The New Year Is Upon Us!

The New Year Is Upon Us! — Blue Ink Alchemy

According to this report, 2013 was a good year for the blog. It was good for me in general for writing. Cold Iron sold a few copies, and I came within tantalizing groping distance of total completion with its sequel, Cold Streets. I wrote articles, chimed in on other works, and even managed to keep a demanding 9-5 dayjob in the process. It wasn't all wine and roses. A lot of things got shot down, went heywire, or blew up in my face, too. I'm looking back more to learn lessons than anything else, and to ensure that whatever plans I make for the new year aren't privy to the same landmines that decimated what came before. For better or for worse, I just hope and pray 2014 is better than the year that came before it. Bare minimum. Better than all the years would be even better. But I'll take what I can get.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

In One (Somewhat Exhausted) Piece

In One (Somewhat Exhausted) Piece — Blue Ink Alchemy

The drive home threw just about everything it could at me: snow flurries, icy patches, fog, rain, even deer. Thankfully, everyone and everything got home intact, even if it took a bit longer than I anticipated. The task left me pretty well wiped, however. So there will be no new Flash Fiction today. I'll see if I can throw something together for tomorrow. I hope you all enjoyed my series on 2013! It seemed to work well, so I'll keep that in mind for next year.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

2013: The Best

2013: The Best — Blue Ink Alchemy

This is the season for Top 5 or Top 10 lists. Games or films or books or toys - people like to rank what was best for the year, and find out how those ranking stack up against others. You may have noticed that I'm not really doing that. It's hard to pick just one thing from among the various pools of entertainment into which I dip, but things I'm still thinking about, and enjoying thinking about, in this late part of the year are definitely worth discussing, if not mentioning. So, without further ado, here are the best entertainment experiences I had in 2013.

Best Video Game - Bioshock Infinite

I want to mention Hearthstone at least in passing. Blizzard's computerized CCG is an absolute blast and challenge to play, with a surprising amount of depth and bursting with variety. The monetization system makes a great deal of sense, and it's one I don't mind at all. However, as much as I enjoy playing it, it wasn't the best game I've played that came out in 2013. That honor goes to Bioshock Infinite. While the combat isn't necessarily ground-breaking, which can be a major blow to a first-person shooter, the story and its presentation are what keep this game in my mind long months after its release. The fact that the story is less about gritty, hard-boiled everyman Booker DeWitt and more about Elizabeth and her plight is, to me, a sign that storytelling in games is moving in the right direction. The 'Burial At Sea' DLC reinforced this, and with the news that we will, in fact, play as Elizabeth soon, I'm quite curious to see how 2014 treats the franchise. I played a lot of great games from 2012 this year - Journey, Spec Ops: The Line, The Walking Dead - but among the games that came out in 2013 that I actually played, Bioshock Infinite takes the prize.

Best Board Game - Archipelago

2013 was the year I got back into board gaming in a big way. I started building my own collection, I had design ideas and gave feedback to others, and I continue to espouse that there's more to board games than staid, stale standbys like Monopoly, Clue, and Risk. I've played a lot of games with hidden roles (Avalon, Coup, Battlestar Galactica) and several cooperative games (Pandemic, Elder Sign, Escape: The Curse of the Temple), but one game that's stood out in my mind since I started this endeavour is Christophe Boelinger's Archipelago. The best way I can describe Archipelago is "Settlers of Catan meets Twilight Imperium where everyone sort of works together but not really". I love its expanding scope and constant need for players to cooperate to keep ahead of a loss, but also allows subtle plays through worker placement mechanics and hidden objectives. Its gameplay is much deeper and less random than Settlers, and it doesn't take anywhere near as long to play as Twilight Imperium. As much as I adore a deep and rich space opera universe in which I can take an active role and vie with other players for dominance through diplomacy, trade, and treachery as well as straight-up space combat, I also like to play a game that takes less than an entire day. Archipelago hits all of the right notes in just about perfect harmony, and on top of not being able to recommend it highly enough, it's the best board game I've played in 2013.

Best Book - The Fault In Our Stars

Okay, this is where I cheat again. The Fault In Our Stars was published in 2012. And while I've read quite a few excellent books - and one particularly shitty one - the one that had the most profound effect on me was John Green's New York Times bestseller. In world where a lot of people tend to look towards young adult works with skepticism or even open content, here's an example of dramatic, involving, romantic young adult fiction done absolutely right. Green paces his story just right, fleshes out realistic and endearing characters, and invokes our sympathy and support without pandering, writing down to his audience, or relying on cheap tricks or narrative slight of hand. It's a fantastic read and extremely well-written. I feel like I'm going to be repeating my review of the book a great deal, so here's a link to that. And here's a link to buy the book on Amazon.

Best Film - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Apparently, 2013 was saving the best for last. None of the films I've seen this year were truly awful (again, I avoided certain ones deliberately), there were only a couple of disappointments, a few surprises, but for the most part, I'd say the movies of the year were "good, but not fantastic." I like that I'm seeing more character-focused storytelling, more investment in world-building, and comic relief that doesn't feel too forced. However, the experience in cinemas that excited me the most, involved me the most, and blew me away the most was definitely The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. There's so much I like about this film. Thorin as a noble, dignified dwarf reminds me of why I like them so much in Middle-Earth, in Dragon Age, and even in World of Warcraft. Bilbo Baggins is shown truly coming into his own and still employing his brain and wits as much as his sword. Gandalf and Radagast working together always makes me smile. The world feels expanded and deepend with stops like Beorn's house and Laketown. And Smaug. Smaug. I really don't have to say anything else, do I? It's my movie of the year and I'm really looking forward to seeing it again. There you have it! 2013, all wrapped up. I'm interested to see what the year ahead brings, in many ways. I hope you all have had a safe, warm, and rewarding holiday, and are ready to ring in the new year. I know I am.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

2013: The Worst

2013: The Worst — Blue Ink Alchemy

Aura of Dark Might, by Nicholas Kay To be honest, I totally avoided things I knew would be awful. I didn't see any brainless comedies or pandering lowest-common-denominator action flicks. I didn't play modern military shooters (other than the fantastic Spec Ops: The Line, which if you play video games, YOU SHOULD PLAY NOW) or sports games. It's one of the advantages about blogging not being my main source of income. As much as I may envy the likes of Yahtzee or the Nostalgia Critic, I do have the advantage of not needing to experience any entertainment that I know isn't for me. Not that I'm above it or anything - it's just been a long time since I've had a donation. Anyway, the worst thing I did entertainment-wise this year was read Word Bearers. Oh, Word Bearers. There's so much potential in a cadre of superhuman killing machines driven by faith instead of jingoistic patriotism. In the Warhammer universe, the Chaos Gods are real. I think it's a lot easier to justify your faith when you can actually have conversations with your gods, even if they do tend to squabble and fight amongst themselves. The best thing about the Word Bearers, to me, is that they seek a unified, middle-of-the-road approach to Chaos worship. You may still have one leader who's more inclined towards Khrone, and another who engages in Tzeenchian manipulations, but at the end, they're all in one place, and their debates and schemes all occur within that place. Want to know how to ruin all of this storytelling potential? Well, start with avoiding the mention of the Chaos God's names. Make all the personalities of the bombastic, energetic, and at least half-crazy Chaos Space Marines flat and boring. Kill all of your incidental characters the moment after you introduce them. Repeat the same murder sequences ad nauseum. Make your main character's struggles amount to nothing. And don't let your plot develop, deepen, or go anywhere. I never thought that picking up this book would leave me so bored. As a reader, I was deeply disappointed. As a writer, I was incredibly frustrated. It was easily the worst entertainment experience I had in 2013. What was yours?

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Flash Fiction: Within The Church (Finale)

Flash Fiction: Within The Church (Finale) — Blue Ink Alchemy

This began weeks ago with this story, prompted by Terribleminds. Many heartfelt thanks to Jon, Courtney, and Josée for keeping this going. It's time to wrap it up!

Part 1

"This is never going to work." The witch looked over her shoulder as she drew the pentagram on the wall with red chalk. "If you have a better idea, Father, I'm all ears." "Believe me, I wish I had a better idea than drawing these things on the walls of my church." "Do I need to remind you that you're the one that called me?" "And if my Bishop knew, he'd probably excommunicate me faster than you can say 'Martin Luther.'" "He might react that way if he knew about all of the guns on the premises, too." Father Benjamin looked up from the shotgun he was loading. "This is America, Miss Crenshaw. Everybody has guns. Even the clergy." "Those are the shells we discussed?" "Silver buckshot soaked in holy water? Yes." "Good." Crenshaw looked up as the pounding began on the doors. "I knew I should have started there..." "At least they're only coming from one direction." Benjamin worked the shotgun's pump action as he moved towards the door. "Finish what you've started. I'll hold them off." "What, and let you fight it alone?" Abigail Crenshaw dropped the chalk, drawing the silver sword from her dark scabbard. "Not a chance."

Part 2

by Jon Jefferson "This is as good a time as any," Father Benjamin said. He grabbed the handle of the door and gave it a turn. He rammed his shoulder into it and slammed the door into the hall against the creatures in the hall. They shambled as their bones clacked together. Skeletons, creatures of dark magic mobbed the hall. They weren't just science experiments gone wrong. The bones assembled at the point of convenience. Some had three and four arms, others had leg bones growing out of their skulls. A hodge podge of dark evil waited for Father Benjamin and Abigail to join them in the hall. He burst into the hall blasting rounds from the shotgun into several of the skeletons near the doorway. Their bones exploded in a spray of powdery bone shards. Abigail followed his lead. Her silver sword swung in a wide arc severing bones as it swept through the group. "Back to back," Benjamin yelled. "Don't let them through." Another blast of the shotgun brought them closer to clearing out his side of the hall. "Having fun yet deary?" she asked. The silver of her sword flashed through the skeletons that charged her en masse.

Part 3

by Courtney Cantrell Father Benjamin grinned. "Just like my seminary days." Two skeletons darted beneath sword and shotgun, circling to attack from the sanctuary end of the hallway. Abigail lunged at them. "Crenshaw! Wait!" yelled Benjamin. Too late. A third skeleton slid between the witch and the priest. Then a fourth. Abigail shrieked as the first two surrounded her. Benjamin took aim, but his gun gave no more than a click. Empty. With a roar, he reversed the gun and slammed the stock into one skeleton's head. The skull shattered, but the bones dragged at him as he thrust the barrel against the still-standing skeleton. Abigail took the head of one hellspawn pinning her to the wall. But the last one kept coming, and more poured into the hall behind Benjamin. "I warned you not to get in my way," said a voice. All around them, the skeletons froze. Abigail's cry echoed in the sudden quiet as she thrust her swordpoint through her final attacker's skull. Together, she and Benjamin turned toward the end of the hall. Beyond the motionless horde stood a figure in purple robes. A hood hid the face, but the skeletons' puppetmaster was unmistakable. "Hello, Gillian," said Abigail. "Hey, Abby," came the answer.

Part 4

by Josée De Angelis "Long time no see" Abigail said, still holding her sword ready for attack. "Yeah, sorry about that. You know, I've been busy, or I would've called... How's Mom?" "Mom?!" This from Father Benjamin. He turned sharply to Crenshaw, his prayers forgotten, his fingers loose around his cross. "You didn't know this, Father? Abby and I go way back. To the womb, actually." Gillian took a step forward. "But don't worry. Just move away, let me get the stone and I'll go on my merry way." "You were never a good loser, Gill. My spells are stronger now." Abigail advanced, her sword held high, her other arm at her back for balance. "This changes everything!" Benjamin cried out. Abigail, not changing her stance, directed her words to Father Benjamin behind her but kept her eyes on Gillian: "What do you mean? Why?" Gillian chuckled. Yes, she chuckled, a frosty, chilling chuckle. Her skeletons waited for her orders. "There's a reason why I asked you here, Ms. Crenshaw. It had to be a Crenshaw witch for this to work. Now I know why." Gillian's cold, loud laugh shook the hall and the skeleton bones rattled.

And now, the conclusion:

"Chalk." Abigail blinked, sword still at the ready, processing what she'd heard. "What?" "Chalk!" Benjamin repeated. "Toss it back to me." Abigail's free hand fished around to find it. Skeletons shambled towards the pair as she threw the chalk back towards the priest, without looking. Benjamin had to step towards it to catch it. The skeletons reached out, and Abigail's sword flashed. Gillian laughed as her sister moved to defend the priest. "This would be a great deal easier if you just gave me the stone, sister. Are you really going to defend this... this man?" Abigail shook her head. "And you gave me shit for staying in school." "Abby!" It was the first time he had used her given name. She turned, and saw him holding up a black slate. On it in chalk was a complex circle, ringed in runes, that Abby recognized instantly. Without hesitation, she sliced the palm of her left hand on her blade, and slapped the slate Benjamin held. Instantly, there was a loud pop, and the skeletons collapsed. Abigail turned, and Gillian was gone. "Here." He began wrapping a cloth around her hand. "How...?" "Later. Right now, we have a church to clean up."

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Blue Ink Alchemy

2013: The Disappointments

2013: The Disappointments — Blue Ink Alchemy

Man of Steel, by Rudyao 2013 was a year that was mostly populated with sequels, and sequels are a double-edged sword. You have an established world and characters to work with and build upon, and an audience already interested in what you're doing. However, you also run the risk of undoing good work done in previous installments, watering down the message previously established, or alienating the audience, or at least some of it, when you move in a new direction. The two movies that disappointed me this year demonstrate these pitfalls extremely well, and I'm going to take some time to detail what I feel went wrong in both cases. Let me clarify something, however, before we begin. I enjoyed watching both of these movies. I will admit there's great stuff in both of them. At no point during either one did I throw up my hands and storm out of the theatre, feeling I'd been spoken down to or that the filmmakers had pulled an untoward bait-and-switch. These are high-quality films with great casts and interesting ideas. But I'll be honest: both of them really disappointed me. When JJ Abrams took the helm of Star Trek, I was curious. After the first movie under his command, I was intrigued. A fresh new cast inhabiting the classic characters in a new timeline with new aesthetics had me highly anticipatory of the direction they'd go in. Unfortunately, the direction they chose was back to the past. Star Trek Into Darkness did quite a few things right in executing one of the best-known storylines from the classic era, but as well as those things were done, they could have been done just as well with new characters unconnected to the previous tales. What's disappointing to me about this is that its demonstrating a trend towards pandering and fanservice. These things aren't necessarily bad, but when they're the core of your creative endeavor rather than a fringe benefit, the entire work can suffer for it. I know this creative team is capable of better. I'm cautiously optimistic that they will learn from their mistakes and give us something new. More than Into Darkness, however, I was deeply disappointed by Man of Steel. Again, we have a very talented cast working within a fascinating aesthetic that breathes new life into a world we already know. However, rather than utilizing these high-quality tools to provide a counterpoint to Christopher Nolan's interpretation of Batman, as Superman is almost always Batman's counterpoint, I can't help but feel like these characters have somehow become virtually one and the same. Where Star Trek leans towards pandering, Man of Steel was more concerned about Superman's messianic overtones and the tendency lately of superheros being dour, grim, stoic miseryguts rather than concentrating on using their abilities to help people. The titular character in Thor: The Dark World acts more like Superman than Superman does in Man of Steel, a clear indication that something's gone wrong with our friend Nolan and Goyer. There are moments in the film where something truly exciting in the world of Superman can be glimpsed, but it gets overshadowed by the darkness and seriousness that dominates the film. It smothers the fun we could be having, it undercuts the talents of the cast, and just leaves me feeling irritated and frustrated. This could have been so much better! What disappointed you the most in 2013?

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Blue Ink Alchemy

2013: The Surprises

2013: The Surprises — Blue Ink Alchemy

There was a lot that took me by surprise in 2013. Some surprises were good, and others were not so good. Rather than dwell on the negatives, I'd like to look back on some of the things that came along in both an unexpected and pleasant way, at least in the realm of entertainment. In all honesty, I shouldn't have been as surprised as I was by Sleepy Hollow. I had already plowed through all of Supernatural, so I've already galvanized myself towards television dealing with all sorts of fascinating scenarios dealing with the unknown, the strange, and the mythical. It's especially been proven that this works even better for me when the characters are interesting and the storylines decently written. So, Sleepy Hollow fits that bill pretty effectively. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, really: the level of camp in the show is nowhere near as high as I thought it might be, the use of practical effects and sets is actually incredibly endearing and unique in a world inundated with CGI, and the diverse and talented hero cast keeps everything coherent and thoroughly watchable. On the other hand, I really have no idea where Almost Human came from. Cyberpunk certainly hasn't gone anywhere, and while the show does seem to call back to the likes of Blade Runner and Deus Ex, it has an aesthetic and realization all its own. Like Sleepy Hollow, the core of the show is an excellent hero cast at the top of their game. The future envisioned by the show doesn't seem ridiculous, and many of the cool gizmos simply exist in scenes, instead of getting lengthy technobabble explanations. It feels like a living, breathing world, and the fact that it's populated with complex, interesting characters makes the show a must-watch for me. However, I think the biggest surprise to me in 2013 was Pacific Rim. I knew the film would be a fun time at the movies, but I was thoroughly surprised at how good it is. Gulliermo del Toro probably could have skated by merely by virtue of the hook: giant robots fighting monsters with modern aesthetics and technology. However, Pacific Rim explodes with imagination and color, wrapped in the drive and atmosphere of classic supernatural disaster flicks like Independence Day or any given Godzilla movie, and features characters that aren't as one-note as they easily could have been. It tells a coherent and well-paced story, it has a killer soundtrack, it informs its characters through action instead of exposition, and yes, it appeals to the basic child-like desire to pilot a robot just as big as a giant monster so you can punch said monster in the face. I know it isn't perfect and I know it'll have its naysayers, but when I think about Pacific Rim, I can't help but smile. It's just too damn fun for me to dwell on its flaws, and I really can't wait to see it again. What surprised you the most in 2013?

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Blue Ink Alchemy

2013: The Surprises

2013: The Surprises — Blue Ink Alchemy

There was a lot that took me by surprise in 2013. Some surprises were good, and others were not so good. Rather than dwell on the negatives, I'd like to look back on some of the things that came along in both an unexpected and pleasant way, at least in the realm of entertainment. In all honesty, I shouldn't have been as surprised as I was by Sleepy Hollow. I had already plowed through all of Supernatural, so I've already galvanized myself towards television dealing with all sorts of fascinating scenarios dealing with the unknown, the strange, and the mythical. It's especially been proven that this works even better for me when the characters are interesting and the storylines decently written. So, Sleepy Hollow fits that bill pretty effectively. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, really: the level of camp in the show is nowhere near as high as I thought it might be, the use of practical effects and sets is actually incredibly endearing and unique in a world inundated with CGI, and the diverse and talented hero cast keeps everything coherent and thoroughly watchable. On the other hand, I really have no idea where Almost Human came from. Cyberpunk certainly hasn't gone anywhere, and while the show does seem to call back to the likes of Blade Runner and Deus Ex, it has an aesthetic and realization all its own. Like Sleepy Hollow, the core of the show is an excellent hero cast at the top of their game. The future envisioned by the show doesn't seem ridiculous, and many of the cool gizmos simply exist in scenes, instead of getting lengthy technobabble explanations. It feels like a living, breathing world, and the fact that it's populated with complex, interesting characters makes the show a must-watch for me. However, I think the biggest surprise to me in 2013 was Pacific Rim. I knew the film would be a fun time at the movies, but I was thoroughly surprised at how good it is. Gulliermo del Toro probably could have skated by merely by virtue of the hook: giant robots fighting monsters with modern aesthetics and technology. However, Pacific Rim explodes with imagination and color, wrapped in the drive and atmosphere of classic supernatural disaster flicks like Independence Day or any given Godzilla movie, and features characters that aren't as one-note as they easily could have been. It tells a coherent and well-paced story, it has a killer soundtrack, it informs its characters through action instead of exposition, and yes, it appeals to the basic child-like desire pilot a robot just as big as a giant monster so you can punch said monster in the face. I know it isn't perfect and I know it'll have its naysayers, but when I think about Pacific Rim, I can't help but smile. It's just too damn fun for me to dwell on its flaws, and I really can't wait to see it again. What surprised you the most in 2013?

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Flash Fiction: Within The Church (Finale)

Flash Fiction: Within The Church (Finale) — Blue Ink Alchemy

This began weeks ago with this story, prompted by Terribleminds. Many heartfelt thanks to Jon, Courtney, and Josée for keeping this going. It's time to wrap it up!

Part 1

"This is never going to work." The witch looked over her shoulder as she drew the pentagram on the wall with red chalk. "If you have a better idea, Father, I'm all ears." "Believe me, I wish I had a better idea than drawing these things on the walls of my church." "Do I need to remind you that you're the one that called me?" "And if my Bishop knew, he'd probably excommunicate me faster than you can say 'Martin Luther.'" "He might react that way if he knew about all of the guns on the premises, too." Father Benjamin looked up from the shotgun he was loading. "This is America, Miss Crenshaw. Everybody has guns. Even the clergy." "Those are the shells we discussed?" "Silver buckshot soaked in holy water? Yes." "Good." Crenshaw looked up as the pounding began on the doors. "I knew I should have started there..." "At least they're only coming from one direction." Benjamin worked the shotgun's pump action as he moved towards the door. "Finish what you've started. I'll hold them off." "What, and let you fight it alone?" Abigail Crenshaw dropped the chalk, drawing the silver sword from her dark scabbard. "Not a chance."

Part 2

"This is as good a time as any," Father Benjamin said. He grabbed the handle of the door and gave it a turn. He rammed his shoulder into it and slammed the door into the hall against the creatures in the hall. They shambled as their bones clacked together. Skeletons, creatures of dark magic mobbed the hall. They weren't just science experiments gone wrong. The bones assembled at the point of convenience. Some had three and four arms, others had leg bones growing out of their skulls. A hodge podge of dark evil waited for Father Benjamin and Abigail to join them in the hall. He burst into the hall blasting rounds from the shotgun into several of the skeletons near the doorway. Their bones exploded in a spray of powdery bone shards. Abigail followed his lead. Her silver sword swung in a wide arc severing bones as it swept through the group. "Back to back," Benjamin yelled. "Don't let them through." Another blast of the shotgun brought them closer to clearing out his side of the hall. "Having fun yet deary?" she asked. The silver of her sword flashed through the skeletons that charged her en masse.

Part 3

Father Benjamin grinned. "Just like my seminary days." Two skeletons darted beneath sword and shotgun, circling to attack from the sanctuary end of the hallway. Abigail lunged at them. "Crenshaw! Wait!" yelled Benjamin. Too late. A third skeleton slid between the witch and the priest. Then a fourth. Abigail shrieked as the first two surrounded her. Benjamin took aim, but his gun gave no more than a click. Empty. With a roar, he reversed the gun and slammed the stock into one skeleton's head. The skull shattered, but the bones dragged at him as he thrust the barrel against the still-standing skeleton. Abigail took the head of one hellspawn pinning her to the wall. But the last one kept coming, and more poured into the hall behind Benjamin. "I warned you not to get in my way," said a voice. All around them, the skeletons froze. Abigail's cry echoed in the sudden quiet as she thrust her swordpoint through her final attacker's skull. Together, she and Benjamin turned toward the end of the hall. Beyond the motionless horde stood a figure in purple robes. A hood hid the face, but the skeletons' puppetmaster was unmistakable. "Hello, Gillian," said Abigail. "Hey, Abby," came the answer.

Part 4

"Long time no see" Abigail said, still holding her sword ready for attack. "Yeah, sorry about that. You know, I've been busy, or I would've called... How's Mom?" "Mom?!" This from Father Benjamin. He turned sharply to Crenshaw, his prayers forgotten, his fingers loose around his cross. "You didn't know this, Father? Abby and I go way back. To the womb, actually." Gillian took a step forward. "But don't worry. Just move away, let me get the stone and I'll go on my merry way." "You were never a good loser, Gill. My spells are stronger now." Abigail advanced, her sword held high, her other arm at her back for balance. "This changes everything!" Benjamin cried out. Abigail, not changing her stance, directed her words to Father Benjamin behind her but kept her eyes on Gillian: "What do you mean? Why?" Gillian chuckled. Yes, she chuckled, a frosty, chilling chuckle. Her skeletons waited for her orders. "There's a reason why I asked you here, Ms. Crenshaw. It had to be a Crenshaw witch for this to work. Now I know why." Gillian's cold, loud laugh shook the hall and the skeleton bones rattled.

And now, the conclusion:

"Chalk." Abigail blinked, sword still at the ready, processing what she'd heard. "What?" "Chalk!" Benjamin repeated. "Toss it back to me." Abigail's free hand fished around to find it. Skeletons shambled towards the pair as she threw the chalk back towards the priest, without looking. Benjamin had to step towards it to catch it. The skeletons reached out, and Abigail's sword flashed. Gillian laughed as her sister moved to defend the priest. "This would be a great deal easier if you just gave me the stone, sister. Are you really going to defend this... this man?" Abigail shook her head. "And you gave me shit for staying in school." "Abby!" It was the first time he had used her given name. She turned, and saw him holding up a black slate. On it in chalk was a complex circle, ringed in runes, that Abby recognized instantly. Without hesitation, she sliced the palm of her left hand on her blade, and slapped the slate Benjamin held. Instantly, there was a loud pop, and the skeletons collapsed. Abigail turned, and Gillian was gone. "Here." He began wrapping a cloth around her hand. "How...?" "Later. Right now, we have a church to clean up."

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Writer Report: Winter Break

Writer Report: Winter Break — Blue Ink Alchemy

Next week, I will be out of town, visiting the in-laws up in Canada. However, the blog will not be idle. I'm preparing a series of posts looking back on some of 2013's entertainment. I hope you enjoy it! Not much else to say, really. I'm hopeful that some time away will help clear my head and get me back on track. I have some pretty high targets to shoot for in 2014.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

So This Is Christmas

So This Is Christmas — Blue Ink Alchemy

Hanukkah has come and gone, Christmas is right around the corner, and Kwanzaa begins right after that. We're in the thick of what's colloquially known as 'the holiday season'. This is a time of warm wishes and good cheer. I certainly hope you have both of those. Me, I'm struggling. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for a lot of the good things in my life. But I'm also keenly aware that there are still quite a few goals I have yet to achieve. I'm envious of my past self, the self that had boundless energy and could have accomplished anything. I'm frustrated by daily tasks and chores. I'm struggling daily to maintain at least the semblance of a positive attitude so I don't completely alienate those around me. And I'm trying to track my finances and be generous to others so I'm neither broke nor a complete shitheel. I know a lot of people complain around the holidays, for a variety of reasons. The last thing I really wanted to do was engage in a whole mess of belly-aching and whining. I really hate doing that. Yet, here I am, on my blog no less, pouring all of this out through my keyboard onto the screen. Have I really lost this much of the plot? Do I honestly have nothing else to say? I should rambling about my Hearthstone decks, or discussing the board games I've gotten in the mail, or talking about my writing progress. I should praise a friend, or analyze a movie or TV series, or at least work on an author page for Facebook because, sooner or later, I'll need to start self-promoting again. It's times like these when I know I should just be bootstrapping my own emotional state. As I am the only real presence inside my own head, I should be the final arbiter of what comes out of me in terms of words and feelings and action. There is a gate between what I think and what I say or do, and I am the gatekeeper. Security has been lax of late, it seems, and I need to lock that shit down. I'm no good to anybody curled up in a corner and crying. Besides, the bitter cold of winter can't last forever. And I really am grateful for the good things in my life. I'm trying my utmost to hold on to those things, and disregard the things that are holding me back or dragging me down. I try to step back, observe the situation, and remind myself that the lion's share of this dreariness is all in my own head. This is Christmas. I should be happy. I should be content. I should be positive. At the very least, I'm going to try.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Movie Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Movie Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug — Blue Ink Alchemy

The second part of a three-part story is often the trickiest. It can be hard to work the tale in such a way that it feels like its own complete story, yet works to connect the first part with the last. Even when a work is planned as a trilogy from the outset, the second part can suffer from a bit of 'middle child syndrome', and parts of it can feel artificially padded as plot points are set up for the final installment to knock over. J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson managed to avoid this with The Two Towers, which has its own contained story to tell. The question many asked is, can the same be done with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug? We pick up directly where An Unexpected Journey left off. Bilbo, Gandalf, Thorin, and the other dwarves are on the run from orcs. Even as the hunters give chase, they are unwittingly driving the company closer to Erebor, the Lonely Mountain, the goal of the company's quest. While they evade immediate capture, Gandalf must leave to join Radagast the Brown in investigating rumors of a great evil on the rise. Meanwhile, Bilbo and his friends have to navigate the shady paths of Mirkwood, deal with the king of the wood elves, and behold the area around the Lonely Mountain known as 'the desolation of Smaug', a land scarred by dragonfire and cowering in the shadow of Erebor. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed An Unexpected Journey, I am willing to acknowledge that, while it doesn't rush, its pace can be a touch inconsistent. A good portion of that film, especially the first two acts of it, are occupied primarily with flashbacks and backstory. I realize this is necessary, particularly in the first chapter of a trilogy, but it can make the story move in two directions: forward, then backwards, then forward again. It can be awkward, and I'm glad An Unexpected Journey didn't feel that way even as it shifts gears. Thankfully, The Desolation of Smaug has only direction: Forward. From the opening of the film, with Thorin and company on the run from orcs, until the confrontation with Smaug in Erebor, the story is always heading into its next encounter. The nice thing is that, as much as it's constantly in motion, it gives more than enough breathing room for its characters. We get more time with characters established in the first film, and new ones are introduced and given their own elbow room. That's one of the advantages to Jackson incorporating so much from Unfinished Tales and The Silmarillion and expanding this relatively simple story into three extra-long films. The world of Middle-Earth, and the beings that populate it, are given ample opportunity to come to vibrant, breathing life. Even as the world expands and the story moves along, we manage to stay with and care about our core characters, for the most part. With Gandalf leaving the company to investigate Dol Guldur, and Bilbo already having overcome his impulse to just run home and curl up with a good book under about a thousand blankets, we focus more on Thorin Oakenshield. There are moments with other characters, to be certain. Thranduil gets more personality, Evangeline Lilly's Tauriel steals most of the scenes she's in, and I really liked the character moments we get with Beorn, Bard, and even the Master of Laketown. More dwarven moments are always good, from Bombur doing more than just being the butt of jokes to Kili turning on the charm to Oin's healing abilities. But really, this is Thorin's movie, right up until we meet the dragon Smaug. Thorin definitely comes into his own, having kingly moments as well as showing the nuance and questionable decision-making that comes from obsession. All of this might sound like Bilbo is taking a backseat in his own movie, but he has plenty of great moments, and I was reminded more than once that not only is he the uncle of Frodo Baggins, he's also related to Peregrin Took. I recall grinning at the screen, shanking my head, and saying "That's a total Pippin moment." I understand that there are quite a few die-hard Tolkien fans who aren't satisfied with these films. And I can understand why. With its additions, expansions, and digressions, these film adaptations of The Hobbit are deviating from the text far more than Jackson's work on The Lord of the Rings ever did. From the perspective of fans that have read and digested and lived with The Hobbit for decades, the simplicity and pace and whimsy of this story are being watered down, if not entirely lost. Since so much time is being spent with characters who aren't the hobbit of the title, the deviations seem even more aberrant, again from their point of view. I can appreciate that perspective, and if that sort of thing is a deal-breaker for you, you're justified in not seeing it. However, from my point of view, the inclusion of more of Tolkien's lore and the growth of Middle-Earth around the core of this simple story and these vibrant characters is a good use of the material and leads to a satisfying continuation of a truly epic tale of fantasy. I may be overly optimistic, but I honestly believe this is building to a fully coherent and connected story that begins at Bag End with Bilbo Baggins getting a visit from a wizard, and ends at the Black Gate of Mordor. Or maybe a few scenes and a couple gratuitous fades to black after that. Stuff I Liked: There's a lot here for Tolkien nerds. The scene with Beorn is fantastically done. I'm glad they expanded on more of the dwarves. The execution of Bilbo in the forest of Mirkwood was very cool, from climbing the tree to the signs of his growing connection to the One Ring. Stuff I Didn't Like: Some of the digressions may not have been entirely necessary. A couple of the scenes' CGI could have been sharpened up a bit - maybe they'd look better in 3D or 48 FPS? Stuff I Loved: Thorin really seizes hold of both his destiny and our imaginations. Bard is a colorful character that makes decisions that always feel consistent from his perspective. There's more wizardly daring-do, the fight along the river was a treat, and Martin Freeman continues to demonstrate what an inspired choice he was for Bilbo Baggins. Stuff I REALLY Loved: Smaug. Bottom Line: In the end, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug feels a lot more like the continuation of the overall narrative of The Hobbit rather than trying to stand entirely on its own. However, with its pace and new elements and complications, it feels a lot less like padded filler and more like a broadening and deepening of the world Bilbo is exploring. Absolutely die-hard long-standing fans of Tolkien may be turned off by its additions and digressions. However, it continues to demonstrates Peter Jackson's directorial skill, the cast is in great form, the action's never dull, and it delivers perhaps the best dragon on screen to date. For my money, it's definitely worth seeing, and perhaps more than once.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Movie Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Movie Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey — Blue Ink Alchemy

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, is a far more filmable piece of work than his larger work, The Lord of the Rings. It has a more simple narrative, its plot is contained to one volume, and its themes remain focused on the character of Bilbo Baggins and how he deals with his adventures. Yet, according to interviews and as evidenced in works such as the Unfinished Tales and the Silmarillion, Tolkien knew there was more going on than a hobbit coming out of his hole, and the intent was to embellish this work. Director Peter Jackson has taken it upon himself to do just that, adapting the story into three films, the first of which is sub-titled An Unexpected Journey. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit. He is concerned with remaining a respected member of his community and not inviting any sort of trouble to his doorstep. Unfortunately for him, the wizard Gandalf has the exact opposite in mind. Thirteen dwarves show up at Bilbo's house, and while they are certainly capable of troublemaking, they're also personable and companionable. The leader of the company, Thorin Oakenshield, is a dwarf prince bent on reclaiming his homeland from the evil dragon Smaug, and to do that he needs the help of someone who can sneak into the dragon's lair undetected. Gandalf has chosen Bilbo for this task, in spite of Thorin's reservations and Bilbo's own reluctance. The hobbit does come around to the idea of at least leaving his home - and a good thing too, otherwise we'd have no story. The term 'reluctant hero' has never been more apt than in describing Bilbo Baggins. Neither a great warrior nor unflinchingly brave, there's something very charming and telling about the hobbit in a very fashionable jacket and waistcoat following the heavily armed and armored company of dwarves. And when trouble does find Bilbo, he does not immediately seek a violent solution for the problem at hand; more often than not, it's his wits and fast talking that saves him. It means a lot, in this day and age, to see a protagonist who does what he can to get himself out of trouble without violence.
Does the contract also protect the dwarves from liability related to addiction to magic rings? This isn't to say that The Hobbit is devoid of action. In fact, many of the scenes from the book have been embellished with Jackson's trademark adeptness with epic action set pieces. We even get flashbacks to epic battles of the past. The tale tends to feel even more fantastical than The Lord of the Rings, focused as we are on non-human races and characters. And while accusations have been leveled at the film calling it too long or too padded, the moments of expanded lore and the occasional cameo are actually welcome moments to catch one's breath between all of the fighting and survival. In spite of the film's length, it's paced quite reasonably and does not overstay its welcome. Martin Freeman absolutely nails the affect of a fussy, emotionally exasperated hobbit far out of his depth. Richard Armitage brings a sort of haunted nobility to Thorin Oakenshield, who is clearly cut from a different cloth than most of the other dwarves. Boisterous and personable as they are, it can be difficult to keep track of all of them. Sir Ian McKellan makes a welcome return as Gandalf the Grey, and I was very pleased with the expanded role given to Radagast the Brown, played by Sylvester McCoy. And rather than being part of a monolithic evil as they were in Lord of the Rings, the foes faced by the company vary wildly from three culinary connoisseur trolls to an orc with a grudge against Thorin. All of this makes for great storytelling and a fine film just in time for the holiday season.
"You did remember the Old Toby, didn't you, Bilbo? We can'd do this without the proper pipeweed." Stuff I Liked: The White Council. The antics of the dwarves. The pacing of the story and the ways in which it kept moving without feeling rushed. The detail given to each of the dwarves even if they were hard to keep track of. The new look of the wargs. Stuff I Didn't Like: After two and a half hours, the 3D glasses really started to hurt. Stuff I Loved: Dwarven song. The connection between Gandalf and Galadriel. Radagast the Brown. Bilbo's affectations and tics. The perfect ominous atmosphere of Bilbo encountering Gollum in his cave. Just about everything related to Erebor. The scene with the trolls. The way Bilbo faces his problems - he's usually pretty scared, but he steps up anyway, and that's what makes him heroic. Bottom Line: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey not only works excellently as a tale in and of itself, but bodes quite well for the next two films to come. It is a welcome return to Middle-Earth, with the same high quality in performances and production as Jackson's previous fantasy trilogy. It is clearly a labor of love for everyone involved, and you can lay any suspicion of it being a blatant cash-grab to rest. It is definitely worth your time to go and see.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

The Execution of Smaug

The Execution of Smaug — Blue Ink Alchemy

Previously I have discussed villainy in terms of how we relate to and perceive various villains. I've praised villains who achieve their aims through intelligence, charm, and guile. These traits tend to appear in villains who are not necessarily a physical match for their heroic counterparts, doing their dirty work through henchmen or other means. Usually, a villain who is smart, playful, and erudite is not an overwhelming physical presence that inspires awe without necessarily having to say a word. Usually, that villain is not a dragon. I'll go into detail about The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug tomorrow, but after a few days of reflection on the film, I've come to the conclusion that, whatever else might be said about it, they pretty much nailed the ideal portrayal of the ancient magical beast. As impressive as the effects are that brought him to titanic, fire-breathing life, I'm more over the moon regarding the way in which his personality, perspective, and above all, his flaws have been transcribed from page to screen. One of the first impressions we get is that Smaug likes to play with his food. Or at least, his curiosity overwhelms your typical violent response to intrusion. He is so massive and deadly, and Bilbo so small and insignificant (relatively speaking), that he could easily devour or eviscerate the hobbit at any time. However, he engages the thief in conversation. He learns more about this tiny burglar, and we in turn learn more about him. This is not anything like Bilbo and Gollum swapping riddles. There, we had a sense that the two of them were counterparts, diametrically opposed but somewhat equal. Here, the dread is palpable and ever-present, even as Smaug speaks in almost dulcet tones. Being a creature that can fly, Smaug sees other beings as beneath him. He is so well-armed for devastation, and so capable of escape and endurance, that he really has no real sense of fear. He speaks and moves boldly. His speed belies his size and makes him all the more intimidating. All of this is conveyed through excellent effects in the film, matching well with our imaginations regarding how dragons should behave. The highlight of Jackson & Weta's execution of Smaug, however, has got to be his flaws. With that perspective comes a haughtiness, an arrogance, that blinds Smaug to the threats 'lesser beings' could present. From the dwarves of Erebor to the people of Laketown, he never once considers that his centuries-long life could be in danger. Most of all, Smaug is greedy. All of his treasure is HIS treasure, and he won't part with a single coin of it. Dragons tend to have an instinctual draw towards shiny piles of treasure, which is somewhat odd for creatures of intelligence and articulation, but it's worth considering that human beings can have similar instincts towards things of little consequence to overall life that still brings them joy, like football paraphernalia or Magic cards or cats. What other dragons in literature would you like to see executed the way we have seen Smaug?

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Flash Fiction: Cup of Comfort

Flash Fiction: Cup of Comfort — Blue Ink Alchemy

Courtesy istaevan The series at Terribleminds continues... ++++++++++++++++++ Part 1: Josee De Angelis ++++++++++++++++++ Of course it would rain today. It couldn't be nice and sunny. Perfectly crappy weather for a crappy day. Shane dragged her luggage down the hall, her box of books under her arm, all her hats on her head – good thing the rain hat was the last one she found. What she couldn't fit in her suitcases she wore. The furniture would have to come later. She couldn't stand to be in that apartment one minute more. The rain was coming down hard when Shane opened the front door. It was very dark, as if the clouds decided to play with people's minds and make it look like nighttime. This did nothing to lighten Shane's mood. Where would she go? Where could she go? Not going to her parents' home, that's for sure. Her sister's? Only if she wanted all her past choices to be dissected, analyzed and declared wrong. They were wrong, but did she really need to hear it from someone else? Not so much. Shane decided to walk north to put as much space as she could between herself and the apartment, where she lived moderately happy for six years. That was before everything changed. Before yesterday. ++++++++++++++++++ Part 2: Liz Neering ++++++++++++++++++ Yesterday the shadow had appeared. It began as a black spot, hidden away in the corner. But as the day progressed it had bled like spilled ink into the bulk of the room, until by the time she had gone to bed, it had stretched its dark fingers across the bulk of the apartment. She had slept huddled on the sofa, her knees drawn up to her chest, her hands wrapped around her shins to keep her tightly coiled and far away from the blackness coming to claim her. They would never understand. They would never believe. Shane pulled her hats down further, tugging them down her forehead until their stacked brims concealed her downcast, black-rimmed eyes. She stopped in the street. Water poured down her hats, splattering fat droplets onto her shoes. She rubbed her eyes until they burned. "Think," she said. "Think." She felt something; the short hairs on the nape of her neck rose. She turned on her heel. The blackness was there. It crept towards her, sentient, hungry, writhing like a serpent as it slunk closer. A voice, oily and thick, cut through the air. "Shane," it hissed. "Come to us. Be one with us. We understand. We do not judge." ++++++++++++++++++ Part 3: Ken Crump++++++++++++++++++ That voice, she thought, I know that voice! Slowly the pieces began to fall into place. Shane spun on her heel, gathered her box of books tightly under her arm and strode toward the Cup of Comfort coffee shop at the north end of the block. Her suitcase rolled smoothly through the gathering puddles, making rhythmic "sslack" sounds as it jumped the sidewalk cracks. Halfway there, a wheel caught in a crack, broke off, and rolled into the street. The suitcase reeled and twisted out of her control. Shane stole a look over her shoulder at the suitcase and then back toward the blackness. It still crept toward her. What had she read about the blackness? She squeezed her books closer to her body, and abandoning the suitcase, she walked on. That box of books was one of her past choices her sister would undoubtedly dissect and analyze again, given the chance. "You paid how much for those?" she had demanded in that I-know-everything voice that only big sisters have. "They're so old the covers are all bubbly." "The covers are not bubbly," Shane spat. "They're anthropodermic!" And she immediately wished she could have unsaid it. Her big sister didn't need to know the books were bound in human skin. ++++++++++++++++++ Part 4 ++++++++++++++++++ "Can I get you something?" Shane blinked. The barista was looking at her pleasantly. For now. When Shane blinked, something else that wasn't a barista was smiling at her. It was a smile she had seen before, in the shadows, a dark smiling face with eyes like bruning coals and teeth made of knives. Shane blinked again, and saw more of them. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed herself not to think about the books or the words penned in blood or the macabre images... "Miss? Are you all right?" She opened her eyes. She was back in Cup of Comfort. The barista looked more concerned than anything, and Shane tried to smile. It was difficult as the shadows got longer out of the corner of her eye. "Yes. I'm sorry. I was thinking about my sister. Could I get a cup of coffee, please?" "Sure." The barista set about making the drink. "Are you in town to visit your sister?" Shane swallowed. Her only hope was that, with a few customers in the shop, the darkness would be held at bay, at least for now. She needed time she didn't have. "No." Shane bit her lip. "She's dead now."

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Flash Fiction:

Flash Fiction: — Blue Ink Alchemy

Courtesy istaevan The series at Terribleminds continues... ++++++++++++++++++ Part 1: Josee De Angelis ++++++++++++++++++ Of course it would rain today. It couldn't be nice and sunny. Perfectly crappy weather for a crappy day. Shane dragged her luggage down the hall, her box of books under her arm, all her hats on her head – good thing the rain hat was the last one she found. What she couldn't fit in her suitcases she wore. The furniture would have to come later. She couldn't stand to be in that apartment one minute more. The rain was coming down hard when Shane opened the front door. It was very dark, as if the clouds decided to play with people's minds and make it look like nighttime. This did nothing to lighten Shane's mood. Where would she go? Where could she go? Not going to her parents' home, that's for sure. Her sister's? Only if she wanted all her past choices to be dissected, analyzed and declared wrong. They were wrong, but did she really need to hear it from someone else? Not so much. Shane decided to walk north to put as much space as she could between herself and the apartment, where she lived moderately happy for six years. That was before everything changed. Before yesterday. ++++++++++++++++++ Part 2: Liz Neering ++++++++++++++++++ Yesterday the shadow had appeared. It began as a black spot, hidden away in the corner. But as the day progressed it had bled like spilled ink into the bulk of the room, until by the time she had gone to bed, it had stretched its dark fingers across the bulk of the apartment. She had slept huddled on the sofa, her knees drawn up to her chest, her hands wrapped around her shins to keep her tightly coiled and far away from the blackness coming to claim her. They would never understand. They would never believe. Shane pulled her hats down further, tugging them down her forehead until their stacked brims concealed her downcast, black-rimmed eyes. She stopped in the street. Water poured down her hats, splattering fat droplets onto her shoes. She rubbed her eyes until they burned. "Think," she said. "Think." She felt something; the short hairs on the nape of her neck rose. She turned on her heel. The blackness was there. It crept towards her, sentient, hungry, writhing like a serpent as it slunk closer. A voice, oily and thick, cut through the air. "Shane," it hissed. "Come to us. Be one with us. We understand. We do not judge." ++++++++++++++++++ Part 3: Ken Crump++++++++++++++++++ That voice, she thought, I know that voice! Slowly the pieces began to fall into place. Shane spun on her heel, gathered her box of books tightly under her arm and strode toward the Cup of Comfort coffee shop at the north end of the block. Her suitcase rolled smoothly through the gathering puddles, making rhythmic "sslack" sounds as it jumped the sidewalk cracks. Halfway there, a wheel caught in a crack, broke off, and rolled into the street. The suitcase reeled and twisted out of her control. Shane stole a look over her shoulder at the suitcase and then back toward the blackness. It still crept toward her. What had she read about the blackness? She squeezed her books closer to her body, and abandoning the suitcase, she walked on. That box of books was one of her past choices her sister would undoubtedly dissect and analyze again, given the chance. "You paid how much for those?" she had demanded in that I-know-everything voice that only big sisters have. "They're so old the covers are all bubbly." "The covers are not bubbly," Shane spat. "They're anthropodermic!" And she immediately wished she could have unsaid it. Her big sister didn't need to know the books were bound in human skin. ++++++++++++++++++ Part 4 ++++++++++++++++++ "Can I get you something?" Shane blinked. The barista was looking at her pleasantly. For now. When Shane blinked, something else that wasn't a barista was smiling at her. It was a smile she had seen before, in the shadows, a dark smiling face with eyes like bruning coals and teeth made of knives. Shane blinked again, and saw more of them. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed herself not to think about the books or the words penned in blood or the macabre images... "Miss? Are you all right?" She opened her eyes. She was back in Cup of Comfort. The barista looked more concerned than anything, and Shane tried to smile. It was difficult as the shadows got longer out of the corner of her eye. "Yes. I'm sorry. I was thinking about my sister. Could I get a cup of coffee, please?" "Sure." The barista set about making the drink. "Are you in town to visit your sister?" Shane swallowed. Her only hope was that, with a few customers in the shop, the darkness would be held at bay, at least for now. She needed time she didn't have. "No." Shane bit her lip. "She's dead now."

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Writer Report: Long, Quiet Lulls

Writer Report: Long, Quiet Lulls — Blue Ink Alchemy

The North looms once again in my very near future. Winter brings a lot of things with it. It brings snow, ice, and cold winds. It brings holidays, travel, gift-giving, and an overabundance of consumerism. And, for me, it brings long lulls between truly rewarding writing sessions. I've felt a general lack of storytelling overall in the past month or so. Even casual exchanges have fallen away. I'm out of the habit of writing letters and even interesting emails to friends. Godslayer remains the story I most want to give the once-over to, yet all I've been able to muster is a few notes in my new writing notebook, jotted down during a lunch break so as not to forget them. I have so much I need to do. I need to get back on track with exercise. I need to keep my attentions keen in certain areas. I need to stay on top of what's going on with the dayjob. But most of all, I need to write more. I know all the words already. Not the words I need to write, necessarily, but the words I need to hear to make me write again. The words won't write themselves. You never get back the time you waste. You should be spending this time writing. Why aren't you writing? Doesn't the world need your art? ART HARDER, MOTHERFUCKER! These are all things I know. Things that gnaw at me. And I'm going to get myself back on the right path. I'd do it sooner if I weren't so damn tired all of the time.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

DLC Review: Burial At Sea

DLC Review: Burial At Sea — Blue Ink Alchemy

Ken Levine's games have taken us into the cold darkness of deep spaces, the unplumbed depths of the ocean, and into a variety of parallel dimensions. But unless you count the sequel we don't talk about, fans of BioShock have be waiting for the game or experience that takes them to a very specific place: back to Rapture. Thankfully, Irrational Games isn't done with the engine they used for BioShock: Infinite, and its first story DLC, Burial at Sea, invites players back beneath the waves to the city of Andrew Ryan's dreams. In that city, we find Booker DeWitt working as a private investigator. If you didn't know the story was happening in Rapture, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a potboiler noir opening: the smokey interior, hazy light coming through venetian blinds, the leggy dame walking in with a mysterious job. The dame in question, however, turns out to be Elizabeth, and she hires DeWitt to find a young girl named Sally, lost somewhere in Rapture. Booker accepts for personal reasons, and the pair step into Rapture proper, with little to go on and plenty of danger ahead. Since it's DLC, the systems of Burial at Sea have not changed in leaps and bounds since Booker went to Columbia. Still, it's always nice to play a shooter that lets you carry more than two weapons. Even Elizabeth serves a similar purpose in combat, opening rifts that give Booker access to supplies when she isn't finding things laying around. However, for me at least, BioShock in general and Infinite in particular has never really been about the combat. The Plasmids/Tonics are neat, to be sure, and Infinite's Skyhook changes things up from normal shooters, but for the most part, I'm in Rapture for the story. For this particular story, Booker and Elizabeth are walking around Rapture before the fall. People are wandering around having polite conversation, the surroundings are clean and well-lit, and only occasionally do you see someone making excessive use of Plasmids. Granted, after a couple hours of wandering around and encountering some old and new faces around Rapture, the scene shifts to dark spaces full of maniacs more familiar to BioShock fans, but the depiction of Rapture as a living, breathing city rather than a hollowed-out corpse of its former self is both fascinating and engrossing. While it's unfortunate that there really isn't anything new character-wise in this DLC, if you liked Booker and Elizabeth's exchanges in Columbia, you'll be just fine with how they get along in Rapture. Finally, the story's mystery does keep you guessing, and the ending of Episode 1 delivers a pretty effective emotional gut-punch you may not see coming. Burial at Sea does an excellent job of coupling the systems and characters of BioShock Infinite with the rich, occasionally terrifying underwater world of its predecessor. Episode 1 is out now on the Steam store, or your console venue of choice, with Episode 2 not far off. I do recommend it, even if its price is a bit steep for the overall amount of content it delivers.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

The Ice King Is Kind Of A Jerk

The Ice King Is Kind Of A Jerk — Blue Ink Alchemy

Yesterday was what I'd formerly call a 'snow day'. On a day when winter weather is keeping me indoors, you'd think a lot more writing would get done. However, it turns out that along with the ice and snow, I got a heap of work that I needed to finish. Getting everything done consumed most of the day, and I was left with little time and energy afterwards to write. So I'm pushing this week's review until tomorrow and hopefully returning to an office-based routine today. Also, why isn't there more Adventure Time on Netflix?

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Find The Flaws

Find The Flaws — Blue Ink Alchemy

Writers are human beings. With the exception of any NSA parsing programs or Google search generators or the like, readers tend to be human beings, too. And something that all human beings have in common is that they're flawed. I'm sure some pundits and others would disagree, but every person on the face of the planet makes mistakes. As a writer, if you want your audience to relate to the characters in the story you write, your characters should have flaws, too. A character with flaws is more believable, and it's easier for the audience to sympathize with them as they can see their own struggles in the words and depictions, and exalt with the characters when they succeed (if they succeed). A 'perfect' character is a lot more difficult for people to relate to, and it's a problem you can see in a lot of fiction out there. I'm sure you can think of some examples. By way of examples of flawed characters, let's look at Steve Rogers. I know what you're thinking. "Captain America? Flawed? He's a super soldier! He's a good person and a nice guy! How is he flawed?" His old-fashioned sensibilities make him relatively humble and willing to help people out, for certain, but he isn't perfect. Those same thought patterns, habits, and viewpoints are out of sync with the modern age. In holding onto those aspects of himself, Steve shows that he can be a bit stubborn, even bull-headed, in the face of change and personalities that clash with his. He has a few moments in The Avengers where he has it out with Tony Stark, and if the previews for The Winter Soldier are to be believed, his optimistic view of how things should be is going to get him into a heap of trouble. The thing I like about Cap's flaws is that they're surmountable. They open avenues for change. The great thing about organic, human characters is that they are not limited to a single arc. The problem with a lot of sequels is that they extend the story but do nothing for their characters. A good writer knows that keeping their characters from achieving perfection by the end of one story leaves the door open for future tales with the same characters. I'm a big fan of subtle sequel hooks, and these are some of the best ones a writer can employ. So the more flaws you can find in your characters, the better the experience will be both for your writing and for those who choose to read it. What are some of your favorite characters with flaws? What's a good example of a character overcoming a flaw but having others left to challenge them in stories to come?

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Flash Fiction: Jersey City of the Dead

Flash Fiction: Jersey City of the Dead — Blue Ink Alchemy

200 Words At A Time, Part 3. Michael D Woods started it, linderan continued it, and I'm giving it a title.

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"Casey's Jersey City crew got careless," Says Bossman. "Zombies flooded three sites. Two held them back but we blew the third. Horde made it up four flights and we couldn't risk it. All told, probably lost fifty people." Bossman looks at me, gin blossoms reddening. The skin around his eyes draws tight, his hands, resting on the desk between us, clench, unclench. "Go find Casey. You ask him how he nearly lost three buildings. Then, once he answers, you make certain it doesn't happen again." "Yes, sir," I say. Boss nods, quick, but the tears never leave his eyes. I turn and make for the stairs. How do I make fifty deaths count for something? These weren't soldiers or made-men. These were men, women, and children, each under the protection of the Poverelli family. Fifty dead. And I gotta go make it fifty-one. Name's Blaylock, but everybody calls me Block. The name suits me. I'm muscle for the Family. It's my job to make sure none of these mooks foul up and let the dead run riot over our rooftop paradise. Here, it ain't the zombies on the streets you gotta worry about. It's the guy beside ya still breathing. —– I only knock once 'cause I'm a little pissed. I'm standing just outside the door to Casey's office, gun in hand. Behind me there's a little crowd of civilians gathering. They're all lookin' mean at me—probably because they're a little fed up with the administration at this point. They're all quiet-like though, 'cause I was sent by Bossman himself and they knowed it. It took a while to get to Casey's place, what with the big, still smoking ruins of the building he lost in the way. Before the screw-up I coulda walked straight over. The buildings had been like a row of teeth, albeit crooked and rotting. But, one of 'em had got knocked out, so I had to schlep it 'cross the gap on the ground, which was dangerous. That was a stressful trip. I am stressed. So, I only knock once. Then I open the door, see Casey still getting' outa his chair, and say to him, "Casey." "I... I can explain," he says, but his face says he can't, so I shoot him before he can bullshit me. His head pops like a soda can that somebody shook up and dropped. I turn around and hear one of the civvies, actually a soldier I guess, since he's pointing a gun at me, say, "We're sick of the Family's shit." I see that they're all pointing guns at me and frown. I musta underestimated how angry they was. —– Here's the thing about Jersey City that some folks forget. Jersey City folks, they're used to some gunfire ruining a nice, quiet evening. Jersey City zombies, well, they ain't so kind. There's a reason my gun's got a silencer. It's not that whisper-quiet pchew, pchew bullshit you'd get in the movies, but it's a damn sight more quiet than, say, a bunch of pissed-off civvies with poorly-maintained firearms. I duck 'round the corner into Casey's place when they start unloading. I ain't gonna lie, being outgunned by just about anybody is pretty scary, and I'm a little scared as I hunker down behind Casey's davenport. But I got two things going for me. One, the mob's more scared than I am, so they hesitate rather than rushing me. Two, guns without silencers are loud as balls. "Why don't you come on out, Block?" It's the soldier again. Gotta be the leader. "Stop hiding and face death like a man." I spot the fire escape outside of the bedroom window, a room and a half away. I'll never make it with them watching. Then the zombies start breaking down the door downstairs. The civvies panic. I make a break for it.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Writer Report: Another Year

Writer Report: Another Year — Blue Ink Alchemy

I'm crossing my fingers and knocking on wood (ow) in the hope that the worst of 2013 is behind me, and that the new year will not open with bad news. Cold Streets is still getting tested, and I've got a decent idea of what to shore up, what to cut, and what to expand. I'll wait until everybody's chipped in, though, before I get started on that. In the meantime, I've been getting more ideas about Godslayer. Specifically, how it should begin. My recent foray back into TV-watching has had me taking in some cracking good pilots, and they all have a few things in common. They hit the ground running with their stories, they get the audience invested in their characters and worlds pretty quickly, and they don't over-complicate the opening of a long narrative. I think a lot of genre novels can have trouble doing this, and I would rather not be counted among them. Especially if I want to gear Godslayer towards a younger audience. Let's see, what else? Got some local projects cooking. Keeping up with Flash Fiction. Still not sure if Fantasy Flight would be interested in a novel set in the Twilight Imperium universe. Was something else happening today? Eh. Couldn't be that important.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

A Return To Television

A Return To Television — Blue Ink Alchemy

"A ten percent levy on BAKED GOODS??" Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, particularly Hulu and Netflix, I've been able to start getting some television back in my life. I was already using Hulu for Supernatural and Law & Order: SVU, but I've started using it to watch newer shows, as well.

Agents of SHIELD

The first new show I broke into was the one I was looking forward to the most. Clark Gregg the actor and Phil Coulson the character are both draws to the show, as well as its promised tie-ins with the cinematic arm of the Marvel Universe. Joss Whedon got his start with television, and knowing his penchant for balanced group dynamics and tightly-plotted stories. All of these things had me set to tune in week to week from the outset. Unfortunately, it's also the one that's taken the most time to get up and running. I like the characters and the premise, but the pacing and quality of stories has been somewhat inconsistent during the first season. It's taken a couple episodes for the actors to get comfortable with their characters. It's got plenty of potential and it's improving with every episode, so I'm still on board.

Sleepy Hollow

This is not the Disney version of the classic tale of the Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane. Nor is it anything like Tim Burton's sumptuous adaptation. This time around, Ichabod Crane is a soldier fighting in America's war against the British. He meets a particularly nasty Hessian mercenary on the battlefield, and the two come to blows. The Hessian deals a mortal wound to Ichabod, who responds by cutting off the hired gun's head. Both of them fall, and that would be the end of it... except 250 years later, the Hessian rises from the dead, as does Ichabod. He's picked up by the local police, and meets Lieutenant Abbie Mills, who's lost her mentor to a redcoat on horseback minus his head. The question is, can she trust this seemingly insane Englishman who claims to have been a soldier under George Washington? I've heard the premise of this show called 'a bit silly'. And it is. The whole thing is a bit silly. But it's no sillier than your standard set-up for an episode of Supernatural, and I watch the hell out of that show. What Sleepy Hollow has going for it is smart writing, deliciously old-school production values with practical effects and some wicked monster designs, and an excellent cast. I also like that Tom Mison, who plays the intelligent and determined but somewhat hapless Ichabod, is the only white male in the hero cast. Nicole Beharie and Orlando Jones are both phenomenal, portraying strong, smart, and interesting characters that don't get relegated to spouting colloquialisms or falling into stereotypes. The pilot hits the ground running and it's kept up a good pace since then. It's definitely a new favorite.

Almost Human

The year is 2048. Technology has kind of exploded, and lead to all sorts of open and black market nastiness. To keep up, police have started using military-grade androids to supplement their human detectives. During a raid, Detective John Kennex is seriously injured, and spends a couple years in a coma, waking up to find his leg has been replaced with an advanced prosthesis. He doesn't acclimate to work too well after that, and he keeps going through synthetic partners. Rudy, the lab technician and local android guru, pairs Kennex up with a DRN model, instead of the usual MX one. While MX models are designed to be purely logical and coldly calculating, 'Dorian' was created to be as close to human as possible, with all of the emotional unpredictability that entails. Everybody's just crossing their fingers that Kennex doesn't push this one into traffic. From the start, the show gave me a very pleasant Blade Runner/Deus Ex vibe. I'm a fan of Karl Urban in most of his roles, and casting him as a law enforcement officer keeps reminding me of how good he is as Judge Dredd. Pairing him with Michael Ealy's Dorian works extremely well. Dorian reminds me a bit of Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation, but where Data was perplexed by the concept of emotions, Dorian struggles to deal with his while making observations on Kennex's condition and behavior. The two have fantastic chemistry and, like Sleepy Hollow, the show has hit the ground running. The concepts and visuals of the near future have almost an 'uncanny valley' feel to them, as it feels like our world and yet is totally different. It's well-realized, well-shot, and I'm eager to see more of it. What TV have you been tuning into lately? Will you check out these shows?

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Blue Ink Alchemy

First Impressions: Hearthstone

First Impressions: Hearthstone — Blue Ink Alchemy

A few years ago, Blizzard Entertainment tried their hands a trading card game version of World of Warcraft. I was into it, for a while, as were quite a few other fans. It coupled the familiar themes and powers of the MMO with excellent art and an interesting mechanic for getting cards into play that sought to reduce some of the problems inherent with a TCG's necessary randomization. While I no longer play it, it seems to still be going, if the shelves at Target are to be believed. And now, Blizzard seems to be working on bringing that sort of turn-based strategic and collectible experience to their PC fanbase with Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, currently in closed beta. The game behaves like most TCGs: you acquire a starter set of cards, assemble a deck, and do battle with other players. Every turn within a game session, you receive a mana crystal with which to cast spells or summon minions from your hand, ensuring you never get shorted on the resources necessary to play. The goal is to reduce your enemy's hero to 0 health while keeping yours alive. There's a hero for each of the nine basic character classes in World of Warcraft, from ancient legends like Malfurion and Gul'dan to relative newcomers like Valeera and Anduin. Each hero has some class-specific cards, and a general pool from which they can gather other minions. The game is certainly not rocking the boat when it comes to traditional aspects of TCGs, and as with most things, the devil is in the details. There's an astounding amount of detail in Hearthstone's art and sound design. The play areas themselves are interactive, every minion has a unique voice, opponents slam into one another with resounding cracks to the cheers of the onlooking crowd - it all leads to a greater sense of immersion. The minions' abilities are varied quite nicely, opening up multiple avenues and playstyles as they are added to decks. Each hero has a power to which they always have access, meaning that a player is only rarely entirely out of options. There are two play modes: regular or Constructed, in which players assemble their decks from their personal collections before doing battle, and The Arena, where a brand new deck is constructed from a pool of random cards and runs are more limited. Both modes offer up rewards, as do Quests which are distributed once a day, most commonly in the form of gold which can be used to enter The Arena or buy 'Expert' packs of cards. And if you don't need some of the cards you get, you can 'Disenchant' some, breaking them down into Dust which is then used to assemble different cards, from Common cards all the way up to Legendaries. As much as I like Hearthstone, I recognize it has some flaws. There's very little to do on an opponent's turn. There are 'secrets' which are cards that activate on certain triggers from an opponent, but only a few classes have them and they're not that difficult to deal with. A couple classes feel a little unbalanced (looking at you, Priests) and it can be difficult to assemble an effective 'theme' deck. There are some glitches here and there, but the game is still in beta and that's par for the course. Finally, the game can be a bit stingy with its in-game currency and rewards, and while the nature of its systems keep it from being a 'pay-to-win' style game outwardly, I feel like higher quest rewards or more Dust from the Arena would be better incentives to keep playing. That said, Hearthstone is a rock-solid implementation of a good premise for an extension of one of Blizzard's longest-running franchises. I am enjoying the beta, and continue to sneak matches in around writing sessions and bouts with longer games like Skyrim and World of Warcraft. It scratches the Magic: the Gathering itch quite well and, flawed as it is in places, I'm curious and eager to see how it behaves in its final form.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Apparently My Posts Are Tasty

Apparently My Posts Are Tasty — Blue Ink Alchemy

You know, I had a pretty good blog post started last night. Talking about how important it is to write when you feel you can't - like I've felt the last few weeks. Guess who forgot to save the post before his desktop went all wibbly-wobbly this morning and ate it? ...So yeah. No new post today. Sorry about that.

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Flash Fiction: Untitled Part 2

Flash Fiction: Untitled Part 2 — Blue Ink Alchemy

Continuing on from the story started by rccross over yonder, as part of the Terribleminds Flash Fiction challenge. I'm including his first 200 words for the sake of coherence. Enjoy!

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Jacob stood alone on the fog covered dock. A spectral figure wreathed in frost and ice crystal. The glock hung loosely at his side with the apathy of sleep deprivation. A beam of light lanced through the fog and somewhere far off a fog horn belched. He waited. His fingers were numb on the grip and his exposed skin was cold and clammy. He waited some more. Then he heard it, the slow stutter of hooves clacked across the dock; Each step loud and surreal in the opaque air. CLACK-CLACK. He shivered. Jacob told himself it was only the chill of the fog, but he knew better. He saw the eyes first. Red as rage and hot as a furnace. One step after another. CLACK-CLACK. He ran his tongue over his ragged lips and croaked out a greeting. "h-here." His voice sounded like a lost child. Afraid, alone and desperately wanting to be elsewhere. The terrible eyes moved forward in their unrelenting pace. CLACK-CLACK. It ripped through the fog, its two cloven hooves leaving a scorch marked trail. His teeth chattered . It came to a sudden halt, its black armor clanking like a death toll. It gave a serrated grin. "Hershel... be nice. This is just a friendly chat." She emerged from behind the hulking figure, in her pin-striped blazer and slacks, no shirt or tie beneath, her fedora cocked at a jaunty angle over her eyes. "Hello, Jacob." Jacob swallowed. He tried to remind himself that this was not a woman. It was something else. It. Use the right pronoun. It lifted its chin. The eyes were a dull red, the color of arterial blood on skin, if it weren't as pale as what she... it... wore. The eyes focused on the gun. "Is that for me, Jacob? Are you here to pump me full of lead? Or... something else, maybe?" The tone was playful. The lips, brighter red and moist, smiled slowly. "I want out. I want to stop hurting people." The lips pursed into a pout. Fingers slid up the lapel of the jacket. "Jacob. Jake, baby. You asked for this. We had a deal, remember?" It took steps. Slow, deliberate, hip-swaying steps. Carrot and stick, Jacob told himself. Carrot and stick. That's all this is. It was close, now. It looked in his eyes. It touched his chest. "Do the sweet promises we made really mean nothing?"

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Blue Ink Alchemy

Flash Fiction: Untitled Part 2

Flash Fiction: Untitled Part 2 — Blue Ink Alchemy

Continuing on from the story started by rccross over yonder, as part of the Terribleminds Flash Fiction challenge. I'm including his first 200 words for the sake of coherence. Enjoy!

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Jacob stood alone on the fog covered dock. A spectral figure wreathed in frost and ice crystal. The glock hung loosely at his side with the apathy of sleep deprivation. A beam of light lanced through the fog and somewhere far off a fog horn belched. He waited. His fingers were numb on the grip and his exposed skin was cold and clammy. He waited some more. Then he heard it, the slow stutter of hooves clacked across the dock; Each step loud and surreal in the opaque air. CLACK-CLACK. He shivered. Jacob told himself it was only the chill of the fog, but he knew better. He saw the eyes first. Red as rage and hot as a furnace. One step after another. CLACK-CLACK. He ran his tongue over his ragged lips and croaked out a greeting. "h-here." His voice sounded like a lost child. Afraid, alone and desperately wanting to be elsewhere. The terrible eyes moved forward in their unrelenting pace. CLACK-CLACK. It ripped through the fog, its two cloven hooves leaving a scorch marked trail. His teeth chattered . It came to a sudden halt, its black armor clanking like a death toll. It gave a serrated grin. "Hershel... be nice. This is just a friendly chat." She emerged from behind the hulking figure, in her pin-striped blazer and slacks, no shirt or tie beneath, her fedora cocked at a jaunty angle over her eyes. "Hello, Jacob." Jacob swallowed. He tried to remind himself that this was not a woman. It was something else. It. Use the right pronoun. It lifted its chin. The eyes were a dull red, the color of arterial blood on skin, if it weren't as pale as what she... it... wore. The eyes focused on the gun. "Is that for me, Jacob? Are you here to pump me full of lead? Or... something else, maybe?" The tone was playful. The lips, brighter red and moist, smiled slowly. "I want out. I want to stop hurting people." The lips pursed into a pout. Finger slid up the lapel of the jacket. "Jacob. Jake, baby. You asked for this. We had a deal, remember?" It took steps. Slow, deliberate, hip-swaying steps. Carrot and stick, Jacob told himself. Carrot and stick. That's all this is. It was close, now. It looked in his eyes. It touched his chest. "Do the sweet promises we made really mean nothing?"

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Blue Ink Alchemy