Fantasist's Scroll

It’s almost New Year’s Eve, so I thought a link to a New Year’s Resolution Generator would be appropriate.
Yes, I coded it and popped it onto my other site. Originally, I did it to try and cheer up two special ladies who were having a rough holiday season. Honestly, I don’t know that it helped, but at least it kept my PERL CGI skills sharp and, I think, it’s a little bit of fun. And, yeah, the probabilities are weighted toward tequila drinking and kissing strangers. Hey, I’m single, it’s almost New Year’s Eve and if I can’t slant things in my favor, what’s the point of knowing a programming language at all?
Anyway, don’t take it too seriously and have a happy and safe New Year’s celebration!

Mostly, these apply to fantasy, too.
David Alexander Smith, a member of SFWA, has written a fine article about things to think about and watch out for while writing speculative fiction. Honestly, though, these are all things that any good writer in any genre should be doing. Certainly, writers of speculative fiction (ie. fantasy and science-fiction) have certain special considerations, but, for the most part, good writing is simply good writing. And, that’s what Mr. Smith has outlined in his article, a short list of 23 things to keep in mind while trying to write good fiction.
I know, I’ll be going back to this article on a regular basis!

Hey, are you going into the office today?
Well, you can’t possibly plan to do anything that even comes close to looking like work, so why not check out Christmas Combat and the Christmas Elf Game. And, another game from the Elf Movie last year. Does it matter if they’re any good? NO! It’s just a way to waste time before you cut out early for Christmas.
Oh, and while you’re at it, check out the Hacked Animatronic Santa. It’s a riot!
Have fun and be safe!
Merry Christmas everyone!

(And, yes, this was also posted at my other blog.)

Well, I just keep on doing art, eh?

This was inspired by Views by Roger Dean. He’s one of the artists behind the amazing sets that Yes used to use on tour. Bizarre, alien landscapes are his stock and trade. The images he has of floating islands, especially with lakes and oceans in the island, just really captured my imagination as a kid. Totally engrossing and mind expanding. Incredible.

Anyway, that’s what inspired me to try to make my own, photo-realistic floating lake. I hope you like it.

Today is the birthday of two very important science-fiction writers.
The first is science fiction novelist Philip K. Dick, who was born in Chicago in 1928. He wrote many novels that pushed the edge of science-fiction a little further out, making room for the cyberpunk movement to follow him. Some of his work includes Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, The Minority Report (which is a collection of short stories), We Can Remember It for You Wholesale (another short story collection), and A Scanner Darkly. Since his death in 1982, many of his novels and short stories have been made into movies, including Blade Runner (1982), Total Recall (1990) and Minority Report (2002).

It’s also the birthday of the science fiction novelist Arthur C. Clarke, who was born in Somerset, England in 1917. He’s the author of many science fiction novels, including Childhood’s End, 2001: A Space Odyssey(which was written in the year of my birth!), and Rendevous with Rama. He is also famous for inventing the concept of the communications satellite.

I always love collections of fantasy names.
Of course, I have my own set of fantasy name generators right here, but, sometimes, you need inspiration from other sources. And, frankly, getting fantasy names down so that they sound “right”, but still different and alien, is a big challenge. At least, it is for me. So, that’s why I fell in love with this site: Fantasy Names.
The names are all at other sites, and I don’t think they list mine, but this is about the best collection of links to every kind of name generator, fantasy, science-fiction and otherwise, that I’ve ever seen. If you’re looking for fantasy names, for whatever the reason, it’s worth a look.
Besides, it’s a Friday and if you’re reading my blog, you don’t have anythng better to do anyway, so click the link!

Well, I told you it was part of a series!
So, yes, this is the same thing with the fish, but this time, I’ve added a sunken temple and a boat. But, the temple is way off in the background and the boat is basically invisible, except for the hull in the water. Still, it’s a pretty good composition, I think. (You don’t have to agree.)
And, whatever else it is, at least it’s art!

Robert Sheckley died on Friday.
I just saw the news today via BoingBoing, but I felt it was important enough to mention. Sheckley was the master of science-fiction comedy and commentary in a single form. The 10th Victim was one of the best books I’ve ever read, and not just because of the infamous brassiere-gun, and even is credited for spawning the Assasination Game, among other things.
He was a wondeful author and will be missed.