Monday, July 27, 2015

Stormtroopers, Amazons and Concubines

The Imperial Stormtrooper is deservedly the most popular foot soldier of villainy in all fiction. Not only does he have a catchy name and a sleek look but he enjoys a relevant context.

The Imperial Stormtrooper is selfless, loyal and obedient. He is selfless because he accepts that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of individuals. He is loyal because he believes in law and order. He is obedient because there is neither law nor order unless they are enforced.

Until the Imperial Stormtrooper the Amazon of Classical Mythology was the most popular expendable baddie. Comely and aggressive she exemplified sex and violence as one and the same. Though usually belligerent she was never particularly villainous.

A formidable villain is assured attention: the wise and witless alike finding power and prowess interesting. The little baddies are typically nameless and insignificant, thus, are seldom worthy of recognition. That said, even a lowly thing is not at its best if turned into something else.

The Stormtrooper is his mask and armor. The army of the Amazon is her identity. Stormtroopers and Amazons are readily slaughtered but so long as their numbers endure they prove immortal. As many they garner our interest and hold our attention.

I am a writer, artist and game designer. I created an army of clone women for my Strange Galaxy universe. Like the Stormtroopers they are selfless, loyal and obedient. Like the Amazons they are a nation and army of women who are usually hostile but never sinister. Like their templates my clone women are readily slaughtered combatants. Their qualities are unassuming. Enjoy.



Wednesday, July 8, 2015

The Yississ War: Reviewed

            “A huge naked corpse-woman with six breasts and tentacles for legs is the chief antagonist of Shawn O’Toole’s The Yississ War, which I’m prepared to go out on a flailing zombie limb here (confused metaphor and all) and call a modern masterpiece.” 

            -- Jason Kehe, Wired

http://www.wired.com/2015/06/kindle-ebook-review-yississ-war

If you want something new then you want something unusual… if you are truly hoping for more than a refresh of the usual.

I am a writer of weird fiction. My work is not strange for the sake of novelty. I am inspired by what is already available. Alas, by love of the tried and true I am stirred to write things new and unique.

Like most people, my favorite fiction is heroic adventure stories. I revel in the daring and prowess of the protagonists. I am thrilled by the dramatic violence. Comely female characters make it all sexy. Elements of horror accentuate every thrill; violent and sexual. Magic makes it all fantastic. Speculative science proves interesting if plausible and sheer fun if ridiculous.

I am an artist and game designer but a writer first and foremost. It is the story of a game or picture that captures me. It is the drama of character interactions that make me care.

I wrote a story that is but one of many that are my Strange Galaxy universe. The Yississ War is the tale of an army of clone women battling the monstrous forces of a demon living in rotting flesh. A mortal man and his “army” of three superheroes ally with the clone women to save the galaxy. Weird? Totally. Stupid? Not at all.