Here on Medium, if readers like your article, they can ‘clap’ for it, which is the equivalent of a ‘like’ on other social media platforms. I found out today that readers can select to offer 1 clap for that article…or as many as 50. Yes, 50 ‘likes’ from the…

Zardoz is one of those cult films that people either love or hate; there seems to be little middle ground. Since I’m posting an essay about this film, which is nearly half a century old as of this writing, I’m firmly in the ‘love it’ camp. …

Worldbuilding is more than just set dressing for your story. When used well, it embellishes the narrative that your readers are already creating in their minds as they read your work. It’s meant to inform that narrative, augment its power, and allow the author to express their ideas in a…

Yes, you read that title correctly. One of an author’s allegedly most useful resources — getting someone read an unpublished work to aid with its revising, also known as a beta reader — is unnecessary. By now, you’re probably yelling at your screen and exiting this essay. If you’re still…

I remember burning my first DVD-ROM. I thought, ‘wow, this will last me decades, and my data will be immune to viruses and accidental deletion’. I felt I’d achieved the Holy Grail of data archiving. Plus, hey, nearly 4 gigs on one disc? It seemed like science fiction. Fast forward…

“Reality is broken. Game designers can fix it.” — Jane McGonigal, game designer I’m on the fence with the sentiment in this quote, but before I address that, we need a preamble. Character creation, if you will. I’ve been a gamer nearly my entire life. Even though I didn’t get…

Many readers assume science fiction literature should mainly focus on illustrating new concepts. These concepts can take many forms: space travel, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, etc.; but they almost always fall under humanity’s reaction to technological and social change. The idea that each new SF book should (must?) break the…

Happy May the Fourth. Or, as many people now say, May the Fourth be with you. Another recent one is, ‘This is the May’. Whatever you use, I join you in our common love for Star Wars. I’ve been a Star Wars fan for as long as I can remember…

“When falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness?” Mary Shelley; ‘Frankenstein’ The current AI controversy, regarding its manufacture of art, bothers me on several levels. First, it’s frustrating that people who are too lazy to learn the skills to write, paint, etc…