Andrew Moore's Blog, page 61
February 9, 2024
Animal Sacrifice
I think animal sacrifice might make a comeback in the future, but for the time being, be sure to consider including it in your fantasy or scifi setting. You don't gotta, but at least make a deliberate choice.
February 8, 2024
Addendum
As for "execrable," I just hate the way it sounds. The speaker comes off worse than the target.
February 7, 2024
The Frustrations of Modern Life
Every time I want to use "grandiose" I end up deciding it's a poor choice. The problem is that people have different ideas about whether its connotations are favorable or otherwise. In the past, famines happened regularly.
February 6, 2024
Science Fiction Verisimilitude
Be sure to include bits where people talk about how all music today sounds the same and is bad. The crude, unsophisticated author will play this off as an occasion for ridicule, but the thoughtful author will understand that the statement is universal because it's always true.
The Clear Path Forward
If Microsoft is just going third party anyway, it should have just made Bobby "Boberick" Kotick the head of its gaming division and changed its name to Activision-Blizzard-Microsoft-Gaming-Division, or ABMGD for short. Think these things out a little better, fellas.
February 4, 2024
Journey of the Frog Prince
Once upon a time there was a frog prince, and he was troubled for he had no subjects. "I must subject frogs to my government if I am to be a true prince," he said to no one, for he had as yet no court. He sought frogs to rule over, and while doing so, of course he ran into an adventure.
There was a castle, and outside it a knight wept for all the magnificence of his arms and his steed, and moreover he had many followers. The frog hopped to him and asked the cause of his sorrow.
"I see that you are a prince among frogs, Your Highness," the knight said and bowed. "Inside this castle lives a coward who has kidnapped my wife, my parents, my brothers and sisters, and that is to speak only of my own woes. He loves ransom and nothing else. The solution to the problem would be easy if ever he came to face me, but knowing that he hides himself behind those walls that were enchanted by a sorcerer for whom the coward did some wicked deed. I cannot bring them down no matter the engines I bring against them."
"I'm minded to chastise this fellow," the frog replied. "Array your people outside the gate and observe." After bidding the knight in that fashion, the frog hopped up to the walls and with a princely leap crossed over entirely. Soon he had the gate open, for though there were guards, the event surprised them so much that they fainted.
The knight stormed the castle and soon proved the truth of his earlier boast by beheading the cruel lord of the place. Everyone was free of that menace, whereupon the frog prince received much praise.
The knight further asked if there was anything they might do for the frog, whereupon the animal replied, "Certainly, if you might tell me where to find common frogs, for it is quite improper for me, a prince, not to rule over subjects."
"That is true, Your Highness, but I cannot see why they must be frogs that you rule." The knight said that and did homage on the spot, and everyone in the castle followed. As the years passed, the frog prince's power only grew. When next you wonder why we are ruled by frogs, remember there was a good reason for it, whatever you think of the arrangement now.
Finis
There was a castle, and outside it a knight wept for all the magnificence of his arms and his steed, and moreover he had many followers. The frog hopped to him and asked the cause of his sorrow.
"I see that you are a prince among frogs, Your Highness," the knight said and bowed. "Inside this castle lives a coward who has kidnapped my wife, my parents, my brothers and sisters, and that is to speak only of my own woes. He loves ransom and nothing else. The solution to the problem would be easy if ever he came to face me, but knowing that he hides himself behind those walls that were enchanted by a sorcerer for whom the coward did some wicked deed. I cannot bring them down no matter the engines I bring against them."
"I'm minded to chastise this fellow," the frog replied. "Array your people outside the gate and observe." After bidding the knight in that fashion, the frog hopped up to the walls and with a princely leap crossed over entirely. Soon he had the gate open, for though there were guards, the event surprised them so much that they fainted.
The knight stormed the castle and soon proved the truth of his earlier boast by beheading the cruel lord of the place. Everyone was free of that menace, whereupon the frog prince received much praise.
The knight further asked if there was anything they might do for the frog, whereupon the animal replied, "Certainly, if you might tell me where to find common frogs, for it is quite improper for me, a prince, not to rule over subjects."
"That is true, Your Highness, but I cannot see why they must be frogs that you rule." The knight said that and did homage on the spot, and everyone in the castle followed. As the years passed, the frog prince's power only grew. When next you wonder why we are ruled by frogs, remember there was a good reason for it, whatever you think of the arrangement now.
Finis
February 3, 2024
Adaptable Material
Everybody's seen Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Game: The Chronicles, right? If not, here it is. That's all well and good, but I hear people saying the Albax story would be great to adapt. They're wrong. As much as it may tickle you to see a new card and realize the latest evil clown is actually this jerk from another card, that doesn't mean anything in a TV show. Think about the actual plot and you'll realize it's just a whole series of, "And these guys show up, and these guys show up, and these guys turn into these guys, and these guys show up . . ." Not only is Albaz not the best Yu-Gi-Oh! card set to adapt, it probably isn't even in the top five. Wait, probably? We can check easily enough.
1) Vendread
2) Gold Pride
3) S-Force
4) Rescue-ACE
5) Shiranui
Yup, not even in the top 5.
1) Vendread
2) Gold Pride
3) S-Force
4) Rescue-ACE
5) Shiranui
Yup, not even in the top 5.
February 2, 2024
Burning Science Fiction Concern
Do the space mechs work on land, or do you need different ones? This is crucial to your setting.
Addendum
There can be illustrations, but they should probably be either blue or black and white.
January 31, 2024
The Newest Science Fiction Subgenre
400 pages of describing hi-tech equipment such as spaceships, guns, and lathes. No plot. No characters. Pure things.
