Brian Niemeier's Blog: Kairos - by Brian Niemeier, page 19

The Catholic Church Is Going Back

The actuarial tables have at long last caught up with the Modernist movement that tried and failed to subvert the Church. According to a recent report from AP News, the Catholic Church is going back to the traditions of her illustrious past. The AP neglected to identify exactly which traditional Catholics are complaining that food pantries have twisted the Church. Nonetheless…

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Fighting the Long Defeat?

Spend some time scrolling through dissident Twitter, particularly those corners favored by more traditional Catholics, and you’ll soon run across references to J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Both are the subject of myriad BrainyQuotes and, especially in Tolkien’s case, movie still memes. There’s no denying that the works of these twentieth century authors strike a chord with today’s new…

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Gen Y and the Pre-Internet Age

Getting mugged by reality is a definitive experience of Generation Y. The last cohort with personal memories of the pre-9/11 world, Ys have entered middle age in a state of deep confusion regarding their place in society. So far, the story of their lives has been “Stuff yourself on fast food, watch after-school cartoons, and play Nintendo.” Is all that’s left for them dying alone and forgotten?

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Millennnials: Reaping the Cultural Whirlwind

A recurring theme of this blog is the widening gap between Baby Boomers and Millennials in terms of wealth distribution and cultural inheritance. The data paints a stark picture: Baby Boomers, through a combination of historical windfalls and economic expansion, have accumulated unprecedented wealth, wielding significant power and influence that shapes the trajectory of society. Meanwhile…

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Pump Up the Volume, Pump Up the Jam

A Gen X introvert’s Baby Boomer dad uproots their family from New York and moves them across the country to a prefab Arizona suburb. Gifted a short-wave radio to keep in touch with his friends back east, the isolated and disoriented Mark finds an outlet for his existential angst as a pirate radio shock jock. But tragedy and controversy ensue when he goes too far. Photo: © 1990 New Line…

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Elle Griffin: Shooting Holes in Oldpub

My valued neopatrons called my attention to this viral Substack post by author and editor Elle Griffin. In it, she shares facts that came to light in the US government’s recent suit against oldpub giants Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. The main takeaway is that publishing house representatives called to testify spent their time on the stand shooting holes in oldpub’s own business…

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Introducing Star Wanderers

Author JD Cowan introduces his latest swashbuckling sci fi adventure! Here are some of the never-before-seen stories you’ll find in this stellar collection: Brian here, letting the folks at home know that I’m boosting JD’s signal because I know he’s got the authorial chops to keep you on the edge of your seat. While I have edited JD’s work before, I have no financial stake in this…

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King Brandon Does it Again

In yet another definitive win for him—and Neopatronage—Fantasy King Brandon Sanderson has shattered a second crowdfunding record. Related: Neopatron Brandon It should be noted that the Publishers Weekly article cited above was written last month. King Brandon’s latest crwodfunder has since reached its triumphant conclusion, and the astounding results speak for themselves. Related…

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No Gatekeepers Where There Are No Walls

My cherished Neopatrons and I were discussing the phenomenon of the indie author who goes back to signing with publishers. It’s been fascinating to see this regression to the oldpub model the minute some realize the newpub model is obsolete. Falling back on the even more obsolete yet familiar instead of trying something new isn’t exactly advancement. Some have suggested that these authors are…

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How to Handle World Building

The one element that distinguishes science fiction and fantasy from the other flavors of adventure fiction is world building. If you’re a new SFF writer, learning how to craft vivid secondary worlds is a crucial skill. And mastering it takes finesse as well as creativity. But it’s not as daunting as some aspiring authors fear. So let’s explore the delicate art of world building for works of…

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