tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49203655315530074452024-03-14T00:50:59.239-07:00Brett FitzpatrickUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger536125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-50260917603678706902020-09-13T13:17:00.002-07:002020-09-13T13:17:37.517-07:00Keeping the world updated about the progress of my writing<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="632" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lUJ-N5FzPwY/X159pXTtFeI/AAAAAAAAHz0/65gNHJZSFHwsNJv_gVTQHzZ03T3hQZAqACLcBGAsYHQ/w622-h640/pacemaker_display_2.JPG" width="622" /></div><br /><p></p><p>I was about to continue writing part six of my Dark Galaxy series of novels when I thought that instead of getting straight down to writing, like a good author should, I would write a blog post about writing. Some would call it procrastination, I call it book promotion: history will decide. <br /><br />The subject of the blog post isn’t about my writing itself but how to keep the world updated about the progress of my writing. I’m sure there are a lot of people out there waiting for the sixth installment in the Dark Galaxy saga, and they would, I’m also sure, be delighted to know exactly how close – or not – it is to completion. That means regular reports on this blog about words written and goals achieved.</p>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
<br />
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<p>So I started looking round for an app with targets and tracking. All I wanted was a place to track my progress toward completing my book, but keeping the book itself on my own computer. I think I found what I was looking for with <a href="https://www.pacemaker.press/" target="_blank">Pacemaker</a>.</p><p>According to the blurb on the About page, Pacemaker is a playful method for attacking writing goals. Just set a word count target, which you can then approach in various ways to suit your style. You can either, write the same amount every day, start off small and increase your word count quota every day, bite off large chunks of your writing goal at the beginning of your schedule so that the pressure is off at the end of your schedule, or set it to random so each day is a surprise.<br /><br />I liked the look of the site, so I started to type in the information needed to create what they call a project. This is the page where progress is tracked and where I can see if I have started to fall behind on getting this book done. The data entry was easy, very easy... until I got to the box marked, Target Finish Date. I didn’t actually have a target finish date, which is maybe why this book is taking so damn long to write. After a lot of consideration I decided that I would like for the novel to come out this year. Based on my current progress that’s a big task, but it is what I decided to do. With that in mind, I chose mid December as my Target Finish Date.<br /><br />Next I had to choose Strategy. The options were as follows.<br /><br />Steadily: the same amount of work every day.<br />Rising to the challenge: start small, finish strong.<br />Biting the bullet: start off with large commitments.<br />Mountain Hike: most of your effort in the middle.<br />Valley: intense effort at the beginning and end.<br />Oscillating: a mix of heavier and lighter loads.<br />Randomly: every day is a surprise.<br /><br />I decided to choose steadily, though I was very tempted by the randomly option. In a fraction of a second my word target per day was calculated. Terrifyingly, the site told me that if I wanted to produce a book of 120,000 words, I would have to write something like 1,250 words per day to hit my target. Yikes! I thought, but then I remembered that I have already done a lot of writing, months of writing in fact. I already have 49,555 words in my Libreoffice document, so I put 49,555 as progress for my first day, causing pacemaker to recalculate. According to the new calculation, the number of words I actually have left to write per day is 750. That isn’t even a thousand. It is a much more achievable goal, and one I am going to try to stick to. <br /><br />Let’s see how it goes. Now excuse me but I have 750 words to write before the end of the day. To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. <br /><br /><br />
<script src="//s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/pacemaker-project-widgets/js/pacemaker-project-widgets-loader.js?username=Brett Fitzpatrick&planName=silver-star&width=200&height=200&view=graph-daily" type="text/javascript"></script>
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-59323619221388470812020-09-11T13:46:00.002-07:002020-09-11T13:46:41.108-07:002000 AD - issue 39<p><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="640" height="237" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rYEljN3mOEE/X1vdSNbIDzI/AAAAAAAAHy0/3et28BnxSQs5YSFw0GFQX0wjSlGXRPuPgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h237/invasion_in_dundee.JPG" width="640" />
<br /> </p><p>I write a lot about 2000 AD, reading it was a very formative experience for me back in the 1970s and 1980s. Issue 39 of 2000 AD came out 19 November, 1977 not long after Paul McCartney’s “Mull of Kintyre”, had been released, which gives me an idea. I often suggest music to listen to while reading ancient issues of 200 AD, to get a feeling for the time each issue was released, and I can think of no better time capsule than Mull of fricking Kintyre. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3GyND3A3T1I/X1vgd3fmx7I/AAAAAAAAHzo/UP6JtTUrQawmufpizdcUwLK5UZx0Dlx3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/mull.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><p></p><p>It was the first UK single to sell more than two million copies and for a number of years was the biggest-selling UK single of all time. In fact it still is the UK’s best-selling completely non-charity single, at 2.09 million copies sold. Despite all this UK adulation it was not a pop hit at all in the US, though it did manage to reach #45 on the Easy Listening chart.
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Here’s the chorus, in case you don’t know what I’m talking about.
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Mull of Kintyre
<br />
Oh mist rolling in from the sea,
<br />
My desire is always to be here
<br />
Oh mull of Kintyre
<br /><br />
The song became a Christmas number one, and probably gets its Xmas vibe from the fact that McCartney roped in the local Campbeltown Pipe Band to play on it. The pipes were recorded outside in the open air, which gives them a special sound that couldn't have been found in a studio. </p><p><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJRwQ7jnMVU/X1vddmtMPKI/AAAAAAAAHy4/Zt3haDmqnOkB3GnndqIb_dACK7-VFNh1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s827/cover_for_issue_39_of_2000_ad.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="641" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJRwQ7jnMVU/X1vddmtMPKI/AAAAAAAAHy4/Zt3haDmqnOkB3GnndqIb_dACK7-VFNh1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/cover_for_issue_39_of_2000_ad.JPG" /></a> </p><p>Okay, with Mull of Kintyre playing in the background, let’s take a look at this ancient issue of 2000 AD. The first thing we see is the cover, which is by Brett Ewins and Brendan McCarthy. It is well drawn but a little generic. It is also obviously intended to be a joke, just not a particularly funny one. There is an accompanying story of a few hundred words inside the comic book on the editorial page, and whoever was behind it wrote a psychological horror story about a comic book artist having a breakdown because of deadline pressure. The story doesn’t really go with the cover art, but it actually isn’t bad. This generic rubbish is another wasted opportunity for 2000 AD, and the sooner they start featuring their stars, like Judge Dredd on the cover, the better. </p><p><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSGzFFuYo6g/X1vdnNuF6JI/AAAAAAAAHzA/TsRlOdtCQLE3ZEfPIACXTpHYvROvx8OrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s391/dredd_ape_gang.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="391" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSGzFFuYo6g/X1vdnNuF6JI/AAAAAAAAHzA/TsRlOdtCQLE3ZEfPIACXTpHYvROvx8OrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/dredd_ape_gang.JPG" width="320" /></a> </p><p>It is obvious that the editors now know Dredd is the star because he has been promoted to pride of place as first strip. It’s a self-contained little story where Judge Dredd encounters the Ape Gang for the first time, in a story scripted by John Wagner, with art by Mike McMahon. Because it’s drawn by McMahon it looks great, but it is just too anachronistic for me to enjoy.
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
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I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr /><p>
<br />
The criminals in the story are dressed in pin stripe suits and use tommy guns of the type that became infamous during the Prohibition era as a signature weapon of the various organized crime syndicates in the United States. They are cybernetic apes, sure, but that is the only twist. Dredd solves the gang conflict between the apes and a human gang by simply gunning them all down. Like I said, it looks great but it is not a classic. </p><p><br />
<img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="642" height="254" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BqwaOvcbdiU/X1vdtJ9mvHI/AAAAAAAAHzI/yo9ieRlZo1MGiHigK22pkvzVw3rW3-GAgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h254/invasion_the_prince.JPG" width="640" />
<br /> </p><p>Next up comes Invasion, which from the first issue of 2000 AD, has been a strip that has usually told self-contained stories that are done in one or two episodes. This issue, however, it is becoming clear that Invasion is attempting to tell a much more long-running saga. It is called The Prince, and will eventually run to 8 episodes. This is the third installment of the story, written by Gerry Finley-Day, with art by Carlos Pino. Again, it looks great but the story is pure filler and is all over the place. The only thing that rings true is the devotion of the British people to the parasitic royal family that rules over them. Hopefully The Prince will get a little more interesting than this installment before the end. </p><p> <br />
<img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="310" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AuyxarVsRyE/X1vd7c7cQgI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/GS87WahRxV0j_yCW9M6ogeug8zCKpF-dACLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h640/dan_dare_dark_lord.JPG" width="320" /> </p><p>Dan Dare is next, and it continues telling its extended Star Slayer story arc with script by Gerry Finley-Day accompanied by art from Dave Gibbons. Usually Gibbons produces some excellent sci-fi art, but here he is only asked to draw rags and rocks, which makes for a pretty dull looking episode. As usual it is all action, which is nice, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense if you stop to think about it for even a second.</p><p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRt6HbacAfs/X1veDJ5XLVI/AAAAAAAAHzY/ma7_XZYE3V4grR8b4iB3PazE9OmXhrpdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s277/mach_fridge.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRt6HbacAfs/X1veDJ5XLVI/AAAAAAAAHzY/ma7_XZYE3V4grR8b4iB3PazE9OmXhrpdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/mach_fridge.JPG" /></a> </p><p>The last episode of M.A.C.H. Woman comes next. This is the story arc that has been running in M.A.C.H.1. for a couple of episodes, and which I have been enjoying. The script is by Alan Hebden, with art by Lozano. The reason I have been enjoying it is that, unusually for a British sci-fi comic book of this vintage, it features a female protagonist who is as powerful as the story’s male hero. Unfortunately she gets unceremoniously fridged at the end of this episode, making me groan in annoyance. Why can’t this old comic book be better than this? The artists and writers were living in a very sexist and racist society but they were supposed to be looking beyond that. They were supposed to be looking to the future. I guess they just weren’t looking very hard. I love this problematic old comic book to bits, and I’m going to keep reading its ancient back issues, but sometimes I read it with gritted teeth.</p><p><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hP5ESTnG6aY/X1veJjnhGMI/AAAAAAAAHzc/Uy6uOiS3LtgVn-cAskJm2W3jXYX60SA7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s439/poor_inferno.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hP5ESTnG6aY/X1veJjnhGMI/AAAAAAAAHzc/Uy6uOiS3LtgVn-cAskJm2W3jXYX60SA7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/poor_inferno.JPG" /></a> </p><p> Harlem Heroes, written by Tom Tully with Massimo Belardinelli doing the drawing, comes next and it is such a waste of space that I can’t bring myself to pass comment on it. Belardinelli will go on to create great art in later issues of 2000 AD, but this isn’t it.
To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-23908159727216914212020-09-07T13:07:00.002-07:002020-09-07T13:33:03.146-07:00On Instagram @starbright_books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="730" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c88G59d1NB0/X1aQSqUjccI/AAAAAAAAHyc/wxiM8EnC_zkhFPHTutPh5NCyUPfkaY1_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Instagramlogo.webp" width="320" /></div><br /><p>I’m now on Instagram, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/starbright_books">@starbright_books</a>, with an account focused on books and writing, including ebooks of course. I’m being helped to get to grips with the intricacies of the platform by the talented photographer and book lover behind <a href="https://www.instagram.com/venetian_blood">@venetian_blood</a>.</p><p>As even I know, Instagram is a massive social media platform, but what I didn’t know until recently is that it is full of book lovers. A lot of them operate using the hashtag #bookstagram, creating a strong platform for authors to attract new readers, engage with existing fans, and promote books.
In fact, Instagram has become the most writer-friendly space on social media. An amazing example is Rupi Kaur, who has over four million followers. She’s a best-selling poet, writer, illustrator, and performer of two poetry collections, Milk and Honey and The Sun and Her Flowers, but four million is an amazing number.</p><p>The followers are obviously out there but different Instagram authors have different strategies. YA author Angie Thomas, the New York Times bestselling author of the novel The Hate U Give, is super active on Instagram, with all sorts of fun glimpses into her life. K.M. Weiland, on the other hand, is a writer of speculative and historical fiction who uses her Instagram account as a way to help emerging writers and readers with insight into the tricks of the trade. It’s filled with advice for writers and tons of how-to tips.
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Obviously, posting the right type of content on your feed is what makes your profile attractive and engaging to followers, but what is my strategy going to be? A lot of authors post pictures showing what life as an author is like but I’m not sure that’s the right strategy for me. I think the authors who will have the most success with that will be at the younger and hotter end of the scale. Though people do often include themselves or another person in a post without including any faces, which might be an option.
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Be that as it may, the strategy I intend to follow will revolve around pictures of books rather than pictures of me and my luxury lifestyle. My guess is that readers want to know what I’m reading and what inspires me but I absolutely intend to showcase my own book as well. I’ve read that self-promotion should be kept to twenty percent of what you do, or less, which seems like good advice. Speaking of self-promotion:
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</p><hr />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
<br />
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
Even though I think I already have the basic outline of what I intend to do do in mind, I am still looking around to see what other people do that I think might work for me. Some authors post quotes from their books. I wonder if snippets of sci-fi action, of the type found in my books, are really good material for Instagram posts.
Maybe...<br /><br />
Another tip that I read on the internet is that I should feature book stacks. Apparently, people love a good book stack. When photographing book stacks, adding a literary coffee cup is a tip that seems worth remembering. Also using good hashtags on images is among the most important methods bookstagrammers and authors suggest for gaining followers.
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Another idea for a simple but effective post is to open a book in a pretty place, like a beach, park, or some other atmospheric background. The words of the book aren’t legible and the cover isn’t visible, but it’s still a nice post. I live in Venice, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, so finding the background shouldn’t be a problem. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theguywiththebook">@theguywiththebook</a> in particular often posts images of a book against a background of a place he’s traveling to.<br /><br />Along with the photo there is a caption, and I was wondering if captions should be short or long. In theory they are the place where you showcase your personality, your stories, and make contact with the world. But some people prefer short captions and start to swiftly scroll down past a lengthy one. I guess the trick is to try to catch the attention of the reader with the first few words, and hope they will stick around for the rest of the caption. With the photo and caption decided on, there is still more to do. <br /><br />A piece of advice I have read over and over again is to use hashtags. These are what get you the exposure to people searching for images. To find relevant hashtags, the advice is to find a bookstagram account that you like and look at the hashtags at the end of their captions or in their comments, then use them yourself. Useful hashtags I intend to include with my posts are: #amreading, #currentread, and #scifinovel.<br /><br />Advice I’ going to be ignoring includes such recommendations as sticking to a color scheme for an aesthetically strong feed. Using similar colors and the same filter on all of my photos might create cohesion, but it is an extra thing to think about that I just don’t need.<br /><br />Just like blogging, it is important to post frequently, which I think I can handle, but also just like blogging it is important to interact with your followers, which might be more challenging for me. I have no doubt that I should be able to post some book related content every day, but even on accounts I love, I think it will be hard to leave the sort of thoughtful, personal, and specific comments on posts that a lot of commentators say are a good idea. Also responding to comments on your own posts and in your direct messages is essential, too. Instagram rewards this by more visibly featuring your posts on their feed. I’ll just have to force myself to be more gregarious and outgoing... gulp. <br /><br />So here is the link to my Instagram page <a href="https://www.instagram.com/starbright_books">@starbright_books</a>, check it out. To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-62861115770598255412020-08-30T13:14:00.000-07:002020-08-30T13:14:54.420-07:002000 AD - issue 339<p><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="685" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X9g33o7oVeA/X0wEXr3VVXI/AAAAAAAAHw4/iroRaEICkC4OUSKYwWhOT3Dm3hBxpVkpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/color_nemesis_art.JPG" width="640" />
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A couple of years ago, after reading the original <a href="http://progslog.blogspot.com/">Prog Slog Blog</a>, I got it into my head that, like that brave blogger, I should also read every single issue of 2000 AD. I was, of course, aware it would take some time, but not exactly how long. The issue I’m reading for this post is number 339, which comes from 22 October 1983, so I still have some way to go before I catch up to the latest issue - something like 37 years. Over three decades of publishing is a lot of comic books, but I am currently continuing with my self-imposed task regardless. I guess it’s best not to think about it and just press on.
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By way of context, so you can get a feel for the world this comic book was published into, just a couple of days after the publication date of this comic book, the US of A went to war with... wait for it... Grenada. Grenada is a tiny Caribbean island nation with a population of about 91,000. Not unexpectedly, US victory came within a matter of days. Hilariously, this invasion was code named Operation Urgent Fury. </p><p><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a>
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I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:
<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of the galaxy.</i>
<br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
A senior British officer who watched the Grenada invasion from nearby Barbados, Maj. Mark Adkin, wrote afterward that it was launched because of the intense desire of the president and his advisers to raise US prestige, particularly at home and in the armed forces, where morale and self-respect had fallen substantially since Vietnam.
<br /><br /> <img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="689" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-PaSdXECCI/X0wEfFgWIyI/AAAAAAAAHw8/p0wbcrsXMrsg0j-6WH9X8QlbUCmBAKBPwCLcBGAsYHQ/w341-h400/cover_issue_339_2000_ad.JPG" width="341" />
<br />
Enough context, let’s take a look at the art on the cover of this thing. The cover of this issue, by Ezquerra is beautifully drawn, as usual but... Is it just me... Or is it a little phallic? I like Ezquerra, and I like Johnny Alpha, the hero here, but the big guns are way too exaggerated to be easily taken seriously, even after suspending a bug chunk of disbelief. And they aren’t the worst thing. The worst thing is the leather holster hanging between Johnny’s legs. This is long before comic books really went down the road of heroes with oversize weapons, but I think this image has already gone a little too far.
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<img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="457" height="249" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_XOKozvRb8/X0wEpy59J6I/AAAAAAAAHxA/lzaXp_87KLwexlenyvu4DKegXoVh-jJGQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h249/baby_catch.JPG" width="400" />
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Judge Dredd is the first story up, and a typical working night for the future law enforcers has escalated gradually over the last four episodes until now tower blocks are coming crashing down around Dredd’s ears. The story so far has focused on how the judges ruthlessly deal with crime, in their usual authoritarian way. But this week we see another side to Dredd, as he attempts to rescue a baby. At the end of the episode it looks like Dredd is about to pay for his heroism with his life in an absolutely superb cliffhanger. I just hope they don’t cheat next week and have him catch a flagpole or something lame like that.
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXn4JDZFnfM/X0wEy4aftpI/AAAAAAAAHxI/JIbpQK0knyAYQ8gvfGzOXFNQT9Mnq-J6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/top_trumps.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="671" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXn4JDZFnfM/X0wEy4aftpI/AAAAAAAAHxI/JIbpQK0knyAYQ8gvfGzOXFNQT9Mnq-J6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/top_trumps.JPG" /></a>
<br />
Then comes a full page advert for Top Trumps. Top Trumps are pure nostalgia gold for me, and just seeing this advertisement makes me smile with glee. For those who don’t know, Top Trumps was launched in 1978, and it was a card game popular with adults and children in the United Kingdom. Their golden age was in the late 1970s and 1980s, especially among boys, for whom it was a popular playground pastime. The topics tended to reflect this, and included military hardware, modes of transport, and racing cars. The packs tended to be priced so that children could collect new packs by saving pocket money for just a few weeks.
<br />
<img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="673" height="171" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vazWGXofN_8/X0wE4m4O5LI/AAAAAAAAHxM/uqQ8dhHwWsA6PvDreHAl1QXYH-X31FrQQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h171/slaine_fridging.JPG" width="400" />
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The next story up is Slaine, and after all the carry on last week, we get a really gross fridging this week. Slaine's mother gets trampled by horses, just so he can have a little motivation to hate his dad. It's terrible, tropey, and sexist storytelling.
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J0kHeXVih9o/X0wFF9qqALI/AAAAAAAAHxU/laIrNb2ekWwduoj69Rc5USd_dPmH-AeWACLcBGAsYHQ/s793/future_mek_quake.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="661" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J0kHeXVih9o/X0wFF9qqALI/AAAAAAAAHxU/laIrNb2ekWwduoj69Rc5USd_dPmH-AeWACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/future_mek_quake.JPG" /></a>
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Next comes Nemesis the Warlock, and we see a much altered Mek-Quake. It's all fun, but with some unfortunate casual sexism thrown in. There is only one female character and she is a kind of nurse. The art, as always though, is wonderful. There is intricately drawn mayhem in every panel.
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-KdeglJhNM/X0wFOytJbnI/AAAAAAAAHxc/XxBOF197Pd8Z9bWb5eXSeJlKkvPLXIz3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s359/2000_ad_fu_manchu_villain.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="307" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-KdeglJhNM/X0wFOytJbnI/AAAAAAAAHxc/XxBOF197Pd8Z9bWb5eXSeJlKkvPLXIz3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/2000_ad_fu_manchu_villain.JPG" /></a>
<br />
Next comes Strontium Dog and the ongoing story has been very promising up until now, but suddenly it decides to introduce a Fu-Manchu-type character, just like Nemesis the Warlock did last issue. It's this kind of stuff that makes me want to stop reading this comic book. Maybe I'll actually do it. Maybe I'll actually stop, as a protest against all the sexism and racism to be found in these old comic books.
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H2dWzc5p5GI/X0wFVKuwIJI/AAAAAAAAHxg/hpz0ltiEvd41CyXq0PByTV0K8-Y-41WUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s473/nemesis_nurse.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="473" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H2dWzc5p5GI/X0wFVKuwIJI/AAAAAAAAHxg/hpz0ltiEvd41CyXq0PByTV0K8-Y-41WUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/nemesis_nurse.JPG" /></a>
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We'll see. I'm vexed, it has to be said. There is so much good here, but so much bad, too... This issue was a particularly bad one... once again.
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<br />
To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-72498466724807962562020-08-29T07:24:00.003-07:002020-08-29T07:24:46.854-07:00Matching spaceship picture to description<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="427" height="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xDNtaYExLAU/X0ph3jtz8eI/AAAAAAAAHvo/lqxds6PpjJEOLw1PXO6moN7NvyhxJic8QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h277/silver_star_cover_angle_after.JPG" width="400" /></div><br /> <p></p><p>I’m creating a cover for the sci-fi novel I’m writing, a book that will be called Silver Star, and cover creation is a process that takes pretty much as long to do as it takes to actually write the book itself. The reason it takes so long is partially because I create the covers myself to save money. No doubt if I hired a professional to do it, the cover could be finished in a few days, but as a self-publishing author I do not have the budget for that. The other reason it takes a heck of a long time is that I like cool 3D graphics on the covers of my books, and creating cool 3D graphics is intrinsically a long and complex process.
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</p><hr />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
<br />
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr /><p>
<br />
The application I use to create my 3D covers is called <a href="https://www.blender.org/">Blender</a>, and I never stop singing its praises. Blender is free... yep, you heard right, it doesn’t cost a bean... and it's also open source. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, motion tracking, video editing, the 2D animation pipeline, and putting together cool 3D book covers of course.
<br /><br />
Usually – okay, pretty much always – the cool 3D graphics on my book covers take the form of a spaceship. The spaceship I’m creating for the cover of Silver Star appeared in the opening scene of the previous sci-fi novel in the <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/24794?ref=starbright">Dark Galaxy</a> series, a book called <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/922691?ref=starbright">Blood Star</a>, and the description goes like this:
<br /><br />
<i>Chase watched the ship fly overhead, never tiring of gazing at its complex silhouette of multi-directional thrusters, heat vanes, weaponry, and sensor systems. The whole ensemble was organized into a roughly arrowhead shape that was very pleasing to the eye. There were a few areas of damage, but nothing so major that it spoiled the spaceship’s lines. All in all it was an immense source of pride to him.
<br />
"The Silver Star," he said to his companion. "Beautiful, don’t you think?"<br />"It is underpowered for its size," his companion said.
<br />
"Have you no poetry in your soul, Rowena?" Chase asked, glancing away from the receding spaceship just long enough to give her a dark look.
<br />
Rowena didn’t react except to shrug almost imperceptibly.</i><br /><br />So, for today’s cover design session, I just wanted to check that the spaceship I’m creating really does have an arrowhead shape, and does actually does have multi-directional thrusters, heat vanes, weaponry, and sensor systems. To do that, I opened the Blender file I had been working on and switched the view to overhead.
<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kUskQ2qVhWw/X0pjU-NOg_I/AAAAAAAAHvw/VfyIgFvHffkF2kxmVov9_egua6LWWQsKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s677/silver_star_from_above.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="627" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kUskQ2qVhWw/X0pjU-NOg_I/AAAAAAAAHvw/VfyIgFvHffkF2kxmVov9_egua6LWWQsKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/silver_star_from_above.JPG" /></a></div><p>It turned out that the spaceship was shaped more like a blunt trident than an arrowhead, and so, I decided to make some changes. I decided to add a pointy nose, and some more wing-like structures at the back, where the spaceship narrows too much to be called arrow-shape. </p><p>For some reason I like to work on my spaceship wit its nose down but it was being presented in the Blender view port with its nose up. I fixed that by ‘rolling the view port’ which is done by pressing the shift key and the number 4 on the number pad. In fact, last time I replaced my laptop I made sure to get one with a number pad because it makes working with Blender so much easier. I imagine a USB numeric keypad would also work, but I have never used one myself. <br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="614" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rz64yezLf6U/X0pj6CkP5yI/AAAAAAAAHv4/jjcLg7D1YLUAkbM23CKt8SyeyKWruuvKQCLcBGAsYHQ/w334-h400/wing_to_be_moved.JPG" width="334" /></div><br /> <p></p><p>After adding a pointy front and some wings at the back, I noticed the wings I had already sculpted were disrupting the arrow-like lines of the spaceship. They were sticking out like ears, or like the side prongs of a trident. They had to be moved, so I carefully snipped them off by deleting the faces that were connecting them to the rest of the mesh. I then carefully repositioned the wings closer to the spaceship’s spine and canted them up a little, like a pair of open gull-wing doors.
<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DqV7HCeRTfY/X0pkbHEv0bI/AAAAAAAAHwA/F_4SnzS5ms0WE9HIQOxxtfJ7MzkSd5EmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s611/cool_new_wings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="611" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DqV7HCeRTfY/X0pkbHEv0bI/AAAAAAAAHwA/F_4SnzS5ms0WE9HIQOxxtfJ7MzkSd5EmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/cool_new_wings.JPG" /></a></div><p>I actually like the new position of the wings very much more than the boring way thy had been sticking out horizontally before, so I’m glad I decide to make sure the picture accorded with the description in the earlier book.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6VxsbFMT3Mk/X0pklTKdjPI/AAAAAAAAHwE/6zgwarmxNUss86uLmQDFMBGhdLE7n-A_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s716/new_arrow_shape_for_spaceship.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="592" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6VxsbFMT3Mk/X0pklTKdjPI/AAAAAAAAHwE/6zgwarmxNUss86uLmQDFMBGhdLE7n-A_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/new_arrow_shape_for_spaceship.JPG" /></a></div><p><br />
With a little more work on the back, the spaceship really was starting to look more like an arrowhead. Next I decided to move on to making sure their were all the things in the list visible on the hull. There were heat vanes, some weaponry, and some sensor systems, all obvious on the hull, but no multi-directional thrusters. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="357" height="361" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y9fK3wZWuA/X0pkzde4aUI/AAAAAAAAHwM/rUieZim30CMUOZlC327-47xVPLN_0Mc9ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h361/multi_directional_thruster.JPG" width="400" /></div><br /><p></p><p>I decided to quickly make one, the work of just a few minutes, and then attach it at different places all round the hull. I’m all for complex little details such as thrusters on a spaceship. They make it look so much cooler and more ‘real’.
To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. </p><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-71712598720620669242020-08-28T12:33:00.005-07:002020-08-28T12:33:58.529-07:00Surveillance in sci-fi, and the real world. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="2048" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-v1ZS5gHTw/X0lbONgRLLI/AAAAAAAAHvY/LQ9dEgS4wEIeu2aPIIRzTIEjLw0eGxygQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h512/Surveillance-camera.png" width="640" /></div><br /> <p></p><p>I write sci-fi novels and one of the most important parts of the process is world building. I have written a lot of posts about creating the universe that will act as a backdrop to the stories I tell, and the number of posts represents how important this subject is. An author can be telling a great sci-fi story, but one wrong move in the world building can taint all that effort.
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Mutants, cyborgs, uploading and downloading human consciousness into different bodies, artificial intelligence, faster than light travel, a lack of faster than light travel, and a whole host of other issues can introduce logical inconsistencies into a story so noticeable to a reader that it can take them out of the story.
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For example, if AIs are so smart that humans can't out-think them, why have humans involved in politics at all? If robots are so strong and fast that humans can't outfight them, why have human soldiers? If drones are smaller than crewed vessels and are more maneuverable, why have fighter pilots? Either you ignore these issues, or you address them, and that means having to think them through. In my stories, for example, most space combat is done by drones, but I have carved out a role for people. The drones are joined by human handlers, who are required on site, about one per twenty drones, to make sure they don't get hacked, spoofed, or stuck in logic loops of their own making. </p><p>Along with all these considerations, another issue that has to be addressed by any sci-fi author worth their salt is state surveillance. We can already see the constant encroachment of surveillance into our everyday lives, so just imagine what it will be capable of in the future. <br /></p><p><br />
</p><hr />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
<br />
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr /><p>
<br />
As technology advances, cameras become ever smaller, biometric data – like your own face – betrays you, the technology in your pocket eavesdrops on you, and technology just keeps on improving, how is it possible for anyone who opposes a government to remain undetected over anything like the long term? If you want to write the sort of space opera that I like, where brave rebels take on evil totalitarian governments, you have to work out how they can possible remain undetected. It's a problem for sci-fi writers that has to be solved somehow. My solution is to have a slow and monolithic government that reacts late to insurgency, often only managing to snuff out the latest rebellion after it has spread to a planet or two. Rebellions that gain a toehold are common, but ones that last and gain influence are rare. </p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uYU6vJ6F2pQ/X0lb1v6t_JI/AAAAAAAAHvg/mjgAwQves2YgEWIzHdzMPi8zlHwEqoGEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/camera_drone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uYU6vJ6F2pQ/X0lb1v6t_JI/AAAAAAAAHvg/mjgAwQves2YgEWIzHdzMPi8zlHwEqoGEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/camera_drone.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Actually what got me thinking about this is <a href="https://onezero.medium.com/how-to-destroy-surveillance-capitalism-8135e6744d59">an article on Medium</a> by Cory Doctorow. He’s promoting it as a book, but whatever it is, it is worth a read.
Doctorow writes about how Big Tech is exercising undue influence over us. He is writing in reaction to an author called Zuboff, who thinks modern surveillance, as practiced by Big Tech, is a system that uses machine learning to control minds and shape behavior. This gives Big Tech a permanent advantage that can't be negated in the traditional way, by breaking these companies up. </p><p>Doctorow thinks that's wrong. He thinks Big Tech is an ordinary monopoly problem. If the company that has a monopoly on search starts serving wrong answers, people will believe them - not because of mind control, but because of dominance. </p><p>Some might say that seeing Big Tech as an evil force is akin to a conspiracy theory. But, Doctorow refutes this based on Anna Merlan's <a href="https://boingboing.net/2019/09/21/from-opioids-to-antivax.html">Republic of Lies</a>, one of the most important books on the rise of conspiratorial thinking.</p><p></p><p>Surveillance is a real, serious, urgent problem, not in the far future, but right now, today. It's a problem, Doctorow thinks, because the vast, nonconsensual dossiers Big Tech compiles on us can be used to compromise and neutralize any opposition we try to get involved in that might threaten the status quo.
But there is something even worse. <br /><br />
Big Tech also works hard to achieving lock-in (and influence government to make laws that support it). This allows Big Tech to decide how we can use our own devices, who can fix them, and when they must be thrown away. Lock-in is an invitation to totalitarianism: the Chinese government observed the fact that Apple alone could decide which apps can run on Iphones, then ordered Apple to remove apps that allowed Chinese people privacy from the state. In the far future it is easy to imagine that the government would simply cut out the middleman and subsume companies like Apple, which would give them direct authority about which apps are allowed.
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In his latest book Doctorow calls on us all to insist on nothing less than absolute technological self-determination. That book is available for free to read on One zero, with a nav system that should allow you pick up where you left off. To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-73858465730202866542020-08-27T11:39:00.000-07:002020-08-27T11:39:09.828-07:00My fantasy of my sci-fi novel getting optioned<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="639" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfJ8U2nbDwI/X0f8NdeFiTI/AAAAAAAAHvQ/XIyuuXdkeaA2vQyxJ0gu3U4NV8f7UnstwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h267/mansion_and_pool.jpg" width="400" /></div><br /><p></p><p>It has been a daydream of mine, ever since I started writing sci-fi novels, that one of my books would be optioned for a movie. In my imagination I would then get a payment of several millions of dollars and my life would be changed instantly and utterly. It is not a hugely likely scenario, I will be the first to admit that. In fact it has a likelihood somewhere in the region of winning the lottery or being hit by an asteroid.
<br /><br />The specific scenario I most often daydream about is one where a Hollywood star buys my book. There are only a handful of sales that are generated by my books most days but I fantasize that one of those sales is to a Hollywood A-lister (or Z-liser, if they have the money) with a taste for sci-fi of the kind I write. Most often I imagine they have downloaded Galaxy Dog and just loved it. </p><hr />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> I write sci-fi novels, including a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
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The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
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So the celebrity likes Galaxy Dog so much that he or she wants to option it and make a movie. It could be an appropriate celebrity, such as Henry Golding or Zendaya, or if Hollywood wanted to whitewash the two main roles, maybe it could be – picking a name or two from <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2018/04/a-guide-to-celebrities-of-the-who-niverse.html">Vulture’s ranking of Z-listers</a> – Henry Cavill or Taylor Swift.
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Would I really allow my stories to be whitewashed in this way in exchange for a cool million: let’s hope I’m never tested. I’m against whitewashing, obviously, and I wouldn’t want Scarlett Johansson involved in the project, but I also need to pay rent. The most important thing in the fantasy is not exactly which Hollywood star buys one of my books and falls in love with it, the important thing is that there would be enormous pots of cash involved in the deal, and that I would be whisked away to Tinseltown on a private jet to sign the contract. In my mind, this happens by the side of a huge pool in the back garden of some mansion, accompanied by cocktails.
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With these pleasant fantasies filling my head, as usual, I was very interested to end up reading an article about how books really get optioned and how much money is usually involved. The title of the Guardian article I happened upon was not encouraging. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/aug/27/no-aspect-of-writing-makes-you-rich-why-do-authors-get-a-pittance-for-film-rights">The story</a> is titled, No aspect of writing makes you rich' – why do authors get a pittance for film rights?
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Despite the downer of a headline, the actual article starts with the sort of deals that dreams are made of. And none of the information is a surprise, of course. We all already know that EL James pocketed $5m for the screen rights to the Fifty Shades trilogy, and that JK Rowling got $1.3m for the first four Harry Potter books alone, that Dan Brown received $6m The Da Vinci Code, and Hollywood hurled $3.75m at John Grisham for The Chamber when it was still just an outline. So far so good, but it was then that the journalist started to pour the cold water, but just a sprinkle.
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Some stories you might not have heard so much about include Charles Webb, who sold the movie rights to The Graduate for $20,000, which sounds like a lot until you look up what the movie made. The film version of The Graduate grossed more than $100m. Still $20,000 doesn’t sound too bad, I’d probably take that. Next the article reveals that Joanne Harris sold the film rights to Chocolat for £5,000. I was horrified, but that number isn’t the whole story. She also got a nice fat cut of the film’s box office. She got her beak wet for £100,000 of the takings, to be precise.
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Apparently Stephen King requests only one dollar to option one of his books as a movie. For him, too, the back end is where he makes real money. He got an eight-figure pay out from the recent adaptation of It. I must remember that when I’m hammering out the fantasy contract for my book, in the negotiations in my mind.
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After these giants of the publishing industry, the article got a little more real, with Joanna Nadin, whose YA novel Joe All Alone was adapted into an award-winning television series. Joe All Alone was optioned before publication for less than £5,000. There were however extra payments for each episode for a few months, each big enough to cover a mortgage payment. That’s not nothing, and anyone would be happy to pocket that kind of money, but it hardly equates with the fantasy scenario in my mind. I guess that you only get a huge payment to option your book if it is already a proven mega hit, like The Martian, and none of my books have quite reached that level yet. I suppose I will just have to keep on daydreaming a while longer. <br /><br />
To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-80290048023907630242020-08-25T15:03:00.000-07:002020-08-25T15:03:37.402-07:00Masks as Merch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QDytbutzGH0/X0QMHNH9eVI/AAAAAAAAHuk/DsYkoHwLTbo6ARRfCMzk5G9JAA15_46FgCLcBGAsYHQ/s725/sun_chaser-mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="586" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QDytbutzGH0/X0QMHNH9eVI/AAAAAAAAHuk/DsYkoHwLTbo6ARRfCMzk5G9JAA15_46FgCLcBGAsYHQ/w259-h320/sun_chaser-mask.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p>Today’s post is a little news about the merch available on this site. I sell my merch through Redbubble, where for reasons too long and boring to go into I go by the name Moonbug, and Redbubble are now doing masks. Actually they’ve been doing them for a while, since late April in fact, but I just got round to enabling them.
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Why are Redbubble selling masks, well because the COVID pandemic means we all now need to wear a face mask in public. It is a sad sign of the times that I can’t assume everyone is just going to take that statement at face value. Just in case you are hesitating about wearing a mask, and keeping it up over your nose, for any reason at all, here are a few <a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/debunked-myths-about-face-masks">mask myths debunked</a>. (I have no idea what kind of evil nut would bunk them in the first place, but people have taken the time and trouble to debunk them again).
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Firstly, you need to wear a mask even if you don’t think you are sick. Secondly, wearing a mask will not increase the amount of carbon dioxide you breathe, and it will not make you sick. Thirdly, if you are wearing a mask, you still need to practice social distancing.
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Okay, with that out of the way, what happened was a lot of the artists who sell through Redbubble contacted them to ask if they could sell masks printed with their art. Spotting a chance to make a quick buck, Redbubble said you bet and introduced masks as quickly as they could. Of course, so as not to look quite so mercenary, the decision was taken that for every mask sold Redbubble are going to donate a mask to Heart to Heart International. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tnWCuPcGlog/X0QMayvExCI/AAAAAAAAHus/32NGJn6nwscHbhXq7hCMgQLLt68aT39dQCLcBGAsYHQ/s738/blood_star-small-mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="738" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tnWCuPcGlog/X0QMayvExCI/AAAAAAAAHus/32NGJn6nwscHbhXq7hCMgQLLt68aT39dQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/blood_star-small-mask.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Heart to Heart International works with volunteers, partners, and donors to make healthcare more accessible, including international, domestic, and local responses to COVID-19. Donated masks will be given to people who are in line for drive-through testing, before they get to the testing station. They will also be used in hospitals and clinics for non-frontline workers, including administrative staff and hospital workers who are delivering food to patients. With all that good stuff happening, it makes me feel a little less opportunistic about wanting to shift a few masks myself.
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</p><hr />
<br /><b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btiraISgJ7g/X0QLSbGRhSI/AAAAAAAAHuc/n1zwj3X-y3QPGfxLIb4IM30jJbnYMt5ZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/hook_cover_drawing_kdp_size2.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btiraISgJ7g/X0QLSbGRhSI/AAAAAAAAHuc/n1zwj3X-y3QPGfxLIb4IM30jJbnYMt5ZwCLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/hook_cover_drawing_kdp_size2.png" width="133" /></a></div>If you enjoy reading Gothic Horror, it is likely you will enjoy <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Young-Venetian-Blood-Book-ebook/dp/B07RZH78FM">Forever Young</a>:<br />
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<i>Forever Young is a modern take on a classic Gothic novel, combining horror, death, and romance. It is firmly in the tradition of the most famous books of the genre but it is also something new. The book introduces us to Jasmine, a student of the occult, newly arrived in Venice, and to Violetta, who is trapped in an ancient and violent world with no escape. After the two meet, Jasmine gradually awakes in Violetta the desire to escape.</i><br />
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The book is also available at <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/forever-young-46">Kobo</a> and at <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/939920">Smashwords</a>.
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Apparently, the masks consist of two layers of washable woven polyester, with over-ear elastic straps for a snug fit over mouth and nose. The masks come in one size and are said to fit most adults. Obviously these are not going to protect the wearer in a clinical setting and are intended for general public use only. They are not surgical masks, nor are they personal protective equipment, nor N-95 respirators or anything like that.
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If you intend to sell masks as part of your own merch it’s important to remember to be respectful of all the unfortunate people who have been directly impacted by COVID-19. Key workers in particular are both under enormous stress and at much higher risk of catching the disease and having a negative outcome. Just remember that fact when deciding which of your designs are appropriate for use on a mask.
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Making masks available for all my merch involved some extra work for me, because I had to go through my portfolio of designs, click on the cog icon for each design and select <i>Edit</i>. It was worth the effort, though, as I am particularly proud of the <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/i/mask/Sun-Chaser-by-moonbug/47024837.9G0D8?asc=u">Sun Chaser mask</a> I created.
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If you still need some persuasion before wearing a mask, or pulling it up from round your chin where it isn’t doing anybody any good, here is <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html">what the CDC says</a>. The CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings or around strangers, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Masks help prevent people spreading the virus to others. They are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used.<br /><br />
They are simply a barrier that prevents droplets traveling into the air and onto other people when you cough, sneeze, talk, or raise your voice. They should be worn over the nose AND mouth. Also remember COVID-19 can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know that they are infected. That’s why it’s important for everyone to wear masks.
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Along with wearing a mask it’s a good idea to avoid close contact as much as possible, clean hands often, avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and frequently clean and disinfect surfaces.
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Interestingly, you should not wear a mask if it might get wet, like when swimming at the beach or pool. A wet mask may make it difficult to breathe. For activities like swimming, it is particularly important to maintain physical distance from others when in the water. Another interesting complication is that while face shields are excellent when used for eye protection, at this time it is not known what level of protection a face shield provides from the spray of respiratory droplets from the wearer. Therefore the CDC does not currently recommend the use of face shields as a substitute for masks.
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Well, that’s all the merch news for now, we all learned something I hope, and now I can get back to posting about random sci-fi musings and naked attempts to sell more books. To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my sci-fi novels. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-64819837839230443242020-08-24T08:39:00.005-07:002020-08-24T08:39:55.751-07:00Best social media for sci-fi authors<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PG6txPlLc2w/X0PeyRwO3MI/AAAAAAAAHuU/W6r6mJyMJdkf09-y8DoALluiJzLbV9_4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s467/social_network_market_share.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="467" height="581" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PG6txPlLc2w/X0PeyRwO3MI/AAAAAAAAHuU/W6r6mJyMJdkf09-y8DoALluiJzLbV9_4gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h581/social_network_market_share.png" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Having this blog is all well and good, but a sci-fi author really should also have a wider web presence where they engage with people and drive them to their blog, or what have you, or even better, directly to Amazon to buy their best selling book, which in my case is Galaxy Dog. </p><p><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a>
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
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<br /> </p><p>Traditionally, using social media to fish for customers requires the investment of a lot of time and effort. <a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-tips/">Some platforms</a>, like Twitter and Instagram Stories, require you to be active multiple times per day to reach your audience. Potential customers are likely following dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of other content creators and influences, so it is necessary to get in there and become part of that mix.
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The problem is that though I know I’m supposed to be doing all this, actually engaging with people on social media is very much not what I am good at. It is so far outside my wheelhouse that I’m not even on the boat. Like a lot of authors, I imagine, sitting alone for hours creating worlds that exist only in my imagination, then capturing them on paper, that’s my sweet spot. I know I need to do social media, but I also know I don’t have the temperament for it.
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I have dedicated much contemplation to this conundrum over the years. I have done a bunch of research and experimentation to find which social media outlet is the easiest to maintain for an introverted creative type, like me, who doesn’t necessarily have any interest in having a conversation, or otherwise engaging, with any other human being on the face of the planet. I’m not even comfortable chatting with all the Russian bots that are working to get Trump back into power.
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By the way, it turns out that this is hardly an original thought. The entire interweb is full of people asking the exact same question on sites such as <a href="https://www.quora.com/Which-social-media-platform-is-easiest-to-maintain-and-profit-from">Quora</a>. The poor, confused saps doing the asking are given advice of varying levels of interest and relevance, ranging from sort of useful to garbage that is obviously generated by a primitive AI from Wikipedia scrapings. Some of the experts doling out their pearls of wisdom are even still peddling the notion that video content is the only way to go. Tell that to all the newsrooms that restructured to focus on video and have now closed.
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One of the first answers I saw on Quora, for example, baldly stated that “...most social platforms are pretty easy to maintain, especially if you use a content management platform like Hootsuite.” Maybe for you buster, but not for the likes of me. I could use all the content management platforms in the world and still have no idea what to actually say to people. There are also warnings mixed in with the tips, such as the advice that my “...goal shouldn’t be maintenance, it should be growth, engagement and contribution.” That sounds absolutely terrifying to me. Advice like this is all a little vague, anyway. I find it most helpful when people get down to brass tacks and actually tell you which platform they use, and why, which is what – dear reader – I’m going to do right now.
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Let’s start with Facebook. I have a visceral hatred for the platform that means I’m unlikely to ever seriously engage with it, but I also learned that the Facebook algorithm continually downgrades organic visibility on posts, forcing the poor schlubs who use it into paid advertising as the only reliable strategy for higher visibility. For me it’s a hard pass.
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Twitter is next most influential, at least to my mind, but the site seems to mostly be about commenting on trending topics while maintaining focus on branded hashtags. To start conversations with the audience, a lot of people even ask questions and then respond or add to that conversation. Twitter is just the most artificial and stilted thing in the world to me, and I just cannot force myself to do it. It is famously takes up almost all of your time. Nope, nope, nope, not for me.
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The really tempting site, currently, is Instagram. A lot of people are saying it is easy to maintain and profit from an Instagram presence. You can build your brand, promote it, and people will actually buy your products, apparently. There is however one caveat, and that is that you have have to post great content every day, it has to have a link, and it has to have a hashtag. Yikes. To me that sounds like a lot of effort, but some people do even more. They research top tags for the particular product they are trying to shill, which is sci-fi books in my case. I guess if you do such research you can adorn your posts with the same tags. Apparently you can also use IG stories – whatever the hell that is – to create mini ads. Each slide displays a new product graphic and at the end you include a “slide up” action for purchase. Unfortunately you need more than 10,000 followers before you are able to include the all-important links within your stories that you use to drive traffic to blog posts, Amazon and the like. That is less than ideal. With the best will in the world I’m never going to attract that many followers, which means Instagram is not for me.
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These are the big players, the top money-making platforms, but there are also some lesser-used social media platforms, and the solution I use is among them. They may be <a href="https://www.lemonlight.com/blog/are-you-taking-full-advantage-of-social-media/">smaller platforms</a> with correspondingly smaller userbases, but having to compete with fewer content creators actually feels like an advantage to me.
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Quora is a place where people ask questions and get answers from other users. I don’t have a product or service I can establish myself as a credible expert in. I’m more of a Jack of all trades, so I doubt it would be a useful hunting ground for me to find new readers. I’m certainly not investing the effort necessary to find out if it might actually send any customers my way.
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I guess we should also talk about LinkedIn, but they seem to have bet the farm on short form video. Like I said, judging by the way that trend tore the heart out of the news sector, I don’t think it’s the way to go. It is also enormously time consuming for anything other than a makeup tutorial, so not exactly the ‘easy’ option I’m looking for.
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Reddit seems worthy of consideration, but it is really a forum that has somehow mutated into something else. Reddit is all about the content, which has to be creative, educational, amusing, or in some other way valuable to your target community. Each subreddit also has its own spoken and unspoken rules and conventions, so making the site work for you is a massive investment of time and energy. It’s also super punitive. If Reddit users get the sense you’re being too promotional or sales-y, they’ll shut you down quick, fast, and in a hurry. All that stress and work is definitely not for me.
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Tumblr was also originally billed as a micro-blogging platform, but has since evolved into a kind of online community. Unfortunately for me, getting to know the community’s culture is a large factor to marketing success or failure on Tumblr. It’s all about popular cultural references, memes, inside jokes, and really trying to impress. In other words the sort of malarkey I grew out of while I was still at school.
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That leaves only one real option that I have found, and it is the one I’m going to recommend to introverted sci-fi authors. Pinterest is a social network built around the idea of taking pictures and videos you like, and making them into pinboards. Among all the hideous mood boards for dream weddings, DIY home goods, and billions and billions of shoes there is a sci-fi audience there. Will you become an influencer, making millions of dollars per day by shifting makeup, probably not, but you may just get a few visitors to your site that you wouldn’t otherwise have had, and you may just get a slightly better Google rank for the blog posts you link to. That’s my strategy anyway, make of it what you will.
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To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one.
<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-46677523683628475722020-08-23T15:29:00.003-07:002020-08-23T15:29:33.434-07:00Mixing sci-fi and Film Noir<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0TblUkOiBhA/X0LpdjXJRfI/AAAAAAAAHtk/N4kPluW49Ig3Qt0O268hfbK2JsRCAnDbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/terminator_tech_noir.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tech Noir" border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1280" height="370" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0TblUkOiBhA/X0LpdjXJRfI/AAAAAAAAHtk/N4kPluW49Ig3Qt0O268hfbK2JsRCAnDbgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h370/terminator_tech_noir.png" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p>I was at the cinema yesterday, which not many people can say in these Covid times. I, however, live in Venice, Italy, and <a href="https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2020">the Venice Film Festival</a> is not taking a break. The 77th Venice festival wants to be the first international film festival to open its doors since the coronavirus pandemic began. That has meant a few compromises, such as a reduced schedule, distancing measures, and new outdoor screening sites. I’m not sure it is a good idea, overall, but the outdoor sites seem like a fairly safe option to me. Going to a movie in the open air obviously isn’t zero risk, but it is nowhere near as risky as seeing a film in an enclosed space. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OKHAlNgpVTE/X0LsP4hxORI/AAAAAAAAHts/OnjETlVlP3cOIRy9HXNqjDx4fFjQaNDIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s850/biennale_venezia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="850" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OKHAlNgpVTE/X0LsP4hxORI/AAAAAAAAHts/OnjETlVlP3cOIRy9HXNqjDx4fFjQaNDIQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h267/biennale_venezia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I went to one of the new outdoor screening sites that has been assembled at Venice’s festival’s gardens, which are usually used for the Art and Architecture Festivals. The people running the event checked my temperature when I went in and half of the seats were empty. The staff told us that masks were to be worn throughout the movie, and it looked to me that – at least in the screening I went to – the moviegoers actually complied. </p><hr />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
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I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr /><p>
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It was already dusk when we took our seats, so the mosquitoes were already thick in the air, and the stars were already out. Jupiter and Saturn were bright points overhead. As long as you have strong enough mosquito repellent – I was using Vape – it is a very romantic way to see a movie. The screen is set up right at the center of some of the most beautiful exhibition pavilions, which at dusk were curiously shaped silhouettes among the trees. I hope they keep this location for future festivals, even when Covid – hopefully – is a thing of the past.
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The movie I went to wasn’t one of the 18 films competing for the Golden Lion, so I can’t give any insight into which Cate Blanchett and the rest of the jury will choose as winner. But that doesn’t mean the movie I saw was in any way lesser, I saw Detour, which was simply amazing, so good I had to write a blog post about it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1NGWbxAxbM/X0LscrFkKYI/AAAAAAAAHtw/aaJxUWrTxoA6VOSy0mz4Z-SAD5ZMkqrFACLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/Detour-Cover-1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1NGWbxAxbM/X0LscrFkKYI/AAAAAAAAHtw/aaJxUWrTxoA6VOSy0mz4Z-SAD5ZMkqrFACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Detour-Cover-1.webp" width="640" /></a></div><p>Detour is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_noir">Film Noir</a>, which means a visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography and a story from the hardboiled school of crime fiction. Al Roberts, played by Tom Neal, is the ‘hero’ of the movie, a beat down pianist at a New York dive who decides to follow his sweetheart to Hollywood. He tells the story of his trip, as a hardboiled monologue from his point of view, but the suspicion swiftly arises that he is an <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/main/unreliablenarrator">unreliable narrator</a>. <br /><br />Al acquires a car and then picks up a hitchhiker called Vera, played by Ann Savage, which is when the movie absolutely comes alive. She accuses Al of killing the previous owner of the car. “What did you do? Kiss him with a wrench?” she asks. Al, of course, denies it, and one of the beautiful things about this movie is that, as viewers, we have no way of knowing if he is telling the truth or not. We have to take his word that he didn’t do it, but Vera certainly doesn’t believe him. The way Vera reacts to Al, her suspicions about him, and attraction to him are fascinating to watch. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jul/06/detour-film-noir-1945-ann-savage">Phil Hoad, at The Guardian</a>, also very much enjoyed Savage’s perfomance.
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“Look closely at her and there’s desperation: the deathly lack of hesitation about her money-making ploys; a cough that is a suggestion of TB; the only softness in her already spoilt by self-pity. It’s not an act, like the classic femme fatales; it’s an animalistic bid for survival. Detour seems to stand as much on the blasted plains of Depression-era America as behind the postwar Venetian blinds of noir. Savage’s jagged, slightly expressionist performance belongs in a horror movie – one called real-life.”
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Director Edgar G Ulmer, who like many directors of Noir had escaped the Nazis, shot the movie over a month on a budget of around $100,000. The lack of funds is easy to see on the screen but the austere visuals are very Noir and actually make the movie better. Ulmer also apparently threw entire sections of the shooting script away, compressing the story into a dense package of narration, action, and psychology. The film is in the public domain meaning it is freely available from online sources and is well worth hunting out.
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But Brett, you are probably saying, where is the sci-fi angle?
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All my posts on this blog – well the vast majority of them, anyway – have a sci-fi angle. Obviously I do this so that stupid search engines (.cough.Google.cough.) don’t get the wrong idea about what my site is about, who I want to attract to it, and what products I want to push on them (my sci-fi novels). All my posts have to include key words related to sci-fi, repeated over and over again, otherwise Google doesn’t know what the hell is going on. Well, fear not, there is a sci-fi angle, and that is Tech Noir.
<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wbdxNl49ONU/X0LtLme_VUI/AAAAAAAAHt8/So7QFv5q9PMtXYo4d0OuEAnn6ckaZn4zgCLcBGAsYHQ/s660/blade_runner_noir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="660" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wbdxNl49ONU/X0LtLme_VUI/AAAAAAAAHt8/So7QFv5q9PMtXYo4d0OuEAnn6ckaZn4zgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/blade_runner_noir.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Tech-noir (which according to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tech_noir">Wikipedia</a> is also known as cyber noir, future noir, and science fiction noir) is a genre of film that combines Film Noir and science fiction. The obvious example is Blade Runner but there were movies in the genre that came before. Alphaville, which was made in 1965, features Lemmy Caution as an old-school private eye in the city of tomorrow, and Soylent Green, made in 1973, has a Noir plot and also features classic Noir actors like Edward G. Robinson.
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But is it a good idea to mix sci-fi and Noir, or does it produce more of a dog’s dinner? My opinion is that it can be done, and the more the Noir influence is embraced the better. Blade Runner is such a visually impressive and intellectually engaging movie because it almost slavishly adheres its Noir influences. But you have to remember, if you want to enjoy the movie, that Deckard is the bad guy.
<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1W7-mtSX0oo/X0LtXDyRFyI/AAAAAAAAHuA/46jJcwChnU805Quo1F68aBZx_s2Khk4ogCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/sci-fi_fedora_dude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1W7-mtSX0oo/X0LtXDyRFyI/AAAAAAAAHuA/46jJcwChnU805Quo1F68aBZx_s2Khk4ogCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h267/sci-fi_fedora_dude.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Where Noir doesn’t work so much is when it is added as an afterthought, especially if only one, single character is influenced by Noir tropes. The best example of where Noir is incorporated into a sci-fi story in an annoying and distracting way is in the TV show, The Expanse. The show features one extremely smug character called Joe Miller, a very tropey hardened, world-weary, grizzled, borderline-alcoholic detective. </p><p>Miller is the typically Noir cynical guy with a dark sense of humor, but without the tight dialogue of a true Noir character. Miller even wears a fedora hat and has a preference for revolvers, which are both distractingly anachronistic for the setting of The Expanse. All in all, he stands out like a sore thumb in a show that is otherwise the hardest of hard sci-fi. See, I manged to tack on a sci-fi angle and dis The Expanse, all in one smooth maneuver. To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-53867610784371916792020-08-22T06:40:00.000-07:002020-08-22T06:40:08.779-07:002000 AD - issue 186<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gJXllImw1Yk/X0EZnrIk2JI/AAAAAAAAHss/Wp4GslD6gDoXjttaOozFBQVZ0Tb04gwUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s930/mean_arena_laser_stop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="930" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gJXllImw1Yk/X0EZnrIk2JI/AAAAAAAAHss/Wp4GslD6gDoXjttaOozFBQVZ0Tb04gwUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/mean_arena_laser_stop.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>A couple of days ago I promised that this blog would no longer just be posts about sci-fi TV shows and old issues of 2000 AD. That, however does not mean that I am not allowed any posts about sci-fi TV shows or old issues of 2000 AD. Maybe I write what seems like a lot about 2000 AD, but reading it was a very formative experience for me, back in the 1970s and 1980s, and I have a <a href="https://www.brettfitzpatrick.com/p/blog-page.html">2000 AD page</a> where I link to all the issues I have talked about on this site.
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Issue 186 of 2000 AD came out 15 November, 1980, and cost the princely sum of 14 pence. That doesn’t sound a lot, but in today’s money that is almost a pound, based on <a href="https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator">the Bank of England inflation tracker</a>. Actually that's not as much as I was expecting, well, never mind, on with the show. <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKCcSflvET4/X0EZbg4zcZI/AAAAAAAAHso/u0nVN_-KsREKayKM_pPnbd5sPA3xWJyFACLcBGAsYHQ/s763/cover_2000_ad_issue_186_1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="629" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKCcSflvET4/X0EZbg4zcZI/AAAAAAAAHso/u0nVN_-KsREKayKM_pPnbd5sPA3xWJyFACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/cover_2000_ad_issue_186_1980.JPG" /></a></div><p>The cover features a character from the Judge Dredd strip called Otto Sump, and it is the work of Ron Smith. To my eyes this is another uninspiring cover, following on from last week’s substandard effort by the usually exceptional Carlos Ezquerra. It is static and, by definition, ugly. It doesn’t make we want to read the Judge Dredd story at all. In fact I find myself flipping past Strontium Dog, The Mean Arena, and Dash Decent, along with Judge Dredd, to get to my favorite story from this period of 2000 AD: a strip called Return to Armageddon.
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If you don’t like me flipping forward like this, and you want a more disciplined approach to reading an ancient comic book from forty years ago, I have a site I can recommend. This issue is covered in some detail on the blog of another poor soul doing a prog slog. Sheridan Wilde calls his slog a <a href="https://sheridanwilde.wordpress.com/2020/02/01/2000ad-prog-186-get-ugly-revolting-new-craze-sweeps-mega-city-one/">back prog hack</a>, and it is well worth a look. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D67qjbcaigQ/X0EZ5b13m4I/AAAAAAAAHs4/FfgsswU_xs4YPfT5-8pZBj4JtMwwdDPPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1134/return_armageddon_redondo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1134" height="410" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D67qjbcaigQ/X0EZ5b13m4I/AAAAAAAAHs4/FfgsswU_xs4YPfT5-8pZBj4JtMwwdDPPgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h410/return_armageddon_redondo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Like I said, I turned immediately to Return to Armageddon, and I did this because of last week’s spooky installment, I couldn’t wait to see what was locked in the planet’s ice and what was going to happen on the spaceship. It turns out there is a horned figure below the ice, and some charred humans. The crew of the lost spaceship free them from the ice using lasers, and bring them aboard. <br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
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I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr /><p>
<br />The captain is pleased with their their find, but the passengers, a religious cult, are not. They especially don’t like the hairy one with horns, making it look like the devil. The ship’s doctor finds some live cells in the creature’s liver and decides to bring it back to life. He goes full gun-toting mad scientist when one of his team stands in his way. So far, this story is hugely entertaining, and I’m already looking forward to next week. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TKUAQWb7Wbg/X0EaK-ssPvI/AAAAAAAAHtA/qNoqvE5XVl01qkRR95KRfhBIcuQi6zsrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s297/johnny_alpha_waits.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="166" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TKUAQWb7Wbg/X0EaK-ssPvI/AAAAAAAAHtA/qNoqvE5XVl01qkRR95KRfhBIcuQi6zsrQCLcBGAsYHQ/w179-h320/johnny_alpha_waits.JPG" width="179" /></a></div><p><br />
After reading Return to Armageddon I went back to Strontium Dog where The Schicklgruber Grab, with wonderful and detailed art by Ezquerra, is continuing. It starts with Johnny Alpha using a device called the time ejector. This immediately transports the heroes to a different point on the time continuum. It is a ludicrous idea, more like a magical item than a technological device. This installment is quite enjoyable, however, as long as you go along with its lighthearted tone. Johnny Alpha is not a lighthearted character, unfortunately, so he is forced to sit in a corner and brood while everyone else gets on with their comedy shenanigans.
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Next comes The Mean Arena, which continues Tallon’s flashback to his last match in the US. It’s the typical grim and senseless action, with no attempt at such side issues as character, plot, or even consistency. I must admit that I enjoyed it. When Mean Arena has a good artist it represents all that is good, and bad, about the classic 2000 AD formula. This episode has art that is just, only just, good enough to allow the reader to catch a glimpse of what this strip is capable of.
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Dash Decent is a one page attempt at some humor, which is something that never seems to quite work in the ultra-violent world of 2000 AD. It also distills some of the problems of this old comic book into just one panel, which includes a sexist representation of a damsel in distress and a racist depiction of an evil Asian emperor in the same image. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-30kpW7Ns7Lk/X0Eak0byH0I/AAAAAAAAHtI/kFntUFFWQiclQ6JMT5Rnq1lUMCK34wtpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s403/dash_indecent.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="403" height="322" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-30kpW7Ns7Lk/X0Eak0byH0I/AAAAAAAAHtI/kFntUFFWQiclQ6JMT5Rnq1lUMCK34wtpQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h322/dash_indecent.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>It is a colossal waste of the talents of Kevin O’Neil, whose work is its usual scratchy, feverish, detailed, and genius self. Problematic, very problematic... but beautiful.
<br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V_mLajdD8HE/X0EayUWtK7I/AAAAAAAAHtM/ecwwr3Q1RwceuxWbzQhH5vxeEnFIF9UTACLcBGAsYHQ/s458/smith_superhero.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="458" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V_mLajdD8HE/X0EayUWtK7I/AAAAAAAAHtM/ecwwr3Q1RwceuxWbzQhH5vxeEnFIF9UTACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/smith_superhero.JPG" /></a></div><p>Judge Dredd this episode is about a fashionable society woman who intentionally goes to a plastic surgery clinic to be made uglier. It is pretty broad as a satire of fashion trends and plastic surgery, but it does suit Ron Smith’s drawing style. His fleshy, rotund style is perfect for the ugly results of the intentionally botched surgeries. He even gets a chance to draw some bad guys as muscular Marvel supervillains, which is something he loved to do. If only he could have injected some of the frenetic activity of this strip, which looks great, into the static and boring cover based on it.
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Return to Armageddon is next, but we have talked about that so we can flip past it and move on. Even while flipping past this story, however, it is worth taking a little time to marvel at the beautiful art by Redondo. I love Redondo’s skillful draftsmanship and ability to capture complex technology and ideas in just a few brush and pen strokes.
<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_X5Kr3gnq4/X0EeYlOZF1I/AAAAAAAAHtY/GCRcQsUCSJcWqaJbUWenQrvH3cKGqKaaACLcBGAsYHQ/s796/mole_men.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="796" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_X5Kr3gnq4/X0EeYlOZF1I/AAAAAAAAHtY/GCRcQsUCSJcWqaJbUWenQrvH3cKGqKaaACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/mole_men.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Then comes Meltdown Man and it is, as usual, dumb and boring. It absolutely wastes the talents of Belardinelli, who is one of the greats. The strip looks good but makes no sense at all. The worst thing this episode is when we are told the mole men we meet will have an advantage in the dark against their opponents. Hilariously, all their opponents have lamps, so to gain the advantage of being in the dark the hero of the strip has to accurately shoot out every lamp. Then and only then can the mole men be sent in to chew them up. But... if the hero can shoot accurately enough to knock out their lamps, why didn’t he just shoot them all in the head. It’s preposterous, and a waste of everybody’s time.
<br /><br />
All in all this was a very enjoyable issue of a classic comic book. It is problematic and never even comes close to threatening to pass the Bechdel test, which is something anyone thinking about reading it should be warned about, but I did enjoy this issue of this problematic fave of mine.
To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-28748700249695476242020-08-16T07:17:00.000-07:002020-08-16T07:17:12.218-07:00Sci-Fi Novel Cover Spaceship - more WIP<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-83f8kGQxmTA/Xzk9Qec5udI/AAAAAAAAHr8/XCORxo4sxj4CD_4M2W1ZsuGbR5pQqYOOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1318/spaceship_before_snip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1318" height="237" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-83f8kGQxmTA/Xzk9Qec5udI/AAAAAAAAHr8/XCORxo4sxj4CD_4M2W1ZsuGbR5pQqYOOwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h237/spaceship_before_snip.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Like I wrote in <a href="https://www.brettfitzpatrick.com/2020/08/what-successful-sci-fi-authors-blog.html">my post a couple of days ago</a>, I have managed to carve a little time out of my busy life to work on my book. I wrote a couple of thousand words yesterday, high on the chance to be creative again and with so much to get out onto the paper, and I wanted to write another 2,000 words today. Unfortunately working on a self-published book doesn’t just include writing. I am also, simultaneously and very gradually putting together the cover. In fact almost as much of my time goes into working on the cover of the novel as writing the text inside it.
<br /><br />
As I write space opera with a heavy hint of military sci-fi it makes sense for my books to have spaceships on the cover. I could create those spaceships with a program like <a href="https://www.gimp.org/">GIMP</a>, or even with good old fashioned paint and brush on canvas. The results can be beautiful and evocative, but they are also, necessarily, two dimensional. If you decide the spaceship on the cover of your book should be seen from a slightly different angle you have to paint the whole thing again. If, on the other hand, you create a 3D spaceship model in <a href="https://www.blender.org/">Blender</a> and then use that to render a two dimensional image, you can twist and turn you spaceship to your heart’s content, until you display it to its best possible advantage. That’s why I use Blender to create my covers.
<br />
</p><hr />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
<br />
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr /><p>
<br />
Anyway, the last time I opened Blender and looked at my work-in-progress cover was a couple of months ago. That’s a long time, but it turns out it is actually a really good thing to be able to take time away from a design and come back to it with fresh eyes. In fact my fresh eyes told me that I didn’t like what I was seeing. Last time I worked on the spaceship model I decided, for some reason known only to god, to put a kind of roof on it. It seemed like a good idea at the time but now I think the roof makes my spaceship look like a some kind of futuristic car rather than an actual starship. That meant the first thing I had to do was undo the stuff I did last time.
<br /><br />
As I was splitting up parts of the model, to make the roof disappear, and attaching other parts, to fill in the gaps, I was surprised when the Alt M shortcut seemed to stop working. The Alt M shortcut is an easy way to merge two vertexes of a model, which in turn is an elegant way of closing up holes you have chewed into it. I couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t working, so I went Googling for a solution.
<br /><br />First let me tell you what I did that was absolutely wrong. I found <a href="https://blenderartists.org/t/blender-2-8-alt-m-not-working/1173808/3">this suggestion</a> and got it into my head that the problem was that the model was made up of multiple objects. Using different models at the same time is a lazy habit that I am not immune to, so that seemed reasonable. I figured I just had to select both objects and <a href="https://gamedev.stackexchange.com/questions/33843/how-to-merge-two-objects-in-blender">join them together</a> to fix the problem. I did this, but nothing happened. It turned out that the problem was not that the vertexes were part of different objects.
<br /><br />
Now let me tell you what I did that worked. Luckily I noticed a <a href="https://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/185227/altm-to-merge-vertices-is-not-working-anymore">much more recent post</a> in the results Google was presenting me with. Apparently the new shortcut to merge is just M, not Alt M. No Alt is needed anymore. This is not the first time that Google’s preference for older results has bitten me in the ass when I have been searching for an answer to a technology or software question. The Google algorithm seems to be very basic and easy to game, hence the shitload of Pinterest pins filling up every top ten selection of Google search results. I guess that’s why Google has set the search engine to favor older posts from a time when people weren’t as skilled at gaming the SEO, but that is a very blunt instrument. It works for some subjects, but technology and software moves so fast that favoring posts from the ancient history of the internet is not a good solution.
<br /><br />
I had another, much more mundane problem after that. My old mousepad finally gave up the ghost. I needed to keep using my mouse but using it directly on the table usually results in a less responsive mouse. A couple sheets of paper makes the mouse responsive, but hard to move due to the paper sliding around. What could I use instead of a mousepad? I ended up using two sheets of cardboard. The card was bad quality and rough, which my mouse seems to like. The card did move around a little, but not as much as a sheet of paper would.
<br /><br />
Then came the next problem. Trying to delete with the X Shortcut kept resulting in the error "Gizmos hidden in this view". It turns out I had somehow switched off Gizmos. To turn them back on again I just had to hit the icon at the bottom of the screen that looks like a bow and arrow with no string. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJVTVLr83tM/Xzk-wfFzEcI/AAAAAAAAHsE/d7bTRHgXGNsVSQGm58BssQORNGR_zq2bgCLcBGAsYHQ/s57/gizmo_icon_in_Blender.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="34" data-original-width="57" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJVTVLr83tM/Xzk-wfFzEcI/AAAAAAAAHsE/d7bTRHgXGNsVSQGm58BssQORNGR_zq2bgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/gizmo_icon_in_Blender.JPG" /></a></div><p></p><p>The next problem was related to that. I noticed I was accidentally leaving weird measurements on the hull of the spaceship. Apparently I was using the <a href="https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/editors/3dview/toolbar/measure.html">measuring tool</a> instead of Blender’s usual default tool. My guess is I had ended up causing these two problems when I was randomly pecking at the keyboard, trying to get the merge function to work, because switching to the measuring tool is also done with a hotkey that includes M. <br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bOPwCKUyBng/Xzk_Gw6trzI/AAAAAAAAHsM/6KspVsZ2HOQ2re7DxbVkm-xokSHuM3qkACLcBGAsYHQ/s309/measure.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bOPwCKUyBng/Xzk_Gw6trzI/AAAAAAAAHsM/6KspVsZ2HOQ2re7DxbVkm-xokSHuM3qkACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/measure.JPG" /></a></div><p></p><p>I found the way to switch back to the move tool from the measure tool was to type T, which made the various tool types appear on the left of the screen, and simply click to select it. The move tool seems to be the default one, so that is the one to go for.
<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ty0M1CAs_gE/Xzk_TkEDDGI/AAAAAAAAHsQ/zK28QPVxg34DnBDWgdUVoAKr8TcsliLtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s559/chewing_the_roof_off.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="432" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ty0M1CAs_gE/Xzk_TkEDDGI/AAAAAAAAHsQ/zK28QPVxg34DnBDWgdUVoAKr8TcsliLtQCLcBGAsYHQ/w309-h400/chewing_the_roof_off.JPG" width="309" /></a></div><p>After hours of work, and the usual numerous little problems, I got the roof off the spaceship. The result, I think, looks better. Unfortunately after changing the spaceship mesh to add a roof, and then to remove the roof again, I ended up with a badly torn and warped mesh. I spent the rest of the session trying to undo the damage I had done to the poor spaceship’s structure. I welded holes shut and flattened warped areas, making the spaceship mesh less chaotic and easier to work with, for my next session making the tiny, incremental changes that will one day result in a spaceship I will be proud to put on the cover of my next book.<br />
</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qZxeH2taOkk/Xzk_fUCPk3I/AAAAAAAAHsY/m8B5DG9CpY0yf7TmO-MY10rx3qmAsLiBACLcBGAsYHQ/s899/spaceship_after_snip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="899" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qZxeH2taOkk/Xzk_fUCPk3I/AAAAAAAAHsY/m8B5DG9CpY0yf7TmO-MY10rx3qmAsLiBACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h240/spaceship_after_snip.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p> To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-73703673433740721932020-08-15T08:05:00.004-07:002020-08-15T08:05:29.540-07:00Geordie influence on sci-fi novels<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MYt10LzTNts/Xzf3Z9TP4QI/AAAAAAAAHro/uPxhhNr_RwsdsdOX9e1MHH-P_U7UJabDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1794/Northumbria-600-700AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1726" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MYt10LzTNts/Xzf3Z9TP4QI/AAAAAAAAHro/uPxhhNr_RwsdsdOX9e1MHH-P_U7UJabDgCLcBGAsYHQ/w308-h320/Northumbria-600-700AD.jpg" width="308" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Yesterday I wrote a <a href="https://www.brettfitzpatrick.com/2020/08/what-successful-sci-fi-authors-blog.html">blog post about blog posts</a> . I decided that the range of subjects I was posting about on this site wasn’t broad enough and decided to add a few more areas of interest. One of the things on my list of new subjects to post about was Geordie heritage, and specifically how my being Geordie has been and continues to be an influence on the sci-fi that I write.
<br /><br />
What the f**k is a Geordie? I hear you ask. Allow me to explain. The short answer is that a <a href="https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=Geordie">Geordie</a> is a native or inhabitant of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, or its environs. The long answer, like with all heritage, is a little more complicated.
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It all started in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernicia">Bernicia</a> (Land of the Mountain Passes), an Anglo-Saxon kingdom established in the UK in the 6th century in what is now North East England. This is a region of cold winds, rain, iron gray skies, and moors, and was not seen as a particularly easy place to live. It was a land of hardship and subsistence farming. The Geordie dialect spoken by the people developed from the language spoken by the Anglo-Saxons, who were hired to fight off Pictish invaders from the north and Viking raids from over the sea.
<br /><br />
The kingdom of Bernicia is, of course, now long gone, but the product it was most famous for was destined to leave its mark on the land and the people for centuries to come. That product is <a href="https://englandsnortheast.co.uk/CoalMiningandRailways.html">coal</a>. Bernicia contained the most ancient coal mining district in England, dating back to Roman times, and the industry continued to develop over the centuries, to feed the ever expanding towns and increasing population of the country. </p><p><br />
</p><hr />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
<br />
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr /><p>
<br />
Newcastle became one of wealthiest towns in England through coal, and the phrase ‘Coals to Newcastle’ meaning an unnecessary pursuit entered the language. Building ships to transport the precious cargo also became important at Newcastle. More negatively, pit waste heaps started to appear, scarring the stark beauty of the countryside of the region.
<br /><br />
The first railways in the world, largely funded by a cartel of wealthy coal-owning families, were built to transport coal to the ports of the region. The engineering companies and metal works needed to create railway bridges, factories, engines and all the other equipment of the industrial revolution soon became an integral part of the region’s economy. You might think that because the region had become rich, the people would be living contented and secure lives, but that was very much not the case.
<br /><br />
With demand for coal expanding, mines got deeper and deeper and correspondingly much more dangerous. Mine roofs regularly collapsed and the danger of gas explosion and flooding was high. Many miners lost their lives in horrific colliery disasters and the pit ponies used underground were also often victims. Fortunes were made from the region’s mines by aristocrats but none of that was shared with the workers.
<br /><br />
An ever-increasing workforce of coal miners were able to form into unions in order to fight for better pay and conditions. It was also around this time that the Geordie dialect and identity became primarily associated with the working class. Of course the fat cats fought back against the working-class miners. The rich folk who owned the mines usually also owned the miners’ homes and often evicted those who protested. Ruffians called the ‘Candymen’ were recruited from dockside areas to provide violent help with evictions. The union stood firm and negotiated a 10 per cent increase in wages and a reduction in working hours for boys. It was a clear demonstration that mine owners would not have the same power to do as they damn well pleased anymore. Life was still a grim battle for the people of the region, living in mean housing and working inhuman hours, but that battle sometimes brought victories, and it built community spirit. Enormous crowds attended annual galas where colliery banners were displayed, and colliery bands played. <br /><br />Later demand for coal from the region began to fall, and many mines were worked out or if there was coal left it couldn’t be brought to the surface economically. Hundreds of North East coal mines were closed, with devastating consequences for the local towns and cities which relied on coal mining to provide employment. Against this unhappy background came one of the most terrible days in the history of the region, on 4 May 1979 Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The change in national leadership far away in London had profound effects on the working class of the windswept North East. Thatcherism became the national ideology.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/nov/16/why-britain-doesnt-make-things-manufacturing">Thatcherism</a> is a form of supply-side economics that is obsessed with keeping inflation low so that the assets of the rich do not lose value. It also focuses on reduced taxation for the rich and constraining labor so that workers don’t have to be paid well or kept healthy. Thatcher saw British industries, such as mining, as overmanned with too little profit. Her answer was shedding workers, which she believed would make industrial companies leaner and free up labor for new businesses. Whether the new business was in industry, commerce or services, public or private, the workers would find a place in Thatcher’s new, prosperous and dynamic economy. She put this plan into action with an austerity policy that saw nearly one in four of all manufacturing jobs disappear within Thatcher’s first term. Spoiler – the middle-aged miners and metal workers who were laid off didn’t become software engineers, they largely landed up in worse jobs or on the scrapheap.
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Thatcher was quite open about her uncompromising views, and it was obvious to both Thatcher and the miners that her ideology would lead to a confrontation. Thatcher planned to win the battle with the miners, crush the North East, and bring about the resurgence of the power of capital over labor. She <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/aug/29/margaret-thatcher-undermine-miners-union">drew up secret plans</a> to run down the domestic coal industry and defeat any strike action by miners. She decided it was necessary to keep a permanent stockpile of at least six months’ supply of coal, increase coal imports, build more oil-burn, nuclear and gas-fired power stations and encourage development of more opencast mines. She also agreed to a deal with the French to supply power stations with electricity by doubling the size of the cable connecting the two countries, and to switch coal deliveries to power stations from rail to road to prevent the unions from disrupting deliveries.
<br /><br />
Other parts of the plan included changing the law so that rioters could be more easily prosecuted, and cutting state help with mortgage interest payments for home owners on benefits. The latter was to ensure that strikers with homes could face repossession.
<br /><br />
‘Margaret Thatcher wanted to crush the miners. That’s all she wanted’ <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/apr/17/margaret-thatcher-funeral-miners-strike">according to Ken Radford</a>, a former miner who was at the Battle of Orgreave, and it is hard to ague with him. Orgreave was jut one battle waged in a war on the miners, and it was no metaphorical battle, real blood was shed. At the front lines between miners and police, the ranks of blue uniforms opened up and horses came out, at a charge. Before the charge they cordoned off the miners and blocked off gates that could be used for escape.
<br /><br />
Despite the brave rebellion of the miners, in the end the war was lost. Thatcher refused to compromise, and by November 1984 the miners had begun to return to work, heralding what was seen as a crushing defeat for them and a major victory for Thatcher. Her resolve earned her the sobriquet the Iron Lady.
<br /><br />
Thatcher’s victory left a landscape that was just as traumatized as the people who lived there. There were no jobs, there was no industry. Only vacant land and armies of jobless people remained. With so many unemployed, any change in social security hugely impacts the region. Most recently, ten years of failed austerity policies, imposed by a party of imbeciles who worship Thatcher as a goddess, have left the North East as an absolute economic wasteland. The economic hope and heart of a once-thriving region has gone. Even the pubs are empty. People are condemned to a life of unemployment on Government substance handouts, their prospects destroyed through no fault of their own.
<br /><br /> But, despite the grim political circumstances, the former mining areas still retain their soul, and there is still often a strong community spirit associated with colliery districts. Even the place names of towns and villages in the area have been left with a very particular stamp. There is Quaking Houses, Stony Heap, Deaf Hill, Pity Me and No Place, to name just a few of these grim settlements. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F5JL_2PzXHA/Xzf5UycJ96I/AAAAAAAAHrw/1eUfwyMGfUYFQrhHCuIwAltc9vFl-tTxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s380/Frances_Vane%252C_Marchioness_of_Londonderry.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F5JL_2PzXHA/Xzf5UycJ96I/AAAAAAAAHrw/1eUfwyMGfUYFQrhHCuIwAltc9vFl-tTxwCLcBGAsYHQ/w260-h320/Frances_Vane%252C_Marchioness_of_Londonderry.png" width="260" /></a></div><br />
Anyone who has ever read any of my books, which is a gratifyingly large and growing number of people, may well recognize a lot of this heritage in the home planet of Knave, one of the main characters of the Dark Galaxy. The planet he comes from is called Vane Tempest, named after <a href="https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/vane-tempest-colliery-seaham/history/">Vane Tempest Colliery</a>, where digging began on the 19th of December 1923. Two shafts were sunk, the "Vane" and the "Tempest", named in honor of Lady Frances Anne Vane Tempest, the great-grandmother of Sir Winston Churchill. She was the second wife of Charles William Stewart who stood to inherit her immense fortune on the condition that he changed his name to Vane. He did so and pocketed the cash. As a landlord in Ireland during the 1840s Famine, he was said to have treated his tenants unsympathetically. He also behaved very badly during his time in Vienna as British Ambassador, where he was often drunk, visited prostitutes, and picked a fight with a coachman in the street. A typical coal mine owner, in other words.
<br /><br />
The influence of my growing up in this area can probably be seen in the way I characterize the people of the working class and underclass of the Tarazet Star Empire, who are most often presented as honest and intelligent, in relation to the nobility, who are most often presented as evil money-grubbers. I don’t think it’s too difficult to see how anyone growing up in the North East among courageous, embattled mining communities, fighting against venal overlords, might end up with such views. There is a lot more to be said about the influence of my Geordie background on my sci-fi books but this will do for a start.
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<br />
To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-16443297933309286972020-08-14T04:37:00.002-07:002020-08-14T04:37:26.405-07:00What successful sci-fi authors blog about<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngQn0RxlCkg/XzZ28ZWfJoI/AAAAAAAAHrg/6AaCNNWr_TUo2AcZx6t29eACuEFhxnppgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/typewriter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blue typewriter" border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1920" height="269" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngQn0RxlCkg/XzZ28ZWfJoI/AAAAAAAAHrg/6AaCNNWr_TUo2AcZx6t29eACuEFhxnppgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h269/typewriter2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p>I have been neglecting my writing duties lately, because of a big project that took up almost every waking hour of my life. That project isn’t yet quite finished but I have now been able to carve out a little time to be a sci-fi novelist in, and so I am getting back into doing all the things a self-published writer has to do. I won’t bore you with the list, because it is long, but one of the duties at the top of that list for me is blogging.
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Looking over recent posts on this blog, all I see are a few reviews of the zeitgeist sci-fi TV shows we are all watching and a lot of verbiage about old comic books, specifically issues of 2000 AD from the 1970s and 1980s. I enjoy both subjects a lot, but it occurs to me that writing about current sci-fi TV is something everyone probably does, which means it is probably hard to get my blog posts noticed among the background chatter of similar writing, and conversely posts about ancient issues of a British sci-fi comic book are probably so niche that I doubt many people read them. In fact I’m sure not many people read them because the Blogger platform has a handy back end that tells me just how lacking in popularity they are. I need to find something else to write about, something that occupies the sweet spot between these two extremes.
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After making the time to return to blogging more regularly I want to really make the work count, to write posts about things people might actually be interested in, to attract more visitors to my blog (and hopefully sell them a copy of Galaxy Dog, or one of my other ripsnorting fabulist* yarns).</p><p><br />
</p><hr />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
<br />
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr /><p> </p><p>So I started thinking, what do successful sci-fi authors blog about? And by thinking, I mean Googling. I found <a href="https://bookriot.com/top-sci-fi-books/">a page</a> listing top sci-fi authors where I searched to see if any of them had a blog and, if so, what they wrote about. Many of the authors on the page, such as Frank Herbert, didn’t have a blog because the technology didn’t exist when they were writing, but a lot of the writers of more recent books on the list did indeed have a blog. The one with the nicest design belonged to <a href="http://www.nickharkaway.com/blog/">Nick Harkaway</a>. It hadn’t been updated since 2018, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t take a quick look to see what he was writing about back then. It was quite a mix, including British politics and the etymology of words that took his fancy, such as ‘whelm’. Both of these are subjects I feel I could write about so they are going on my list. I’m going to use this list of post subject ideas to enrich this blog’s current mix of TV reviews and comic book musings, and make the whole experience more edifying and pleasurable for everyone involved.
<br /><br />
Harkaway’s wasn’t the blog that had gone the longest without being updated, however, oh no, that was the blog written by <a href="http://www.jasperfforde.com/blogs.html">Jasper Fforde</a>. Fforde’s blog hasn’t been updated since 2007, and back then he wasn’t writing about anything in particular. It was mostly a bunch of diarist-type musings relating to interesting events in his life, which is something I can do, but only if anything interesting were ever to actually happen to me. We’ll see.
<br /><br />
One of the big beasts of the list was <a href="http://www.danielabraham.com/">Daniel Abraham</a>, who is one of the minds behind The Expanse. His blog includes a lot of guest posts where other people write content for him. That is a nice trick if you can mange it. I assume he uses his Expanse millions to pay these people. I do not have Expanse millions, so guest posts are not an option for me. It is not an idea that is going on my list.
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The next blog I checked out was the one written by <a href="https://annleckie.com/blog/">Ann Leckie</a>. She has the lovely habit of blogging about books she has just read without making the posts too much lie reviews. I would love to have the time to read actual books all the way to the back cover but sadly that just is not the case for me at this point in my life. Whenever I do finish a sci-fi book a review immediately goes on this blog, and that will continue to happen, just not very often. I might however try to make the posts more like a conversational report, in the style of Leckie, rather than a review.
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The next blog I checked out, by <a href="http://marielu.blogspot.com/">Marie Lu</a>, had an interesting post where she talked about <a href="http://marielu.blogspot.com/2011/08/trend-labels-kill-organic-instinct.html">trends in writing</a>. It made me think that attempting to identify new trends in writing might be a good source of posts. I don’t think this would even have to be limited to writing. It might be interesting to identify trends across sci-fi popular culture. I’ll put this idea on my list and keep my eyes open for trends.
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The last blog I checked out was by <a href="http://nnedi.blogspot.com/">Nnedi Okorafor</a>. It is a treasure trove of fascinating information relating to her Nigerian heritage. I don’t have Nigerian heritage, but I do have heritage. I come from a very specific region of the UK, where the people are called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geordie">Geordies</a>, and I could possible post about how that has influenced my work. People know a little about Cockneys but probably less about Geordies, if anything at all. I’m in two minds about it, but we’ll put it on the list for now. Okay, so the list is done, see below:
<br /><br />Book reviews.
<br />British politics.
<br />Diarist-type musings.
<br />Etymology of words.
<br />Geordie heritage.
<br />Trends in writing.
<br /><br />
Keep an eye on this blog and see if I write anything along these lines in the future or if this blog remains a mix of TV and 2000 AD. To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one.
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*<a href="https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/fabulist">Fabulist</a>: Someone who writes or recites fables is one kind of fabulist. Another kind of fabulist is a person who tells tall tales, or who lies. The root of fabulist is the Old French fable, "lie or pretense," from the Latin fabula, "story, play, or tale," or literally, "that which is told."</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-60065024718307163232020-07-29T15:42:00.000-07:002020-07-29T15:42:21.935-07:00Brave New World - Logan's Run, but better<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_H44sEzc9YM/XyH6rrqyUpI/AAAAAAAAHqI/v1HrPV5mBlwOEGz2y6jWHiZiOqOR24-hwCLcBGAsYHQ/s670/brave-new-world.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="670" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_H44sEzc9YM/XyH6rrqyUpI/AAAAAAAAHqI/v1HrPV5mBlwOEGz2y6jWHiZiOqOR24-hwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/brave-new-world.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Brave New World was originally developed at Syfy, then shifted to USA, and has ended up at NBCUniversal’s new ad-supported streaming service, Peacock. They have a fairly impressive library of old shows and movies but originals are few and far between right now, with many series disrupted by the pandemic, so they must be hoping for big things with Brave New World. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately for Peacock, I haven’t seen any evidence that the show has made a splash with audiences or critics, but I like it. Of course I’m a sucker for sci-fi and I’ll watch any old crap as long as it has robots, rockets or flying cars in it, so me liking it doesn’t guarantee that it is truly a quality show, but let me tell you what it is that appeals to me about Brave New World and you can judge for yourself.
</div>
<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjHBlFQZ6r0/XyH7FcFzTgI/AAAAAAAAHqc/9MFCKBvNJIQuqW5ou979SguMth5N7kc3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/brave_new_world_lab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjHBlFQZ6r0/XyH7FcFzTgI/AAAAAAAAHqc/9MFCKBvNJIQuqW5ou979SguMth5N7kc3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/brave_new_world_lab.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>At this point I should also tell you that no matter how hard I try, I just never seem able to avoid sprinkling my reviews of shows with a liberal dose of spoilers. Consider yourself warned. <br /></div><div><br /></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
<br />
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
Okay, down to business, the show is a TV adaptation of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, a classic of sci fi, but a controversial one. The book was banned in Ireland when it first appeared in 1932, and is also one of the books that Americans most want to see taken off the shelves. Showrunner David Wiener has admitted that he is aware aspects of the novel are dated to the point of being sexist and classist. In 1980 the book was actually removed from classrooms for making promiscuous sex look like fun, and it has been the subject of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/apr/12/brave-new-world-challenged-books">frequent challenges</a> in the US ever since. Readers who want the book banned protest about its sexually explicit scenes, insensitivity, offensive language, and racism, but Brave New World is, ironically, set in a world in which books are banned.
<br />
<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vn-JueUCljQ/XyH6yx93deI/AAAAAAAAHqM/BQlX98BjfdAlkPt4imoYALX6PNfB3BlsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s681/savage.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="681" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vn-JueUCljQ/XyH6yx93deI/AAAAAAAAHqM/BQlX98BjfdAlkPt4imoYALX6PNfB3BlsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/savage.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As a quick digression I should point out that obviously I’m against banning Huxely’s original, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t problematic. Just to take one point, the savages of the book are dark skinned and are compared with the blond-haired people in the civilized world, so we get the impression that Huxely thinks white people should be at the top of world hierarchy, no matter what the future brings. Ideas like this are very 1930s and are very much not okay. Thankfully, the show intentionally takes a different tack. The show keeps a version of the caste system of the book but it is also a multicultural utopia. Important white, male characters, such as world challenger Helmholtz Watson and world controller Mustafa Mond, have been gender flipped and then cast as women of color (Hannah John-Kamen and Nina Sosanya, respectively). Huxley’s problematic Native American-styled wilderness preserve, the Savage Lands, has also been given a make over, expanded with a theme park.
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<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wq_QNueIXtw/XyH67VfThxI/AAAAAAAAHqU/UOemoUTMi54kkZhhQtR6eM4DUy5SL-qyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/brave-new-world-cast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wq_QNueIXtw/XyH67VfThxI/AAAAAAAAHqU/UOemoUTMi54kkZhhQtR6eM4DUy5SL-qyACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/brave-new-world-cast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The diversity of the cast helps the show look like the future, and it’s a great-looking cast. You get the impression that a lot of the work done on the embryos in the labs we see in the show is work to make them tall slim and symmetrical of features, even including the troglodyte cast of workers. Their surroundings also look beautiful. New London is a gleaming and wholly plausible architectural paradise, but the fact that it is also a social dystopia is clear right from the first episode. The scenery is gorgeous, the digital work impressively real, but the lives even of the Alphas is shown as brutally superficial and petty. The grand, futuristic architecture is seen in juxtaposition with the constrained bestial lives of citizens, and it works very well.
<br /></div>
<br />
The citizens have the illusion of freedom, after all New London has only three rules: No privacy. No family. No monogamy. But it is not real freedom, not even the freedom to think or even experience real emotion. The upper classes are forced into a life of pleasure with no privacy, which is to prevent them thinking. If they don’t go out to clubs every night, seeking sexual conquests, they are called in for a talking to by a superior. If they take out their smart contact lens and go offline to spend any amount of time in contemplation, their supervisors become suspicious.
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<br />
Living like this, understandably, the Alpha characters we meet are loathsome, but their self-interest and double dealing has an innocence to it, and I found it very entertaining. The Betas are intended to reflect a work-hard-play-hard middle-management lifestyle, and they are just as much fun to watch being shallow and badly behaved as the alphas. Jessica Brown Findlay in particular is great. She plays Lenina, a Beta who is less invested in this empty life, and has even been dabbling with monogamy. The doubts she’s having about the life she’s been assigned only become more pronounced when she travels to the Savage Lands. There Lenina meets a roguish stranger, the savage played by Alden Ehrenreich, who challenges her perceptions. The show does a good job of shifting to show the world we see through her new, more critical eyes.
<br />
<br />
The workers lives are shown as more spartan after her visit to the Savage Lands, and through the eyes of the main characters the show's orgy scenes become even more cold and emotionless. We are keenly aware that this kind of ‘social connection’ is something people have to be forced to indulge in, and something that Ehrenreich actually runs from in fear. It is highly entertaining to see him treed in the decoration of a sex cub, trying to get away from a crowd of naked pleasure seekers.
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<br />
Some have complained that Brave New World is treading familiar ground, but that’s not really the show’s fault. The themes of Brave New World have become a staple of science fiction because they are important themes, now in our world of oligarchs and billionaires more than ever. They are themes that have found their way into a lot of other sci fi and have become quite familiar. In Logan's Run, for example, the beautiful people can’t leave their city, and can only survive past the age of 30 by escaping to the surrounding badlands. In fact a lot of people have said Brave New World is like a much better version of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan%27s_Run_(film)">Logan’s Run</a> rather than an adaptation of Huxely’s book.
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<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zardoz">Zardoz</a> also has savages outside protected cities. Sci-fi is full of such oppressive failed utopias, shaken-up by more savage outsiders. Even Doctor Who has an example of the trope, on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallifrey">Gallifrey</a> the Time Lords’ principal city, The Capitol, consists of shining towers protected by a mighty glass dome. Outside The Capitol are wastelands where <a href="https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Outsider">the Outsiders</a> live. The Outsiders live a primitive lifestyle, wear animal skins and use weapons like bows, arrows and spears to hunt for food. This is all very obviously taken directly from Brave New World.
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<br />
Like I said at the outset, Brave New World is old school sci-fi of the kind I really enjoy. There is a lot going on, and it has a lot to say. If you like sci-fi at all, it is very much wort watching. It may not have made the splash that Westworld did (a show a lot of people are comparing it to), but the plot makes a lot more sense and I enjoyed it just as much.
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<br />
To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-74055737584824987252020-07-28T14:04:00.002-07:002020-07-28T14:04:23.206-07:002000 AD - issue 2185<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7t-mVc7tcc/XyCR8iKQWXI/AAAAAAAAHpM/U1hLOukiFjowph8VNm98twSvb6U20ROqACLcBGAsYHQ/s525/dreddpanels_2185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="525" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7t-mVc7tcc/XyCR8iKQWXI/AAAAAAAAHpM/U1hLOukiFjowph8VNm98twSvb6U20ROqACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/dreddpanels_2185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I write a lot about 2000 AD on this blog because reading it back in the 1970s and 80s was a very formative experience for me. In fact I have a <a href="https://www.brettfitzpatrick.com/p/blog-page.html">2000 AD page</a> where I link to all the issues I have talked about on this site, and I've written <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1021843?ref=starbright">a book</a> collecting the posts.
I haven't been a regular reader for a long time, but that might be changing. After getting back into reading this comic book last issue, which was a jumping on point full of new stories, I was very interested to see where all these new comic strips were going. So, let's take a look... <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4_zVmBKe9fo/XyCSCXqpjcI/AAAAAAAAHpQ/C2WoULcAU_AJ7d5t_sM7qyz5B6A4ZA_IACLcBGAsYHQ/s822/2000_ad_cover_2185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="632" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4_zVmBKe9fo/XyCSCXqpjcI/AAAAAAAAHpQ/C2WoULcAU_AJ7d5t_sM7qyz5B6A4ZA_IACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2000_ad_cover_2185.JPG" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Dredd is on the cover this issue, but it is an uninspired composition. Just two tough guys, one of which we haven't gotten to know yet, squaring off and giving each other the stink eye. It looks like something from the cover of a wrestling magazine. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QHi7LGp2yN4/XyCSJd7PZXI/AAAAAAAAHpU/j_DQBcGA12obsNSbJGbbETg9YujvNdZywCLcBGAsYHQ/s720/wrestling_magazine.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QHi7LGp2yN4/XyCSJd7PZXI/AAAAAAAAHpU/j_DQBcGA12obsNSbJGbbETg9YujvNdZywCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/wrestling_magazine.jpeg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Luckily, the art of the actual story is much better. It is more skillfully rendered and more atmospherically lit, and there is a whole bunch of action. The Dredd story is first up and it starts with a storm. This storm then escalates to an explosion at <a href="https://judgedredd.fandom.com/wiki/Weather_Control">Weather Control</a>, and then to the threat of nuclear war over three pages of beautiful, futuristic art. Just as it seems the story might be something along the lines of the classic <a href="https://britishcomics.fandom.com/wiki/The_Apocalypse_War">Apocalypse War</a>, a whole bunch of Psi Division stuff is thrown into the mix. The psionic stuff isn't my favorite part of the Dredd universe, but I'm still liking this story, probably because of the beautiful art. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XaRLIjh_qgc/XyCSRPQTP4I/AAAAAAAAHpc/Be5kPeZ1fKQLVeItl7BcC32FUyh4BmCBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s766/dreddpanels_2185_action.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="766" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XaRLIjh_qgc/XyCSRPQTP4I/AAAAAAAAHpc/Be5kPeZ1fKQLVeItl7BcC32FUyh4BmCBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/dreddpanels_2185_action.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><hr />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
<br />
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
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Sinister Dexter comes next and it is much less impressive in the art department. It's all close ups of talking heads against blank gray backgrounds, which isn't super visually engaging. Oh boy, the heads do a lot of talking. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hka0PkjJ5Dw/XyCSYW81iSI/AAAAAAAAHpk/5UX3udwnHtQe3aCI296N9tbwHdXJWFVWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s575/sinsiter_dexter_talking_heads.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="575" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hka0PkjJ5Dw/XyCSYW81iSI/AAAAAAAAHpk/5UX3udwnHtQe3aCI296N9tbwHdXJWFVWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/sinsiter_dexter_talking_heads.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There is panel after panel stuffed with exposition, and it isn't even good exposition. It's like a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadowrun">Shadowrun</a> module written by the least talented game master in your gaming group.
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Then comes something very strange, the first installment of a story called Full Tilt Boogie. The art is extremely stylized, with some iffy looking people. One image of an Asian man even looked a little like a caricature. I hope maybe the artist's lack of skill at drawing human faces is to blame rather than racism, so we'll give it the benefit of the doubt for now. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YYI6rK-xdFg/XyCSf_4AHCI/AAAAAAAAHps/ZHaA090e3SQaVQLvscTEiAPBLzeGPflYACLcBGAsYHQ/s753/full_tilt_2185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="753" height="264" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YYI6rK-xdFg/XyCSf_4AHCI/AAAAAAAAHps/ZHaA090e3SQaVQLvscTEiAPBLzeGPflYACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h264/full_tilt_2185.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, the spaceships and technology is great looking, like some of the work done by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Giraud">Moebius</a>. The story starts in a very cosmic, old-school space opera kind of way, but unfortunately it quickly becomes very hard to follow. Maybe I can work out what is going on later, I hope so because I am intrigued.
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Part two of The Order is next, which continues a generic-feeling alternate universes story. I'm a little checked out with it already. The team fought off a phalanx of robots without any hint that anything was at stake at any point. I never felt like anyone was in any danger at all. Maybe that is because the paintings are quite flat and lifeless, but more likely it's the writing.
<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2we7e608Xs/XyCSp75oXwI/AAAAAAAAHp0/3H5PxEt4FYMGPMrXNVobYFdHGt_Nq-AcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s911/diaboliks_2185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="911" height="172" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2we7e608Xs/XyCSp75oXwI/AAAAAAAAHp0/3H5PxEt4FYMGPMrXNVobYFdHGt_Nq-AcwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h172/diaboliks_2185.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And then comes The Diaboliks, which has a striking black and white art style. This shares the problem that the main characters are never in danger from the herds of <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Mooks">mooks</a> sent to fight them. It's about as exciting as the fights in an Asterix strip, where Asterix and Obelix knock out hundreds of centurions.
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Of the five stories presented in this issue I liked the art of three, though only one had a truly engaging story, and yet I feel like I might have jumped back on board for the first time in many a long year. To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-54295406372189727642020-07-24T14:11:00.001-07:002020-07-24T14:11:08.128-07:002000 AD - issue 2184<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_MMJBhavI4Y/XxtNNzuTy5I/AAAAAAAAHmQ/aPAX-SjCvvki4MwKTbBDEx0TUThn-R-iQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1516/mega_city_one_colin_macneil.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1516" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_MMJBhavI4Y/XxtNNzuTy5I/AAAAAAAAHmQ/aPAX-SjCvvki4MwKTbBDEx0TUThn-R-iQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/mega_city_one_colin_macneil.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm jumping on at the most recent <a href="https://2000ad.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Jumping-on_points">jumping on point</a> of an old favorite comic book that I haven't been keeping up with in a while, a comic book called 2000 AD. I write a lot about 2000 AD on this blog because reading it was a very formative experience for me as a child. I have a <a href="https://www.brettfitzpatrick.com/p/blog-page.html">2000 AD page</a> where I link to all the issues I have talked about on this site, and I've written <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1021843?ref=starbright">a book</a> collecting the posts.
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I'm talking about issue 2184, where all the stories inside are starting at episode one. 2000 AD does these jumping-on points once or twice per year so that new or returning readers can easily get into the comic without feeling lost. For a jumping on point issue like this the editorial team also usually try to make sure the stories presented are cut above the usual quality, to make sure that new fans that jump on decide to stay along for the ride.
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<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WJivU3ZaFDI/XxtNtMoeCsI/AAAAAAAAHmk/hMPcvE3BQwQhrLDPoc9bH0AiN2T0qsyggCLcBGAsYHQ/s830/prog_2184_cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="621" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WJivU3ZaFDI/XxtNtMoeCsI/AAAAAAAAHmk/hMPcvE3BQwQhrLDPoc9bH0AiN2T0qsyggCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/prog_2184_cover.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The cover is very generic, with Dredd posing against a background of Megacity One. For some reason it included the star and stripes on fire. I’m not sure what relevance such an ancient national symbol is supposed to have for the denizens of the far future city, but maybe the story inside will explain.
But before we get to Dredd there is a short comic strip called Droid Life by Cat Sullivan which, as is traditional for 2000 AD’s comic strips, is not funny. But it is nicely drawn.
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Then comes the first of the real stories, a Judge Dredd story called End of Days. I liked the way Megacity One is drawn on the first page by Colin Macneil, as a fortress, scarred by constant attack. I didn’t like the way Dredd is portrayed as a towering muscle man. I much prefer the skinny scrapper drawn by McMahon back in the 70s, but I guess we live in less nuanced times. I suppose the only way a modern reader can recognize a character as a hero is if he looks like The Rock. All in all this is an atmospheric beginning. <br /></div><div><br /></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
<br />
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr />
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Sinister Dexter is next up, with its new story called Bulletopia. The art by Steve Yeowell is extremely generic, like an issue of a marvel title from the 1990s, or even before. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hI6-7E3UIY/XxtN_gHcJ6I/AAAAAAAAHms/aYJmETrv4xsW0RPUuvjhBr43s_7bao3bgCLcBGAsYHQ/s433/sinister_deter_vague_art.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="308" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hI6-7E3UIY/XxtN_gHcJ6I/AAAAAAAAHms/aYJmETrv4xsW0RPUuvjhBr43s_7bao3bgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/sinister_deter_vague_art.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The story, judging by the art, also seems to be set in the 1950s, which made me think maybe it was some kind of time travel thing. But then they started talking about going to the old town to avoid ‘smart streets’ so I guess not. The future is just supposed to look like the past. As a jumping on point it didn’t give me much to go on to help me understand the universe of Sinister Dexter, except that is cyberpunk.
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<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YyVwra9M1og/XxtOMQ3-MII/AAAAAAAAHmw/Kdf_ot9oNJoxdd1opXhAsjJeMLwdfuJ1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s381/ye_olde_robots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="381" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YyVwra9M1og/XxtOMQ3-MII/AAAAAAAAHmw/Kdf_ot9oNJoxdd1opXhAsjJeMLwdfuJ1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/ye_olde_robots.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Next comes a strip called The Order, with the start of a story called Land of the Free. It is all painted by John Burns, which fits well for the ye olde world setting. Unfortunately the hero of the strip is Benjamin Franklin, and I hate stories based round real, historical figures. What makes the author think they have any insight into what Benjamin Franklin would do or say in any situation. None of it makes a lick of sense, but it is all action and there are robots, which is something I always approve of. <br /></div>
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The Future Shock in this issue is inspired by the flat earth conspiracy theory, and for a future shock it has a decent twist ending, though it is more amusing than shocking. The art also looks great. It’s no classic, but I won’t spoil it because it really is a rewarding little read.
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The Diaboliks is next, and apparently it is a brand-new series that spins out of the fan-favourite Caballistics, Inc. It was very strange to see because it is such a direct homage to an Italian comic book called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabolik">Diabolik</a>. Diabolik is an Italian comics series created by sisters Angela and Luciana Giussani. It was created in 1962 and is one of the most popular comic books in the history of Italian comics,. The series is about an anti-hero thief, depicted in monthly black-and-white comic books. Diabolik is a ruthless and cruel thief who robs and kills other criminals, constantly hunted by Inspector Ginko. With this series unavoidably in mind, and with a raised eyebrow, I dove in. It wasn’t great. There was a lot of ‘As you know...’ dialogue, and the main characters seemed to be immune from harm, which always takes a lot of the tension out of a story.
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As a jumping on point this issue was disappointing, but strangely I do find myself wanting more. I’m going to be getting issue 2185, to see where all these stories are going, thou I’m looking forward to what will happen in some of them more than others. To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. <br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-22370846894230420102020-07-09T15:44:00.003-07:002020-07-09T15:44:53.833-07:002000 AD - issue 185<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRmzijphzFU/XwedDfYhbXI/AAAAAAAAHjE/dP4V6gEghXIAqIF-pBjdJqvhIyJLp-SuQCK4BGAsYHg/s328/see_no_evil.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRmzijphzFU/XwedDfYhbXI/AAAAAAAAHjE/dP4V6gEghXIAqIF-pBjdJqvhIyJLp-SuQCK4BGAsYHg/s320/see_no_evil.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I write a lot about 2000 AD, reading it was a very formative experience for me, and I still read it today. I have a <a href="https://www.brettfitzpatrick.com/p/blog-page.html">2000 AD page</a> where I link to all the issues I have talked about on this site, and I've written <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1021843?ref=starbright">a book</a> collecting the posts. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvmN-ozTydg/Xwec9SeBQ2I/AAAAAAAAHiw/hrQTIjZt1EsV0Ob7lOitVWshEeM6lJJcwCK4BGAsYHg/s757/2000_ad_issue_185_cover.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="636" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvmN-ozTydg/Xwec9SeBQ2I/AAAAAAAAHiw/hrQTIjZt1EsV0Ob7lOitVWshEeM6lJJcwCK4BGAsYHg/s320/2000_ad_issue_185_cover.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Issue 185 of 2000 AD comes from 1980 and it has one of the worst covers I can remember seeing since I started reading these old back issues, some years ago, now. It’s an image from the current Strontium Dog story, which is usually very dependable for cool visuals. The usual Strontium Dog artist, Carlos Ezquerra, is usually a pretty dependable artist, and the cover is skillfully drawn, but the image is just weird and bad. The green guy on the left seems to be a terrapin, wearing a studded bathing suit for cripes sake. The mutant on the right is a more traditional kind of monster, with an ax, but he doesn’t have a body. Just a head, two arms, and a tentacle coming from his scalp, which makes it hard to see how he survives. Where are his major organs supposed to be located. Like I said, just dumb.
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As well as being on the cover, Strontium Dog is also the first story, and it is a time-traveling tale involving our future warriors going to Nazi Germany to fight Hitler and the Nazis. It is irredeemably terrible, and I have no idea why it was given a cover. The story gets back on track on the last page as our heroes return to the future, and we see a coll, cowboy-inspired mutant called Styx. <br /></div><div><br /></div>
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<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
<br />
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DUn5pxUG42k/XwedCAaiGKI/AAAAAAAAHjA/TMhH87qRNOkOqpash_hoQjtR2yIpHxpGgCK4BGAsYHg/s638/roller_skate_image.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="638" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DUn5pxUG42k/XwedCAaiGKI/AAAAAAAAHjA/TMhH87qRNOkOqpash_hoQjtR2yIpHxpGgCK4BGAsYHg/s320/roller_skate_image.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>
Mean Arena is next, and this is a story I often enjoy. Unfortunately the art this issue is not up to the usual standard. After that comes Dash Decent, a forgettable attempt at a single-page humor strip. Then comes something more interesting. There is a competition to win roller skates. Roller skating was big in the 1970s an and it is nice to see that the fad was still going strong in 1980. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-va1gw6sUavs/Xwec8t2ZcRI/AAAAAAAAHis/ZXohXAf1V3gTEIezfG3THoryupPULE5HQCK4BGAsYHg/s1145/80s_roller_skating.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="745" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-va1gw6sUavs/Xwec8t2ZcRI/AAAAAAAAHis/ZXohXAf1V3gTEIezfG3THoryupPULE5HQCK4BGAsYHg/s320/80s_roller_skating.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>
The comic doesn’t start hitting its stride until Judge Dredd, which is drawn by Mike McMahon, and in the panel below you can see the way he confidently combines red and green to show an explosion Dredd is caught in. The story is stupid, but the art is magnificent. The panel showing three judges, who have had evolution reversed, act out the see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil thing, is just dumb. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4kCFpxG1mz4/Xwec-S5KDmI/AAAAAAAAHi0/uNaH_agQGME7I0SQbkbA2dZqpkNRDtGyACK4BGAsYHg/s1272/classic_mcmahon_dredd_art.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4kCFpxG1mz4/Xwec-S5KDmI/AAAAAAAAHi0/uNaH_agQGME7I0SQbkbA2dZqpkNRDtGyACK4BGAsYHg/s320/classic_mcmahon_dredd_art.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Then whatever claim the story had to scientific credibility completely goes out the window when a family regresses from monkeys to snake people. I’m no expert in evolution, but I don’t think snake people are represented in human DNA. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VkAvr-Ceexw/Xwec_g-UZtI/AAAAAAAAHi4/HwzOxjMqMaER5HOAcS4suTCSKcPhFWQhgCK4BGAsYHg/s635/dredd_vs_snake_people.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="635" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VkAvr-Ceexw/Xwec_g-UZtI/AAAAAAAAHi4/HwzOxjMqMaER5HOAcS4suTCSKcPhFWQhgCK4BGAsYHg/s320/dredd_vs_snake_people.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><div>
Then a new story starts, a story with a very intriguing title, Return to Armageddon. The start of the story is trippy and audacious. I found myself smiling as I read it. It looks like it is promising to be the sort of ideas-driven space opera, with a dash of horror, that I like, and that has been missing from 2000 AD in recent issues. Redondo is the artist, and his work is lovely. It is sketchy and free, but without sacrificing detail. It really adds texture to this story. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-afkWDa9IKUw/XwedAxeTnSI/AAAAAAAAHi8/RYHdnPiNFmYGKOUcHe78YYNYwmzA99eeACK4BGAsYHg/s632/new_2000_ad_thrill.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="632" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-afkWDa9IKUw/XwedAxeTnSI/AAAAAAAAHi8/RYHdnPiNFmYGKOUcHe78YYNYwmzA99eeACK4BGAsYHg/s320/new_2000_ad_thrill.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So much is set up in this first episode, that it feels absolutely packed in relation to the more expanded storytelling that is more popular in the comic books of today. A strange event throws the spaceship into a parallel dimension, conflict erupts between the crew of the spaceship and then a grisly discovery on an uncharted ice planet’s surface.
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The world of this story is being built before our eyes, but using the story and art to show us rather than resorting to huge text boxes full of exposition to tell me. It is extremely high quality stuff.
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In the last few panels, the story swerves toward being more esoteric, which I am not against, if done well. I am looking forward to seeing where this is all going.
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The last story, Meltdown Man, isn’t great, and that is the end of issue 185, apart for some heavy pushing of the various Annuals being published for Xmas. I enjoyed this issue, which wasn’t a classic, but is worth a look for some classic McMahon art and the start of Return to Armageddon, alone.
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To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-78868456237510386792020-07-01T14:01:00.000-07:002020-07-01T14:01:08.116-07:002000 AD - issue 150<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1LFe9N336Q/Xvz3XEY2FDI/AAAAAAAAHfg/nKCnZ1TOlp49wkGn1eT-ozvjK73_U8nWgCK4BGAsYHg/s675/Dredd_v_death.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="675" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1LFe9N336Q/Xvz3XEY2FDI/AAAAAAAAHfg/nKCnZ1TOlp49wkGn1eT-ozvjK73_U8nWgCK4BGAsYHg/s320/Dredd_v_death.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I write a lot about old back issues of a comic book called 2000 AD, because reading it was a very formative experience for me, and I still read it today. I have a <a href="https://www.brettfitzpatrick.com/p/blog-page.html">2000 AD page</a> where I link to all the issues I have talked about on this site, and I've even written <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1021843?ref=starbright">a book</a> collecting the posts. I have to warn you that this issue is not great. It is full of both sexism and racism, but it introduces a character that would go on to be a huge part of 2000 AD in the future, so it is an important one. Problematic but important.<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V0-Kmv8t-Co/Xvz3TzSP1JI/AAAAAAAAHfQ/mGP8g2UF4hoS53_6fkt3kItotfbE1yWoQCK4BGAsYHg/s814/2000_ad_cover_issue_150.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="688" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V0-Kmv8t-Co/Xvz3TzSP1JI/AAAAAAAAHfQ/mGP8g2UF4hoS53_6fkt3kItotfbE1yWoQCK4BGAsYHg/s320/2000_ad_cover_issue_150.JPG" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>This issue has a nice cover by Carlos Ezquerra with some very dramatic perspective, though the guys fighting on a balcony do unfortunately look a little like they are wearing pajamas. Judge Dredd is the first strip this week, and it is episode two of the first ever Judge Death story. This was enormously popular at the time, and Judge Death would make several reappearances over the years. I just wish his outfit didn’t look so much like a Halloween costume. Anyway, the art is done by Bolland again, who produces quality work, if a little light on background detail.
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The judges, led by Judge Dredd, tried shooting Judge Death last week, which didn’t work, so this episode they try burning him. It seems to end the creature’s life but its spirit gets away. Then this story introduces the second of its long-running characters. This was a character so popular that she would soon spin off into her own story, Judge Anderson of PSI Division. <br /></div><div><br /></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
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I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
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<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-60FevKRLMnI/Xvz3VWifJgI/AAAAAAAAHfY/Z8FR576limAo9I_Vtd38HbkB3g0Sp_m4gCK4BGAsYHg/s499/cheesecake_anderson.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="499" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-60FevKRLMnI/Xvz3VWifJgI/AAAAAAAAHfY/Z8FR576limAo9I_Vtd38HbkB3g0Sp_m4gCK4BGAsYHg/s320/cheesecake_anderson.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Anderson uses the creature’s remains to make contact with its escaped spirit. She uses this contact to give Dredd some tidbits of information, and then things take a turn for the cheesecake. Anderson is shown baring a shoulder and cocking a hip just a few panels after being introduced to the strip. Oh well, perhaps that explains some of the character’s popularity.
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<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azE38DIdQ3A/Xvz3Uq9ZvjI/AAAAAAAAHfU/3crv1pefnOI_32zFUNzK-3Y5Ayu3yVTuQCK4BGAsYHg/s690/beautiful_moon_base.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="690" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azE38DIdQ3A/Xvz3Uq9ZvjI/AAAAAAAAHfU/3crv1pefnOI_32zFUNzK-3Y5Ayu3yVTuQCK4BGAsYHg/s320/beautiful_moon_base.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>I rarely do more than skim through the next strip, the V.C s, except when Cam Kennedy is doing the art. Just look at the moon base he has created in the very first panel. It is the moon Phobos to be exact, though much changed in this future. Such cleverly imagined and well rendered visuals will draw me into almost any story, even one as lame brained, and often laced with problematic and racist language and art, as the V.C.s.
This episode in particular has an appalling racist stereotype of an Asian soldier lurking in the background of one of the panels. I hate that the skills of such a talented artist are caught up in this rubbish. <br /></div><div><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynzkgDqPhG4/Xvz3WZeVXAI/AAAAAAAAHfc/B4Hb1jZXoQ05v7f4RvGe7eAEearv78E2wCK4BGAsYHg/s664/Cheezecake_de_griz.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="664" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynzkgDqPhG4/Xvz3WZeVXAI/AAAAAAAAHfc/B4Hb1jZXoQ05v7f4RvGe7eAEearv78E2wCK4BGAsYHg/s320/Cheezecake_de_griz.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The writing is quite humorous in the next story, The Stainless Steel Rat. After flirting with this territory before, this episode sees the story go full cheesecake with the art. It’s embarrassing, and not worthy of Ezquerra, but it only lasts a couple of panels, and the character is dressed again, and ready for action. Slippery Jim De Griz and Angelina go off in a burrowing tank that is kind of cool. I like how it has long legs, like a frog, instead of having to be launched from a base unit. It turns out though that Angelina wasn’t fooled by Jim for a moment. She soon has a gun in him, and that is the cliff-hanger end of this week’s installment.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KWQCAiZoS8E/Xvz3XyMZeAI/AAAAAAAAHfk/ZMuI12gbCaAWw_ZhBxSh0M3IHf6hika4QCK4BGAsYHg/s693/tunneling_tank.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="693" height="244" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KWQCAiZoS8E/Xvz3XyMZeAI/AAAAAAAAHfk/ZMuI12gbCaAWw_ZhBxSh0M3IHf6hika4QCK4BGAsYHg/w500-h244/tunneling_tank.JPG" width="500" /></a></div><br />
To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-48322107158439064722020-05-19T14:17:00.001-07:002020-05-19T14:17:13.739-07:00 2000 AD - issue 149<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qzvJsrROf1g/XsRLocyznlI/AAAAAAAAHUM/hvUb-w9Hj7Yf1m_sejXjDSSCKRWPKzIyQCK4BGAsYHg/2000_ad_thumb_issue_149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="643" height="144" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qzvJsrROf1g/XsRLocyznlI/AAAAAAAAHUM/hvUb-w9Hj7Yf1m_sejXjDSSCKRWPKzIyQCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h144/2000_ad_thumb_issue_149.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Issue 149 of 2000 AD was published 26 January, 1980. It cost the tiny pittance of 12 pence Earth money. I write a lot of posts about 2000 AD because reading it was a very formative experience for me, and I still read it today. I have a <a href="https://www.brettfitzpatrick.com/p/blog-page.html">2000 AD page</a> where I link to all the issues I have talked about on this site, and I've also written <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1021843?ref=starbright">a book</a> collecting the posts.
</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MaBESnZyckA/XsRLmj7gChI/AAAAAAAAHUE/lfsMb9gM_cAAoAQ8k8LoU-ssTxqMUbrOgCK4BGAsYHg/2000_ad_cover_issue_149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="624" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MaBESnZyckA/XsRLmj7gChI/AAAAAAAAHUE/lfsMb9gM_cAAoAQ8k8LoU-ssTxqMUbrOgCK4BGAsYHg/s320/2000_ad_cover_issue_149.JPG" /></a></div><div>
The cover features Blackhawk, a dud character inherited by 2000 AD when it took over Tornado. It is drawn by Massimo Belardinelli, and it is quite something. Blackhawk is rifing on the back of one of Belardinelli’s usual extremely fanciful aliens. This one is a green unicorn with no eyes, porcupine quills for a mane, and clawed hands instead of feet. It is ridiculous, but it is drawn with commitment and detail, and... works... I think... kind of. It even makes the turgid shenanigans of the Blackhawk story look interesting. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FeLOZEsuPhc/XsRLrTxkj1I/AAAAAAAAHUg/Uk1YOT-8hF0cCRlkfpIwQ092gfgxBDougCK4BGAsYHg/judge_death.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="489" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FeLOZEsuPhc/XsRLrTxkj1I/AAAAAAAAHUg/Uk1YOT-8hF0cCRlkfpIwQ092gfgxBDougCK4BGAsYHg/s320/judge_death.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Judge Dredd is the first strip, in a story called Judge Death, by John Wagner with art by Brian Bolland. This is a landmark issue because it sees the introduction of Judge Death, who proved hugely popular with the readership almost instantly. I was never a fan, I have to admit. The idea of an alien being sentencing a city to death is intriguing, but his costume is ridiculous. The bones on the left shoulder, the pterodactyl on the right, and the claws on the elbow pads make him look like a Halloween decoration. Dredd himself comments on how the costume Judge Death is wearing is a mockery of a judge’s uniform.</div><div><br />
</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
<br />
I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
As usual with Bolland, you get very disciplined drawings of foreground figures, such as Judge Death himself, with not a hell of a lot going on in the background, but that fits this noir cum B-movie slasher of a strip very well. Like any supernatural, horror monster, Judge Death has an array of paranormal powers. He can kill by reaching into an individual's chest and squeezing. He may have been dead for centuries, and he is immune to bullets. The story ends with the reveal that Judge Death can not be killed, which makes for a very effective and powerful cliffhanger. As I said, I’m not a huge fan of this character, but I admit enjoying Judge Death’s introduction in this atmospheric story. Maybe he’ll grow on me.
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l07UnkBmpMk/XsRLp6FWPUI/AAAAAAAAHUY/hxQDwLfhEmA_EanB43ChpQDhwcoVDbl6QCK4BGAsYHg/enemy_dead.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="626" height="178" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l07UnkBmpMk/XsRLp6FWPUI/AAAAAAAAHUY/hxQDwLfhEmA_EanB43ChpQDhwcoVDbl6QCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h178/enemy_dead.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The V.C.'s is once again underwhelming this issue, with an entire episode dedicated to the main characters fighting an entire army of faceless enemy and winning. The enemy are called geeks, which is a clear reference to a racial epithet used during the Vietnam War. It’s distasteful and it’s so dull that I gave up on it half way through. With art by Garry Leach, instead of the amazing Cam Kennedy, there really isn’t anything here to hold the attention.
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-REPZ_TN7U74/XsRLsDXqv7I/AAAAAAAAHUk/KP_fPrmmSCQ5WCSj5dl_8bLVSvWITgKMwCK4BGAsYHg/robot_reveal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="277" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-REPZ_TN7U74/XsRLsDXqv7I/AAAAAAAAHUk/KP_fPrmmSCQ5WCSj5dl_8bLVSvWITgKMwCK4BGAsYHg/s320/robot_reveal.JPG" /></a></div><br />
After the V.C.s, the Ro-Jaws’ Robo-Tale from last week continues. It’s title is It's a Knockout, and it is by Oleh, with art by Jose Casanovas. In the story, a robot and a human are challenging each other in some kind of competition. Strangely, somebody’s life is at stake. The person staking their life turns out to be a West World-style android, however, and turns the tables on the bad guy. The whole thing is a kind of fable told to humans by robots to get them to be nicer to their droids. Be good to your robot, or the Stranger will come for you.
The strip gets its name from a British TV series first broadcast on BBC1 in 1966. It featured teams representing a town or city competing in absurd games, generally dressed in large foam rubber suits. Games were played in the home town's park, with weather often turning grassland into mud. Limited budgets meant games were often a variation on what could be done with a long piece of elastic, a lot of water, a portable swimming pool and a roundabout. The winner of each edition was awarded an It's a Knockout trophy and a chance to represent the UK in the European finals. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-njJsHhXh6w8/XsRLnXrXVZI/AAAAAAAAHUI/74aQMJ5VOhMrrRP6Cs0zxR5N_Tgmd5V_QCK4BGAsYHg/2000_ad_spread_issue_149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1302" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-njJsHhXh6w8/XsRLnXrXVZI/AAAAAAAAHUI/74aQMJ5VOhMrrRP6Cs0zxR5N_Tgmd5V_QCK4BGAsYHg/s320/2000_ad_spread_issue_149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>
The adaptation of The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison, and adapted by Kelvin Gosnell, with art by Carlos Ezquerra, is next. In the story, Slippery Jim de Griz is busted out of prison and inducted into the resistance. He certainly leads an action packed life.</div><div> <br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AumHqZLP0yE/XsRLqtu6C8I/AAAAAAAAHUc/VBIUHPNLpk4Xj9cEsqqbGJbu1qR-7GcVgCK4BGAsYHg/future_militry_hardware.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="485" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AumHqZLP0yE/XsRLqtu6C8I/AAAAAAAAHUc/VBIUHPNLpk4Xj9cEsqqbGJbu1qR-7GcVgCK4BGAsYHg/s320/future_militry_hardware.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>And we get some nice tantalizing glimpses of some of the hardware the resistance has. The story is given the coveted central spot, where it has two pages of color art. It makes very good use of it, with some atmospheric action, and a wonderful establishing shot of a rebel base.
</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QQXIDq9qBOw/XsRLsgnaUTI/AAAAAAAAHUs/ptBe7h0o2T4Agz2Q-pomkUKPyKohFoiggCK4BGAsYHg/timequake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="404" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QQXIDq9qBOw/XsRLsgnaUTI/AAAAAAAAHUs/ptBe7h0o2T4Agz2Q-pomkUKPyKohFoiggCK4BGAsYHg/s320/timequake.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Timequake by Chris Lowder, with art by Jesus Redondo, is next, and it is very intriguing. I like the way time itself is being used as a backdrop here, rather than time travel being used to put the characters in various historic periods. Timequake is probably one of the weakest strips that came to 2000 AD when it merged with Starlord, but this isn’t a bad episode of it.
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Captain Klep by Dave Angus, with art by Robin Smith, which is the next story, is just terrible, as usual. The only good thing that can be said for it is that it is only one page in length. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2rtVwiaIpE/XsRLpHHIOEI/AAAAAAAAHUQ/Ru6gW6Kstw4_RI-f8zy3jTn0kRUwiwjowCK4BGAsYHg/Blackhawk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="353" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2rtVwiaIpE/XsRLpHHIOEI/AAAAAAAAHUQ/Ru6gW6Kstw4_RI-f8zy3jTn0kRUwiwjowCK4BGAsYHg/s320/Blackhawk.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>
The final strip is Blackhawk, and as you might guess from the cover, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. It is pretty generic fantasy stuff, this episode, but Belardinelli is really outdoing himself here with the dungeon detail and whimsical aliens Blackhawk encounters. It may not make much sense, but it is beautiful to look at. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GseMbTFRKIQ/XsRLtsOzJWI/AAAAAAAAHUw/sGMlCwcZ1rYwiYIRTh3K63mlHQ3ePZ6PwCK4BGAsYHg/warrior_of_the_future_poster.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="585" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GseMbTFRKIQ/XsRLtsOzJWI/AAAAAAAAHUw/sGMlCwcZ1rYwiYIRTh3K63mlHQ3ePZ6PwCK4BGAsYHg/s320/warrior_of_the_future_poster.JPG" /></a></div><br />
And there is more beautiful art on the back cover. I really like these colorful ‘Warrior of the Future’ images. I wish 2000 AD had taken the idea and built a story round them. To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-51338927347591214512020-05-18T15:02:00.002-07:002020-05-18T15:02:20.769-07:002000 AD - issue 341<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aubim8Wg8BM/XsMEif9LVII/AAAAAAAAHQE/5npnexyOyBMnrxwT1DrUIPBLj84jLeuoQCK4BGAsYHg/thumb_issue_341.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="658" height="288" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aubim8Wg8BM/XsMEif9LVII/AAAAAAAAHQE/5npnexyOyBMnrxwT1DrUIPBLj84jLeuoQCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h288/thumb_issue_341.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Issue 341 is the latest addition to my <a href="https://www.brettfitzpatrick.com/p/blog-page.html">2000 AD page</a> where I link to all the issues I have talked about on this site, and I've written <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1021843?ref=starbright">a book</a> collecting the posts.
Last issue the Slaine strip ended with a great cliffhanger, in fact it was so good that it is featured on this issue's cover. <a href="http://heroesof2000ad.blogspot.com/2015/05/no-16-massimo-belardinelli.html">Belardinelli</a> will always be second to McMahon as the lesser of the original Slaine artists, but this cover is still very nice. It’s static and posed looking, but in this context I like that. The static posing makes the cover image look like a classical painting of an important moment from history, which is very fitting for the Slaine strip. <br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6vXu90YZHck/XsMEcKmSq3I/AAAAAAAAHPo/QJOBAsOK41QS1G1uzRGudkCPXKlvagXAQCK4BGAsYHg/2000AD_cover_issue_341.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="665" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6vXu90YZHck/XsMEcKmSq3I/AAAAAAAAHPo/QJOBAsOK41QS1G1uzRGudkCPXKlvagXAQCK4BGAsYHg/s320/2000AD_cover_issue_341.JPG" /></a></div></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
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I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
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Judge Dredd is, as ever, the first strip presented in the comic book, and although it is titled part seven of an ongoing story, it is also a self-contained adventure. The judges are dealing with a serial killer who uses a disintegrator to kill but leaves his victim’s left hands undisintegrated. The Judges can't work out what is going on, so they call in Anderson of Psi Division.
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She speedily comes up with a description of his outlandish, futuristic outfit, which is a great detail, and, as always, I love how knee pads are such a fashion accessory in Megacity One. I remember wanting knee pads as a kid because I read this stuff. Luckily I never got my hands on any, I was weird enough without adding knee pads to the picture. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCt3RqTr3ys/XsMEc9Esi6I/AAAAAAAAHPs/M1-_zEMC2PIZ5VMAnvzzoTPdf-vqrDjawCK4BGAsYHg/cinematic_dredd.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="655" height="242" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCt3RqTr3ys/XsMEc9Esi6I/AAAAAAAAHPs/M1-_zEMC2PIZ5VMAnvzzoTPdf-vqrDjawCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h242/cinematic_dredd.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>There's a great panel showing Lefty, the serial killer, being surrounded. It's a very cinematic shot. When I was a kid I didn't like Ron Smith's art, but it is growing on me the more 2000 ADs I read as an adult. The Night shift is finally over with episode seven. I was very impressed with the writing of this strip. The story has a real feeling of the mayhem of the shift winding down, and then comes the shocking end, where the judges are put in the sleep machine for ten minutes then sent right back out for the day shift. It is actually a very moving end to a poignant story. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m32XgiSd_mI/XsMEhkPbDdI/AAAAAAAAHQA/nyV3hZJEWqoCx6aCnrSUyo4joaBltemegCK4BGAsYHg/slaine_bridde_crom.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="660" height="544" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m32XgiSd_mI/XsMEhkPbDdI/AAAAAAAAHQA/nyV3hZJEWqoCx6aCnrSUyo4joaBltemegCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h544/slaine_bridde_crom.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Next comes Slaine, and that great cliffhanger. Belardinelli uses some great perspective drawing to sell the danger Slaine and his damsel in distress are in. You really feel they are many meters above the ground. Slaine escapes by having one of his warp spasms, where he turns into a kind of mutant Incredible Hulk. It should be a bit of a cop out, but Belardinelli draws Slaine's warping and bulging flesh with such attention to detail that our hero's escape ends up feeling earned. The art is like something from a Cronenberg movie. Then a sorcerer raises some zombies to attack Slaine, and Belardinelli draws every flap of rotting flesh and every jutting bone of these zombies with loving attention to detail, while having a lot of fun with the way Slaine's form is warping.
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Next comes Nemesis the Warlock, drawn by O'Neil. As always, the art is phenomenal, unfortunately... the sexual politics not so much. The humans are the baddies in this strip, which is fine, but they have organized their forces so that the men fight and the women are kind of medieval cheerleaders in chain mail bikinis. It's ugly and bonkers and insulting. It also lacks tension. One of the text boxes in the strip encapsulates this problem. It says, With the Dark Lord to lead them the Basilisk's victory is inevitable. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqZ0NV4Wkyo/XsMEf97ST3I/AAAAAAAAHP4/qN4FazZA2ZcQDxojRJklkm0Rp3ySkq84ACK4BGAsYHg/nemesis_dark_lord.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="660" height="302" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqZ0NV4Wkyo/XsMEf97ST3I/AAAAAAAAHP4/qN4FazZA2ZcQDxojRJklkm0Rp3ySkq84ACK4BGAsYHg/w640-h302/nemesis_dark_lord.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>That's the problem with a strip where the hero has demigod-like powers. There is no threat and therefore no tension. You end up with a beautifully drawn, endless battle scene that is about as interesting as the Bayeux Tapestry. With such lax storytelling the strip lives and dies by its art. One misstep can be its undoing. Any let up in the genius of the grim-dark, medieval futurism of the art spells doom for being able to suspend disbelief. O'Neil has always been a master of detail, his concentration rarely slips, and the chiaroscuro is amazing, meaning the art holds you mesmerized, no matter how bad the story, usually... <br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcBNCHXdn5M/XsMEeAIkgkI/AAAAAAAAHPw/zTNRPz0iNSkQAK5RPuo6ljDwUi8Z8ZbyACK4BGAsYHg/fire_engine.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="332" height="468" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcBNCHXdn5M/XsMEeAIkgkI/AAAAAAAAHPw/zTNRPz0iNSkQAK5RPuo6ljDwUi8Z8ZbyACK4BGAsYHg/w640-h468/fire_engine.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>This episode includes a drawing of a fire engine, said to be from the ‘lost age of technology’, that is obviously intended to look impressive, but instead it looks like something from Thomas the Tank Engine. Suddenly, with this clown-car looking thing, the art loses its spell. It even has a Thomas the Tank Engine face on the front. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K7JvdXMGKIo/XsMEe7FBRpI/AAAAAAAAHP0/uiIl0C84OtUBtgbLink2CxM2Xn8k8xILQCK4BGAsYHg/ming_racism.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="658" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K7JvdXMGKIo/XsMEe7FBRpI/AAAAAAAAHP0/uiIl0C84OtUBtgbLink2CxM2Xn8k8xILQCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h200/ming_racism.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Strontium Dog, this episode, is still fighting a bad guy who is a mix of Fagin and Ming the Merciless. This kind of stereotypical bad guy wasn't okay in the 30s, when Flash Gordon was dealing out two-fisted justice to racial stereotypes, and it certainly isn’t okay for art created in the 1980s. I was enjoying this issue up to this strip, but unfortunately this unpleasantness means the comic book ends on something of a sour note. Compared to the opening Judge Dredd strip, which includes a female character with a role to play that does not depend exclusively on her gender, the stories that follow go progressively from bad to worse. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ni0Ge5SJNiM/XsMEg-dR8_I/AAAAAAAAHP8/SBmYYJjTFzY-nsN0cSu_JIlfjABMvNOsgCK4BGAsYHg/rogue_trooper_talk_trees.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="619" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ni0Ge5SJNiM/XsMEg-dR8_I/AAAAAAAAHP8/SBmYYJjTFzY-nsN0cSu_JIlfjABMvNOsgCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h228/rogue_trooper_talk_trees.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
There is one more strip before the end of the comic book, and that is Rogue Trooper. No matter their other faults, the art on the other stories has been consistently excellent (apart from that fire engine). The art of Rogue Trooper this issue is not up to the same standard. It’s by Boluda, and just isn't great.
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One of the soldier sings a version of <i>I Talk to the Trees</i>, which according to <a href="https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/I_Talk_to_the_Trees">the Muppet Wiki</a> is Link Hogthrob's singing debut, which he performs while wandering through a forest. Contrary to the lyrics, however, the realistic-looking trees not only listen to Link but talk back. Interrupting the song after its second line, they express their distaste with the number and immediately shuffle offstage.
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Okay, that’s enough of issue 341 of 2000 AD. To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-29198265837033885752020-05-15T15:12:00.000-07:002020-05-15T15:12:05.111-07:00Obtaining Premium Catalog Approval<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z9KuxEazFiE/Xr8Rv0vaW5I/AAAAAAAAHNM/6C_tAqLFi8ACbjI9b9cEbIYrGY2_q7j5ACK4BGAsYHg/cover_2000_ad_issue_144.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1278" height="235" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z9KuxEazFiE/Xr8Rv0vaW5I/AAAAAAAAHNM/6C_tAqLFi8ACbjI9b9cEbIYrGY2_q7j5ACK4BGAsYHg/w400-h235/cover_2000_ad_issue_144.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>
I have a <a href="https://www.brettfitzpatrick.com/p/blog-page.html">2000 AD page</a> where I link to all the 2000 AD issues I have talked about on this site, and now I've written <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1021843?ref=starbright">a book</a> collecting the posts.
In a recent post I talked about uploading this new book, called <i>Reading 2000 AD: an Unofficial Guide</i> to Smashwords. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It went quite well. My .doc file was successfully formatted by their systems as an ebook and immediately listed on the Smashwords site as available to buy directly, but that is not where the ‘big’ money is. The big money comes from gaining entry into the Smashwords Premium Catalog. Inclusion in the Premium Catalog enables distribution to retailers such as Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Scribd and library platforms such as OverDrive and Baker and Taylor Axis 360. Obviously, we want that.
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The problem is that while a swift auocheck is enough to get listed on Smashwords, Premium Catalog status only comes after a further step where a real human takes a look at the file. Unfortunately, today I got an email telling me that <i>Reading 2000 AD: an Unofficial Guide</i> was flagged for requested modifications that would need to be dome before entry into said Premium Catalog.
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Luckily Smashwords offers a lot of help in getting your book through their extremely finicky conversion process. Obviously it would be better if they just had a better ebook converter, but that doesn’t look like it is going to happen any time soon. Instead you are expected to read an implement the instructions in The Smashwords Style Guide, their formatting bible. It teaches you how to professionally format and design your file so the their ebook converter can cope with it. There is also a video that explains the arcane intricacies of adding navigation and enhanced backmatter to your file that their system is capable of recognizing and including in the converted ebook.
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You can also contact the Smashwords Support team for help. They offer free online support and some FAQ, full of troubleshooting tips, and information on how to get the most out of the Smashwords platform. They also tell you what is wrong with your book when it gets rejected, which is something.<br /><br />The problem that was found in my book’s review was that its NCX (the EPUB's Table of Contents) didn’t end up getting formed correctly in the EPUB file. This was no surprise to me. I have uploaded over ten books to Samshwords and none of them have been given a functioning table of contents by the Samshwords converter on the first try. I have always had to jump through hoops to help get this part of the conversion done right. This is something Draft2Digital’s system does much better. Just format your chapter headings as level one headers and it automatically does all the rest of the work for you.
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My sales are better on Smashwords than Draft2Digital however – at least right now – so I want to make this work on Smashwords, even if I have to do a little more hand holding for their system.
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In the email I was also told that the updated Smashwords Style Guide's Step 20 has troubleshooting tips and screen shots. Unfortunately this guide is written by people who use Word. I think forcing people to use proprietary software is bad. Luckily I found <a href="http://publishinginsider.net/smashwords-style-guide-for-libreoffice-openoffice/">a blog post</a> that explains in precise detail how to use LibreOffice instead of the horribleness that is Microsoft Word.
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So ignore the advice in the Smashwords Style Guide to use Microsoft Word and use LibreOffice instead. I don’t need to pay attention to most of the advice because my specific problem was the book’s contents. For nonfiction, most outlets require a linked Table of Contents that includes entries for each individual section in the book. So I only had to look at the last section of the blog post.
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So I went back to my source file, which although I am working on it in Libreoffice is required by Smashwords to be saved as the ancient .doc format. Then I started the long process of BUILDING NAVIGATION INTO THE MANUSCRIPT.
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Step <b>one</b> was to type (or copy and paste) the table of contents. For my book that is a huge task, but I just had to knuckle down and get on with it. Once that was all in place, I went on to step two.
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Step <b>two</b> was to add bookmarks throughout the document. I scrolled down from the table of contents, through my document, until I found each heading atop each section referred to in the table of contents. I highlighted each chapter heading and selected Insert –> Bookmark. I also remembered to give the bookmark a meaningful name, so I would know what it referred to later on, before clicking INSERT and moving on. With all the bookmarks in place I was ready to move on to the next step in creating the TOC.
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Step <b>three</b> was to link back to the bookmarks I had just created. This is also called targeting the bookmarks. Following the detailed instructions I had found, I went back to my TOC. There I highlight the text of the first item in the table and went to Insert –> Hyperlink. Here was where things got complicated. There are different types of possible hyperlink, including internet and email, but the one I anted was document. I clicked document button, then the little icon that looks like a target, remember this process is also called targeting bookmarks. A second dialog box popped up beside the first, with a bunch of options. These options included a list of all the bookmarks I had just strewn through the document. I then selected the Bookmark I wanted to target and clicked Apply. Then I clicked OK, and both dialog boxes popped out of existence, leaving a single TOC entry behind. It’s not exactly an easy or intuitive process, that’s for sure.
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Then all I had to do was continue through the entire document and repeat the above process for each and every entry. I uploaded the new version, and it can be downloaded right now.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TOj4zlvzrzU/Xr8RVyCSFCI/AAAAAAAAHM4/SrVNsVgkb3MdE_C01CLuY4ozPBE6oHoKACK4BGAsYHg/254_speedo_ghost.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="676" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TOj4zlvzrzU/Xr8RVyCSFCI/AAAAAAAAHM4/SrVNsVgkb3MdE_C01CLuY4ozPBE6oHoKACK4BGAsYHg/w640-h226/254_speedo_ghost.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-88247992858778084762020-05-14T13:40:00.001-07:002020-05-14T13:40:06.786-07:002000 AD - issue 147<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WNvIX4h0Yqg/Xr2sDhrKzSI/AAAAAAAAHL4/UpvBuUi6tcQGRK9NerL3icgfJd5FcsdQwCK4BGAsYHg/bike_cannon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="681" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WNvIX4h0Yqg/Xr2sDhrKzSI/AAAAAAAAHL4/UpvBuUi6tcQGRK9NerL3icgfJd5FcsdQwCK4BGAsYHg/s320/bike_cannon.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Issue 147 of 2000 AD was published 12th January, 1980. The cover features the Stainless Steel Rat, drawn by Carlos Ezquerra and it is great. It flat out states that the hero of the strip inside gets shot in the chest and head, and ends up in the mortuary. You know he has to survive, seeing as how he is the hero of the story, but you still feel a compulsion to pop the comic open and see what crazy explanation the writer has come up with to explain the hero surviving a head shot. It’s a great hook, but the art itself is something special.
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SiqQrgBQ25o/Xr2sB2vLZRI/AAAAAAAAHLw/ZeZ0Y558JJE0kVjDl2POdPumuaQhTBe4QCK4BGAsYHg/2000AD_cover_issue_147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="655" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SiqQrgBQ25o/Xr2sB2vLZRI/AAAAAAAAHLw/ZeZ0Y558JJE0kVjDl2POdPumuaQhTBe4QCK4BGAsYHg/s320/2000AD_cover_issue_147.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Like many Spanish artists Carlos was drawn to the then-booming UK comics market in the 1970s, a very different time in publishing, with multiple comics for boys and girls every single week, selling in their millions. He was a giant of comic book history, and one of his true talents was futuristic fashion. It was Ezquerra who visualized Judge Dredd. Again working with Wagner in Starlord, he created mutant bounty hunter Johnny Alpha, with an equally iconic look. Here on this cover we see another excellent design for futuristic clothing. Angelina diGriz is seen here wearing a very cool outfit that includes a kind of integrated hat, veil-type thing.
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
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I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
<br />
The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
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Before we find out how The Stainless Steel Rat survives, the first story presented is an episode of Judge Dredd. And it is drawn by the super-talented Mike McMahon. It is written by John Wagner, and features The Long Walk for the first time in 2000 AD history.
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Judges are not allowed to retire. They are recruited as children and swear to uphold The Law until they die. When they reach retirement age and can no longer perform their duties out on the street they need to find something else useful to do. They can become teachers or they can leave the city to take the law to the lawless. Judges taking this option usually go out through the city walls into the Cursed Earth, an irradiated wasteland, populated by outlaws and mutants, or they to go down into the undercity. It’s like a form of ritual suicide preferred by Judges who don't want to be stuck teaching at the Academy of Law. The Long Walk isn't just for elderly judges. Some take the walk after they have blemished their records in some way and face being dismissed from Justice Department.
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Every frame of this Judge Dredd story is full of frenetic line work, giving each panel a sense of energy and action. You know Dredd means business, even if he hasn’t started shooting yet. Then comes panel after panel of action, gunfire, bashed in doors, bike cannon, and more gunfire. But then the story ends on a soulful note as old judge Minty takes the long walk. It’s a truly moving scene as Judge Minty walks out into the cursed earth, to bring law unto the lawless. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbAR-5T-y6w/Xr2sCm8VPRI/AAAAAAAAHL0/Csz9iniDTDQOTUd754JUzeAAehl9Q2b1ACK4BGAsYHg/ahhiiee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="404" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbAR-5T-y6w/Xr2sCm8VPRI/AAAAAAAAHL0/Csz9iniDTDQOTUd754JUzeAAehl9Q2b1ACK4BGAsYHg/s320/ahhiiee.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br />
</div><div>Following the Judge Dredd drawn by McMahon comes the V.C.s drawn by Cam Kennedy, making this a special issue, at least art wise. The V.C.s script by journeyman Gerry Finley-Day never seems to be as good as the art it serves as a vehicle for. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LweOH7GNebo/Xr2sEo2iyUI/AAAAAAAAHL8/MDvxrLOLiNUBwHSlUDQrYYpvyFghI2BNgCK4BGAsYHg/how_to_kill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="636" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LweOH7GNebo/Xr2sEo2iyUI/AAAAAAAAHL8/MDvxrLOLiNUBwHSlUDQrYYpvyFghI2BNgCK4BGAsYHg/s320/how_to_kill.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The Stainless Steel Rat is the next story presented in this issue, from an original story written by Harry Harrison, adapted by Kelvin Gosnell, with art by Carlos Ezquerra. Our hero indeed gets shot, in the heart and in the head, just as the cover promised, and it happens on the second page of this week’s story. I was half expecting it to be kept for the end as a cliff hanger. I was expecting something clever with clones or a hologram, but it turns out he was saved by something as mundane as body armor.
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Next we have a strip called Ro-Jaws Robo-Tales. I don’t always like the one-shots presented in 2000 AD, but this is a very good one. Then there’s an interview with model builder Mat Irvine that is really quite interesting. The bulldozer hes working on in the photo that illustrates the article looks really good, so I decided to see if I could find the TV show it was used for, <a href="https://wearethemutants.com/2017/07/26/spaceships-of-the-mind-by-nigel-calder-1978/">Spaceships of the Mind</a>. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQcOaDBN3pE/Xr2sFY5NENI/AAAAAAAAHMA/QlbO61iSnVA-ep2JWVmxcIzdJbl5N-U2ACK4BGAsYHg/spaceships_mind.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="370" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQcOaDBN3pE/Xr2sFY5NENI/AAAAAAAAHMA/QlbO61iSnVA-ep2JWVmxcIzdJbl5N-U2ACK4BGAsYHg/s320/spaceships_mind.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Apparently Spaceships of the Mind was a BBC series first broadcast in the summer of 1978 and hosted by pop science writer and television host Nigel Calder, one of the founding team of the influential pop science journal New Scientist. There were three episodes, each focusing on a different aspect of space colonization, exploration, and survival as the field stood at the time. Calder was able to call upon some of the biggest names in Cold War-era space science to talk about their ideas concerning prolonged human survival off-planet. Luminaries such as Gerard O’Neill, Freeman Dyson, and E.O. Wilson all contributed to the series and to Calder’s extensive write-ups in the book adaptation. The language used is all about colonization, with most of the scientists involved referring to Western conceptions of a frontier to be tamed and conquered.
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KzBVt89yiio/Xr2sGZo8lhI/AAAAAAAAHME/eCK2zeKbbigd4jKbDgzWUOYok8bpTxBJQCK4BGAsYHg/warrior_of_the_future.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="679" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KzBVt89yiio/Xr2sGZo8lhI/AAAAAAAAHME/eCK2zeKbbigd4jKbDgzWUOYok8bpTxBJQCK4BGAsYHg/s320/warrior_of_the_future.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The back cover of this excellent issue is also something special. It features a poster of a cyborg warrior of the future, and it looks pretty cool. It’s a shame nobody had the idea of writing a story to feature it. Anyway, this was a great issue of 2000 AD and a thing of beauty.
I write a lot about 2000 AD, it was a very formative experience for me, and I still read it today. I have a <a href="https://www.brettfitzpatrick.com/p/blog-page.html">2000 AD page</a> where I link to all the issues I have talked about on this site, and I've written <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1021843?ref=starbright">a book</a> collecting the posts.<br /><br />
To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-80190664034394155892020-05-13T16:48:00.000-07:002020-05-13T16:48:36.123-07:00New 2000 AD Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDT0kmG1HDM/XryHSDkF0NI/AAAAAAAAHKU/GL7q1qle8KgJ19-tvsP3g2Fyp0n0dCVrQCK4BGAsYHg/2000_ad_cover_kdp_size04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2790" data-original-width="1860" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDT0kmG1HDM/XryHSDkF0NI/AAAAAAAAHKU/GL7q1qle8KgJ19-tvsP3g2Fyp0n0dCVrQCK4BGAsYHg/s320/2000_ad_cover_kdp_size04.png" /></a></div>Back in 2017 I was reading prog slogs, for nostalgia, but also for sci-fi fun. It brought me great pleasure, and to my mind it’s no more a complete waste of time than looking at FaceBook's infinite scroll of cat videos and Russian bot posts. The prog gets its name from an ancient British comic book named 2000 AD. It was a sci-fi comic that started in the 1970s, riding the wave of popularity of Star Wars. Instead of calling the weekly comics issues, like any other comic, they decided that their comic would be released in weekly progs. So instead of issue one, 2000 AD starts with prog one. A prog slog is where somebody reads through them all, from cover to cover, with some brave souls even throwing in annuals and summer specials, and the like. It is not something to be undertaken by the feint of heart. A prog slog blog, is where somebody reads all these 2000 ADs, and also blogs about their experiences - mostly focused on how they no longer have any free time and they are slowly losing their mind. This whole thing seems to have been started by the first prog slog by Paul B Rainey.
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I write a lot about 2000 AD on this site, thousands and thousands of words in fact, and it suddenly occurred to me that I could copy and paste a bunch of these posts and collect them into <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1021843?ref=starbright">a book</a>. Collecting the text, and lightly editing it was quite easy and swift, and creating a cover didn’t take long, either. My intention for the book is that it will continue to grow, just like the section of this website that is dedicated to 2000 AD. Each issue I read, recap, review, ruminate about, whatever you call it, increases the mountain of text I’ve written about 2000 AD by around a thousand words. <br /><br />For the text, I simply copy and pasted the blog text into a libreoffice document. I had to save it as a .doc for the upload to Smashwords, but at least I’m using open source software. For the book cover, I used GIMP to create a design made up of lots of random 2000 AD covers that I found by googling images of collections that had been up for sale on auction websites like ebay.
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Obviously, I’m not doing this for the good of my health, I intend to somehow monetize the book, and the easiest way to do that is to offer it for sale on sites like Smashwords and Amazon. I hesitated for a moment before embarking on this project because the book would include a lot of references to 2000 AD and its characters. The book is my writing, but it refers to intellectual property created by other people. A quick Google search indicated that there were a lot of such books, unofficial guides and the like, available on Smashwords. What gave me pause was the copyright situation.
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I’m pretty sure the book is covered under fare use laws. Just to be sure, I ended up reading <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/457084?ref=starbright">a book</a> on fair use that I found available on Smashwords itself. The book points out that of course you can’t go using other people’s intellectual property willy-nilly, but there are things you can do. That specifically includes criticism and comment (which is what my book is all about), news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research (which my book definitely does not do). According to the law, none of what is included in my book is an infringement of copyright, apparently.
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The big question is probably the amount and substantiality of the portion I use in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole. This is decided in relation to the entire quoted work, but the law does not offer any percentage or word count to go by. This is because if the portion quoted is considered the most valuable part of the work, even a short quote may be violating fair use. Most publishers provide guidelines for authors, such as 200-300 words from a book-length work. Obviously I can’t reproduce an entire issue in order to talk about it, but I imagine I can include an additional image from each issue, as well as the cover. The relative paucity of images will also keep the file size down, which will make the book easier to upload.
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The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work will only be to increase the number of people who have even heard about this British sci-fi comic book.
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The biggest outlet for ebooks is obviously not Smashwords, however, it is Amazon, so I thought it was a good idea to take a look at what they had to say on their Intellectual Property Rights Frequently Asked Questions page, but it made no mention of fair use at all, so we will have to see how they react to me uploading an unofficial guide.
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I did a swift Google search to see if any other books had been written with a similar title to The Unofficial Guide to 2000 AD and nothing came up, so it was time to go ahead and upload the file. The book is <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1021843?ref=starbright">now available on Smashwords</a>, and if you buy it there you can download future versions as it grows.
<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920365531553007445.post-2397535280874960732020-05-10T08:37:00.000-07:002020-05-10T08:37:08.940-07:002000 AD - issue 663<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JLEu49JQc2w/XrgeLDIMWrI/AAAAAAAAHIc/tyU_Sf1XknY1Pfq-jXx0hHuaT9yfrtMXACK4BGAsYHg/issue_663_thumb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="597" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JLEu49JQc2w/XrgeLDIMWrI/AAAAAAAAHIc/tyU_Sf1XknY1Pfq-jXx0hHuaT9yfrtMXACK4BGAsYHg/s320/issue_663_thumb.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>In this blog I come back again and again to a comic book called <a href="https://www.brettfitzpatrick.com/p/blog-page.html">2000 AD</a>. Reading it back in the 1970s and 1980s was a very formative experience for me, and I still read it today. Because of my love of this publication I’m currently reading <a href="https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/XB604">Thrill Power Overload</a>, a book that recounts the history of 2000 AD. It’s an interesting read, with lots of exclusive interviews that really give an insight into the office politics and creative processes behind the scenes. There are decades of history contained within the book’s covers, and I have just been reading about the 1990s. There was a brief mention in that section of the book of a character called Bix Barton, and I remember enjoying his adventures at the time. The book also mentions his first appearance in the comic book, which was issue 663, so I went straight over to <a href="https://britishcomics.wordpress.com/2019/09/17/2000ad-1985-1993/">British Comics at Wordpress</a> to download a few scans, and read it again, after thirty years. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7V6rh-g2a5I/XrgeHUJ5RWI/AAAAAAAAHIM/RnHXWoWVqJ0-fygO3yFLbrwt2i2BSWQkwCK4BGAsYHg/2000AD_cover_issue_663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="595" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7V6rh-g2a5I/XrgeHUJ5RWI/AAAAAAAAHIM/RnHXWoWVqJ0-fygO3yFLbrwt2i2BSWQkwCK4BGAsYHg/s320/2000AD_cover_issue_663.JPG" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, as usual, I won’t just be reading Bix Barton. I’ll be reading the entire issue, which was published 27th January, 1990, and cost the enormous sum of 40 pence, Earth money
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOnnhvljtYs/W_nbp-CmGOI/AAAAAAAABvE/5UdTKI19sNYVY-v5QYPbFDV12TqT1I97ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/amazon_link_cover_galaxy_dog.jpg" width="138" /></a> <b>A Message from the Author</b><br />
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I write sci-fi novels that belong to a series called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Galaxy-Box-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B07CLPKF41">Dark Galaxy</a>, which starts with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">Galaxy Dog</a>:<br />
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<i>What starts as an ordinary invasion of an alien planet brings to light
an ancient archeological site of huge importance. A young man called
Knave makes a life-changing discovery there and rises from a lowly
position as an infantry trooper to become a player among the powers of
the galaxy.</i><br />
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The entire series is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-Dog-Dark-Book-ebook/dp/B07CHM3KK2">available to buy from Amazon</a>. <br />
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Befitting his first appearance, Bix Barton has been given the cover of the comic book, with art by Jim McCarthy. It is a very striking cover, and the flying eyes immediately hint at magic and psychedelia. However... the hero’s haircut is a little unfortunate. It’s short on the sides and long on the top that may have been innocent enough back in the 1990s but now makes the wearer look like a hipster or Nazi. It’s the defining look of today’s white nationalists, or the ‘alt-right’ as they have tried to rebrand themselves. This is their signature haircut, and it is referred to by many wearers as a fashy. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course I assumed Bix Barton hadn't chosen his haircut because it was associated with being a Nazi. I assumed he wore it because it has its origins in Victorian England, but in the story inside the comic he says he discovered the secret of immortality in the 1930s. Oh dear. Anyway, whatever the artist’s intent behind this choice of haircut, in the current climate it is a little unfortunate. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>
The first strip in the issue is <a href="http://thoughtsofaworkshyfop.blogspot.com/2016/12/chopper-song-of-surfer-2000ad-654-665.html">Chopper</a> by John Wagner, with art by Colin MacNeil, colored by Tim Perkins. Marlon ‘Chopper’ Shakespeare, is competing in Super Surf 11 which is taking place in Megacity 2. The event includes snipers, spikes, rockets, lasers, and almost certain death, making it brutal, even by the standards of 2000 AD. In this episode we see Chopper enter a hole full of spikes, where he gets gashed but makes it through... only to be struck multiple times by bullets on the other side. His girlfriend, Charlene, runs to help. He’s down but still on his board. The contestants in joint second place collide and are graphically impaled by spikes.
It is attractive enough, being painted and all, and the story is gripping, but the art doesn't give much detail of the city the contestants are supposed to be flying through. There is no establishing shot of the building with the spike hole, and no idea is given of where the snipers might be who take Chopper out at the end of the episode. For a story so driven by action, it is strange that it is told using small boxes with talking heads in them. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-liQQEX_Ulho/XrgeJYbSahI/AAAAAAAAHIU/Z6DfkN41mHAhosVxRZm3fTz_fdvENsRxQCK4BGAsYHg/bix_in_action.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="604" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-liQQEX_Ulho/XrgeJYbSahI/AAAAAAAAHIU/Z6DfkN41mHAhosVxRZm3fTz_fdvENsRxQCK4BGAsYHg/s320/bix_in_action.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div><a href="https://britishcomics.fandom.com/wiki/Bix_Barton">Bix Barton</a> by Peter Milligan, with art by Jim McCarthy, is next. Bix is mysterious, and clearly intended to be humorous, in a gentle-humor sort of way, and he also has a lot of Holmes in his DNA, making him an engaging character to spend time with. This episode is mostly an introduction to the character, who we find out suspends his aging processes using nightly immersions in a tub full of chemicals, is the sole employee of Her Majesty's Government's Department of the Irrational, and has a sidekick that is a walking stick called Michael Cane. It is the same weird mix I remember and I enjoyed reading this installment. I think it holds up very well. The question is whether it will continue to hold the attention when I gets to the business of telling a story, rather than the world building we see here. The art, however, is just not good. It is inventive and fun to look at but the characters are samey and the spatial relationships so confused the world of the strip looks almost two dimensional. It is hard to work out what is even happening sometimes, but if I remember correctly, the art does improve a lot in later episodes. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WLf5FVljWg8/XrgeKaO2OPI/AAAAAAAAHIY/7wEd-pDY80kabgJU29MoGj1FXgDqTObBQCK4BGAsYHg/dredd_lets_go.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WLf5FVljWg8/XrgeKaO2OPI/AAAAAAAAHIY/7wEd-pDY80kabgJU29MoGj1FXgDqTObBQCK4BGAsYHg/s320/dredd_lets_go.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Judge Dredd comes next, in a story called Tale of the Dead Man, by John Wagner. It’s a fascinating story, with a lot of depth. Here we have an aging Dredd training his replacement, which is a situation that can’t help but be full of tension. It is unfortunately let down by some truly terrible art, however.
Nether the art on Chopper or Bix Barton is of the level of the great artists that have come before in 2000 AD, but at least they are of a professional, if flawed, standard. This mess isn't even that. <br /><br /><div>
There is then a Tharg's Future Shocks by Ian Rimmer, with art by Art Wetherall. The art is okay and the story is the usual format of generic sci-fi with a twist ending. It’s not great, but the again the Future Shocks rarely are. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2l9asYPf_o/XrgeIcxZiKI/AAAAAAAAHIQ/C_RS7KSeU3c8Z21ddyUlTlIpl1YOa3fwgCK4BGAsYHg/bisley_mess_text_boxes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="597" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2l9asYPf_o/XrgeIcxZiKI/AAAAAAAAHIQ/C_RS7KSeU3c8Z21ddyUlTlIpl1YOa3fwgCK4BGAsYHg/s320/bisley_mess_text_boxes.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Slaine: The Horned God Book II by Pat Mills, with art by Simon Bisley is next, and I remember not being impressed with it at the time. I must admit that I am still not a fan today. The story in this episode is told in dense text boxes, which is hardly dynamic, and the art is nicely painted but extremely lacking in detail. Most of the images don’t even have a background, just solid colors and pretty swirls of paint. <a href="http://heroesof2000ad.blogspot.com/2017/01/no-93-simon-bisley.html">Bisley</a> is a superstar of comic book art, but I never got along with his Heavy Metal sensibilities. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3fj-9QniMk/XrgeMGMyGyI/AAAAAAAAHIg/OOM_hKGT9gQCA66fW62zWuas08eLpyO0gCK4BGAsYHg/such_a_bad_poster.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="602" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3fj-9QniMk/XrgeMGMyGyI/AAAAAAAAHIg/OOM_hKGT9gQCA66fW62zWuas08eLpyO0gCK4BGAsYHg/s320/such_a_bad_poster.JPG" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever Bisley's failings, his greatest sin of course is the artists that followed him. There have been many since making careers attempting to ape his style, and the back cover of this very issue has an astonishingly bad example of just such a Bisley acolyte. It’s an image by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liam_Sharp">Liam Sharp</a> depicting a character from the ABC Warriors, obviously done before Liam went off to the United States to work on books such as Venom and Spawn: The Dark Ages. Sharp has also worked on more mature themed books for Verotik, doing GOTH, Jaguar God and a strip for Heavy Metal magazine that featured Playboy model Tiffany Taylor. The image is a hideous brown mess, featuring some cheesecake art, big guns, and one of the most insipid renderings of Hammerstein I have ever seen. These are all trends started by Bisley, but here they are taken to new lows. To end, just a reminder that the best way to support this blog is to buy one of my books. Simply go over to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ABrett+Fitzpatrick&s=relevancerank&text=Brett+Fitzpatrick">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=brett%20fitzpatrick&fcsearchfield=Author">Kobo</a> and get one. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0