08.30.06
Posted in Uncategorized at by mountzionryan
Three things for Wednesday:
1. Iceland Again?
Something (I’ll tell you in #2) set me thinking about one of my geographical obsessions: Iceland. In doing a little Googling I found the website chronicling a couple’s honeymoon in Iceland. They have taken some very nice pictures. Iceland is absolutely beautiful.
It’s landscape makes me think every fantasy cliche except “deep dark woods” TM.
2. Faery’s Tale
I now have a PDF of Faery’s Tale and I have been reading it voraciously. I love this game! It’s not just for kids, but what fun the kids will have.
As far as I know, only the spouse of one of my readers in a gamer, but this is too cool not to share. BTW, they’ve cleverly avoided any baggage associated with the term “role-playing game” by calling it an Interactive Storytelling Game.
The default setting is really geared towards kids and that’s what got me thinking about Iceland. I’d like to come up with a setting more appropriate to grown-up game-play than Brightwood. For some reason I keep coming back to a Norse setting. I’d make some new faery types. Great, another project. ;-)
3. Speaking of projects…
Many writer, especially in the fantasy genre, talk about the experience of feeling like a scribe recording what some other intelligence is sending. R.E. Howard said that the Conan stories popped into his head fully formed. Tolkien once wrote a friend that he didn’t know who this Strider chap was and where the hobbits would go after the Prancing Pony. Ursala K. LeGuin has written that many elements of Earthsea just fell into place and she knew they were right when she wrote them. I don’t think any sane writer believes they are merely recording the thoughts of another being, but it sure can feel that way sometimes.
Recently I’ve been working on a constructed world that has slowly formed in my imagination with almost no probing on my part. It is inspired, in part, by Paul Simon’s song “Boy in the Bubble” and by Natalie Merchant’s song “Carnival.” But that’s misleading. The songs both create picture in my mind that fits this new world. For convenience, I’m calling it Days of Miracle and Wonder, a line from Paul Simon.
I already know a little bit about the two cities I’ve been focusing on. The city in the Jungle is built near something like Iguazo Falls:
It is characterized by its wondrous and mysterious technology. It is built in a series of terraces right into a mountainside. It is ruled by a senate of representatives from each terrace and various religious, trade, and military groups.
The city in the desert is full of healers, magicians, and miracle workers. It looks a little like this:
It is down river from the City in the Jungle. It is ruled by a benevolent tyrant.
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08.29.06
Posted in Uncategorized at by mountzionryan
1. I have ordered and eagerly await the arrival of a role-playing game called Faery’s Tale. From the website:
You can fly. You can fight. You can save the world. Soar.
You are a pixie, brownie, sprite, or pooka protecting the enchanted fairy-tale land of Brightwood in this interactive storytelling game suitable for ages 6 & up. Foil plots by your wicked dark faery kin, rescue youngsters from giants, overthrow sorcerous tyrants, awaken princesses from magical slumbers, watch over faery godchildren or embark on other amazing adventures, happily ever after.
It is aimed at parents and children.
2. I have lined up a possible gig editing a novel. If it goes well, and I am going to do everything to see that it does, it may open the door for more editing work. And a freelance editor is about as clsoe to a dream job as I am likely to get.
3. My wife and daughter had a guest over yesterday. Her name is Maudie May and she is a pug dog. She actually belongs to my mother-in-law. I would have never picked my MIL to be a doggie-momma, but she is nuts for this dog. I can’t stand the little booger. I don’t know why, I’m ashamed to say. I love dogs. Love ‘em. I have owned three pugs. Loved them all. but this little spoiled princess pooch just rubs me the wrong way. She is whiney and spoiled and…don’t fret, she doesn’t like me either. And, in my defense, before MIL got her we were thinking of adopting her and when we first met she took an immediate dislike to me.
My dog, Buster, also a pug, has moved out. After biting Paul, we just couldn’t keep him in the home. I think he was trying to move up the pack hierarchy and saw Paul, as the youngest and smallest, as his way up. If Paul were older I doubt it would have even happened. Still he had to go. Luckily Anthony(beware his blog is enthusiastically political), Paul’s Godfather, has long been Buster’s pal and he took the naughty dog in.
I miss Buster. I miss having a dog.
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08.28.06
Posted in Uncategorized at by mountzionryan
It looks like I’ve effectively taken the summer off from blogging. It was accidental, I assure you. I am a chronic procrastinator and, as any good procrastinator can attest, the longer you put something off the harder it is to begin doing it. So here I am. No excuses. Probably fewer readers, but oh well.
Read This Blog!
I have been reading blogs. Today I read one I wanted to comment on and found the comment form deactivated. Instead I link it here and say: Thank You Seraphim. That was beautiful.
The Summer
I’ve had a moderately uneventful summer. I didn’t take any extended vacation, I used up half my paid days moving in the spring and didn’t want to be left without paid leave should I contract bird flu or West Nile virus (I kid, I kid). Sophie had a great summer. She, along with my mom, sister, aunt, and 2 cousins, went to a family reunion for the descendents of my maternal Grandfather’s parents (Evans). She loved driving to South Dakota. Paul was happy that Grandma brought him a t-shirt from Sturgis. At 3-almost 4, he loves motorcycles.
Mount Zion Speculative Fiction Review
Issue 2 of MZSFR is being sent to contributors and subscribers right now. The 2nd print run should happen this week, enabling us to activate the PayPal link. This issue is billed as our Spring issue, hah! Several real life events managed to intrude and delay s heaped upon delays…The good news is that the third issue is about 1/2 full and we expect to get it out in a timely manner. If the 1st issue was all about figuring out how to do things I think the second issue was about finding the resolve to keep going. The third issue should be the best yet. Mike and I are reinvigorated and ready to move forward.
Recent Reading
I’ve continued reading Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin novels. I’m on The Truelove. Reread some Lord Dunsany stories. That guy had one heck of a vivid imagination.
And Finally
Well, I’ve broken through the barrier now, hopefully I can keep this up.
Peace,
Raphael
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