Andrew Moore's Blog, page 58

Technical Convergence and Daring

Combat is nothing but distance and execution. In space, the distances were too long. How could a projectile hit a moving target from so many miles away?
"And this is our answer," the engineer declared as he unveiled the latest warship. The latest propulsion, sensors, communication, yes, of course. What impressed the observers was the mock battle. Time after time neither combatant scratched the other, but this time, the prototype reached out a hundred miles away and socked the opposition with a big punchy arm. Space combat was solved.
The period of unwilling peace ended, and the country sent its warships against the foe only to find something that shocked them: Ships with two big punchy arms. The harsh lessons of war, already forgotten, again were learned.
Finis

Literature Corner

Some people ask, does every story really need a theme? Well, let me ask you this. Is every park a theme park? No? I was hoping you'd say yes, but there it is.

More Action

You were going to write about your setting's equivalent of the Magna Carta? Now it's the Fragna Carta. The stars are in some sort of alignment, an action alignment. For three months. After that, make everything all weepy.

How to Determine If a Work Is Serious Literature

Some people treat the main character well when they have a reason to or no reason not to: Puerile escapism.
Nothing good ever happens to the main character, not even a kind word: Realistic with depth.

Future Publishing Advancements

We already have books laced with drugs, but that just makes them to that particular book. How can we get people addicted to buying more books? Preferably ones that cost $3,200? The answer is nanodrugs. Technicians are already working on it, so you'd better start saving up.

Addendum

Please buy the same number of books or more, though. Hey, why are all you economists twitching like that?

Some Quick Math

According to my estimates, adjusting for inflation, books today should cost about $3,200 each. Readers have had it too good for too long. Who's with me?

Visible Progress

"These things that aren't fish."
"Yeah?" Neither man halted for the conversation. They had hauling to do.
"How come some of them have eight leg-thingies and others have more?"
"You don't know?"
"Would I have asked if I had? Your voice isn't that lovely. There, you've had enough time to make up an answer."
He shook his head. "No, everybody knows this one. We're just finding out you aren't an everybody. Sort of an outsider, if you will. They've got more legs because they leveled up more."
"That makes sense." The man looked closer at the squids and octopodes caught in the nets. "Yeah, it's not impossible, but . . . Whoa!"
Strong as they were and used to the work, the next load demanded from them almost more than they could give. They braced and they heaved, braced and heaved, and after more time than was reasonable, they hauled up a creature of the deepest sea so thick with appendages that they could be counted only after death stilled their owner.
"Tell me if you were kidding before, because if you weren't, this guy must be . . ."
"The one who killed the Nightmare Emperor!"
The fishermen bowed to the slimy hero and released him.
Finis

Has Someone Taken This Yet?

Dragon's Dragons

Because if nobody has, maybe humans deserve to die out after all.

History and Mythology Corner

Historically, plenty of people were willing to believe that certain gods and heroes were the same people as other gods and heroes in a different language. Far too willing, really.