N. Lang's Blog, page 2

Hidden dangers of AI?

So I’ve been following the advancement of AI technology, because I’m a writer, mostly through Jonna Penn and how AI has programs that can let you place your text in the box and it will re-write it for you. I hear other companies have AI robots doing peoples jobs like Amazon. I just watched Megan, a AI robot that basically acts like a human.

She can learn skills, just like a human and take care of your child. Megan even protects Cady against those that try to hurt her, by killing them. In Japan they already built AI robots that look and feel like human to assist professionals. AI Robots in Japan but could they really take it to the next level?

 In conversation with The Guardian, MIT Media Lab’s Katie Darling has commented on whether the AI technology on display in M3GAN is possible in the near future. Darling states that the level of sophistication is unlikely to be developed for the “next decade or two.” She emphasizes that expectations about robotics are “completely skewed” due to films revolving around machine intelligence like M3GAN.

could Megan be real?

But the idea of AI becoming smarter than humans is nothing new. It always been around as far back as the Terminator and beyond. Like Hal, A Space Odyssey. This brings up the issue with Alexa. She can turn on our lights now, turn on the TV. Makes me think of the movie “Smart House” starring Katey Sagel “Pat”. Where family moves into this smart house and “Pat” is taking care of everything and soon her personality changes as she becomes real.

Are all these movies trying to warn us against AI? Or is it just in our minds like Darling at MIT said.?

I for one hope it doesn’t get that far. Our jobs, our lifes would be taken away.

What do you think? Are we in danger from the AI?

 

Smash Words Sale

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Happy Read an Ebook Week! To help you find a book to celebrate, you can find my entire collection at a promotional price at @Smashwords from March 5-11. Find my books and many more at https://www.smashwords.com/ebookweek #ebookweek23 #Smashwords

The Lost Angels

The Chronicle Gate Vol. 1 Ethereal

The Chronicle Gate vol. 2 Alphine

The Chronicle Gate Vol. 3 Neo Earth

New books to look out for

★★★★★
This novel has strong, well developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. I recommend this novel and would read more novels by this author. – PAR

★★★★☆
I can tell that the Sword of Deception series is going to be a terrific story when it is all said and done, and I enjoyed this entry point into this original dark fantasy world. – Michael Paul Scott – Author

★★★★★
Great book! Well-developed story line and characters. It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. – Jennifer


TO SAVE A KINGDOM, SHE MUST BEFRIEND HER ENEMY

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Hags

Celtic and Norse Hags:

The Hag is an archetypal figure who crops up in Myth and Legends around the world. Many stories link spirits in the form of an old woman, many stories link the Hag with nightmares, causing terrifying dreams. Especially on Halloween.

The Norse a Hag is called a Mare, she enters a person’s bedroom through the keyhole to bring nightmares to the sleeper. The words for “nightmare” in several European languages derive from this belief. Women could become Maras, either by wicked actions or by being cursed.
Another creature from Polish Myth is called the Nocnitsa (Night Hag). Her specialty is tormenting sleeping children. Mothers would place an iron knife in the cradle and draw a circle to protect the children.
Another hag appears in the folklore of Ireland and Scotland called the Cailleach, a hideous old woman, often carrying a staff, she is known to have the ability to have the destructive powers of nature. She comes down from her mountain home on Samhain (Nov. 1) beating her staff against the ground, which causes it to freeze and brings on cold winds and snowstorms.
In Greek myth, the Gorgones are three monstrous female Hags, the most famous of whom is Medusa. Ancient Greek vase paintings depict the three sisters as winged women, with heads, large staring eyes, gaping mouths, protruding tongues, tusks of a swine, and living snakes as hair.
Legend says that blood taken from the right side of Gorgon could bring a corpse back to life, yet blood taken from the left side was an instantly fatal poison.
Baba Yaga, the Hag of Russian and eastern European folklore. Like other Hags, she is a wizened old woman with a long hooked nose. Like Medusa, she is fearsome and hideous, with bulging eyes that petrify anyone she looks upon. In fairy tales, she is portrayed as a witch who lures children to her hut and devours them.

Symbol of female power:
Some scholars have argued that rather than being a monster, the Gorgon is a holy image of female power and wisdom. Her wide unblinking eyes symbolize the ability to penetrate illusions and see the truth. Her boar tusks come from the sacred pigs, a symbol of rebirth, which were sacrificed to Athena in ancient Athens. The hair of snakes is a reminder of the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, as the snake sheds its skin and grows new skin. Seen this way, the purpose of the terrifying Gorgon mask was to guard and protect women and the mysteries of the Divine Feminine.

Female nature spirit:

Though stories make Baba Yaka to be a witch, like Medusa. Scholars believe that Baba Yaga was originally a female nature spirit, a provider of healing. In early tales she is the Keeper of the Waters of Life and Death. She drops a bit of each kind of water on a victim, which kills the body and the soul to be reborn.

Stories link ‘The Hag’ to sitting on the sleeper’s chest and causes terrifying dreams. When the sleeper awakens, he may feel as if he cannot breathe for a short period of time. In ancient lore, this state was called being “Hag-Ridden,” though the sensation is explained today as a natural syndrome called “sleep paralysis”

Hut on Chicken Legs Goes through the Swamp. The Character of the Slavic Tales. Vector Illustration in Classic Hand Drawn Ink Technique.

Hags

Celtic and Norse Hags:

The Hag is an archetypal figure who crops up in Myth and Legends around the world. Many stories link spirits in the form of an old woman, many stories link the Hag with nightmares, causing terrifying dreams. Especially on Halloween.

The Norse a Hag is called a Mare, she enters a person’s bedroom through the keyhole to bring nightmares to the sleeper. The words for “nightmare” in several European languages derive from this belief. Women could become Maras, either by wicked actions or by being cursed.
Another creature from Polish Myth is called the Nocnitsa (Night Hag). Her specialty is tormenting sleeping children. Mothers would place an iron knife in the cradle and draw a circle to protect the children.
Another hag appears in the folklore of Ireland and Scotland called the Cailleach, a hideous old woman, often carrying a staff, she is known to have the ability to have the destructive powers of nature. She comes down from her mountain home on Samhain (Nov. 1) beating her staff against the ground, which causes it to freeze and brings on cold winds and snowstorms.
In Greek myth, the Gorgones are three monstrous female Hags, the most famous of whom is Medusa. Ancient Greek vase paintings depict the three sisters as winged women, with heads, large staring eyes, gaping mouths, protruding tongues, tusks of a swine, and living snakes as hair.
Legend says that blood taken from the right side of Gorgon could bring a corpse back to life, yet blood taken from the left side was an instantly fatal poison.
Baba Yaga, the Hag of Russian and eastern European folklore. Like other Hags, she is a wizened old woman with a long hooked nose. Like Medusa, she is fearsome and hideous, with bulging eyes that petrify anyone she looks upon. In fairy tales, she is portrayed as a witch who lures children to her hut and devours them.

Symbol of female power:
Some scholars have argued that rather than being a monster, the Gorgon is a holy image of female power and wisdom. Her wide unblinking eyes symbolize the ability to penetrate illusions and see the truth. Her boar tusks come from the sacred pigs, a symbol of rebirth, which were sacrificed to Athena in ancient Athens. The hair of snakes is a reminder of the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, as the snake sheds its skin and grows new skin. Seen this way, the purpose of the terrifying Gorgon mask was to guard and protect women and the mysteries of the Divine Feminine.

Female nature spirit:

Though stories make Baba Yaka to be a witch, like Medusa. Scholars believe that Baba Yaga was originally a female nature spirit, a provider of healing. In early tales she is the Keeper of the Waters of Life and Death. She drops a bit of each kind of water on a victim, which kills the body and the soul to be reborn.

Stories link ‘The Hag’ to sitting on the sleeper’s chest and causes terrifying dreams. When the sleeper awakens, he may feel as if he cannot breathe for a short period of time. In ancient lore, this state was called being “Hag-Ridden,” though the sensation is explained today as a natural syndrome called “sleep paralysis”

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A boy finds himself on another planet, Ethereal, where creatures known as Elousen live. Now he must team up with Elousen kids to find Earth and remember how he got their, all while fighting to protect their planet against foul beings know as Mer-Dragons and a dark soccer being, Malic, in order to get back home to Earth!

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Review Roundup

Ah, 2020 is finally coming to an end. Such a strange year but since no one can really go anywhere, I understand from the publishing industry that more people read e-books this year more than any other year. I could only read a couple books this year but instead of books I’ve been getting into Audible. I can listen while working. I can get a book done in four days instead of weeks. Amazing! But I still miss the reading though. I’ve also been writing my new sci-fi / fantasy book. A coming of age story. Book 2 of ‘The Chronicle Gates’ is done and should be out about in late Feb. And in Nov. I had five e-books sell in one month! Below I have reviews for middle grade books and Free review copies of sci-fi/ fantasy books. Including mine! I hope everyone has a great holiday!

Middle Grade Review

Review Roundup: Middle Grade Galore

Fast paced action adventures can be found between the pages of middle grade books. Often times, your find humor as well. Weather it be mystery, romance, sci-fi, or fantasy, children are always able to find something they love. Well, except romance, we go easy on that around here. But still, even adults read this (genera) at a rapid pace because most of the time, MG comes in trilogy or series of books. So here’s my top five MG books to read from the last decade.

For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.

Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken — Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good — powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.

**** Wow. This was good. The characters were well developed, the story was very well done with promise of more to come. Very fast and well paced story as well. 2006

series 1-5

In the hidden dragon sanctuary of Wyrmroost, Celebrant the Just, King of the Dragons, plots his revenge. He has long seen the sanctuaries as prisons, and he wants nothing more than to overthrow his captors and return the world to the Age of Dragons, when he and his kind ruled and reigned without borders. The time has come to break free and reclaim his power.

No one person is capable of stopping Celebrant and his dragon horde. It will take the ancient order of Dragonwatch to gather again if there is any chance of saving the world from destruction. In ancient times, Dragonwatch was a group of wizards, enchantresses, dragon slayers, and others who originally confined the majority of dragons into sanctuaries. But nearly all of the original Dragonwatch members are gone, and so the wizard Agad reaches out to Grandpa Sorenson for help.

As Kendra and Seth confront this new danger, they must draw upon all their skills, talents, and knowledge as only they have the ability to function together as a powerful dragon tamer. Together they must battle against forces with superior supernatural powers and breathtaking magical abilities.

How will the epic dragon showdown end? Will dragons overthrow humans and change the world as we know it?

**** A great follow up series to Fabelhaven where the familiar characters that you love, Kendra and Seth return, but they become caretakers of a sanctuary of their own. But this sanctuary has dragons… some good…some not so good… Celebrant the Just, King of the Dragons want Seth and Kendra gone, and return the world to the age of dragons! A fun and adventures read with old and new characters. 2017

series 1-4 (5 coming soon

Heather and Picket are extraordinary rabbits with ordinary lives until calamitous events overtake them, spilling them into a cauldron of misadventures. They discover that their own story is bound up in the tumult threatening to overwhelm the wider world.

Kings fall and kingdoms totter. Tyrants ascend and terrors threaten. Betrayal beckons, and loyalty is a broken road with peril around every bend.

Where will Heather and Picket land? How will they make their stand? 

**** This is so good. I haven’t read a book this good about rabbits since Watership Down. I loved the journey that Picket and Heather go on and how these two characters grow. I’ll have to get the next one at once because, spoiler, it ends in a cliff hanger! 2014 (I have to say I found this in my comic book section on kindle so thought it was a comic book)

series 1-4

One cruel night, Meggie’s father reads aloud from a book called INKHEART– and an evil ruler escapes the boundaries of fiction and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read about in books. Meggie must learn to harness the magic that has conjured this nightmare. For only she can change the course of the story that has changed her life forever.

This is INKHEART–a timeless tale about books, about imagination, about life. Dare to read it aloud.

**** This was a great trilogy, haven’t read this in a while so I don’t remember it much…but I do remember loving it. I just wish they made the last two movies.

series 1-3

Twelve-year-old Happenstance awakens in a cave with no memory of who he is or how he came to be there. Soon a mysterious trio arrives to take him away: the explorer Umber, the shy archer Sophie, and Oates, whose strength and honesty are both brutal. Hap and his new acquaintances narrowly escape the cavernous underworld and make their way to Lord Umber’s bustling jewel of a harbor city, Kurahaven.

Once there, Hap learns that Lord Umber is an extraordinary man — he’s a merchant, adventurer, inventor, royal adviser, and chronicler of all things monstrous and magical. But Umber’s accomplishments can’t answer the question closest to the boy’s heart: Who is Happenstance?

Desperate to uncover clues in his new, baffling surroundings, Hap accompanies Umber on dangerous and unusual missions. But Hap soon learns that there are powerful enemies inside the kingdom, and a ruthless assassin is hot on his trail. Faced with many unknowns, Hap knows one thing is certain: There’s a reason Umber has chosen him…if only he could determine it.

P. W. Catanese’s richly spun fantasy chronicles one boy’s quest for answers and hope in a world riddled by knowledge and power corrupted.

**** This was very good. The character of Hap discovering this new world. Another great trilogy.

series 1-3

These were all so great stories for children and adults alike. The characters growth and interesting worlds are all amazing and wonderful. Once you pick one of these up, you won’t be able to put one down until you get through one of these amazing series!

update of Chronicle Gates book 1 & 2

Hi, Friends of Fantasy, haven’t written here in a while. I’ve been working on new book covers. Take a while to figure all this out. Gimp is a program that wants everything just right and have to do steps in order, or it’s no go. Also “Chronicle Gates vol 2: Alphine” is being edited right now. I’ll reveal the cover for book 1 soon. Other than that, I’ve also been editing my next novel and I started working on something else that’s in the same world of “The Chronicle Gates” I guess it’s going to be like C.S.Lewis “The Chronicles of Nannia” series where the characters grow but the main characters won’t always be in future books. Anyway, that’s what I’m going for and see how it works.