Monthly Archives: August 2011

Amnar Serial: 3.19. Grow A Spine And Get Out There

Posted on August 16, 2011 by joelyblack

Lower City Infirmary, Amin Duum Ashmuta 24, 4765 Nastasia crossed the floor of the ward, scanning the occupied beds in the gloom. Since the arrival of their first patient, a few more had trickled in, but not enough to keep … Continue reading →

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The power of genre fiction, from urban horror to weird fantasy

Posted on August 15, 2011 by joelyblack

“How can somebody like you write fantasy fiction?” I was asked this question the other day, quite seriously. Today I thought I’d answer it. The questioner wasn’t present, but had asked this of a friend having met me and wondered. … Continue reading →

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Thoughts about changing tack on Amnar

Posted on August 14, 2011 by joelyblack

This is something I’ve been contemplating for a while, and typically for me, I haven’t made any kind of decision about it yet. That’s partly why I’m writing this, in the hope that I’ll make up my mind one way … Continue reading →

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Planes, trains and other nightmares

Posted on August 13, 2011 by joelyblack

I think England may have peaked sometime in the nineteenth century. I feel terribly old and possibly right-wing for saying it but it seems we’ve just been on a slow slide into oblivion since then. I’ve just spent two days … Continue reading →

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Amnar Background: Education and the role of the Duum Academy

Posted on August 12, 2011 by joelyblack

This is something I’ve written about before but I’ve decided to look at it from a different angle, given the vast role the Duum Academy plays in Amnari society. The educational structure of Amnar is based on two basic levels. … Continue reading →

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Never mind the riots, it’s the Skeptics

Posted on August 12, 2011 by joelyblack

It was a peculiar night last night. After rain stopped play on the riots in Manchester for Wednesday, things returned to an odd kind of normal. With no sign of rioting or looting, GMSkeptics went ahead with the planned talks … Continue reading →

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After the Manchester riots

Posted on August 10, 2011 by joelyblack

Sitting in front of rolling 24-hour news is a little like drinking bad coffee. You don’t feel any pep but a low-level buzziness that just won’t go away. I sat through the sight of London’s Croydon and Clapham fires, in … Continue reading →

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Amnar Serial: 3.18. Do You Understand What I Mean?

Posted on August 9, 2011 by joelyblack

West Tower, Nas Isca Ashmuta 24, 4765 Icaan fidgeted in his seat, perched on the edge of it, like a bird. He had the pinched expression he always wore when somebody had given him news he didn’t like. Anarya leaned … Continue reading →

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News! Twitter does not cause social unrest

Posted on August 8, 2011 by joelyblack

I was going to save this for irreverent (and hopefully amusing) comments on Twitter, but it might even be worth blogging about, too. Here’s some information: Social media networks don’t cause social unrest, rioting, protesting and general discontent amongst populations. … Continue reading →

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Amnar Background: The Early History of the Servants (Ishcai-Nashim)

Posted on August 7, 2011 by joelyblack

Since I’m of a mind tonight, and the question has arisen in my own mind (although probably not anybody else’s), I’ve decided to spend a bit of time writing about the Servants (Ishcai-Nashim), and their early history. It all starts … Continue reading →

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