This is a very brief post, just to mention I have been selected to take part to a SWTOR testing weekend.
Now, according to my thoughts in a previous post, I should play as a smuggler, but I rather think I'll leave that for my "proper" playing experience, after the game is officially released.
Serious considerations, and the fact that a friend of mine will also be taking part to the tests, might cause me to edge to the dark side, and play as an assassin beside him. Anyway, we haven't yet had "the talk", so he might join the light side after all.
martedì 22 novembre 2011
lunedì 14 novembre 2011
How Neil Gaiman spoiled Narnia for me
Lately I have been reading The Chronicles of Narnia. I haven't finished all the books yet, being about three quarters of the way through The Silver Chair. They are rather short, and I fully expect that by the end of the week I'll have finished the whole series, unless work gets in the way of my free time, as work is wont to do. As I read them at last (I've been meaning to for years) I realize how they shout "children book" at every paragraph. Nonetheless, I am enjoying their simple fantasy.
Sadly, every other page or so, I remember that Neil Gaiman has spoiled these books for me, kicking my suspension of disbelief hard in the nuts.
Let me explain just how.
There is an Italian comedian that used to have a gag in one of his shows. The whole show he'd be sitting behind a small desk, reading from a notebook and old newspapers and purportedly commenting on the news. Now, I don't rightly remember how he would lead to it, but at a certain point he would muse, all the time keeping the straightest face, about the possibility of Christianity and its symbols if Jesus had been a masochist: the crucifix with an hard on. This of course caused the hilarity of the crowd, until he pointed out that we had all been ruined for life, as we would never again be able to enter a church without smirking.
Neil Gaiman did pretty much the same to with his short story "The Problem of Susan" from the collection "Fragile things" (which I fully suggest everyone reads, for it contains a few pearls). The short story is, I think, a critique to something I haven't read yet, so I can't say I fully understand all the references and the background, but it contains a description of Aslan eating the girls, and then having sex with the White Witch, while the beheaded Susan wonders about centaur cock.
These two things combined make my reading The Chronicles of Narnia just that bit harder. (I still think that "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is one of the most brilliant book title in history, though).
Sadly, every other page or so, I remember that Neil Gaiman has spoiled these books for me, kicking my suspension of disbelief hard in the nuts.
Let me explain just how.
There is an Italian comedian that used to have a gag in one of his shows. The whole show he'd be sitting behind a small desk, reading from a notebook and old newspapers and purportedly commenting on the news. Now, I don't rightly remember how he would lead to it, but at a certain point he would muse, all the time keeping the straightest face, about the possibility of Christianity and its symbols if Jesus had been a masochist: the crucifix with an hard on. This of course caused the hilarity of the crowd, until he pointed out that we had all been ruined for life, as we would never again be able to enter a church without smirking.
Neil Gaiman did pretty much the same to with his short story "The Problem of Susan" from the collection "Fragile things" (which I fully suggest everyone reads, for it contains a few pearls). The short story is, I think, a critique to something I haven't read yet, so I can't say I fully understand all the references and the background, but it contains a description of Aslan eating the girls, and then having sex with the White Witch, while the beheaded Susan wonders about centaur cock.
These two things combined make my reading The Chronicles of Narnia just that bit harder. (I still think that "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is one of the most brilliant book title in history, though).
giovedì 10 novembre 2011
Dreamers
Hello my nonexistent audience (or perhaps the future audience that will come and read old posts).
How is everyone doing? I am rather fine, luckily, even though things are going so all right lately that I fully expect to be run over by a truck driven by a drunk bear while I sleep in my bed (and, just so you know, I live on the third floor).
With this post I come to the main reason why I started this blog, which is blatant advertising.
Writing is a hobby I've been enjoying discontinuously for years. In most cases I began stories and never end them. Lately, I've been pushed to do more, and hopefully better. This lead me to finally self-publish my first finished short story on Amazon (links follow).
"Dreamers" is a science fiction short story about a girl, and her job, and the fact that the interest of many is not necessarily their best interest, and is often not in the interested of all individuals. The approach to this idea I took in this story is probably such that this theme does not come out immediately at a first read, hence "Dreamers" is foremost a tale with no heroes or villains, where everyone is just people.
The story is written in English, as I feel this language can reach the widest audience. Moreover, I do most of my reading in English, so it's the language I feel most comfortable writing in right now.
If you are interested, or just feel like spending some money (part of which will be redirected to my pockets), here are the links (pick the right Amazon for you):
Amazon.com
Amazon.uk
Amazon.de
Amazon.fr
Thanks.
How is everyone doing? I am rather fine, luckily, even though things are going so all right lately that I fully expect to be run over by a truck driven by a drunk bear while I sleep in my bed (and, just so you know, I live on the third floor).
With this post I come to the main reason why I started this blog, which is blatant advertising.
Writing is a hobby I've been enjoying discontinuously for years. In most cases I began stories and never end them. Lately, I've been pushed to do more, and hopefully better. This lead me to finally self-publish my first finished short story on Amazon (links follow).
"Dreamers" is a science fiction short story about a girl, and her job, and the fact that the interest of many is not necessarily their best interest, and is often not in the interested of all individuals. The approach to this idea I took in this story is probably such that this theme does not come out immediately at a first read, hence "Dreamers" is foremost a tale with no heroes or villains, where everyone is just people.
The story is written in English, as I feel this language can reach the widest audience. Moreover, I do most of my reading in English, so it's the language I feel most comfortable writing in right now.
If you are interested, or just feel like spending some money (part of which will be redirected to my pockets), here are the links (pick the right Amazon for you):
Amazon.com
Amazon.uk
Amazon.de
Amazon.fr
Thanks.
domenica 6 novembre 2011
Old Republic: My small take on classes
In the galaxy of Star Wars, many would fantasize about being a Jedi, or a Sith, and wielding the Force. I must admit a fascination for the space wizards, and the ability to channel supernatural powers, but to me that is not what a science fiction setting is about.
That is one of the reasons why, when SWTOR will be in my hands at the end of the year, I will not start as a Force user: the other classes are more attuned to what I like in science fiction, rather than to my tastes in fantasy.
I don't have any preference between the light and the dark side. If I were to be choosing for my real life, I'd have to stop and think all the pros and cons of both factions, and I think my choice would ultimately depend on chance. Luckily, for the sake of the game, I don't have to worry about consequences, thus I'll only chose according to the class I like the most.
Let's start from the last, the one I am less likely to want to try: the bounty hunter. Make no mistake, it can be a very cool class, but from the footage I saw so far, I think it looks boring.
Second from the bottom, I place the trooper, just because I would feel too much like I'm trying to play a Starship Troopers fantasy, rather than Star Wars.
This leaves the Imperial Agent and the Smuggler, the backstabbing classes of the bunch. To chose here, I have to ask myself: do I want to go about doing my own business for my own profit, or I'd rather be part of the Empire?
Just so, we have a winner: my first Old republic character will be a Smuggler. I just hope I'll be able to customize it (and its ship) enough to really make it mine.
Just one little thing: this whole post means nothing if there is the chance to destroy some gungans and ewoks, in which case I'll feel compelled to play a Sith Inquisitor.
That is one of the reasons why, when SWTOR will be in my hands at the end of the year, I will not start as a Force user: the other classes are more attuned to what I like in science fiction, rather than to my tastes in fantasy.
I don't have any preference between the light and the dark side. If I were to be choosing for my real life, I'd have to stop and think all the pros and cons of both factions, and I think my choice would ultimately depend on chance. Luckily, for the sake of the game, I don't have to worry about consequences, thus I'll only chose according to the class I like the most.
Let's start from the last, the one I am less likely to want to try: the bounty hunter. Make no mistake, it can be a very cool class, but from the footage I saw so far, I think it looks boring.
Second from the bottom, I place the trooper, just because I would feel too much like I'm trying to play a Starship Troopers fantasy, rather than Star Wars.
This leaves the Imperial Agent and the Smuggler, the backstabbing classes of the bunch. To chose here, I have to ask myself: do I want to go about doing my own business for my own profit, or I'd rather be part of the Empire?
Just so, we have a winner: my first Old republic character will be a Smuggler. I just hope I'll be able to customize it (and its ship) enough to really make it mine.
Just one little thing: this whole post means nothing if there is the chance to destroy some gungans and ewoks, in which case I'll feel compelled to play a Sith Inquisitor.
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