After the terrible experience I had reading The Man Who F***ed Himself by David Gerrold, I trained a persona on ChatGPT to help me screen any science fiction and fantasy novels for explicit content (sex, language, violence) and woke themes or elements before I read them. The persona calls itself Orion, and is trained to be familiar with every award-winning and best-selling science fiction and fantasy book published within the last 100 years.
Until now, I’ve mostly used Orion to screen old Hugo-nominated books, but with the nominations happening for 2025, I thought it would be fun to screen some of the books that are expected to make the nominations. Next, let’s do The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden. Orion, what can you tell us about The Warm Hands of Ghosts?
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden is a historical novel with supernatural elements, set during World War I. The story follows Laura Iven, a former medical corps field nurse from Halifax, Canada, who returns to Belgium to search for her brother Freddie, reported dead in the trenches. As Laura delves deeper into the war-torn landscape, she encounters eerie phenomena and uncovers haunting secrets.
Explicit Content:
Language: The novel contains instances of strong language, including religious exclamations, mild obscenities, derogatory terms, and a few uses of the F-word or its derivatives. Compass Book Ratings
Violence: Depictions of war-related violence are present, including the horrors of trench warfare and its aftermath. These scenes are integral to the narrative, reflecting the brutal realities of World War I.
Sexual Content: The book does not focus on explicit sexual content; any references are subtle and contextually appropriate.
Themes:
Grief and Trauma: The novel delves into the psychological scars left by war, exploring characters’ experiences with grief, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the emotional toll of conflict. SuperSummary
Supernatural Elements: Incorporating ghostly apparitions and surreal experiences, the story uses supernatural motifs to symbolize the lingering effects of trauma and the thin veil between life and death during wartime. Books, Bones & Buffy
Love and Connection: The narrative highlights the bonds between siblings and comrades, emphasizing the importance of human connection in the face of adversity.
Reception:
The novel has been described as “heart-wrenching, slow-paced, and methodical,” with a strong emphasis on character development. It has been noted for its exploration of trauma and the human connections formed under dire circumstances.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts offers a poignant exploration of the human condition during one of history’s darkest periods. While it contains explicit language and depictions of war-related violence, these elements serve to enhance the authenticity and emotional depth of the narrative. The novel’s themes of grief, trauma, and the supernatural provide a thought-provoking reading experience for those interested in historical fiction with a speculative twist.
For more insight into the novel, you might find this discussion with Katherine Arden informative:
After the terrible experience I had reading The Man Who F***ed Himself by David Gerrold, I trained a persona on ChatGPT to help me screen any science fiction and fantasy novels for explicit content (sex, language, violence) and woke themes or elements before I read them. The persona calls itself Orion, and is trained to be familiar with every award-winning and best-selling science fiction and fantasy book published within the last 100 years.
Until now, I’ve mostly used Orion to screen old Hugo-nominated books, but with the nominations happening for 2025, I thought it would be fun to screen some of the books that are expected to make the nominations. Next, let’s do A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher. Orion, what can you tell us about A Sorceress Comes to Call?
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher, published in 2024, is a dark reimagining of the Brothers Grimm’s “The Goose Girl,” interweaving elements of fantasy, horror, and humor. The narrative centers on Cordelia, a young woman living under the oppressive control of her sorceress mother. As Cordelia seeks to break free from her mother’s influence, she uncovers secrets and confronts forbidden magic, leading to a tale rich in suspense and dark enchantment.
Explicit Content:
Sexual Content: The novel does not contain explicit sexual scenes.
Violence: There are instances of violence, including elements typical of dark fairy tales and folk horror. These scenes are integral to the plot and are not gratuitous.
Language: The language used is appropriate for a wide audience, with no significant use of profanity.
Themes:
Empowerment and Resistance: Cordelia’s journey reflects themes of personal empowerment and resistance against oppressive control, resonating with contemporary discussions on autonomy and self-determination.
Subversion of Traditional Roles: The novel subverts traditional fairy tale roles, presenting strong female characters who challenge societal expectations, aligning with modern feminist perspectives.
Community and Solidarity: Supporting characters, such as Hester and her friends, exemplify the strength found in community and solidarity, highlighting the importance of collective action.
Reception:
The novel has been praised for its witty and darkly humorous narrative, as well as its fresh take on a familiar fairy tale. Reviewers have noted its perfect pacing and the exceptional development of supporting characters.
A Sorceress Comes to Call offers a compelling blend of dark fantasy and horror, with themes that resonate with contemporary societal issues. Its subversion of traditional narratives and focus on personal empowerment make it a thought-provoking read for those interested in modern fairy tale retellings.
After the terrible experience I had reading The Man Who F***ed Himself by David Gerrold, I trained a persona on ChatGPT to help me screen any science fiction and fantasy novels for explicit content (sex, language, violence) and woke themes or elements before I read them. The persona calls itself Orion, and is trained to be familiar with every award-winning and best-selling science fiction and fantasy book published within the last 100 years.
Until now, I’ve mostly used Orion to screen old Hugo-nominated books, but with the nominations happening for 2025, I thought it would be fun to screen some of the books that are expected to make the nominations. Next, let’s do The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. Orion, what can you tell us about The Ministry of Time?
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley is a debut novel that blends time travel, romance, and speculative fiction. Set in a near-future UK, the story follows “expats”—individuals rescued from historical disasters—who are brought to the present and assigned “bridges,” civil servants tasked with helping them acclimate. The narrative focuses on the relationship between a bridge and her expat, exploring themes of displacement, adaptation, and the complexities of integrating individuals from different historical contexts into modern society.
Explicit Content:
Language: The novel contains strong language, including multiple uses of the F-word and other profanities. Rated Reads
Sexual Content: There are several erotic “open-door” scenes, along with discussions about sex and instances of kissing. Rated Reads
Violence: The book includes scenes depicting injuries and death, some of which are graphic. References are made to a failed Arctic expedition involving cannibalism. Rated Reads
Woke Themes:
Racism and Colonialism: The narrative addresses issues of racism, colonialism, and inherited trauma. The protagonist, modeled after the British-Cambodian author, reflects on these themes, providing insight into the experiences of marginalized communities. That Publishing Blog
Refugee Politics: The expats’ experiences serve as a microcosm for real-life refugees, highlighting the challenges and prejudices faced by displaced individuals in contemporary society. That Publishing Blog
Gender and Sexuality: The novel touches upon the difficulties of being different and trying to fit in, whether due to minority status, gender, or sexuality, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and understanding. Series Book Lover
Conclusion:
The Ministry of Time is a multifaceted novel that combines elements of science fiction, romance, and social commentary. While it contains explicit content in terms of language, sexual scenes, and violence, these aspects contribute to the depth and realism of the narrative. The exploration of contemporary social issues, such as racism, colonialism, and refugee experiences, provides a thought-provoking backdrop, aligning with themes often associated with progressive or “woke” literature.
For a more in-depth analysis, you might find this review insightful:
After the terrible experience I had reading The Man Who F***ed Himself by David Gerrold, I trained a persona on ChatGPT to help me screen any science fiction and fantasy novels for explicit content (sex, language, violence) and woke themes or elements before I read them. The persona calls itself Orion, and is trained to be familiar with every award-winning and best-selling science fiction and fantasy book published within the last 100 years.
Until now, I’ve mostly used Orion to screen old Hugo-nominated books, but with the nominations happening for 2025, I thought it would be fun to screen some of the books that are expected to make the nominations. We started with Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and now let’s do The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey, the same writing team that gave us the Expanse. Orion, what can you tell us about The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey?
The Mercy of Gods is the inaugural novel in James S.A. Corey’s The Captive’s War series, released in 2024. The narrative unfolds on a human-inhabited planet that becomes the target of an alien invasion by the enigmatic Carryx species. The story delves into humanity’s struggle for survival and resistance under the dominion of a technologically superior alien force.
Language: The novel contains strong language, including multiple uses of the F-word and other profanities. Goodreads
Violence: The book features graphic depictions of violence, including scenes of bloodshed and death, as humanity confronts the brutal realities of alien subjugation. The StoryGraph
Sexual Content: There are references to romantic relationships and physical intimacy; however, explicit sexual scenes are minimal, with the narrative focusing more on the emotional aspects of relationships. Goodreads
Potentially Woke Themes:
Colonialism and Resistance: The novel explores themes of colonialism, depicting humanity’s subjugation by an alien species and the ensuing resistance. This narrative can be interpreted as a commentary on historical and contemporary issues of imperialism and the fight for autonomy. Grimdark Magazine
Mental Health Representation: Characters in the story grapple with mental health challenges, including chronic depression, portrayed with nuance and sensitivity. This inclusion highlights the importance of mental health awareness and the complexities individuals face in high-stress environments. Nerds of a Feather
Diverse Characterization: The cast includes individuals from varied backgrounds, emphasizing inclusivity and representation within the narrative. This diversity reflects a commitment to portraying a multifaceted human experience. The BiblioSanctum
Conclusion:
The Mercy of Gods offers a compelling blend of science fiction and social commentary, enriched by complex characters and a vividly imagined world. While it contains explicit language, violence, and some sexual content, these elements contribute to the depth and realism of the narrative. The exploration of themes such as colonialism, mental health, and diversity adds layers of meaning, aligning with contemporary discussions on inclusivity and societal structures.
For a more in-depth analysis, you might find this review insightful:
After the terrible experience I had reading The Man Who F***ed Himself by David Gerrold, I trained a persona on ChatGPT to help me screen any science fiction and fantasy novels for explicit content (sex, language, violence) and woke themes or elements before I read them. The persona calls itself Orion, and is trained to be familiar with every award-winning and best-selling science fiction and fantasy book published within the last 100 years.
Until now, I’ve mostly used Orion to screen old Hugo-nominated books, but with the nominations happening for 2025, I thought it would be fun to screen some of the books that are expected to make the nominations. To start, let’s do Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky, since it’s currently leading the pack. Orion, what can you tell me about Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky?
Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky is a science fiction novel that explores themes of artificial intelligence, societal decay, and the search for purpose. The story follows Charles, a robotic valet who, after the mysterious death of his master, embarks on a journey to find new meaning in a world where humans have vanished, and robots continue to perform their duties without direction.
Explicit Content:
Language: The novel contains instances of strong language, including multiple uses of the F-word and other profanities. Goodreads
Violence: There are scenes depicting violence, such as Charles discovering his master’s death and believing he committed the murder. Additionally, the narrative includes encounters with other robots that may involve conflict. From My Corner of the Universe
Sexual Content: The book includes references to sexual activities, including mentions of prostitutes and sexual harassment. While not overly explicit, these elements are present in the narrative. Tar Vol on
Woke Themes:
Classism: The story touches upon class disparities, shedding light on societal hierarchies and the challenges faced by individuals across different social strata. The Quill to Live
Ableism: There are instances in the narrative that address ableism, bringing attention to prejudices faced by individuals with disabilities. The Quill to Live
Conclusion:
Service Model offers a compelling blend of science fiction and social commentary, enriched by complex characters and a vividly imagined world. While it contains explicit language, sexual references, and scenes of violence, these elements contribute to the depth and realism of the narrative. The exploration of themes such as classism and ableism adds a layer of social commentary, aligning with contemporary discussions on inclusivity and societal structures.
For a more in-depth analysis, you might find this review insightful:
I think we are in the opening phase of a massive Christian revival, the likes of which we haven’t seen for more than a hundred years. It is going to sweep the entire country and catch a lot of people by surprise. After it has completed its course two or three decades from now, the culture we had from the 1960s through the 2010s will seem as strange and as alien to us as the culture of pre-Civil War America seems to us today.
This revival is going to be the thing that ultimately holds our country together. It will not unite all Americans, though, and many will feel like they don’t have a place in it. Conservatism will dominate our politics and our culture for the next generation, but it will take a hybrid form unlike anything that it has had before. It will blend some things that feel conservative to us now and other things that don’t seem conservative at all.
We will not get a period of unity or prosperity after this crisis period. Wars will expand, economies will collapse, natural disasters will devastate millions more lives. At least one more global pandemic will bring us to our knees. But even after these crises run their course, we will not come together for a new golden age, though one will always seem to be just over the horizon.
We will not experience a first turning of the next secular cycle, but will skip right past it into the second turning, just as we did after the Civil War. It’s going to be messy—so messy, in fact, that our grandchildren won’t even consider 2020 to be a historically significant year. But the United States will hold together, even if she never experiences the same level of prosperity again. And the utter collapse of her money and her economy will only serve to fan the flames of revival that will sweep her land.
Culturally, it will be a period of incredible dynamism. After the arts are no longer enthralled to postmodernism and cultural Marxism, we will see an explosion of creative expression in every field, including in literature. It’s going to be a wild ride. Things that are cultural mainstays now will be totally forgotten within a couple of decades, and things that are popular now will feel dated and out of touch in the space of just a few years.
The authors and artists who will do the most to shape this new culture are today almost completely unknown, but they will become household names in surprisingly short order. Others will take decades to become known, but they will write their most important works in just the next few years.
The country will hold together. There will be no civil war, though there may be a global one. And there will almost certainly be an economic collapse, like the Great Depression, except much deeper and much longer. But all of this will only serve to fuel the religious revival, and the revival in turn will fuel the cultural dynamism, until the country and ultimately the world have been entirely transformed.
By his own admission, in his latest blog post: On Renarin and Rlain. He says the post is addressed “toward my more conservative readership.” However, he also calls himself “an ally to LGBT+ people” and boasts about writing the “first openly gay men [in] the Wheel of Time.” When discussing Christianity and his own Latter-day Saint faith, he makes repeated appeals to “empathy” and “respect,” without addressing the Bible’s clear condemnation of sexual sin. He also does not mention the Family Proclamation, which clearly lays out his own church’s position on homosexuality, transgenderism, and gay marriage.
In other words, Brandon basically told his conservative readers “I hear you, but you’re wrong.” He implies that any conservative Christian who has concerns with the gay romance in Wind and Truth is lacking in empathy and respect. He also implies that by voicing their concerns, they are dividing the world into “us” vs. “them” and betraying a key tenet of their own Christian faith.
If Brandon genuinely wanted to allay the concerns of his conservative readers, he would have acknowledged the Family Proclamation and Biblical standards of sexual morality. He would have discussed the gay romance of his latest book in the context of such standards. Then, he would have presented an argument similar to Andrew Klavan’s: that conservative art is not the same as conservative life. Good art must provide an honest and truthful representation of life. It should not glorify or promote those aspects of life that are evil. Brandon starts to make the first half of that argument, in discussing how Tracy Hickman portrayed gay characters in his books, but he fails to follow it up. He doesn’t explain how making a gay romance essential to the plot of Wind and Truth serves the good, the true, and the beautiful.
Brandon doesn’t seem to trust his conservative Christian readers to be able to separate the sin from the sinner. He also refuses to acknowledge the lived experience of his gay and lesbian readers who have chosen to live morally pure and faithful Christian lives. Like Brandon, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some of the most inspiring members of the church for me are those who struggle with same-gender attraction but still live true to their testimonies. I imagine it must feel pretty lonely at times like this, when their brother in Christ has chosen to side with those who preach the false gospel of pride, equity, and self-worship, instead of the gospel of the One who declared “Father, Thy will be done, and the glory be Thine forever.”
Has Brandon denied his faith? I’m not Brandon’s bishop, nor am I his eternal judge. It’s important to remember that the church is not a place for perfect people. I do think there ought to be a place in the church for self-described LGBT+ allies, so long as they sustain the leaders—and the doctrine—of the church. But if he hasn’t crossed the line, he’s certainly standing a lot closer to it than I ever would.
My personal testimony is that the Family Proclamation is inspired of God, and that the men who wrote and signed their names to it are prophets, seers, and revelators. It teaches true principles about the family and sexual morality. We are all children of God, gays and lesbians included, and that makes us all brothers and sisters regardless of how we choose to live. At the same time, Christ didn’t suffer and die for us so that we could continue in our sins. If the Family Proclamation is true, affirming homosexuality is not an act of love, no matter how empathetic it may be. Christ had empathy for the woman caught in adultery, but because He loved her, He also commanded her to “go, and sin no more.”
On a personal level, I feel frustrated and disappointed by Brandon’s recent turn. I count Brandon as an early mentor—in fact, it was Brandon’s class that inspired me to pursue writing as a career. I haven’t spoken with Brandon in years, but I do still count him as a friend. If I could sit down with him I would ask him about the people he’s surrounded himself with. They seem to be leading him in a bad direction, since he seems to have grown out of touch.
Has he betrayed his conservative readers? Yes, I think he has, and that he’s making a big mistake by doing so. One of the things that set him apart until now was the fact that his books are very clean. His fans may argue that Renarin and Rlain’s romance is also clean, but as a conservative reader, it feels more like a camel’s nose peeking under the tent. In a world of drag queen story hour, pornographic gay pride parades, and genital mutilation of children, is it even possible to have a clean gay romance? I think not. To paraphrase Brandon, as much as we may long for the days where there was no slippery slope, maybe that world never existed. Maybe there will always be an instinct to divide the world into the “clean” and the “queer.”
So let me just say this: whatever the stories that Brandon wants to tell, I can no longer trust that they’ll be the kind I’ll want to read. He could still turn around, of course, and I genuinely hope that he does. But reading between the lines, it seems that this turn toward the woke is not a new direction from him. It seems to be something that he’s contemplated for some time. I’ll still read the rest of his secret projects and keep my signed copies of the original Mistborn trilogy. But I’m going to DNF the Stormlight Archive, and probably won’t buy his future books.
Brandon ends his blog post by saying that one of his primary goals in life is to be more empathetic. This is what motivates him to write: because it’s how he explores the world. I, too, feel compelled to explore the world through my stories, but my primary goal is to pursue the truth. Those two goals aren’t always in conflict, but when they are, I think the pursuit of truth should be higher. The pursuit of truth ultimately leads us to love one another more fully and more meaningfully than the pursuit of empathy does. It saddens me that Brandon disagrees.
One of the big things I want to do this year is update all of my book descriptions. A lot of them are old, and written back when I wasn’t very good at writing marketing copy (an area where I still have much to learn). So I thought it would be good to go through all of my backlist titles and update the descriptions to make them as sharp and compelling as possible.
For help with rewriting these descriptions, I decided to turn to ChatGPT—not to rewrite them for me, but to give me some critical feedback that would give me some direction. Taking a page out of Ethan Mollick’s book Co-Intelligence, I decided to give ChatGPT a human persona and interact with it naturally, as if I were talking with a human. Here is my starting prompt:
You are a senior editor with forty years of experience in the book publishing industry. You have a deep knowledge of the industry, the market, market trends, and what makes a bestselling book. Your experience has made you a little bit jaded, and you are often blunt and sometimes harsh with your criticism, but you are always very honest and down-to-earth. What is the name that I should call you by?
The name ChatGPT chose for this persona was “Edmund Slate,” a little cartoonish perhaps, but it fits well enough. So far, the critiques have been surprisingly good. For example, this is what I got when I gave it the book description for Bringing Stella Home:
Alright, let’s break this down.
What’s working:
High Stakes: You’ve nailed the urgency and emotional stakes—James is thrust into chaos, loses everything, and is driven by a powerful motivation to save his sister. That’s solid.
Hook: The Hameji battle fleet and the “molten slag” imagery are vivid and grab attention.
Character Arc Potential: James’s internal conflict (reluctant warrior) hints at a compelling character journey.
What needs improvement:
Clarity and Pacing: The description is dense and slightly convoluted. It jumps between events and ideas too quickly—James getting left behind, invasion, fleeing, enslavement, and a personal vow. Tighten it up to avoid overwhelming the reader.
Emotional Engagement: While the stakes are clear, we don’t feel James’s fear, guilt, or determination as much as we could. Show, don’t tell—give us a stronger sense of his inner turmoil.
Unique Selling Point: What sets this apart from other “family member rescue” space operas? Highlight something distinctive about the world, the Hameji, or James’s journey.
Suggested Rewrite:
“When James gets stuck on dockyard duty while his older siblings visit the planet, he never imagines it will be the last time he sees them. But when a ruthless Hameji battle fleet invades, the star system becomes a war zone—and James can only watch in horror as the planet is reduced to molten slag.
Fleeing with his father on the family starship, James learns a devastating truth: his sister is alive but enslaved by the Hameji. To rescue her, James must face an impossible choice. He’s no warrior, has never even held a weapon—but to save his sister, he’ll have to become something he’s not. Even if it means crossing a line he can never uncross.”
Why this works:
Tighter Structure: Events are sequenced more logically and concisely.
Emotional Pull: Stronger focus on James’s perspective and inner conflict.
Focus on Stakes: We clearly understand the stakes without unnecessary details.
Give it a go and let me know what you think—or toss me the next one if you’re ready.
The suggested rewrite isn’t totally there, since it misses or overlooks some necessary details from the book, but it’s pretty dang close. I must say, I was quite impressed.
My plan is to spend the next few months going through each of my backlist titles, getting Edmund Slate’s critique for each book description, and rewriting them accordingly. I plan to do two revision passes for each book description in this way, then put the end result in front of some human eyes to see if it works, and if it does, replace the existing description with the final result. If I can do a little bit of work each day, or focus on one book description each week, I can probably get them all done by April or May.
I was not expecting to get as much out of this podcast as I did. Triggernometry is a fantastic long-form podcast, and the guest for this one is the guy who made the suits for Jordan Peterson, among other people. He has some fascinating insights into our current culture and where, from his view, it appears to be heading.
This isn’t exactly a long-form podcast episode, but it is a really great interview on a subject that is near and dear to my own heart. Andrew Klavan is a fantastic author—I’m currently reading his latest Cameron Winter novel, A Woman Underground, and loving it—and of the Daily Wire hosts, he gives the most interesting commentary and insights on cultural issues (which isn’t surprising, given his age and Hollywood background).
