a></sup>, I just add Ingenuity + Technology + 2d6, and I add +2 because
Medusa’s all mythological and shit, and I’ve read enough books to know how
Medusa works. Say the DC’s 15. Rolled 6. So 4+2+6+2<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="4 from Ingenuity, 2 From Technology, the Roll (2d6), and then a Knowledge Speciality adds +2">4</a></sup>. 14. Not good
enough. But, it’s not all bad.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You wouldn’t get in, but you could see file names and
things and learn something?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Exactly. The
Dungeon Master…Storyteller, whatever, could give you enough info to get on with
the story. Wait, damn, I’d
probably take negs because Space Medusa is from a different technology
level. There’s negs for using tech
not from your general time-period.
So I can’t use things as easily from beyond Space-Faring Tech Level,
since that’s the modern day, you take a -2 per tech level. It’s less for things before now, only
-1 per tech level, because history, we kinda know it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Are there feats?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Traits. That’s
kinda a problem, actually. There
need to be a few more of them, they’re kinda sparse and either don’t do much
(like, they only give ±2 to skills) or they give you Telekinesis. You can substitute Telekinesis for any
physical challenge, so if your Resolve is high enough you basically you get to win
at everything. Fighting, running,
lock-picking…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Arson, Weddings, Art…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Shush you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Miriah, on the couch,
chimed in,</i> “I mean, weddings could be physical challenges…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDn1uKMyz1KjlUugdkKV2lmjbVirgoy2L9LkULryJC72oT76Giesogt2UgunjQWp_ZgHh0VtUe4U9F1QmDyXfmoUoys4VOkefissBj3JAGKLmJ43TjsOf_Iy-52G5Lkk2uwMJMpcAIhGd/s1600/vastra_jenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDn1uKMyz1KjlUugdkKV2lmjbVirgoy2L9LkULryJC72oT76Giesogt2UgunjQWp_ZgHh0VtUe4U9F1QmDyXfmoUoys4VOkefissBj3JAGKLmJ43TjsOf_Iy-52G5Lkk2uwMJMpcAIhGd/s320/vastra_jenny.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madame Vastra resents your implication of Impropriety. <br />
They are Married.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Jay smiled.</i> “You know, a Silurian wedding without at least
three deaths is deemed a dull affair.”
<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Martin, George R. R., A Song of Ice and Fire: Game of Thrones, p. 85. Slight butchering for thematic reasons.">5</a></sup><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Anyway, it’s kinda ridiculous. I’d make people spend story-points to activate it, balance
things out.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Story Points?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Basically move-the-plot-along coupons. You can spend them to make things
happen in your favor or, oh this is the cool thing, make things go <i>wrong</i> for you to <i>gain</i> storypoints for
later use. Like, getting captured
so you can get the plot going would net you some storypoints to use to make one of the Guards susceptible to your diplomacy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I like that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwm4aRm40xUBivmgC0pHBXydUAn4aLU7IndvhCGYsL8HuWWi9hxhq7CbogRH7YRh_7FJVZbCOayj0XbGfxSn0G5wy7bJHAySaTe0dwStgZKAdy7DY_btlM8qjJhcjbKAT3oIjS97eskA/s1600/DSCI0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwm4aRm40xUBivmgC0pHBXydUAn4aLU7IndvhCGYsL8HuWWi9hxhq7CbogRH7YRh_7FJVZbCOayj0XbGfxSn0G5wy7bJHAySaTe0dwStgZKAdy7DY_btlM8qjJhcjbKAT3oIjS97eskA/s320/DSCI0141.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I was dressed for GURPS!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
“Right? I was
kinda sad it doesn’t give some mystical secrets of how to make Time Travel work
in an RPG. I figured it
should. I mean, it’s Doctor
Who. It kinda brings it up, but
then it diverts to Time Travel Theory and then rushes it back offscreen. Oh well. But yeah, for a simple game, for the right kind of game,
it’s pretty brilliant. It places a
lot of weight and trust on the Players and the DM, with the story-points, but I
mean, it’s not too heavy. It’s
more about storytelling than winning.
Although, the sourcebook’s kinda annoying, it's all like "HI I’M AMY POND LET ME TAKE UP HALF A PAGE." So yeah, I kinda want a non picture-having
version of this, with less in-jokes.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="That said, I like that there's a skill called Jiggery Pokery">6</a></sup>
Because without those it’s just fine. I’d run a game with it. I mean, if you use <a href="http://dwcg.eu5.org/">the online tool </a>making a character takes 10 minutes, tops.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Sounds neat. You should leave it on the counter so I can read through it. Oh, also, I think you'd like this Kickstarter. It’s called <i><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/works/odins-ravens">Odin’s Ravens</a></i> and it’s –”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Wait, hang on, Facebook it to me. I’m gonna go write down the conversation so that I can turn it into a blog.”<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="#StableTimeLoop">7</a></sup>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Okay. And
after that you should teach me <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LeaningOnTheFourthWall">how to make footnotes appear when you talk</a>.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Witchcraft.” <i>I winked and rushed to type everything up
before I forgot it.</i> </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-44755121409289673042013-02-14T19:06:00.000-08:002013-02-14T19:23:45.784-08:00The DM's Notebook: Using D&D for Creative Writing: ~Random Encounter Tables~<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WmDvRgzP8Zypkzj16xNtFqJnLbpaY3kOsjxgtJyal5WGZ5fk8y9b_nXbCCxEplso3j67sAxcZV0MdFZY9xYhOUEfaJKF2bbCNF9ObRtQ-rvPNX6J5L3z9KxV3PK2DtqLAcidgALailM/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-02-09+at+7.32.13+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WmDvRgzP8Zypkzj16xNtFqJnLbpaY3kOsjxgtJyal5WGZ5fk8y9b_nXbCCxEplso3j67sAxcZV0MdFZY9xYhOUEfaJKF2bbCNF9ObRtQ-rvPNX6J5L3z9KxV3PK2DtqLAcidgALailM/s320/Screen+shot+2013-02-09+at+7.32.13+PM.png" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://paizo.com/products/btpy8ffn?Pathfinder-Roleplaying-Game-GameMastery-Guide">The Game Mastery Guide</a>, which is<br />
actually the coolest book ever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">So I've been thinking for a while about the way the Dungeons and Dragons RPG, in its trappings and mechanics, has some really useful applications for Creative Writing. The Dungeon Master's Notebook is a series of to organize such thoughts. </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 19px;"><b>Dungeon Master's Notebook: Random Encounter Tables</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every so often a Dungeon Master needs to throw a fight at
the players because they’ve been role-playing too quickly<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="or, let’s be honest, because they did something I hadn't planned for and I need a distraction while I scramble to figure out what’s going to happen next.">1</a></sup>, but
doesn’t have anything planned, so I roll on an encounter table. They look something like what’s to the
right. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, say I rolled a 33 on that. Now the players have to fight a hydra, which burns some time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How does a Writer use this? Well, let’s say you have a character you don’t understand
yet. Put them in a room they feel
comfortable and roll on the following tables. You can use a Six-Sided die (a d6), or a 20-Sided die (a d20) if you’re
a cool kid.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4.15pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 269px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #956251; height: 14.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" valign="bottom" width="24"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">d6<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #956251; height: 14.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="36"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">d20<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #956251; height: 14.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="209"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">character<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">1<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">1-3<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">A
Catholic priest<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Or Equivalent for your setting">2</a></sup> with a nervous tick (finger tapping, laughing,
puns...)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">4-7<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">A young
girl with a wide-brimmed hat covered in polka-dot ribbons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">3<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">8-10<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">An elderly
Madame in a silvery gown wearing earrings stolen before the war<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">4<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">11-14<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">A
gorgeous woman with sharp red lips and her hair on fire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">15-17<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">A
freckly boy badly disguised as an old man<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">6<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">18-20<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">A
drunken pirate with an Indian<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Or Equivalent for your setting">2</a></sup> Accent and a well curled beard</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>…walks
into the room and…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4.15pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 269px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #956251; height: 14.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" valign="bottom" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">d6<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #956251; height: 14.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">d20<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #956251; height: 14.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="209"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">action<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">1<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">1-3<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">tries to
hire your characters to go on a quest to find<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">4-7<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">falls at
the character's feet, begging to be saved from<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">3<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">8-10<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">bearing
a box covered in purple silk, containing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">4<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">11-14<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">demands,
by order of the King of Sweden<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Or Equivalent for your setting">2</a></sup>, they hand over<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">15-17<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">slaps
someone in the face with<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">6<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">18-20<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">snaps
three times. Suddenly, the
character is in</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4.15pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 269px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #956251; height: 14.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" valign="bottom" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">d6<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #956251; height: 14.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">d20<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #956251; height: 14.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="209"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">McGuffin<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">1<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">1-3<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">the black-market
of Atlantis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">4-7<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">a
creepy, badly painted wooden clown doll<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">3<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">8-10<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">an abstract
painting of the character's mother<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">4<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">11-14<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">a morningstar
made of functioning light bulbs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">15-17<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">a 1st edition
of a book detailing the history of freshwater fishing in Iowa<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Or Equivalent for your setting">2</a></sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">6<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">18-20<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">a
thunderstorm</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll give it a shot.
Rolled an 8, a 6, and a 13.
So, an elderly madame walks in falls at the character’s feet, begging to
be saved from a Morningstar made of functioning lighhtbulbs. Logically, the Morningstar would have
to show up at some point, so let’s say it’s being wielded by (rolls, 19) a freckly-faced
boy disguised as an old man. Okay.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And my character is Andy, an intern with the EPA. How does he react to this? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, he’s shy, but, seeing that it’s more or less a toy in
a game a kid is playing with his grandma, he's not too worried.
He leans back, watching, a little intimidated and wondering how they got
into his office at the EPA, but he’s working late because he’s like that so no one's around to reprimand them, and
to be honest he’s happy for the distraction.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a few minutes, he joins in, using the keyboard as a
shield to defend the old lady from her vicious attacker. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s a lot of things that can be done with this. What sort of car does someone
drive? What color shirt are they
wearing? How’s the weather? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I’ll admit, some of those things are characterization
things. What car someone drives
informs a lot about that character.
But there are some times it doesn’t matter. Also, look at that shirt example. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4.15pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 269px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #956251; height: 14.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" valign="bottom" width="24"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">d6<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #956251; height: 14.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="36"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">d20<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #956251; height: 14.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="209"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">shirt<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">1<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">1-3<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Button-down
brown, with a pocket on the right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">4-7<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Sleek
grey, with two buttons on the sleeves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">3<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">8-10<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Forest
Green, low amount of corduroy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">4<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">11-14<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Dark
Green, a little too big.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">15-17<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #BDB096; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background2; mso-background-themeshade: 191; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Cobalt
grey, with a jam stain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 23.5pt;" width="24"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">6<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.25pt;" width="36"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt;">18-20<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D1C3; height: 24.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 209.25pt;" valign="top" width="209"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Maroon,
with tan lining.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See? Now, all
of these inform the same character, still Andy. But if we stay with him long enough, he’ll wear all the
shirts, and therefore it doesn’t matter which ones he’s wearing on any
particular day.<br />
<br />
There are probably a lot of uses for random tables in creative writing. Let me know if you come up with some, or if you'd like me to make one for you. <br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Previous Notes: <a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2013/02/dungeon-masters-notebook-ability-scores.html">Ability Scores</a></i></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-72696426022431374942013-02-13T19:03:00.001-08:002013-06-08T23:35:28.227-07:00The Six-Gun Tarot by R. S. Belcher - Review<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Jim Hawkins,
Listens-to-Wind, Renly Baratheon, Mina Murray and Odin in the Wild West fighting
Cthulhu.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If that sounds like fun then <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Six-Gun-Tarot-R-Belcher/dp/0765329328">The Six-Gun Tarot</a></i> is exactly what you need in your life. R. S. Belcher’s <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FantasyKitchenSink">Fantasy Kitchen Sink</a><sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="It’s almost as eclectic as he is.
Dear gods, reading his bio took almost as long as reading the book.">1</a></sup> of
a first book is essentially <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen-volume-1-alan-moore/1102302221?ean=9781563898587">The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen</a>: <a href="http://www.peginc.com/pdfstore/deadlands-classic-weird-west-players-guide-pdf/">Deadlands Edition</a></i>. When Jim Negrey stumbles into the sleepy mining town of Golgotha, he becomes embroiled in a bigger mystery than the one he fled, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3>
The Cast:</h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNROJACUnA5kh1G4miXWJK3qWn_nDjqkgTw5207xuRS35EgDs_MaCa58YYvJbPgBowWHF1uPuAaaI6IoFSmcvKirvC47S-bW2S3msHl1uzF8op7gInDcZwZSet11SCh9gKR4uXg2Aq72o/s1600/Page+of+Wands.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNROJACUnA5kh1G4miXWJK3qWn_nDjqkgTw5207xuRS35EgDs_MaCa58YYvJbPgBowWHF1uPuAaaI6IoFSmcvKirvC47S-bW2S3msHl1uzF8op7gInDcZwZSet11SCh9gKR4uXg2Aq72o/s320/Page+of+Wands.png" width="187" /></a><b>Page of Wands<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">
<i>“I want a raise.”<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="p. 294">2</a></sup> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jim Negrey is sorta the
main character? He vanishes for bits
of the narrative, but it’s him in the cover art and has an Artifact so dammit
he’s the main character. He’s very believably young and afraid of what’s
happening, but he has such a good heart, and cares about his horse<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" msonormal="" title="People who
care about their horses are automatically in my good books, thank you
Diana.">3</a></sup>. He’s also narrator in my favourite
scene, which describes the cacophony and heat and chaos of a shootout
magnificently. His backstory is revealed slowly as the novel goes on, forming a mystery in itself. Someone needs to give this kid a hug.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzguTBl4WEuGBzw8AKx2FQC59RHa8cxDcBs6-bU1dqEC9n0xlpEKj_cNn3c22pCM1QoRfjLgS3nWEqg1hhD_ZiNh46r1I2ptVqbcwfbwzo4KLl5EEY-ev3YgppVzTfM_1kpiPrPKQUSec/s1600/The+Moon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzguTBl4WEuGBzw8AKx2FQC59RHa8cxDcBs6-bU1dqEC9n0xlpEKj_cNn3c22pCM1QoRfjLgS3nWEqg1hhD_ZiNh46r1I2ptVqbcwfbwzo4KLl5EEY-ev3YgppVzTfM_1kpiPrPKQUSec/s320/The+Moon.png" width="187" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Moon</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">
<i>“You'd have to be nine parts crazy to one
part stupid to be Sheriff of this town. Sounds like a job for a white
man.”<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="p. 39">4</a></sup><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love Mutt. Deputy, Werecoyote, <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MagicalNativeAmerican">Magical NativeAmerican</a>, <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OnlySaneMan">Only Sane Man</a>. The town
hates him for his herritage, but he’s too noble to run off and abandon
them. His choice between the world
of men and the world of beasts handled subtly, but poignantly. I was also a fan of how deftly Belcher handled his affection for Maude Stapleton. So human, so sad. Mutt's words speak louder than mine:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“I say a man that lets his religion git in the way of his drinking
is a fella with his cart 'fore his horse.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“Enough!” Mutt said, interrupting the villain’s monologue. “You
damn white people talk too much!”</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcWRAOj3xTFZvyYyxPjKvECFJC1HoQt-VFMiaFLKIYGc8k6JmoWevkNGIN9iWHJQsKw1zP4I6w-mfKsAPMrL4jeAqXVZRFcch8wlcacR_FkZdewuauif9n8v1RgONdQkH_3R4ZFlq5No/s1600/Justice.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcWRAOj3xTFZvyYyxPjKvECFJC1HoQt-VFMiaFLKIYGc8k6JmoWevkNGIN9iWHJQsKw1zP4I6w-mfKsAPMrL4jeAqXVZRFcch8wlcacR_FkZdewuauif9n8v1RgONdQkH_3R4ZFlq5No/s320/Justice.png" width="187" /></a><o:p> </o:p><b>Justice</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">
<i>“They kissed. The love in it was strong,
welling up from deep inside of them, giving them power, making them gods.”<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="p.
136">5</a></sup></i><br />
<!--EndFragment-->I dunno why there’s this
rule that Mormons Men in Fiction are Gay, but very few of them wield angelic
swords and armor, and Harry Pratt is technically Biromantic, so…subverted trope?
Also, while it’s sadly brief, the love between Harry and his lover is
intense and sweet. Harry’s
struggle between his faith and his sexuality lend a lot of weight to the novel,
and packs emotional punch. This is the second book in a row (after last week's <i><a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2013/02/tolkien-pulp-review-of-wytchfire-by.html">Wytchfire</a></i>) with a gay action-hero protagonist, and I'm quite glad to see this trend. Please let it continue onwards towards the mainstream. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I'm also very glad that Mormonism was handled delicately in the book. It's easy for religious minorities to be full of strawmen, but that was deffinitely not the case in this book. The Mormon characters that make up ~1/3rd of Golgotha are respectable, varied characters.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Queen of Swords<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNHPawbWSZD4Sbn58e70WXc1_ElYqTF1OB_HSdI_pp7rExgLkjqnOLkXF1ZZ9VJHhz8nOQPhH4koWOQsNX9gBkRhG0nopZ0Xult04AX0UAXRqgCZwHCW_dna00otyQr_D7NXARCBcfoE/s1600/Queen+of+Swords.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNHPawbWSZD4Sbn58e70WXc1_ElYqTF1OB_HSdI_pp7rExgLkjqnOLkXF1ZZ9VJHhz8nOQPhH4koWOQsNX9gBkRhG0nopZ0Xult04AX0UAXRqgCZwHCW_dna00otyQr_D7NXARCBcfoE/s320/Queen+of+Swords.png" width="187" /></a> <i>“Guns are like men – only useful for a
little while. They can go off at a
moment’s notice when you don’t want them to and they make a lot of damn fool noise
doing it.”<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="p. 136">6</a></sup></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maude Stapleton is the
successor to Anne Bonny in a line of women who drank the blood of Lilith in
order to become, basically, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slayer_(Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer)">Slayers</a><sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="She alone will stand against the drunks,
the murderers, and the forces of darkness.">7</a></sup>. This woman has concentrated badass in her blood, but
she’s also growing old, and it’s hard to keep running. Her backstory is probably the
coolest thing to hit the shelves in a long time. Immortal Anne Bonny, Wiccan<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="About
a century before Wicca was a thing, but never mind">8</a></sup> Rituals, and massive libraries.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
The feminism is...weird, in this book. Maude is a badass mom who doesn't back down and don't need no man to defend her, but her primary motivation is her daughter in many cases. Interpret that how you will. I don't know enough feminist theory to touch it. I think it was fine, but I could be way wrong. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2PGVr9jvyHwiVls8eojTBLXDdr6_Exn32XL6yW1VaQXUUzcRvoa22dNt2M5omuHTNiQRewIjl761PGpLQVz9E8SXHBEIS5qTkKwSAI4eHXQTt3K8FAjvxE6lD4NUF8PPdcCRuR68x4Q/s1600/The+Hanged+Man.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2PGVr9jvyHwiVls8eojTBLXDdr6_Exn32XL6yW1VaQXUUzcRvoa22dNt2M5omuHTNiQRewIjl761PGpLQVz9E8SXHBEIS5qTkKwSAI4eHXQTt3K8FAjvxE6lD4NUF8PPdcCRuR68x4Q/s320/The+Hanged+Man.png" width="187" /></a><b>The Hanged Man<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">
<i>“Not my Time.”<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="often">9</a></sup><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Sheriff of Golgotha, Jon
Highfather<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Not!Odin Atriðr">10</a></sup> has seen some shit and some shit accessories<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Vampires, Giant Bat-Things, Men filled
with sawdust, murderous dolls, the list goes on">11</a></sup>. What I love about Jon is his “But for me, it was Tuesday”
approach to the upcoming apocalypse.
Armies of cultists who cry midnight? He <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Pun?from=Main.IncrediblyLamePun">haint</a> even bovvered. It’s a realistic, but also fresh approach to a man who’s
been killed more ways than Phil Connors<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Related, Groundhogs day came out 20
years ago. It feels older than
that.">12</a></sup>. He's a sad character as well, and you get the impression that some of the hanging scars on his neck are self-inflicted. We don't really find out why, but the writing's on the wall. I'd love to see more about this character. He's the action hero we need, just not the one we deserve right now. The Reconstruction Era is when everything changes, and Jon Highfather is ready. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74fwl21A57W-E_uU5zhfaG7dZqifMTB4J94i8Ho86x4sq7bYjuhELME1qr7v2ArCR8Vtemm0anCC2cfs7h0TEGNacBnJh_b0tQxen57NJvy_XGJubrR4Dc3ozy-WOqxEHpUQB8IqQvAI/s1600/The+World.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74fwl21A57W-E_uU5zhfaG7dZqifMTB4J94i8Ho86x4sq7bYjuhELME1qr7v2ArCR8Vtemm0anCC2cfs7h0TEGNacBnJh_b0tQxen57NJvy_XGJubrR4Dc3ozy-WOqxEHpUQB8IqQvAI/s320/The+World.png" width="187" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Adding to the motley bunch of characters, each complex and interesting in their own right,
Not!<a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/Frankenstein">Frankenstien</a>, Not!<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Freeze">Mr. Freeze</a> (no, really), <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/109229/Cheng-Huang">Cheng Huang</a>, Not!<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_(Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer)">Caleb</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riley_Finn">RileyFinn</a><sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Although that was probably just an accidental names-the-same">13</a></sup>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lucifer-Vol-1-Devil-Gateway/dp/1563897334">Lucifer</a> and
Not!<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley">Aleister Crowley</a> all turn up at some point or another. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All these characters are
dealing with the fact that The Great Old One <sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Azathoth, maybe, or just Cthulhu">14</a></sup>
is getting loose and trying to end the world.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Of Course!">15</a></sup> It’s basically the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_the_Dun_Cow_(novel)">Book of the Dun Cow</a> IN
THE WILD WEST. The Nevada
atmosphere is great too, drenched in sweat and slang. I can see Golgotha so easily in my mind, can imagine every
turn of the street, from the main road where the Paradise Falls theatre is
putting on a production of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_in_Yellow">The King in Yellow</a></i> to the thunderingly-racist-yet-accurate-to-historical-attitudes<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="and therefore
okay?">16</a></sup> twisted, non-Euclidean streets of "Johnnytown."<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">It’s a great book, great
stories, great characters. </span><i style="text-align: center;">The Six-Gun
Tarot</i><span style="text-align: center;"> by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/author.belcher">R. S. Belcher</a>. Go pick it up.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-six-gun-tarot-r-s-belcher/1111298331?ean=9780765329325" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img height="400" src="http://jacketupload.macmillanusa.com/jackets/high_res/jpgs/9780765329325.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
"You water down your Whiskey" Lucifer said incredulously.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"The Good Stuff is for the paying customers."</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-8085182738188770392013-02-07T23:35:00.001-08:002013-02-14T19:28:33.860-08:00The DM's Notebook: Using D&D for Creative Writing ~Ability Scores~<i>So I've been thinking for a while about the way the Dungeons and Dragons RPG, in its trappings and mechanics, has some really useful applications for Creative Writing. So, I'm starting a series called the Dungeon Master's Notebook to organize such thoughts. </i><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><b>Dungeon Master's Notebook: Ability Scores</b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Strength<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Muscle, physiclal strength.">1</a></sup>,
Dexterity<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Maneuverability, reflexes, balance.">2</a></sup>, Constitution<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Health, Stamina, physical fortitude.">3</a></sup>
, Intelligence<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Wits, reasoning, capacity for learning and remembering knowledge.">4</a></sup>
, Wisdom<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Awareness, Intuition, also Willpower.">5</a></sup>
,
Charisma<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Force of Personality, suaveness, ability to control a crowd.">6</a></sup>
.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are the abilities of any living thing in a game of
Dungeons and Dragons. The average score for a person is 10. Someone who stumbled
through college has 10 <b>Intelligence</b>, someone who works out every odd Sunday and goes
swimming in the winter has 10 <b>Strength</b>.
<b>Intelligence</b> of 8 is a dunce, 12 is clever, 14 is a Savant. Sherlock Holmes has a good 18 or so. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How is this useful?
Let’s stat up the Ability Scores of some Star Wars characters:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: .65in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 191;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #4F81BD; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.1pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "Zapf Dingbats";">★</span><span style="color: white;"> Luke Skywalker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.05in;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
Strength</div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 31.5pt;" valign="top" width="32"><div class="MsoNormal">
12</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #C6D9F1; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.05in;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
Dexterity</div>
</td>
<td style="background: #C6D9F1; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 31.5pt;" valign="top" width="32"><div class="MsoNormal">
13</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.05in;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
Constitution</div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 31.5pt;" valign="top" width="32"><div class="MsoNormal">
10</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #C6D9F1; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.05in;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
Intelligence</div>
</td>
<td style="background: #C6D9F1; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 31.5pt;" valign="top" width="32"><div class="MsoNormal">
15</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.05in;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
Wisdom</div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 31.5pt;" valign="top" width="32"><div class="MsoNormal">
12</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #C6D9F1; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.05in;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal">
Charisma</div>
</td>
<td style="background: #C6D9F1; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 31.5pt;" valign="top" width="32"><div class="MsoNormal">
12</div>
</td>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Zapf Dingbats";">★</span><span style="color: white;"> Han Solo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Strength<o:p></o:p></div>
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14</div>
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Dexterity<o:p></o:p></div>
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12</div>
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Constitution<o:p></o:p></div>
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11</div>
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Intelligence<o:p></o:p></div>
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10</div>
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Wisdom<o:p></o:p></div>
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14</div>
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Charisma<o:p></o:p></div>
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14</div>
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During the plot it doesn’t matter a lot what their abilities
are. Luke’s <b>Dexterity</b> is generally just “Plot.” But what about the little things, those moments that gives
the story consistency? For
instance, let’s say Luke and Han are learning to a card game.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Because the Plot Says So.">7</a></sup>
Who learns it first? Luke does, because learning is based on
<b>Intelligence</b> and Luke’s is higher. Luke should usually learn things faster
than Han does.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Second Example.
Luke and Han are walking through a forest. One of them notices a <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MacGuffin">flower</a>. Who? In
D&D, noticing things is relegated to <b>Wisdom</b>. Han has a higher <b>Wisdom</b>, he notices more often every time. (Barring distractions) <br />
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://michelleslabyrinth.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Luke-vs-Han.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://michelleslabyrinth.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Luke-vs-Han.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"They're Gonna Kill her!"<br />
"Better her than me!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Third example, Luke and Han are guests at a party, the
butler comes and takes their coats.
Whose does he take first? Han’s.
Han has more <b>Charisma</b>, more
force of personality, charm. A
butler will want Han’s approval more than he wants Luke’s, so he’ll wait on Han
first. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Last example.
Say our fearless heroes are staying up on watch all night. Who falls asleep first? Luke does. Han lasts only a little longer. Luke has a bit less <b>Constitution</b>,
so he isn’t quite as resilient to his own failings. <br />
<br /></div>
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Why does all this matter? Because sometimes it matters who does what, who says or does
something. But sometimes you don’t
really care, and you need someone to notice that flower or learn a card
game. If you have stats for your
characters, you can check and say "Luke’s more dexterous, he’ll get
through the brambles better.” This
lends <i>consistency</i> to your story,
which is one of those things that no one talks about but everyone notices.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Let’s see it in action.</div>
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<br /></div>
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At the party, the Butler comes and takes Han’s jacket, then
Luke’s [<b>Charisma</b>]. They look around and Han spots [Higher <b>Wisdom</b>] the Imperial Senator they have
to pump for information. They go
over, Han grabbing a bit of wine.
He knows it won’t bring him down [<b>Constitution</b>],
just relax him. Luke accosts the
General first and appeals to his sense of reason and honor, which only sorta
goes over well [middling <b>Charisma</b>],
then cites passages from the <i>Codex Imperiator</i><sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Which may or may not be a thing, I honestly don't know.">8</a></sup>
, which impresses the General
[High <b>Intelligence</b>]. Then Han comes in, and starts being
intimidating. His forceful
attitude [High <b>Charisma</b> and <b>Strength</b>] pushes through the General’s
already low amount of will to stay loyal [<b>Wisdom</b>]
to Lord Vader, and he gives in. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="rg_i" data-sz="f" name="UvZc9n0y9m6EXM:" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcROSBWoQajkTAvSZWPBEFeag2Hl-6eh7g2S3Vq8FZx5xe_F50Na" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What is it Lieutenant Sebastian? I'm arranging Matches."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now, that’s a simple example, and maybe there’s more to
it. Maybe the General has a higher
Intelligence than either, so Luke’s quoting of the <i>Codex Imperiator</i> does no
good. But knowing what the
relative ability scores of your characters is a remarkably handy shorthand
for figuring out where they’re going next. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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When you run into a contest between the two, it’s pretty
easy to work out who wins.<br />
<br />
High <b>Strength</b>
beats Low <b>Strength</b>, High <b>Dexterity</b> beats Low <b>Dexterity</b>, etc. Feel free to decide if a person
resisting someone’s <b>Charisma</b> is
going to oppose with their own <b>Charisma</b>,
or if their <b>Wisdom</b>, and therefore
Willpower, is their fallback. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
There are a lot of other mechanisms. Maybe you want to consolidate <b>Strength</b>, <b>Dexterity</b> and <b>Constitution</b> into just "<b><i>Physical</i></b>" for simplicities sake, or want to split <b>Wisdom</b> into "<b style="font-style: italic;">Perception</b>" and "<b style="font-style: italic;">Willpower</b>." These are all fine, it just depends what story you're telling. The most important thing is that you can use it.<br />
<br />
Tune in next week for notes on using Random Encounter Tables to establish characters!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://files.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/281162_S/luke-han-get-domestic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="381" src="http://files.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/281162_S/luke-han-get-domestic.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This will never not be funny.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-83377901626503417962013-02-06T20:35:00.000-08:002014-06-01T14:06:46.239-07:00Tolkien-Pulp: A review of Wytchfire by Michael MeyerhofferSo I just finished reading/<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Wytchfire&src=hash">livetweeting</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wytchfire-ebook/dp/B00AZ83Q1W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360211327&sr=8-1&keywords=wytchfire">Wytchfire</a> by <a href="https://twitter.com/mrmeyerhofer">Michael Meyerhoffer</a>.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="LINKS FOR THE LINK GOD">2</a> </sup>I'm not going to lie, when I was googling the book, I was somewhat hesitant, skeptical. There's this section at any bookstore just labeled "Sci-fi/Fantasy" where all the books seem to be the same, and you kinda feel like not reading them as quickly as possible. There's a certain ghetto happening here, the Sci-fi/Fantasy ghetto at it's worst. Sure, there's fantasy out there that gets popular enough to rise above the ghetto, but they seem often few and far between. It's not a genre people take seriously, mostly because people assume there's no inherent worth. It probably also has to do with the cultural ostracization of D&D, and all of its trappings, into the "Other" category. The "Standard D&D universe" has, thanks mostly to Tolkien<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Who stole mostly everything from the Vikings, but that's a story for another day...">3</a></sup>, been so thoroughly ingrained in the cultural consciousness that most people can tell you the rules without having actually read a high-fantasy pulp book.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Generic_high_fantasy_7664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~camelshere/dragonlance.jpg" height="313" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I actually know who all these characters are and what<br />
they're doing. #Dragonlance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Everyone knows that Dwarves are stout and beardy, Elves are pretty and magical and live in forests, Knights are noble and always do the right thing, magic comes at a price, and the orphan stableboy turns out to be the long lost heir of the kingdom. The Undead or Dragons show up to cause problems and the hero saves the day and no one points out that he should probably be dead from all the diseases that would come of fighting shambling undead, or burned to a crisp from Dragon fire. And that's 1st Wave Tolkien-Pulp.<br />
<br />
This persisted for a while until people started subverting those tropes, until 1st Wave Tolkien Pulp became ghettoized even by its target audience. In came <a href="https://twitter.com/terryandrob">Pratchett</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/PiersAnthony">Anthony</a> and <a href="http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/03/being-alive.html">Jones</a>, who were masters of subverting the tropes and making things very self aware and funny and that was what people started to read, because a good parody makes the reader feel clever because she<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="The Sourcebooks for D&D and Pathfinder usually use 'She' if they must chose between 'he' or 'she', so I will too.">4</a></sup> gets the joke, and slowly but surely Parody killed the Fantasy Pulp Star. And that was 2nd Wave Tolkien-Pulp.<br />
<br />
Most<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="A ratio of 3 to 14, if you're curious. I'm not counting The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien as Tolkien Pulp, or it'd be 4.">5</a></sup> of the Tolkien-Pulp on my shelves is 2nd Wave. It's easier, more accessible, and more fun. It's been a <i>long</i> time since I've read some good, solid, down to <strike>Erathia</strike> Earth 1st Wave Tolkien-Pulp. And that's what Wytchfire is, on the surface, so when I heard Meyerhoffer was looking for readers I did so more out of duty than excitement. <br />
<br />
But then I really started reading.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110705175706/gameofthrones/images/9/93/King's_Landing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110705175706/gameofthrones/images/9/93/King's_Landing.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You will never find a greater hive of Scum and Villainy. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yes, Wytchfire is 1st Wave Tolkien-Pulp. The Dwarr<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Not!Dwarves">6</a></sup>
are stout and Nordic. The Sylv<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Not!Elves">7</a></sup>
live in forests and are beautiful and haughty. The main character is a failed student of the Holy Order of Knights on the Lotus Isles<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Not!Japan">8</a></sup>
where they wield Adamunes<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Not!Scimitars">9</a></sup>
forged with ancient secrets of metalurgy. It's unapologetically Tolkien-Pulp. And I loved it. <br />
<br />
For one thing, it's not quite straight 1st Wave. It has major elements of Deconstruction and Reconstruction. Everyone chews Sweetbitter Leaves, which are basically organic toothpaste. The worries about infection and starvation just as prevalent as worries about robbers and wolves on the road. Some characters are gay, or have tastes for cross-species prostitution because Dwarr women have larger breasts. While the book plays the tropes straight, it makes them <i>work</i>. There was clearly a lot of thought put into this universe, such that I feel I could ask Meyerhoffer a variety of questions about culture, history, customs and lore, and he'd have an answer for me. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3oV0UeBBFUlCtVHoaisQ_5GTDVg-nU259xNqruw_5_LUrWj-n1z6z4wFufHHugxNJZBDoZEESecXrNCx2PsNPGnkD2kyyUivTSLZLERqJSH1HKpFbQD15nZj19TQX2gZEMEqWgPXpBk/s1600/Rowen+Locke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3oV0UeBBFUlCtVHoaisQ_5GTDVg-nU259xNqruw_5_LUrWj-n1z6z4wFufHHugxNJZBDoZEESecXrNCx2PsNPGnkD2kyyUivTSLZLERqJSH1HKpFbQD15nZj19TQX2gZEMEqWgPXpBk/s320/Rowen+Locke.jpg" height="320" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closest aproximation I could get<br />
using a touchpad. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The characters are strong too, and realistic. In <a href="http://jacksoneflin.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-last-policeman-by-ben-h-winters.html">my last review</a> I talked about how I didn't really believe in Henry Palace's Lawful Goodness. Here, I do. Rowen, our Orphan Hero for the evening, failed out of the training to be a Knight of the Lotus in Not!Japan, but he still upholds all the rules and morals of the Order. It makes sense why he's the most morally upstanding character, but when he risks faltering, and boy, does he risk faltering, you believe it. Remember how I said the book was a deconstruction? Yeah, Orphans don't fare well here. They don't wind up adopted by a kindly blacksmith and taught swordplay, they go to the Dark Quarter to cheat and steal their way to survive the squads of murders and rapists that prowl the Slums of Lyos<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Not!Kings Landing">10</a></sup>
. After Rowan loses his brother and is barred from being a Knight, he's rapidly headed for rock bottom. The fact that he could so easily and so believably slide off into villainy makes it all the more heartening when he doesn't. <br />
<br />
Other characters get a lot of good complexity too. The Evil Overlord, Fadarah, of the Shel'ai, is complicated and interesting, and his actions are never quite what you'd expect. He's a competent leader too, and I think he's at least glanced over the Evil Overlord List. Other stand-outs are El’rash’lin the mad wizard who has some fun things to say when you first meet him, Jalist Hewn the gay dwarf mercenary who might be one of my favourite characters in the book, Aeko Shingawa the Knight, whose gender does not inform her character in the slightest, only how people perceive her, and lastly Hráthbam. He's one of the most fun merchants ever. He also tries, knowing he'll probably die, to <span style="color: white;">kill the Evil Overlord</span>. He <span style="color: white;">fails</span>, but even the most powerful Shel'ai in all of Ruun thinks he's so badass he <span style="color: white;">lets him walk away</span>. He's also a riot:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"If you're going to bury me alive, at least give me a drink first!"</i><i><sup>"</sup>It is true, our Children often have the vocabulary of Mercenaries."</i><i>"That wolf...it's bigger than my Third Wife!" ... "How are the horses? Did my Third Wife get them too?"</i></blockquote>
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As you can see, the dialogue shines in this book. There's a lot to quote, and the characters really show through in what they have to say. Really, some of my favourite sections are the characters having their banter. That said, other parts are quite good too. The action scenes are crisply written, for one, and the book spends a long time building up the city that's under siege for the climax, both the good <i>and</i> the bad parts of it. You could have a lot of fun mapping out the various things that happen at different times and how the characters react to them, and watch as all the pieces assemble into one place to have their plot wrapped up elegantly and smoothly like a well oiled machine.<br />
<br /></div>
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There's a last part that I want to talk about, but it's going to be rather spoilerific. If I've convinced you to read, and you want to enjoy the dramatic payoff, stop now. Here's a cool picture of a Paladin to form a page break.<br />
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs46/f/2009/205/9/0/Paladin_by_AppleSin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs46/f/2009/205/9/0/Paladin_by_AppleSin.jpg" height="226" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like the hat that <a href="http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=paladin#/d25tk7q">the artist </a>drew.</td></tr>
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The Grand Order of Knights of the Lotus is kinda shit. We find this out about halfway/two-thirds of the way through the book that the Knights are thoroughly corrupt and almost no one believes or practices the philosophy passed down in <i>The Codex Lotius</i><sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Not!Analects">11</a></sup>
. They lie and tax everything ever. My gods, that's one hell of a deconstructive blow, and it comes right out of left field. Watching the main character struggle with the disillusionment was fantastic, and emotionally wrenching. Of all the tropes to get subverted to hell and back, I didn't expect it to be the Grand Order of Knights. That was a masterstroke. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/fiction_rule_of_thumb.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fiction Rule of Thumb" border="0" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/fiction_rule_of_thumb.png" title="Except for anything by Lewis Carroll or Tolkien, you get five made-up words per story. I'm looking at you, Anathem." /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure A</td></tr>
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Now, I can't call the book perfect. I'll direct people's eyes to Figure A and note that if it bothers you when there are a frequency of words spelled wyth apo'straphes and the like, it may alienate you. I'll admit, I'm no huge fan, but I could deal. You get drawn into the world and start to get used to it if you read enough at a time. (I'm also a sucker for the word "Sylv/Sylvos" to refer to Elves because I'm a die-hard Heroes of Might and Magic fan, but that's just me.) There's a few spelling/grammar issues in the book as well, but I quickly forgot them and it was never so jarring to make me lose pace. However, while the above graph is accurate, I do feel the book falls below the line, but then I am somewhat used to words that do not exist, so if that's too much for you, you may not enjoy. But if you, like me, could do with some troperific High Fantasy, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wytchfire-Dragonkin-Trilogy-Michael-Meyerhofer-ebook/dp/B00K2DPJ60/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401654838&sr=8-1&keywords=wytchfire">grab this book</a>. It's only 5 <strike>Cranáfi</strike> bucks on Kindle, and worth more. I went for the physical copy, so I could lend it out to people more easily.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKtzzmPb_M5j-HNPpVmdW0E5kdLbY3VEjkpewXzmduMUlgGImXUr2wvZFamRNjeHKeBbt59iiVmUL7ZRdJYD_eqPAElvbZnTTEHAajOXT3hEoEFKmZawNnDiyHDT20V0EEWNjpAa4rAI/s1600/Wytchfire-800-Cover-reveal-and-Promotional.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKtzzmPb_M5j-HNPpVmdW0E5kdLbY3VEjkpewXzmduMUlgGImXUr2wvZFamRNjeHKeBbt59iiVmUL7ZRdJYD_eqPAElvbZnTTEHAajOXT3hEoEFKmZawNnDiyHDT20V0EEWNjpAa4rAI/s1600/Wytchfire-800-Cover-reveal-and-Promotional.jpg" height="320" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please buy this, I need someone to share my feels with.</td></tr>
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Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167722418935257021.post-68565735197517951852013-01-30T22:01:00.000-08:002013-02-07T23:44:55.445-08:00The Last Policeman by Ben H Winters - Review<i>I figured out how I can make footnotes work! Having the numbers be a mouse-over works a lot better than linking to a footnote at the bottom, the HTML doesn't like me. Also, I've started doing spoilers in white, if you don't care about spoilers highlight to read. </i><br />
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<i>Tracks for this Evening: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09ajdSFYz80">Love 2012</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n23lgG1Xbdc">The main theme from Melancholia</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdhxdjTwfdE">Everything is Ending</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vHoj-PBGzs">Until the End of the World</a>, </i><i>some <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fArK-kC8Dvc">zYnthetic</a>, take your pick. Oh, and while it doesn't fit the mood, I think everyone should listen to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTPpbaC1lts">this</a> at least once. </i><br />
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Man, I love me some good detective fiction. There’s just something thoroughly compelling about someone pounding the streets and using nothing more than his wits and charisma to get answers out of people who only sorta have to answer. Thing is, in the words of Miss Mazeppa<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Gypsy, 1962. Go see the Bette Midler version, it’s fantastic."><sup>1</sup></a>, you’ve gotta get a gimmick. Eg, the detective is a sweet old lady<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Agatha Christie’s Marple"><sup>2</sup></a>, or a medieval monk<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Ellis Peter’s Cadfael "><sup>3</sup></a>, or it’s set in England during the War Years<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="The BBC’s Foyle "><sup>4</sup></a>. And what’s a better gimmick than the apocalypse? <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Primary Antagonist for the series will be measured in<br />
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That’s where this week’s book comes in. Written by Ben H. Winters, <i>The Last Policeman</i> tells the story of a policeman solving a murder as the world prepares to end. A few months ago, the world got the bad news: Asteroid 2011GV<sub>1</sub>, Maia, is hurtling towards the planet and there’s nothing that’s gonna stop it. And so the human race threw up its hands and cursed the sky, and society started to crumble. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Call it attempted Murder." "Why?" "You're attempting to<br />
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Thus there’s two parts to the book: The Mystery of the man found in a McDonald’s washroom. (That said, it’s not actually a McDonalds, McDonalds folded ages ago, but the buildings are still there and people swept in to make a quick buck, but that’s not the point). There’s a cool twist that we don’t really know whether it’s a murder or a suicide. All signs point to it being a suicide, and it’s left unclear for most of the book whether the main character is just searching out of desperation. Spoiler: It’s a <span class="s1"><span style="color: white;">murder</span></span>, but at the book’s midpoint it does a great job of making the reader believe as much as the main character that it <i>is</i> a <span class="s1"><span style="color: white;">suicide</span></span>. </div>
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Speaking of the Main Character: He’s an interesting choice for who to follow. See, the world's ending. Who care's about murder, who cares about looking into a suicide, when there's only a few months left until an asteroid slams into the planet? Well, Henry Palace cares. He's resolutely Lawful Good. He’s going to uphold the law, no matter what, and thank the gods there’s someone who will. In the increasingly lawless society of Pre-Apocalyptic America, it’s not easy to Do The Right Thing™. And seeing him stand up for the right thing, even when that means standing up a man stabbing him with a model of the New Hampshire State House<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="It makes sense in context."><sup>5</sup></a>, because it’s the <i>right thing to do</i>. Even most of his other cops don’t care a lot about the law. Some sit around smoking pot, some run off on a Bucket List. Officer McConnel, she upholds the law, but only because it might be her last chance to fire a gun and shout “Stop, Motherfucker!” This is however, a problem for me, one of the flaws of the book. See, Lawful Good characters are well and good. There's nothing wrong with that. My issue is that it's sometimes hard to believe. We have this character who endeavors always to Do The Right Thing™but we don't necessarily know why he does it. There's backstory that explains it, but the wound isn't quite deep enough to make me understand why he's so resolutely Lawful Good. There were times when I didn't quite believe in the character. Not the stabbing-State-House-model scene, that was believable, it's the scenes in the gaps where he's quoting police law, that strained my suspension of disbelief. Which is odd, because more or less all of the characters are rather believable and well defined, with the exception of our main, who seems at times both very static but very thin. </div>
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What I found much more compelling than the narrator was the examination of the various ways people, both named and unnamed characters, react to the end of the world. There’s lots of religious fanatics, of course, there are always religious fanatics. There are people doing all the drugs, there are people hoarding weapons because, screw it, maybe the Asteroid will agree to single combat. And Asteroids don’t have guns! There are a lot of people who abandon their posts and go “Bucket List,” writing or traveling or exploring their sexualities. It’s all very believable, but I’ll admit that it’s not necessarily all that unexpected. But there is one thing I hadn’t thought of. The children. There’s a quote that came out of nowhere and that I don’t think I’ll ever forget reading. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Emilees-Piano-Recital-Dec.-2010-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Emilees-Piano-Recital-Dec.-2010-002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You want to pray to someone? <br />
Pray to Bruce Willis in <i>Armageddon</i>."</td></tr>
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“Detective Palace,” says Fenton<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="The bitter Coroner examining the body."><sup>6</sup></a>, pulling on her gloves with a series of fierce movements, “my daughter has twelve piano recitals this season, and I am, at this very moment, missing one of them. Do you know how many piano recitals she will have next season?” </div>
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<i>Bam</i>. I had to put the book down and walk around the room, working out my feelings. The way a parent would feel, thinking about their children, the people they’ve poured all their future into, wiped out without ever achieving the potential they might have? I can barely fit that into my head. And that’s not the only part. There’s another scene with a mother talking about how her son will be a famous hockey player one day, keep her well off in her old age, before she catches herself. He’s not going to be a famous hockey player. She’s not going to have an old age. But people still live in that mindset, because it's easier than doing otherwise.</div>
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The author captures some very deep, very emotional moments in the narrative, and it all sets the mood so well. This is really the reason I would recommend this book. While the feeling of powerlessness that comes from the asteroid crashing down towards Earth is one thing, the feeling isn’t just there. There’s also a subplot about the military<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Which is still in operation, because when the world ending, everyone wants to get in a few last wars. #CrapsackWorld"><sup>7</sup></a>, arresting Henry’s Sister’s Husband and Henry’s attempt to get him out, only to be stymied. You really do feel penned in, no way to escape, nowhere to run, no one to save you. And it comes through in the actions of the characters and the plot, as opposed to monologues that a less skilled writer might have employed. <br />
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That's why it's the tone of the book that I like more than the mystery. The mystery element is solid, but I can't say that it was a thoroughly compelling and twisty mystery. It could have fit into a shorter book if that's all there was. That said, the fact that it wasn't all twisty turn-y, and the eventual outcome of the motivation for the mystery is more of an emotional victory than an intellectual one. It's thematic, more than dramatic. And...that's a good thing. The author is using his only sorta-strong skills as a mystery writer and incorporating that into his skills as a thematic writer. I'd say that a writer who can acknowledge and utilize their deficits for the strength of the novel is a novelist worth reading. </div>
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Fair warning, the book is written in present tense. If that puts you off, don’t let it. A lot of the book is told in past tense from people telling their stories (and their lies, many, many lies), and the present tense keeps things immediate, and for that matter, believable, I mean, who spends time writing when Armageddon has a due date?<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="The main character’s love interest, that’s who. All she wants is to write the perfect Villanelle. You’ll like her. She uses “Maladroit” in conversation, and refers to the oncoming asteroid as 'this unbearable immanence.'"><sup>8</sup></a> There are other sections (not enough, in my opinion, they were some of my favourite parts) that are just dialogue, nothing else, but they tell us everything we need to know. I actually really appreciate the author trusting the reader’s intelligence. </div>
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Worth mentioning, this is the first part of a trilogy. I read it all in one day and didn’t expect it to end with such suspense. There’s an ongoing plot, an undercurrent, that’s probably going to last all three books, and it’s going to keep me reading no matter what happens. It’s this tiny glimmer of hope<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8167722418935257021" title="Maybe. It might be just as depressing as other parts of the book. "><sup>9</sup></a>, but because of its positioning in relation to Henry it feels just as threatening as the Asteroid. While I’m on the edge of my seat and want to flip to the next book immediately, I can’t yet. With the larger arc plot keeping me guessing and speculating, as well as the author’s ability to play with our expectations and assumptions of Mystery Tropes makes this a tantalizing and intellectually rewarding book. If you're looking for a <i>complex</i> mystery, you may wish to look elsewhere, however, if you want an <i>intelligent</i> mystery, one aware of both its moves and its faults, then there's definitely something you'll enjoy. But either way, read it for the background thematic elements. They're what will definitely keep me reading the next book when it's out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Related, go check out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaB3Si97v4w">this trailer</a> for<br />
the book. Dear Gods.</td></tr>
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I hope I’ve been able to convince you to pick this up. You can grab the book <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-policeman-ben-winters/1108022771">here</a>, or follow Ben Winters <a href="https://twitter.com/BenHWinters">here</a>. </div>
Jackson Eflinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09504580049087756611noreply@blogger.com0