People make choices. People have lives. Sometimes people can or can’t do things that do or don’t jive with other peoples’ wishes. Sometimes this annoys people. Sometimes it doesn’t. Why is it so hard to let people go on about their business and, instead of being angry when they can’t get in touch, appreciating when [...]

Even over the harsh, grinding sounds of falling water, the cracks of wood against wood could be heard, making concentration that much harder for Gen Hytanin. His eyes opened, brown orbs focusing slowly on his surroundings as if startled from a shallow dream. Before him, the massive waterfall continued to grind away at the rocks [...]

A sallow horse ambles its way down the forest path, its long, wild mane rippling in the wind as it moves. The black of the ashen horse’s mane is matched by the rippling, silken cloth of the rider’s greatcoat. Flashes of light run and frolic along its swaying length, and they too are matched, by [...]

Like two sides of a coin, the fathers of none shall father a nation. Sworn to no master, they will do service to all. One, a man self-disenfranchised, with less illusion than the greatest cynic. One, self-enclosed by doubt, his fears and concerns borne like a banner. Bright eyes will lead them, noble purpose their [...]

The shrill scream of bullets ruined any chance Elliot had of really knowing what was going on. Like a spring-loaded rabbit, he popped his head up over the massive iron barrel he was crouched behind, technocolor spirals of smoke breasting his electronically augmented eyes and thwarting yet another attempt at clarity of situation. “Banjo!” he [...]

This is a bit of a difficult topic for me, especially being a writer. A lot of time goes into writing a book, planning them and twisting on the plots and characters to make them as real as possible. So much energy – creative and otherwise – goes into the creation of a novel, that [...]

The denunciation of violence by “civilized” men has always been the foppish dream of those who call themselves pious. “Why must one man kill another?” they ask themselves. What possible reason, in the age of words and diplomacy, could one person have for murder? Or even to allow a murder, as so many do? They [...]

Gaede starts as lightning cracks the sky over the corridor. The young mage opens his eyes into a night-like light, freezes, slowly regaining his bearings. “We need to go soon,” he whispers to himself quietly, before huddling back against Merle’s side, closing his eyes for what little respite he has remaining. Merle didn’t even flinch [...]