Sunday Funnies....

Fearlessness without caution leads to stupidity....

Trailer: 'Black Panther'

And after more than 40 years, Marvel's 'Black Panther' is for real and coming to theaters in 2018. Here's the second trailer for the upcoming film and it looks great already!

Marvel's Black Panther Trailer 2

How many changes and challenges can one Revenant go through in a week? Well, Koescu is about to find out.  After his 100 years of self-imposed exile outside of the City of Philadelphia the surprises keep coming! Part X of Regarding Koescu is up and ready.

REGARDING KOESCU - PART X

Review: Still Star-Crossed....

ABC's newest offering, "Still Star-Crossed" is a lavishly presented tale of the aftermath created by the deaths of the doomed couple "Romeo & Juliet". 'Fair Verona' is in crisis for the stabilizing presence of 'The Prince' is no more as he dies and passes on the mantle of ruler onto his only son. However, the deaths of the 'Star-Crossed Lovers' has created a greater rift between the feuding Montegues and Capulets Verona's two most powerful noble families....

Read more....

Part IX of the Renfields First Chronicle: Regarding Koescu.  Having made the transformation from decrepit to debonair and having mended fences with Sebastian, Koescu and the Renfield dignitaries take to the road to discover how much is different and how much has stayed the same in the City of Brotherly love. https://www.renfields.net/single-post/2017/05/24/Regarding-Koescu--Part-IX-Renfields-The-First-Chronicle

Sunday Funnies....

Don't forget to check out the 'ratings' before consulting an Oracle....

The 'CW' goes into uncharted territory with 'Black Lightning'....

The 'CW' is notorious for it's 'YA' (young adult) fare with fresh-faced young actors swarming throughout their numerous successful show offerings over the years. 

However, with the upcoming superhero/action series, 'DC's: Black Lightning' the CW goes into uncharted territory with a 'middle-aged' black male lead. 

Not only that, but 'Jefferson Pierce' (aka, Black Lightning) is also the father of two teen-aged daughters who have inherited his powers. Now, there are several middle-aged father characters sprinkled throughout the CW universe, but 'BL' is the first one up as lead. The premise of the show seems to be a 'Black Lightning Returns' run as the 'retired' hero dons his 'super suit' once more to stem the tide of crime running rampant through his city.

How the story will play out is yet to be seen, though so far it looks interesting though already cliche' in some respects (Black Principal, black gangs, inner city crime, and black character with two names of former presidents.) Time will be the judge though on whether this turns out to be a gem or turd.

To learn more check out:
'First Look at Black Lightning'

Friday 'Sexual Innuendo Image' #08....

This Friday 'Sexual Innuendo Image' is a throwback to a time when Disco was king and 'real men' weren't ashamed to put on revealing leather outfits to make movies.

Here we see distinguished British actor Brian Blessed playing a 'flying prince' in a cult-classic sci-fi film wearing what was considered 'flight-friendly' attire. Can you name the film and the name of his character?

Supersolids -- A New State of Matter

Here's a little something with sci-fi flavor. A new state of matter. Check out:

Supersolids

Just So You Know When Those 'Samurai Robots' Come After You....

For decades in Sci-Fi, Cyberpunk and even martial arts movies, 'Robot Samurai' have been a favorite with anything coming out of Japan or fans of Japanese lore.

However, all of that stuff was improbable whimsy. Today, it's not quite that far-fetched. Here you can watch a skilled sword master 'face off' against a robotic sword arm. It's like the modern and Japanese equivalent of 'John Henry vs The Steam Engine' and their epic battle of man vs machine.

Swordmaster vs Robotic Arm

It' Ain't Safe Out At Sea! Some Fodder for Fantasy and Adventure Writers....

Man, it ain't safe out there in the ocean! One second you're a badass Great White Shark cruising the 'deep blue' with nothing around that could possibly be stupid enough to....  

OHMYGODSOMETHINGBITME! AHHHHHH!

That scenario apparently happens all too often especially anywhere Orcas rightfully known as, 'Killer Whales' take up residence. We used to see them in aqua parks and watched them do their antics to the applause of roaring humans. But anyone who knows anything about Orcas is well aware that their rep as 'killers' is well earned and much deserved!

Pound for pound, they're bigger, faster, stronger and probably smarter than we are. They also have complete mastery of their environment whereby we need tools to exhibit any extraordinary abilities. And, they have a 'superpower' in that they can use sonar to not only home in on prey, they can tell what it is, whether it's healthy or not and pick out the 'parts' they want to eat with precision! All just by 'probing' their intended victims.

Killer Whales Eat Great White Sharks....

Sunday Funnies....

Then there are those times when 'defeat' is exactly what you need....

Friday Sexual Innuendo Image #07....

This week's Friday 'Sexual Innuendo Image' finds us in the private garden of the Lord of Amoun and one neophyte assassin from the Order of the White Mist....

"Excuse me, I'm lost! This is the country Manor of the Lord Amoun isn't it? You wouldn't happen to be him would you?"

Fodder For You Sci-Fi Writers.....

The concept of 'FTL Drives' (faster than light) has been around in sci-fi for at least 60 years. For the last 50 of those, 'Warp Drive' from the venerated 'Star Trek' franchise of TV, film and everything else has fueled the imaginations of fans and writers of sci-fi. Some of those fans are also physicists and theoretical engineers.

According to one theoretical physicist working towards his Ph.D., 'Warp Drive' in practical form according to the 'math' the possibility to create 'warp fields' cannot be ruled out. In my sci-fi series, 'The PAnd0RA Ultimatum', I explore how problematic the use of warp fields was for early adopters of the the technology and how it was finally put to practical use. 

In the meantime, whether a writer or fan of sci-fi and theoretical space travel, check out this article: 'Speed of Light Warp Drive Will Change Everything'.

Friday Night Fights #02

In this 'Friday Night Fights', you're part of the 'Human / Dwarven Alliance' with the help of 3 'Magical Warriors' from a strange realm. Your mission: Defend 'Castle Mount' from a horde of ravenous 'Uruk-Hai'. Even with the Great Horsemen from the West coming to your aid and the help of the three 'Murican Warriors, can you hold out and break the Orcish siege?


Watch the battle here:
"303 vs 20,000"

Friday 'Sexual Innuendo Image' #06....

In this Friday 'Sexual Innuendo Image' we see the lovely Tarissa, famed Tavern Dancer and 'Adventuress' as she 'pumps' the local potion maker for his assistance with her next venture....

"Aw come now Apothecary, I already have the 'ingredients' for a love potion. Perhaps for a discount on some of your fine sleeping potions...I can show you the 'source' of my concoction...."

The 'Pygmallion Syndrome' Coming to a Bedroom Near You....

In my first sci-fi outing, "The PAnd0RA Ultimatum", the story focused on a prototype android 'companion' sent to an unwitting (and unwilling) winner of a contest to be a 'beta tester' for one year. Easily, 'more human than human' the android 'PAnd0RA 001' was the pinnacle of human technological advancement 65,000 years from now and the answer to those long, lonely interstellar journeys.

Yet, well short of that far-flung future we see a serious push towards not only creating viable artificial intelligence (AI), but also a push to reach the technological 'holy grail' of incorporating intimacy into the mechanical. In my story, the challenge was for the android to 'complete her function as companion' and getting her human counterpart to see her as a viable being. 

What is similar today as in the story, is the human need to fill the void created for those who are either unable or unwilling to obtain or maintain human contact, but still require the fulfillment of intimacy that comes with companionship. At the moment, the 'real money' is in the sexual side of this and that's where 'sex robots' come into play.
Read more....
 

A Moment to Rethink an Old Movie and Voilla'....

With Hollywood's obsession for making crappy remakes of films so old newer generations never got a chance to see, Perhaps this mash-up of the 1963 road comedy, "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" and the 2015 'Mad Max' reboot, "Mad Max Fury Road" might be the perfect blend of old and new.

Buckle up Bitches it's gonna' be one crazy ride!

Check out the trailer here:
It's a Mad-Mad-Mad-Max Fury Road

The 'Matrix' is Born....

Back at the end of the '90's we were treated to the sight of babies in 'Maturation Tanks' via the "Matrix Films." Of course, the concept was not new as "Star Trek's Borg" and the film "Bladerunner's Replicants" introduced the concepts back in the early and late '80's. 

However, it was the "Matrix" that truly showcased the depth of inhumanity being born and living out one's life entirely in an artificial womb with only the power of machines for life and mental support could be. Stark as that possibility was which should have served as a warning, was completely ignored.

Cue the 'Extracorporeal System for Physiological Fetal Support' or the artificial womb called, 'The Biobag'. Yep, 'those maniacs finally went and did it' to quote a famous astronaut on a beach about 3,000 years from now. 

The Biobag has been successful
in bringing premature lambs to term in recent experiments conducted by surgeons at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The 'good news' for humanity is the Biobag is intended for bringing premature babies to term and according to Children's Hospital Surgeon Alan Fleck, "It's science fiction' to believe you can take an embryo to term with our machine."

But, anyone who has ever written science-fiction knows, 'it's science fiction, until it becomes science....'

For more on the Biobag:

Read more....

Part VI of  "Regarding Koescu" is posted at renfields.net, and yes... get a fan because this one is definitely steamy! https://www.renfields.net/single-post/2017/04/22/Regarding-Koescu---Part-VI-Book-I-The-Renfield-Chronicles

Sunday Funnies....

Life is weird. Never say, 'there's no such thing...' at your peril....

Friday 'Sexual Innuendo Image' #05....

This Friday 'Sexual Innuendo Image' sees 'Thraseus the Spartan' having been separated from his troops during the Battle of Demitor and lost deep in the forest wilds....

Read More....

Our New Homes Among The Stars May Be 'Water Worlds'....

The 1995 film "Waterworld" may have been a 'hit or miss' depending on the audience with its post-climate-change apocalypse setting in which humans caused the polar caps to melt and cover the world in water. However, the science concerning the earth as a 'water world' was dead right.
Read More....

Marvel's 'Cloak & Dagger' Trailer....

Way back in the mid-'80's I remember running across a comic about two runaway kids who got strung out on an experimental drug some nasty big pharma corporation put out on the street. 

The pair through an accident and the effects of the drug became permanently linked due to a mutation they both possessed. One a wealthy white girl running away from her abusive father, the other a working-class black boy fleeing drug dealers looking to kill him for something someone else did. Her 'power' made her a 'child of light', while his caused a descent into darkness. Together the pair were 'Cloak & Dagger'.

Read more....

The Price of Power....

By H. Wolfgang Porter

Power.

Everyone wants it. Even those who claim to be ‘guardians of justice’ want it too. Why does anyone want power? The word itself describes something impossible to actually attain, let alone keep. That is; until it becomes…possible.

I wanted power. Far more than most. Eventually, I got what I wanted. That’s inaccurate. The truth being, I took what I wanted with whatever means I had available. I had to. Well, that’s the lie I told others and myself for more time than I care to admit.

Shame. Me of all people feeling what I always thought was a ridiculous emotion. Let’s face it, ‘Villains don’t feel shame’ was the mantra which carried me along in a world full of ‘Extraordinary Beings’.

When you live in a world where a lucky few have “powers and abilities far beyond mortal men,” as a ‘mere mortal’ you either bow down or rise up. Either option mind you, comes with considerable risk.

Read more....

Monday Means 'Pulp Pictures'....

Who knew ol' Edgar Rice Burroughs of 'Tarzan' and 'John Carter of Mars' fame got a super sexy pulp cover for his 'Martian Series #9' novel "Synthetic Men of Mars?

I'm certain ol' 'turn-of-the-20th Century' Edgar was steaming up the 'drawing rooms' back in those days with these no doubt salacious stories!

Sunday Funnies....

Keep in mind; though valiant struggles and great victories may see statues built in your honor, in time those efforts will be forgotten and pigeons will shit on your graven image....

Straight from the 'Hyborian Age'...Gladitorial Games!

Saturday Night is always a good night for a great fight. For those old school 'D'nD Dungeon Masters', the dream of watching players fight hordes of monsters in a fantasy setting comes true in the survival game, "Conan Exiles."

In the following video, YouTuber 'TheOuterMiddleShow' pits fellow players against the worst baddies of the Conan Exiles 'Hyborian Age' in a hand-built gladitorial arena with a fair amount of pomp and spectacle.

Watch as players do battle against giant spiders, crocodiles and far stranger and much more dangerous beasts complete with moments of great heroism and screaming like little girls as they flee in terror!
Survive The Arena

'Saturday' Sexual Innuendo Image #04....

This week's 'Friday' Sexual Innuendo Image comes a day late but hot as liquid gold when we find a new 'Scandinavian Water Demon'....

"Sister loved men, made them kings and bore them sons. Two of them are known to you. One misshapen son named 'Grendel' born of Hrothgar. The other one beautiful who could take the form of man or dragon sired by the great 'Beowulf'!

You have entered my lair mortal to steal that which belongs to me. I can take your life or...would you be ruler in a land of your choice with my help? The wealth of a great ruler shall be yours...for a price. Lie with me, love me and give me our child. Do this and our pact will be sealed.

What shall it be warrior, death and oblivion or love and power? Decide...."

Part V of Regarding Koescu, the Renfields Episodic erotic/horror novel has been posted at Renfields.net.   It's delicious. Stop by for a Bite!   https://www.renfields.net/single-post/2017/04/15/Regarding-Koescu-Part-V---Renfields-The-First-Chronicle 

Thor vs 'Gladiator Hulk'...Let's Do the Math....

Not long from now, the latest Marvel Superhero flick 'Thor: Ragnarok' will hit movie screens around the world. In one of I'm sure many trailers to come before then, we see 'The Mighty Thor'(TM) and 'The Incredible Hulk'(TM) take flying leaps at each other for a fist-pounding matchup!

Of course everything that happens is completely up to the writers (and director), so any number of fantastical things will happen whether they have any basis in reality or not. Hey, 'it's just a freakin' movie okay?'

As a writer, it doesn't hurt to know some of the 'math' for though Fantasy Writing does lend credit to 'anything can happen', when writing for mature readers / audiences you want tap into the mature mind's understanding of consequences in the real-world.

The mature mind understands what good shot to the jaw or getting slammed into a wall feels like, so you the writer want to give the reader that feeling during your action scenes. Knowing a little about the 'physics' of combat can put you in a good place to add just the right amount of 'real' so your audience doesn't say, 'like that would really happen!' 

As a fellow writer who loves to inject far greater doses of 'reality' in the mix of telling a story to add the right amount of actual 'pain-per-punch', here's an article that gets into the physics of what happens when super-powered-punches really land on 'lantern-jawed' heroes.... 
thor-ragnarok-trailer-physics

The 'Truth' Behind That Stupid Pepsi Commercial....

The 'truth' in that ridiculous Kendal Jenner Pepsi commercial is revealed with some old school tech and the 'real message is revealed'. Now you know, 'They Live!'

See the full story and watch the 'real commercial' here:
http://io9.gizmodo.com/video-channels-they-live-to-criticize-pepsi-ad-1794153540

Sunday Funnies....

Watch out for those 'awkward moments' when someone 'you fancy' walks in on you at the most inopportune time....

Steamy Adult Fantasy Short Story Series "Regarding Koescu, Part IV of the Renfields Chronicles"....

For you Adult Fantasy Readers, Part IV of Regarding Koescu has been posted at Regarding-Koescu-Part-IV---Renfields-The-First-Chronicle.


If you're following along this First segment of the Renfields Chronicles, I hope you're enjoying it. If you've just begun, I hope you get into it!
~Penelope Flynn

https://www.renfields.net/single-post/2017/04/07/Regarding-Koescu-Part-IV---Renfields-The-First-Chronicle

Friday Sexual Innuendo Image #03....

This 'Friday Sexual Innuendo Image' finds us in a forest chalet with 'Charon', mistress of corporate magnate Collin Worthwent. 

While Colin is speeding through the forest highway for a much needed weekend frolic, he is unaware of the poison gasses emanating from the forest that have affected the lovely Charon!

Too bad Colin lobbied his senator for those environmental regulations to be repealed or the report on dumping of chemical waste in the forest would have reached his desk before he bought that chalet.

Looks like Colin's in for an 'exciting weekend' after all....

Monday Means 'Pulp Pictures'....

Another Monday arrives (and goes 'cause I'm posting this well after midnight) so that means we get our latest old-school pulp cover. A cover which gives yon intrepid 'Fishbowl with Antennas' and oddly form-fitting space suit good reason to gasp at 'Lunar Bikini-clad Bitches!"

Running into near butt-nekkid white women on a planet you have to wear a spacesuit to survive, indicates they are way tougher than you and vacating their planet will be a true sign of your being an intelligent life-form!

The Yellow Window...by Calvin Roach

This is a very short story I wrote 10 years ago. Writing is quite difficult to me, so I will probably not be very prolific on here, but I'm still a moderator and adviser, should anyone have any questions. Without further adieu, here is "The Yellow Window". I hope you enjoy it.

 The Yellow Window

© 2007 Calvin Roach. All Rights Reserved

     Tonight, they'll come for me.  Of course, this is what I say to myself every night since I came here.  Why do I say it?  I surmise it’s to accept the inevitable.  But then, I don’t even know when night falls or day breaks any longer, as I’ve been confined in a tiny, empty cell for Heaven knows how long now, though I’ve decided it’s been over a week.  

     The darkness is only broken when a small panel on the door slides open to allow a sickly yellow light to thrust into my cell.  And even this does not last long; as within moments someone will stand between the light and the opening, blocking the beam.  

     Whoever is standing there says nothing. Indeed, he (or she, but I’ve decided that whoever it is a man) makes no sound at all.  I know he is watching me, and it drives me mad.

Read more....  

Sunday Funnies....

By Jove! This 'covert political' scenario seems all too familiar....

Finally! Someone gets what would happen in a fight between Goku, Superman and Onepunch Man....

Anyone who is into comics, cartoons and anime' has their favorite characters and want to see match-ups that will prove or shatter their claims of superiority.

One popular character that hit TV screens in Japan and the US in 2015 is named 'Saitama' aka 'Onepunch-Man'. Since then, Saitama's power has led to a  host of 'vs' videos and posts across YouTube and social media.

The Character Saitama is an average nobody. He is an out-of-work and unsure of what to do with himself kind of guy. That is until after another hopeless day of job hunting, Saitama runs across a weird 'crabman' like the ones you see in those kooky 'Power Ranger' style kids shows. Kooky looking or not, the Crabman is killing people at random down a side street. His day has been so fruitless, even the Crabman can see the 'IDGAF' burning in Saitama's eyes and gives him a pass because it wouldn't be any fun killing him.
 
Later, Saitama sees a small boy with a chin like a man's 'jingly-bits' and not-too-bright at that. Taking a closer look at the child's chin, Saitama realizes he's the child who initiated Crabman's killing spree by drawing 'nipples' on his carapace in permanent marker. Seeing how Crabman's claws won't allow him to clean off the offensive drawings and him being too ugly for anyone to help clean them away, the villain is rightfully pissed!

Crabman finds them both on a playground and attempts to kill the boy who's basically too dimwitted to live ('He broke my soccerball...aw.') But after taking a beating trying to save the boy, Saitama manages to kill Crabman by yanking out one of his eyestalks and all organs inside along with it (ew.) Emboldened by his surprising victory, Saitama decides the 'way of the superhero' is the path for him and he becomes a 'Hero for fun'.

Unfortunately for Saitama, his quest to become a powerful superhero comes with a considerable caveat. He's too successful at reaching his goal. Waaaaay too successful! The result of him training everyday for three years without fail renders him 'unbeatable'. He has become so powerful, he defeats all opponents with 'One Punch'. Being so overpowered has made life meaningless for Saitama as there are no real challenges for him as a superhero.

However, outside of the popular Manga and Anime' series Saitama is matched up against every superhero anyone can think of in the 'S-Class' (Super) power ranking. Many are entertaining, but most are made by biased fan-boys(girls) who favor one character over another. They for the most part do excellent analysis of the characters before the fight and then completely ignore their findings when the fight begins so their favorite wins (Uhy!)

In particularly there is at least one YouTuber out there who gets the 'vs' right using the available evidence of the powersets established by Onepunch-man's most popular 'vs' foes, Goku (Dragon Ball Z) and the man who put the 'S' in 'S-Class', Superman. Both Goku and Superman have long well known histories and feats to their credit so going to go into them is a waste of time. Far as Saitama is concerned, the man has no known limits. No known limits on his strength, speed or durability!

Superman is well known for 'holding back' on his power so he won't kill. Saitama has blown most of his opponents to gory paste with barely any effort! We're talking creatures, robots and supervillains that would have Goku fighting a whole season in DBZ to beat and Superman at least two comics and some serious throwdowns to put down. So far, the only opponent Saitama has fought who could fight on his level was 'Lord Boros' a solar-system conquering bad guy.

Boros was powerful enough to actually destroy Saitama's planet (and tried to!) Yet, Boros only managed to hang in throughout a fight that lasted one punch in the final moments of one episode and four attacks by Saitama in the following. Boros was strong enough to kick Saitama to the moon (ya' hear that Alice?) in less than two seconds (it takes light 1.3 to get from earth to the moon!) The impact created a huge crater and yet, Saitama stood up (without flying off the moon which I thought should have happened) unaffected by the blow, the impact or that nasty bit about being on the sunlit side of the moon without a spacesuit. If that wasn't enough, in a standing leap Saitama shot back to earth in less time than it took him to get there!

I've never seen Superman or Goku do anything like that (yeah, Superman pulled the earth back into orbit with Green Lantern and Wonder Woman's help which I call BS on for soooo many reasons like 'Science'!) So long story short, seeing how powerful Saitama is Boros unleashes his 'planet killer attack'. By which, the 'Onepunch-man' repels it back upon him with one 'Serious, Serious Punch.' The blow is so powerful, the impact clears the weather halfway around the planet in an instant! Holy shit!
 
Afterward, Boros is nothing more than an ashen dismembered body consisting of a blind skull and ruined torso who in his last words recognizes his greatest and final opponent wasn't even trying....


Check out the video and from Hyun's Dojo on YouTube and watch 'Onepunch-man' and see for yourself the awesome and hilarious power of Saitama for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0seE9SMZ3P8

Now (finally) Some Advice About Writing: Sorry, Your Fantasy Novel Sucks....

Greetings from 'Seen It Beforelandia'!

Fantasy / Adventure is an excellent escapist genre for writers. Violence, handsome warriors, beautiful maidens, and villains, villains, villains!

As an F/A writer with three novels and a number of short stories hanging from my belt, I've found it a challenging and enjoyable genre to write in. Unlike sci-fi or horror, you don't necessarily have to have all the 'details' down because for the most part, you're just making it all up!

Of course if you go down the hard road and write 'Historic Fiction', you better get the details correct or you'll throw your story off. No problem with that in F/A. But there are 'problems' you best be aware of.

The greatest problem for those writing F/A stories come from the powerful 'Ogreish' brother-sister duo, 'Been there' and 'Done that.' Though fantastical stories have been around for thousands of years, we can all thank 'Lord Tolkien' for creating the seminal fantasy adventure trilogy, "Lord of the Rings" (yeesh!)

To say that every fantasy story written is a shadow brewed from the 'Land of Mordor' (see what I did there) is thankfully not true. Robert E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burrows among many Pulp and adventure writers who went to press before J.R.R. dropped us in 'Hobbiton' are great examples of 'non-Tolkienesque' fantasy settings. Even later writers like 'Michael Moorcock' went to far stranger and scarier places in F/A without a hint of 'Eau du Elron' stinking the place up.

So the other half of that problem is 'Done that'. The drawback with writing F/A novels and shorts is; 'it's been done.' The genre just by virtue of being there can't help but lend itself to cliche'. Remember the 'handsome (King, Prince, Warrior, Vagabond, Rogue) and the 'beautiful (Queen, Princess, Warrior, Fallen Woman, Femme Fatale?) Well add 'the quest for the (stone, ring, sword, necklace, fountain, belt, helm, spear, bow, etc.) or the lost land of 'god knows where to (stop, start,) the great (villain, monster, god, demon) from doing whatever.

Get the point? Keep in mind so horrifically well traveled and explored a genre, the possibility of you coming up with something utterly 'original' (hey, just write something 'original'....) is highly unlikely. So in the quite likely event you will head down the road to 'Seen it Beforelandia', the things to keep in mind are to:

A) Firm up your idea. Too many of us don't have a solid idea of what our 'idea' for the story is. Yeah we get in your fantasy land there's 'this and that and that and this' which are all very cool and exciting to you. But (there's always one of those), you need to get a firm grip on why anyone would want to spend their money and time reading your book other than 'you wrote it and it's cool...'cause you wrote it.' Why is the 'land' the way it is? Who are the main characters? Why are they there at all? What are they going to do and how are they going to get it done without boring your reader(s) to death?

B) Tie all the elements together in a cohesive and compelling way. Now right off, this part is where the 'rubber-hits-the-road' and those bullshitting around just 'talking about writing a fantasy story' either get on with it or faceplant on the asphalt with nothing to show for all their talk.

Sorry kids, but getting all those 'great ideas' bouncing around in yon noggin into passable draft is hard. Taking all characters, elements and plot then blending them into something which makes sense is harder. Doing all that in a genre where everyone and their ancestors has had input long before you were ever born that readers will enjoy is hard...as...fuck! But, (there it is again) not impossible to do.

Here's an article by 'Professor Awesome' who'll painfully break down 'why your fantasy novel sucks' and shed some further light on how to keep it from doing so:
http://www.profawesome.com/?p=306

Friday 'Sexual Innuendo Image....

This 'Friday Sexual Innuendo Image' sees us and the women of 'Hannav 3' in the Esig System watching the 'Parade' of Consorts' during the 'Festival of Copulous'. The biannual festival gives the women of the Matriarchal governed world a chance to get a look at the young men of their homeworld and beyond during their 'come-of-age' exposition.

Though modesty is paramount on Hannav 3 for young males, during the festival they are allowed to be seen without their traditional face and head wrappings. Though they wear form hiding garments, when a potential female suitor wishes to 'inspect' him, she may use the traditional 'Manhole' at the front of the garment to take 'measure' of his potential prowess....

For you 'World Builders' a Fanged Fish That Bites You to 'High' Heaven....

You'd figure anything with 'fangs' has got something for your you're not gonna' like. Poisons running the gamut from 'blood bursters', 'neurotoxins', 'paralytics' and powerful 'digestive enzymes' are just a few that come to mind when fanged animals are mentioned.

Not the 'Fanged Blenny'. These innocuous fish when caught in the jaws, claws or tentacles of their enemies use two huge fangs to bite the livin' tar out of them. But instead of a nasty poison cocktail, they deliver an 'opiod-based' cocktail that get their potential devourer zooted to high heaven in an instant. While they see the undersea version of 'The Little Mermaid on Acid', they let go of the Blenny and it swims on it's merry way....
https://www.wired.com/2017/03/fanged-fish-injects-enemies-opioids/

Coming of Age Animation with an Unexpected Twist....

Ah, those bygone days of yesteryear when sneaking into a private pool gave the excuse to get some clothes off and the potential to get more than that! 

Director Jérémie Périn spins a beautiful tale of such a moment as two pairs of teens sneak into a private pool for some swimming and snogging. Of course there's the one couple who is going for broke with the other having one individual clumsily ready to go and the other painfully shy and withdrawn. Ah, memories!

But in this terribly sweet and all-too-familiar scene, something isn't right and things get 'interesting'. Check out this well done if not disturbing French animated short....
https://vimeo.com/133742183

So...Are You Ready For The Mars Run?

With the confirmation of the 'Electromagnetic Drive' (EMD) being able to provide sustainable thrust far faster and with little fuel than any rocket made, one way to Mars in 6 - 8 weeks is reality. With most of the tech required to put together a craft that will get astronaughts there safely, new spacesuits that provide better movement and protection really all that is required is to get busy building and we can go years before 2030.

In the meantime, here's a spectacular video of the Martian surface from space by the HiRISE Camera in orbit over the Red Planet.
 https://vimeo.com/207076450

Monday Means 'Pulp!'

Monday's the designated day for some oldschool Pulp cover action! 

This work made by Tom Chantrell was actually for a racy 1960's sci-fi film. This pre-production movie poster was submitted to the old 'Hammer Films' production studio that made the popular 'Dracula' series of movies starring veteran actors Christopher Lee (Lord of the Rings) and Peter Cushing (Star Wars).

The film tentatively titled, 'When the Earth Cracked Open' never got made. But it would certainly have been interesting to learn what made a 'topless' deep-water diving suit effective under such dire circumstances....

Sunday Funnies....

Intentional 'mistakes' can often lead to greater opportunities....

For You Folks Over 30 Who Are 'DnD Curious'....

For nearly 40 years, groups of people have gathered in college dorm rooms, living rooms and basements to gather round a table and 'vanish' into other realms on grand adventures. Of course, after a certain age when work and family life take precedent spending hours if not days crawling through underground labyrinths, traipsing through dense forests or tracking quarry amid throngs of people on the streets of an ancient city seems 'frivolous' at best.

However, as adults we need to 'play' more than children in that the relief from the stressors of everyday life is important to keep us from going on killing sprees! So for those of you who may have been or are 'DnD Curious', here's an article to help you decide whether you just want to get your 'feet wet' or go 'all the way down the rabbit hole' and get the 'adventuring bug'....
http://kotaku.com/how-to-get-into-dungeons-dragons-1793608193

The Post That Got Us Banned from Facebook....

This is our inaugural 'Friday Sexual Innuendo Image' that got us banned from facebook. We now re-present it as it was intended.

This 'Friday Sexual Innuendo Image' takes us deep into the tropics as the warrior 'Maapahn' spies the princess Nahve rising from her afternoon nap as her retainers tend to their weapons nearby. The task given him by his chief was to kidnap the princess and force her people to agree to his terms to annex their country. But upon laying eyes upon the young ruler, the warrior has plans of his own....