Traveling to another world wasn’t anything like Kevin imagined it to be. No flash of light. No soaring across the stars. No weird distortion of reality. Not even the whimsical transition from wardrobe into an enchanted wood. No, it was more like waking from a deep sleep. That his old life, one with bright neon... Continue Reading →
“The Fifth Hero” – Chapter 2
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘NOPE!’” Kevin’s heart leapt. He spun, searching for the source of the shout. None of his neighbors were out on the patio, nor was there any sign of a cat, dog, or bird. Nothing alive was outside, only the little Crystal, which no longer held its warming glow. “Who basks in... Continue Reading →
“The Fifth Hero” – Chapter 1
This world… really sucks… Kevin gazed over the road as he turned left at the light, barely acknowledging the blaring horn from the truck he cut off. His hand felt numb to the touch of the searing wheel, set ablaze after sitting in the parking lot for two hours. The wind blowing through his driver... Continue Reading →
Ready Player One, First Impressions
So, I’ve started reading Ready Player One. I’m only five chapters in, and I don’t know anything else about it beyond what the book cover and what the chapters tell me. What do I think? I’m enjoying it so far. Summary: The story takes place in a sort of post-apocalyptic world, though not nearly that... Continue Reading →
A Beginner’s Reaction to GenCon.
By now, I take a bit of pride in calling myself a veteran when it comes to conferences. I know how to pace myself: knowing the amount of time I need to get from workshop to workshop and how much mental concentration I need in between. I know the times to eat, the times to... Continue Reading →
How To Reveal Your Science Fiction / Fantasy World To Your Readers
Ever play a game you didn’t know the rules for? Not fun right? It’s like playing chess without realizing the pawn can move two squares on the first move or understanding the value of the corners in Othello. If you don’t know all the rules, it makes it easier for the other player to surprise... Continue Reading →
Why I Read/Write Fantasy
My sophomore year of college, I wrote a short fiction piece based on one of the story worlds I created. The story itself wasn’t all that great, and looking back on it now it had many flaws—a major one being it existed to support another story, not exist as a story itself. But my professor... Continue Reading →
MISTBORN – Is Atium Really Worth it?
*Warning, slight spoilers ahead for the Mistborn trilogy. If you haven’t read them yet, do so before diving deep into this article. Considering the world of ash falls, bloody skies, and meager crops that the people of the Final Empire live in, it’s amazing that any form of economy can remain stable let alone function... Continue Reading →
The Fadites and the Fae – Horticulture
The Second of the five cultures I created for Cultural Anthropology. The Fadites. Enjoy 🙂 Back in the days before the collapse, it is said that only the elves had the capability of tapping into the Aetheric Flow. But there are several legends that speak of one man who could, Fadrix the Wizard. The... Continue Reading →
Culture Creation – Lerofa
For my cultural anthropology class, I was asked to create five cultures based on the five adaptations a culture can have in terms of gathering food. For the foraging culture (hunters and gathers), I created the Lerofa, the descendants of an ancient empire of elves which collapsed some centuries ago, who now practice hunting and... Continue Reading →
Brian J. Branscum 