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Newsletter Archive
October 29, 2022
'Roll for initiative'
Hello again, Reader.
Have you ever played a roleplaying game? It's not just Dungeons and Dragons (although that's still the most well-known example), there are tabletop and pen-and-paper versions for almost every interest and story genre these days. And that's before we even come to the computer-based ones, of course. Ever had a friend invite you to a 'Murder Mystery' dinner party? That's role-playing, and with no elves in sight! As someone with an interest in how stories come into being, the idea of a collaborative storytelling experience is fascinating. With a guide keeping things on topic, a group of friends can explore a world that only exists inside their heads. They can have adventures, choose to fight (or not) any enemies that they come across, uncover mysteries and inhabit characters who make life-or-death decisions. And there don't even have to be dice involved! But since my other passion is science and engineering, the way that dice can be used to add randomness and challenge to a story is certainly appealing. All of this is to say: remember last time I said there was anew writing opportunity I was exploring? As part of that, I've been writing the first adventure in a roleplaying game, creating the world based on my writing and inventing some new characters that the players will meet along the way. And I'm loving it! World-building has always been my favourite part of the writing process, coming up with a sandbox for all my characters to play in. Doing it for an RPG is similar enough I feel I'm on familiar ground, but since it's intended for real human players, I have to make everything a lot more flexible. If one of my story characters decides to explore the clearly dangerous tower on the hill, I can just force them to go where they're told. If a game player thinks it's important, I have to let them - which also means I have to know what's in there, even if they take all my hints and decide it's not relevant. It's a wonderful challenge, and I think there'll be more of it in my future.
And the Writing Tournament? The anthology is out now! See later in the newsletter for details of how you can get your own copy, and help a charity at the same time.
Space News
Travelers Guide to the Stars Interstellar Travel
Any science fiction fan can probably name a half-dozen fictional spacecraft propulsion systems at the drop of a hat, from Star Trek's warp drive to Star Wars' TiE fighter ion drives. But a lot of these are closer to fact than fiction - and some might just be able to take us to the stars one day.
When NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) finally gets off the ground, it'll deploy some cubesats on its way to the far side of the moon - and one (NEA Scout) will use a solar sail to navigate the solar system and survey an asteroid. Bizarre as it sounds, the pressure of nothing more than light from the sun can accelerate a spacecraft almost imperceptibly, but constantly, and with no fuel required.
This interview is with Les Johnson, who heads up that mission - and has a book about the improbable-sounding technologies that could be in our future.
NEA Scout solar-sail cubesat surveying an asteroid.
Source: wired.com
Other Books To Check Out
I've gathered a few great books from independent authors like me, I hope you'll check them out.
And let me know if you have any books to recommend! I'm particularly interested in indie authors, but anything you've read and loved would be awesome.
UBL
When you make your living on the open road fighting monsters, love is barely in the rearview mirror.
With family lore and urban legends as their guide, hunters track banshees through bogs, exorcise demons, and try to find the best dry cleaner to get pixie dust out of their favorite jacket.
Finding out you're fated to fall in love with the monsters you're meant to destroy is just adding insult to injury. Falling in love with your best friend who's also a monster hunter is almost as bad, and that incident with the cursed object and the succubus doesn't even bear mentioning.
UBL
The Mars base didn't work out. We all have to pack up and return to Earth, even my reluctant dad...
Mars didn't work out. We're all packing up and going home. My estranged dad is refusing to leave, so I'm out travelling the Martian landscape to his solitary outpost to bring him back.
If it were up to me, I'd say he'd made his choice. But my sister, back on Earth pleaded, "The kids want to see their Grandpa. I want to see him again."
I've always had a soft spot for my baby sister...
UBL
You've seen me talk about this contest before, but the book is now finally available! All profits go to charity, and I can promise there are some truly remarkable stories contained within...
Last chance for Free SciFi and Fantasy Books!
For the whole of October, this set of amazing SciFi and Fantasy books is completely free - and once you've downloaded them, you can keep them forever.
Strange News
The Spooky Science of Why Mirrors Can Freak Us Out So Much
Via
Mirrors have long been a part of folklore, whether it's the lack of a reflection disclosing a vampire, breaking one costing you seven years of bad luck or their ability to act as portals to another world. But there are some scientific reasons why we have such a complex relationship with them. when people stare into a mirror under low lighting, they will often see their faces warp and change. Some watch their own facial features distort, while others see the visages of deceased loved ones or even monsters.
Source: Atlas Obscura
Miscellany
The Real-Life Vampire Autopsies of the Victorian Era
Michael Bell documented 86 vampire autopsies in the United States since 1784-he prefers the term "therapeutic exhumations"-but believes many more went unrecorded.
Source: Atlas Obscura
The most intense meteor shower ever recorded.
On November 12, 1833, there was a meteor shower so intense that it was possible to see up to 100,000 meteors crossing the sky every hour. At the time, many thought it was the end of the world, so much so that it inspired this woodcut by Adolf Vollmy.
Source: twitter.com
The entire series of 'Death' books from Terry Pratchett's Discworld
Brand new recordings of the bestselling series. Download them now.
Source: linktr.ee
And Finally
Since it's Hallowe'en very soon, here's a little primer on some Scandinavian folklore. I'm always keen to learn more about the creatures and myths that exist around the world, and how different cultures engage with the unknown around them.
And finally, a menu I spotted in Iceland a few years ago. I don't mock people for poor English - my own abilities in other languages are laughable - but this one tickled me, if just for the mental images it conjured up.
Bear in a bottle, big draft bear
Source: youtube.com