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Fantasy Book & Author Discussion / Re: What do you think of fantasy lite novels?
« on: Today at 09:58:52 AM »
Isn't all Fiction to some degree "Fantasy Lite"?
July 23, 2019, 09:28:22 PM
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Writers' Corner / Re: How much did you write today?
« on: Today at 09:56:25 AM »
Started on 'Robin Morgan, Faerie Prince', plan is to do another few K words today now that final proofs are done of 'The Legal Talent' and 'The Fay Child'. I'll have to do final proof of 'Artists and Rooks' shortly as it's due in the Autumn.
Some other books are held up till I see what happens with Brexit as they are "Contemporary" and have travel, security agencies, banks & currency in the plot.
Some other books are held up till I see what happens with Brexit as they are "Contemporary" and have travel, security agencies, banks & currency in the plot.
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General Discussion / Re: Ask a Brit/American what this means
« on: March 16, 2019, 10:40:02 AM »And would someone care to confirm? Hello? Hello? Testing? Testing?A stairwell is the space in the middle.
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Writers' Corner / Re: How much did you write today?
« on: March 16, 2019, 10:00:00 AM »
I'm supposed to be proofing and editing. Instead I've nearly completed a draft of another 'Celtic Otherworld' book, bringing total up to 16. This one goes between 'Exiles and Refuge' which covers the final Fay (Sidhe, Elves, Faerie) pullout from Earth and "Four Kids, One Foxe", about four Fay kids mysteriously transported to the house of a History Professor in Belfast who has just retired, it's set about 11 years after 'Exiles and Refuge', so space maybe even for another one or two.
So actual writing has slowed to a couple of words a day. I WILL have to edit in all the annotations I have from proof reading other books and finish editing my friend's book. I might add about 8,000 to 14,000 words to the current WIP, 'The Ensorcelled Maid' once I've edited in the proof reading annotations.
I did update my blog too.
So actual writing has slowed to a couple of words a day. I WILL have to edit in all the annotations I have from proof reading other books and finish editing my friend's book. I might add about 8,000 to 14,000 words to the current WIP, 'The Ensorcelled Maid' once I've edited in the proof reading annotations.
I did update my blog too.
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General Discussion / Re: Science for Science Fiction! (Articles and the Like)
« on: February 05, 2019, 09:38:16 PM »
Facebook vs Google vs Amazon vs Microsoft.
Toxic parasites on personal information.
Amazon & Google have a truce right now over Google Streaming/Youtube and Fire Tablet (Android but Playstore replace by Amazon).
Evil Echo / Siri / Cortana / Google speech search
Harry Harrision: "I always do what teddy says"
Read comments:
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/02/04/european_commission_security_risks_kids_smartwatch/
Toxic parasites on personal information.
Amazon & Google have a truce right now over Google Streaming/Youtube and Fire Tablet (Android but Playstore replace by Amazon).
Evil Echo / Siri / Cortana / Google speech search
Harry Harrision: "I always do what teddy says"
Read comments:
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/02/04/european_commission_security_risks_kids_smartwatch/
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Fantasy Book & Author Discussion / Re: robin hobb
« on: February 05, 2019, 09:32:24 PM »
Um... it's fiction. The humans, aliens, sentient species and animals don't have ANY will.
It's all an illusion created by the the author.
Now, real world action TV & Cinema is a different issue (Not CGI or animation as long as not motion captured animals). The humans have a small choice (not as big as some people think as they need to work today and not get blacklisted). I'm at times sceptical of the disclaimers I see (only on US material) about the animals. Other countries do have animal care laws, but the film & TV makers don't seem to need to pat themselves on the back via a disclaimer from a 3rd party organization. Circus animals will soon be gone in Ireland and UK. Actual genuine wild ones long gone I think? I think they have only been able to to use captive bred ones.
There might be some place for showjumping? But Steeplechase races seem too dangerous. "Performing" animals seems a bit abusive. Dolphins & Whales in captivity, elephants etc.
Pedigree animal shows seem to encourage bad breeding practices, especially some dog breeds?
It's all an illusion created by the the author.
Now, real world action TV & Cinema is a different issue (Not CGI or animation as long as not motion captured animals). The humans have a small choice (not as big as some people think as they need to work today and not get blacklisted). I'm at times sceptical of the disclaimers I see (only on US material) about the animals. Other countries do have animal care laws, but the film & TV makers don't seem to need to pat themselves on the back via a disclaimer from a 3rd party organization. Circus animals will soon be gone in Ireland and UK. Actual genuine wild ones long gone I think? I think they have only been able to to use captive bred ones.
There might be some place for showjumping? But Steeplechase races seem too dangerous. "Performing" animals seems a bit abusive. Dolphins & Whales in captivity, elephants etc.
Pedigree animal shows seem to encourage bad breeding practices, especially some dog breeds?
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Fantasy Book & Author Discussion / Re: robin hobb
« on: January 27, 2019, 09:59:35 AM »
Many authors even kill off people characters. Even innocents or nice ones.
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Self Publishing Discussion / Re: Is it worth using Goodreads?
« on: January 27, 2019, 09:56:52 AM »
Goodreads is designed to parasitically feed info to it's owner, Amazon.
I don't use it any longer, but haven't deleted my content.
It's less honest and useful even as a review site than it used to be. Amazon wants to sell books. They also now own IMDB.
Most social media is a waste of time unless you are already a well known journalist, actor, writer or celebrity.
I don't use it any longer, but haven't deleted my content.
It's less honest and useful even as a review site than it used to be. Amazon wants to sell books. They also now own IMDB.
Most social media is a waste of time unless you are already a well known journalist, actor, writer or celebrity.
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Writers' Corner / Re: How much did you write today?
« on: December 22, 2018, 01:40:51 PM »
I recently finished first revisions of two drafts, so taking a break from writing. Reading plenty.
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General Discussion / Re: Ask a Brit/American what this means
« on: December 01, 2018, 09:58:04 AM »
American is taking over...
I saw the local supermarket advertise an offer on 'Chips'. They are CRISPS. Even says so on the packet.
Chips are the deep fat fried chips of potato.
"French Fries" are the fake too skinny chips sold in Fast Food Franchises, usually controlled by parasitic international companies. Franchise means the owner puts up all the money, pays the rent but is only a "minder". The Franchise dictates suppliers, menu, style, everything. Some leading french fries have a special coating to encourage eating and drinking more. Real chips have no coating.
I'm in Ireland. More people use Polish and Chinese than Irish. We mostly use 'British English' but with big variations between Belfast (in UK), Derry (in UK also called Slash City Derry/Londonderry)) Dublin (Ireland but nicknamed Western Britain), Cork, Limerick and Galway. That's the five biggest cities on the Island. Rural Kerry, Donegal, Clare, Wexford etc very different.
It's very evident on the UK & Irish Media, aided by Netflix (a loss making parasite), US TV, US Cinema and (anti-) Social Media is rapidly becoming American in spelling, vocabulary and style.
Perhaps in 25 years all English speakers will only be using American.
The Evil of American Format Dates:
My Computer has a creeping Americanization, the Email program is displaying all dates in the foolish MM DD YYYY format. ISO YYYY MM DD is best for sorting. Non-American format is DD MM YYYY, a logical ascending format.
Recipes on the Internet (Food or Wool) and stupid cups
Is it American or British Imperial? What size is a cup! The standard UK imperial measure* is hardly used now and doesn't apply to ANYTHING other than baking. There seems to be various US standard "cups" for various purposes. Also a Japanese one.
Also don't Americans have weighing scales for Yarn or non-liquid ingredients? We have had cheap dial type since 1950s with grams and also UK pounds & ounces. For nearly 20 years the digital ones have been cheap and have a button for grams and also UK pounds & ounces, also to zero out weight of empty bowl.
* In the United Kingdom the standard cup was set at 10 imperial fluid ounces, or half an imperial pint. The cup was rarely used in practice, as historically most kitchens tended to be equipped with scales and ingredients were measured by weight, rather than volume. (There are also UK teaspoons = 5ml, UK tablespoon = 15ml).
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_(unit) and also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measuring_spoon to see why it's SO STUPID to post recipes on the Internet using cups, tablespoons or teaspoons. Non-liquid should NEVER use cups, tablespoons or teaspoons.
I saw the local supermarket advertise an offer on 'Chips'. They are CRISPS. Even says so on the packet.
Chips are the deep fat fried chips of potato.
"French Fries" are the fake too skinny chips sold in Fast Food Franchises, usually controlled by parasitic international companies. Franchise means the owner puts up all the money, pays the rent but is only a "minder". The Franchise dictates suppliers, menu, style, everything. Some leading french fries have a special coating to encourage eating and drinking more. Real chips have no coating.
I'm in Ireland. More people use Polish and Chinese than Irish. We mostly use 'British English' but with big variations between Belfast (in UK), Derry (in UK also called Slash City Derry/Londonderry)) Dublin (Ireland but nicknamed Western Britain), Cork, Limerick and Galway. That's the five biggest cities on the Island. Rural Kerry, Donegal, Clare, Wexford etc very different.
It's very evident on the UK & Irish Media, aided by Netflix (a loss making parasite), US TV, US Cinema and (anti-) Social Media is rapidly becoming American in spelling, vocabulary and style.
Perhaps in 25 years all English speakers will only be using American.
The Evil of American Format Dates:
My Computer has a creeping Americanization, the Email program is displaying all dates in the foolish MM DD YYYY format. ISO YYYY MM DD is best for sorting. Non-American format is DD MM YYYY, a logical ascending format.
Recipes on the Internet (Food or Wool) and stupid cups
Is it American or British Imperial? What size is a cup! The standard UK imperial measure* is hardly used now and doesn't apply to ANYTHING other than baking. There seems to be various US standard "cups" for various purposes. Also a Japanese one.
Also don't Americans have weighing scales for Yarn or non-liquid ingredients? We have had cheap dial type since 1950s with grams and also UK pounds & ounces. For nearly 20 years the digital ones have been cheap and have a button for grams and also UK pounds & ounces, also to zero out weight of empty bowl.
* In the United Kingdom the standard cup was set at 10 imperial fluid ounces, or half an imperial pint. The cup was rarely used in practice, as historically most kitchens tended to be equipped with scales and ingredients were measured by weight, rather than volume. (There are also UK teaspoons = 5ml, UK tablespoon = 15ml).
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_(unit) and also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measuring_spoon to see why it's SO STUPID to post recipes on the Internet using cups, tablespoons or teaspoons. Non-liquid should NEVER use cups, tablespoons or teaspoons.
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General Discussion / Re: Ask a Brit/American what this means
« on: November 22, 2018, 09:31:08 PM »Some British people say pants for trousers.Never heard anyone other than Americans call trousers, pants.
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General Discussion / Re: Ask a Brit/American what this means
« on: November 17, 2018, 09:58:15 PM »And let's not get started on the fact that pants and trousers are both plural for some reason.Originally leg coverings where not sewn together at the front and back of the bum/torso. Hose (for men or women) were separate legs, often footless and hung from the waist over the top of the smalls.
In some periods of time the sleeves also might not be stitched into the body garment (bodice, dress, blouse, shirt etc) but lace on.
A "dress" or "gown" wasn't originally a one piece female garment that was modest enough to be worn on it's own, but part of a description of many items of clothing. "Gown" seems to have been any kind of full length garment, as survives in Ballgown, dressing gown and hospital gown.
A "dressing gown" seems a strange name compared to a "night gown" (rare on men now).
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General Discussion / Re: Science for Science Fiction! (Articles and the Like)
« on: October 21, 2018, 11:17:01 AM »You can find a bunch more if you Google "magic leap" and "Mica". Fascinating stuff!Or search "Magic Leap" "Vapourware", far more honest.
Their hype exceeds reality. There is VR (poor, basically nausea inducting video games) and AR (poor too). ML has no actual real product and all demos I've seen are simulations. ML is the most hype and least functional of all systems other than a holder with lenses for a mobile phone.
The problem with the googles on all systems are two fold: 1: The field of view is too small except for specialist applications, not immersive. 2: Decent tracking* needs about x10 the CPU power & GPU than normally available.
AR "only" needs glasses with a stereo projection system. VR really needs a special suit and maybe a tank or chair/cradle.
*You need to track the head and eyes. Tracking what distance the user is looking at is hard, especially for the nearly 20% that have less than perfect binocular vision.
We have had various discussions and long sessions here of VR and AR over the last 30 years. Also critique of the many SF stories which vary in both realism and also inherent physical possibilities. Books are mostly better than highly visual cinema/TV to critique. Star Trek might rate high on "apparent" realism, but likely inherently impossible. Stories involving implants are plausible, though as in many or the dystopian stories, might be one-way. Stories with googles, tanks, suits and drugs are believable reversible VR. Googles alone are best for AR and and can only give a limited VR experience working minimally with gloves or similar. The next level would be a body harness above a large motorized sensor ball that allows walking, jumping, running, kicking and sitting. Ideally each body joint would be monitored. Head unit alone gives little more than a live theater type static viewer experience.
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Small Press & Self-Published / Re: Celtic Otherworld
« on: September 16, 2018, 04:35:16 PM »
"Conspiracies and Rooks" came out on 14th September 2018 on Amazon (Kindle format only, do download and transfer via USB) or all formats on Smashwords (and distributed to iTunes/Apple, Barnes&Noble and others).
Starship Chief still zero cost on Smashwords. "The Apprentice's Talent" and "Under the Stone of Destiny" both 99c or 99p (all sellers).
Starship Chief still zero cost on Smashwords. "The Apprentice's Talent" and "Under the Stone of Destiny" both 99c or 99p (all sellers).
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Writers' Corner / Re: How much did you write today?
« on: September 16, 2018, 04:26:13 PM »don't know whether they're any good or not!You never will.
You can't trust critics. High sales are good, but doesn't tell you which, if any, words are good.
Only written a few hundred today, but up to about 68K words on Carmán's Legacy. No target length. It's book #14 in one of my series and may be the last, though I thought that before (Celtic Otherworld).
Books #6, #7 & #8 out in August & September. Book #6 was a bottleneck as I was having difficulties, so I wrote #7 to #13 while I thought about it!