Moe Lane's Blog, page 45

06/27/2025 Snippet, BRAVING THE MALSTORM.

Doing an experiment this month with the Patreon short story reward.

…

Used to be, the underground magical scene in Old Vegas was just that. Obfuscation spells and don’t-see-me runes work better when they’re under a foot or two of earth, so the mages did business out of cellars, all over town. They all moved somewhere brighter when the Universal Dominion got pushed out of easy curse range, though.

But not Zealia’s Den. It’s still in the same place it was founded, all the way back during the Interregnum. Given its clientele, I don’t think any of the owners ever seriously thought about moving. The only concession to the modern age was a newish basking rock now next to the ramp leading down to the shop door, but I privately considered that a little too on-the-tongue, myself. Or just put in for tourist ambiance. There were a few people inside already, gawking at all those Serpent-Folk geegaws. Don’t ask me why; it’s a human thing.

Running the register today was… one of my eighth cousins, once removed, I decided after self-consciously sniffing the air. It was easier because she wasn’t wearing a skin herself at the moment. Judging from the book she was looking at, she was probably a student at the University herself. Ethical calculus isn’t really something you read for fun.

“Good afternoon,” I said, going into Pleasant Academic mode. That usually works with students. “I’m here for a pickup?”

I winced, inside, since that’s potentially a ribald pun in Old American, but luckily the girl didn’t get it. “I’ll look it right up, sir,” she replied. “Name?”

Patreon!

…Do big publishers just HATE books?

Consider these images for Greg Keyes’ The Age of Unreason fantasy alternate history series (which isn’t half-bad, actually). Here’s the original that I remember…

…and here are the modern paperbacks/Kindle books.

The Kindle versions are particularly egregious. Important safety tip: never use a book cover that I could have designed, if you can possibly help it. And I refuse to believe that the above strategy sells more books. The mass paperback covers tell you what the hell you’re reading; the other covers… do not.

But don’t mind me. I’m just one of the guys capitalizing on the mainstream publishing industry’s mistakes by getting my books out, without spending house money. What do I know?

#commissionearned

I’m calling it in early.

It’s a slightly emotionally fraught day (dad’s birthday), and I’m pretty tired. My brain refuses to admit that I don’t have to be up at 6:30 AM, so I’m just gonna give up and go get some sleep. See ya tomorrow!

06/26/2025 Snippet, CALL OF THE MOON-BEASTS.

So bloody close.

…

Tobias Marsh had long since gotten sick of the idea that doing his duty could require that he stand by and watch other people… Clean up, the stubbornly rational (and rationalizing) part of his mind insisted as the three of them jump-ran through the passage. They’re just cleaning up. They never said they were going to mutually ‘conserve resources,’ did they? It didn’t help that he now had plenty of practice in doing exactly that. Just the opposite.

I think you need to speak with someone about your guilt complex, Commander. Asenath sounded preoccupied, somehow. It cannot be good for your long-term mental health.

We’ve gone over this, Asenath. A psychiatrist will just try to convince me you’re not real.

At this point, I doubt it will have any effect on the mission. You would still succeed, even if I am revealed to be a manifestation of your ongoing psychosis.

No! Tobias grimaced at how his own mental voice sounded. …No. You’ve kept me functional this far. Hell, you’re my best damned friend, AI or not. I’m not going to delude myself otherwise, just to feel better.

Even if that means you will continue not to reach certain conclusions about our situation? Because that is causing you undue pain.

“Life is pain,” he quoted aloud, without realizing it. “Anybody who says differently is selling something.”

Patreon!

‘To Leave Something Behind.’

Youtube keeps putting this in my music video mixes.

To Leave Something Behind, Sean Rowe

#commissionearned

Tweet of the Day, “So, What Made You Decide To Be A Firefighter When You Were A Kid?” edition.

Nothing extra on this one. Just something nice.

Lil dude just wanted a wave and then this happened pic.twitter.com/IaCyAvQxZW

— Dudes Posting Their W’s (@DudespostingWs) June 25, 2025

Oh, God, they’re trying to make a THE STAND movie again.

Saw the first miniseries, didn’t see the second. The first one was good, up until somebody had the insane idea of actually trying to faithfully reproduce the visuals from the climax. It did not work. Sometimes you shouldn’t show, instead of tell. As for the second one? I’ve heard that it was not worth the trouble of tracking down.

Now they want to make a movie. …There is no way to make a single-film version of THE STAND. For better or for worse, this is a book that was made to be put on television. Probably in a fundamentally flawed fashion. Hey, don’t blame the messenger for the message…

#commissionearned

Denis Villeneuve to direct new James Bond movie.

Well, that should be interesting.

Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the next James Bond film for Amazon MGM Studios, the studio announced Wednesday. Amy Pascal and David Heyman will produce, as previously announced, with Tanya Lapointe exec producing.

It’ll be pretty, and epic in scope, and will spawn a billion angry threads, both pro and con. I can’t wait! It’s always nice to have something new for the film kids to fight over.

06/25/2025 Snippet, CALL OF THE MOON-BEASTS.

Words cannot describe how badly I want this story to be done.

…

“I’m not running.” That came from Wilcox, and he sounded stronger than Tobias expected. More of a New Englander rasp, too. “I’m looking at the alcove, Commander. You know what’s in there, right?”

“I know what I saw in a shared hallucinatory dream, yes.” Tobias focused on Wilcox, because being able not to look was a hard habit to learn, and he didn’t want to lose it any sooner than he had to. “You can worry about it later. In sickbay.”

“No. Sickbay means they’ll put me under, and then there’ll be the dreams. I’m never dreaming again, Commander. Not now. I know what’s down there, and what’ll be waiting for me.”

“Waiting for us,” Emi added, coming forward to take Wilcox’s hand. “Unless we kill the dreaming first.”

“Which you can do topside!” Tobias snapped. “Emi, get him up and out the door! Abbie, do the same for Lily. Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you. I just need to secure the room first.”

“Promise?” asked Lilian.

“What did I just say?”

“A lie, dear.” Her voice was incredibly gentle. “Because you won’t make promises you can’t keep.”

‘For What It’s Worth.’

For What It’s Worth, Buffalo Springfield

#commissionearned