Hi there,
I had planned to write something in this newsletter about Wonderdraft,
the software I use to make maps for my stories, but then my old nemesis
Migraine came by to say hi. The past four and a half days I've spent
lying down in agony, unable to even contemplate watching a screen. Now,
I don't want to complain or draw out pity, it is what it is, but someone
asked me what it is like, and since my original plan for this newsletter
is now out of the window I'll just give you the answer I gave them.
In one word, migraine is what I imagine hell is like. Constant and
relentless pain and discomfort, knowing that nothing you do will make it
go away. And once it does go away, you can be certain that it will
return, always lurking in the dark, waiting to pounce on you when you
stay up late or when the weather changes or whatever triggers it.
As for the actual sensations, they vary from person to person and from
attack to attack, but what follows is a (somewhat graphic) description
of what I felt the past 4 days. Imagine a steel rod going in through
your eye socket, all the way through your skull and exiting through your
neck somewhere near the shoulders. Then imagine someone twisting that
rod, pulling it out a bit and sticking it back in, every now and then.
The shoulders themselves are seized up, rock hard, and radiating pain
throughout the region. All the while, you feel nauseated and need a
bucket close by. When it gets real bad, there's diarrhea as well, which
is real fun when you're already feeling like crap and overly sensitive
to light, sound and smell. Then there's the constant feeling of not
getting enough air.
As you can see, migraine is a bit more than 'just a headache', but
affects the entire body. It's a neurological condition, and while a lot
of it is understood by medical science, a proper treatment is still out
of reach. There is medicine, but it has side-effects (on of which being
that using it too often will trigger even more migraines). Once the
symptoms subside, I'll be tired for at least one more day.
When all of that has finally gone, I am always so happy to be
unencumbered by those sensations, to be able to walk around, go outside
and feel energetic again. I guess that's the silver lining. It makes one
appreciate an existence without pain and discomfort even more.
Anyway, this is all a very long-winded way of saying: I didn't get much
writing to do. I have some slack in my schedule for the occasional
attack though (after 20+ years of having them, I know they are a part of
life), so I'm sure I will make up the lost time in the coming weeks, but
it still sucks! And this one was especially vicious, coming in at over
four days. Usually they last for 2 to 3 days.
Let me know your thoughts. Do you suffer from migraine as well? Anything
that helps you deal with the attacks? And if you are (currently or in
general) not encumbered by any of this, enjoy some free short stories
below and have a listen to this issue's music tip as well!
Cheers,
Koen
Reading Tips
Armoured figure with gun against backdrop of futuristic cityscape with
watchtower
<https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/e3c62840-b918-11ec-b36e-8767fbaf7412>
*Utero**
**Kevin Alan*
Girl with purple hair against backdrop of futuristic city scape
<https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/e79d442c-b769-11ec-8e73-4b3f4273c94b>
*
**Reclamation: Mind Jack, Hybrid Genesis Prequel**
**E.L. Strife*
The life of a cyborg mercenary isn't easy. When Ex U.S. Special Forces
Operative, Bishop, wakes up in a military prison without his memories
and without his weapons, he must use his wits to recover his gear and
escape. Don't worry. He has been in worse situations. Like when America
was nuked. That was pretty bad.
In this short prequel story to The ICHO Wars Dystopian Military Sci-Fi
Series, Bishop use his stealth skills to evade the ruthless People's
Alliance; the new number one world superpower. In his efforts to flee
captivity, Bishop acquires a new toy, and uncovers an ominous plan to
eradicate mankind. And its codename is a funny little four-letter acronym.
Get it for free!
<https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/e3c62840-b918-11ec-b36e-8767fbaf7412>
Marci, a super soldier and escapee of the Astral’s bio-enhancement
military program Zedger, has found new purpose in rescuing others like
her. But she can’t do it alone, and not without parts. In need of
special supplies to repair the soldiers the Astrals discard, Marci must
travel to the last standing city of Tellurians. There, in EsoTerra, she
must fight for her right to trade with others for what she requires.
She tries to hide her identity, mask her skills, play down her
expertise, but too many have heard rumors of her. Soon, she finds
herself helping other soldiers that have been dumped from Zedger.
Recently disposed soldiers have lost their minds somewhere in the
Genesis Hub. Marci must deep dive their cerebral enhancements to figure
out why and salvage everyone she can. What she discovers when searching
the Genesis stream alerts Astrals to her position. Lead rain falls from
the sky in the form of BloodTitans.
Can Marci save the soldiers and her people?
Or is this the Tellurians’ last stand?
Get it for free!
<https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/e79d442c-b769-11ec-8e73-4b3f4273c94b>
Music Tip
Cartoon drawing of guitar and bas players jumping through super mario
world <https://ocrecords.bandcamp.com/album/press-start>
(bandcamp <https://ocrecords.bandcamp.com/album/press-start>, spotify
<https://open.spotify.com/album/0fZaUsdmdIN3l92VQImwX1>, iTunes
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/press-start/id1310996365>)
Let's have a bit of fun. As you may have noticed, I like jazz. I also
like 8-bit music — the music created by vintage home computers such as
the C64, Nintendo Entertainment System, Gameboy or Atari — also known as
chiptunes. This album by jazz duo /8-bit Jazz Heroes/ combines both.
More than just a gimmick, these excellent musicians have created jazzy
swinging arrangements of such classics as the theme from Super Mario
Brothers and Tetris, played on more classical instrumentation. Instantly
recognizable, but laid back without losing what makes these tunes so
memorable.
If this is your cup of tea, /The 8-Bit Big Band/ has an album of the
same name (bandcamp
<https://the8bitbigband.bandcamp.com/album/album-1-press-start>, spotify
<https://open.spotify.com/album/0utc1ncxL6NbB689TORMmQ?si=JB-pOR5aTbOhj8JDk4…>).
--
Software architecture & engineering:https://www.sonologic.se/
Sci-fi:https://www.koenmartens.nl/
Hi there,
A short one this time. We're buying a house, so I am a bit distracted
with everything involved. Meanwhile, writing of the new novel is
progressing according to plan. First drafts of the first three chapters
are ready, introducing the three main characters. The stage has been set
for my protagonist's journey. I've also been expanding the detail in the
world's map (I might share that in the next newsletter). Until then,
enjoy the book tips below and make sure to check out the music tip as well!
Cheers,
Koen
Book Tips
Lone space-suited figure in barren landscape with ringed planet in
dominating the sky, all in dark blue tints
<https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/442bfdb4-c4d5-11ec-9974-fb0cc3e9eef3>
*The Enceladus Mission**
**Brandon Q. Morris*
Silhoutted figure against blue background surfing a blur of lines
ensuing from abstract doodles on the top
<https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/e2bb0356-cbc6-11ec-9aca-bfdb560c4475>
*
**Saving Schrödinger's Cat**
**Mark Jenkins*
In the year 2031, a robot probe detects traces of biological activity on
Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons. This sensational discovery shows that
there is indeed evidence of extraterrestrial life. Fifteen years later,
a hurriedly built spacecraft sets out on the long journey to the ringed
planet and its moon.
The international crew is not just facing a difficult twenty-seven
months: if the spacecraft manages to make it to Enceladus without
incident it must use a drillship to penetrate the kilometer-thick sheet
of ice that entombs the moon. If life does indeed exist on Enceladus, it
could only be at the bottom of the salty, ice covered ocean, which
formed billions of years ago.
However, shortly after takeoff disaster strikes the mission, and the
chances of the crew making it to Enceladus, let alone back home, look grim.
Get it on Amazon!
<https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/442bfdb4-c4d5-11ec-9974-fb0cc3e9eef3>
In the 25th century, deep under the Earth's shattered surface, the dying
remnants of humankind live in a dwindling Colony devoid of Nature and
only one can travel to the past to save humanity from its dark fate.
Clinging to life underground, after a cataclysmic all-out nuclear war,
the remains of the human race are desperate for a way to change the
past. Harnessing the power of an artificial wormhole, their only hope to
avert global annihilation is to travel back in time and alter the
discovery of nuclear fission.
Humanity's future rests on the unlikely shoulders of Proteus. Born with
a unique genetic mutation, scientists discover that he is the only one
capable of surviving the ravages of time-travel. After decades of
preparation, Proteus is sent backwards to early 20th century London...
but Time doesn't want the past to change and it pushes back.
To complete his mission, Proteus must manipulate the course of history,
all the while battling enemy agents and avoiding the forces of Time, if
he's ever going to save the future from the past.
Get it on Amazon or Apple!
<https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/e2bb0356-cbc6-11ec-9aca-bfdb560c4475>
Music Tip
Close-up of leaf <https://sigurdhole.bandcamp.com/album/roraima>
(bandcamp <https://sigurdhole.bandcamp.com/album/roraima>, spotify
<https://open.spotify.com/album/4vMfmylCSGTDr8Mpxyawvh?si=P5wwSWYjQdqkwcjukX…>)
A bit of an odd one, this. I don't normally resonate with albums classed
as 'world music', but when I came across this one, it stuck with me, and
I've been playing it several times since. Roraima, by Norwegian bassist
and composer Sigurd Hole, was commissioned by Oslo World for the
festival in 2020 and the album is a live recording of the composition.
In the composer's own words: "Roraima is the northernmost state of
Brazil. It is home to the Yanomami and several other Indigenous peoples,
and like the rest of the Amazon basin it is also home to an incredible
diversity of animal and plant life. Roraima is both a celebration of the
soundscapes of the natural world, an expression of grief as many of
these sounds fade away – and a prayer. A prayer that world leaders will
finally listen to the voice of our planet as it begs us to change our
course. The growth imperative of our economic system wreaks havoc on all
of nature and will ultimately lead to our own demise."
The music is at times joyous, wonderful, mysterious, sad, imposing and
calming. It's an album to sit down for and immerse oneself in. The
instrumentation overlays recordings from Roraima, and the two interleave
to create a rich melodic and rhytmic soundscape pleasing to the ear and
the mind. The result is an inspiring trip through the jungle.
Give it a listen and let me know what you think!
--
Software architecture & engineering:https://www.sonologic.se/
Sci-fi:https://www.koenmartens.nl/
