R.T. Donlon's Blog

Ranking the Canonical Dune Novels Part 2 (#3 - #1)

There are very few series like the Dune series. The sheer magnitude of its scale, the philosophical, religious, and political themes spread across each page requires more than one read to fully grasp it all. Both Frank Herbert and his son, Brian Herbert, agree with this assessment. I have found that few accept the challenge to venture deep into the heart of a masterful series like Dune, but when they do, their minds open. They see our own world differently.

With the new Dune movies now out and d...

Ranking the Canonical Dune Novels (#6 - #4)

Over the course of the past 6 months, I’ve spent an incredible amount of time getting my 9th graders to find a shimmer of joy in reading. For months they whined and complained, rebelled and refused, scratched and clawed…all for avoiding words printed in black ink on a blank canvas.

I knew only one way to show them how important reading truly is to their psyches—to model it for them. I needed to show them why, how, and even when reading is one of the greatest gifts humanity has been given. This c...

Blink-182 Reunited For The Kids

Blink-182 burst onto the music scene in the late 1990s and immediately captured the hearts of a generation that were just like them - rebellious, a little lost, and wanting desperately to find our place in the world. Their catchy hooks, witty lyrics, and middle fingers made Tom, Mark, and Travis icons to kids around the country (and the world) who just wanted to have fun without adults telling them when and where to do it.

Now—more than two decades later—blink-182 has evolved into a force to be r...

'The Matrix' Debuted 24.5 Years Ago And It's Still Relevant. Here's Why.

I urge you, right now, to take a moment and ponder the sheer perplexity of human existence. Most of us can’t—or won’t—because our busy lives (and/or general lack of interest) limits us to only what what see on our little mud ball in space. Most people are simply content with the beauty of blinking stars at night or the warmth of sunlight on a summer day, but as a Science Fiction author, I unfortunately can’t help but go beyond. To simply see is not enough. I want answers.

Which is why I ask the q...

Is the DC Universe Dead?

Superhero movies have become a cultural phenomenon, capturing the hearts and minds of millions around the world. With their thrilling narratives, jaw-dropping action sequences, and larger-than-life characters, these films have transcended traditional genres to become a mainstream obsession. Whether it's the inspiring heroics of Superman, the brooding darkness of Batman, or the witty banter of Spider-Man, there's a superhero for everyone. The success of these movies can be attributed to their abi...

Fantasy is Bulls**t

Yeah...it is -- -- --

But isn't that the point?

As an author, I have a particular audience. Every author pinpoints their market. Mine, I believe, are adults who refuse to leave their childhood dreams and ambitions behind...and for good reason. This is a good thing. In fact, I am one of these people. These are the people that refuse to sacrifice the beauty, creativity, and general awe of a whacked out storyline for the sake of living a "normal and realistic" life. Too many times have I heard the...

BIG IDEAS: Lit Talk

Another installment of your BEHIND THE SCENES look at The City of Shadow & Dust:

Here's a question I get all the time.

- - - - Do you know the content of every book in the series before you started writing?

Yes. If there's something I've learned while writing these last 4 novels, it's that outlining and preparation are just as important, if not more, than the actual writing. Revision is a whole different story. That's where the magic happens, but in terms of pure narrative construction, outlin...

Big Ideas: The Series

Thought about reading The City of Shadow & Dust, but worried about starting a gargantuan 12-novel series now? Well, don't let me get in the way. Below is the gist of the story you'll be getting yourself into. I'm partial, but damn, do I love it. I'll let you decide. Read on -- -- --

I'm constantly rolling through so many images in my head. It's like film constantly playing back there and it's my job to take it and describe it to anyone who picks up my novels. I found this picture recently an...

12 Books, 12+ Years

"I could barely write a 3 page essay in high school!"

"I don't know how you do that..."

"When do you find the time?"

Those are just a few things I hear when I talk about my writing, especially during the summer months. It's a blessing and a curse, this writing thing. Most of the time it makes me feel small, like I can't get my head out of my own ass, but every so often, I'll come across a moment of clarity - one that supercharges the images in my brain into words wrapping across a computer scr...

I Hate Fan Fiction

Every writer has a weak spot. It's some style of writing that we openly hate, but secretly like a little. Of course, we'll never really confess to this, but come on, we all know...

Whether it's romance writing or informational studies, weird things always seem to wet writers' whistles...

Oh! Mine, you ask? Well...

It's fan fiction. 

I openly despise fan fiction. In my eyes, it's a complete rip-off of others' wonderful creativity. Why steal someone else's characters when you can feel entirely...