This week we have Grick answering some email questions and I start my first entry to RJ’s Corner; a potpourri of random thoughts related to writing, science fiction with an occasional foray into gaming.

Grick answers questions about the world of Man’s Best Friend

A few questions about my world have come up, so I will do my best to answer them. In the course of my explorations both before and since meeting my friend Amos, I encountered many of its unusual inhabitants and phenomena.

Many of you have wondered about the nature of my world and its parallel dimension. From what I have learned, it is a universe similar to yours, filled with galaxies of stars, a few of which host planetary systems. Our sun star was known as Sonam in the times before the great catastrophe obscured it from view. It is a star much like your sun, which Amos says is classified as a “K-Type orange dwarf.” It was only when I came to your world that I saw a star shining in the daytime sky and understood why Amos lamented its absence in mine.

I have also learned that my world is much different today than it was before the great catastrophe twelve thousand years ago. There now are tribes of Ronel in colors of red, blue, green, yellow and gray, as well as many forms of life that did not exist in those ancient times. The “Man’s Best Friend” series will document how this happened and chronicle the efforts to restore my world to its former benign abundance.

One reader asked about the weapons used by the Ronel warrior tribes, commenting on the absence of the “bow and arrow,” a device routinely found in ancient cultures of your world. I first learned of this weapon from a television program I saw and have wondered the same thing myself. Amos pointed out to me that in your world, an ancient tribe called the Australian Aborigines did not use this weapon, presumably finding spears better suited to their purposes. Having seen the incredible skill with which a Gray Ronel warrior can utilize a spear, I can well understand that view. When time permits, I will consult the weapons history in the Central Civic Archive in Binaltro to research this topic more fully.

Regarding the use of telepathy, I can only say that it is a superior means of communication between intelligent beings. I am profoundly thankful that the ability was developed and nurtured in my ancient forbears and passed along to me. I hope that you all will someday be able to enjoy its enormous advantages.

That is all for now. I will return with another posting soon. Until then, keep reading, preferably one of the books from the “Man’s Best Friend” series.

RJ’s Corner

Pinterest and Time Management

One word can sum up Pinterest: Wow!!!! This is a very visual site and the depth of science fiction related subjects (boards with individual pins attached) is huge. One section had hundreds of old B movie Science Fiction Posters. Another had book covers from the 40s through the 90s. One of my boards SciFi Stuff has 80 pins each connecting to other boards which each connect to yet more boards. See what I mean? Then there are the artists. One that catches my eye is James Wolf Strehle. Last week we showed a thumbnail of one of his exquisite ‘Modern Ruins’ pieces. His talent is outstanding. Check out the two samples above. To view more go to http://jamiestrehle.com and see for yourself.

There is a wealth of visual candy on Pinterest which can suck up serious time. It’s that good. For those not familiar, simply go to http://Pinterest.com and check it out.

Music and the Muse

Music during a writing session is a necessity for me. While some prefer a quiet space, I listen to certain classical music pieces when I write and the habit was started years ago with LJ Stamm as we wrote the screenplay for Man’s Best Friend,

The screenplay started in 1972 as a hobby while stationed together during our Navy enlistments. Working evenings and weekends it took over a year to complete the project. Through it all, music was always played as we crafted each scene. Foremost among the pieces was Holst’s The Planets. A number of Russian romantic composers were featured including Rimsky-Korsakov, Khachaturian, Rachmaninoff,  Mussorgsky to name a few. Add to the mix Mahler, Ravel, Beethoven, Copland, etc. The background was always filled with lush sounds. When I read the old screenplay, I still hear the music in the background that may have helped in creating the scene.

Today, I still have classical music playing when writing. My iTunes library has two Playlists used when I’m working on scenes within the novel. I’ve named them Easy Writer and Easy Writer Light. They are both a mix of the artists mentioned above with a few motion picture soundtracks such as Legends of the Fall, Wind and the Lion, Star Wars, Star Trek and Copland thrown in for good measure.

Start a discussion thread. Tell us what music brings forth the muse within you. BTW, the pic above is Rimsky-Korsakov.

Afterthought

PAX Seattle sold out in one day!  The Labor Day Gaming Con is huge. My daughter is taking me on one of the days and I am stoked. Even at my age, I’m a shameless geek when it comes to gaming. Hope there a a couple of Man’s Best Friend fans there. I am tempted to do some shamless self-promotion. However …

Steel Bridge At Sunset Portland OR by RJ Evanovich