Fangirling

I thought I'd write more about why I like John Scalzi so much as an author. First, a note: Scalzi's novels do not read as the work of a progressive activist unless you're one of those far-right sphincters that feel facts are liberally biased. So there's a high chance you'll enjoy them just as much … Continue reading Fangirling →

If You Haven’t Read John Scalzi, You Should Start

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2019/05/28/agent-to-the-stars-fuzzy-nation-and-the-androids-dream-now-out-in-trade-paperback/ John Scalzi is one of my favorite authors. I haven't read The Android's Dream* yet but can definitely recommend Fuzzy Nation and Agent to the Stars if you haven't read them, yet. Fuzzy Nation was actually the first book of Scalzi's that I read. I was browsing my library's little used bookstore and thought … Continue reading If You Haven’t Read John Scalzi, You Should Start →

Reading that Shapes the Writer: Watership Down, Dune, Lord of the Rings

Of the many works of speculative fiction I've read, these three books stand out as being truly epic. They have very little in common when it comes to setting or flavor or protagonists. The first is about rabbits establishing a new warren, the second a far distant sci-fi human future, and the latter a far … Continue reading Reading that Shapes the Writer: Watership Down, Dune, Lord of the Rings →

Reading that Shapes the Writer: The Last Unicorn

God I love this book. To this day it remains one of the most unique books I've read and was the source of my discovery that prose could be poetry. Peter S. Beagle is not just telling a beautiful and unique story, the way he tells it is, in and of itself, a special kind … Continue reading Reading that Shapes the Writer: The Last Unicorn →

Reading that Shapes the Writer: Tolkien (Part 2)

Part 1 As a white child growing up in a 'colorblind' household I didn't notice the issues with how race was depicted in the material. Criticism there is fully warranted and I wish people adapting the work would realize that Tolkien himself, were he alive today, would probably have grown enough as a person to … Continue reading Reading that Shapes the Writer: Tolkien (Part 2) →

Reading that Shapes the Writer: Tolkien (Part 1)

I was 12 the first time I read The Lord of the Rings. I waited until 12 at my oldest sister's request. She loved the trilogy and she was afraid if I tried reading it too early that a struggle to get through the writing might prejudice me against the story (it was probably good … Continue reading Reading that Shapes the Writer: Tolkien (Part 1) →

Writing With Flavor

This morning I read a blog post with advice on how to keep writing on a blog simple and accessible. On the whole I agreed with the advice - if you intend to use your blog as a business. Since I don't intend to use my blog as a business, I'm going to feel free … Continue reading Writing With Flavor →

Extraordinary Villains: Demona

I wanted to take a break from ranting about the writing for the final season of Game of Thrones, but thinking about Cersei Lannister got me thinking about my favorite female villains, and I started making a list. The first on my list was Demona, from Disney's Gargoyles. I got distracted while writing up this … Continue reading Extraordinary Villains: Demona →

Writing With Fizzle: Bran

(GoT - Spoilers) To be honest, Bran was never a well-written character. He started out as a McGuffin from the moment Jamie Lannister says 'the things we do for love!' and pushes him out the window. He continues to be a McGuffin while comatose. When he wakes up, he moves to the next phase of … Continue reading Writing With Fizzle: Bran →

Writing With Fizzle: Tyrion

(GoT - Spoilers) Peter Dinklage did such a good job portraying Tyrion Lannister. It's practically criminal what they reduced the character to in the final season. We go from the bitter, cynical, jaded man that slaps teenage Joffrey and later murders his father, Tywin Lannister, as Tywin is taking a shit, Tyrion, one of the … Continue reading Writing With Fizzle: Tyrion →