tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48208811257138092282024-02-19T07:22:51.994-08:00Brandon's Hidey HoleUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-21462814241669194062013-12-05T06:22:00.000-08:002013-12-05T06:22:44.733-08:00Back in the Saddle!Long time, no post! I'm back from another great underway period, and it's time to start blogging again! Things are going to be a tad bit different from here than ever before!
first, I'm going to start posting more. Why have a blog with nearly 2000 visitors when I'm not going to post anything? NEVER AGAIN.
Second off, Pokemon, Pokemon, POKEMON! X and Y just hit stores, and I wish to also use this blog as a day-to-day life of the competitive battler! This is a short blog post, because I'm tired, but I WILL be posting again tommorow! I'll have some very interesting things in the near future!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-52079870945270659562012-12-07T06:08:00.000-08:002012-12-07T06:08:01.284-08:00Bullying: Enough is Enough (My Challenge To You) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjlo37Oq4LcfC_h3uRPejfZM5iR-r2OtGoIXoutqD99ks54wBn-GR4sKX33Dzgb6p6j37fffw7Xbv5fkrh5Yq-YbX76lCOBnQM38iZmKD0a7poXkBUZ0_GmgyPjGe-G3u_xqbHu_5pm2N/s1600/images+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="171" width="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjlo37Oq4LcfC_h3uRPejfZM5iR-r2OtGoIXoutqD99ks54wBn-GR4sKX33Dzgb6p6j37fffw7Xbv5fkrh5Yq-YbX76lCOBnQM38iZmKD0a7poXkBUZ0_GmgyPjGe-G3u_xqbHu_5pm2N/s320/images+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
Back when I was in Middle School, I was made fun of a lot. And it wasn't just words. I got beat up sometimes, and on some days, I would cry. Everyday I was called a "retard" and when I had warts, I would be called "wartboy". Looking back on those days, I still get the shivers. I'll admit, I did some pretty stupid things to try to impress people and be that "popular kid", and it all blew in my face. When I got to High School, this vastly improved, and soon, I rarely thought of it.
But In cases such as Tyler Clementi, or the recent suicide of Amanda Todd, brings all of those memories back to full force, and I am full of malicious rage. So today's blog post won't be about books, games, or any of the things I cherish in life. This post will be about BULLYING, and the effects it can have on the victims.
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First and foremost, Bullying is real, and it does not just happen in Schools and/or Colleges. It can happen ANYWHERE, at work, in your home, even in THE MILITARY, Bullying EXISTS EVERYWHERE. I have been bullied in school, at work, and in the military. ANYONE can be a bully as well. IT does not have to be the stereotypical jock or the perceived husky child. It can be your own father. It can be your own boss. It can be someone who is higher rank than you are, OR lower rank. These people can call you names that hits home, that make you feel like utter shit, that make you question your own existence, that make you hate your life and wish you did not have to leave your home/not be at home.
Bullying also is not something that one can do in five minutes out of jest, then leave you alone. NO. Bullying is an imbalance of power between one or more individuals, and can spread quickly through rumor-mongering and public humiliation. The Bullies themselves, having said this, are also suffering as well, because Bullies rely on power physically and emotionally, Bullies desire CONTROL of something, specifically, someone.
This means that something is wrong in the Bully's life, and is using the Victim as a scapegoat.
However, not every case of Bullying relates to this notion.
In the case of Megan Meier, a 13 year old teenager who committed suicide due to a former friend's mother having created a false account on the once-then-popular social media website MySpace, to gain information about the young teenager to humiliate her, due to rumors about the young teenager having spread gossip about the mother's daughter. Note, that the mother did not see that her ends would lead Megan to hang herself.
So, Bullying can used as a means to gain untold power through peers, and using said power to humiliate others. In the case of Amanda Todd (whom I JUST read the story about her an hour before writing this post), a bully used her body against her. She and another friend went on a webcam chat room, where some boys asked for a flash. Amanda never expected the boy to pop out of nowhere sometime later, and threaten her to "give him a show" or else everyone she knows will see what she has done. Soon, after ignoring him, he sent the picture to everyone she knew. Even after switching schools multiple times, the boy was their, reaching for her new friends, making a Facebook page with her breasts featured, and no one respected her, everyone abandoned her. She had committed suicide.
So, what do have on Bullying now? That it is an imbalance of power that can used to physically, emotionally, AND sexually control other people for the Bully to gain satisfaction in an area of life where life is not exactly perfect. Or the Bully can just be an arrogant asshole with a God Complex.
Even myself, as I have said before, have been subject to harsh bullying. And on more than one occasion, I myself have contemplated suicide as my answer of choice to "get away from it all", to "show them I have balls", because "I HATE LIFE!!!"
I was weak, puny, afraid to go to school, afraid to go home. This ultimately lasted until I was around eighteen. From fourteen-eighteen, at school, Bullying did not happen to me that much. But home was a different story, especially if I did something dumb...
You might be thinking "WOW".
Well, you should.
Start thinking it now, because YOU, INNOCENT BYSTANDER, I CHALLENGE YOU!!
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Whether your young or old, a guy or a chick, slim or big, black or white, I will not matter. IF, you happen across a case of bullying, STOP IT. Like, STOP IT RIGHT THEN AND THEIR. Even if you get beat up, called names, or something negative, as a human being, our basic nature is that of GOOD. Even if you so not have the physical power to do, words have always been more powerful than blows. Speak up! Report it! Even if you are branded as a snitch, it's not snitching if you have just potentially saved a life. It's not snitching if you have stopped it.
So, my challenge to all of you who have read this is this: LET'S STOP BULLYING TOGETHER.
To find out more about Bullying, and how YOU can stop it, go to <a href="http://www.stopbullying.gov/index.html"></a>, take a look, and together, let's make a difference :)
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-85604925879701418272012-12-04T03:43:00.000-08:002012-12-04T03:43:13.941-08:00GW2 is THE SHIT!!!! I told myself yesterday that I'd be going to bed a bit early.
Then I started playing THIS baby:
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GUILD WARS 2!!
As a former WoW crack addict when it came to PvP, The team of GW2 boasted how it's sequel will have other MMOers judging other MMOs (my interpretation of that, namely, WoW), and I have to say, this is one of the best MMORPGs out in the market TODAY(though Runescape still has my heart ;) )
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Vbf18g156XFCiMlmzaDGYdl4G_n2LIozdd_jxaBCS_NYtceEYmsSrIfJRuJuHC2K86Qk3hk1CtYhphGlbmYY4reGsNBGxQgF5V1nrKolnZPDV9zmNQG7lAXzFR_rMv0LlBlLoLv9kAAL/s1600/hero-mesmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="189" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Vbf18g156XFCiMlmzaDGYdl4G_n2LIozdd_jxaBCS_NYtceEYmsSrIfJRuJuHC2K86Qk3hk1CtYhphGlbmYY4reGsNBGxQgF5V1nrKolnZPDV9zmNQG7lAXzFR_rMv0LlBlLoLv9kAAL/s320/hero-mesmer.jpg" /></a></div>
I play as this cool cat right here, the Mesmer profession, doing what I do best, making clones then shattering them for large amounts of damage! Sure, we ain't that powerful up close, but you'll need to be up close if you don't want to die! PvE wise, this is a great support class while simultaenously, with the right build, can build up to large DPS over a (short) period of time! I'm still getting the hang of PvP, but if one of you guys wants to help me out, then shoot me a message or something by e-mail!
Another thing I got in the mail is THIS:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNOE8nu0kOOTliE4PkVb9_uuo1OfjoAyNMZE6zsXHd0KCN_ANHSgOei0RMvtHwSFf5LUtjQ7JMo8SDWFHzDUYDjnrOQtLztQ6AWQLaFFQIVaoANsdafgx4xtnjpMbShVS7fnQVujFpIZ8/s1600/89922353448396964.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNOE8nu0kOOTliE4PkVb9_uuo1OfjoAyNMZE6zsXHd0KCN_ANHSgOei0RMvtHwSFf5LUtjQ7JMo8SDWFHzDUYDjnrOQtLztQ6AWQLaFFQIVaoANsdafgx4xtnjpMbShVS7fnQVujFpIZ8/s320/89922353448396964.png" /></a></div>
Good ol Gorz, and much cheaper than my $50 Gold Edition Black Luster Soldier-Envoy of the Beginning. And with it's effect of summoing a Lv.7 LIGHT-Fairy token, I can think of some devious ideas with the token and not just the card. Which brings up the argument of which is better, Gorz or Tragoedia? Personally, Gorz. I mean, just look at him!
Lastly, I also got THIS in the mail yesterday:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguC2N0ufmsVweiokO0i7APuxt1loZS7fPWZ9lnWqDGu0904XB-yX0oB4ZV8FbvjpN_XfPOJL_TU26xZBJVseMZ1jqHAlBpaCqbSeTf3KyYyLEQX5vkcERNtPy363EZwInb-rb8qw3y_5BX/s1600/The_Fractal_Prince_9_30_2012_5_43_13_AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="228" width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguC2N0ufmsVweiokO0i7APuxt1loZS7fPWZ9lnWqDGu0904XB-yX0oB4ZV8FbvjpN_XfPOJL_TU26xZBJVseMZ1jqHAlBpaCqbSeTf3KyYyLEQX5vkcERNtPy363EZwInb-rb8qw3y_5BX/s320/The_Fractal_Prince_9_30_2012_5_43_13_AM.jpg" /></a></div>
The second book of the Quantum Thief trilogy, which is by far, one of THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION SERIES EVER WRITTEN! Following Jean le Flambeur from Book One, The Quantum Thief, he thinks his freedom lies within Schrödinger's Box (a fictional variation of Schrödinger's own paradox theory, "Schrödinger's Cat"), but something is hunting him, Mieli, and the flirtatious AI vessel Perhonen. In the last book, he stole into the land of the dead, battled another version of himself, and swallowed a god to escape prison. If this doesn't ring curiosity, then your a lost cause! This book has tons of paradoxes and interesting workings on quantum mechanics and privacy issues. The Quantum Thief is a relatively cheap book too, and like me, you might have to read it twice!
Alrighty then, enough from me, I got to go because I have work tommorow! I had the day off today, sweet! Later!!
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-36660765067091205222012-08-14T20:38:00.000-07:002012-08-14T20:44:57.747-07:00What to do what to do what to do...Daily Ramblings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, as yall might read on the small Twitter box to your right, I managed to slice of a rough 100+ of The Wise Man's Fear
I got back to my base's Fleet Recreation Center at 12, and did not realize it it was 3 in the morning when I had asked! I fell asleep their, and what did I do when I woke up? Continued to read The Wise Man's Fear!! IT is a glorious book so far, and Rothfuss almost made me cry when he compared how a library is akin to a city, with all the pros and cons, and how to love in despite of. Any true reader of any medium would agree to this, which made thaat specific part of the book one of the most memeorable. Rothfuss also had me dying of laughter. I particulary loved this scene between a Master and his student, which exemplifies the intellegence of this work, the humor, and complete parody of Epic Fantasy:<br />
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“You can divide infinity an infinite number of times, and the resulting pieces will still be infinitely large,” Uresh said in his odd Lenatti accent. “But if you divide a non-infinite number an infinite number of times the resulting pieces are non-infinitely small. Since they are non-infinitely small, but there are an infinite number of them, if you add them back together, their sum is infinite. This implies any number is, in fact, infinite.”<br />
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“Wow,” Elodin said after a long pause. He leveled a serious finger at the Lenatti man. “Uresh. Your next assignment is to have sex. If you do not know how to do this, see me after class.” <br />
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I recommend The Wise Man's Fear to anyone wanting to know what Fantasy is, why you should come back to the genre, and for any writers, to change what they think about Fantasy as a whole. I myself, was in the middle of re-reading The Name of the Wind, the first book of this series, just to re-clarify and re-analyze what I had missed.<br />
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Other than that, the week has been wonderously boring, to say. Haven't really been writing. Just reading and reading, and eating, and reading. No video games either. I have just been chilling. And you know what? Not writing at the moment is alright with me. Let my ideas be on the side for now. I'm on military leave. Let me relax and enjoy a book :)<br />
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*NOTE* Excerpt taken from tor.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-82024502854872045942012-05-24T07:36:00.000-07:002012-05-24T07:36:26.188-07:00My First Book: Aspects of Strange Sorceries Writing is no easy art. Any author can tell you this. It takes years of practice to hone and perfect the art, yet even with that, we are still practicing. This is what I hope to accomplish with my first book, a small short story collection to display my talents, to really see if I have really improved. I believe so.<br />
Aspects of Strange Sorceries, the title of my book, will contain five short stories never read before by anyone(with the exceptions of my beta-readers, thanks guys), all which will will include an introduction by me, the stories `The Gods' Black Market`, `Ten's War`, `Night of Thieves`, `The Underground Dirigible`, and `My Wife, The Kingslayer`.<br />
I am excited to have announced this, yet the date is not set. But the book inches closer to completion.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-59801394112300126132012-02-20T07:41:00.000-08:002012-02-20T07:41:48.236-08:00Oh Epic Fantasy, How Funny Art Thee with your Traps and WhatnotsWe've all seen it, lived in it, been entranced in it, and probably never want to leave. I think we all spent the night at Bree, or maybe even attempted to live in The Academy itself. I know that I wanted to stay clear of The Blight as far as I can, but here I ask a serious question: can we truly live in a Fantasy world?
I recall Moorcock's good 'ol Epic Pooh article many years ago, baggin' on Tolkien's use of language to lull the reader into a world of comfort and safety, somewhere we can always go to, where we will never know any harm. Ah, but what happens when the book is closed and the curse breaks? That same stress rises up again like poison, and you quickly tame it again with that same book. But what happens when you finish it? Then go look for another. Here is my next question?
How long can this last?
Fantasy fiction shouldn't (but when shouldn't it shouldn't?) be always about global-landscapes, magic swords, unique magic systems, and armies of thousands of nation marching to the Plains of DOOOOOOM to take the crown! No! IT should be used to give the reader hope, to explore what never knew about our own world through the eyes of a character moving through a constructed one. I've always looked at Fantasy as my treasure trove for learning. An educational experience, if I can be allowed to go THAT far.
Yet I learned nothing from reading Lord of the Rings, Name of the Wind, or The Drsgon's Path. But I did learn that vaginal mutilation DOES exists ans it IS a problem in Who Fears Death, and I also learned that a warrior does not have to be some badass swordsman, but maybe a simple doctor. Isn't that right Kaladin Stormblessed?
So, we as writers should find more uses for our worlds other than for entertainment. Its good to be trapped in your worlds for a little bit, it really is! But it's not healthy to stay in them for to long, especially if we are not learning anything.
Fantasy should always be a learning experience.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-15123813466533296362012-01-09T04:28:00.000-08:002012-01-09T04:28:06.473-08:00Books -I- WILL READThe Black God's War by Moses Siregar
A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham
The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman
A Tide of Shadows by Tom Bielwaski
Infinity Blade: Awakening by Brandon Sanderson
Any thoughts?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-90727817814579534502012-01-06T05:08:00.001-08:002012-01-06T05:20:50.433-08:00Behemoth: 1000 HP 999 MPSo, I finished Paolo Bacigalupi's The Alchemist, and I was quite pleased. The non-stop tempo, jaw-dropping characters, the plot, and the overall themes in this small little novella are what makes The Alchemist shine above most fantasies. I've read most fantasies. This leads me to my point of this blog post.
Personally, I'm sick of those 1000 page Behemoths that love to call themselves Epic Fantasy. Now, don't get me wrong, I love new worlds and strange cultures, and I really could indulge myself into these, but can I really sit their in my rack, reading about the same topics over and over again? No. War this and war that, I will show you this epic world that I built for 20 years, but wont show you the characters who drive against it, but use them as windows. Thats all Fantasy IS these days. I mean, SHIT!!!! What happened to novels like A Wizard of Earthsea, a 40k word novella, Epic in every way and scope and yet manages to be readable? I loved The Alchemist, loving Who Fears Death, and Moses Siregar's Black God's War, which only uses war as a backdrop, NOT as some war novel. The only 1000 page behemoths I truly appreciate are The Wheel of Time, the first series I've ever read, and Sanderson's The Way of Kings, which hosts a great and strange alien world, quite strange to Fantasy fiction itself, but uses his characters as catalysts to show the reader what TRUE leadership is and, itself, is just a speculative look at humanity. Everything else to me is trash. I have no more love for those types of novels. I did, and thought it was cool. But my reading of the genre has matured. Any thoughts?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-10247063067197847532011-12-10T00:32:00.001-08:002011-12-10T00:51:48.605-08:00Sometimes, Instant Hits just suck.I know, I know. This site hasn't been loved in quite some time. I mean, look how long ago the last post was! Sheesh. I'm sorry, especially to the people who DO follow this site/blog. But I'm back now, hopefully with the same daily posts I've been bringing, and it seems that their was a lot, A LOT of things that went down in the Fantasy genre that I never knew about.
First, I have just found out some terrible news that my favorite Fantasy Cover Artisit, <a href="www.sweetartwork.com">Darrel K. Sweet</a>, has died. I first found out about him as I followed The Wheel of Time series which were the first few books Im have ever read. The artwork amazes me every time, just take a look at a few of his artwork:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEccmrkNC5wfzj7ahXXruaP3_0gKX8VjWSpflBv4yGxV3q24gLfIOeW8oDkcxrkRm90gejPo3QU14inrxCRFVRgOJotnHlMzfXuc_D2xma11CZMHuVAL4eJAbfMx6T0HPvmOuOF7WBNNT/s1600/CurrentEventssmall-248x190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="190" width="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEccmrkNC5wfzj7ahXXruaP3_0gKX8VjWSpflBv4yGxV3q24gLfIOeW8oDkcxrkRm90gejPo3QU14inrxCRFVRgOJotnHlMzfXuc_D2xma11CZMHuVAL4eJAbfMx6T0HPvmOuOF7WBNNT/s320/CurrentEventssmall-248x190.jpg" /></a></div>
Me personally, I think that Sweet topples most Cover Artists, even Frank Frazetta and Michael Whelan, but this is just my opinion. I have loved his artwork for years, and I have always looked into it when I needed inspiration for my own short works...he WILL be missed.
So, I knew Brandon Sanderson was coming out with his Mistborn novella, but I didn't know he was coming out with <a href="http://epicgames.com/community/2011/10/infinity-blade-awakening/">a literary tie-in to Infinity Blade</a>!!!! WHOA!!! I downloaded both the game and book to my iTouch, and both are quite pleasing!! Why don't you check out the sequel <a href="http://infinitybladegame.com/">right here</a>!
Well, thats just a few things I can think about right now, so I'll just leave this post as is. YES, I am still writing and seeking publishing, and I have a great feeling that this will happen in the nearby future, sometime soon. Till next time fellow readers, have a great day and night!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-63261332035122970692011-04-05T08:09:00.001-07:002011-04-05T08:09:07.458-07:00PUBLIC NOTICE: Boot Camp and "Limitless" ReviewLast saturday, my sister and I went to the Arclight in Manhattan Beach to go and see "Limitless", a new movie out, based on the novel "The Dark Fields". Wikipedia classes the film as a Techno-Thriller, but I see it as Science Fiction. I was hoping that this movie would make-up what expectations I had for "Sucker Punch".<br /> My God, the movie was awesome.<br /> Imagine your Edward Morra, a deadbeat, near-homeless, behind on his rent kind of guy. Oh, he's also an author and yes, as the cliche goes, he needs to finish his book and the deadline just looms around the corner. And if you have not guessed it, his ex-wife broke up with him prior to the film's beginning. Sounds like a boring flick, right?<br /> Nope. What would happen if your ex-wife's brother-in-law gives you a pill which greatly sharpens your learning ability, focus, and brings to memory things you have forgotten for a day?<br /> Then we get Edward Morra, "Limitless" as I believe he is. Soon, you will forget the plot, though important, but you will focus on Edward's climb into the corporal world, his vast intellegence, and how the newspapers are naming him "The Prophet" and some as far as saying he is God. But soon, Morra faces the side-effects of the pills, and soon finds out that their are other "Limitless" out in the world. <br /> The movie is a bit small in scope, but it is political and character-driven, and shows us how much a drug can affect one's life. Oh yeah, the ending was pretty sick too. <br /> I'd go see the movie the minute you are done with this post. I'd rent it if you can't see it. Edward Morra is worth watching, again and again.<br /><br />And finally, to this end, this will be my last post until two months go by. To readers and followers of my blog, I will be shipping out to Recruit Traning Command (aka Boot Camp) for the next 8 weeks this Wednesday, but I'm leaving the house today and spending the night at a hotel, paid for by the military. It'll be a bit strange not updating the site, but I think I'll have some great posts when I get back :)<br /><br /> Till Then.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-5862435396228283012011-03-26T18:17:00.001-07:002011-03-26T18:17:53.140-07:00A Review: Sucker Punch's a SuckerWhen I first saw the trailers to this Epic Fantasy/Action-adventure film, needless to say, I was stoked. The magic of the world of Sucker Punch is purely escapism from a harsh world to one(s) even deadlier. <br /> We have a nameless character only named "Babydoll" as she is sent to a mental institute for girls by her foster father. There, she works at the institute's theatre where men with high money come in and pay for a dancing show with one of the girls. It is also here, that Babydoll and 4 others, make plans of escape by exploiting Babydoll's ability to cross into her dreamworld.<br /> Now, the reason why I give the title "Sucker Punch is a Sucker" is not because it is a bad film, but because I'd would rather have rented it. <br /> I felt that the movie became repetitive with its use of magic and that there was virtually no plot. A few twists here and there, but some are predictable and while the action scenes are engrossing, our heroines are scantily dressed, provoking a healthy dose of sexism in the film. But then again, it may promote feminism, as the heroines fight against men who exude lust and adultery. A matter of debate, this film can be.<br /> So, if your a fan of giant samurai weilding naginatas and rail guns, or a mecha battling zepplins and zombies, then you'll love this film, over and over. But if your the fantasist looking for something philosophical and true to the real world, then, I would say, look elsewhere as *that* theme is clearly expressed in the commercials.<br /> But I was pleased.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-80922919628300863972011-03-25T14:24:00.001-07:002011-03-25T14:24:34.153-07:00National November Writing Month 2011I entered <a href url="http://www.nanowrimo.org">NaNoWriMo</a> last year, and failed. The story was going to be steampunk, a genre I knew nothing about, and I entered a week before NaNoWriMo. I had no plot, no plans, no nothing. So, I gave up.<br /> I woke up this morning with an epiphany. Why not enter again this year, plan months ahead, set-up goals, and do this while I'm stable in the Navy? <br /> Then "The Dragons of Venus" kicked in. I have been wondering and been wanting to write Science Fantasy for a while, now. In fact, I looked over an e-mail on the subject sent by Yoon yesterday. <br /> Also, I've been looking for ways to write Science Fiction and have been heavily interested in the genre, reading many shorts in Asimov's, Lightspeed, and some free stories in Analog. <br /> So, I figured why not! Why not write a 50k word Science Fiction novel? But the title bugged me. No way I could just leave a book titled "The Dragons of Venus" without thinking of Dragons in space. It's probably been done, but hell, it's cool to me. I also wanted an adventure.<br /> That's when I remembered a type of story called Pulp. So, now I'm studying Pulp Science Fiction, first starting with ERB's "A Princess of Mars" and reading the chapters of Scott Lynch's "Queen of the Iron Sands" (I'll even try out Tarzan stories) with the goal of writing "The Dragons of Venus" as an epic pulp science fiction adventure. Oh yeah, I've begun A Princess of Mars a long time ago, and I believe it'll be a huge influence over my pulp.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-68495195903824950762011-03-19T18:44:00.000-07:002011-03-19T19:07:21.990-07:00The Fantastic Bible! or The First EpicYou know, it's funny how I even stumbled on this topic. The other day, I saw someone posted a comment on an authors blog (no link as to protect the commentor's identity)stating that there was nothing fantastic in the bible. As furious as I was, instead, I want to make a few comments on my own, on how I believe that the Bible was the first Epic. From the creation of the Earth in Genesis to the final battle between Godd and Evil in Revelations, the stories in between resonate a sense of Epic Fantasy that we are all aware of. I wonder how many other people see the Bible the way I see it. <br /> Let us take the story of Moses, the begginings of Exodus. The parting if the Red Sea, dividing the sea into two parts? Hail falling towards Egpyt with flames running on them? And how about when God, through Moses, cause darkness to thicken in Egypt, to the point where no one could see. Let us see the Leviathan, described as a dragon breathing fire yet under the sea in the Book of Job. Let us see the story of two mothers and one child. The child is someone's child, yet both claim it, so the person they go to, the king, decides to cleave the child in half, giving each half to the mothers, but the true mother tells the king that the false one can have her child, thus winning the child back in the end. Let us see Moses battlig Giants in Exodus. Let us see Jesus Christ, saving the entire world, Rand al'Thor based on Jesus Christ.<br /> Even Athiests who read Fantasy must agree with the Fantastic presented to us in this huge 66 book Epic. Though, we have more stories in the Bible than those great ones I mentioned. We have Deborah who judged the world, Jesus calming a storm with his mouth. The Bible is truly an Epic in it's own class. No wonder why <a href "http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_Christians_are_there_worldwide">2.1 billion people worldwide</a> have fallen in love with God's Epic.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-34860348369937728092011-03-15T21:51:00.001-07:002011-03-15T21:51:35.939-07:00Golden Age of Fantasy and the Big ThreeI remember Orson Scott card saying that this is the Golden Age of Fantasy. I'm inclined to agree.<br /> In today's genre, we are finally beginning to see writers of color and Epics steeping away from the eurocentric enviroments and mythologies. With Chris Kastensmidt, I'm seeing Brazil/Africa. With Aliette de Bodard, I'm seeing Mexican fantasy come to life. But it's not just the racial and enviromental contexts that have changed.<br /> The familiar tropes have "bent" as well. We all know of the dark tones that Epic Fantasy has decided to turn, and how Brandon Sanderson turned one of Fantasy's traditional tropes upside down, but we have more authors. Joe Abercrombie twists and tears at the role of the hero with his (dar I say?) anti-heroic heroic fantasy trilogy "The First Law". Scott Lynch comes out with an interesting way to use the well-loved thief trope in his "Gentlemen Bastards" sequence. Even Sam Sykes and N.K. Jemisin have discussed on the role on the chosen one.<br /> Yes, the shelves are still shadowed by Tolkien's influence, but THIS IS the Golden Age of Fantasy.<br /> Which leads me into an interesting question. I was looking a A Dribble of Ink the other day, reading an interview Aidan Moher did with Daniel Abraham for his forthcoming book, The Dragon's Path, and noticed how he said that the Big Three in Fantasy were Rothfuss, Lynch, and Martin. <br /> Now, I did not criticize, but I pondered, who did I think were the Big Three? Well, I thought Rothfuss, Sanderson, and Abercrombie were today's Big Three.<br /> Who do you think are the Big Three?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-4115039702086027122011-03-14T04:18:00.001-07:002011-03-14T04:18:58.617-07:00Goodbye, Short StoriesWith the advent of the <a href "http://www.sfwa.org">Nebula Awards</a>, I decided to take a peek at the list and read some free stories. Now, the first stories I've read (but alas, I am not close to finishing any one), "Ponies" and Amal El-Mohtar's (May she win the John W. Campbell award!) "The Green Book", I decided to hold of on the novellaa and novellete. <br /> I've always been one for short stories and flash fiction, and as you guys might know, Epic Fantasy. I can tolerate the length of an Epic Fantasy depending on the quality of the story, but me and works over 4000 words...its always been a bit of trouble. But then I read two stories on that list, remembered a few novellas/novelletes that I loved, and am eager to read more.<br /> Christopher Kastensmidt's "The Fortuitus Meeting of Gerard von Oost and Olodura" had my mind running as I'm essentially reading a Sword and Soul story by a non-Black man (needless to say, I friend requested him on Facebook immediately)! Aliette De Boddard's "The Jaguar House, in Shadow" was another great read! Today I will download "The Sultan of the Clouds", read Ted Chiang's Nebula nominated novellete, and all the others on that list. I also read Tobias Buckell's "The Fall of Alacan" on Subterranean Magazine, which is a prequel to his novella "The Executioness" (it should be noted, that Paolo Bacigalupi's "The Alchemist", a novella set in the same world, is nominated for the Nebula for best novella). I remembered the thrill I had reading Ted Chiang's "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate", Yoon Ha Lee's "The Territorialist" and yesterday, read her story "Ghostweight" for a second time. <br />Needless to say, I'm beginning to love novellas/novelletes.<br />Which brings me to the fact that now I want to write them. I feel grounded in short stories and flash fiction. Also, in sorts, I feel limited. I've never written anything decent over 3000 words, and, honestly, the thought of writing something between 7000-20000 words scares me. But, I have to write it sooner or later, right? If I want to write novels, one day, then I must try for a novellete, and then a novella, right? I've thought that my attempts at a novellete be at 7000 words, max (the original plan was 8000 words as per SFWA requirements for "Best Novella", but I'm not even professionally published, so who am I kidding?). Reading more novelletes/novellas will also help me understand structure and most importantly, how to keep an audience interested. So, for now, it's goodbye to the short stories until I feel grounded in novelettes. Till then!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-85678857607337603652011-03-13T00:24:00.001-08:002011-03-13T00:24:32.073-08:00Fan Fiction kills CreativityI have several friends who are into anime (I myself am not a strong anime/manga fan as I was in my earlier years). At my old high school, we had a "Japanimation" club-everything Japanese, but mostly anime. These were my friends. Many of them, I included for a short time, have written fan fiction. I know one girl who continously creates "projects" for her fan fiction. I recall asking her why she does not just be original. I guess this was the wrong question to ask as I should have asked why does she not be creative and stay away from pre-created works.<br /> Now, I am not all against fan fiction, however, if you are earnestly trying to become a *real* writer, then you must rely on your creativity and imagination. It does no good to write in pre-conceived ideas. How then can you work your literary muscles? A story by you is much memorable than a story in another person's setting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-83070032677342036142011-03-12T16:56:00.001-08:002011-03-12T16:56:20.646-08:00Not *the* definition of (Epic) Fantasy but *my* definition of (Epic) FantasyLast night, a friend of mine asked me what Epic Fantasy was when I mentioned Patrick Rothfuss to her. She knew what Fantasy was, but did not know what Epic Fantasy was. This got me thinking. More or less, the first essay I had in mind which attempted to define Epic Fantasy was by Vox Day <a href "http://www.blackgate.com/2011/02/20/the-decline-and-fall-of-the-fantasy-novel/">here</a>, and I found it appalling and slightly offensive to what I stand for: creativity and imagination. Consider the following definition from Vox Day and his girlfriend:<br /> "An epic fantasy is a very long and fundamentally serious story set mostly or entirely in a fantastic secondary world, typically defined by the existence of magic and often fleshed out with maps, appendices, and other paratextual devices; it's usually an encyclopediac, stylistically direct, structurally uncomplicated story in which characters notable for their active agency combat (against) a defined evil, often by forming an alliance, and generally are involved with a world-transformative event."<br /> As a veteran reader, an aspirant writer, and an aspirant academic fantasist, I see this definition as the answer of why Epic Fantasy suffers as it does, but that is a different discussion.<br /> While thinking of ways to explain what (Epic) Fantasy was to my friend, I thought of some of the memorable Epics in the genre such as "A Wizard of Earthsea", "The Wheel of Time" and "The Chronicles of Narnia". I thought of Epics that are large in volume, but worthy of reading without wasting words. I thought of how we writers and readers should begin calling our genre "Fantasy Literature" instead of "Fantasy Fiction". I thought of the sub-genres of Fantasy which plays on an Epic scale. I thought of people of color such as Yoon Ha Lee, Saladin Ahmed, David Anthony Durham, and Nnedi Okorafor. I thought of how fantasy can change the minds of people. I thought of Maya Angelou's quote. Thinking on these things, I created a definition which implies to what I stand for on a humanist scale, a racial scale, and a speculative scale.<br /> Consider *my own* definiton of Fantasy; Epic Fantasy, Steampunk, etc. :<br /> "Fantasy-Speculative literature which aims to both entertain an audience while simultaenously educating said audience using either a created secondary world or an alternative Earth in hopes of changing an individual's perceptions of some part of the real world."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-35343586181627971782011-03-04T16:50:00.000-08:002011-03-04T16:52:56.567-08:00Aaaaaand THIS is why Fantasy is Conservative!!!Looking at Mark Charan Newton's website, I've found a wonderful discussion on race aand sexual preference in Fantasy fiction found <a href="http://markcnewton.com/2011/03/02/the-fantasy-of-development/">here</a> and I've even made a comment <a href="http://markcnewton.com/2011/03/02/the-fantasy-of-development/#comment-6499">here</a> Have you ever considered to wonder why Fantasy is always the same? As an African-American, I believe that writers are too afraid to write a black man or a gay man only because the characters do not fit into the "Traditional" Fantasy, thought traditions is what is hindering writers and readers to fully grasp the potential of Epic Fantasy. Think about it, how many Mexicans do you see in Fantasy fiction including Earthsea's Ged? Besides of Charles R. Saunders Imaro or Black Charlton's Nicodemus, how many black characters can you really think of that take the position of primary character, or better yet, the chosen one? Besides from Robert Jordan and Saladin Ahmed, how many Arabics in Fantasy ARE NOT the enemy race? I guess I can throw in the Parshendi too. <br />I don't make these topics too piss people off, I just want to change my genre to something EVERYBODY can enjoy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-79276343301649546202011-02-09T07:07:00.001-08:002011-02-09T12:23:30.774-08:00Where's the Intellegence?The other day, I almost threw a fit when Aidan Moher posted on "A Dribble of Ink" "Are Fantasy Readers Dumber than Science Fiction Readers?". The title of the post comes from Jim Cormier someone made on Aidan's review of Daniel Abraham's "The Dragon's Path". The more I read the post, however, I found myself agreeing with what Jim has said. And this is what I have to say.<br /> So, I ask, where is the intellegence in Fantasy? Where are the Daniel Abrahams and the R. Scott Bakers? Or even Steve Eriksons, Yoon Ha Lees, N.K. Jemisins? Do people really only care for the redundancy of Epic Fantasy? To twist the same thing until something new pops out? Well, it isn't really new, it's just different. It's really not different either. It's redundant.<br /> It seems like the majority of Epic Fantasy publishers only want this kind of Fantasy, this sort of redundancy. However, Fantasy readers are smart, and I know a throng of such readers who want a change in this genre. I don't think we're being noticed. That, or we're not loud enough.<br /> Either way, it's not the readers who are dumb. Fantasy is getting where it needs to be.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-32137886695207116162011-02-08T20:06:00.001-08:002011-02-08T20:06:10.493-08:00Through My Alter-Ego's Eyes: Thoughts on First-Person NarrativeThe first first-person narrative prose I've read was Twilight. Since then, two years ago, I've been traumatized to read another first-person. The Magic of Recluce healed the wound a bit (I was forced to read it, buying it and realizing later that it was FPN, and already too late in returning it.), but I was still scared. Every story I read from Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Clarkesworld, etc. that was in the FPN, I turned the other cheek. <br /> Until Saladin Ahmed.<br /> I've said this so many times, but his story "Mister Hadj's Sunset Ride", was written in the FPN, and I absolutely love it. I've read some works by Nnedi Okorafor, and I loved it. Soon, I started reading, and eventually writing in the FPN.<br /> Trying to write poetic lines in the Third-Person Narrative is hard. Even after writing in the TPN for years, it's hard. When writing FPN, it's easier, fun, and my lines come straight from the heart. <br /> Yes, it is limiting to one character, but using the FPN can give other characters a sense of history and mystery. This too, is why I love FPN.<br /> When writing in the FPN, first, be familiar with it. Just don't write about "I" and "Me", have the character talk, think, move, act, and share his or her philosophy. Read Saladin Ahmed, Nalo Hopkinson, N.K. Jemisin.<br /> Writing in the FPN can be so rewarding, especially when it comes to characterization. <br /> Alright, that's the end, now either comment or get off my blog!<br /> Kudos!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-56386174448886940542011-02-07T22:26:00.001-08:002011-02-07T22:26:10.194-08:00To Redwall, FarewellToday I read the news on Tor.com Fantasy's Facebook page. Brian Jacques, bestselling author of the 20+ book Fantasy series, Redwall, has died on February 5th, 2011 due to a heart attack over the weekend. He was 71.<br /> <br /> Now, I have never read any of his books, having heard of him via Goodreads. I heard of his mice protagonists and how his stories were aimed at children. I heard about the man a month and a half ago. <br /> So, even though I did not know him, nor his works, to honor his memory, I will begin to read the Redwall series.<br /> Farewell, JacquesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-54897985163722731492011-01-09T21:16:00.001-08:002011-01-09T21:16:52.491-08:00An unfortunate way of life, is that bad things happen to good people. So, it is sad to say that Michael Moorcock will be having his foot amputated tommorow. <br> Damn.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-18213588102704721052010-12-04T10:49:00.000-08:002010-12-04T11:09:35.059-08:00New Website and New News!Well, I haven't done a post on here in ages! I've been busy trying to construct the website (to tell the truth, I still am^-^). Now you guys can connect to my Facebook, Twitter, and/or MySpace pages (I'm going to get one for GoodReads after I post this). I still need a banner, so if anyone can make one, or knows how to make one, drop me an email! <br />So, I have some great things for you guys. Number one, as of yesterday, I get the privelage and oppurtunity to critique a new novel from famed Fantasy and Science Fiction author David Farland(Wolverton is his real last name). Dave has been hailed as "a wizard at storytelling..."(Publisher's Weekly). He teaches writing techniques and how to write by offering classes and his Death Camp(for thse who are super-serious about the craft) has given rise to such writing superstars like Brandon Sanderson(Mistborn Trilogy, Co-Author of The Wheel of Time, The Stormlight Archive) and Stephanie Meyer(Twilight Saga, The Host). Also, he is one of the Judges for the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future contest. So, reading this is a great oppurtunity. You can visit his website<a href="http://www.davidfarland.net/">here</a>. <br />Also, a few weeks ago, I suggested to the<a href="http://www.blacksciencefictionsociety.com/">The Black Science Fiction Society</a>, which is a website dedicated to Black Speculative Fiction(Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror), Black Comics and more, that they should have a magazine. Well, that one suggestion started <a href="http://www.blacksciencefictionsociety.com/forum/topics/it-would-be-cool-ifi-dont?commentId=2010448%3AComment%3A92939">a flurry of responses</a>. So, now the website is going to have a magazine, and I'm shooting for either Editor or Slush-Reader. <br />I love Yoon Ha Lee, and for a few weeks now, I've been waiting for her story "The Winged Story" (and ket me say, she sucks at updating her website. ^-^). Well, it's <a href="http://giganotosaurus.org/2010/12/01/the-winged-city/">here, finally</a>, and speaking of short stories, I came accross one from <a href="http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/">Beneath Ceaseless Skies</a> and found <a href="http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/story.php?s=122">this cool and thought provoking story by Matthew Kressel</a>. <br />With everything underway, I'll be pretty busy, and I love being busy, and you guys should really check out these badass stories!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-12520338964515624382010-09-29T07:03:00.000-07:002010-09-29T07:04:12.384-07:00The Universal Question Important for the Ways of Life: How do I write?Well, maybe not universal.<br />This question I see in two ways.<br />Q: How do I write?<br />A1: Well young Padowan/Genin/or whatever noob you are(please don't be offended), you must write! How can you become a better writer if you don't write? Make some time to write everyday, even if it's 30 minutes to an Hour. Write a scene, some lines of dialogue, a description. Look at your room and describe your room, but don't TELL ME what's in your room, SHOW ME. <br />A2: Read! Most people who have told me I must read to be a better writer never told me the simpler way of saying it(though now I think about it, it's pretty simple now). When you read other fiction, you are studying how the writer writes. Your eventually going to start writing like the writers you read, but this is okay. I find myself reading Charles Dickens and Yoon Ha Lee more because I love the prose and the poetry-like writing. Every writer is different though! Read the genre of your choice to see the trends of that genre, read non-fiction like history, mythology, the news, etc. to come up with ideas for your story!<br />You see that reading has a great power over your writing. Also by reading, you learn new words and start to "thin out" what you like to read and by doing this, you start to know who your audience is. Well you guysl till next time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4820881125713809228.post-89485888789504786912010-09-29T06:44:00.000-07:002010-09-29T06:46:44.837-07:00Creating a Race, Part2Last time, I talked about my process of creating your very own Fantasy race. Of course, your race is your race, and you can do whatever you want with it. Well, this is for people who can't really create their own races, but still love Elves and Dwarves.<br />Now, I think creating a race of Elves and Dwarves is harder than making your own. After Tolkien, people used Elves and Dwarves to no end. Whenever me, as a reader, think of Elves, I think of the following characteristics:<br />-Pointy Ears<br />-Tall<br />-Fair skin<br />-Beautiful<br />-Live in forests<br />-Blonde hair(or brown/black)<br />Whenever I think of Dwarves, I see:<br />-Short<br />-Axe-weilders<br />-Miners<br />-Long Beard and lots of hair<br />-Drinkers<br />You see the problem? This formula for creating Elves and Dwarves has been used countless times in the past. In the early days of Dungeons and Dragons, they were guilty for this. Most people who read, and see the appearance of the Elf, will think of these characteristics, much like if the reader sees a Dwarf coming along.<br />People say that these are over-done. Not entirely so.<br />Let's take a look at Brooks and his Shannara series. Yes, their are Dwarves, but their origins are what stand out. *SPOILER* The origins of Shannara's Dwarves are the result of Humans who fled underground during a nuclear fallout, and over the course of years, have become Dwarves.<br />So, looking at this, I still see potential in these races if the writer puts some time into it.<br />We all know about how Dwarves like to mine, but did we know that they are ancestor worshippers? In Norse mythology they are.<br />Or how about that Humans who die can become the fair Elves, and yet they are seen, can pass through walls? Or how about the African Wakyambi Elves who have tails, dark skin, and live in the clouds? <br />My point here, is that their are tons of myths AROUND THE WORLD about Elves and Dwarves, so showing something new in these races IS NEVER A BAD THING! In fact, it gives life to your genre, and you earn much more respect. To have your Elves and Dwarves really shine, try combining the myths of all the Elves and Dwarves. Try mixing Norse Dwarves' association with death with the African dwarf Biloko's carnivorous appetite. Or think of why would Elves hide in mounds instead of a forest. Speaking of mounds, what about a graveyard or a place where many people died? Elves are associated with death too you know.<br />So, writing the Elf and Dwarf is never a bad thing, one just has to put the time and research into it. Till next time guys.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0