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Review: PKD’s Unfinished Sequel to TMITHC

I finally had a chance to read the two mysterious chapters of a scrubbed sequel to PKD’s The Man in the High Castle. I finished them a few days weeks ago, but their mark has yet to fade from the recesses of my mind. While I understand why he never finished it, I wish there was more.  The chapters were accompanied by an essay and a fictional blurb about Hawthorn Abendsen. Naziism and The High Castle (1964) is an eye opener into the mind of PKD. He asks pointed questions about human nature and discusses Nationalism— no one is immune from falling into it. The essay reminds me of a quote ages ago when Season 2 of High Castle had just aired: I think we have is to humanize Nazis. If you indulge the fantasy that they were not human, then nothing is learned. This is human beings that did this. It is only humans that are capable of inhumanity. Rufus Sewell on portraying his character, John Smith (2016).  Reading it (and the subsequent chapters) made certain aspects of the show much more clea
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24 Days of Art

Join me in congratulating Earth for making another successful orbit around the sun. Good job, Earth! I made up my own challenge and decided to do 24 days of art last month. The goal: draw/paint something or work on an unfinished piece for the first 24 days of December, and I am happy to report that I DID IT! If you remember my post in May when I lamented over the fact that I wasn’t as prolific as I used to be, 24 days of art helped me overcome that difficulty. With out further adieu, here is the result of December’s challenge. All Mars Nature The Aurora Mountains Inspired by the one and only Bob Ross! I learned so much from him. American River This is based on a photo I took during my July trip to my home state of California. It’s not finished yet, but it was so much fun to finally get this one started. Alice of two worlds My character Alice from my unfinished story set in the world of Sisters. What would you be like on other worlds?
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2021 Grasshopper Awards

Hello everyone! I know it’s been about six months since I’ve posted here, and I am going to blame it on the prolonged-neverending-braintomush-pandemic because…well, it’s true! But this post isn’t about me ranting into the void; it’s about the annual grasshopper awards! Grab your popcorn and get ready for my favorites of 2021; I’ve added a few categories! 2021 Grasshopper Awards Best Discovery of 2021 This goes to a YouTuber I stumbled across who has provided me hours of vivid storytelling. He’s my go-to Thing In The Background As I Draw. If you like the strange, dark & mysterious, MrBallen has you covered.  Thank you for keeping me company while I sketch, draw, and paint, MrBallen!  Best Discovery of 2021: MrBallen YouTube Channel Best Show of 2021 This award goes to my favorite show that aired this year (we all know what my all-time favorite is!).  The Expanse.  Season 5 (and now 6) keeps me on the edge of my seat, and if you follow me on various platforms–or have seen me in real
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Bring May Flowers

We are five months into 2021 (nearly six!), so it is time for a midyear check in. Have I kept the resolutions I made in January? Have I created new goals? Writing and Sketching I’m lumping every resolution involving writing and drawing into one category because I’d end up repeating myself otherwise. Here’s a quick summary of the lofty goals I had coming into 2021. Drawing – get back to pre-pandemic levels of content (this includes High Castle projects). Writing – finish writing Alice or Metropolis I counted the number of drawings I posted on Instagram since January, and it is a tiny 24. Am I surprised by this? Nope. There is something to be said about the pandemic phenomenon popularly dubbed languishing . In my case, it was born out of the sameness of every day. It feels like a blur stretched across the vast expanse of space and time. Creativity thrives off of invigoration and the small, random happenstances that made pre-pandemic days stand out from each other.  Am I fighting this? O
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SGS: 6 Must Watch Sci-Fi Shows

It’s time for another fun filled Seriously Geeky Sunday ! I know I’ve been sporadic lately–you can blame Pandemic Brain for that one. I’m ever so slowly getting myself back up to pre-covid creativity levels. I painted a mural in my bathroom last weekend, and let me just say that it was a much needed reprieve from everything. And now for today’s theme, which is near and dear to my heart: Science Fiction. I’ve been into the genre for as long as I can remember. I’ll be focusing on six shows that I don’t normally spotlight on here, including my current obsession.  Let’s dive in! 23rd  – Six on a Sunday: Science Fiction Starting new this year one week a month will just have a theme and no questions. It’s in the spirit of memes that are no longer active and to give us all a relaxing week once a month. The theme can be answered anyway you wish and there is no right or wrong answer. If the subject was ‘science fiction movies’ you could discuss your favourites or the upcoming movies you’re look
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Doors and Corners

The weather may be dismal and chilly, but Seriously Geeky Sundays is hot off the press! I just want to say that I had a lot of fun with this one, and a certain song keeps playing in my head with its accompanying maniacal laughter. You’ll find it right here! 9th  – Moving On Did you know that May is National Moving month (or that such a thing existed?), nope, neither did I. Moving is a typical plot prompt used in fandoms to start a story, inject new characters or just shake things up a little when they get stale. So this week we’re asking you to think about what happens when characters move in or away in your fandoms. What was the most recent fandom that started with someone new moving to town? WandaVision – The show was so much fun, and the premise was such a refreshing, unique take on telling a story within the MCU.  I loved seeing the different costumes, sets, and camera filters (black and white…etc) throughout the episodes. Tell us about your favourite character who left home to fi
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Seriously Geeky Sundays are Back!

Hello everyone! I am still alive. My brain just happened to take a trip across the multiverse of writer’s and artist’s block. It’s been years since I’ve had it this bad, and let me just say that I did not miss it. At all. I’m fighting it and fighting hard!  Onto today’s Seriously Geeky Sundays topic: comic books:  I was an avid fan of all things manga, so most of my answers are going to be about manga or graphic novels rather than your traditional comic book series.  2nd – Comic Books Normally the 1st of May is Free Comic Book Day, however, due to the pandemic , the organisers have chosen to move it to August with the hope of being able to celebrate it when stores are open again. I considered changing this week’s theme and then chose not to; it might not be Free Comic Book Day but we can still celebrate our love of comics   Let’s start at the beginning; what was your first comic book? Sailor Moon – I can’t remember the exact one, but when I was a junior in high school, one of my fr
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