Is this Blog Working

Hey folks! This will be more conversational than my typical post. I’ve been busy with many TTRPG projects including multiple articles for EN Publishing, and trying to draft up and maybe make art for my own products. Meanwhile life has also been busy with all that is going on in the world combined with family and my full-time job. 

I really enjoy this blog, and it’s been a great outlet for me the last two years (you had no idea but I also completed a graduate degree while working and maintaining this outlet—yes, it was exhausting). But I’m left wondering if this means is really working to connect with people? I’ve had two comments in almost two and a half years. The level of engagement is disheartening at times. After all, one wants to feel relevant and like others are finding some value from what you are creating. 

So if you have any thoughts, please feel free to leave a comment. I have considered potentially looking at transitioning to another blogging platform, or perhaps a Substack while cross posting those articles here when they drop. Anything that potentially increases discoverability and chances to engage with members of the hobby that value my perspective—I think I bring a unique view and that many of my previous articles on TTRPGs and more recently on fiction that has or can inspire our games represent a unique perspective within the hobby, so I will continue to create and write regardless. But this is one factor that does weigh on me when prioritizing the blog versus freelance and personal creative work/goals.

This will be the last scheduled weekly post for a while as I simply haven’t and likely won’t have the time to work ahead or complete the many snub articles I have sitting in drafts for the next few months. Please check out the back catalog of articles and leave a comment on any that interest you if you have a moment so I can look at revisiting those themes in future articles. Thanks!

Reviews: Rogue Protocol & Exit Strategy

This review will contain spoilers.

Rogue Protocol 

These respective novels of the Murderbot Diaries are good entries in the series. I found Rogue Protocol weaker than the first two books—perhaps because I enjoyed the character of ART in Artificial Condition and the writing had more gaps that disrupted the flow than the previous breakneck pace. All that aside, this is another solid entry depicting Murderbot’s emotional journey and work to come to grips with the confusing feelings due to its biological elements as a constructed entity rather than a bot.

Style: 2

Substance: 2

Exit Strategy 

Exit Strategy was perhaps one of, if not the, strongest novella of the series thus far. Murderbot’s return to protect its friend, Dr, Mensah and the journey of accepting that it has complicated feelings, along with desires for independence was satisfying. The pacing was strong, the acerbic wit of Murderbot landed well. And—biggest spoilers—the battle sequences between Murderbot and the other SecUnits and the CombatUnit were outstandingly written. Perhaps greatest was the “into the fire” virtual fight to save the ship after the physical fight that depicted a new kind of action—a battle through the virtual domain of the ship’s systems and the collective feed by Murderbot in rapid time. This sequence for me was outstanding in conception and was perhaps the of the most distinctive and creative moments of the whole series so far.

Style: 4

Substance: 5

Check out my work in Alpha Star Magazine!

Check out my latest work with EN Publishing's current Alpha Star Issue 2 campaign on Backerkit! 

I had a great time writing an article filling out an area of sci-fi that is familiar to fans of Dune and books like Revelation Space or Hyperion. Here's the pitch on this article from the Backerkit page:

The legacies of first contact and lost remnants of ancient civilizations have shaped the peoples and cultures of the far future. Religion seeks answers to the questions of meaning and mortality amongst the stars of the void. While science and reason seek to explain and map the wondrous structures and technology, other beings live in societies shaped by their proximity to these marvels.

• 3 new backgrounds--Annointed Warrior, Explorer, Xenoarcheologist
• 2 new cultures--Devotee, Precursor

If that sounds cool please go check out their campaign! You can also scoop up a copy of the Voidrunner's Box set,  EN Publishing's sci-fi fork of 5e based upon their own Advanced 5e. The set has sold out in North America, so this is a great chance to secure a copy for perhaps the best deal that you will ever find on it. 

Review: Artificial Condition

With the second installment of Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries, I found myself enjoying the novel more than the original. The interplay of existential and exploratory dialogue between the titular Murderbot and a transport bot managing a hauler she hitches a ride on, and their eventual friendship was interesting and satisfying. The dialogue was also more engaging than I found that of the similar sci-f novel We Are Legion: We Are Bob. 

The story still just skims over the question of what it truly means to be human, hinting at the hope that we will have greater answers in future installments. So while not earth shattering in its themes or descriptions, Artificial Condition is another thrilling read. 

Style: 4 of 5.

Substance: 2 of 5