Anthony Lowe's Blog, page 5
April 8, 2014
Captain America!
So, we went to go see Captain America: The Winter Soldier over the weekend and... wow. "The Marvel Cinematic Universe" has yet to disappoint, but there are some entries (Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2) that feel slightly more than baseline. Enjoyable, but not much more than that. The Winter Soldier is easily my favorite Marvel film so far. The action is exciting, the story is fun, and the characters are given room to breathe and do other things beyond protecting their respective love interests.
I liked it better than The Avengers, which I didn't think would happen.
All this brought to you by the co-directors whose last big theatrical release was the venerable (/nausea-inducing sarcasm) You, Me and Dupree . I don't know how those guys pulled off one of the best action films of the year and what I believe to be one of the best superhero films of all time. I really don't.
But go check it out if you haven't already. It's most definitely worth the price of admission!
I liked it better than The Avengers, which I didn't think would happen.
All this brought to you by the co-directors whose last big theatrical release was the venerable (/nausea-inducing sarcasm) You, Me and Dupree . I don't know how those guys pulled off one of the best action films of the year and what I believe to be one of the best superhero films of all time. I really don't.
But go check it out if you haven't already. It's most definitely worth the price of admission!
April 3, 2014
April Update!
I know there's been more radio silence, but things have been progressing smoothly these days. Book 2 is shaping up nicely, as is another project I've been poking at for a few years. It'll be post-apocalyptic and likely zombie-infested.
I know, I know. Zombies are played out. But! I'm really enjoying writing it, and I'm hoping to put enough of a personal twist on it that people might find it interesting. Definitely no comedy there, though, so it's odd switching back and forth between the two.
I'll try to get more excerpts up in the future, but until then, I'll try and keep the word count meters up-to-date as I go!
I know, I know. Zombies are played out. But! I'm really enjoying writing it, and I'm hoping to put enough of a personal twist on it that people might find it interesting. Definitely no comedy there, though, so it's odd switching back and forth between the two.
I'll try to get more excerpts up in the future, but until then, I'll try and keep the word count meters up-to-date as I go!
March 1, 2014
Excerpt from: "Lore of the Reluctant - BOOK 2"
The assassin wasn't on a job, and she hadn't been for some time. Every now and then, she questioned whether that still made her an assassin and if she could even rightly claim that title these days. Over the regular course of the last few years, she had certainly killed people—multitudes, even—but it had always been in combat, in self-defense. She couldn't even remember the last time she had cut a contract.
On those off days, she questioned further: Did she even have it in her anymore? Could she kill a man or woman for no other reason beyond their names being scrolled across the wrong sheet of parchment?
It took people like their driver, Jacob, to make her revisit those questions with marked intensity.
Jacob, who preferred to be called “Jake,” who made his own liquor once, who departed university early because “those boneheads couldn't teach him nothin',” who could break any horse, who could win any bare-knuckle fight with any chump south of the Portis Freeholds. It couldn't have been more than a half-hour since Acys had gone into the shop, but it felt like flimsy concepts like time broke down around the ramblings of someone like Jake—not Jacob.
“So, I wandered the North for a time, mostly bouncing from job to job between the Freeholds. They always said I could stick around on a permanent basis if I cared to. I was that good at what I did, but I couldn't put down roots like that. Never seemed right. Like I knew I was needed elsewhere, you know?”
“Mmhm,” the assassin said, hearing a pause.
“Got it in my mind to head south, happened to pass through Trevarun before hitting the Red River and met up with a man running some stables near the edge of town and got a job breaking horses. You ever head out that way, go to the Reiser Stables and ask anybody there. I was the finest horse trainer they'd seen in years. Years, I'm telling you. Old Mr. Reiser said I was the best he'd ever employed. Go ahead and ask him.”
“Mmhm.”
“Would-a stayed longer than I had. Stars above, the Reisers practically begged me not to leave, but it was just like before. Got that same damn feeling that I wasn't quite where I needed to be. You ever get that feeling, Jasper?”
“Mmhm.” The assassin, Jasper, unsheathed one of the twin daggers at her hips and used it to scratch the dirt out from under her fingernails. “Shit happens.”
“It's like there's gonna be a place on the road where everything's just gonna work out perfectly, and then I'll be able to put down roots and do so with a smile. I'm sure they want me back in the ring already. There's a guy down in Winterset who would pay me fifty zayl a fight because of the crowds I drew in.” He slapped the door of the coach. “Just taking this job as a driver to help pay my way back down there. Bet he's willing to up my pay just for showing up—”
“Hey, dude...” Jasper sheathed the dagger and opened the door out of the coach. “Listen, I'm gonna stretch my legs and see what the others are up to, all right?”
Jake-not-Jacob looked at her blankly from the driver's seat, twisting the reins as if he hadn't heard. “What was that?”
She sighed. “Me go that way, check on others. I'll be back in a bit.”
“Oh... okay.” He waved at her. “I'll be right here, then.”
“More's the pity.”
“What?”
“I just saw a kitty.”
“Oh...”
Jasper rolled her eyes and walked past the general store. Whatever was keeping Acys, she really didn't want to interrupt. Also, she didn't really care. Instead, she pressed on into the small town of Oliver's Field.
On those off days, she questioned further: Did she even have it in her anymore? Could she kill a man or woman for no other reason beyond their names being scrolled across the wrong sheet of parchment?
It took people like their driver, Jacob, to make her revisit those questions with marked intensity.
Jacob, who preferred to be called “Jake,” who made his own liquor once, who departed university early because “those boneheads couldn't teach him nothin',” who could break any horse, who could win any bare-knuckle fight with any chump south of the Portis Freeholds. It couldn't have been more than a half-hour since Acys had gone into the shop, but it felt like flimsy concepts like time broke down around the ramblings of someone like Jake—not Jacob.
“So, I wandered the North for a time, mostly bouncing from job to job between the Freeholds. They always said I could stick around on a permanent basis if I cared to. I was that good at what I did, but I couldn't put down roots like that. Never seemed right. Like I knew I was needed elsewhere, you know?”
“Mmhm,” the assassin said, hearing a pause.
“Got it in my mind to head south, happened to pass through Trevarun before hitting the Red River and met up with a man running some stables near the edge of town and got a job breaking horses. You ever head out that way, go to the Reiser Stables and ask anybody there. I was the finest horse trainer they'd seen in years. Years, I'm telling you. Old Mr. Reiser said I was the best he'd ever employed. Go ahead and ask him.”
“Mmhm.”
“Would-a stayed longer than I had. Stars above, the Reisers practically begged me not to leave, but it was just like before. Got that same damn feeling that I wasn't quite where I needed to be. You ever get that feeling, Jasper?”
“Mmhm.” The assassin, Jasper, unsheathed one of the twin daggers at her hips and used it to scratch the dirt out from under her fingernails. “Shit happens.”
“It's like there's gonna be a place on the road where everything's just gonna work out perfectly, and then I'll be able to put down roots and do so with a smile. I'm sure they want me back in the ring already. There's a guy down in Winterset who would pay me fifty zayl a fight because of the crowds I drew in.” He slapped the door of the coach. “Just taking this job as a driver to help pay my way back down there. Bet he's willing to up my pay just for showing up—”
“Hey, dude...” Jasper sheathed the dagger and opened the door out of the coach. “Listen, I'm gonna stretch my legs and see what the others are up to, all right?”
Jake-not-Jacob looked at her blankly from the driver's seat, twisting the reins as if he hadn't heard. “What was that?”
She sighed. “Me go that way, check on others. I'll be back in a bit.”
“Oh... okay.” He waved at her. “I'll be right here, then.”
“More's the pity.”
“What?”
“I just saw a kitty.”
“Oh...”
Jasper rolled her eyes and walked past the general store. Whatever was keeping Acys, she really didn't want to interrupt. Also, she didn't really care. Instead, she pressed on into the small town of Oliver's Field.
February 4, 2014
Full Speed Ahead
Book 2 is back on track!
I know there were some distractions, but things are moving along much smoother than they had been. Back in the groove, everything's on track, back in school, etc. It's all looking good!
I've updated the progress bar to approximately where it should be, since I'm still working towards a word count in the same general range of Outcasts. Hoping to post more in the near future.
Stay tuned!
I know there were some distractions, but things are moving along much smoother than they had been. Back in the groove, everything's on track, back in school, etc. It's all looking good!
I've updated the progress bar to approximately where it should be, since I'm still working towards a word count in the same general range of Outcasts. Hoping to post more in the near future.
Stay tuned!
January 19, 2014
Recent Endeavors!
Just got back from visiting the folks, with only a Monday sitting between me and the next semester. Really looking forward to it, especially since I was able to snag the English courses I've been trying to get since coming back to college.
Pointed this out in my last post, but I was worked over by Star Wars fever and ended up writing a story about one of the game's characters: Shae Vizla, a Mandalorian bounty hunter who helped topple the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Had a lot of fun writing it. If I ever got a job writing for Star Wars, I could turn out stories from The Old Republic setting forever and not get bored.
If you don't mind fanfiction, here are a couple of places you can check out the story!
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9934908/1/The-Most-Dangerous-Game
http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=713457
I've also been contributing to /r/WritingPrompts on Reddit! Here are a couple of stories that I posted within the last week:
"A hospital where all video game characters go when they lose a life."
"An immortal man is sentenced to life in prison."
No new news to report on Book 2, unfortunately. Everything's still in place, but I wasn't able to make any progress over the holidays. That will change pretty quick here, though.
Pointed this out in my last post, but I was worked over by Star Wars fever and ended up writing a story about one of the game's characters: Shae Vizla, a Mandalorian bounty hunter who helped topple the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Had a lot of fun writing it. If I ever got a job writing for Star Wars, I could turn out stories from The Old Republic setting forever and not get bored.
If you don't mind fanfiction, here are a couple of places you can check out the story!
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9934908/1/The-Most-Dangerous-Game
http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=713457
I've also been contributing to /r/WritingPrompts on Reddit! Here are a couple of stories that I posted within the last week:
"A hospital where all video game characters go when they lose a life."
"An immortal man is sentenced to life in prison."
No new news to report on Book 2, unfortunately. Everything's still in place, but I wasn't able to make any progress over the holidays. That will change pretty quick here, though.
December 31, 2013
Happy Holidays!
Happy (Late) Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Still writing, but the end of the year is always hectic, as it is for most. To give a brief update, I had to tweak Book 2 a bit in the outline department, so I'm trying to adapt what I've written so far to that new direction. Nothing too major, but I have to make sure I'm lined up correctly for when I start writing the bulk of the story. That foundation has to be stable, but after that it practically writes itself.
I mean, I still have to write it, but it kinda writes itself... not really... yeah.
You understand.
I've also been poking at another Star Wars story on my fanfiction profile. Every now and then, I have these Star Wars Obsession Moments, when I just can't do anything else beyond playing/reading/watching/writing Star Wars. Just can't be helped. Right now, Star Wars: The Old Republic has been taking up a bit of my time, and I've recently read through the first book in the Empire & Rebellion series, Razor's Edge, as well as the second book in the X-wing series, Wedge's Gamble. Both were very enjoyable, with Razor's Edge being more of a fun space romp with Leia Organa as the focus of the story, and Wedge's Gamble being the further adventures of Rogue Squadron. The latter was definitely the weaker of the two that I read. Rogue Squadron was just plain fantastic, with a great balance of character and action, but its sequel was a bit more uneven.
Why send X-wing pilots on an espionage mission? Not sure. Even towards the end of the book, I was still trying to understand that rationale.
Anyway, the story I've been writing is about the bounty hunter, Shae Vizla, who pops up in the "Deceived" cinematic trailer for The Old Republic. If you have any interest in such things, I have it posted o'er here!
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9934908/1/The-Most-Dangerous-Game
That's it!
Again, I hope everyone enjoys their respective holidays - and I'll see you next year!
Still writing, but the end of the year is always hectic, as it is for most. To give a brief update, I had to tweak Book 2 a bit in the outline department, so I'm trying to adapt what I've written so far to that new direction. Nothing too major, but I have to make sure I'm lined up correctly for when I start writing the bulk of the story. That foundation has to be stable, but after that it practically writes itself.
I mean, I still have to write it, but it kinda writes itself... not really... yeah.
You understand.
I've also been poking at another Star Wars story on my fanfiction profile. Every now and then, I have these Star Wars Obsession Moments, when I just can't do anything else beyond playing/reading/watching/writing Star Wars. Just can't be helped. Right now, Star Wars: The Old Republic has been taking up a bit of my time, and I've recently read through the first book in the Empire & Rebellion series, Razor's Edge, as well as the second book in the X-wing series, Wedge's Gamble. Both were very enjoyable, with Razor's Edge being more of a fun space romp with Leia Organa as the focus of the story, and Wedge's Gamble being the further adventures of Rogue Squadron. The latter was definitely the weaker of the two that I read. Rogue Squadron was just plain fantastic, with a great balance of character and action, but its sequel was a bit more uneven.
Why send X-wing pilots on an espionage mission? Not sure. Even towards the end of the book, I was still trying to understand that rationale.
Anyway, the story I've been writing is about the bounty hunter, Shae Vizla, who pops up in the "Deceived" cinematic trailer for The Old Republic. If you have any interest in such things, I have it posted o'er here!
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9934908/1/The-Most-Dangerous-Game
That's it!
Again, I hope everyone enjoys their respective holidays - and I'll see you next year!
November 27, 2013
Happy (Early) Thankgiving!
And good luck to anyone braving the roads today. I know I'll be making the proper preparations for the drive.
=D
=D
November 12, 2013
Whew...
Midterms are in and The Big Assignments are all finished! Have Thanksgiving coming up, which means a trip back to the valley, but I should have a few good days of writing ahead of me this week. Should.
Here's something I wrote on Reddit. The writing prompt had us rewrite the Black Plague in Europe as though it had been a zombie outbreak. Fun, fun, fun.
Enjoy!
http://amlowe.tumblr.com/post/65099657122/october-23
Here's something I wrote on Reddit. The writing prompt had us rewrite the Black Plague in Europe as though it had been a zombie outbreak. Fun, fun, fun.
Enjoy!
http://amlowe.tumblr.com/post/65099657122/october-23
October 27, 2013
Angry Robot Accepting Submissions!
The adult sci-fi/fantasy publisher, Angry Robot, is accepting unsolicited manuscripts through the end of the year! I haven't been able to read anything from them yet, though I have a copy of Paul S. Kemp's The Hammer and Blade sitting on my shelf waiting to be read. I would love to be able to get something done for them, but I'm not so sure I'd be able to make the deadline, since they only accept manuscripts with a minimum of 75,000 words and I'm nowhere near that right now.
Still! If anyone has a manuscript to send their way, here's the link!
http://angryrobotbooks.com/opendoor
Still! If anyone has a manuscript to send their way, here's the link!
http://angryrobotbooks.com/opendoor
October 24, 2013
[An Aside] Fantasy Confessions
I haven't been reading as many of the recent fantasy essentials as I should. I admit this freely and without fear. I've read a number of the classics! Some of Howard's Conan and Solomon Kane short stories, Elric of Melnibone, and I'm about to finish my first Amber novel - to name a few. But as for recent? I'm very slow to pick them up. I get worried about the investment time-wise, because I am a pathetically slow reader, and fantasy reads tend to take me even longer because I really just savor the imagery.
So, I usually trend towards the classics, because many are either one-off stories or much more brief. These epic Robert Jordan-ian tomes intimidate the hell out of me. How my friend is able to read the Wheel of Time on an annual basis is still shocking/awe-inspiring/a mystery to me.
But one of those series that I haven't been able to dive into - but sincerely wish I could - is the Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastards series. Basically, I have a review copy of The Republic of Thieves coming to me soon, and I haven't read the other two. I have both books on hand, but they've only recently come back to me after making the rounds through all my friends, all of whom loved them. I've also been interested because Lynch is a fan of Matthew Stover, and I hear nothing but praise for the series coming from Stover himself. (Red Seas Under Red Skies is also dedicated to the guy.)
Long story short , I've resolved to read the Gentlemen Bastards series after I've finished with my recent reading pile, which presently includes The Fellowship of the Ring, Anything Goes, and a reread of The Great Gatsby. Also, whatever random school reads happen to fall onto the path.
But, yeah! Excited to get started on that!
