Tag: SciFi (superpowers)

Other Cool Blogs: Magical Words 5/14/2010

Erin Penn

Image courtesy of fantasista at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I’ve got a confession to make: I like running Monty Hall campaigns. I just love giving out magic items when I DM (dungeon master). I like making them and passing them out like candy … and I tend to introduce gods to a campaign way too early.

Too Much Power syndrome.

But it’s so much fun. Strangely, this doesn’t translate over to my writing much. I mean, sure, in flashes where there isn’t going to be a day-in day-out, multi-sequel build – hit god-level all I want (which, again, isn’t often – the I am Prophecy series being the exception which proves the rule). I also prefer science fiction in my writing and avoid fantasy, but when I roleplay I like the fantasy games and not the science fiction. 

Anyway, I would like to focus on the Too Much Power issue today – which A.J. Hartley (a living embodiment of TMP in real life as a NY Times best-selling writer and the Robinson Distinguished Professor of Shakespeare at UNC Charlotte) talks about in Wrestling the TMP on Magical Words.

In my present campaign, I have let the warlock have his demon be a mouse he carries around in his pocket during the initial session. TMP from the get-go. I used it to bring a character back from the dead during the third or fourth session. The party was second level at that point. Do you have a headache yet – because I’ve just set up a huge issue with TMP in the campaign.

The only way to reign things in was limit the power. The resurrected character paid dearly for being brought back – with some interesting bonuses thrown in, but he won’t be risking his life on another round trip anytime soon. And the warlock also is unsure about the cost he had to pay to survive the consequences of bothering his patreon. 

The comment section of the Magical Word post goes on about Costs and Limitations when a TMP is introduced. (Be sure to read it.) Maybe I can’t back out of my Monty Hall actions, but the TMP benefits can be modified.

The ability to modify is something to keep in mind should I ever write an Urban Fantasy serial. So many expand beyond reasonable too quickly, increasing the costs of the TMP may the way to go. And it can add some interesting plot twists as well. I can’t (or at least shouldn’t) change cannon, but what isn’t discussed yet is open season.

Again, the link for Dr. Hartley’s post and related comments is:

READING EXERCISE: Think about a television show, movie, or book – even your own work-in-progress – which has a TMP person or object. How did the writers work around it? Did they randomly shut it down (like the example Dr. Hartley provided) or was there a “leash” built into the power? How did the TMP help or hinder the storyline?

(Additional comment: Superhero stories are rife with the TMP syndrome, but for the villains and the heroes.)

Book Review: A Hero By Any Other Name

Erin Penn

Book Cover from Amazon

A Hero By Any Other Name, an anthology by Silence in the Library publishing company

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

What does a sidekick do after retirement? What does a super villain do when he meets an evil greater than himself? Is it power that defines a hero, or something else? All of these questions and more are answered in A Hero By Any Other Name, a collection of stories by some of today’s best-known science fiction and fantasy authors. These riveting adventures delve into the lives of some not-so-conventional superheroes, sidekicks, and villains. This isn’t all tights-and-fights, but a look at heroes that will forever alter your perspective on those who choose to live behind a mask. Includes stories from Aaron Allston, Michael A. Stackpole, Janine K. Spendlove, Maxwell Alexander Drake, Bryan Young, Jean Rabe, R.T. Kaelin, Maggie Allen, and Ron Garner.

 

MY REVIEW

As with most anthologies, some unevenness in the caliber of the writers and stories exists. The first of the nine stories “Retreads” (by Aaron Allston) is 60 pages long and represents 25% of the book and is an excellent story. If you like hero stories in prose, this particular gem is worth the entrance price.

The stories about someone other than the “main” hero – the sidekick, the villain, someone nearly ready to be a hero, someone retired from heroing. The best of the stories are those with mystery and thriller overtones: the aforementioned Retread and “Mortar’s Ovation” (by Jean Rabe). The comic book geek in me loved “A Marvelous New World” (by Maggie Allen) where con-geeks prevent an alien invasion – and “Stupendous Sparkle” (by Janine K. Spendlove) a surface superhero story which is also a very good character study in the difference between people who change the world and people who will follow others. Of the 259 pages, I really, really enjoyed 128 – so about half.

The other five stories had various things I didn’t like about them. “The Kid” (by Maxwell Alexander Drake) and “Changing the Game” (by Bryan Young) both had endings offending my American pre-disposition to happily-ever-after – doesn’t make them bad stories – and maybe having them included made the short stories when the good guys win all the better, because sometimes they don’t win. “Need to Know” (by Michael A. Stackpole) was derivative – I think it was either a homage to vintage stories or a sarcastic commentary. I didn’t get it in either vein; those that do will like this story. “All-Star” (by R. T. Kaelin) and “Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow” (by Ron Garner) were okay, but neither was thought-provoking like the thrillers or amusing like the geek nods.

Overall, a solid anthology with some excellent stories. The Con-geeks stopping the alien invasion, a sidekick who follows a true hero, the steam-punk era detective investigating a transvestite murder (yes, really!), and an invulnerable, but broken hero, soldiering on. These stories should find a place on your shelf if you like heroes by any other name.

Flash: Dorian and the Ice Queen

Erin Penn

freedigitalphotos.net

Rating: Mature

That ass, damn girl. Dorian didn’t mind the cold or wait at all as the female bent over once again, rearranging the unlit lanterns just so in the snow. Maybe he shouldn’t be admiring her, or maybe because she was a supervillain, objectifying her isn’t as immoral as, say, Jameeka in Human Resources. Either way the Ice Queen had one of the finest asses in the state. Perfect heart shape.

He had been a little disappointed when he first arrived to find she wasn’t wearing the impractical catsuit and high heels costume. But the tight white skiing pants, turtleneck sweater, quilted jacket, and fur-lined cap made a fine substitute, at least according his libido. Especially when she bent over, and she had been bending over a lot in the last half an hour. A couple of steps in one direction in the snow in knee-high boots, adjusting something, sometimes burying something, sometimes removing debris, and then she would be moving again. She had said to arrive around midnight, more or less, but not to bother if he was later than one. And not to bother her if she was already there.

Guess she figured I would scope out the area. It’s not like they trusted each other – villain to hero. But that didn’t make the lust go away. She bent forward again and he bit his tongue to keep from moaning. He imagined grabbing that fine white Ice Queen ass, the soft moon-pale flesh slightly red on either cheek after his broad hands had warmed them up with a couple of smacks for being bad. The woman was always bad. Maybe even handcuffs, if he had them. Then she look over her shoulder, her ash-blonde hair in a failing braid like it is now, wisps and stray tresses framing her ice-blue eyes, and say…

 “I’m ready for you now.”

 Her voice soft and husky from effort.

 “Hey Revenger, alley-alley-alley-out.” The Ice Queen stood brushing the snow off her white leather gloves, clapping them. “You can come now.”

 Come, she said come…not…cum. Dorian shook his head to clear out the last of the fantasy. He nearly missed the snow falling from the gloves, hover in the moonlight, take on the sparkle of new snow, and fly in a dozen directions. Before he had dropped from the tree where he was hiding, every step, footprint, handprint, and symbol she had made was erased.

 So much for his theory, based on the lack of snow tracks when he had initially arrived, that she had flown in. He was positive she was a flyer, but no one had ever recorded it. The agency records were woefully blank on her abilities, as they are on any unregistered hero or uncaptured villain, some temperature control at the cold end of the spectrum, possible telekinesis abilities, and, unproven, magic. Magic itself being unproven. So far everyone had tested psychic, technological, or natural mutant.

 Her file was nearly as slim on suspected crimes. He had written most of the entries himself and none of them had enough evidence for a legal arrest warrant, let alone a court conviction. Plenty of photos thanks to her saving his bacon when King Khaos attacked the museum, but no real information. Street thugs were silent about her.

 (words 545; first published 8/18/19)

Flash: Bumping into Dorian

Erin Penn

freedigitalphotos.net

 

I recognized him. Oh god, why did I have to bump into him? “I’m so sorry.” I dropped my eyes as he steadied me by holding my shoulders.

 

At six foot and a bit, he stood out even more for his perfect build, great abs, wide shoulders, tapered waist, strong legs, and great abs. Did I mention great abs? I was staring at them right now through the thin layer of cotton of his shirt. I could do my wash on those abs. My hand wash. All day. My hands all day on those abs. Wow, what a suit of Teflon armor will hide.

 

“It’s all right.” He smiled down. I felt the smile. Never thought the Revenger could smile, especially at me, the Ice Queen. “The museum is crowded today with the opening.”

 

I wanted to look up and smile back. Smile into those green eyes I glimpsed for just a second. Eyes normally hid by red goggles, at least any time our paths crossed before. A part of me really wanted to look back up into those eyes and drown in them.

 

Not good, not good, not good at all.

 

His hands slipped down a bit, just past the capped sleeves of my summer dress as he pushed me back a step, touching my flesh, before he dropped them all together. Electric shocks went through me and I caught a name, the name he thought of himself by. Just like my mother said would happen.

 

So not good.

 

Dorian. I really like the name. It suits him.

 

“Thanks.” I said, keeping my blue eyes firmly on his perfect, mouth-watering abs. Meeting his eyes right now would be beyond not good.

 

I still had bruises from our battle last week. Well, skirmish. Okay, he tossed me through a window to get at the Overbearer and I flew away like bat out of hell once I was outside the building. But, I had bruises, big purple, green, and yellow ones.

 

I, for one, am not build for hand-to-hand. At five foot flat footed, five-six in the ridiculous heels I wear with my barely there fur, crystals, and silver chain mail outfit, I don’t have a chance … physically … against someone like the Revenger. One of the reason I am not a costumed hero.

 

Magically, psychically, I can go toe-to-toe with the best. With a great deal of preparation.

 

I hide the psychic part. Just like the layer of skin-tight white silk covering every inch of me under the fur and simulated diamonds hides my skin from the casual brushes when my psych is at full throttle. I limit the magic to just cold and water magic. At least all overt magic. Most think I just have a ice machine tucked in somewhere; best speculation by the press was the boobs were fake, disguising the power pack. My twins aren’t fake. But I ain’t telling. I ain’t telling about the magic or mind reading either.

 

A girl has to keep her secrets.

 

Especially from a hero like the Revenger.

 

Secrets that should not come between soul mates.

 

Oh, this is so not good.

 

The abs moved away from my sight. I swallow hard before going back to pickpocketing my way through the crowd, getting this week’s spending cash. Once I had enough wallets tucked into my roaring twenties style clutch purse, beaded of course, which was much bigger on the inside thanks to a little dimensional folding, I debated cutting my losses rather than run into the Revenger again, Dorian again. He of the green eyes to drown in and the abs for my hand wash.

 

But I had actually come to the museum to see the new exhibit, ancient Russia glass. I love historic pieces, especially glass, which carried special magics I could tap into. Covering the week’s grocery and light bill was only a bonus.

 

Just one pass through the special exhibit hall. Who knows when I will have another chance.


(words 663; first published 4/9/14; republished new blog format 8/11/19)

Author Spotlight: Janine Spendlove

Erin Penn

Wattpad Cover

Ever meet a person that inspires – really inspires, Janine K. Spendlove is one of those. She writes. She publishes other people work when she has time. But that isn’t all. I mean, that stuff is cool. But there is more; sky’s the limit for her.

Janine K. Spendlove is a KC-130 pilot in the United States Marines. More than that, she is an officer. She has been a liaison in Washington DC and overseen squadrons. Some of her story is shared on Whattpad in Earning My Wings: A Mormon Woman’s Journey to a Marine Corps Aviator. 

And should you think that the hardening to be Marine Pilot and Officer would stop her from having fun, she also loves knitting, making costumes, and playing guitar.

With most of her time consumed by the Corps and random stationing for her and her husband around the world, her few times at a keyboard are focused on short stories; her published works have appeared in Time Traveled Tales, Athena’s Daughters, and Dogs of War – to name a few. She even managed to kick out a four-book YA fantasy series – War of the Seasons. Many of her stories focus on the military or military thinking (go figure), but they also hold a lot of diverse characters.

Some of my friends shared a Facebook post she made after viewing Captain Marvel. In it, she opened up her heart about being a female military pilot. She shared about her geek love of all things Marvel from the Avengers to the Black Panther. She told us about how some of her experiences paralleled Carol Davners, including being told to leave the Man’s Branch, as well as called out scenes she loved in the movie.

What hit home the hardest for me though is the following:

“But Captain Marvel gave me something no other film has truly managed to before now: I felt represented on screen as the big movie hero.

I look at Carol and take away all her superhero powers and what is she? A woman who volunteered to serve her nation…”

“I sat back afterward and was like ‘is this how every single male peer of mine feels after watching war movies with prominent heroic military characters?’ Because, y’all, it was an amazing feeling.”

Think about picking up some of her works – the shorts stories, novels, or non-fiction. The full list can be found on her website: https://www.ailionora.com/works/