Blog - Page 14 of 37 - Gary David Gillen

Writing Progress Report March 2022

Writing Progress Report March 2022.

This is my Writing Progress Report March 2022.

I hiked the Ledges Area Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Ledges Trail is in Boston Township, Ohio. I took this picture from the Ledges Overlook.

Writing Progress from February 2021.

I wrote four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com. One post was my writing progress report for February 2022, which is linked below.

Writing Progress Report February 2022

In February 2022, I submitted Chapter 16 of my novel titled Cuba Liberto to the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

I submitted my story “The Erebus Project” to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library in February 2022.

In July 2018, I completed the first draft of my novel Assassin in New Marl City. It had 99,981 words and 36 chapters. In December 2018, I completed a pre-second draft with 30 chapters. It had 89,072 words. I finished the second draft in December 2019. I started writing a new chapter 1 in February 2020 and finished it in April 2020. The planned third draft will have 32 Chapters. I finished the third draft edits on Chapter 3 in July 2020. I hope to reset the novel and complete the revisions in 2022.

Writing Progress from February 2022 Continued

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in February 2022.

In the past, I submitted the stories; Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

The seven Flash Fiction Stories I have submitted in 2020 were Space-Dog Confession, Sleeping Sickness, Caliburnus, Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, Wormhole Generator, Runs with Scissors, and Principled Rogue to magazines.

Magazine submissions for 2021 were 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections. No submission for 2022 yet.

Events from February 2022.

The next event I plan to attend is the Western Reserve Writers Conference at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Lyndhurst, Ohio on March 26, 2022.

This is a link to the Cuyahoga County Library website.

https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/

Writing Goals for March 2022.

I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my Writing Progress Report for March 2022.

I am working on a novel titled Cuba Liberto. The first draft was a script. My plan for the rewrite is 26 Chapters. I plan to complete writing Chapter 17 in March 2022 and submit it to the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

In March 2022, I plan to submit a story to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

I plan to submit a story to the critters workshop in March 2022.

I plan to work on third draft edits for Assassin in New Marl City using comments from the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio. In March 2022, I plan to split Chapter 1 into two chapters and add a scene to the new Chapter 1.

Submit the stories Space-Dog Confession, Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, Grognard, LARP Film noir, Sleeping Sickness, Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, and Caliburnus. to other short fiction magazines.

Polish and submit the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, I Shall Not Return, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

Writing Goals for March 2022 continued.

In March 2022, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

Put the novel Assassin in New Marl City into the writing program, Scrivener.

Buy an e-book cover for Assassin in New Marl City from Fiveer.

Planned Events for March 2022.

The next event I plan to attend is the Western Reserve Writers Conference at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Lyndhurst, Ohio on March 26, 2022.

This is a link to the Cuyahoga County Library website.

https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/

Another event I would like to attend is Ice and Fire Con at Mt. Sterling, Ohio, from April 21 to April 24, 2022. I originally had a ticket for the 2020 Ice and Fire Con but they canceled it because of COVID-19.

This is a link to the Ice and Fire Conference website.

http://www.iceandfirecon.com/

Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold

Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold, Book #6 of the Vorkosigan saga.

Introduction

The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold is the sixth published novel of the Vorkosigan saga. It is also the eighth story of the internal chronology of the saga. Miles Vorkosigan is the protagonist of the novel. Miles suffers from brittle bones because of an assassination attempt on his mother when she was pregnant with him. He graduates from the Service Academy and gets his first assignment as a commissioned ensign. He wanted to get ship duty to follow in his father’s footsteps, but his commander wants him to command ordinary men. The posting is out of the way and boring for him. He gets in trouble anyway and they accuse him of treason. Will Miles play The Vor Game well enough to escape the treason charges made against him and secure the assignment he desires?

Summary

The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold begins when Miles Vorkosigan graduates from the Barayarran Service Academy. He wants a posting in an interstellar spaceship where he can command men. What he gets is an assignment to replace the weatherman at the remote base on Kyril Island. He sees the posting as a boring assignment beneath his dignity. It becomes a test of his resolve and cunning.

Miles ends up charged with treason and imprisoned in IMPSEC. His fortunes are turned, and he gets an assignment to evaluate the Hengan Hub. He discovers Emperor Gregor which changes everything. Miles must deal with a plot instigated at Kyril Island, match wits with a female mercenary leader whom he fancies, and protect Emperor Gregor from himself, meanwhile defeating the approaching Cetagandan fleet.

Mile juggles these impossible tasks in a way only he could succeed through and saves the day.

Recommendation

The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1991. They printed the first six chapters of the novel as the short story, The Weatherman, covering the first part of the story when they stationed Miles at Kyril Island. The rest of the story detailed how Miles helped Emperor Gregor get out of trouble in a manner only Miles would try. I like Miles and want him to succeed. I like he met his match in the mystery mercenary leader, and how she intrigued him. I’m looking forward to reading Miles’s next adventure in my Vorkosigan saga reading project.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68483.The_Vor_Game

In Warriors Apprentice (Book #2 of the Vorkosigan Saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Miles Vorkosigan gets involved in another planet’s war. Can he escape the mischief he started?

Warriors Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Barrayar (Book#7 of the Vorkosigan saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Lady Cordelia Vorkosigan faces assassination and the birth of her son. Will she survive the regency and give birth to her son?

Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Shards of Honor (Book#1 of the Vorkosigan saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Barrayaran Captain Aral Vorkosigan takes Betan Commander Cordelia Naismith prisoner. They take a hike in the jungle. What happens when they fall in love?

Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Falling Free (Book #4 of the Vorkosigan saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, space engineer Leo Graf must decide between retiring or risking his life protecting his students. The novel is a fun, self-contained space opera romp.

Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold

Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Trilogy Book #3

Introduction

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie is the third book of the Age of Madness Trilogy, a follow-up trilogy of the First Law World Trilogy. The Trilogy occurs thirty years after the First Law Trilogy. This Trilogy follows an additional set of characters; some are the children of characters from the First Law books. First Law characters also appear in secondary roles in this series. At the end of The Trouble with Peace, the second book of the Age of Madness Trilogy, they defeated a rebellion, but all is not well in the Union. Will the wisdom of crowds start a revolution and bring down the Union once and for all?

Summary – Part One

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie features seven points of view characters from both sides of the Angland and Midderland conflicts. The characters meet and part in this complex narrative which concludes the plot arcs of this generation of characters.

Orso dan Luthar, the first character, is the King of the Union. He is coming back to Adua after his great victory on the battlefield. But the Change has come to the Union, and he must find his place in it or die.

Savine dan Glokta, the second character, is the daughter of Sand dan Glokta, the head of the King’s Closed Council and the head of the Inquisition. Her money and her power are gone and she must find a new way to live.

Leo dan Brock, the third character, has lost his chance for greatness, his dignity, and his health. He must reinvent himself to continue.

Summary – Part Two

Victarine (Vic) dan Teufel, the fourth character, was an undercover agent for the Inquisition of the Union. Her mission has taken her to the city of Valbeck which has fallen to the People’s Army. The Great Change is headed for Adua. She must discover Superior Pike’s role in The Great Change and decide what is the best plan for her future.

Gunner “Bull” Broad, the fifth character, worked for Savine dan Glotka. He had helped Savine in Valbeck and she was grateful, so she employed him. His conflict is with the sort of tasks that Savine requires him to perform. Now he is imprisoned for his crimes and despairs about ever returning to his family. The Great Change will change his fortunes and he must make a difficult decision to achieve his goals.

Rikke, the sixth character, is the Dogman’s daughter. The Dogman was the chieftain of the city of Uffrith and leader of the Protectorate, Angland’s ally in the North. Rikke inherited his leadership. She has the Long Eye, a way of seeing images from the past or the future. She must come to terms with her gift or face going insane like many with the gift have done so before her. Rikke defeated Stour Nightfall, King of the North, and holds his seat at Carleon. She must find a way to hold onto her power or face destruction.

Jonas “Clover” Steepfield, the seventh character, was the advisor of Stour Nightfall, the King of the North. Clover was once a famous warrior but is now an observer of the Northmen’s court. He now serves Rikke and must decide what is the best course for his future.

Recommendation

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie concludes the Age of Madness Trilogy well. The action builds and the plot shifts land hard. Most chapters follow either a single viewpoint or two sequential viewpoints of the seven main characters.

The two exceptions are the chapter titled The Little People, where a series of people react to a devastating event in Adua. And a chapter also titled The Little People, where a series of people react to the climactic battle in Carleon, the capital of the North. In the Carleon chapter, one character observes and then encounters the next character, and then that character takes on the narrative. It continues in the chapter, creating a kaleidoscope where the events build to a greater whole.

Those chapters were my highlight of the book. It was a brilliant book. I liked the love triangle arc of Leo, Savine, and Orso. I wanted more and hope the author will return to this setting in the future.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #3

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56621190-the-wisdom-of-crowds

This is the link to my book review of The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #2

Peace comes after the wars in the previous novel. Intrigues occur. Will the peace prove more deadly than the wars that came before?

Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie

This is the link to my book review of A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #1

Northmen invade Angland, the northern province of the Union. The Industrial Revolution arrived in the Union and civil unrest increased following unfair labor practices. The city of Valbeck is the center of the unrest. It features seven characters from both sides of the conflict. Will they destroy Angland and Valbeck, or will they survive?

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie

ConFusion Detroit 2022 Conference Recap

Introduction

I attended the SF conference named ConFusion at 21111 Haggerty Road Novi, Michigan at the Sheraton Detroit Novi from January 21, 2022, to January 23, 2020. ConFusion Detroit 2020 was the last in-person con I attended. I have attended only virtual cons in the last two years. ConFusion 2022 was my next in-person con after that.The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association sponsored ConFusion Detroit 2022. I attended the opening ceremonies, three panels, two lectures, one reading, and one interview. This year’s theme was rising confusion. Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, the con returned from a two-year absence.

This is a link to the ConFusion website.

http://confusionsf.org/

The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association sponsors Detroit ConFusion.

The 2022 Logo for ConFusion Detroit 2022.

ConFusion Detroit 2022 Program Guide Cover

This is my badge for ConFusion Detroit 2022.

Summary

ConFusion Detroit 2022 Conference Recap

Friday, January 21st at 7 PM

Rising Confusion Opening Ceremonies with Jim C. Hines, Dr. Jordan Steckloff, Rachael Quinlan, and Anna Carey:

[insert discussion here]

They held the opening ceremonies in Ballroom D with about 60 attendees.

Saturday, January 22nd at 11 AM

Panel on the Wheel of Time Geekfest with presenter E.D.E. Bell:

[insert discussion here]

They held the panel in the Marquette room with 4 attendees.

Saturday, January 22nd at 2 PM

Reading with Author Guest of Honor Jim C. Hines:

[insert discussion here]

They held the reading at Ballroom D with 18 attendees.

Saturday, January 22nd at 3 PM

Lecture with Science Guest of Honor Dr. Jordan Steckloff, the Risks of Space-Borne Pathogens:

[insert discussion here]

They held the lecture at Ballroom D with 35 attendees.

Saturday, January 22nd at 5 PM

Panel on Space Station in Sci-Fi with Jason Sanford, Anthony W. Eichenlaub, and Patrick S. Tomlinson:

[insert discussion here]

They held the panel at the Marquette room with 16 attendees.

Saturday, January 22nd at 6 PM

Black Gate interview with Author Guest of Honor Jim C. Hines:

[insert discussion here]

They interviewed at the Marquette room with 16 attendees.

Sunday, January 23rd at 12 PM

Lecture with Science Guest of Honor Dr. Jordan Steckloff, Apocalyptic Impacts in Reality and Hollywood:

[insert discussion here]

They held the lecture at Ballroom D with 16 attendees.

Sunday, January 23rd at 1 PM

Panel on The Expanse with Dennis Tabaczewski, Dr. Jordan Steckloff, and D. Mark Haynes:

[insert discussion here]

They held the panel in the Marquette room with 9 attendees.

Recommendation – Conclusion

The last in-person conference I attended before Confusion Detroit 2022 was Confusion Detroit 2020. They canceled the con in 2021. They held it in the same place in 2022, with strict masks and vaccination policies in effect. I felt the con went well and enjoyed my attendance. I have two stars of the con. Author Guest of Honor Jim C. Hines gave a spirited reading of his short story, The Creature in Your Neighborhood, and an insightful interview by Black Gate Magazine. My other star of the con was Dr. Jordan Steckloff for the two lectures and the panel I attended he participated in.

Links

I attended the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan from January 16 to 19, 2020. I attended four panels, two readings, and one interview. The theme of the con was How to Train Your ConFusion, based on the movie, How to Train Your Dragon. My star of the con was John Scalzi. He gave an excellent reading of Chapter Two of his upcoming book named The Last Emperox. My other highlights were Kameron Hurley’s interview and the lecture on Edible Insects and Human Evolution. I’ll be back next year.

Conference Recap ConFusion Detroit 2020

I attended the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan from January 18 to 20, 2019. The theme of the con was Storming the ConFusion, so they designated the areas with names related to the movie The Princess Bride. I had a great drive to Detroit just before the snowstorm came. My star of the con was John Scalzi. He gave an excellent reading and was engaging in the panel I attended. My other highlights were Ada Palmer’s interview and watching The Princess Bride at the con. I’ll be back next year.

Conference Recap ConFusion Detroit 2019

Writing Progress Report February 2022

Writing Progress Report February 2022.

This is my Writing Progress Report February 2022.

It rained all day today. The raindrops froze on the trees at night. Then it snowed.

Writing Progress from January 2021.

I wrote two blog posts for garydavidgillen.com, including my writing progress report for January 2022, linked below.

Writing Progress Report January 2022

In January 2022, the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, skipped this month’s meeting.

I submitted my story “The Case of the Reluctant Pawnbroker” to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library on January 2022.

I completed the first draft of my novel Assassin in New Marl City in July 2018. It had 99,981 words and 36 chapters. Completed pre-second draft (30 chapters long) in December 2018. It had 89,072 words. Finished the second draft edits in December 2019, which completed the second draft edit. I started writing a new chapter 1 on February 2020. Finished it in April 2020. The third draft will have 32 Chapters. I finished the third draft edits on Chapter 3 on July 2020. I hope to reset the novel and complete the revisions in 2022.

Writing Progress from January 2022 Continued

I made five posts on my Goodreads account on January 2022.

In the past, I submitted the stories; Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

Magazine submissions for 2021 were 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections.

Events from January 2022.

I attended ConFusion Detroit on January 2022. ConFusion Detroit 2020 was the last in-person con I attended. I have attended only virtual cons in the last two years. ConFusion 2022 was my next in-person con.

I attended ConFusion in Novi, Michigan, from January 21, 2022, to January 23, 2022. The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association Sponsors ConFusion.

http://confusionsf.org/

The following picture is from the ConFusion 2020 notice.

This is the phoenix logo for Rising ConFusion, rising out of the ashes of COVID-19.

Writing Goals for February 2022.

I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my Writing Progress Report for February 2022.

The title of the novel I am working on is Cuba Liberto. The first draft of the piece was a screenplay. My plan for the rewrite is 26 Chapters. I plan to complete writing Chapter 16 in February 2022 and submit it to the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library. (The group is skipping having a meeting in January 2022.)

On February 2022, I plan to submit a story to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

I plan to submit a story to the critters workshop on February 2022.

I plan to work on third draft edits for Assassin in New Marl City using comments from the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio. On February 2022, I plan to complete third draft edits for renumbered Chapters 3 and 4.

Polish and submit the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, I Shall Not Return, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

Writing Goals for February 2022 continued.

On February 2022, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

Put the novel Assassin in New Marl City into the writing program, Scrivener.

Buy an e-book cover for Assassin in New Marl City from Fiveer.

Planned Events for February 2022.

The next event I would like to attend is the Western Reserve Writers Conference at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Lyndhurst, Ohio on March 26, 2022.

This is a link to the Cuyahoga County Library website.

https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/

Another event I would like to attend is Ice and Fire Con at Mt. Sterling, Ohio, from April 21 to April 24, 2022. I originally had a ticket for the 2020 Con but they canceled it because of COVID-19.

This is a link to the Ice and Fire Conference website.

http://www.iceandfirecon.com/

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Introduction

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is the author’s most recent novel. Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spaceship flying to a destination unknown. He has no memory of his past, of why he is on this interstellar mission, or why his crewmates are dead. He must discover the nature of his mission. If Ryland doesn’t solve these problems, the human race will perish.

Summary

In Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, Ryland Grace wakes up to a feminine computer voice. They hooked him up to monitors, and he was tired, so he goes back to sleep. They locked him in a room with two more patients who are dead in their hammocks. Ryland doesn’t remember his name or where he is located.

Ryland tries to get up, and the trauma causes a flashback. In the flashback, he gets an email from a Russian scientist urging him to help her with a problem involving an unusual IR emission headed toward Venus. He drops out of the flashback.

Ryland discovers they connected his chamber to a laboratory. He examines the equipment and performs tests that convince him he is not on Planet Earth.

Ryland must put these revelations together to understand his mission. His life and all the lives of the people on Planet Earth depend on him solving the problems put before him.

Recommendation

I thought this was a great novel. Ryland Grace was an engaging, smart, and resourceful character. He used the resources available to him to try and solve a difficult problem. I was surprised and pleased when the story turned from a problem-solving story to a story about first contact. I thought the ending fit the character and was happy with how it turned out.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54493401-project-hail-mary

My book review of Artemis by Andy Weir. Jazz, a poor smuggler & thief on the moon colony of Artemis, dreams of being rich. A little sabotage and she can retire with a million slugs. She must improvise or face death. How can she survive and get her money too?

Artemis by Andy Weir

Writing Progress Report January 2022

Writing Progress Report January 2022.

This is my Writing Progress Report January 2022.

Hey Ollie! Do you like the snow?

Writing Progress from December 2021.

I wrote two blog posts for garydavidgillen.com, including my writing progress report for December 2022, linked below.

Writing Progress Report December 2021

In December 2021, the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio skipped this month’s meeting.

I submitted my story “Explosion at Ceres Space Station” to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library in December 2021.

I completed the first draft of my novel Assassin in New Marl City in July 2018. It had 99,981 words and 36 chapters. Completed pre-second draft (30 chapters long) in December 2018. It had 89,072 words. Finished the second draft edits in December 2019 which completed the second draft edit. I started writing a new chapter 1 in February 2020. Finished it in April 2020. The third draft will have 32 Chapters. I finished the third draft edits on Chapter 3 in July 2020. I hope to reset the novel and complete the revisions in 2022.

Writing Progress from December 2021 Continued

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in December 2021.

In the past, I submitted the stories; Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

Magazine submissions for 2021 were 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections.

Events from December 2021.

I have no events to report this month.

Writing Goals for January 2022.

I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my Writing Progress Report for January 2022.

In January 2022, I plan to submit a story to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

I plan to submit a story to the critters workshop in January 2022.

I plan to work on third draft edits for Assassin in New Marl City using comments from the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio. In January 2022, I plan to complete third draft edits for renumbered Chapters 3 and 4.

Polish and submit the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, I Shall Not Return, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

Writing Goals for January 2022 continued.

In January 2022, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

Put the novel Assassin in New Marl City into the writing program, Scrivener.

Buy an e-book cover for Assassin in New Marl City from Fiveer.

Planned Events for January 2022.

The next event I would like to attend is ConFusion Detroit in January 2022. ConFusion Detroit 2020 was the last in-person con I attended. I have attended only virtual cons in the last two years. I would like ConFusion 2022 to be my next in-person con.

The next conference I plan to attend is ConFusion in Novi, Michigan, from January 21, 2022, to January 23, 2022. The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association Sponsors ConFusion.

http://confusionsf.org/

The following picture is from the ConFusion 2020 notice.

This is the phoenix logo for Rising ConFusion, rising out of the ashes of COVID-19.

Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin, Book #1 of the Broken Earth trilogy

Introduction

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin follows three different narratives. It’s set in the Stillness, a post-apocalyptic or possibly a second-world fantasy land. Essun is a teacher in a small town hiding from her past until someone murders her son and her daughter goes missing. These events send her on a quest to recover her daughter. Damaya is a young girl who shows signs of having Orogeny, the ability to manipulate energy. A guardian arrives to take her to a school where she can learn her skill up to her potential. Syenite is a breeder. Her next assignment is to breed with and learn from a stronger male Orogenist. The three tales intersect and come to a dramatic conclusion which is expanded on in the second novel of the trilogy, The Obelisk Gate.

Summary

The novel follows the stories of Essun, Damaya, and Syenite. Each chapter has a different viewpoint and the viewpoints do not intersect, though it is explained by the end of the novel how they are related. Two Interludes provide important information that can’t be contained in the other chapters.

Essun’s story is told in the second person. It’s like an unknown narrator is telling Essun’s story to her. Essun finds out her son is dead and her daughter has been taken. She decides to leave the town of Tirimo to search for her daughter. On her quest, she meets and travels with the mysterious Hoa and Tonkee, a woman without a community. Her quest leads to further revelations.

Damaya’s story is told in the third person. Damaya shows signs of possessing ability as an Orogenist. Guardian Schaffa takes her to the Fulcrum to be trained in Orogeny. She does well in learning and seeks the secrets of the Fulcrum. A still named Binof helps her in her search.

Syenite’s story is also in the third person. She is a breeder. Orogeny is an inherited trait, so there is a breeding program at the Fulcrum. She is assigned to Alabaster. He is a ten-ringer, the strongest level of Orogenist. She travels with him to the town of Allia. Alabaster has a mission in Allia. They learn secrets they should not have learned involving an obelisk.

The three stories are tied together and the stage is set for the second novel of the trilogy.

Recommendation

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin is a challenging novel to read, but it is a great novel. Do not DNF it, please stick with it, because it will make sense by the end. The prologue begins with an unknown narrator who is talking to someone, revealed to be Essun in the first chapter. Essun’s chapters are all in second person and past tense. Usually, the second-person point of view is difficult to read but I like its use here. Damaya and Syenite’s sections are in third person and present tense. These transitions are hard for the reader, but it pays off by the end of the story. I think what hooked me on the novel was Damaya’s tale since she’s in a kind of twisted Harry Potter story. I’m looking forward to reading the other two novels next year.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38213103-the-fifth-season

Another book that reminds me of Fifth Season is Ancillary Justice. One is fantasy and the other science fiction, but they remind me of each other, in the sense that both break old tropes of the genre. They are both kind of like Science Fiction Fantasy in the old-school sense.

In Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, Breq plans her revenge on the Lord of the Radch. Her plans are in jeopardy when Breq befriends the disgraced former Captain Seivarden Vendaai. Will Breq carry out her goals or will the powerful Lord defeat her? This is a link to my review.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

Writing Progress Report December 2021

This is my Writing Progress Report December 2021.

I had a nice lunch at the Welshfield Inn on December 17, 2021.

Writing Progress from November 2021.

I wrote two blog posts for garydavidgillen.com, including my writing progress report for November 2021, linked below.

Writing Progress Report November 2021

In November 2021, I couldn’t complete a chapter from my novel titled Cuba Liberto for the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library due to my back injury.

I submitted my story “The Crystal Ship” to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library in November 2021.

I completed the first draft of my novel Assassin in New Marl City in July 2018, totaling 99,981 words and 36 chapters. Completed pre-second draft (30 chapters long) in December 2018 at 89,072 words. Finished the second draft edits in December 2019 to complete the second draft edit. I started writing a new chapter 1 in February 2020 and finished it in April 2020. The third draft will have 32 Chapters, and I finished the third draft edits on Chapter 3 in July 2020. I hope to reset and complete the revisions in 2022.

Writing Progress from November 2021 Continued

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in November 2021.

In the past, I submitted the stories; Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

The seven Flash Fiction Stories I have submitted in 2020 were Space-Dog Confession, Sleeping Sickness, Caliburnus, and Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, Wormhole Generator, Runs with Scissors, and Principled Rogue to magazines.

Magazine submissions for 2021 are 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections.

Events from November 2021.

No events to report this month.

Writing Goals for December 2021.

I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my Writing Progress Report for December 2021.

The title of the novel I am working on is Cuba Liberto. The first draft of the piece was a screenplay. My plan for the rewrite is 26 Chapters. I plan to complete writing Chapter 16 in January 2022 and submit it to the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library. (The group is skipping having a meeting in December 2021.)

In December 2021, I plan to submit a story to the Introductory Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio, library.

I plan to submit a story to the critters workshop in December 2021.

In December 2021, I plan to split Chapter 1 of Assassin in New Marl City into two chapters. I plan to work on these chapters and then submit both chapters to the SEL Wednesday Writing Workshop in February 2022.

I plan to work on third draft edits for Assassin in New Marl City using comments from the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio. In December 2021, I plan to complete third draft edits for renumbered Chapters 3 and 4.

Polish and submit the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, I Shall Not Return, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

Writing Goals for December 2021 continued.

In December 2021, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

Put the novel Assassin in New Marl City into the writing program, Scrivener.

Buy an e-book cover for Assassin in New Marl City from Fiveer.

Planned Events for December 2021.

The next conference I plan to attend is ConFusion in Novi, Michigan, from January 21, 2022, to January 23, 2022. The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association Sponsors ConFusion.

http://confusionsf.org/

The following picture is from the ConFusion 2020 notice.

This is the phoenix logo for Rising ConFusion, rising out of the ashes of COVID-19.

Burning White by Brent Weeks

Burning White by Brent Weeks.

Introduction

Burning White by Brent Weeks is the fifth and final book of The Lightbringer series. The three main characters set up their roles for the last book in the series. Gavin has lost his powers, takes on a suicide mission, and faces the god Orholam. Teia must use her skills as a master assassin and destroy the Order of the Broken Eye. Kip must prepare his army to face the White King with their last stand at the Chromeria. Kip must defeat him or risk the colors going out of balance, leading to their destruction. Their missions lead to one ultimate question. Who is the Lightbringer and will the Lightbringer bring balance to the world?

Summary – General

Chromaturgy is the magical system of the Seven Satrapies. They call magicians who use Chromaturgy drafters, and the best drafters live on the Chromeria, the seat of the Satrapies government. Drafters can take a part of the spectrum of light and make a substance called luxin. They can shape luxin into items, with the color of the luxin determining the properties of the item. Most drafters can draft one or two colors, while the Prism can draft all the colors. There is only one Prism alive at one time and the Prism is the military, spiritual, and political leader of the Satrapies.

Summary – Characters

There are three principal viewpoint characters and three minor viewpoint characters.

Gavin was the Prism but has lost his powers. He escaped the special cells under the Chromeria. He must now find the god, Orholam, at the Tower of Heaven and kill him to save the seven satrapies.

Kip has taken the city of Dunbheo in the Blood Forest. Kip must keep his volatile coalition together to protect the city from the advancing White King. The problem is that the White King could get between the Chromeria and Dunbheo. Kip must decide who to protect. The wrong choice could lose the war and end the seven satrapies.

Teia had infiltrated the secret Order of the Broken Eye. It is a dangerous mission, complicated by her interaction with the assassin named Murder Sharp. The Order sends her on an important mission, and she must succeed or they will kill her father.

Karris White Oak is the new White. She must marshal her forces against the White King with the help and hindrance of Andross Guile.

Andross Guile is shown becoming the man he becomes through the use of flashbacks.

Liv Danavis serves the White King and has come into a significant power.

Recommendation

In Burning White by Brent Weeks, the three principal characters have important tasks to perform. The tasks are straightforward but are not complete by the end of the previous novel. In this novel, the author answered all questions about Gavin, Kip, and Teia. I felt like the ending was an unnecessary Deus ex Machina. What happened to Kip bothered me. Maybe it could have gone down another way. I guess my problem with the story as written is that I felt like Kip was the main character in the novel and he would have agency at the end. I was wrong. Gavin is the main character of the series and that clouds the ending for me.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Burning White by Brent Weeks.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43100496-the-burning-white

My review of Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks, book 4 of The Lightbringer series. The author sets up the last conflicts for the Lightbringer to bring balance to the seven satrapies.

Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks

Review of The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks, book 3 of The Lightbringer series. Gavin, Kip, Teia, and Karris fight the Color Prince and the Order of the Broken Eye. They face a climactic confrontation at the Chromeria. Another excellent book in the series.

Broken Eye by Brent Weeks

This is the link to my review of the Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks.

The Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks

This is the link to my review of Black Prism by Brent Weeks.

The Black Prism by Brent Weeks