J. Cunningham's Blog

Here is an older blog entry I did -Talking Steampunk to English History Authors!

Just a little snapshot of the signing booth, I LOVE to meet the readers :)

I was reminded during Emerald City Comic Con why I like to attend comicand sci-fi conventions. The theoretical exposition of the unreal iseverywhere! Turns out most people are freely giving of their ideas onhow this thing could happen, or that thing could be real. It evenleads to a somewhat heated discussion given the right personalitiesand any given slightly controversial subject. In most cases, however,the individuals are simply trying to make that thing that is soappealing have some extra nuance of realism. Let's face it, whodoesn’t want to stand on the bow of a great steam-driven airship andhold their hands out to the sides while screaming at the top of theirlungs?  “I am king of the world!” Ok, I know, not everyone is going togamble for a low berth ticket on a doomed airship, falling in lovebefore it plummets, killing nearly everyone on board, but I think youget the point. We all long for the suspension of disbelief whenreading our favorite stories.Sometimes it seems to me when reading steampunk, that this is lost infavor of the esoteric or wildly bizarre technology, which falsely fuels theunderlying narrative. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the genre andits one basic rule that anything goes! However, I have always thoughtthe road to buy-in, was paved through the viability of the notion.Where did the technology come from? Who invented it? Why did theyinvent it? Sometimes these answers are implied and create the fabulouscausality for juxtaposition in storytelling.  However, other times,when not answered or implied, they tend to fuel a dissociation withthe characters and possibly the plot.When it comes to steampunk, I think that there has to be a commonthread that enables the suspension of disbelief. Stories placed in thefar future need only have a plausible path to their eventuality.Steampunk, having usually taken place in the glorious Victorian past,needs a little more narrative and exposition when it comes to creatinga believable thread which will immerse the reader. I personally enjoythe fantasy crossover. You get instant buy-in if the reader likes theidea of gnomes creating the technology.  Sometimes it only takes a fewsmall twists in their recollection of history to make the worldrelatable and real.  In either case, it’s always nice to embrace astory which makes you want to put on your best corset, grab yourparasol, and buy a ticket on the next airship to your favoritegathering.

My latest guest blog post. Talking Steampunk to English History Authors!

http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-steampunk-revolution-and-victorian.html?spref=fb

July 5th – July 7th, be sure to stop by and say hello!

http://pdxgearcon.com/

I am going to start my rant with the applicable SPOILER ALERT and warning! If you have not seen the season 3 finale for Game of Thrones on HBO, or have not gotten through halfway of either “Storm of Swords” or “Feast for Crows”, then you may not want to read further as I am about to go off on what happens.

“Character investment” – that’s what I answered a redditor just the other day. The comment was in reply to a question someone had posted about their thoughts on the new Star Trek Continues episode “Pilgrim of Eternity”. They had asked why people always try to “redo” the original cast of Kirk and Spock instead of just making a new ship and crew. Now to be fair, I have to say, I very much liked this new episode and was very glad to see someone finally put some real effort into a production like this. The point I was trying to answer was that people get very connected to their favorite characters and the stories they are involved in. You don’t see a lot of movies about 006 or 005, because we are invested in 007, James Bond. So what happens when your invested characters die? What happens when they die unceremoniously or in way that doesn’t make sense? Well, that’s what happened in my opinion to the characters in last night’s episode – written off as though they never had any importance to the story at all.

I had to go to some anger counseling a few years back after I got out of the military. I asked the counselor, “Why do I get so mad when the Cowboys lose?” I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why that would make me want to throw the remote at the T.V. He explained that it has to do with betrayal. Anger is just a shield that covers other emotions. My favorite team was betraying me. If I can put so much love and energy into them, why couldn’t they deliver enjoyment in the form of winning for me? The same thing happens when you spend your investment, in time, love, and money, reading or watching characters that you love and want to grow with. For me, I invested in house Stark. I realized when I examined what I was upset about, I found that I had been quietly rooting for them.

I was obviously not the only one suffering from a huge desire to scream, shout, kick, and cry when the final scene from Episode 9 was revealed. Within minutes, Reddit had over 7,000 comments. Most comments looked exactly like what I was thinking. There were lots of cursing and humorous excerpts on how we have all been screwed by George R. R. Martin. As a writer myself, it made me question, who do the characters belong to? Does a writer have the right to just eliminate people (and let’s be clear that my favorite characters are people) whenever he or she wants to? I was informed that many authors believe in the “let the characters just go, and what happens, happens” mentality. I do tend to like the results of that to a point. But then, that is where I realized I have a different view, even as an author. “Yes,” you sirs have the right to do with any of the characters, as you like. I, sir, have the right to rage quit you!

Remember me being a Star Trek fan? Well they killed Spock in the second movie they made after the T.V series. I wasn’t angry, I cried. It was a beautiful scene, well written, and a fitting ending for my beloved friend. This, however, is not the case with the Stark house culling, which occurs during a somewhat mind-numbing betrayal, which I think any real character would have been on the alert for. It’s not that I think the scene was completely unbelievable or out of character, no, I think it was uncalled for. Just imagine for a moment that Han Solo, the princess, and Luke are all killed by Darth Vader in the carbonite room near the end of The Empire Strikes Back. Would anyone really go see the next movie? Do you think Lando and Chewy reunited could carry the rebellion forward? Maybe, but I don’t think so.

How would Lord of The Rings looked if Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas all died at the black gate buying time for Frodo and Sam? A very plausible plot line, especially given the circumstances, but that is not how the really great stories are written. Sorry George R. R. Martin, I think you don’t get it! Nobody cares that you are fixated on death, or that you want to stress on how everybody dies! We don’t care! Most people want to read, enjoy stories, and enter the more interesting world of their heroes, than be reminded about how depressing and evil the real world is. I have finally realized why Game of Thrones was not a household name like Lord of The Rings until picked up by HBO – because there are no real heroes, evil wins and all you have is characters you like dropping by the handful. I think George should just switch to writing zombie stories, and modern or post-apocalypse, because he has missed the mark with fantasy and epic adventure, which needs heroes.

Like I said earlier, I respect an author’s vision, and even give leeway for them to hurt me with sadness, if it tracks with an ending befitting my investment to them as a fan. I have invested in you, your story, and your characters, don’t treat me like you just don’t care! I find it terribly arrogant and self-serving to take this approach, which, from my reading and George’s own interviews, appears to be the way he sees it. Thank you J.R.R. for understanding what it takes to write truly epic stories with characters and places worthy of my investment and love.

Feel free to leave me a comment or disagree. I am open to others points of view, but I just felt the need to see if I could articulate what I think thousands were feeling after last night’s episode. Even my girlfriend confessed to throwing the book when she had reached that particular spot, vowing to never read another page. Is that what you really wanted Mr. Martin? Well, I hope you’re happy, because you just got a minus one like and unfollowed.

I haven’t really decided whether or not I will complete this series now. I understand he hasn’t even written the last book(s) yet? It is possible my betrayed feelings will heal over time. Mr. Martin, just a thought, but perhaps you should put as much energy and devotion into your characters and story as I did. Unless it was your intent to anger and betray your fans, if so, well done!

Perhaps one day the reins will be passed to 005 or 006. When it does, I hope they have a befitting ending for one of my favorite characters of all time. But I have a feeling that they, like Star Trek, understand that viewers and readers are invested, and shouldn’t be spat on when writing the next story.

I am going to start my rant with the applicable SPOILER ALERT and warning! If you have not seen the season 3 finale for Game of Thrones on HBO, or have not gotten through halfway of either “Storm of Swords” or “Feast for Crows”, then you may not want to read further as I am about to go off on what happens.“Character investment” – that’s what I answered a redditor just the other day. The comment was in reply to a question someone had posted about their thoughts on the new Star Trek Continues episode “Pilgrim of Eternity”. They had asked why people always try to “redo” the original cast of Kirk and Spock instead of just making a new ship and crew. Now to be fair, I have to say, I very much liked this new episode and was very glad to see someone finally put some real effort into a production like this. The point I was trying to answer was that people get very connected to their favorite characters and the stories they are involved in. You don’t see a lot of movies about 006 or 005, because we are invested in 007, James Bond. So what happens when your invested characters die? What happens when they die unceremoniously or in way that doesn’t make sense? Well, that’s what happened in my opinion to the characters in last night’s episode – written off as though they never had any importance to the story at all.I had to go to some anger counseling a few years back after I got out of the military. I asked the counselor, “Why do I get so mad when the Cowboys lose?” I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why that would make me want to throw the remote at the T.V. He explained that it has to do with betrayal. Anger is just a shield that covers other emotions. My favorite team was betraying me. If I can put so much love and energy into them, why couldn’t they deliver enjoyment in the form of winning for me? The same thing happens when you spend your investment, in time, love, and money, reading or watching characters that you love and want to grow with. For me, I invested in house Stark. I realized when I examined what I was upset about, I found that I had been quietly rooting for them.I was obviously not the only one suffering from a huge desire to scream, shout, kick, and cry when the final scene from Episode 9 was revealed. Within minutes, Reddit had over 7,000 comments. Most comments looked exactly like what I was thinking. There were lots of cursing and humorous excerpts on how we have all been screwed by George R. R. Martin. As a writer myself, it made me question, who do the characters belong to? Does a writer have the right to just eliminate people (and let’s be clear that my favorite characters are people) whenever he or she wants to? I was informed that many authors believe in the “let the characters just go, and what happens, happens” mentality. I do tend to like the results of that to a point. But then, that is where I realized I have a different view, even as an author. “Yes,” you sirs have the right to do with any of the characters, as you like. I, sir, have the right to rage quit you!Remember me being a Star Trek fan? Well they killed Spock in the second movie they made after the T.V series. I wasn’t angry, I cried. It was a beautiful scene, well written, and a fitting ending for my beloved friend. This, however, is not the case with the Stark house culling, which occurs during a somewhat mind-numbing betrayal, which I think any real character would have been on the alert for. It’s not that I think the scene was completely unbelievable or out of character, no, I think it was uncalled for. Just imagine for a moment that Han Solo, the princess, and Luke are all killed by Darth Vader in the carbonite room near the end of The Empire Strikes Back. Would anyone really go see the next movie? Do you think Lando and Chewy reunited could carry the rebellion forward? Maybe, but I don’t think so.How would Lord of The Rings looked if Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas all died at the black gate buying time for Frodo and Sam? A very plausible plot line, especially given the circumstances, but that is not how the really great stories are written. Sorry George R. R. Martin, I think you don’t get it! Nobody cares that you are fixated on death, or that you want to stress on how everybody dies! We don’t care! Most people want to read, enjoy stories, and enter the more interesting world of their heroes, than be reminded about how depressing and evil the real world is. I have finally realized why Game of Thrones was not a household name like Lord of The Rings until picked up by HBO – because there are no real heroes, evil wins and all you have is characters you like dropping by the handful. I think George should just switch to writing zombie stories, and modern or post-apocalypse, because he has missed the mark with fantasy and epic adventure, which needs heroes.Like I said earlier, I respect an author’s vision, and even give leeway for them to hurt me with sadness, if it tracks with an ending befitting my investment to them as a fan. I have invested in you, your story, and your characters, don’t treat me like you just don’t care! I find it terribly arrogant and self-serving to take this approach, which, from my reading and George’s own interviews, appears to be the way he sees it. Thank you J.R.R. for understanding what it takes to write truly epic stories with characters and places worthy of my investment and love.Feel free to leave me a comment or disagree. I am open to others points of view, but I just felt the need to see if I could articulate what I think thousands were feeling after last night’s episode. Even a good friend who happens to disagree with me on this, confessed to throwing the book when he had reached that particular spot, vowing to never read another page. Is that what you really wanted Mr. Martin? Well, I hope you’re happy, because you just got a minus one like and unfollowed.I haven’t really decided whether or not I will complete this series now. I understand he hasn’t even written the last book(s) yet? It is possible my betrayed feelings will heal over time. Mr. Martin, just a thought, but perhaps you should put as much energy and devotion into your characters and story as I did. Unless it was your intent to anger and betray your fans, if so, well done!Perhaps one day the reins will be passed to 005 or 006. When it does, I hope they have a befitting ending for one of my favorite characters of all time. But I have a feeling that they, like Star Trek, understand that viewers and readers are invested, and shouldn’t be spat on when writing the next story.

I wrote a piece after Emerald City ComiCon that’s been published by Donna & Dave @tweedling.com. I really liked it, and I love being in the company of such great contributors. If you want to read it, you can find it here: Zeppelin Zeitgeist

I am hosting a giveaway on Goodreads!

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Goodreads Book Giveaway







Secrets



by J. Cunningham

Giveaway ends April 29, 2013.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Well, I just got back from the Emerald City Comicon, and it was a blast! I loved seeing so many amazing steampunk costumes. The steam fans were  out in force! The community up here is a really creative bunch.

I had some amazing conversations with so many of you guys, and have a bunch of new blog post topics brewing as a result. Creativity feeds creativity!

I’m really looking forward to hitting some of the steampunk-centric conventions this year. Are there any you’re going to? Let me know.