K.S. Dearsley's Blog, page 11
March 11, 2013
A Gift?
Usually, I look on having a lively imagination as an advantage. This week, however, I'm not so sure.
One of my dogs has been reluctant to put her weight on her back leg, and the vet says she's damaged her cruciate ligament and needs an operation on her knee. She's booked in to have it done this week and although she came through an operation on her other leg about 18 months ago with no problems, my imagination keeps conjuring pictures I'd rather not see.
Thankfully, dogs live in the present and don't worry about disasters that might never happen (as far as we know). I shall take comfort from that, and use my dubious gift to try to imagine what it would be like not to have an imagination.
All I would have to work with in predicting the outcome of words or actions would be facts, statistics, mathematical odds etc.-sounds rather like a computer to me. Would a computer be able to write my next novel faster? Probably. Would it be able to write it better? I certainly hope not.
One of my dogs has been reluctant to put her weight on her back leg, and the vet says she's damaged her cruciate ligament and needs an operation on her knee. She's booked in to have it done this week and although she came through an operation on her other leg about 18 months ago with no problems, my imagination keeps conjuring pictures I'd rather not see.
Thankfully, dogs live in the present and don't worry about disasters that might never happen (as far as we know). I shall take comfort from that, and use my dubious gift to try to imagine what it would be like not to have an imagination.
All I would have to work with in predicting the outcome of words or actions would be facts, statistics, mathematical odds etc.-sounds rather like a computer to me. Would a computer be able to write my next novel faster? Probably. Would it be able to write it better? I certainly hope not.
February 24, 2013
Number Three
... in the Iyessi song series.
I'll sing you a story of darkness and light
Of friends found unlooked for
And enemies' might
Of cowards and heroes
Of fair deeds and foul
Of love and of hatred and hearts full of spite.
I'll sing you a story of darkness and light
Of friends found unlooked for
And enemies' might
Of cowards and heroes
Of fair deeds and foul
Of love and of hatred and hearts full of spite.
February 10, 2013
White Out of the Blue
I was looking out of the window at the rain and feeling gloomy when I heard that several states in the north-east of the US have suffered a 'ferocious' snow storm. It seems such a strange way to describe snow.
I can visualise ferocious wind or thunder, but snow? Surely it is too soft and quiet–not a battle with swords and axes, but a silent smothering by feather pillows in your sleep.
Of course, if you're struggling to get home and there's ice on your eyelashes and your fingers have gone numb, you're unlikely to care how anyone else describes it. To anyone who's had a foot or more of snow, ferocious or otherwise, dumped on them–I wish you tucked up safe and warm with a good book.
I can visualise ferocious wind or thunder, but snow? Surely it is too soft and quiet–not a battle with swords and axes, but a silent smothering by feather pillows in your sleep.
Of course, if you're struggling to get home and there's ice on your eyelashes and your fingers have gone numb, you're unlikely to care how anyone else describes it. To anyone who's had a foot or more of snow, ferocious or otherwise, dumped on them–I wish you tucked up safe and warm with a good book.
February 3, 2013
Kindred Spirits
While watching a BBC documentary recently, I was intrigued to discover the great indian musician, Ravi Shankar's views about playing music. For him it was an act of worship–the result of years of dedication to learning and practice. It was rooted in a framework within which the music changed as dictated by the inspiration of the moment. Otherwise it would be mere entertainment, often springing from a desire to show off.
His words chimed with the beliefs of the Iyessi in Discord's Child. In fact, I could easily hear Ro's mother, Lar, the Earth-hearer or the Vitae-hearer, Verron, saying exactly the same thing. Whether he would have agreed with other aspects of their philosophy is, sadly, something I shall never know.
His words chimed with the beliefs of the Iyessi in Discord's Child. In fact, I could easily hear Ro's mother, Lar, the Earth-hearer or the Vitae-hearer, Verron, saying exactly the same thing. Whether he would have agreed with other aspects of their philosophy is, sadly, something I shall never know.
January 13, 2013
Meanwhile...
Work on the next in The Exiles of Ondd series continues. Meanwhile, if you'd like to see more of my work, 'Plucked from Obscurity' is in The Binnacle Ultra-Short 9th Edition (http://www.umm.maine.edu/binnacle) and 'Healthy Eating' is on the Beam Me Up radio podcast at http://www.beammeuppodcast.com/beam-m....
December 28, 2012
Oh, dear!
Once again I find that my fingers are faster than my brain! Anyone who clicks on the link to Daily SF in my last post will find that it doesn't work. It should be http://www.dailysciencefiction.com.
My apologies to anyone who has been frustrated by the mistake, and to those at Daily SF.
My apologies to anyone who has been frustrated by the mistake, and to those at Daily SF.
December 24, 2012
Another Song
For fans of short stories, 'Job Satisfaction', is now available at http://www.plasmafrequencymag.com, and 'Salvage' will be at http://www.sailysciencefiction.com in January.
Meanwhile, here's another in the Iyessi Song Series:
One step,
The journey's begun.
No sense in looking back,
Time and life move onward.
Water flows to the sea,
The wind blows with Ondd's sighs,
Fire leaps and vitae dances,
Not even the stone stands still.
Mountains thrust fingers towards the sky
And sink when youth is gone.
And we must move too,
Wherever the path may lead us,
Wherever the path may lead.
Meanwhile, here's another in the Iyessi Song Series:
One step,
The journey's begun.
No sense in looking back,
Time and life move onward.
Water flows to the sea,
The wind blows with Ondd's sighs,
Fire leaps and vitae dances,
Not even the stone stands still.
Mountains thrust fingers towards the sky
And sink when youth is gone.
And we must move too,
Wherever the path may lead us,
Wherever the path may lead.
November 25, 2012
The Iyessi Song Series
Here are some lyrics to one of the Iyessi songs. You'll find more on my website.
You are new to the world
As we are new to you.
We welcome you.
Your eyes open, and we see again
A world that is fresh
And full of hope
And wonder.
You are new to the world
As we are new to you.
We welcome you.
Your eyes open, and we see again
A world that is fresh
And full of hope
And wonder.
November 13, 2012
Hello and...
welcome to the first entry on my Goodreads blog.
For the moment this will mostly be about Discord's Child, the first in the Exiles of Ondd series. I shall be giving updates on progress on the next novel, as well as excerpts from deleted scenes or passages (think director's cut), such as the Iyessis song lyrics. You'll find more of these at my website http://www.ksdearsley.com. I'd love to know if you'd like to see these reinstalled at the head of each chapter as I'd originally intended. Your opinion of the current cover, or what I should replace it with, would also be great. In fact, I'd love to hear from you with any questions or comments you might have.
Thanks for visiting. I hope you'll drop by again.
For the moment this will mostly be about Discord's Child, the first in the Exiles of Ondd series. I shall be giving updates on progress on the next novel, as well as excerpts from deleted scenes or passages (think director's cut), such as the Iyessis song lyrics. You'll find more of these at my website http://www.ksdearsley.com. I'd love to know if you'd like to see these reinstalled at the head of each chapter as I'd originally intended. Your opinion of the current cover, or what I should replace it with, would also be great. In fact, I'd love to hear from you with any questions or comments you might have.
Thanks for visiting. I hope you'll drop by again.
