Tonight! At Inspired Unreality! We have a topic! Fantasy and Science Fiction!
I read a lot and I also enjoy some fantasy and science fiction movies and tv shows. I have played in a couple of SF RPGs but, of course, fantasy RPGs are my main thing. There's also a lot of Fantasy and SF in other media, games, graphic novels, blogs, vlogs, etc.
Here's the place where I plug Megan's and Kim's Buffy podcast, Flunking The Written.
https://www.flunkingthewritten.com/
Yes this is a broad topic. Everyone is welcome. Bring your own topic. All Fantasy and SF is on topic.
For example, FKR - Free Kriegsspiel Revolution, would definitely be on topic. Here's a Follow Me And Die post about FKR, a rules light OSR RPG.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4278
Like I said, I read a lot. Here's my current and some recents I can recommend. With links! Woohoo!
I am currently reading The Inheritance Trilogy. I'm on book 3. This is an earlier fantasy story by N. K. Jemisin who won three Hugos in three consecutive years each for a book in the Broken Earth Trilogy. I read that too. I like the Inheritance Trilogy better without thinking it's actually better. Just more to my taste.
She posted The Inheritance Trilogy Non-Wiki which includes her notes made while writing the books. She has licensed these notes CC BY-SA-NC so yes, you can repost these notes or work from them under some restrictions. More at this link.
https://nkjemisin.com/the-inheritance-trilogy-non-wiki/
I love Russian Folklore so "Deathless" by Catherynne M. Valente was just like it was written for me. I mean, Baba Yaga is in it and everything.
"Deathless is an alternate history novel ... combining the Russian fairy tale The Death of Koschei the Deathless with the events and aftermath of the Russian Revolution."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathless_(novel)
Nancy Springer writes YA Fantasy but in her Enola Holmes mysteries she writes an alternative history of a fictional world. Enola Holmes is Sherlock Holmes' younger sister, somehow never mentioned by Arthur Conan Doyle. Each book is a novella, a quick read, and absolutely delightful.
https://murder-mayhem.com/enola-holmes-books-nancy-springer
"For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite."
Yes, I do love reading YA Fantasy. And I do recommend "Fablehaven".
https://susandennard.com/2011/09/18/fablehaven-a-book-recommendation/
I just finished "The Chosen and the Beautiful" by Nghi Vo, a retelling of "The Great Gatsby" in a world with magic, demons, demoniac, and paper coming to life. This is an exquisite work. One of the best crafted novels I have ever read (and I read a lot). It's also very entertaining.
Megan said she knows she loves a book when she wants to reread it as soon as she finishes it. As soon as I finished this book I wanted to reread "The Great Gatsby" and then reread "The Chosen and the Beautiful".
https://booksbonesbuffy.com/2021/06/10/the-chosen-and-the-beautiful-by-nghi-vo-review/
So in case you didn't catch onto the circle I'll explain it. I plugged Megan's Buffy podcast at the top. At the bottom I refer to Megan again and then provide a link to Books, Bones, and Buffy. Pretty clever, huh?
Join us tonight to discuss these stories or others.
Inspired Unreality, open game chat is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. More info here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Please forward this email to your Fantasy and SF loving friends. Also post this link to your website, blog, or preferred social media.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/831
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
The Wall