Writerly Sound Bites, Number 10: Character Progression – What About Characters Broken Beyond Repair?

Per the sixth installment in this series, we have seen that characters do not simply break due to an “earthshattering event.” The eighth installment, which had to be split into three separate articles, went into detail about how characters broken by other people can heal from this trauma. Some rightly ask, however, about the Character …

Lost to History…?

I am jealous, readers. So very jealous of all the people who got to see this movie. I wish to heaven it was available for viewing somewhere, but in all likelihood, it has been lost to history forever. At least Stan himself was able to see it while he lived and give it his enthusiastic …

“A New Universe…”

Pardon the quote from The Avengers*, readers, but it is fitting. Japan is going to attempt their own MCU-style film serial starring some of their most famous properties. These include Godzilla*, Ultraman, Kamen Rider, and an Evangelion series. Since I have not kept up with Evangelion I hesitate to say which version it is; the …

Family Matters – Are Stories Surrounding Families Boring?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H4EBicz5qQ While taking part in the Superversive Livestream on Romance, one of this author’s fellow guests mentioned that “anyone who thinks life after marriage is boring” is misinformed. Reflecting on these words I was reminded of the many, many adventures I have had with my own family, as well as escapades related by friends from …

Writerly Sound Bites, Number 8: Character Progression – How Characters Broken by Trauma Recover and Rebuild, Part 3

Brunhilde (Marvel Comics) Thus far we have looked at how children and men are broken and remade in abusive situations. It is not a pleasant picture and the road back is rough even for the strongest members of each demographic. Manipulation cannot be overcome in an hour, perhaps not even a year; it takes time, …

The Most Famous Woman to Aid the Resistance in World War II France

To be perfectly frank, reading this article makes me wonder if Stan Lee and Marvel might have been inspired by Nancy Wake when they came up with Peggy Carter. Certainly, Hayley Atwell’s portrayal of the character in Captain America: The First Avenger* seems far more realistic once one reaches the finale for the article. While …

Review: The Old Man and the Void by Karina Fabian

  Whew! I am finally making something akin to a dent in my TBR pile, readers! Today’s gem is a book by Karina Fabian, author of the DragonEye, PI* series and Space Traipse* books. She has also written the Neeta Lyffe* zombie apocalypse series and The Mind Over* trilogy, so she has a backlist you …

Writerly Sound Bites, Number 3: The Worship of Evil – Or, “The Villain Is the Hero of His Own Story”

It might be an old – and somewhat uncouth – meme, but it makes the point. Slap an unhappy backstory on a villain, and odds are that someone somewhere will ask whether or not he is “really the bad guy.” How can Thanos, for example, be considered evil when he just wants to prevent other …

Words from Professor Geek

Yes, he is at it again, readers. Check out these intriguing videos from the Professor of Geekdom himself. There will not be a quiz later – not from him or me, at least. Life may have a curve ball or two to throw everyone’s way soon enough. In which case, you may find his points …

Sincerity in Fiction – A Lost Art in Need of Recovery

While on the Superversive Sunday Livestream, Anthony Marchetta and I discussed the differences between Japanese anime and modern Western storytelling. One of the items that came up was the sincerity with which Japanese writers portray their characters. Although I wanted a stronger word for the phenomenon at the time, in hindsight, I think Anthony hit …