Karavansara

East of Constantinople, West of Shanghai

Tag Archives: fantasy


by Leave a comment

A way point, and new projects

aquariusThe first half of the first draft of my new novel is in the hands of my editor, while I hammer out the kinks in the second half.
The going is good.
I like the story, I like the characters, and I’m writing about good ideas in a way that I like.
Nice and smooth.

As it usually happens when I’m very busy doing a lot of things, nice ideas start popping up almost everywhere, and it feels really bad to put them on the backburner, or to bury them in my tiger-striped notebook, waiting for a moment to work on them.

So, while my science fiction novel is rounding the half-way buoy and my steampunk game is getting in shape, I’m setting aside two other ideas, not knowing when I’ll be able to work on them. Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Gift unboxed: Numenéra

Numenera-Corebook-Cover-2013-06-1826th of December, this strange mid-week weekend is sapping my energies and I am doing littlemore than eating and reading.
I’ve been spending the last 24 hours (give or take a few moments for a nap once in a while) reading and enjoying very much my brother’s gift to me for Christmas – the huge Bundle of Holding for Numenéra.
And what a marvel it is.

Numenéra is an award-winning science-fantasy game by legendary designer Monte Cook – he of the Planewalker’s Handbook for Planescape.
Numenéra was founded through a Kickstarter that hit an incredible 500.000 dollars (the original target was 25.000) and it is gorgeous to behold, a delight to read and I’m very very much eager to play it. Continue reading →


by 2 Comments

The Ministry of Thunder is up and running!

 

The Ministry of ThunderIt should have been easy – pick up a drunk Italian in a fifth-rate Shanghai dive, and then deliver him unharmed to an Irish guy in Foochow Road.
A small simple job, just what Felice Sabatini needed to pay his way out of town.
Nice and smooth.

But this, of course, was before the guys in black pajamas, with their throwing stars.
Before the knife-fight in the back of a runaway rickshaw.
Before the gunfight on the bank of the Foochow Creek, and the dragon waiting in the depths of the river.
Before the Irish guy turned out to be a Chinese woman, and beautiful.

They said it would be easy.
Well, they lied.

Continue reading →


by 1 Comment

Why I can’t be a fantasy writer

OK, silly post written on a dare.

Five things I miss for being a true fantasy writer…

a . a photo of myself wielding a sword or other sharp implement, in an unlikely martial pose, looking suitably moody and badass.

b . a tattoo – possibly tribal or featuring something out of the AD&D Monstrous Compendium – splattered somewhere I can display socially.

c . a big collection of heavy metal records, the more obscure the better.

51OwvGjqIBL._SY300_d . a black T-shirt with either a heavy metal band logo or the Jack Daniel’s Old N° 7 label printed on the front

e . goggles
Now being a geologist I actually have a pair of well-worn protective goggles somewhere – you know, to protect my eyes from rock chips when collecting samples. But they tell me they are not the right kind because they don’t come with a top hat.

All in all, as fantasy authors go, I’m a failure.


by 4 Comments

Firm-breasted lawyers

593x800_7883_Red_Sonja_2d_fantasy_oil_painting_warrior_female_red_hair_picture_image_digital_artOnce again about female characters in fantasy.

The painting here on the right is by the great Donato Giancola.
It’s my idea of a fantasy sword-woman done right.
She has character, she projects strength and toughness but she has class.
OK, so maybe there’s no reason in the ‘verse to handle a sword like that (or so they told me) but who cares – I can believe she’s a real woman.
No brass bikini, no empty, inflatable-doll-like curves to please an adolescent audience.

And the adolescent audience is what’s making me nervous.
And a quick survey of the fantasy and sword & sorcery field in my country* has been dis-heartening. Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

A roguish kickstarter

I’ve backed an interesting Kickstarter, yesterday, and I thought I might as well give a shout-out to my readers, becose it’s the sort of thing that might interest you. WP won’t let me share the widget-thingie they do in Kickstarter, so we’ll have to make do with a picture

41ddc05516bb26596b4635136f520354_large

The Blackguards anthology features many fine authors, and collects stories dedicated to rogues.
And yes, I’ve a thing for rogues that goes back to my dim and distant D&D days.

So, check it out – it’s worth your money.
There’s still 20 days to go – and the basic 15 bucks slot is just sweet.
Also, if they hit the 24K goal, they are going to give a raise to the authors – that’s something I like quite a lot!