Sacrificial Pawns of Villainy

Fictional slaughter can be fun! The victims must be "villains" or else their deaths are a travesty. They must be legitimate combatants or else slaying them is nigh murder. They must be people of a sort or else their destruction lacks the intensity of moral consequences. They must be easy to kill or else contending with them becomes a grueling drudgery.

It is gleefully amusing to watch a hero stalk and subdue sentries with effortless impunity. It is thrilling and grimly satisfying to watch a hero slaughter assailing droves. We smirk with delighted contempt as the bodies of anonymous villainy are tucked out of sight, heaped into piles or left sprawled about.

I am an avid connoisseur of the plentiful and expendable foot soldier of villainy. The Imperial Stormtrooper of Star Wars is the most popular of this inglorious type of character. The anonymous Amazon of Classical Mythology is the oldest. My very own Concubine Sentinel of Strange Galaxy is a celebration of the type.

It is the narrative purpose of the nameless goon to be an easy victim. These lowly pawns of villainy are readily sacrificed and never mourned. Their violent indignity is their distinct appeal. We relish their unceremonious mortality. Their doom is our guiltless pleasure.

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Good For Goodness Sake

History is not and shall never be a chronicle of freedom and justice. There is no science, philosophy, politics or religion that shall make right what is innately wrong. The simple are aimless and unruly. The wise are sinister. The mighty are cruel. Zombies meander, werewolves prowl and vampires lurk where human hearts should be.

Good people make things better. The wicked make things worse. A good life is a blessing just by being lived. A wasted life is poisonous whether by venom or rot.

Good is stronger than evil. That the wicked even pretend to be good proves my point. Alas, evil is illegitimate even among its own people. There is authority beyond what rules the world. Darkness, no matter how vast, gives way to even the slightest light.

Good against evil is not an ideology. It can neither be quantified nor codified. It has no worldly faction. It is never a matter of thinking particular thoughts nor feeling particular feelings. To be good is to be caring regardless of mood or whim. It is to strive for what is best in all things. It is to be friendly unto all who would be friendly and to be brave against those who are not. Be good for goodness sake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DESKsNOuq0A

The Amazons

The Amazons of Classical Mythology were a nation of women devoted to war and hunting. They were generally antagonistic but never particularly villainous. Their valiant soldiers were readily slaughtered or sexually enslaved.

Some Amazons were better than others. Their queens and champions were renown for their beauty and prowess. Only the greatest of heroes were manly enough to best them.

The Amazons were mortal and only human in a universe teeming with fantastic entities. Though skillful and relentless their warriors were useless against superhuman heroes. Their armies were defeated in every war of theirs mentioned.

The Amazons are peculiar indeed. The very idea of warlike women remains a novelty to this day. Friendly or hostile, Amazons were slain by heroes. They were belligerent yet never sinister. They were aggressors yet sympathetic victims.

The Amazons readily suffered defeat and humiliation yet they remained proud and their realm was never vanquished. True to their womanhood they found their identity and strength in their solemn devotion.

Thoughts and Feelings

Religion tells us to believe in something beyond ourselves yet relies on us entirely. Science pretends to be objective as if somehow divorced from the humanity of its scientists. Politics pretends to be caring as if assuming control of every life and resource was the epitome of compassion. The arts express our fancies and passions regardless of stark reality.

Human genius is irrefutable yet we mix it with speculation and agenda. Alas, our thoughts are innately corrupted by our feelings.

I am a writer and an artist. I am mindful that my feelings color my thoughts. Rather than pretend to be inhumanly objective I celebrate my humanity. I allow my thoughts to be fanciful. I refine and shape them into stories and images. I create works that entertain, enlighten and inspire.

Knowledge is impersonal. Wisdom is dispassionate. A human being is a person. We have feelings. Our hopes and dreams are what we strive for. The best of us imagine. We see possibilities and boldly explore them. For better or for worse we bring our thoughts and fancies to glorious fruition.

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Throngs and Sentries

The silencing the sentry and hero versus throngs are my favorite fictional action themes. The sentry must prove easily subdued. The throngs must prove easily slaughtered. The idea of both is the ordinary being utterly outclassed by the extraordinary.

I love the idea of the supposedly common proving itself exceptional. I am inspired by triumphs of the underdog. I am contemptuous of the truly ordinary, however. Only the excellent should excel. Mediocrity is unworthy of recognition.

The extraordinary exceeds the ordinary. A “hero” is a protagonist of extraordinary prowess. The “throngs” are the anonymous, ordinary folk as antagonists. The “sentry” of the silencing the sentry theme is an individual of the “throngs” on guard duty.

The silencing the sentry and hero versus throngs themes are a celebration of individual prowess besting the anonymous many. As themes of good against evil they are freedom and justice putting slavish conformity and mindless obedience to shame.

Good against evil resonates in fiction because it is the ultimate struggle in reality. The outcome of that struggle determines whether we rise or fall within. The “hero” of our fiction represents the individual in reality. His fight is our fight. We are thrilled with anticipation as we watch him stalk our enemies. We are inspired as he outfights the overwhelming odds that swarm us. The silencing the sentry and hero versus throngs are my favorite action themes because they are unassumingly the most relevant.

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The Space Opera

Adventure, exotic worlds and speculative technology: the space opera. Alien races and anomalous phenomena are common to the lore. The setting is usually the future but can just as easily be the past or present. There may be magic but such is typically tweaked and renamed. Regardless of its diverse particulars, the space opera is what it is and we recognize it immediately.

The fine line between science fiction and fantasy is the subjective notion of plausibility. The space opera is expected to be science fiction or fantasy in the guise thereof. Strange or advanced technology is a must. Should utter weirdness be the technology it must be explained “scientifically” even if such an explanation is sheer nonsense. The space opera must somehow be “futuristic” regardless of setting.

We are stirred by strangeness and thrilled by adventure. Like heroic fantasy, the space opera is all about being weird and adventurous. Realism and intensity make a story gritty and the space opera is no exception. Still, it is the unusual reality of the genre that gives it its distinct appeal.

The space opera is the epitome of all fiction. Science fiction, fantasy, adventure, horror, mystery, romance and war are all commonly associated with this one of every genre.

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Dominatrix and Useless Henchwomen

The villainous dominatrix is ubiquitous in contemporary fiction. She is strong, assertive and outright dangerous. We love her for being aggressively sexy and darkly admirable. She is a sleek, comely predator and we are thrilled watching her hunt and kill.

The useless henchwoman is virtually unheard of. Even when glimpsed she is barely remembered. Do you even know who I am talking about? Probably not.

I am a writer and an artist. My useless henchwomen are girls of the common folk. They may be clones, robots or whatever but they are the proletariat of their faction: the cheap labor of villainy. Plentiful and individually insignificant they are pitifully expendable. As foot soldiers they are the sacrificial pawns of their elitist masters.

The villainous dominatrix is popular for obvious reasons. The useless henchwoman is not so obvious thus not so easily appreciated. She is the cannon-fodder of villainy as a damsel in distress. We resent her for being villainous yet pity her for being a helpless victim. Our mixed feelings conflict, making us uncomfortable. Many of us would rather not bother with her at all.

Most of the useless henchwoman's few admirers prefer that she is never slain. They are more comfortable limiting her to slapstick action. As for myself, I have no use for such nonsense. Our beloved character cannot equal her brother lest she prove herself in his stead. The useless henchwoman must be allowed her place in gritty action or she has no place in high adventure.

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Chivalrous Sexism: Villains

The mainstream is uneasy when it comes to female villains, especially in adventure fiction. Originally, such a character was to be either a seductress or a hag or both. Currently, a female baddie is expected to be a dominatrix. She is not to be slain by heroes, especially if she is young and beautiful. If the fiction is gritty, she is to be a victim in her own right.

Male characters are allowed to fill any and every niche of villainy, including seduction. They are the bosses and underlings alike. Some of them are all brain and others all brawn. No act is too dastardly for them. They challenge heroes in dramatic struggles to the death.

Female characters are limited to a very narrow criteria, especially in the villainy of adventure fiction. Currently, they are not allowed to be cowardly in their evil. They must be assertive and of exceptional prowess. Heroines may slay them but heroes are to refrain from doing so. Should a female villain perish at the hands of a male protagonist, her death is to be a momentous tragedy, especially if she is young and beautiful.

Male villains run the entire gamut. Female villains are restricted. It is simply easier to neglect feminine villainy entirely. Woe unto us that such often occurs.

The unwritten rules are not always followed. The mainstream is uneasy when its lines are crossed but forgiving should the offence find favor.

I am a writer of adventure fiction. Many of my villains are female. Some of them are within the narrow perimeters of the mainstream. Others are not. Honestly, I discount the "rules" entirely. My girls are bosses and underlings alike. Some of them are all brain and others all brawn. No act is too dastardly for them. They challenge my heroes in dramatic struggles to the death.

Men and women are different, in both reality and in good fiction. That said, female characters should be allowed to strive and explore in every genre. They should have a place either high or low, good or evil. Let honesty, not policy decide their fate.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/477393

Strange Galaxy: Consolidated Diversity

Strange Galaxy is a "space opera" without spaceships, robots or flying cars. Its magic is actually called "magic" and is entirely plausible. Alien races are strange but not ridiculous. Guns and swords are equally modern but not the weapons of the same armies. Spatial shifting, not unreal velocities, is the means of interstellar travel.

Strange Galaxy is a world of many worlds uneasily shared by mutually alien races. Their sciences and philosophies are derived from mutually alien perspectives. Their architecture and instruments are the products of mutually alien natures. The reality of cause and effect is the same for them all, however. For their every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. "Survival of the fittest" determines which races thrive and prosper.

Strange Galaxy is crafted to be fantastic yet realistic. It is to be exotic yet familiar. It is to be gritty yet not cynical. Humanity is its dominant race yet humans are the weakest of its Great Races. Technology produces the deadliest weapons but magic provides the better defenses.

Strange Galaxy is a collective work of art, fiction and games. It is to be enjoyed. It is to be inspiring. It is not a particular story nor a specific cast of characters. The world of many worlds itself is the Strange Galaxy. Its races and their civilizations are the main characters. It is a consistent and clearly defined science fiction fantasy universe rich in particulars to choose from. Enjoy.

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Ultimate Adventure

Evil is cold and darkness. It is heartless and insincere. Evil, of itself, cannot be interesting because it is quite literally a nothing.

Good is not a matter of right or wrong. It is not an issue of legal or illegal. Good, if it is actually good, is unassuming. It is sincerity and compassion.

Most people are neither good nor evil. Most people follow the strong and believe them right for being mighty. Even the rebellious and unruly yield to the strongest among them.

Heroes and villains are uncommon... yet they are the impetus of any high adventure. Their struggle is the action and drama. Everyone else follows their lead.

Good against evil fought by heroes against villains is the only adventure fiction that can inspire. Not only is such a story thrilling because of its action and dramatic because of its antagonistic character dynamic but it is meaningful because its theme is ultimately spiritual. So long as the hero ultimately triumphs (even if defeated) compassion and sincerity are glorified.

I love adventure fiction but only when it is a life and death struggle of good against evil fought by people. Deadly action is intense. Good against evil is relevant. Drama can only be an interaction of personalities. Intensity, relevance and drama: the makings of the perfect adventure story. Any tale lacking even one of these qualities is not a particularly good adventure story.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/477393

The Human Equation: One and Only One

Multiculturalism is sheer nonsense. The very idea that cracks in a foundation make it stronger is utterly ridiculous. A society is teetering unless founded upon one culture.

Chauvinism is cowardly and malevolent. Only the fearful hide in a crowd. Only the dastardly find solace in a mob. Genuine pride in one's people is an appreciation of common virtues and a celebration of actual accomplishments. The sincere do not loathe others to love themselves.

Individuals rule the world. Whether they inspire or exploit, only those of personal gumption set the agenda. The aimless masses follow the sway of individuals mindlessly. Ironic that to reject individualism is to embrace the selfish agendas of oligarchs and tyrants.

The optimum human condition is one culture of one people in which the individual is free to thrive and prosper. All must be for one and one for all. Anything short of this loving perfection is the strife and sorrow our species has always endured.

Sentries and Throngs

I am an avid connoisseur of fiction's villainous cannon-fodder. Because my interest is obscure I shall elaborate: My favorite characters are the anonymous, plentiful, expendable, armed and uniformed foot soldiers of villainy. They are the readily available victims of heroes. They are slain and we enjoy them being slain.

There are two basic themes for the killing of anonymous and expendable antagonists: "silencing the sentry" and "hero versus throngs." There are other common means of fatal misfortune, such as "killed for failure" or "sacrificed for a test" but they do not set the standard.

"Silencing the sentry" is a slowly paced action theme that stirs anticipation. The guards are armed (or otherwise supposedly dangerous) yet easily destroyed without a fight. The helplessness of the victim and the utter dominance of the assailant are essential. The very appeal of the theme is the predator-prey relationship made ironic in that the prey supposes itself predator.

An alarm is sounded and the "hero versus throngs" begins. Droves of cannon-fodder converge on a protagonist only to be slaughtered. More victims keep coming. This theme typically follows the "silencing the sentry" as a climax. The stark irony maintains its appeal but frantically: the one or few should be helpless yet the supposedly overwhelming many prove useless.

Heroes are exceptional. The anonymous many are common. The classic "silencing the sentry" and "hero versus throngs" are all about excellence versus mediocrity. It is right that we should cheer the hero. It is amusing to witness the inglorious fate of the anonymous many. I love the villainous cannon-fodder for making my heroes look so good. The fictional deaths of the expendable many are not in vain.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/477393

Artistic Intensity

Rape and slaughter are horrors of reality. They are not to be celebrated. They are intense, however. Such unsettling intensity is horrific in life but can be made sensual and exciting in art and fiction. A sound mind can enjoy the horrors of a horror story without wishing anyone harm. One can find fictional rape sexy and fictional slaughter exciting without entertaining depravity.

Reality is cause and effect. Art and fiction are unreal. Our imaginations are the fanciful articulation of otherwise mindless feelings. Our fancies give shape to these otherwise shapeless sensations.

Reality is generally lackluster and preferably uneventful. The extremes in reality are typically horrible. Art is not art if it is lackluster. Fiction is boring if uneventful. Extremes and horrors in art and fiction can be fun. Rape and slaughter are atrocities in reality. In art and fiction, if done artfully, they can be gritty, sensual and exciting.

Art and fiction are not reality. They do not bear the burden of consequences. They are seldom literal. The best of art and the best of fiction are the unabashed, uninhibited, lovingly thoughtful manifestations of passion shaped by imagination. The most sensual and exciting are the most gritty and intense. Enjoy.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/332702

Strange Galaxy: Universal Philosophy

Star Trek is the belief that human ingenuity shall advance us in every way. Star Wars is the belief that each of us ultimately chooses our own destiny. Mass Effect is the belief that diverse people can come together for common cause. The Lord of the Rings is the belief that anyone can make a difference. My Strange Galaxy is the belief that all things are ultimately personal.

The grand scheme of things is always the will of the mighty served by the many. Those in power rule according to self-interest. The individuals of the masses serve according to fear, need and or belief. Ultimately, the supposedly all-important "big picture" is nothing more than the panorama of singular personalities crowded together.

In reality and in my Strange Galaxy there are the few who make a name for themselves and the vast, anonymous masses. The heroes and masterminds are the good and evil of the few. The nameless many serve good or evil but are rarely particularly either.

Strange Galaxy is a universe of exotic worlds and alien races. Human technology and inhuman magic share a diverse setting rife with mystery, horror, war and intrigue. Villains plot and heroes adventure. The characters are the lives of the stories. Their thoughts and feelings are the dialog and action.

The individual is the beginning and the end of every endeavor. Individual characters unassumingly living their lives makes for the best drama. Whether human or alien, excellent or expendable, doomed or triumphant, the people of Strange Galaxy are lively and colorful. My fiction is their reality. Their world of many worlds is weird yet realistic. Enjoy.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/477393

Strange Galaxy: Aliens vs. Humans

The soul is the divine spark that animates the human animal and empowers it to transcend its material nature. It is the light of our imagination and the warmth of our endeavors. The soul is the very thing that makes us human.

The alien races of my Strange Galaxy are many and diverse. They are not human, however, because none of them have a soul. Refined or savage their nature is feral. Wise or simple their thoughts are literal. Reserved or gregarious their feelings are unbridled. Their tastes are simple and their ways entirely practical.

The alien races have songs and poetry but are incapable of fiction. Their legends are never embellished. Their histories are often cryptic but always true. Their art is never in the image of what it is not. Primitive or advanced, no alien society is superstitious. No alien culture has a mythology. Matrimony is common but adultery and divorce are unheard of. Substance abuse and other self-destructive tendencies are exclusively human.

Civilized, barbaric or savage, the races without a soul are natural creatures moved by instinctive impulses to fill their particular cosmic niche. Unlike humans, they have an innate sense of purpose, thus, they are not prone to human angst or wonder. Though they do not suffer our foibles, they are not endowed with our infinite potential.

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Strange Galaxy: Magic vs. Technology

In our world, magic was a superstition of the past and technology is the way of the future. Modern science is contemptuous of the supernatural.

I appreciate the philosophical insights of the occult. I am enlightened by the revelations of science. I am the grateful beneficiary of technology. Why not have it all?

Magic, as a plausible concept, is the manipulation of natural forces to cause a desired effect. Unlike technology it is innately living. Casting a spell requires feeling. The thoughts of the caster shape and direct the feeling. Items are useful tools and may be enchanted  but they cannot cast spells. Magic, by its intimate nature, cannot be mass-produced.

Technology is the production of substances and devices that cause a desired effect. Unlike magic, it is not bound to the person of its user. It minimizes rather than requires the exertion of its beneficiaries. The items of technology are the technology itself. Because they are impersonal they can be mass-produced.

I am a writer and an artist. I refine and fashion my fancies into art and fiction. I wanted a world of many worlds where technologically advanced human civilizations rivaled magically advanced alien civilizations. The guns and bombs of humanity would clash with the swords and spells of strange races as equals.

Because technology exceeds what is natural its machines are faster and stronger than anything living. Its weapons are more destructive than anything magical.

Because magic is the channeling of natural forces its use is inexhaustibly efficient: its living powers are tapped into what already is and moved by what is already flowing. Because it is derived from actuality itself, magic would excel at divination, conjuration, sensory manipulation and warding.

I wanted magic and technology to be equals but very distinct. Each would have its own advantages. Its weaknesses would be the downside of its strengths. A technologically advanced society would be better at accomplishing what it wants. A magically advanced society would be better at optimizing what it already has. The philosophy of magic and the science of technology would be pondering the same reality but from differing perspectives. Their results would differ but be equal.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/477393

Strange Galaxy: Swords vs. Guns

In our world, a man who brings a sword to a gunfight is a dead man. Technology has rendered humanity's most revered weapon utterly obsolete.

I appreciate the romanticism of the sword. I also like the dramatic appeal of modern firearms. In our world, the weapons cannot share the same era. Yes, there was a moment when swords and guns were equals but the swords were advanced and the guns primitive. I wanted them together, both of them at their very best.

I am a writer and an artist. I refine and fashion my fancies into art and fiction. I wanted the best of swords and the best of guns to meet as equals. It would be the fighters, not their choice of weapons, that would decide the fight. I made what I wanted happen.

The days of the sword were also the days of magic. In my science fiction Strange Galaxy universe, magic is as real as technology. Magically advanced alien civilizations are armed with swords. Their soldiers are protected by spells and talismans. They can endure the destructive superiority of technology if they can outfight its gunmen.

Magic or technology, guns or swords, it is sound leadership and the prowess of warriors that decide the wars of the Strange Galaxy. Anything less would be unworthy of a legend.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/375781

Vain Glory

I am a writer and an artist. I created the cover and wrote the story for the novelette Vain Glory. It is the adventurous tale of a heroine who visits exotic worlds on a quest to save her own.

As a storyteller, I have a knack for refining the fantastic into something entirely believable. I am mindful that even the strangest things are a matter of cause and effect. I understand and appreciate that sex and violence are intrinsically linked. I ponder what it is to be human and distinguish it from what is soulless. I fight for good against evil and share my revelations.

My stories are fantastic yet realistic, sexual and violent yet thoughtful, grim yet inspiring. They are my waking dreams and nightmares.

Vain Glory is an adventure story, first and foremost. The title character is just living her life and daring to do what must be done. Her friends are those who love her. The enemy is a malevolence hidden behind the many faces of those whom she fights.

Good and evil are merely a matter of caring and uncaring. Justice pays righteousness no heed. Freedom is never by decree. It is one, never the many, who fights for good against evil. Vain Glory is about such a one... and those who fight alongside her. Good is always individual but its individuals always come together.

Vain Glory is available! Enjoy...

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/477393

Shining Freedom

Generations are but the leaves of the seasons. History is the chronology of vainglory and mortality. All that rises by the hands of dust returns to the dust from whence it came. The water of the living is blood and urine alike. So what?

A free man is not a man of the many. He is his own man. He is strong by his own courage and justified by his own sincerity. He is a friend by the warmth of his own heart. He is wise by his own honesty and thoughtful observations. He goes where he dares to go and does what he strives to do.

I care but I do not care to save the world. Though I dwell among the living dead I am not one of them. I am beyond the dust and water of the world. My life is friendship. I live that my friends may find me. Those with eyes to see shall see my light. Those with ears to hear shall hear me. The heart of the living shall always know me.

I am but one man but I am freedom and justice. Even in the weakness of my living flesh I am beyond the mobs of the living dead. My friends are beyond the many.

The few dwell among the festering many. Beloved few, do not fret the slobbering masses. It was, is and shall always be the way of the many to languish. In their torment they snap and claw. In their mindless hunger they seek to devour whatever they can snatch and bite. Their names and faces are but shadows of what it is to be human. For all their humanity of flesh and blood they are living corpses.

I imagine. My thoughts and feelings dream for me and give me purpose. I ponder what it is to be human. I seek and find what makes life worth living. I am not alone. The living are scattered but they are with me. I find their light in the darkness and feel their warmth in the cold. We are the living. We are the light and the warmth in this cold, dark world.

Foot Soldiers of Evil

Plentiful, identical, expendable thugs of villainy. Who are they? Where do they come from? The foot soldiers of evil have always been the ordinary folk. They are mustered from the anonymous masses.

The nameless many graze like sheep. Heroes and masterminds rise from among them but as wolves in sheep's clothing. Heroes are warriors. Masterminds are ruthless. The timid and aimless fear these predators lurking among them. They grovel before the terrible genius of the mastermind. He gathers them and hurls their throngs at the hero who defies him. The many are slaughtered but there are always many more.

A hero is a man who finds his courage. He dares the impossible. He endures the assailing throngs. He bests the mediocrity that would overwhelm him. Should he perish, his death shall outshine the lives of the many. Victory or defeat, life or death, the hero prevails and the anonymous masses are shamed.

Many, ordinary and useless. Those who make nothing of themselves set the substandard for normalcy. Their lives are meaningless and their deaths insignificant. They are enslaved by evil and slaughtered by good and evil alike. Woe unto the common.

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Bloodlust

The shedding of human blood is significant. When our heroes die in bed we mourn them. Should they be slain, we adore them all the more. Our villains die unpunished unless put to death. The end of human life by an act of will is a spiritual phenomenon beyond the mortality of flesh. It is an exercise of will at the ultimate expense of another.

Blood sacrifice, in all its guises, is the committing of murder with the intent of harnessing the energy released by the victim. The quality and quantity of the sacrificial life determines the quality and quantity of the energy released. Humanity is the only creature endowed with the divine spark (the soul), thus, a human being is the most potent victim. The shedding of innocent blood releases the purest energy.

Human sacrifice is not a ritual humanity has outgrown. The shedding of innocent blood for the sake of empowerment is more prevalent now than ever before. Our priests wet their knives. Our mindless masses cheer, believing the ritual shall bestow blessings upon them. We are told the sacrifices are necessary to preserve the world. Alas, for all our fancy toys and erudite sophistry we have not changed.

War is a clash of wills. The intent to kill is the will to prevail. The act of killing is to thwart or dominate. Lust, fear, anger and hatred are stirred to their utmost by rumors of war. They are realized as violence in the waging of war. Heroes are celebrated for killing and martyrs for dying. The common victims are mourned en masse. The slaughter of the enemy or supposed enemy is cheered. War is humanity pitted against itself. War is the shedding of human blood by human hands. It is killing with intent to kill.

People are thrilled and empowered by the slaying of people. Whether by murder, sacrifice or war, humanity is roused by the shedding of human blood. Right or wrong, good or evil, humanity is a race of killers.

Ultimate Good Versus Evil

In both reality and fiction, the champions of good wage war against the thieving, murderous forces of evil. Masterminds plot and subvert. Heroes find themselves vastly outnumbered by the minions of villainy. The mastermind sacrifices others at a whim. The hero risks himself to protect and avenge the innocent. "Right" and "wrong" may prove subjective. Good and evil, however, are very distinct.

A tempered strength and thoughtful effort are good. A conniving intellect and malevolent scheme are evil. All else is spoils or treasure. Hero or mastermind: all others are lambs gathered for the slaughter.

The war of good against evil is spiritual. In reality, the struggle is muddled by chauvinism and politics. The truth itself, however, is what it is regardless of such things. Freedom does not bend to will. Justice respects no man's person nor heeds any law or custom. The whimsical ways of humanity have no say in the matter of all that matters. The war of good against evil precedes and transcends mortal notions.

A hero is the only relevant force of good. A mastermind is the only will to evil. All others are victims and chattel. Ultimately, the war of good against evil is a duel.

The Value of Human Life

"Fairness" is a nonsense that fails to acknowledge the reality that some are simply better than others. "Equality" is an ideal and nothing more. The vast majority of people are insignificant and their lives inconsequential.

Most of the few who make a name for themselves are soon forgotten. Most of the few who make a difference make little difference. I have more fingers and toes than there were ever relevant men and women. Alas, pride proves a vainglory.

In fiction, there are main characters and supporting characters. There are the anonymous masses: the bystanders and lambs gathered for the slaughter. Reality is no different. Your part to play is your importance. Your significance is your relevance. You must be interesting, even if hated, if you are to be remembered.

Do you shun renown? Are you content with obscurity? May your works prove memorable or else your life was in vain. Shine as light shines or be lost in the shadows of those who do.

For better or worse, for good or evil, a life that makes a difference is more important than one that does not. Significance is significant and insignificance irrelevance. Be hot or cold. Lukewarm is mediocrity. The mediocre are a dead weight that burden the heroic. The lukewarm are the chattel of the malevolent.

Is human life precious? It is the only life that can be. A man or woman may be lost in a crowd... or rise above it or sink below it. Choose and choose wisely. Your value is not a given. You must make something of yourself... or you are a nothing.

Sexually Unfair

Everyone, male or female, associates women with sex. Even beasts and aquatic mammals readily find women sexually desirable. The Bible claims angels did as well.

"Fairness" is whatever people want it to be. "Fairness" is always the unfair advantage sought by its proponents. It is subjective, opportunistic sophistry and nothing more.

It is "unfair" that women are always associated with sex. It is equally "unfair" that women are weaker than men. It is "unfair" that women are the only ones burdened with pregnancy and the pangs of childbirth. So? Nature is real. "Fairness" is a whatever nothing.

Men are stronger than women. Men rule the world. Women have no say unless granted a say by men. Both anatomically and spiritually men have the penis and women the vagina. A woman may tease but a man can rape. Life is so unfair.

Men shall always dominate, even in a matriarchy. Women shall always be associated with sex, even when homely. So? Admire a man for being strong. Adore a woman for being sexy. Anything contrary would be unnatural.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/451925

Stormtroopers, Red Shirts and Scream Queens

The Imperial Stormtrooper of Star Wars is popular fiction's favorite useless henchman. The Red Shirt of Star Trek is the most popular expendable protagonist. The scream queen dominates the cinematic horror genre. We enjoy these characters because they die with style. Their flamboyant mortality makes them immortal.

The Stormtrooper was thrashed by cute little teddy bears. The Red Shirt was turned into a polyhedron and crushed into powder. The scream queen committed involuntary "suicide" by head-butting a wall-mounted television set. They are lambs gathered for inglorious slaughter. They are victims to our grim delight.

Reality is all about consequences. Art and fiction are creative expression. Death in life is the cessation of life and nothing more. In art and fiction, however, it is drama and intensity. Even if expressed in jest, the demise of a character resonates with grim connotations. In both reality and unreality death is cold and darkness. Used artfully, however, it is a rousing theme.

The Stormtrooper, Red Shirt and scream queen are popular because they genuinely entertain us. Their thematic misfortunes thrill and inspire us. We would be at a loss without them.

Fiction's Favorite Evil

They were efficient, ruthless and genocidal. Their ideology was nigh a religion and their plans for conquest nearly realized. Their uniforms were stylish, their weapons sleek and their technology amazing. They were the Third Reich.

Nazi Germany was the reality of a desperate nation striving to grow and flourish. In propaganda and fiction it was the epitome of evil bent on world domination. The reality was smashed when the Germans were conquered. The grim glory of their Third Empire, however, has grown and flourished into the symbol of evil at its finest.

Long after World War Two, the Nazis remain a favorite antagonist in fiction. Organized villainy is often fashioned after them. Their symbols and the face and name of their leader still evoke dread. Though decried as the ultimate evil, the Nazis prove darkly fascinating and artistically inspiring. The legacy of the Third Reich is one we have grown to love to hate.

The Primal Forces of Passion

Sex and violence. Both are exciting. Both are intimidating. Either can be crude or sensual. They are the most passionate of our impulses. They are the fire of our art and fiction.

Sex. Every human being is instilled with the unassuming desire to perpetuate the species by means of physical intercourse. Coitus, the actual means of sexual reproduction, is the intended act of our innate yearning. Sexuality is an impetus beyond its procreative application, however. Creatures use it as a means of affection and domination. Humanity channels its energies for creative or manipulative endeavors. Our religions, philosophies and politics are shaped by its influence.

Violence. Every creature struggles. Nature is balanced by the callous reality of survival of the fittest. Predators devour prey. Aggression asserts or thwarts assertion. Even our spiritual ideals of freedom and justice are the struggle of good against evil. Even that which is gentle and friendly thrives and endures only if protected by the threat or use of force.

Sex and violence. They are the primal forces in action as interaction. Each is intense. Together they are overwhelming. Like male and female they are the polarities of a natural, restless dynamic. In art and fiction they are the drama of passion. They are the vim and vigor of our psyche and the spices of our imagination.

I am a writer and an artist. I celebrate the intensities of sex and violence. I refine their qualities and focus their energies. I am mindful of their danger but appreciate their sensual and dramatic potential. Like fire, they are immeasurably useful but must be used with thoughtful care. Like fire, they must be fed and burn if we are to be their beneficiary.

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The Grim Reality of Adventure Fiction

Humanity has always loved stories of high adventure. Heroes, villains and monsters have always been our favorite characters. Legend, whether embellished history or conspicuous fiction, is what inspires us. For all our science, technology and supposed enlightenment we have not changed. Humanity is as it has always been. We want and love what we have always wanted and loved. Our entirety has always been within.

Fiction is like dreams: a fanciful way of symbolically articulating and experiencing our innermost thoughts and feelings. To thrive and prosper in reality we must struggle, hence, the everlasting relevance of adventure stories. The "hero" of such a tale is the champion of our struggle. The "villain" is the will that opposes us. A "monster" is the primal forces to be reckoned with.

Adventure must be exciting if it is to be adventurous. Danger must lurk if a hero is to prove heroic. A villain must mean harm if he is to be villainous. A monster must prey on humanity if it is to be monstrous. The story is one of effort and conflict. The characters and their interactions are the story.

Fighting is what makes an adventure story intense; mortal combat specifically. Peril and sexuality can do much to excite but violence is a must. The struggle is the very theme of the adventure. It resonates because we all struggle. A battle to the death is the ultimate clash of wills. Fighting to the death, inside or out, is a tribulation we all face just by living.

Adventure fiction easily assimilates every other genre... because questing and conflict are the defining moments of the human condition.

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Patriotic Spirit

I love my country. I am protective of its sovereignty, appreciative of its virtues and proud of its accomplishments. Understanding that "survival of the fittest" was, is and shall always be the way of the world, I condone my nation's use of subversion and force. In sports and war I am loyal to my own team, regardless of who is supposedly deserving, right or wrong. I am neither a bigot nor a jingoist: I am a realist whose every thought and action is for the common good.

God himself is nothing without his adoring masses. One man is simply irrelevant unless a multitude finds him useful. People are weak. People as a people are strong. Alas, the anonymous many are the relevance of the individual and the power and glory of the mighty few.

Freedom and justice are neither loyal nor obedient. They respect no man's person nor do they bend to the consensus of the many. Freedom defies power. Justice shuns glory. The mighty and the many are equals in the eyes of freedom and justice.

As a man of flesh of blood I must breath, eat and drink. My nation is my safety and a fertile ground for the sowing of my life's endeavors. My patriotism is thoughtful and justified. I bless the many who are my nation by edifying their virtues and appreciating their accomplishments. I encourage them to love what is good about us. I remind them that We the People are the heart, mind, soul and strength of our great nation. I strive to create and am reticent to destroy. I implore my countrymen to do the same, for the good of us all.

As a man of spirit I see the cracks in the walls of the nations and know all walls come tumbling down. I see and smell every culture for the smoke it is and know it is soon to dissipate. I am mindful that all wealth is rust and ashes. The pride of the doomed is vainglory. Freedom and justice shall prevail, stripping the mighty and the many naked to be judged. One shall reap what one has sown, alone and individually.

The friendly shall reap the friendship they have sown. The merciful shall be spared. The caring shall be cared for. To hell with all others for they were dead even as they lived. Let us be forever rid of their festering stench. Never again shall there be tribes or nations for the need of them shall be over. The dreary days of enemies shall have passed away.

Created Equal

Humanity is a murderous, thieving race of delusional savages. We hide among our tribes and factions and pretend our nothing is a something. We relish the failings of our brethren as if such is somehow to our glory. Alas, humanity, the greatest of all creatures, is a rotting monster.

All men are created equal in that every man is conceived with a divine spark within his bosom. Women, the lesser vessel of men, are also endowed with this infinite potential. It is the inalienable right of every human being to sow and to reap what one has sown.

Our bodies are weak and mortal but we can be more than dust and water. Should we be so bold, we can venture within and discover the source of our yearning. We may use our spark to light a flame that shall burn away the darkness. Our cold shadows of pride shall give way to the warm brilliance of what it truly is to be human. We shall grow in life and vigor beyond the desperate passions of our mortal nature. Only as an entity of spirit is a man or woman beyond the creatures of dust and water. One must transcend if one is to be satisfied for judging oneself is the only meaningful endeavor. All else follows.

Gifts of Blessing

Everyone has a knack. Our talents differ and some have more than others but we are all gifted in something. If we neglect our abilities they shall diminish. If we use them, however, and refine them then our talents shall grow and prosper.

I am a storyteller and an artist. Others are singers, musicians, athletes, handymen, protectors, comforters, orators and or whatever else. We are all endowed with the ability to contribute, somehow, to the common good. Few of us truly bother to do so. Some of us who do squander our endeavors for evil. The very few who bless us all with their talents are the precious souls who keep our world turning.

Most lives are a waste of life. Everyone has their reasons but few are pure of heart. Indifference is mindless. Hatred is heartless. Compassion is thoughtful and caring thus, takes effort. Alas, it is easier to do nothing than something. It is easier to fall than to rise. It is easier to consume or destroy than to create. People become a nothing when in their apathy they drift with whim or in their malevolence they corrupt and tarnish. Either such lives are a waste of talent.

Humanity is a creature of flesh and blood but also of mind and spirit. We are beyond our animal nature when our souls have eyes to see and ears to hear. We imagine and create when we qualify what we quantify. What is a song but sound? What is literature but scribble? What is a cathedral but stone? By employing our talents we make more of things than the sum of their otherwise meaningless parts. By our endeavors and appreciation thereof we create a context of relevance. Use your talents and use them well. Sincerity strives and is never in vain.

Human Being

Our universe is moved by unimaginably vast and powerful forces. Our world is but a tiny thing in the midst of it all. Our proud tribes and mighty nations are virtually nothing. I am less than nothing. Alas, I am the least thus the greatest.

Our very sun is bigger and brighter than all of us... yet it cannot imagine, aspire or even care. I am beyond the awesome sun. Yes, I cannot live without it. Alas, the sun is only relevant because it serves my needs. I do not live for the sake of the sun. As I have claimed: I am beyond the awesome.

Humanity is proud of its delusions and cultures. It sheds human blood for the greed and malevolence of our tribes and nations. Alas, what are these things that come and go, rise and fall? Our generations and their ways corrupt and perish yet our humanity itself endures. Is it sounds and scribble that give words their meaning? Is it our tribes and nations that made us human? I am beyond all such things for I am a human being. I am the foundation of all that endures and prospers.

Good versus Evil

In reality, most struggles are evil against evil. The opposing factions tout and embellish what little righteousness they have. They exaggerate the sins of their opponent and are reticent to acknowledge their opponent's virtues.

I believe in JUSTICE, knowing that no faction truly represents such a cause. I fight for FREEDOM, knowing those who fight alongside me prefer domination. Alas, I am often in league with evil in my struggles for the common good.

FREEDOM and JUSTICE are one and the same: the sowing of oneself and the reaping of what one sows. The mighty cannot grant FREEDOM for one who is beholden cannot be free. Law cannot codify JUSTICE for justice is the very spirit of FREEDOM, thus, is not subject to decree. Personal, social and political agendas are whim and yearning, thus, they are neither FREEDOM nor JUSTICE.

I strive to do what is best, always. I am always a friend unto any who care. Should the need arise that I must align myself with the wicked in the defense of goodness I shall do so. I am not bothered when the indifferent profit in the defense of the caring. What is best for those who are good is always good.

Good Bad

Death is hideous. War is despicable. Rape is atrocious. In reality, none of these things are good. In fiction, however, their grim severity can be made into sensual intensity. We endure reality and find its pleasures wanting. We strive and suffer to little or no avail. Our news and histories must be sensationalized and embellished for us to find them interesting. Alas, it is in our fiction where we find real life's luster.

Storytelling is always from within. Fiction is the outer manifestation of our waking dreams. All is good in a good story; even the bad. What is pain and sorrow in reality can be enjoyed in fiction. Even the horrors of death, war and rape can be made into harmless fun.

I am a storyteller. I tell tales of heroes and villains. I tell stories of horror and adventure. My characters are many and interact in many ways. Many of these fictional people are slain. Some of them are raped. Ultimately, however, my heroes prevail and my villains are vanquished.

Both in life and in my stories genuine heroes are few. Villainous masterminds are more readily available. Expendable underlings are always plentiful. Useless bystanders do the nothing they do best. Everyone has their part to play, whether a person or a character.

Death, war and rape: our reality would be better without them. Suspense, excitement and sensuality: our fiction would be boring without them. As a writer and an artist, I do know what I am doing. Allow me my honest boast as I claim to do what I do well.

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Henchwomen Are Sexy Pawns

I am a writer and an artist. My specialty is the "useless henchwomen" theme. The gist of my fancy is the idea of armed and uniformed women being easily subdued. These fictional victims are "henchwomen" because I cannot enjoy the plight of innocent bystanders. As armed antagonists, however, their fate is to my delight.

Soldiers are people meant to overcome other people. Victims are those who are overcome. Useless henchwomen are both. Because they are meant to be instruments of force, they are made mockery of when proven helpless. Because they are plentiful and weak they are expendable to their leaders. They are amusing to their enemies. The henchwomen are pawns: being sacrificed is the part they play.

My fancy is uncommon. Few understand it. Villains as victims? Why women? Why not? Seriously: why not? Should every antagonist be formidable? Heroes have their damsels in distress. Why should villains not have their useless henchwomen? Sex and violence are the vim and vigor of adventurous fiction. Useless henchwomen are but passive partners in sensually violent character interactions. Why not? I ask but my question is never answered: why not?

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Untruth Be Told

Fiction is the honest telling of things untrue: storytelling. At its best it is imaginative, eloquent and relevant: a fanciful, poetic parable. Alas, even something untrue may be truthful.

A storyteller must believe what he is telling or else he is a liar. He must be honest and mindful of what he believes or else he is a fool. His story must be deeper than its ideas or it is shallow and lifeless. His characters must be motivated beyond their niche in the narrative or else they are flat. A good yarn is always more than the sum of its parts.

Telling people what is right and wrong is presumptuous and boring. A good story is honest yet unassuming. The best characters are moved by personal motives. The best narratives are about personalities dealing with the flow and balance of cause and effect. The better storyteller relinquishes control in favor of simplicity and sincerity. Honesty itself shall cleanse a work of its fallacies and strengthen its telling.

Everyone loves a good story. Few of us ever tell one. When you read, hear or watch a good story be sure to judge it on its own merits. Discount what you anticipated or hoped for. Appreciate what is actually presented. Taste may be subjective but quality itself is what it is whether noticed or not. There is no wisdom in being oblivious to what is good.

Fiction is the crafting of fancies into art. It is notions and ideas shaped and fashioned into a story. Its characters are the people we imagine. Fiction is from within.

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The Meaning

Most people do not care. Yes, they have their ideals and beliefs but such things are nothing of themselves. Yes, they love and are loved but such is entirely selfish either way. Most people simply do not care.

I care. I am not the only one. Why? Why not? If we need a reason to care then we simply do not care. We do care. Compassion, unlike love, is unassuming. To care for the sake of caring is the only caring worthwhile.

People need answers. There must be a point or there is no point. Politics? Religion? Science? As important as these things may or may not be, they cannot answer the one question: Why? Life? Truth? Wisdom? These things, though venerated, are without meaning of themselves. The question is always asked but the answer is seldom sought: Why? Is there a point? What if there is no point? If there is no point then all is meaningless.

I am neither a believer nor a skeptic. I am sincere. Right or wrong I am never false. Weak or strong, win or lose, I prevail. My failings are a triumph and my victories inspire. I am a light in the darkness and warmth from the cold. My fear proves courage and my sorrow is the sowing of joy. I am the gentle warrior and the brutal friend. I am the unforgiving who never forsakes. I shall tell you the dreaded answer to the question: Why? I shall make the point of it all. Whosoever has eyes to see shall see what I show. Whosoever has ears to hear shall hear what I tell.

Friendship, the very spirit of Freedom and Justice, is all that matters.

Humanity's Characters

People are what make anything and everything worthwhile. Characters are what make a story meaningful. Unlike anything else, people are who we are rather than what we are. Yes, we all have our place in the world but our universe is beyond our little world. Eternity is beyond our moments of temporal melodrama. All that is real or imagined is born of mind and spirit. People, not energy, objects, animals or plants, are the only things that can make anything more than the sum of its parts. All else is flow, balance and entropy.

Humanity is creative. We do not merely fashion tools and artifices to suit our practical needs. Our art is not merely representative of stark reality. We ask "how?" but cannot be satisfied until we discover "why?" and are inspired by the answer. Our souls yearn for the fulfillment of spirit. Even if the needs of our bodies are met, we shall hunger, thirst and gasp for breath until the "who" we are is sated. In our hearts, whether we accept the reality of it or not, we know truth and life are but vanity without freedom and justice. Even our most wicked and depraved imagine themselves righteous. We believe there is a point to it all or we despair. Our efforts are always a striving for a sense of purpose. Our endeavors are always meant to be transcendental.

Reality is as all things truly are, regardless of our fancies and perceptions. Fiction is what we imagine. As art, fiction is our waking dreams made manifest. At its best, our unreal stories explore and articulate the unseen reality of spirit. Its characters are imagined personalities that experience this transcendental reality. Their lives are how we relate to the story. Their thoughts and feelings are the life of the narrative. A story without characters is dead and irrelevant. Without us, our reality is meaningless. Ultimately, truth and fiction have everything in common, for better and for worse.

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Damsels and Warriors

There is something undeniably sexy about a beautiful woman bound and gagged. A handsome man in the same predicament is less comely for it. In our horror movies, we delight in seeing the females cringe and scream. The males are expected to fend for themselves, even if in vain. In myth and legend, the woman is typically either a seductress or the "damsel in distress." Men are either predatory cads and or adventuring warriors. Why? Why the disparity? Heterosexuality.

A man's natural reproductive impulse is to penetrate a woman and spew himself into her. A woman's natural impulse is to resist him. Should he overcome her resistance then she submits to his innate desire. Because a man must be aroused to reproduce his sexuality is entirely active. A woman's sexuality does not require her compliance, physically or otherwise, thus, is innately passive. Men are naturally "sadistic" because their drive is aggressive and requires them to penetrate another person. Women are naturally "masochistic" because they are genetically conditioned to submit to sexual dominance. Yes, I know my claim pokes at the pride of the insecure. My honesty is contrary to the comforting sophistry of "political correctness." So what? Whosoever proves bold enough to peer into the burning glare of truth shall see what I am telling.

For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. Every strength is its own fundamental weakness. All things that exist are their own antithesis. "Male and female" are the sexual manifestations of "flow and balance." The adventuring warrior rescuing the "damsel in distress" resonates because it affirms the masculine "flow" achieving feminine "balance." The fantasy of the "female warrior" resonates because it signifies the strength of "flow" as exerted by "imbalance." Regardless of whether "flow" or "balance" dominate for the moment, a narrative cannot ring true unless it affirms the inevitable harmony of flow and balance. In other words: the heterosexual dynamic must be realized to fruition.

The Pillars of Popular Fiction

Adventuring warriors. Lurking horrors. Comely women. Sleek technology. Magic. These things are the glorious hallmarks of popular genre fiction. Whether one, some or all, they are the things that stir our imaginations most.

Traditionally, the adventuring warrior is a manly man who exemplifies the ideals of masculine prowess. Women are excited by him because he is dangerous. They love him because he is a relentless rescuer and a fearless protector. Men admire him for every reason women desire him. As for the adventurous female warrior, men desire her and women admire her for her feminine strength and graceful prowess.

Fear is thrilling. A lurking horror fascinates because it is an entity that arouses such a strong, primal sensation. Even if the thing is ugly, it is somehow beautiful in its terrifying ugliness.

Comely women are visually appealing whether weak or strong, heroic or villainous. Their very presence is a sexual ambiance, to both men and women. Whether helpless damsel or formidable dominatrix the comely female is more "comely" than anything else. Whether we like it or not, we would have her no other way.

Magic and technology are spurred by the same impetus: empowerment by extraordinary means. They are will made manifest. Magic is viewed as "mysterious" and is associated with antiquity. Technology is the industrial "magic" of the presumed future. Both fascinate. Both illicit fear. Either way, even when vilified, magic and technology are glorified as awesome.

We like what we like whether we like it or not. Our fancies are what they are whether we entertain them or not. Our best fiction makes sense of our nonsense and does so by being exciting. Sex, violence and the fantastic make our stories vibrant, exotic and simply fun.

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Fantastically Realistic

A believable story is a stronger story. Honesty and realism are the best way to achieve such verisimilitude. That said, reality falls short of inspiring. Yes, history and the news tout moments of glory but such fanfare is prone to embellishment.

Fantasy is whatever we imagine. Reality is all things as they truly are. The best fiction is the honest yet colorful expression of the human condition. The "things" in the story should never be more than the characters. The fictional people should think, feel and act as real people would in their circumstances. So long as the characters are "real" real people shall believe the story, no matter how fantastic the story may be.

A narrative is nonsense unless its characters make sense. What of the world these fictional people live in? Even the most fantastic setting can be "real" if all its fantastic elements are grounded in reality. Cause and effect, flow and balance: always. A strength must be its own innate weakness. Inertia and entropy must be factored into every aspect or else the suspension of disbelief is dispelled. Even if the particulars are not overtly explained, if the author was mindful of them then the story shall resonate an air of credibility.

The mood of a tale can prove decisive in whether or not the telling is believable. If all is always well or nothing ever goes right then the story shall not ring true. If a character is glorified for spouting the author's views or shamed for disagreeing then what is touted is dismissed as subjective. The author must move everything and everyone in the story by honest consideration of cause and effect. Even right and wrong or good and evil must be demonstrated within the context of sheer reality... or prove deservedly ridiculous.

Fantasy allows us to think beyond our limited experiences. Realism challenges us to contemplate things as they truly are. Fantastic realism is the most difficult fiction to craft. When accomplished and maintained, however, it proves both enlightening and inspiring: it stirs our minds to see the possibilities within the impossibilities.

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Sensual Mortality

Human beings are thrilled by the killing of people. Something about the grim notion simply resonates. Perhaps the demise of another is a stinging affirmation of the inescapable finality of death. Then again, many experience a euphoric sense of fortune when death is the misfortune of another. Slayers are known to enjoy a sensual thrill of empowerment by slaying. Others envision themselves being slain and relish the release granted by their imagined helplessness. Regardless, mortal humanity is fascinated by human mortality.

Good fiction is the eloquent sublimation of passionate thoughts and feelings. Humanity's fascination with death and our innate reproductive impulses naturally influence those thoughts and feelings. Sex and violence are provocative because they are intense and primal. Sexual violence is especially powerful, especially if done with sensual finesse. Alas, such intensity stirs us by rousing the natural fibers of our being. As a writer and an artist my favorite theme is this ultimate theme of sensual mortality.

As I was saying: humanity is thrilled by the killing of human beings. We delight in the fancy of what we dread. Our desire to propagate stirs our passions for life and death. I wondered why. I still wonder why, though I have found the answer. The question itself thrills me to ask.

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Measuring Heroes and Villains

I am a writer of action-adventure fiction. My stories are parables. My characters are examples of personalities interacting. Life and death are the themes my characters demonstrate. The struggle of good against evil is the defining aspect of these themes. Evil against evil is relevant in that such is entirely contrary to the nature of good. How a character measures the value of lives determines whether that character is "heroic" or "villainous."

A "hero" in modern fiction is a good person of uncanny prowess. A "bystander" or "Red Shirt" is an inconsequential nonentity character presumed to be "good." The "hero" is inclined to protect and avenge, whether reluctantly or wholeheartedly, the helpless "bystander." The "hero" cares about the expendable "Red Shirts" who accompany him into danger and is upset when they are expended.

A "villain" in fiction is an evil person as an antagonist. His indifference becomes malevolence and must be dealt with. Such a character may or may not employ minions. His thugs may vary in prowess between formidable elites and plentiful cannon-fodder. Regardless, those who serve him are an expendable resource in the pursuit of his agenda.

A "hero" is a "hero" when the lives of others are what he is fighting for. A "villain" is a "villain" when the lives of others are an expendable resource. Even if a hero is reluctant to help, if he helps, he is a hero. Even if a villain believes in the righteousness of his agenda, his willingness to sacrifice others vilifies him. Yes, a hero may lead other men to their deaths but only to save lives. A villain esteems notions more precious than the lives that serve him. Alas, good and evil are demonstrated beyond the subjective fancies of "right" or "wrong."

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Humanity's Humanity

"Life is hard" and "the truth hurts." It is often mentioned "it could be worse." Humanity languishes. Prayer is useless. Atheism is a vainglory. Money can buy anything but happiness. Fornication and drugs are pleasures without joy. Humanity is desperate. Wracked with lust, fear and pain it becomes frantic. We suffer wars and wonder why.

All is as it has always been whether better or worse. Why? How is it everything changes yet nothing changes? Everyone asks what few truly wonder: Why? Would knowing the answer truly change anything? How could it? Truth itself never changes.

Humanity is the best and the worst of all creatures. The few who care are the light of our world. The many who do not are its festering darkness. Truth is despairing without justice. Life is meaningless without freedom. Wisdom is sinister without sincerity. Love is selfish without compassion. The few who care are those who cry out for justice. They shall not be ruled nor do they seek dominion over others. Their every thought is to do what is best for all. They are loving of those who love them and a friend unto all who prove friendly.

The few who care are neither a race nor a culture. They have no tribe or nation. They are not a religion nor an ideology. They cannot be tallied by the scribes of men. Alas, the few who care are beyond the reckoning of the world they live in. Their warmth is felt by all but only those with eyes to see can discern their light. The few who care are the only ones worth caring about for they alone give life to our dying world. Those who care are beyond precious for they are everything that makes anything worthwhile. Rejoice, for those who care shall endure even as our world burns to dust and ashes. They shall be cleansed of the many who do not.

For the Better

Most people are aimless, drifting wherever the currents of life take them. They are like sheep, grazing wherever they are herded. Yes, they may wander but such is the way of mindless sheep. Like all animals, they know only hunger, lust, pain and fear. They cannot distinguish what they want from what they need. They cannot discern the selfishness of love from the sincerity of compassion. Such people simply do not care. In their emptiness, they fail and perish as all flesh does. Their lives are a shameful vainglory.

Good is not measured by evil for evil is but a lack of good. The vice of one is not the virtue of another. Being greater than the mindless sheep does not make you better than them. You must care. Separate the wheat from the chaff. Sift through the trash to find what is treasure. Tend the sick and wounded but burn or bury the dead. Life itself is the war of good against evil. Fight it! Live your life as a blessing in action.

A meaningful life is one for the better of all who care. It does nothing for those who do not. Casting pearls before swine is a waste of pearls. Tossing money to the dogs is a waste of money. Feeding pigs gourmet food forsakes the more appreciative palate. Doing things for the best requires they be done for the better people. Only those who care shall care what you have done for them. Only they shall fashion a blessing from your grace and generosity. The indifferent shall despoil you. The malicious shall rend you to pieces.

Those with eyes to see shall see the light of good and be enlightened. Those with ears to hear shall hear wisdom and made the wiser. As for the aimless masses: many a friend has crawled out from under their muck. Be there for them.

Inglorious Glory

"Mooks" are a class of plentiful, expendable, villainous cannon-fodder. Few appreciate them. Some dismiss them entirely. As for myself, I am an avid connoisseur of this lowly archetype.

The skeleton warrior, battle droid, Imperial Stormtrooper, Delmo and Silent Hill Nurse are among popular culture's favorite mooks. What is their appeal? The skeleton is eerie, the battle droid is funny, the Stormtrooper is sleek and the Delmo and Nurse are sexy. Yes, even the expendable cannon-fodder can be interesting... if there is something interesting about them.

I am a writer of action-adventure fiction. My mooks are my favorite characters. I make them interesting. How? I am mindful of what makes popular fiction's mooks interesting.

*A MOOK NEEDS A PROPER NAME: No name, no identity, collective or otherwise. A mook cannot make a name for itself unless it has one.  (The Imperial Stormtrooper is a character of many that rivals the characters of one... because he has a distinct identity.)  TAKE HEED: the largest Star Wars fan club is dedicated to the Imperial Stormtrooper specifically!

*A MOOK NEEDS AN ADMIRABLE TRAIT: No one can care about a person or thing devoid of merit. A mook without a likable quality is "lackluster" by definition. (The Imperial Stormtrooper is loyal, relentless and obedient. He never fails for lack of trying.)

*A MOOK NEEDS A SIMPLE YET INTERESTING LOOK: Groups look best in streamlined uniformity because it gives their collective aspect a singular aspect. Complexity among its individuals blurs the collective aspect  into an obscurity of clutter.  (Ranks of Stormtroopers standing at attention in the docking bay of the Death Star is a favored scene.)

*A MOOK NEEDS A MOTIVE FOR SERVICE: A character is not a character at all unless motivated by thoughts and feelings. Even a selfless, loyal and obedient mook should have a personal reason for being so.  (The Delmos of the anime Agent Aika are henchwomen who follow their leader believing he shall save the environment by cleansing the Earth of corrupt human civilization.)

*A MOOK MUST PROVE USELESS AGAINST HEROES: Villainous masterminds and elites are exceptional, hence, they should be the exception, not the standard. Mooks are distinct in that they set the standard of villainy. Heroes are exceptional, thus, they are beyond the standard in prowess. A protagonist even remotely on par with mooks is not a hero in the classical sense.  (The Imperial Stormtrooper is popular culture's greatest mook because he is everything a good mook should be: has a proper name, an admirable trait, a simple yet interesting look, an established motive for service, an origin story... and is fatally useless against heroes.)

The best mooks are the pure and complete mooks, because they are the only characters than can fill their fun, exciting, inglorious niche. Those who rightfully love them love them for what they are: villainous, expendable and useless. Enjoy their many misadventures!

Strange Galaxy Foundation

I am a writer of genre fiction. My most extensive collection of work is my science fiction continuity I call Strange Galaxy. In most ways, this Strange Galaxy is a conventional "space opera." I say this as a boast because I am an avid connoisseur of the classic conventions. I am a firm believer in the axiom "if it is not broken then do not fix it." Strange Galaxy is peculiar to its genre, however, in a few simple, unassuming ways. First of all, it is a "space opera" that never plays in the void of outer space. There are no spaceships or space stations. The unimaginable gulfs of the cosmos are overcome by spatially shifting one two-dimensional plane of space with another.

An advanced civilization need not be technologically advanced. In the Strange Galaxy all industrial-technological societies are human. Magical-industrial aliens produce simpler but more reliable artifices. Magically advanced alien civilizations have only a medieval level of technology yet they are the equals of technologically advanced humanity. Armies with swords, bows and arrows can match humanity's forces armed with guns, rockets, vehicles and aircraft. Bombs and bullets are thwarted by the kinetic shielding of talismans. Nuclear weapons and poisonous gasses are rendered inert by enervation spells. Weaponized microbes are laughably useless against the healing arts of advanced magic. Technology has machines and superior destructive power but it is tempered by the defensive superiority of magic. In peace, magic and technology are wondrous and productive in their own ways. In war, it is the warriors who decide the outcome: not spells or super weapons.

 In the Strange Galaxy, humans are the only race that can sexually reproduce with every other sentient species. The hybrids of such unions are typically infertile. Human females are universally considered the most desirable creatures in the galaxy. Humans are the most prolific of the Great Races and the easiest to clone. Why? Humanity is known as the "Progenitor Race" to alien scholars for reasons most humans do not understand. Let me explain and test your insight: All life can be traced to human life. All things begin from one point of origin and humanity is the point of origin. Though a young race, humanity's template is the very foundation of all things real. Our power to imagine and make real is from this. Every other creature is derived from the origin as an aspect thereof. Humanity alone is the origin incarnate. Yes, the voice of the Big Bang was a human voice. Creation was its first utterance.

"The least is the greatest and the greatest least" is a major theme of every Strange Galaxy story written by me. In life I observe that the notion of "always onward" and "forever evolving" are nonsense because everything real "comes full circle." Reality requires a complete circuit to be real. The flow of chaos is given balance by its own collapse into the foundation of order. A vacuum fills itself by its sucking emptiness. What goes around always comes around for such is the inseparable intercourse of positive and negative, flow and balance. This unbreakable law of the universe is the very thing we call "reality." Fiction that acknowledges this law is "realistic" no matter how "fantastic" its eccentric elements may be. My Strange Galaxy is fanciful but only to give life to what would otherwise sit idly upon its firm foundation. As I have touted: flow and balance.

In summary: my Strange Galaxy is an infrastructure for telling stories I deem "space opera" science fiction. It is designed as a world of many worlds where the mind of the reader may explore and adventure. The violent erotica often found is unnecessary but I am too fond of its sensual intensity to exclude it. Though the rape and slaughter may prove memorable, please note that it is a small part of an extensive collection of thoughtful work. The Strange Galaxy is indeed strange, but it always has something real to say. Enjoy.

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ShawnOToole