The Hadj to the Black City: Glorious Beginnings and Inexorable Endings
Know, oh emir, that all roads, whether paved with fortune or fraught with peril, lead inexorably to the fabled Black City. Should you commence your odyssey in the Emerald City, where a wondrous mélange of cultures, fantastical creatures, and advanced technologies intertwine, you shall find yourself drawn toward the same inevitable destination. Perhaps your initial footsteps will echo across the Steppe of the Lime Nomads, a realm celebrated for its people’s distinctive culture, unrivaled survival skills, and unparalleled prowess in trade and combat. Or maybe your hadj will wind through the perilous Death-Facing Passage, a route known for its treachery and ominous shadows. It matters not the path you tread, for all are destined to converge upon the Black City, that legendary terminus of all journeys.
—Orinthia, the Radiant Hakawati
The Merzbow/Meat Beat Manifesto sounds exactly like you’d imagine, and I love it.
I knew this day would come, but I was still not ready: kiddo said he is too big to wear his blue shirt. 😢
Because today is April 1st, enjoy the 1st one-page issue of VIKINGS vs SAMURAI. No joke. 🤘
Vernor Vinge passed. Damn. The man had a significant impact on science fiction. While the concepts he explored were heady, it was his exploration of the heart that hooked me. Corny as it sounds, in the end, love triumphs. See you in Singularity, Vernor.
Writing Wrecked Me
It’s been a long day. I spent a chunk of it working on a comic book script that was supposed to be finished two weeks ago. I have to make a few edits and add suggestions for “camera” angles and panel structure, but most of it is done. I thought I’d be elated, but instead, I was wrecked. The story did a number on my head, and I spent my evening processing what I had been through.
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to Dear Scott by Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band and Fountain Baby by Amaarae. 🎵 Listen
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to Fear of Nature by Disorganism and Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard by Kris Davis. 🎵 Listen
I just bonded with a guy at my cover store over his Rudimentary Peni tee shirt and our love for Peni’s Cacophony album. Now, I gotta listen to that slab of wax. Like I haven’t listened to it enough!
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to For That Beautiful Feeling by The Chemical Brothers and Struggler by Genesis Owusu. 🎵 Listen
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to Destiny by DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ and Orgasm by Alan Shorter. 🎵 Listen
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to Chupetones by Benefits and The Window by Ratboys. 🎵 Listen
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to Nails by Benefits and 9 by Public Image Ltd. 🎵 Listen
Finished reading: The Samurai by Stephen Turnbull 📚
Every day, I have a spoonful of sauerkraut or kimchi. It wakes me up more than my morning cup of coffee! 🥄 ☕️
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to White Trash Revelry by Adeem The Artist and Autopoiética by Mon Laferte. 🎵 Listen
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love? by Kara Jackson and Black Rainbows by Corinne Bailey Rae. 🎵 Listen
Finished reading: The Viking Way by Neil S. Price 📚
