#Capital Sci-Fi Con

[fanthatracks]

Capital Sci-Fi Con: 11th - 12th February 2023: Star Wars stars coming to Edinburgh

Star Wars stars join the guest list at Capital Sci-Fi Con 2023.

Read More On Fantha Tracks - https://fantha.news/6uynn

[paper-swirls]

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[companionofthetimelords]

BG3 Actor Convention list for 2025 so far

Listed in Character Alphabetical Order and by convention start date. I apologize for any errors and will try to update as time goes on.

Astarion - Neil Newbon

Mar 6th 2025 Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle Washington USA

April 11th 2025 C2E2 in Chicago Illinois USA

Apr 25th 2025 LVL UP EXPO in Las Vegas Nevada USA

Dark Urge - Neil Roberts

Jan 18th 2025 MegaConLive Dublin in Dublin Ireland

Jan 25th 2025 MegaConLive London in London England UK

The Emperor - Scott Joseph

Gale - Tim Downie

Mar 1st 2025 Comic Con Scotland Aberdeen in Aberdeen Scotland UK

Apr 4th 2025 Game On Expo (2025) in Phoenix Arizona USA

Gortash - Jason Isaacs

Mar 8th 2025 Lexington Comic & Toy Con in Lexington Kentucky USA

Mar 27th 2025 GalaxyCon Richmond 2025 in Richmond Virginia USA

Halsin - Dave Jones

Feb 7th 2025 Kami-Con in Birmingham Alabama USA

Jaheira - Tracy Wiles

Jan 18th 2025 MegaConLive Dublin in Dublin Ireland

Mar 1st 2025 Comic Con Scotland Aberdeen in Aberdeen Scotland UK

Karlach - Samantha Béart

Apr 4th 2025 Game On Expo (2025) in Phoenix Arizona USA

Apr 25th 2025 LVL UP EXPO in Las Vegas Nevada USA

Lae'zel - Devora Wilde

Mar 6th 2025 Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle Washington USA

April 11th 2025 C2E2 in Chicago Illinois USA

Apr 25th 2025 LVL UP EXPO in Las Vegas Nevada USA

Minsc - Matthew Mercer

April 11th 2025 C2E2 in Chicago Illinois USA

Oct 9th 2025 NYCC in New York New York USA

Minthara - Emma Gregory

Jan 25th 2025 MegaConLive London in London England UK

Feb 7th 2025 Kami-Con in Birmingham Alabama USA

Mizora - Tamaryn Payne

Feb 15th 2025 Capital Sci-Fi Con in Edinburgh Scotland UK

Narrator - Amelia Tyler

Orin - Maggie Robertson

Raphael - Andrew Wincott

Jan 18th 2025 MegaConLive Dublin in Dublin Ireland

Jan 25th 2025 MegaConLive London in London England UK

Rolan - George Taylor

Scratch - Shaun Mendum

Shadowheart - Jennifer English

Mar 6th 2025 Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle Washington USA

April 11th 2025 C2E2 in Chicago Illinois USA

Apr 25th 2025 LVL UP EXPO in Las Vegas Nevada USA

Wyll - Theo Solomon

[lemonidae]

Ai no Kusabi (The space Between) Light Novels by Rieko Yoshihara

About

Ai no Kusabi (間の楔, lit. "The Space Between") is a Japanese novel written by Rieko Yoshihara. Originally serialized in the yaoi magazine Shōsetsu June between December 1986 and October 1987, the story was collected into a hardbound novel that was released in Japan in 1990, and eventually expanded on and released in 6 paperback volumes (8 in the international edition).

Plot

This futuristic tale takes place on a planet ruled by a super computer Jupiter, where its cyborg creations, the Elites, who are assigned various social roles based on their hair color, rule over the human populace. Iason Mink, a high-class "Blondy" elite from the capital Tanagura, runs into Riki, a "Mongrel" from the slums, and makes him his "Pet". This decision was seen as taboo in Tanagura where Pets are a status symbol and are expected to be well-bred, and was also unacceptable to Riki who had his freedom taken away from him. As Riki learns of the dangers Iason faces by keeping him, he finds himself developing feelings for his master. While focusing on the relationship between Iason and Riki, Ai no Kusabi also explores issues of caste systems and social exclusion, as well as the implications of Artificial Intelligence ruling over a human society.

Tagged: Mature, Drama, Sci-fi, Tragedy, Yaoi, Androids, Violence, Discrimination, Dystopia, Non-con, Rape

Download ENG: chui riza | AA

Sources:

[thelowerdecker]

My Dipper Cosplay!

I am so proud at how it turned out, much better and more accurate than my previous attempt ages ago! ♥️ This was taken in “Capital Sci Fi Con” yesterday!

Yes, I am aware Paul McGann is in the background! :P Honestly, that was intentional.

[skyler10fic]

WonderGirls: Ch. 1

Summary: Daisy Johnson is cast in her first big starring role as a superhero in a Wonder comic-book action film after her long-running TV show ends. She's out as bisexual in the industry and to her show's devoted fanbase, but it's hardly newsworthy in comparison to the A-list celebrity stardom of her idol-turned-new-costar, Carol Danvers. America's Sweetheart has a secret and she's under a lot of pressure to keep it that way as Wonder Studios tries to market their characters as love interests for Pride clout without infuriating the haters and bigots. Will rainbow capitalism land on their side toward real progress or will fear win out over love, both in the movie and behind the scenes?

Read on Ao3

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“Cut!” 

Daisy relaxed as the director conferred with the assistants. It was their third straight day of shooting and Daisy still hadn’t met her co-star in this superhero film, aside from a group Zoom for script read-throughs. Carol Danvers, a gorgeous blonde bombshell, was a Hollywood darling of the moment with her previous work on a historical romance, an all-female Top Gun remake, a beloved sci-fi instant cult classic, and a charming family-reunited comedy. Daisy, however, had spent the last decade in a spy TV series. She was grateful for her big break going on so long, of course, but it was time to show she had more to offer as an actress than being the IT-geek-turned-action-hero sidekick. The TV show writers had eventually given her more than teen genius comedic relief lines as she had grown into a young adult, but as sad as she was to say goodbye to the cast that had become a family, it was time to spread her wings. 

Her action scenes in the spy show had landed her a spot in the next big superhero film, WonderGirls, from the Wonder comic-book movie franchise. She was playing one of the four titular girls and Carol played another. Specifically, Carol’s character and her own were supposed to fall in love, in a groundbreaking, much-hyped will-they-won’t-they romance. Wonder had limited the script to a vague love confession and embrace so they could still distribute the movie overseas where a sapphic storyline would be frowned upon or even banned completely. 

Instead of “taking five” and drinking expensive bottled water alone on set between awkward stunts, Daisy had wanted to ask Carol how she felt about it, both the scene and the politics of it. And she wanted to strategize for their promo tour during Pride month next year, designed to turn the film into a lauded progressive summer blockbuster without losing any international revenue. 

But so far all Daisy had done was train with a personal trainer from the studio and her stunt double, attend script readings with the whole cast, and film flying scenes in a harness in front of a green screen. Her character didn’t technically have the power of flight the way Carol’s character did, but she could jump high enough that it resulted in a similar effect, so only one of them could use the harnessed set at a time. Daisy was scheduled first for everything since she was now technically otherwise unemployed with the conclusion of her TV series and Comic-Con behind her. She had her own diehard fans at the cons, but even she hadn’t been able to get close to Carol’s panel and signing table. She’d barely glimpsed her future co-star before Carol was swept off to another studio to shoot a promo for her latest family comedy, coming soon to theaters. 

Between brand deals, international film festivals, promo spots, and only the most prestigious con panels, Carol had been wrapping late reshoots and starting her press tour. Daisy, meanwhile, had come home to an empty house after a very emotional trip to San Diego full of closure and ice cream. And she didn’t know what to do next. Scripts from her agent started to come in after a few days, but the parts for moms (she was only 28!) and eye-candy love interests of male main characters depressed her, and the parts for spy/crime show tech support felt too type-casted. 

This part, a WonderGirl, seemed too good to be true. Not just a sexy side character or a quirky support role, but a film starring hero. It was somewhat familiar with the action, yet also totally different, a broader audience, and a chance to inspire queer girls everywhere. And, of course, working with Carol Danvers was a huge draw. Daisy might have had a bit of a celebrity crush on her, if it were cool for celebrities to have crushes on bigger celebrities. 

More importantly, her career was not dead—despite having to hang in the air from a wire while pretending to be unconscious from the blast of a villain’s weapon, all of which would be added in postproduction. 

At the end of the day, Daisy grabbed some pizza from craft services and headed back to her trailer to eat dinner alone and study her lines. She had one night shoot scene tonight and then she could go home. And then back to the studio again early in the morning for more.  

—------------------------ 

Carol Danvers was exhausted. She was constantly surrounded by people telling her she was running late, needing more things from her, and trying to get her to sign pieces of paper or pose for a photo. The fans were not the exhausting part so much as just the general busyness of it all. The lights flashing and the international flights and the relentless pace of everyone’s success and futures riding on her.

It was her name on the billboards, her face on the latest issues of all the magazines, but in reality, she had a team of people financially depending on her ability to charm and impress. 

Today’s New York rain had slowed down the day considerably, plus mobs of press and fans. Her agent, publicist, assistant, and bodyguard worked together to keep everything on schedule for today’s photo shoots and publicity videos and more, but some things couldn’t be helped. 

“Shoots on WonderGirls start tomorrow,” her assistant reminded her as the small entourage ducked into a restaurant they knew would keep out the paparazzi. 

“Yeah, I have some concerns about the script,” Carol admitted. They were seated and confirmed their “usuals” would be fine. “It’s not so much what’s there as what… isn’t.” 

Her publicist sighed. “You have that look. The one where you’re about to get serious with unserious people. It’s Wonder. It’s comic book movies. Don’t overthink it.” 

Carol frowned in thought. “But they are trying to make it a breakthrough film for queer representation. That’s how they pitched it to me. So, where is it? Where’s the queer scenes or lines?” 

“I’ll talk to my people at Wonder,” her agent promised. “I’ll see what we can do to make it more explicitly stated, but I don’t know that they can push it much more between the protests of Concerned Moms for American Values and the political climate, especially in the international market right now…”  

The waiter brought out some champagne samples for them to try and approve for Carol’s official endorsement. As he passed out the glasses, he explained each brand too fast for Carol to remember any of them and disappeared back into the kitchen.

As soon as he was gone, Carol’s agent kept talking, but Carol’s attention wandered. She looked around to the people who knew her best and realized that they were all her employees. She didn’t think of them like that. She thought of them as a team, and they were each the best in the business. But at the end of the day, this was a professional business dinner, not friends venting together without real-world consequences on the table. Even drinking champagne together was about a business decision. 

So instead of unburdening her heart about what it was like to be “an open secret” and “Hollywood out” and being told now wasn’t the time to be visibly queer or that it would hurt box office sales to talk about LGBTQIA+ issues, she nodded along and ate her meal. By the time they finished, the crowd outside the restaurant had been driven away by pounding rain, and the entourage rushed to the waiting luxury SUV with dark coats held up and open like umbrellas to shield Carol and themselves from the worst of the storm. 

As they drove back to their hotel to pick up their luggage and head to the airport, Carol watched the rain against the window and wondered what it would be like to twirl an umbrella in it as long as she wanted, maybe even to kiss a real girlfriend in real rain—not a male co-star with a practical effects machine dumping water on them. 

Unfortunately, reality was not on the schedule. Tomorrow, she’d be back in LA and acting her way through the day, not just as her character but as the perfect, shiny, Hollywood star from dawn to midnight with coworkers who’d be doing exactly the same and then plotting her downfall behind her back. When she’d had her big break at 16, it hadn’t seemed so different from high school. Now at 30, boarding yet another red-eye flight, she was ready for a change.  

[emberlyric]

Updated July 9th, 2024

--

Writeblr intro ~

Hi! My name is Emberly Erick and I’m a writer and digital artist. My current WIPs are a cyberpunk superhero novel called Anomaly and a YA fantasy novel called Soulbind.

I’m hoping to use this blog to promote my original work and hopefully some more projects in the future!

My art tag: #emberlyricart

My writeblr tag: #emberlywrites

My instagram: here - more art of my characters + a few animations

My twitter: here

My Cara: here

—

My WIPs ~

Soulbind

(old pic, working on some new ones)

--my YA fantasy story. In a world where the gods and goddesses choose each individual's magical attunements based on the strength of their life-bind, Jory is a soulbinder, a unique and rare attunement random granted by gods that steals a sliver of another's life-bind - usually those the soulbinder is close to. Soulbinders are shunned in most societies, and Jory's home nation of Losyros is no different. Bitter and arrogant, but cunning and analytical, Jory bides his time, running cons in lower Siolyn, the capital of Losyros. But Jory gets an opportunity from the prince and becomes the prince's Kingsworn, an ancient role reserved only for soulbinders. Everything falls apart when Jory is kidnapped by the Ashborne, the champion for the goddess Gholgane, who wants Jory unbound at once. Now Jory has to rely on his wits, his best friend Nahia, and Prince Cydri to rescue him before he is lost to them forever.

Status - Editing Second Draft!

Anomaly

--my YA sci-fi/superhero story. Lian, a poor anomaly from District Lacerta in Layer Comet, discovers he is a Class A anomaly - an anomaly with powerful superhuman abilities, in his case super speed. Class B anomalies have been around for centuries, and the Pyramid harvested augmentations from them. Augmentations, or just augs, were simple modifications that non-anomalies used to make their lives easier, such as enhancing memory, sight, reflexes, etc. Lian tries to keep his status as a Class A a secret - society is not reacting well to the discovery of these more powerful anomalies - but he is captured by the Zenith Order, who claims they want what is best for everyone and to keep them safe. A scientist named Rosmyle experiments on Lian, hoping to understand anomalies better. Things turn around when Lian manages to escape - and takes six other traumatized anomalies with him. Now they have to survive a chaotic and prejudiced Layer Comet to make it to an area of the Layer where anomalies can live in peace.

Status - starting second draft!

——

---What to expect from my blog ~

WIP snippets of scenes

Character sheets

Character art

Writing ramblings

Moodboards

Writing progress

Tag games

Character art

Please feel free to send me messages/asks about my story or my art! I would love to hear from you!

—

---Misc ~

Fandoms: sorry if this rando writeblr blog follows you, I have a few fandoms I'm into at the moment, such as:

World of Warcraft

Overwatch

Detroit: Become Human

Hazbin Hotel

The Beatles/many other bands

Avatar: The Last Airbender

The Owl House

Pokemon

Sims 2

Persona 5

Currently reading: Lightlark by Alex Aster

[milkpumpkin96]

Minds Beneath Us Review

I don't often play games on my PC . . . but damn, I cannot stop myself from playing and writing about BearBone Studio's first ever release.

Needless to say, I am quite impressed with Minds Beneath Us, released not too long ago yet remains obscure. If you are into narrative-based gameplay with elements of dystopian sci-fi, deep philosophical questions, and emphasis on complex relationship navigation, then this is the game for you.

I have a surface-level review at Movies, Games & Tech, but I am digging a little deeper here, now that I have completed all the endings (and the post-credit scenes have updated as of August 29th).

[MASSIVE SPOILER WARNING]

OVERALL SCORE: 9/10

It honestly pains me not to give this game a perfect score, but I know for sure that some aspects could have been better.

Minds Beneath Us performs brilliantly at addressing the current implications of A.I. and what this means for humanity.

"It is no secret that A.I. and its capabilities are igniting a fierce global debate. The future of this rapidly developing technology has stirred a myriad of concerns for people, not only in terms of employment, but it also adds to the existential questions of human purpose and exceptionality."

Everyone has their own opinions on the pros and cons of A.I., but I am sure Tumblr is at the forefront of anti-generative A.I. You know, with it stealing digital art and music from pre-established humans. Minds Beneath Us takes these issues a step further. The game takes place in the year 2049, not too far from our current reality, where automation runs the world in its entirety: data collection, security, housing, employment, transportation, the food and beverage industry . . . I mean, I guess this is happening now too.

Overall, this title conveys their story quite meaningfully and provides a surplus of well-thought-out characters, intriguing (albeit hefty) dialogue, engaging QTEs, and the power for players to alter how the plot unfolds. I appreciate the immediate story hook in the prologue as well.

Perhaps some people may dislike the inherent lack of actual action-based gameplay, but I think it works for what Minds Beneath Us is trying to do. And, get ready; this game is not meant to have a happy ending per se.

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GAMEPLAY: 8/10

Minds Beneath Us lacks in the "gameplay" department, acting more like a visual novel. I cannot complain though. Steam tags it as an "emotional, sci-fi narrative."

The game itself is quite hefty to my surprise, taking a whopping 6.25 gigabytes to download. But, the game runs smoothly and beautifully as of its latest updates. When I first began playing near the initial release date, I had several issues with lag and my save file would occasionally disappear. All of the problems have been resolved.

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For one, I must talk about the art style. It is reminiscent of Playdead's Inside: simple, dully, 2D-shaded with an eerie overlay. The most prominent aspect, like Inside, is the lack of human facial features. Characters are identified by their gait, hairstyle, stature, and gesturing for the most part. To some people this may seem odd or uncomfortable because facial expressions are key to human interaction and understanding.

But, I think that this stylistic choice works amazingly. I may be reading too much into it . . . but aligning with the game's theming, at first glance the lack of face individuality insinuates humans being solely considered a "number" in the society of late-stage capitalism. Just an asset; a cheap commodity compared to the superior A.I. A.I. itself does not inherently need a face, it just does what it needs to do or "thinks" needs to be done. Without a face, a piece of humanity is lost.

On the other hand, one thing that Minds Beneath Us does highlight is character movement. The people noticeably breathe, and motion with their hands and posture and heads. The way the game is animated (which BearBone Studio says is hand-drawn, by the way) is so impactful that I can almost hear them and feel their emotions, despite the lack of face and audible voice. When a disgruntled person slams their hand down on the table in frustration, I feel myself jerking back in anxiety. When the character Wayne erupted in anger at Justin following the proposed shutdown of the farm . . . the way the dialogue slammed onto screen and how Wayne's body arched in an attack-like stance put me on my toes. I could feel it.

That breathing animation though! Again, I might be reading too much into it, but as opposed to the lack of facial features, the pronounced breathing reminds me that these characters are indeed humans. Living creatures. A.I. does not breathe, but humans do. This becomes even more upsetting at the end of the game, when project "Sleeping God" is revealed to be mass experimentation on synthetic, manufactured humans. By legal and scientific "standards," these things are not considered fully people, implying that it is okay for them to be unethically utilized for a sole purpose. However, you can see these creatures murmuring . . . breathing . . . distinguishing them from the automation around you.

This has been a bit of a tangent, but I am mesmerized by the art and animation style. It feels so alive.

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The game is 2D with some three-dimensional elements, and players can walk or run in the directions of left or right. There will be lots of traveling around but towards the end of the game, it will automatically skip over unnecessary travel time.

For the most part, you can choose who you want to talk to outside of the main story, and players can click on certain items to take or learn more about them. For example, the player can click on a water bottle in Jason and Frances' bedroom and perform a classic bottle flip. Or, you can click on this flyer in the White Scorpion hideout and Jason himself will give you background knowledge on the fate of the building you're in. Or, you can click on the "MycoCept" medicine bottle and a text blurb will tell you that it "reduces implant rejection and soothes pain," and also tell you its serial number.

Some of this seemingly irrelevant information can give the players incredibly important knowledge, whether for world-building purposes or by granting the player "new pathways," meaning that you will receive new dialogue options you otherwise wouldn't have. These dialogue options can affect the overall game, or at least warrant special responses from others.

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The star feature of Minds Beneath Us is the fact that it is a choice narrative, meaning that your dialogue choices may and will effect how the story unfolds.

Essentially, you are controlling the main guy Jason Dai. Well, you are controlling the entity that is controlling Jason Dai.

I cannot say for certain that the MBU in Jason Dai's body is supposed to be the player themselves, I really do not think that is the case. But regardless, this is who you are playing as and with it you'll make decisions.

The decisions you make will influence Jason Dai's future and the relationships around him. Players will receive thoughts and opinions from Dai himself, and you can choose to abide by it or ignore it completely. Ignoring Jason's desires may not make him very happy, though. Overall, do as you may. The MBU can be kind and curious, or mean and neglectful--the important thing is, however, not to expose yourself as an MBU to the world. You have to act as Jason Dai.

Some dialogue choices will have indefinite time. You can take your own pace choosing what to answer, considering all the information you might have. Other times, there is a time limit to response, sometimes slow and sometimes insanely quick. Always be at the ready to make a fast decision, because it can cost you Jason's life in a real sense or metaphorical sense. Sometimes there is no telling whether the choice you make is inconsequential or will have dire consequences later on.

Having unlocked new pathways from clicking on objects, or by being investigative and probing during conversations, will open a lot more options for you. You can open up side quests (more like side conversations), which its purpose is to flesh out the characters more. For example, choosing to talk to your coworker Paxton on day two will unlock the "Showdown is Nigh" side quest. He recruits you into talking to Quentin from the screening sector into having a "showdown" with him, as they are both "chubby nerds" (his words, not mine). However, you'll learn that Paxton is just kind of bashful and wants a friend, but hardly knows how to engage in peer conversations.

Other specific dialogue options can do a lot of things, from mending relationships between coworkers Jeff and his adoptive father Mr. Liao, which Jeff will then thank you and Mr. Liao will invite you to dinner in response. Or, you can hound Justin Wu into acknowledging his lack of empathy and apologize to Cathy, as he had hurt her feelings and forced her to backstab the screening division. All Cathy wants is for Justin to recognize her capabilities and independent choices. You can even convince Cynthia from the logistics department to hook up with Wayne Zheng, as they both are crushing on one another. Essentially, the player has the option to get involved with all the drama and act as a peace-keeper therapist.

Some decisions will carry a lot more weight to them. At the very end of the fourth chapter, if you do not head straight to bed and instead knock on the neighboring door, you will reveal a massive underlying plot element. There is no apparent in-game indication to even do this, so you, the player, must be curious enough to try out anything and everything. If you knock on the door repeatedly, you'll reveal the true intentions of the character 23, which then will 100% influence the dynamic between Situ, 23, and Lawrence.

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Some choices are innocuous and do not do too much. Like, the MBU has the option to say "goodbye" to people at the end of conversations, or instead say nothing. You can say "I love you" to Jason's girlfriend, Frances, but no matter what the story will not be influenced.

This may be a bit of a negative for Minds Beneath Us. There is not enough game-changing decisions. I would have liked it a little more if each and every option had a semblance of impact . . . but I think the biggest issue is is that no choice you make influences the actual ending you receive, aside from the final decision.

There are four possible endings the player can get. It does not matter what the hell you do, these ending options will always be there, only determined by the last decision you make. There is only one exception though--the ending that focuses on Jason Dai getting out of dodge and joining the Moonflowers under a new identity. This ending is actually unavailable unless you make a very specific choice in the PROLOGUE. If you manage to keep Albert Tsai alive, the character Ivan Zheng will feel indebted to the MBU inside Jason and pitch him the idea of joining the Moonflowers to protect Dai from ultimate harm further down the road.

There are other massive game changers, just not ones that impact the end. Most notably, in chapter three, the player must decide whether to join the screening sector or the ops sector. This will affect the people you interact with and a lot of story elements henceforth, each having their pros and cons. Joining a specific side will also influence the fate of Silencio, the flops farm you work at. Unless you are actively working towards the "bridge builder" achievement, where Dai is able to bring both sectors together for a compromise, lots of people will be upset.

Most other decisions only effect relationship dynamics. But, the ways the characters interact are great, and probing them only gives more depth.

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Minds Beneath Us is not particularly difficult. There will be QTEs, which I will discuss later, but they are brief and even if you mess up, there is an instant redo.

The hardest part of the game is probably just not using a guide. It may be hard to determine what choices are going to make things happen. Really, just do anything and everything possible. Knock on every door. Enter every room. Talk to everyone. But, try to be nice for the most part--dialogue will depend on the character's personality, but being friendly mixed with an assertive inquisitiveness gets the job done. Never skip out on asking further questions, but avoid unnecessarily brash responses . . . like asking a contractor why she decided to have kids if she's struggling to take care of them. Yeah, that will not go well.

The game says it will take about 12 hours to finish the first playthrough. Um, it took me like almost 30 hours. Why? I don't know. I did everything I could, and discovered every side conversation, hidden secret, and in my opinion, I selected the "better" ending. I also redid a chapter so I could play in both the ops and screening sector.

The saving mechanic used to be a bit buggy but has been fixed. Though, players cannot save the game at will. There will be autosaves that happen after every setting change or important conversation. If you are upset with your choices, you can select a chapter and redo it. The game supports multiple save files.

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I think the biggest mechanic disappointment was with the tab button. There was an insinuation I would be able to read minds or something as an MBU? But that is not true. The tab button pulls up this cool, techy-looking display but only tells you your main objective and sometimes other minor objectives. You are just kind of looking inside the MBU's thoughts. I think this function could have been neater somehow.

This is especially so with the potential that MBUs are able to detect other MBUs. Woody Chen is a character possessed by one of these things, and seems to know that Jason is too, and knows Jason's full name without us telling him. Why couldn't I do that?

**This is a wild theory . . . but the fact that Woody knew the full name "Jason Dai" and blurted it out without us telling him; the player can do the same thing to the security guard named Michael Hsiao. Jason can blurt out Michael's full name, which will catch the latter by surprise as they had never met before. Is he an MBU as well, perhaps? He seemed nervous and confused the entire game.

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MUSIC: 8/10

I cannot say that the music is the most memorable, but it is perfectly fitting for the game itself. It sounds atmospheric, eliciting a somewhat nervous yet curious vibe. I am an MBU discovering the world and its horrors so freshly, and the reclused Jason Dai must face the reality he tried to hard to be ignorant of. Yeah, that is what the music feels like. Unsettling, techy, with some piano work, and lots of synth.

There are occasional tonal shifts: sometimes a track is excitingly dangerous, as when combat ensues or massive horrible information is leaked. The intensity of the music will amp up. Other times, tracks are light-hearted bops, like when roaming around the city of Wanpei in the night.

Every sound just felt so woven into the settings themsevles.

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You can watch this video, or purchase the soundtrack DLC on Steam.

Within the soundtrack, my favorites are . . .

Frances' theme (bittersweet, loving, and homey and cozy like a Minecraft track. After all, she is the loving girlfriend of Jason Dai)

City of Light (a lighthearted bop, giving me the sensation of amazement)

Nin's theme (a bit somber but powerful; she is a respectable but perhaps unreliable figure)

Let's Fight (when this song would play, I knew to get my ass ready)

Ops Division (It just . . . gave off the vibe that something fishy was going on, before this knowledge was revealed to us)

Ghost Protocol (I associate this song with the game itself)

The Sleeping God (ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

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STORY: 10/10

Minds Beneath Us features a storyline whose themes are becoming more common as of late . . . but it is for a good reason. I do not think plots revolving around artificial intelligence has been overdone quite yet, and I think it will take a while. This is what science fiction is all about: a play on, a mockery of, or a metaphorical callout to current or impending societal issues. Even with games like Cyberpunk and Detroit: Become Human, Minds Beneath Us manages to stand out.

Perhaps unlike a lot of media (even though this is changing), the game doesn't end . . . good. There are four possible ending sequences, in which are all rather gloomy. Jason only wanted a simple, quiet life, which this desire was soon adopted by Frances as well after coming to face with reality. However, these dreams are nigh. The duo has been roped in to a world they cannot escape, simultaneously being powerless to stop all the societal ills they've uncovered. Ultimately, Jason doesn't get his happy ending, but the player can at least mitigate by providing him safety and a source of income.

Minds Beneath Us is not a fantastical escape from reality. It is a cold reality check of sorts. And on another note, the game does not answer a lot of questions players may have, provoking us to challenge our own morality, philosophies, and self-worth in a world so far ahead.

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Minds Beneath Us has five chapters, and a prologue. It is rather tricky to summarize the plot, due to its complexities as well as the fact the players' choices can make such a difference.

Here is a link to an excellent guide, if you would like to follow along and reap the fullest game experience: https://www.neoseeker.com/minds-beneath-us/walkthrough

Overall, it is a story of conspiracy, betrayal, unethicality, and faction-based thinking. . . yet also truth-seeking, building friendships, seeking justice, and compromise. Each and every character is splendid, having their own separate character arcs whether featured in the main story or as a side plot; everyone's mind is so complex, human, and facing dualities that the player may help to resolve.

Despite the game's heaviness on the dialogue, I could never bring myself to skim through it. Every little detail is either relevant or interesting, making the world so lifelike and relatable.

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The prologue swoops in with a vehement bang, asserting its uncomfortable, dystopian motifs immediately. However, much of these will not be unraveled until later chapters. Minds Beneath Us has intriguing pacing; a bit of a slow-burner, but never a slow-down. The plot hook is immediately strong.

The game begins in a confusing frenzy: an older man named Ivan Zheng violently bangs on the door to a hospital room. Shortly thereafter, the player's screen begins to glitch, and Zheng abruptly ceases as we take control of him.

Throughout the game, the player will be controlling an "M.B.U.," some sort of assault-type silencer artificial entity created in lab. Humans who have had chipped brains, either during birth or unwanted surgery, will be susceptible to being "possessed" by MBUs. These entities are controlled at "the source," which is the area in the prologue, by a man named "The Calibrator" and the alien-tech scientists around him (I am unsure if they are actually aliens, but they are certainly quite advanced).

However, in the prologue, as Ivan Zheng tries to fight off the MBU and The Calibrator after making him harm his drugged underling, Albert Tsai, this being called "The Anomaly" invades the place. It kills everyone, except Ivan, Albert, and the MBU.

The Anomaly then mumbles to the player, you are free. Something like that. It asserts that the MBU potentially has its own free will and consciousness.

It then forces us far away into the body of Jason Dai, a seemingly average man who lives with Frances Cheng, his girlfriend, in a simple apartment in futuristic-city Wanpei.

This will be our main guy for the rest of the game. The point is, you are playing as the little man: Jason is just some guy who finally got employed as a large company, and all he wants is to survive and live a "cozy, quiet life" with his girlfriend. However, Dai is living in willing ignorance and refuses to look deeper into the societal ills around him. Can't blame him, though. In our modern day, as we have 24/7 access to the atrocities of the world. We must all must feel rather fatigued and powerless. There is bliss in ignorance.

However, Jason and Frances unwittingly get roped into some dark information and threatening circumstances.

The two work at Silencio, a flops farm under the Vision Corporation. "Flops" are computational power generated by "farms' in order to operate all of Wanpei's A.I. systems. This industry is literally the main pillar of society--if something happens to the A.I., or the cloud, everything falls apart. There are several flops farming companies, like Vision, Growell, and Tendril. The business Sunrise provides these corporations with necessary equipment including A.I.-powered security cameras and listening devices.

Flops farming seems weird, but it is a double-edged sword. On one hand, this provides job opportunities to many. The middling class, like Jason Dai, can work at these corporations for good benefits and decent pay. And . . . where do these farms get their flops from? Human brains, of course. People who are unfortunate victims of society, living in the "slums," the "shithole," or otherwise these "evacuation zones" because suburbs of Wanpei are prone to intense flooding (thanks, climate change), these poorer class individuals need money fast.

At the farms, those in need of cash are interviewed by Silencio's screening division to make sure they are able-bodied and relatively healthy. Once signed onto a contract, these "shithole dwellers" go down to the cellar, are tranquilized to be sedated, and are hooked up to these devices to transfer their brain power into "flops" to fuel the city's A.I. systems. They are then suspended from the ceiling. Literally, minds beneath us.

This seems . . . rather cruel and unusual. But, the contractors get a lot of money, health insurance, and all. The procedure is typically only weeks at a time and they are put into a deep, nourishing sleep via tranquilizers and feeding tubes. Its not very cushy. But, it pays the bills I suppose.

However, Silencio is very old in model, and not appropriately funded. There is risk when it comes to "juicing," and even more so with the industry's sketchiness. In chapter two of the game, Jason Dai (and the MBU) will witness mechanical malfunction, where an automated tranquilizer is repeatedly jabbed into a "juicer" in lethal dosage. And, one juicer will plummet from the ceiling.

However, there is more than meets the eye. Minds Beneath Us features topics of late-stage capitalism, profit over ethics . . . these threats do not only come from lack of funding, but internal sabotage, division warfare, and disgusting secret experimentation.

Players will learn that Silencio is producing an insane amount of flops, despite the farm not running at full capacity. The ops division accuses screening of sending down unqualified candidates, and the screening division accuses ops for recklessness with the machines. Jason Dai will ultimately get wrapped up into the darker recesses of corporate greed after Silencio's boss, Eva Yeh, sends a secret, disturbing hard drive to Frances containing alarming information about Vision. Having this knowledge that Frances and Jason should not have, an attempt at Frances Cheng's life occurs after confronting the CEO. Unfortunately, the company has close-knit connections to gang mercenaries, resulting in conspirators' untimely demises.

The couple get rescued by a subgroup within OWL, a secret police organization. These members include Nin Situ, 23, and Lawrence Chang. Situ, the lead, is very much like Jason--an individual that can be possessed by MBUs, and also someone who was genetically modified to be stronger and faster at birth. Jason Dai is this way too, unbeknownst to him until know, which makes sense. You are playing as this guy, and he can almost supernaturally kick ass during fights.

Not a surprise. I mean, here in 2024 we have the CRISPR gene-editing coming our way.

Jason and Frances have no choice but to join this ragtag group to ensure safety. Plus, genetically engineered individuals are typically hunted down and killed by OWL due to being (on average) mentally unstable or overly powerful foes to society. According to Situ, Jason will have to join OWL eventually to secure his life.

Jason Dai and his girlfriend have been roped into a world they do not desire. Goodbye to a peaceful life, and Jason will rely on you, the MBU, to protect him and Frances at all cost. A beautiful metaphor, not only does Jason not have any control over his circumstances, but literally no control over his body. You are talking and acting for him, like a puppet. But, since this game is all about the choices you make, you can either be a true asshole puppet master or a genuine friend for Dai.

The OWL group will go through lots of hoops to obtain critical data and discover the source of the flop output surge. You will come to realize the the gang of three is not exactly reliable, as they are literally operating without OWL's own awareness (or so they think). Despite the secrets, unreliability, and dangers of these missions, you all grow close to some degree.

The thing about Minds Beneath Us is despite the world's traumas and greed, most characters within the game, on a personal level, are good at heart. They all abide by their own morals and definition of "justice," either wanting to protect themselves and their loved ones (e.g., Jason Dai, Mr. Laio, 23), or do their best to benefit the community around them (e.g., Wayne Zheng, Eva Yeh, Frances Cheng).

The source of the extra flops is beyond sinister, however. The final chapter reveals an ungodly "Sleeping God" project happening behind the scenes: Vision's Red Room has conducted mass experimentations on these synthetic humans. They use manufactured tissues and nerves, like stem cells, to create a body and brain, and then they implant replicated/copied memories and egos of real human subjects onto them to give them a degree of consciousness, which outputs brain power. This is apparently a cheaper alternative than hiring contractors from the slums . . . you know, because they do not have to offer benefits and life insurance. Yuck.

They can be procured at a mass scale at will too. The scientists cut off the limbs and remove unnecessary organs to conserve energy for the brain. They insist that they are sub-human, inferior . . . even though Nin, Jason, and Lawrence witness the humanoids talking and breathing, mumbling "it hurts."

The production is beyond imaginable. There is a whole room full of hundreds of these guys. Turns out the extra flops had been outsourced from this facility. On the bright side, there is no extra unethical practice going on inside farms on full-fledged humans . . . but on the downside, who is to say that these synthetic people are not human? Who is to say this is not unethical and cruel?

Regardless, not much can be done about it. It has already kickstarted, and blowing up the place would only result in a major setback and kill a bunch of people, and cause havoc among an A.I.-powered society. OWL's little secret mission is--in all--hopeless. This is furthered by the fact the government privately legalized Vision's practices . . . because in the latest stages of capitalism, corporations control the government, right?

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As stated, it is incredibly difficult to summarize the story because so much happens. There is never a quiet moment. This expands further by the fact that the player's choices will affect the unfolding of the story. So, lots of different conversations and quests might happen, and there are scenes and critical information the player may not get because of a simple choice of dialogue.

As mentioned earlier, the only choice that affects the ending is the final one.

OWL accosts Jason, Lawrence, and Situ on Silencio's rooftop for committing "terrorist attacks" at Silencio and crimes with meddling, hacking, defamation, and violence. At this point, the MBU has become so embedded in Jason's mind, that Jason Dai himself will become pretty much "extinct" from his subconscious. The player cannot speak to him anymore, but he gave his opinion before hand--do not trust Situ, and/or if things go awry (which they did), use a stun bomb and escape the facility.

It is up to the MBU to determine the ultimate fate of Jason Dai. The MBU, surprisingly, will recount a lot of pleasant memories for some reason. Rather than think of the fear and horrors, the MBU will recall all the friends he made with his coworkers, and with the OWL agents, as well as Jason's love for Frances. I feel like this nostalgic trip is pushing the player into making a particular choice (which, in my opinion, is probably the "best" one), but it is all up to what you click.

No ending is good. Frances and Jason will never get their own life back, harboring this intense knowledge and faced with illegal crimes. Jason and Frances can never work at Silencio again, and seemingly the only guarantee for bodily safety is to join OWL.

The first option is to give in and join OWL, whilst keeping connections with Situ. Situ will hold out her handgun, awaiting for you to hopefully grab and take it, as an offering of trust. Choose this option, and she will seemed almost touched (but will not show it). Jason is now under the care of OWL . . . but now must forever engage in dangerous missions, unfortunately partake in the protecting of large corporations, and will never have the "privilege of dying in a bed." At the very least, Jason gets to keep all the relationships he made aside from his former coworkers.

Another option is to join OWL, but refuse the gun. Jason Dai has stated he wanted to sever ties with the untrustworthy Situ, and you have that option. Nin will state that she understands. A bit sad, but makes sense. She prioritizes her safety above all else, and will not hesitate to abandon Jason and others if her life is on the line (although, she protected you time and time again during the past few days).

Whether you stay with Situ or not, these two choices are likely the "best." Some cutscenes will play, featuring Lawrence and 23 packing up the operations room, and attempt to rekindle their friendship after 23's treachery. Back at Silencio, the office will celebrate their new boss and the new fate of the farm. This scene is highly dependent on the MBU's actions in chapter three, whether he chose to work for ops or screening . . or, regardless of the choice, if the MBU tried to fix Wayne and Justin's friendship, there will be a lovely compromise. Overall, it is somewhat happy, and the workers will reminisce about Jason Dai's kindness, but feel sad about his sudden departure. There will be other scenes of the former CEO being forced to step down after the Red Room got attacked, making way for Yuna Hsu to climb up the corporate ladder. "Sleeping God," sadly, will still go on.

A scene that the developers just added not too long ago is absolutely wonderful: Frances proposing to Jason Dai. They hug, kiss, and simply exist as a happy couple.

There will be a final scene dependent upon whether you severed ties with Situ. They are kind of similar, because Jason does not fully trust Situ anyways, but still views here as a "friendly acquaintance." She will apologize for what happened to you. And, still, nobody knows that Jason was possessed the whole time.

The third ending can only be unlocked if you chose to save Albert Tsai in the prologue of the game. Jason Dai can use the stun weapon, and cause everyone on the roof to become temporarily paralyzed while he makes his grand escape. Earlier, Ivan Zheng told the MBU that the only true way Jason's body can be protected is if he gets the hell out of dodge and join the "Moonflowers," where he will be given an entire new identity. Jason Dai seriously considers the offer. If the MBU chooses to do this, Jason must leave everything behind . . . including Frances.

There will be a scene alternate to the proposal. Nin will be on the phone with Situ, swearing up and down that they will locate her boyfriend. Bittersweetly--well, more bitter than sweet--Frances will continue to devote her life to finding Jason. This is sad . . . because likely she never will. So, ultimately, you may have protected Jason and avoided sending him to a militant career, but you have distressed Frances Cheng's life for all eternity.

When Jason meets up with Zheng, he will insist that he has "no regrets" and is ready for his new, safe, quiet life, despite the "Frances-shaped hole in [his] heart." I can almost feel the pain emanating from those words. Perhaps there is a sliver of regret.

Lastly, the MBU can choose to go ahead and blow up the sickening facility, despite Situ's change of plans. Jason Dai is in possession of the detonator, so one click--it's all gone. This seems to be the choice of justice at a surface level, but it will result in soooo many consequences. With this option, players may feel that they have ended project "Sleeping God," fulfilled their mission, and had the privilege of getting the last laugh at Vision . . . but . . .

Blow it up, the CEO will scream and go bonkers. The lead of OWL, "Grandma," will tell him to calm down. She will ask Jason if he has any last words. The best option to say is probably "Tell Frances I am sorry, and that I love her," then all of the OWL agents will shoot Jason dead.

Not only will this forfeit Jason's life, going against his desires, but this ending is definitely the most upsetting and dark. It will cause a mass outage in the city, inciting derailing of trains and ship wrecks (as everything is run by automation). Once the cloud is down, the world is down. Instead of the proposal sequence, the scene will feature an empty apartment with the television blasting: mass causalities, evacuations in place. Blowing up the facility is killing a lot more people outside of the Silencio than you may realize.

This also will not stop the Red Room's project. Yuna Hsu will assure that "Sleeping God" will go on and be built from the ground up. So, yeah, it was literally all for nothing.

And, a final scene will play, with a sobbing, disgruntled Frances, screaming at Situ and blaming her for robbing Jason's life. Everyone is just . . . sad.

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SETTING: 9/10

The game takes place in December of 2049, just over two decades from the current present. The setting is in the city of Wanpei, inspired by the potential future version of Taipei, Taiwan. BearBone Studio is a Taiwanese indie developer after all.

I like how Minds Beneath Us does not take place atrociously far into the future, and it maintains semblance of modern times too. I think I could walk out into Wanpei and not be overly shocked, but instead uneased. The thing about Wanpei is that the district where Jason and Frances live, there are still local "ma and pop" shops, but other characters explain this is very much not the case elsewhere. Only several huge, dominating companies own and control everything. Seems accurate.

Everything in Wanpei, and I assume a greater portion of the world, runs on artificial intelligence. If the cloud were to suddenly fail, chaos ensues. For example, on the news, it is said the a glitch or shutdown happened with the cloud, causing cargo boats' self-steering systems to fail, resulting in a collision.

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All the scenes are gorgeous. The game takes place mostly indoors or at night--since the main characters work the night shift--so there is forever a looming dimness, even though Wanpei is illuminated by blue light. The city is a vast array of techy neon colors, bright and bold people, with an overlaying nightly purplish hue. It is all very fitting.

The game alternates between several settings: the initial simulation room, Frances' apartment complex, the streets of Wanpei, Silencio and its floors (the rooftop, the main room on 1F, the screening offices, the consultation floor, logistics, the cellar, and the flop core). You will spend like 80% of your time in these places. Later in chapters 4 and 5, Jason will go to the White Scorpion gang hangout, and the ultimately this secret Vision lab where horrors await. The game does a great job at making the laboratory settings feel devoid and anxiety-inducing.

While you spend most of your time in the same places, there is always something new, usually extra side conversations and drama. You may go through the cellar completely fine one time, but another time you will witness a "juicer" plummet from the ceiling to the ground.

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COMBAT: 7/10

It is hard to give this section a full rating because there isn't really true combat. The game features 6-7 QTEs, or quick time events, scattered throughout the game. The QTEs are infrequent and not the most involved, but I think they work well in general. I mean, Jason Dai is not some sort of warrior superhero (even though Situ wants to be the Batman) despite being genetically modified. He considers himself an average guy, and usually avoids physical confrontation.

The MBU is programmed to be a "silencer" combat unit. But, the MBU ends up kind of being a peacekeeper if you want it to be.

The QTEs involve the "E" key to punch, the spacebar to dodge, and occasionally the "A" and "D" key to move forward or backward. These events usually start and stop quickly so you must be at the ready.

The first one happens in the prologue, when a drugged Albert charges at Ivan Zheng. You press "E" to grab him by the neck (which will break and kill him if you choose to inject the blue liquid). Other QTEs include a stabbing incident at Silencio, gang members at the hospital, White Scorpion mercenaries at the flop core, these strange medieval-sounding gangsters at the White Scorpion hideout, among others.

They are damn quick, yet scarce. Nonetheless, the QTEs are exciting and pulls you right into the scene, reminding players that you are indeed playing a video game. Jason will have a small health meter, but it will take several hits and missteps to put him down. Dying will only restart the combat anyways, and does not impact the fate of your game. The QTEs are fairly easy overall, but there is a difficulty spike around chapter 3, and I did mess up a few times. Perhaps I am just not used to PC gaming.

My favorite part is the combat animation. It is incredibly fluid and I can literally feel the ungodly force of Jason Dai's punches and grabs.

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Other QTEs might be something like quickly catching a blade Situ throws behind your neck, showcasing Dai's quick reflexes. There is also a running sequence towards the end of the game where Jason has to jump over obstacles and avoid the flurry of bullets coming at him.

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ENJOYEMENT: 10/10

Minds Beneath Us is sticking to my brain in vehement amounts. It really got me to introspect even hours upon completion.

In an in-game E-Zine, it says,

Humans learn. Advanced learning capability is what sets us apart from animals. Sadly, the oversupply of knowledge can sometimes be a curse. With the aid from state-of-the-art AI, we are unlocking secrets of the human brain faster than ever. This process, however, gives birth to a new kind of existential crisis called "Anthropocentric Dismay." Scientists tapping into the potential of AI are finding that computers work, fundamentally, eerily like human brains. If so, is there really such thing as the human soul, or free will? Meanwhile, life science is seeing a revival, as researchers work extra hard to find a new way to establish the uniqueness of humanity."

I think that this conversation is insanely appropriate now more than ever. What truly makes humans unique? What makes us special, exemplary, more capable than other species?

I also enjoyed this conversation between Kaylee and Jesse:

Jesse: What is the human mind? Layers upon layers of noises, is what it is. The life of an average human is utterly distracted. Focusing on one single thing is impossible. There are random factors affecting our thinking, such as the weather, the mood, so on and so forth. All these factors combined makes each of us unique. But ultimately, this uniqueness has no meaning. We're just constructs made unnecessarily complicated. Still, we worship this complicatedness, inventing names for it. We call it the soul, the free will. Does it have any value?

Kaylee: I say this will to live is the result, not a reason. Who is in a position to give a definition to the meaning of life? We many not be in a position to give a verdict, but we do believe it nonetheless. Humans, though, are not one single being. Humans differ, especially over things that are pure speculation. They exist because they already exist. There's no prescriptive meaning to it. If there's no assigned meaning, we should invent our own meaning. AI doesn't have such mental faculty. It's focused and efficient, yet not a living thing. Does the invention of automobiles make the existence of horses meaningless?

Even as of now, human laborers are facing quite the crisis. A.I. has entered the realm of employment, sifting through our resumes, and taking both manual and artistic jobs alike. It is easy to tell a robot what to do, to save ourselves some "precious time and resources," but as Jesse says, humans for the most part don't even know what they want, or at the very least cannot articulate is. What does this say: humans are too complex, indecisive, emotional? Or, in Kaylee's terms, the human life has more value because we have to figure it our ourselves and proceed by our own will?

We are in times where capitalism is becoming late-stage, where massive companies can take the world over whilst finding ways to mitigate being defined as an illegal monopoly. Corporations affect the government and law, thus society at large. Human labor already is unfortunately cheap, and that is why we have issues with modern day slavery, and why companies prefer to hire people regardless of experience for a little of a wage as possible.

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Companies can get a way with a lot, despite increases in surveillance and data leaks. Who knows what is occurring today? In Minds Beneath Us, it is seen that efficiency and profit is taken to the extreme and the treatment of these "humanoids" is utter, horrific torture. But, as said by Grandma, these experiments had just been legalized.

Science is not specifically a moral practice. Gather a bunch of intellectuals and sociopaths (and simultaneously both) in a laboratory setting and boom: the Holocaust, the Gulag, Unit 731, unethical animal testing, among others. It makes those individuals with a good heart feel powerless. That is what Situ and the gang felt, knowing that all of this dangerous activity is ongoing secretly, but nothing can be done about it without disrupting and displacing the entirety of society. The world is built upon corruption.

We can see with the ops and screening sectors that a majority of folks do have good intentions, whether it be wanting to protect their loved ones or serving a greater, positive purpose for the community at large. However, everyone is unintentionally adding fuel to the fire due to what jobs are available and the standard of living . . . and as Justin said, sometimes you just got to go with the lesser of evils, unfortunately. Everyone, including higher-up positions, are just trying to keep their head out of the water. We have made an uncomfortable society for ourself, haven't we? And whether you think the world is on the upward or downward spiral, there are deeply ingrained societal ills among us.

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I just love a good game that makes me question my own morality and worldview. Minds Beneath Us does its job so well; the world feels alive, dystopian, but realistic. The characters are wonderful and the visuals are stunning. I can play this game again and again and again.

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**I will say, there are a lot of questions that go unanswered. Some things are meant to be ambiguous, to challenge the players' own thoughts.

Such as . . . what is an MBU? How were they made, what do they all do? Just why? Regardless of the ending you get, all players get this bonus ending scene where the MBU is sent back to the simulation room, facing the Anomaly. It asks you just that: what do you, the MBU, think you are? A human? AI? A being that just exists?

I also wonder about some other things. For one, we never got to learn the meaning of 23's name. She said she'd tell us . . . but never did.

Finally, what the hell was Edith Yeh's role? 23 found her to be suspicious, and she certainly was to me. She also kind of looked like both Eva Yeh and OWL's "Grandma." She was the only member of screening who was upset at the increased communications between divisions. She was entirely absent from the end-game credits at Silencio. Hmm . . .

TOTAL TIME SPENT: 28 hours

OVERALL SCORE: 9/10

PLATFORM USED: PC

DATE OF COMPLETION: August 2024

[junebugwriter]

The Case for Blue Beetle

A hero for the rest of us

Jaime Reyes has a lot on his shoulders. 

It’s an awkward place he’s been put in, by multiple factors. He stands amidst a rebooted universe, the vanguard in a world defined by the legacy of the big-name heroes that have come before him. Superman. Wonder Woman. Batman. The Flash. Aquaman. Cyborg. All of them have had their name in big marquee lights, and the first go at a cohesive DC film universe... failed. It’s not for lack of effort. Zack Snyder is as high effort as it gets. I really loved both Wonder Woman movies (YES EVEN WONDER WOMAN 1984, DON’T @ ME). But... it’s a universe that stumbled as soon as it was born. Man of Steel was a fine first outing, albeit with creative decisions that I didn’t really gibe with. However, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice was a colossal failure in almost every respect (and source of much personal anguish, but that’s a post for another day). Following that has been hit or miss, and the less said about David Ayers’ Suicide Squad, the better. But since The Flash hit the reset button on the cinematic universe, the question for all the comic fans is: what next? Where can we go from here? 

And that leads us back to Jaime. 

Before I go into spoiler territory, I’ll speak in broad strokes. This is a solid film. I really, honestly think it’s great and stable ground from which to build out a larger universe, but more than that, it’s the first one of these in a while that felt like it was about something. There were strong cohesive themes about family, legacy, capitalism and (failed) revolution, growing up, and navigating different cultures throughout. I’m not in the habit of giving out grades or scores, and honestly I don’t care for them. Grading is for chumps anyways. The movie speaks for itself in so many ways, and is so well-crafted, I can’t recommend it high enough. If you’re tired of superhero fare, that’s fine—the story is good enough divorced from the cool effects and sci-fi silliness of the genre. But I digress. Give it a watch. It’s fun and has given me a lot to chew on. VAYA CON DIOS, MUCHACHOS. 

The Boy who would be Bug

--SPOILERS BELOW-- 

Jaime Reyes is a young man with frankly too much on his mind. Coming off the heels of graduating from undergrad, he comes home to the fictional Floridian city of Las Palmeras to be with his family and start his life. (Note: In the comics, Reyes is from the actual city of El Paso, Texas, which gives his setting an entirely different vibe which frankly is disappointing, but that is probably the only major change in adaptation that bugged me, which is small potatoes if we are being honest.) But Las Palmeras itself is a parable, a city divided between the rich and the rest of us. The Reyes family tells him upon arrival (and after eating some local tacos) that the family is losing the house. Rent got jacked up, and the patriarch had a heart attack and can no longer run the family auto repair shop. So, Jaime and his sister Milagro scramble to find jobs, low-paying service work for the richest and most powerful family in the city, the Kords. 

The Kords, in contrast to the Reyes family, is one defined by their internal division. Where the Reyes family is instantly warm, boisterous, giving, caring, and supportive of all efforts of the respective members, the Kords are broken in multiple ways. In many ways, it’s a mirror to the Stark family of the Marvel universe: the dead patriarch built a weapons manufacturing company, the successor son wanted to get away from that in favor of more consumer-friendly tech, and in the wake of his disappearance, the overlooked sister Victoria Kord has steered the company back to its domineering and destructive roots as a weapons contractor for the US government.  

A fresh take on an old structure

I think it’s impossible to talk about this movie apart from its relation to Iron Man. I’m sorry, it’s about a person who wears a super powered high-tech suit of armor and fights against a usurper who wants to continue weapons proliferation and western hegemony. That’s the plot! That’s the text! It’s built on the same bones, and you’d be foolish to not see it. However, divorced from that rough sketch, the difference is all in the protagonist, and how they relate to family. Tony Stark is an individual, largely at odds with everyone else including his loved ones. He didn’t know how to be a person, let alone a person in connection with others. He had lived his life as a rich kid, and I’m sorry, that breaks your brain a bit.  

But the protagonist here did not come from a rich family. He came from an immigrant family, one that emerged out of the revolutions south of the border and escaped from them to find a new life in the US, and they have spent the past 3 generations trying to live the American dream. And finally, the American Dream has swallowed them whole. They live in a poor neighborhood slowly being gentrified by the rich, epitomized by the Kords. They are on the brink of destruction in a world that’s straining from the stress of the capitalist system on the margins of the imperial core, and they are not going to make it without a miracle. So, this is a different kind of story, built on the spine of the Iron Man model.  

Coincidences happen. Jaime walks in on a feud between Victoria, current CEO of Kord Industries, and Jennifer, the lone, orphaned daughter of the missing-in-action Ted Kord, the former CEO who was interested in wacky inventions rather than weapons. Jaime tries to intervene, to be the hero he is inside, but reality is far less accommodating, and this action gets him and his sister fired.  

Little Bug, Big Impact

For people on the bottom of the economic ladder, escaping your situation is largely impossible. But dammit, Jaime wants to stand up for people, and so he does what’s right, even if it comes at personal cost. That’s the through-line of the film. You do what’s right because it’s right, not because it will win you praise or security. You stick up for people, and you support your family.  

Jennifer catches up with Jaime, offers to keep in touch with him, and the two make plans to meet up the next day. Wacky hijinks ensue, and Jaime winds up in possession of an alien artifact that reacts to him, yadda yadda yadda, and wouldn’t you know it, the Scarab chooses Jaime to bond with, and becomes a symbiotic high-tech super suit. You know the tropes, you know how it goes. BUT. You see this all from the perspective of Jaime and his family. When Jaime’s clothes burn off, and he bursts through the ceiling, you understand “Oh, shit, that’s some serious property damage in this rental house.” Later you even see the tarp over the hole, and the poorly re-built table that got broken in the chaos. It’s little touches like that in the film that remind you “Oh, this is the kind of world that has consequences. Problems happen, and they keep having ripple effects.” 

We learn later that the Scarab was something that Ted Kord was looking for, because you see, he was secretly The Blue Beetle II, the successor to Dan Garrett, the original Blue Beetle, and original owner of the Scarab. The Scarab never chose Ted, but Ted carried on the legacy of the name. We know this because Jaime’s Uncle gives us the backstory—Blue Beetle was his favorite hero. He was “if Batman had ADHD.” Batman with a sense of humor. An inventor who was into heroics because it was right, but also because it was fun.  

That’s a crucial thing I think is worth dwelling on. It’s a statement of the kind of legacy that the DC movies as a whole need to wrestle with. The last time we saw heroes, it was very self-serious. Little levity, and even less color. Superman was a grimacing beacon of power, and a reluctant messiah. Batman was an uber-fascist terrorist. Wonder Woman was a world-weary soldier who saw the worst of humanity. It was a Dark Universe filled with Serious Heroes.  

Now, the first outing in this brand-new rebooted DCU? You get a kid who stumbles into it all. You get someone whose very name is defined by his color! Blue Beetle. It’s a goofy kind of name for a kind of outlandish character, but it’s one that fits. He’s a bug. He’s not a messiah, or a dark avenger, or a warrior princess. He’s a kid. A kid with the world on his shoulders. A kid who lives with his family on the ground level, not in a skyscraper or a Batcave or a fortress of solitude. He’s a kid from the poor side of town who got a lucky break and wants to fight for the little guy. That’s a statement. That’s a proper introduction to a new world. Yeah, all these titans and gods exist, but their problems rarely intersect with ours. The billionaire downtown who wants to buy up all the land in the old neighborhood? The one who wants to sell weapons of war and doesn’t care about the people that get in the way? The one who sees people as little more than test subjects or obstacles to getting profit? That’s the villain.  

Rudy, Jaime’s uncle, says that he loved the Blue Beetle because he was “one of us.” That is what he meant for him, and it’s a legacy that follows the name. Jaime is now the bearer of that legacy, and that’s not meant to be a burden but a challenge. And the best part is? He’s not doing this alone. 

A Family Bug

See, at some point Jaime gets captured, naturally. And who is there to bail him out? His family. All this time he’s spent trying to save and support them has not gone unnoticed. They take a bug-shaped tank, a bunch of weapons, and liberate him, while Jaime gets another shot at confronting the big bads. The final super-suit having goon gets a backstory—wouldn't you know, he’s a product of the warmongering that Victoria Kord stoked in Latin America—and it’s through empathy, relatability, and love that Jaime is able to defeat him. Strength is not in power. It’s in you and your family having each other and supporting the little guy. 

  I say we failed Blue Beetle, because it kind of came and went this year, didn’t it? It had the bad luck of being in the middle of a historic writer’s/actor's strike, and so promotion was stifled. But it’s also a C-list hero that nobody had ever heard of, with the biggest actors in it being Susan Sarandon and George Lopez.  

The thing of it though, is that kind of was how Iron Man started too. Iron Man, before the 2008 film, was a C-tier superhero. Robert Downey Jr. was a has-been washed-up actor. Yet it exploded in popularity. I wish Blue Beetle got the same treatment. It deserves a second look. It’s fun, energetic, and has real stakes and real story to it. It has a lot to say about our current moment from the position of living at the margins of society, and I really can’t help but say that we need it right now. We need fun. We need hope. But more than anything, we need solidarity. Love, empathy, solidarity—these are the things which give us strength. And that’s what Blue Beetle has in spades. 

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

I'm kickstarting the audiobook for "The Internet Con: How To Seize the Means of Computation," a Big Tech disassembly manual to disenshittify the web and make a new, good internet that picks up where the old, good internet left off. It's a DRM-free book, which means Audible won't carry it, so this crowdfunder is essential. Back now to get the audio, Verso hardcover and ebook:

http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org

#20yrsago Trademark-holders don’t have to be bullies https://web.archive.org/web/20030826225802/http://www.openp2p.com/pub/a/p2p/2003/08/14/trademarks.html

#15yrsago Stop Writing Young Adult Science Fiction https://gizmodo.com/stop-writing-young-adult-science-fiction-5037686

#15yrsago Young Adult Books Will Save Science Fiction https://gizmodo.com/young-adult-books-will-save-science-fiction-5036820

#15yrsago RIAA has to pay $107,951 for court costs in failed suit against disabled single mom https://yro.slashdot.org/story/08/08/15/1145236/riaa-pays-tanya-andersen-107951

#15yrsago Scamorama: book explains how to get into scambaiting as a hobby https://memex.craphound.com/2008/08/15/scamorama-book-explains-how-to-get-into-scambaiting-as-a-hobby/

#10yrsago NSA leaks trigger steep rise in ad/third-party-cookie blocking https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/study-nsa-scandal-still-setting-privacy-alarm-bells-among-consumers-151835/

#10yrsago On slagging off other writers’ books https://floggingbabel.blogspot.com/2013/08/on-my-refusal-to-mock-my-brothers-and.html

#10yrsago Decoding NSA doublespeak https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/08/guide-deceptions-word-games-obfuscations-officials-use-mislead-public-about-nsa

#10yrsago Dear airline execs: crowing about new fees and price hikes before your merger makes the DoJ mad https://consumerist.com/2013/08/14/past-statements-about-moneymaking-mergers-returning-to-bite-airline-execs-in-the-behind/

#10yrsago Copyright troll’s lawyer wants record sealed so we won’t make fun of him https://www.techdirt.com/2013/08/14/prenda-lawyer-would-like-future-documents-sealed-because-techdirt-commenters-said-mean-stuff-about-him/

#10yrsago Horse Association must accept clones on registry https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cloning-horses/u-s-horse-association-will-be-ordered-to-allow-clones-on-registry-idUSBRE97C01V20130813

#5yrsago How a civic hacker used open data to halve tickets at Chicago’s most confusing parking spot https://mchap.io/using-foia-data-and-unix-to-halve-major-source-of-parking-tickets.html

#5yrsago Truthful security disclosures should always be legal. Period. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/08/telling-truth-about-defects-technology-should-never-ever-ever-be-illegal-ever

#5yrsago Talking surveillance, elections, monopolies, and Facebook on the Bots and Ballots podcast https://www.yahoo.com/news/facebook-surveillance-system-sci-fi-author-cory-doctorow-says-090028574.html

#5yrsago Insecure medical equipment protocols let attackers spoof diagnostic information https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-can-falsify-patient-vitals/

#5yrsago Majority of young Americans distrust capitalism, embrace socialism https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/14/fewer-than-half-of-young-americans-are-positive-about-capitalism.html

#5yrsago New Zealand bans most offshore residential real-estate ownership https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/15/investing/new-zealand-property-foreigners/index.html

#1yrago This weekend, I watched a hacker jailbreak a John Deere tractor live on stage https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/15/deere-in-headlights/#doh-a-deere

Back my anti-enshittification Kickstarter here!

[agentnico]

Hello Tomorrow! - Season 1 (2023) Review

Feels like a missed opportunity that this show didn’t once make use of the hit pop song Reach (For the Stars) by staple band S Club 7. Yes, this show is set in a retro 60s, but S Club 7 is fitting for any era of time!!

Plot: In a retro-futuristic world, charismatic salesman Jack Billings leads a team of fellow sales associates determined to revitalize their customers' lives by hawking timeshares on the moon.

Recently I have been trying to validate my Apple TV+ subscription, as in the current day and age where there are a gazillion various streaming services, one has to question which ones are worth the monthly buck. In regards to Apple TV+, the main reason I had the subscription in the first place was due to getting the first year for free with my purchase of the iPhone 11 back in 2020, however that one free year has long gone, and the only main reason having it now is seeing a moustachioed Jason Sudeikis inspire and charm us all in the amazing Ted Lasso series. Speaking of which, my fiancée has just bought me a Ted Lasso Build-a-Bear and I am sorry but I must state that this thing is cute as fudge! It has no right to be this adorable! My sweet Teddy Lasso! Anyway, aside from that, Apple TV+... What is it good for? That’s what I’m discovering, hence why I recently watched the Shrinking show and the Tetris movie. All enjoyable in their own right and feel free to browse my reviews on those earlier on this blog. Yep, that was some shameless self-marketing, and I could not care less. As for my next Apple venture, I have just finished watching Hello Tomorrow!, the season finale of which has just aired, and naturally here I am, your humble servant, talking about my thoughts on the project at hand.

Hello Tomorrow! brings us a retro futuristic world of the 1960s that has been upgraded with very helpful robots that for once aren’t trying to take over the world like in the recent Atomic Heart video game, but instead are only in the background, and more so this is a show about hope and opportunity and dreams. Or at least the single idea of this, as what we have is actually a bunch of con-artists trying to sell to a bunch of gullible simpletons the dream of living in a luxury residence on the moon. Not that I personally see anything appealing about living on the moon, as the grey desert landscape seem to be pretty dull of a locale to look at when walking out of your bedroom onto the balcony, yet these folks seem intent on wanting to go there. Each to their own I guess. Then again this does seem like yet another interpretation on the fabled American Dream - the idea all poor and desperate do their best to strive to, but in turn never reach. In a nutshell we have ourselves a sci-fi critique of capitalism wrapped in a tailored 60s suit. Does it work? Not always. At 10 episodes long, the show does fall into a sense of repetition where we discover early on that the entire idea of living on the moon is all a con, so the show then lingers with the whole ‘will they/won’t they get caught’ case, but without much resolution until the final episode that does offer a multitude of cliff-hangers, evidently in hope of another season renewal. However judging at how Hello Tomorrow! isn’t present on Apple TV+’s Top 10 charts I’m sensing said renewal is very questionable.

The cast are all superb and what make the show so watchable. Billy Crudup’s Jack is simply dripping with pools of charisma and charm as the main salesman and the brains behind the operation. With his wide smile and dapper suits, Crudup is totally believable as a businessman who would totally get folks to belief in this unbelievable dream. Yet his colourful sales team is worth a mention too. Haneefah Wood is immensely likeable as the straight headed righthand woman Shirley, and one that would fit right at home in the offices of Glengarry Glen Ross, where Alec Baldwin would proclaim proudly those famous sales words: “always be closing!”. Dewshane Williams is the ambitious Herb, who is so idiotic and under his wife’s leash that he may secretly just be a genius. And Hank Azaria rounds up the sales team with his usual offbeat persona. Then there’s Nicholas Podany as Jack’s long lost son who gets corrupted by Jack’s sleazy teachings, and their estranged father-son relationship being at the heart of this show. Jacki Weaver pops up in a couple of episodes too as Jack’s wisecracking mother, and Weaver is always a weirdly energetic presence.

Look, Hello Tomorrow! doesn’t break any new ground. Its yet another show about con-men conning innocent gullible people, only in this case the retro setting adds more flair and style to the proceedings. The entire show honestly rides on Billy Crudup’s charismatic lead performance. He’s a sleazebag from beginning to end, yet he manages to convincingly be devilishly likeable and sympathetic, so much so that he manages to get himself lost in his own lie of this ridiculous dream. His Cheshire cat-like grin brings out the ‘character you love to hate’ type, yet one you’re happy to go on this journey with. Jack is a liar and a cheat, but he’s also a dreamer. And in a show that’s all about reaching for the stars, that’s all too relatable.

Overall score: 6/10

[fenmere]

Planning our next world and avatar. Currently using a HeroForge figurine as a very rough standin. This is Molly Rocketcoil on the Bridge of her starship, Anchor. Anchor is 3 km long, and the Bridge is a Network space with a skybox that is a live feed from the front of the ship.

Before she gained more crew and reconfigured the Bridge, she had decorated it to look like her bedroom, for comfort.

The carved wood tree to her right (your left) is her favorite chair. She's a space snake, so her preferred furniture meets her needs.

If you go to our VRChat world "Eh's House" you'll see a much more rough version of that chair with a plaque on it saying "This seat is reserved for Molly Rocketcoil". We're thinking of replacing that one with this one.

In the canon of the Sunspot Chronicles, Molly is fictional. So, that chair in Eh's house is like a piece of swag from a con, or delux merch from a webcomic site, or really, fanart.

There's no money nor capitalism on the Sunspot, so people just make things and give them to whomever they think will appreciate it the most.

Eh, Captain of the Sunspot, is a huge fan of Molly Rocketcoil and has read all her books (written by Thomas and 'afeje'a).

You can read Molly's adventures here:

[paper-swirls]

Capital Sci-fi Con is a-go!!!🌟🌟🌟

Come along to the O2 Academy, Edinburgh and join in the fun! The event runs til 5pm today and 10am-5pm tomorrow!

My table is in the main hall, come say hi!💜

[andrejverity]

The Armchair Technologist. Part 2a: Unleashing the Power of Armchair Technologists

In my previous post, I introduced the concept of the "Armchair Technologist" from which I have greatly enjoyed the engagement and comments. The concept might initially evoke negative connotations, conjuring images of individuals who lack practical experience but are quick to offer opinions or former technicians who have faded away from the industry. However, it is essential to recognize the potential benefits these individuals can bring to an organization. By embracing their curiosity and enthusiasm, organizations can tap into a valuable resource for innovation and technological advancement. I am planning a few follow-up posts, but I wanted to focus this one (Part 2a) on the benefits that the non-technical-background Armchair Technologist can bring to an organization.

Innovation Catalysts and Knowledge Democratizers

Armchair Technologists possess a unique ability to spark innovation. Their fresh perspectives, unburdened by traditional IT constraints, can lead to groundbreaking ideas. Their curiosity and open-minded approach encourage others to think creatively and explore new technological horizons. While they may not always have the perfect question, their willingness to ask can ignite valuable discussions and uncover hidden opportunities. As no-code and low-code platforms continue to gain power, Armchair Technologists will be empowered to transform their ideas into tangible solutions, democratizing access to technology and fostering a culture of innovation.

A Powerful Alliance: Armchair Technologists and IT Teams

Although Armchair Technologists may not possess deep technical expertise, their enthusiasm and theoretical knowledge can significantly enhance IT teams. They can bridge the gap between IT and other departments, translating complex technical concepts into plain language and fostering effective communication. Their external perspective can help IT teams identify blind spots and challenge long-held assumptions.

The Constructive Heretic: Disrupting for the Better

The convergence of Armchair Technologists and powerful no-code/low-code platforms gives rise to a fascinating phenomenon: the "constructive heretic." These individuals can leverage their technological understanding to challenge established practices and propose innovative solutions that might otherwise be overlooked. As technology rapidly evolves, they can quickly identify and capitalize on emerging trends, potentially outpacing more entrenched teams.

Navigating the Governance Landscape

Harnessing the innovative potential of Armchair Technologists without compromising IT governance and security is a delicate balancing act. Organizations must establish clear guidelines and frameworks that encourage experimentation while ensuring compliance with security and data management policies. Open communication and collaboration between IT teams and Armchair Technologists are essential to strike the right balance between innovation and control.

By embracing the curiosity and enthusiasm of Armchair Technologists, organizations can unlock their potential to drive innovation, democratize access to technology, and navigate the ever-evolving technological landscape.

Planned future Armchair Technologist posts to cover the pros of former technicians, the cons to an organization, and how to avoid becoming a (unconstructive) Armchair Technologist.

Andrej

-------

Disclaimer:

Google Gemini and NotebookLM used to brainstorm and help with drafting

DALL-E 3 was used to create the image with a prompt of: create an image of a panel from a 1950s sci-fi comic that depicts the concept outlined in the blog text?

[fanthatracks]

Congratulations, hats off and well done to every connected to Capital Sci-Fi Con which took place on the weekend of 17th and 18th February at the O2 Academy in Edinburgh and raised an incredible £58,929.02 for CHAS (Children's Hospices Across Scotland). Amazing work from a great team. https://www.facebook.com/Capitalscificon/posts/pfbid02TzEQxgoaDspjyQXn26heso7WvxAfDJtZJX9HyWj3Ggw8qgWyfnVDqjyBqWRVcqzul [amazon box="1368095194"]

[emberlyric]

July Goals/Summaries/Statuses

June got skipped, it was a hectic month half consisting of traveling, and while this is late I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things so here we go...

I am officially working on *two* stories at the moment, here are their summaries:

Soulbind - my YA fantasy story. In a world where the gods and goddesses choose each individual's magical attunements based on the strength of their life-bind, Jory is a soulbinder, a unique and rare attunement random given not by any gods, that steals a sliver of another's life-bind - usually those the soulbinder is close to. Soulbinders are shunned in most societies, and Jory's home nation of Losyros is no different. Bitter and arrogant, but cunning and analytical, Jory bides his time, running cons in lower Siolyn, the capital of Losyros. But Jory gets an opportunity from the prince and becomes the prince's Kingsworn, an ancient role reserved only for soulbinders. Everything falls apart when Jory is kidnapped by the Ashborne, the champion for the goddess Gholgane, who wants Jory unbound at once. Now Jory has to rely on his wits, his best friend Nahia, and Prince Cydri to rescue him before he is lost to them forever.

Anomaly - my YA sci-fi/superhero story. Lian, a poor anomaly from District Lacerta in Layer Comet, discovers he is a Class A anomaly - an anomaly with superhuman abilities, in his case super speed. Class B anomalies have been around for centuries, and the Pyramid harvested augmentations from them. Augmentations, or just augs, were simple modifications that non-anomalies used to make their lives easier, such as enhancing memory, sight, reflexes, etc. Lian tries to keep his status as a Class A a secret - society is not reacting well to the discovery of these more powerful anomalies - but he is captured by the Zenith Order, who claims they want what is best for everyone and to keep them safe. A scientist named Rosmyle experiments on Lian, hoping to understand anomalies better. Things turn around when Lian manages to escape - and takes six other traumatized anomalies with him. Now they have to survive a chaotic and prejudiced Layer Comet to make it to an area of the Layer where anomalies can live in peace.

Statuses for these stories:

Soulbind - have a really solid first draft that got stitched together from other possible drafts lol! I now also have a complete online and understand what the first draft is missing, as well as an almost complete series outline for five possible books in the making. It has been really fun getting back to these characters. Jory <3 you are such a little shit.

Anomaly - hit some snags here. I did finish a NaNo rough draft for it of 100k words, but found some problems with it after reviewing it. Realized the premise for the laboratory arc wasn't as interesting as it could have been - basically, initially it had the anomalies surviving within the laboratory, but it would be more interesting if they were already escaped, on the run *from* the scientists and the evil Zenith Order. This way we see more of the Layer and they have more room to grow as individuals rather than being cooped up in the lab. Jaith's arc is unchanged and will remain parallel during the laboratory/escape arc. Meanwhile the outline for book 2 is just sitting there, waiting for me to tackle it again lol.

Goals -

Get a solid start on Anomaly's second draft. Maybe 10k each words for the Laboratory arc and for Jaith's arc - that would be perfect and make me feel much better about these second drafts

Add in the missing scenes for Soulbind and begin to edit it as a whole. Soulbind seems to be going much better than Anomaly at the moment lol!

Get some character design sheets done. I keep putting this off, but It would be *really* helpful if I could do this to introduce my characters and get some comics/reels going. I think I could get Jory, Nahia, Tadani (the Ashborne), and Jaith's all done without issue as their designs are pretty well finalized. I would do Lian and I probably should, but the problem with him is that while is book 2 design looks like this:

His book 2 design is just..some kid lol, it isn't very interesting. Yet. I'm just not sure what to do add to it. But I'll figure it out!

Sooo that's what's going on with my stories! Thanks everyone who has stuck with me <3 I really appreciate the support, hopefully you're looking forward to more updates soon.