One of the things about fantasy that I love the most are the epic battle scenes, where the good guys and the bad guys face off across the field of battle in a conflict that will determine the fate of everything they hold dear. My favorite scene in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy… Continue reading Fantasy from A to Z: B is for Battles
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Fantasy from A to Z: A is for Archetypes
I love fantasy books. I love the sense of adventure and possibility that I feel from reading a good fantasy story. I love how the best ones transport me to worlds untainted and unpolluted by modernity, rich in their own history and culture. I especially love it when these worlds are populated with characters who… Continue reading Fantasy from A to Z: A is for Archetypes
Happy Easter!
The debate over AI art in a single meme…
In defense of AI art & AI writing
If Andrew Tate wrote a book about how to make your wife or girlfriend into your slave, would he be within his rights to demand that no woman reads that book without his consent? Brandon Sanderson was inspired to become a fantasy writer when, as a child, he read Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly. Sanderson is… Continue reading In defense of AI art & AI writing
New Blog Series: Fantasy from A to Z
Several years ago, back when “the blogosphere” was still a thing, I participated in a 30-day blogging challenge, where I went through the alphabet talking about various aspects of science fiction. Not only was it a lot of fun, but I also made a book out of it, which I later revised and made into… Continue reading New Blog Series: Fantasy from A to Z
A fascinating take on Brandon Sanderson’s Winds of Truth
Really interesting take on the publishing industry. This is politically incorrect, but I think it’s related to the way that publishing has become dominated by liberal women. The Nonsense-Free Editor has a lot of great videos about that. There are lots of great books in the indie publishing scene that are not “Potempkin villages,” as… Continue reading A fascinating take on Brandon Sanderson’s Winds of Truth
How I Would Vote Now: 2008 Hugo Awards (Best Novel)
The Nominees The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon Brasyl by Ian McDonald Rollback by Robert J. Sawyer The Last Colony by John Scalzi Halting State by Charles Stross The Actual Results How I Would Vote Now Explanation Two thousand eight was the year that I took Brandon Sanderson’s writing class and decided to become… Continue reading How I Would Vote Now: 2008 Hugo Awards (Best Novel)
Did I predict it?
On July 24th, 2024, eleven days after the (first) Trump assassination attempt, I posted the following prediction: 8. There will be a major shakedown of the administrative state in the first 100 days of Trump’s second term. It hasn’t been 100 days yet, but enough has transpired that this prediction has certainly come true. Which… Continue reading Did I predict it?
How I Would Vote Now: 1970 Hugo Awards (Best Novel)
The Nominees Macroscope by Piers Anthony The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin Up the Line by Robert Silverberg Bug Jack Barron by Norman Spinrad Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. The Actual Results How I Would Vote Now Explanation Wow—I’d forgotten just how terrible book covers were in the 70s. I… Continue reading How I Would Vote Now: 1970 Hugo Awards (Best Novel)