Roland Clarke's Blog, page 18
April 28, 2020
X for Xerarch
My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.
Back in 2013, I wrote a short story about the opposition to a mega-power project, which gave rise to an Indian plotline – and Xerarch. However, for the Challenge in 2014, I focused on the meaning behind the name.
This was another research nugget unearthed while I was creating the game-world for my novel ‘Wyrm Bait’. A game-world that evolved into my post-apocalyptic saga Gossamer Flames. And the research is ongoing – as is my interest in India, specifically Tamil culture.
Links to my other 2020 A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/
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To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/
April 27, 2020
Five * Review of Voyagers: The Third Ghost
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With only a week to go until the May 5th release of Voyagers: The Third Ghost, our IWSG Anthology of 10 diverse historical fantasy short stories just received its first 5-star review. My tale gets an honourable mention, but I’m champing at my bit to read all the other awesome stories.
https://pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com/2020/04/voyagers-third-ghost-by-yvonne-ventresca.html
On Wednesday, I’ll be re-blogging another IWSG Anthology blog post with my fellow writers’ thoughts on their experiences with language. Be enthralled at all the past revelations at:
W for Witcher
My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.
Even now when I’ve played some other excellent games, Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt remains my favourite and the benchmark as I game on. I still have more of the enjoyable books that inspired the games. Plus, the Netflix adaptation lived up to expectations with my wife and I watching Series One religiously.
I’ve also started playing Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, which satisfies my unsated fascination with the Witcher-world and addiction to Gwent, the card-game in Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. Recommended for those of a like disposition.
On the other hand, exploring the literature and folklore behind this game was one of the reasons I began my investigation into the creative Origins of various On-line Games. Unlike other games, the roots are Slavic so took me down some new rabbit holes – ones I’ve used elsewhere. Skadi meets Baba Yaga?
I will post about other games that were relevant in 2018 and still are meaningful.
Links to my other 2020 A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/
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To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/
April 25, 2020
V for Vijayanagara Confederation
My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.
V for Vijayanagara Confederation 1929 (2017)
Trying to devise an alternative timeline for the Indian sub-continent was intriguing and insightful. I’ve had a fascination with the sub-continent since travelling there in 1978, travelling overland through Eastern Europe, Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan – all on the verge of major upheavals. From Nepal to Sri Lanka, I found the landscape, culture, and people mesmerising. Ever since, parts of the sub-continent have crept into my writing.
Therefore, I inevitably included the sub-continent when I was constructing my Kanata alternative history. The initial trigger, Leif Eriksson’s permanent colonisation of Vinland, inspired me to rewrite other key episodes in history. I wanted the legacy forged from Vikings merging with the indigenous people to ripple down time. Kanata evolved into my vision of a 21st Century Viking Age that interacts across the globe.
Expect more alternative history ahead.
Before the ‘our timeline’ revelation, do you recognise all the real historical players in this alternative reality?
V is also for Voyagers: The Third Ghost, which is released on May 5th, 2020. Visit the IWSG Anthologies blog for details.
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Links to my other 2020 A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/
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To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/
April 24, 2020
U for United States Navy
My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.
U for United States Navy (2015)
Although there were few victors, the War of 1812 saw a power-shift at sea, from the Royal Navy to the burgeoning US Navy. Although today, the Royal Navy remains a force not to ignore.
Gregory Wendell, the author of the diary in ‘Seeking A Knife’ in my Snowdon Shadows series, is an RN officer who encounters the USN on the Great Lakes.
How much do you know about the War of 1812? Do you envisage the US Navy as always as powerful as today? Have you seen any of the early ships?
Links to my other 2020 A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/
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To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/
April 23, 2020
T for Treachery
My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.
At last I can give you the Final Part of Azure Spark, the investigation featuring my Welsh detective Sparkle Anwyl and her partner Kama Pillai. I hope you’ve already joined these main characters in my Snowdon Shadows series.
The case evolved into a novella as I edited the posts into three acts. I suspect not everyone got to read ‘Azure Spark’ last year so this will be your chance to catch up. Enjoy.
Links to my other 2020 A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/
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To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/
April 22, 2020
The Power of Language ~ Part 1
Today’s post on the IWSG Anthology blog carries some of my fellow writers’ thoughts on their experiences with language. Be enthralled at:
S for SWTOR
My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.
Here is a game-world I spent many hours in with my partner. Plus, ever since I loved the first film, the movies keep going as well – our latest watch being The Mandalorian. On the other hand, exploring the literature and folklore behind this game proved interesting – and unexpected.
I will be posting about other creative Origins of various On-line Games that were relevant in 2018 and still are meaningful.
Links to my other 2020 A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/
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To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/
April 21, 2020
R for Rurikid Diarchy
My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.
R for Rurikid Diarchy 1933 (2017)
Time for another shift in world history.
And all because I couldn’t stop constructing my Kanata alternative history. The initial trigger, Leif Eriksson’s permanent colonisation of Vinland, inspired me to rewrite other key episodes in history. I wanted the legacy forged from Vikings merging with the indigenous people to ripple down time. Kanata evolved into my vision of a 21st Century Viking Age.
Anyway, this one has deep roots as well as great ripples. Before the ‘our timeline’ revelation, will you recognise all the real historical events echoed here? I threw my whole set of spanners into this period. Amusing? Believably or fantasy?
Expect more alternative history ahead.
In fact, this ties with my current interests – like my short story ‘Feathered Fire’ which has a Ukrainian MC. The tale will appear in the IWSG anthology Voyagers: The Third Ghost, which is released on May 5th, 2020. There’s a taster on the IWSG Anthologies blog – if you’re tempted to delve.
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Links to my other 2020 A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/
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To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/
April 20, 2020
Q for Quisling
My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.
A word we often see, maybe use. But do you know how it originated?
Shakespeare perhaps? Or???
In fact, it was a word originating in World War II and appropriate in many contexts. Name one use before you read the original post.
All the research nuggets were unearthed while I was creating the game-world for my novel ‘Wyrm Bait’. Those, evolved into my post-apocalyptic saga Gossamer Flames. And the research is ongoing as rabbit holes keep appearing.
Links to my other A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/
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To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/
