Category: Uncategorized
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Japanese Ghost, Western Shell
Ghost in the Shell was among the first animes I have ever watched, and among the first sci fi manga I have ever read. Even today, its themes, aesthetics, technology and design language influence my writing and worldbuilding. When I learned of Scarlett Johansson being cast as Major Kusanagi Motoko for the live action adaptation of Ghost in the…
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A Tale of Two Devs
The recent furore over Blizzard’s Overwatch and Beamdog’s Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear illustrates two very different approaches to game design and response to criticism. Blizzard’s Overwatch is an upcoming multiplayer first person shooter. The original controversy began when people complained about a victory pose employed by the game’s first revealed character, Tracer, claiming that it…
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Rabid Puppies Recommended!
Yesterday Vox Day released a list of personal recommendations for the Hugo awards, which of course is not a call for a block vote, and recommended me for the Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and Flashpoint: Titan for Best Novelette. I am greatly honoured to accept such praise, and am deeply humbled by the fact that there…
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Behind the Story: Flashpoint: Titan
Lessons learned from writing Flashpoint: Titan
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No More Gatekeepers
Nick Cole published this post detailing how his publisher rejected his latest book on grounds of being ‘offensive’. That is to say, the publisher decided that a single short chapter that outlined the antagonists’ motives was so offensive, the chapter needed to be rewritten or the book would not be published. Cole elected to publish through Amazon instead. This…
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Cheah for Best New Writer
My publisher thought that Flashpoint: Titan was so worthy of merit, he wants to nominate me for the John W Campbell Award for Best New Writer. I am honoured that he holds me in such high regard. Honour demands that I remain silent on my work, but if you believe that my story is truly worthy of the…