Scott James Magner's Blog

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I started writing this summary three weeks ago, but stopped shortly after my initial watch. Not because I don’t like the movie, but because I do. I really, really do, and I needed to be sure that I could keep that enjoyment separate from an objective rating of the commentary track, which I had in fact listened to back in 2022 when I first got the disc.

It’s definitely doable, but I need to add a cautionary note here. Because like with my earlier review of SHANG-CHI, I can now also do a full video review of the movie and the disc itself, divorced from the insights and intentions of the production crew presented in a commentary track.

Which doesn’t excuse the long delay in writing this piece, but as partial explanation I’ve also composed and edited a double handful of fairly involved YouTube videos in that time, done a ton of self-education, played a bunch of video games (also in preparation for some other videos), and continued my (now) perennial job search.

If you haven’t got your health…you haven’t got anything

Anyway, ETERNALS.

TL:DR;

Running Ranking: #8 of 27

For reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternals_(film

Eternals had a long shoot, mostly on location around the world. Principal photography ended in February 2020, but delays to other projects pushed the release date three times. It finally premiered October 18, 2021, opening wide a few weeks later on November 5. It was the third of four MCU movies released that year, and the least profitable (~$402 million against a 236 million budget, with an unknown amount spent on 3-D post-processing and marketing). It was the second Marvel film of the year with an Asian director (Chloe Zhao) and Asian writers (Patrick and Kaz Firpo), featuring a diverse cast of international actors who all spoke strongly accented English.

And like SHANG-CHI, it wasn’t released in China, nor did it see screens in many Arabic countries. For China, it was (supposedly) due to 2013 comments made by Zhao in which she said (sic) “(China is)…a place where there are lies everywhere. For the Middle East, many movies release an edited version that removes scenes of a sexual nature, but there was also extreme pushback both about the inclusion of a same sex-kiss and the depiction of the Eternals themselves as proto-gods. Rather than make three (or more) versions of the film for international release, Disney elected to make no cuts whatsoever.

The right call. And included here because the topic wasn’t addressed at all in the commentary, which absolutely contributes to its running ranking.

But more on that in a bit. The commentary track for ETERNALS features Director Chloe Zhao, and VFX supervisors Stephane Ceretti and Mårten Larsson. Zhao and Ceretti worked together on the Oscar winning NOMADLAND, and both Ceretti and Larsson have extensive credits on superhero movies (MCU and others). It was recorded a few days before the film’s October premiere.

Commentary Takeaways:

The trio’s discussion starts off with the opening crawl, where they reference the works of Jack Kirby and his incredible contributions to the superhero genre. And while they give him full credit for the look and design of the team headlining their movie, in my opinion they don’t go far enough.

For those who don’t know, Jack Kirby created the Eternals in 1976, and during his 60 year career as a comic-book artist he more or less invented everything you like about superheroes, creating or designing almost every Marvel character you’ve ever heard of (including Captain America, The Sub-Mariner, The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, the X-Men, Magneto, Thor, Doctor Doom, The Watcher, GROOT, The Avengers, the Inhumans, the Black Panther, Galactus and the Silver Surfer, and many, many more).

He was also the first artist to draw Spider-Man, but Stan Lee took exception to his style at the time, stating “I hated the way he was doing it! Not that he did it badly—it just wasn’t the character I wanted; it was too heroic.”

But he (Lee) still had Kirby do the cover of AMAZING FANTASY #15, which I believe you may have seen once or twice…

“Amazing Fantasy #15” at The Grand Comics Database. Retrieved ., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=966867

Jack Kirby (and his children) are also the reason why you now see the names of a character’s original creator(s) in the credits of every superhero movie, and will continue to do so until the end of time.

But I digress.

Once the “live” action starts, Zhao breaks down the challenges of shooting on location, and how to present characters using super-powers in natural light as opposed to the controlled setting of a studio. This is a recurring theme throughout the commentary, as the trio always mentions when a scene cuts from location to studio and back again, and any challenges presented by doing so.

There were an awful lot of them, and the VFX crew used every minute they could to shine up the film, completing additional work nearly a year after the film wrapped to make sure it left nothing on the table. About an hour and a half in, Ceretti and Larsson talk extensively regarding their nearly two-year post-production cycle. They had to make sure that every shot was projected on the biggest screens available so that things didn’t get overlooked on smaller, possibly substandard computer monitors. Given that there was (AND IS) a global pandemic going on, this was a particular challenge, but the results of their efforts shine in every frame.

And as if that wasn’t enough, in-between all this awesome, Zhao is a ray of sunshine. She’s well aware of the pressure she was under to deliver an amazing film, especially so close on the heels of AVENGERS: ENDGAME. She was already a fan of the MCU, and had been short-listed to direct BLACK WIDOW. But her pitch to Executive Producer Kevin Fiege started with “the mysteries of the universe can be found in a single grain of sand,” then went on to a multi-hour barrage of visual aids including comic book, science fiction, video game, and manga references.

It was so strong, in fact, that Marvel execs were worried that she might take on a project with another studio, so they locked her down for ETERNALS before there was a completed script, promising her complete creative control and unlimited rewrites. Once the initial draft was available, Zhao went to work, completing her pass while filming NOMADLAND in early 2019.

So despite the lamentable opening crawl, she’s super upbeat when the movie starts, and during the Marvel Studios title treatment is flipping along, Zhao delivers second-best line of the track over a needle drop of Pink Floyd’s “Time”:

“If Pink Floyd is playing, continuity doesn’t matter.”

(Note: I looked for a hilarious image to put with this quote, but couldn’t find one equal to the task. Drop me one of your favorites in the comments, and I’ll see what I can do.)

Zhao talks a lot about the challenges of coming directly from independent films like NOMADLAND to a big studio tentpole. About the novelty of directing from a gimbal crane, about directing a dog, then having to pivot to an imaginary monster. About Magic Hour, and how it shifts dramatically depending on which hemisphere and latitude you find yourself.

So many crunchy bits and I ate them all up. She really cared about this movie, and given that she was fresh off an Oscar winning run (Best Director, Best Picture), she had a lot of stuff to share. But other than the Pink Floyd line, this is the one that really stood out for me.

During Ajak’s heart-to-heart with Ikaris (one of the few unenhanced shots in the movie). Zhao drops this gem on us.

“One thing than I was most humbled by, and I think I’m so grateful to have learned was that just how much visual effects and CGI, as a tool of storytelling, can change the landscape of cinema moving forward. I think sometimes it’s a shame that isn’t taught in school. Because I did not learn anything about it. Actually, I was afraid of it. I was resistant to it, I didn’t trust it. I (was thinking) it would somehow go against the kind of story I want to tell. And I think there’s a stigma attached to it that’s very unfortunate.”

I had to stop the movie and listen to that three times to make sure I got it right. I further had to load up a digital copy with subtitles to read them for the rest of the track in case I missed anything else, and nearly watched it all over again this morning before I sat down to write.

This woman won an Oscar (two, actually) using a handheld camera in a trailer park, and because of her experience on this film now thinks that she knows nothing about making movies.

That’s a level of honesty I haven’t heard from anyone involved in the MCU in 27 movies so far, and I love her for it.

So what does that translate to in terms of commentary ranking? It’s why we’re here, after all.

MCU Running Ranking: #8 of 27

ETERNALS had a really good chance to hit the top five, but failed to dislodge either CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER or GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL. 1 on its trip up the ladder. It was definitely better than SHANG CHI, in large part because Zhao is a more accomplished filmmaker and a much better writer than Dan Cretton. She had some amazing insights, in particular her thoughts on CGI and digital filmmaking, and how the Marvel process really opened her eyes to the possibilities of both. And her easy way of speaking makes me want to grab some of her other movies and listen to her talk some more.

And for the current competition

PHASE 4 Ranking:

ETERNALSSHANG CHI(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOMEBLACK WIDOW

Multiverse Saga (Phases 4, 5, and 6)

ETERNALSSHANG CHI(tbd)SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOMEBLACK WIDOW

Sadly, once again Spider-Man gets little to no love from Sony on the home video front. I’ll talk briefly about it next time out, because of its incredible influence on DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS. But until then, over on YouTube you can check out my companion video piece to this blog post, and a special, behind-the-scenes video about how it all comes together!

These two speeches from 1962 mean everything to me.

I take comfort from their content, and grieve their demise.

Ask not…

We choose…

So its been a minute since I did my last commentary rewatch, though I’ve seen an awful lot of movies in the last few years. Very few have been in theaters, but almost all of those have been MCU films, and with the recent release of FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, I figured it was time to get back into the swing of things.

Before I dive into my commentary on the commentary, I have a couple quick bookkeeping notes about SHANG CHI.

After pandemic delays similar to BLACK WIDOW’s, the movie premiered August 16, 2021, and released worldwide September 3, 2021. It did slightly better overall than its Phase 4 predecessor ($432 million worldwide against a $200 million budget, 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), with a weaker opening weekend over a much broader base.

It’s the first MCU film with an Asian director, an Asian writer and primarily Asian cast. (I’ll cover Chloe Zhao’s ETERNALS later this week).

And I like it so much that it was a near instant addition to our list of “must watch” films, meaning that if we see it on cable while flipping channels, our decision is made for the night. No matter what point we come into the action, it’s always amazing, due in no small part to our special commentarians for the day, director Destin Daniel Cretton and writer David Callaham , who also did a production re-write for ANT-MAN back in MCU Phase 2 and later penned SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE.

TL:DR;

Running Ranking: #8 of 26

For reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang-Chi_and_the_Legend_of_the_Ten_Rings

Normally, I would start my review here, but I would be remiss if I did not also cover the first film of MCU’s Phase 4, BLACK WIDOW. But because that movie is mired in controversy and mismanagement, a director’s commentary was neither commissioned or recorded, and most likely never will be.

Why, you might ask? Though it was filmed in 2019, Disney held onto the completed film for over a year during the COVID lockdown, and eventually did a simultaneous day-and-date release in July 2021, just two months before SHANG CHI’s big day. It booked $380 million worldwide against a budget of $290 million, which is a moderate success by any kind of cinema math.

It was by far the biggest movie for that month, with an ~$80 million opening weekend. In contrast, the previous big summer movie was F9: THE FAST SAGA at ~$70 million, which like most “Fast” movies made the majority of its money overseas.

But it could have been a lot more. The simultaneous release essentially eliminated the repeat viewings that typically pump up MCU box office numbers, and the film’s star and co-executive producer Scarlett Johansson successfully sued Disney for lost earnings keyed to its box office numbers, to the tune of a $40 million settlement, which some estimates say was about $60 million short of its potential outcome.

You see, when the film was still in development, Johansson looked up at the metaphorical wall and saw the future. She was justifiably concerned that Disney would release the film on Disney+ instead of giving it a full-court press, so she added a stipulation to her contract that it would be released exclusively in theaters.

The day-and-date release was a clear breach of that contract, and she took them to task. Not a lot of people ever win lawsuits against Disney, and the mouse house pulled out all the stops to blacken Johansson’s reputation while the suit dragged on. It got real ugly, real fast, and although the exact terms of the settlement agreement are sealed, it was pretty much the end of her relationship with the studio. Johansson was initially credited as an executive producer on THUNDERBOLTS*, but asked for her name to be removed since she had no real involvement with the project. A rumored non-MCU solo project has yet to materialize.

Long story short (too late!) no commentary, not even a fan-made one. Because of MISOGYNY, the movie got dragged hard by trolls and other basement-dwellers prior to release, finally settling at a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And to add insult to injury, while other MCU actors were called back to voice their characters in Disney+’s WHAT IF?, Natasha Romanov was instead performed by Lake Bell.

So for my purposes here, even though I do like the movie (a lot), BLACK WIDOW ranks dead last in both my Phase 4 (7/7) and overall MCU (26/26) ratings, because even the two Spider-Man movies by Sony had enough special features on the discs to fill in the gaps. Two featurettes and some deleted scenes are all we get here; not enough by half, and the extra $40m Disney paid out in the settlement pretty much ensures we’ll never get one at all.

Okay, now we can talk about SHANG CHI.

So Here’s the Deal.

This track is chocked-full of all sorts of crunchy bits, and while I took notes throughout this morning’s rewatch, I’m editing things down to cover only the high points. There’s just too much to process “chronologically,” and my purpose here is to rate and review the commentary track, not the movie proper.

And we begin. Dan and Dave have never done a commentary before, but quickly strike a good balance between narration and production details. The commentary track was recorded a week before They talk at length about the casting process, and how they went after their actors, including HK film legends Tony Leung, Fala Chen, and OSCAR WINNER MICHELLE FUCKING YEOH! This is important stuff, because there are only two white guys in the entire cast, and one of them is OSCAR WINNER BEN FUCKING KINGSLEY!

Later in the commentary they reveal that both men had brought their own pitches to the project, and the final version of the script was a blend of those initial drafts, writer’s room revisions, and input from fight coordinator Brad Allan. In particular, Allan ensured that every fight had a story to it, which in turn had to advance the stories of the characters involved. Members of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team coordinated the stunts, and Callaham himself holds a brown belt in jiu-jitsu.

(Sad note: Brad Allan died of a heart attack at the age of 48 in 2021, just days before the commentary was recorded. His work lives on in an incredible filmography that includes almost every possible kind of action, and the movie is dedicated to his memory.)

Part of Cretton’s pitch was the initial cocktail lounge scene with Shang-Chi, Katy, and their friends. It was important to show Asian characters hanging out together, and straddling the line between traditional culture norms and 21st century San Francisco life, in particular how Asian-American life intersects with multi-generational families.

Fun fact: The writers and production crew were on the bus fight bus, filming the bus fight on the streets of SF, but did not know how to stop the bus to end the bus fight. So the team took a few minutes to watch the city go by, then Brad Allan came up with the solution with bus fight bus still bussing, and broke the scene down on the fly.

So much happens in this movie, and these guys get it. They break down (and give props!) to all the vfx, sound, and cinematography beats. They give equal credit to Andrew Lanham who helped write the screenplay, and it’s really apparent how much they loved doing the picture.

Which makes this a really strong commentary.

So let’s check in on the rankings:

A reminder on how this works. I start from the bottom of the list, and ask, “is it better than _?” The first no I come to gets a metaphorical pin stuck in it, and I continue up the list until the second no. I then re-rank the existing slots accordingly, based on what the commentary did and did not do, in relation to the other movies.

You can see the list as it stands at the end of Phase 3 here .
Also, rather than repost the full rankings every time like I did on my Infinity Saga Rewatch, I’ll instead post the overall MCU list at the end of Phases 4 and 5, respectively.

MCU Running Ranking:

SHANG-CHI clocks in at MCU #8, sandwiched neatly between CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER and ANT-MAN. There were lots of cool “inside baseball” things, but also a lot of “In this scene, Nora (Awkafina) does this, and we were happy to see our script work out so well.” I didn’t learn a lot about their process, other than that they had one. I did learn a lot about Brad Allan and Bill Cole’s processes, and if either of those men was available to do the track, it would have been #4 easy. But my initial gut was #8, and after I went up the ladder it fell right into place and nothing else changed.

PHASE 4 Ranking:

SHANG CHI(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)BLACK WIDOW

Note: while the WEREWOLF BY NIGHT and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY HOLIDAY SPECIAL special presentations are technically Phase 4 movies released on Disney+ in 2022, they have no commentary tracks. And while I may well do a rating/ranking of D+ offerings in the future, this COMMENTARY REWATCH is a COMMENTARY about COMMENTARIES available on HOME VIDEO RELEASES.

So they don’t count. Stop asking.

Multiverse Saga (Phases 4, 5, and 6)

SHANG CHI(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)(tbd)BLACK WIDOW

Next up, 2021’s ETERNALS, about which I have many, many feelings.

This site has been dormant for some time, as my focus shifted to online streaming in early 2021, and a few months later I started working again.

And then last year, I stopped. It wasn’t planned, it was certainly unwelcome, and as unemployment marches on, I’ve decided to make better use of my digital footprint. I’ve had a few editing projects since then, but nothing that refills the creative tank.

So here’s the deal. I struggle with depression, and keeping busy helps. And around Christmas 2023, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, which more or less changed everything else about my life.

Time to get back on track. I’ve spent the afternoon updating my YouTube playlists in anticipation of more traffic, and planning out my next week or so of content creation. I may even write some, in-between the constant stream of job applications.

I’ve reposted a series of essays on movie watching that originally appeared on Facebook in 2021, and am preparing to add to it with more. I’ve also recently launched a new video series on YouTube, So Here’s the Deal.

Who knows? Maybe I’ll find gainful employment again.

Either way, let’s get things started!

Dead and buried during the planning stage, for reasons soon to be revealed. In this post, I break down my initial impressions from 2021. As of last year there have been 8 more films in the DCEU, none of which bear repeated watching other than 2023’s BLUE BEETLE.

Thankfully, this Cinematic Universe has been taken out back and SHOT IN THE HEAD. But you can read all about it online.

https://dcextendeduniverse.fandom.com/wiki/DC_Extended_Universe#Films

What I will say up front is that AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM was so incredibly AWFUL that I stopped watching it (streamed on HBO) 20 minutes in two years ago, and still do not own a copy. And I own blu-rays of the Halle Berry CATWOMAN, a singing zombie baseball movie, and a low-budget hackjob of PRINCESS OF MARS starring an underwear model and a former porn star.

Don’t watch Aquaman 2. It’s awful. It’s TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON bad. A movie which I do in fact own but haven’t watched any of since I walked out of the theater during the opening credits.

YMMV, of course.

TL:DR; there aren’t any official commentary tracks on the discs pictured above, and only one has something you can watch along with the movie.

So here’s the deal. Zack Snyder makes me want to douse my head in lye, and I’m not likely to change that opinion. I think his “vision” of the DC universe is the worst possible timeline, and his active hatred of superheroes should insure he never works in the genre again, but there are enough dudebro fanboys on the internet to give him chance after chance to prove me wrong.

Or is it…right?

Two days from now, I’m loading up with snacks, bourbon, and a trusted friend to drink my way through the 4 hour GRIMFEST that will be the Snyder cut of JUSTICE LEAGUE.

I meant to start this rewatch yesterday, but got distracted by life. Today was also full of distraction, but at least I had a plan of sorts.

And as it turns out, it’s okay to have had a half-assed plan, because Warner Brothers absolutely half-assed the production on its home video releases, leaving me no option but to scour the internet for something listenable.

So in the comments below, here are “our” movies, and the attendant commentary tracks, should one be available.

As you can probably surmise, there’s not a lot of joy waiting in there, and a shit-ton of Dead Parents ™.

YMMV, of course. And while I may decide to do a critical rewatch someday, the minute a review threads descends into Snyderism, I’m shutting it down.

MAN OF STEEL (2013) – Zack Snyder, sort of. There’s minor special features on the disc itself, but Audible.com published a watchthrough with Snyder for free online.

BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE (2016) – Zack Snyder, sort of. Again, no commentary on the disc, but what’s worse is that the “ultimate edition ” has no special features at all.

So it’s another online watch party, with a seemingly intoxicated Snyder fumbling his way through a watch party in early 2020. 

UICIDE SQUAD (2016) – not only is there no commentary for this movie on the disc, but nobody “official” has really weighed in on ot. Which is fine by me, because it’s posisbly the worst movie of the lot.

However, trying to find anything to listen to brought a very interesting website to my attention, suicidesquadcast.com. Not only do they break down a lot of DC movie news, but they do their own commentary tracks for Man of Steel and BVS that are worth a listen.

Further online commentary

‘Suicide Squad’ Is Not Really a Movie (Commentary)

WONDER WOMAN (2017) – no commentary.

NONE.

Possibly the most important non-BLACK PANTHER superhero movie ever, and not a minute of official insight not wrapped up in a commercial soundbite special feature.

I am crushed.

Further online commentary

The Geek List: 5 lessons I learned from the ‘Wonder Woman’ Blu-ray

JUSTICE LEAGUE (2017) – Good news, everyone. There is no Joss Whedon commentary track for this movie.

Also, no commentary track whatsoever. But the guys over at suicidesquadcast did one worth listening to, so I’ve included it below.

https://www.suicidesquadcast.com/dcsquadcast

Also for free, audibleDOTcom did a track available on the internets. Fair warning, it’s NSFW, and the first 10 minutes not only include a commercial, but the hosts complaining about culture in Montgomery AL, Atlanta GA.

AQUAMAN (2018) – Let’s see here. Nothin, divided by nothin’ carry the nothin…

NOTHING.

Why Aquaman’s DVD Won’t Have A Commentary Track, According To James Wan

SHAZAM! (2019) – Say my name–yeah, nothing.

BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN (2020)

Wait, what’s this? an interactive feature that lasts the entire film?

Could this be a commentary track?

Nope. But the “Bird’s Eye View is as close as we’re going to get to anything worth reviewing, and is packed full of candid interviews and text references to DC comics.

It’s a clear winner. #1 of 8.

After a COVID-19 gap year, Norwescon 43 is going virtual this weekend, and I’ll be a part of it right here at home. It’s a full weekend of talky talk, meant to keep me occupied in-between panels when I’m not hanging in guest rooms and hotel bars that’s clearly not happening.

Good times.

Here’s a breakdown of all the fun I’ll be having, and would love to share with you if you care to come along. And I’ll definitely be signing books all weekend long, should you care to buy any from my online store.

So let’s be famous!

Again.

Thursday, April 1

It’s Never Too Late to Start Writing Science Fiction

6:00pm – 7:00pm @ Maxis

K.G. Anderson (M), PJ Manney, Kate Ristau, Scott James Magner

Writing talent doesn’t have an expiration date. It’s never too late to be successful. The panelists have suggestions, directions, and words of encouragement.

Friday, April 2

Marvel Movies or DC TV Shows

3:00pm – 4:00pm @ Evergreen 

Scott James Magner (M), Steven S. Long, Elliott Kay

With the popularity of movie and TV adaptations of some of our favorite comic books in the last decade, what were some of the best adaptations? What were some of the worst? What do you hope gets adapted in the future?

Where’s That Pesky Time-Turner?

7:00pm – 8:00pm @ Olympic

Scott James Magner (M), Patrick Swenson, Kris Carsrud, Tex Thompson

We all want more hours in the day, but that’s not going to happen (unless you know something we don’t). What are some tips and tricks to getting the most out of your time? Are there organizational tools that might help?

Saturday, April 3

Reading: Scott James Magner

11:30am – 12:00pm @ Cascade

Join me as I read an excerpt from Empire of Night, a novel of the Hunters Chronicle. Rated PG.

Tips for Writing Engaging Space Battles

12:00pm – 1:00pm @ Olympic

Russell Ervin (M), Elliott Kay, Arthur Bozlee, Scott James Magner, Jonathan Brazee, Jennifer Brozek

Space battles follow the basic rules of storytelling, but it’s easy to fill the pages with ships firing ineffectually at each other. Getting the science correct is key, but bombarding your reader with technical details is far from engaging. Military SF writers share their tips for creating space battles that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Rejection: My Life as a Writer 

6:00pm – 7:00pm @ Poolside

Scott James Magner (M), Jasmine Silvera, Tex Thompson, Patrick Swenson, Rhiannon Held

From an honest writing group critique to having your series canceled by a major editor, rejection is an unwelcome but constant part of a writer’s life. Thick skins and strong wills are integral to submit work, receive editorial requests/demands, and, in the end, receiving reviews on your published work. Hear from writers who have been there, done that, and have the battle scars to prove it, but also learn about why it’s so important to keep trying, keep submitting, and KEEP WRITING! 

Sunday, April 4

The Mandalorian

10:00am – 11:00am @ Olympic

Dale Ivan Smith (M), Scott James Magner, Claire Eddy, Elliott Kay

It’s been called a roots movement for the Star Wars franchise, and part of that is because The Mandalorian is as much a love song to Flash Gordon as Star Wars: A New Hope was (but also Sergio Leones Spaghetti Westerns and the John Wick movies, too). What did we think about the first two seasons? Is Mando a classic Star Wars hero? And what’s next for Boba Fett?

Writing About a Future That’s Already Here

2:00pm – 3:00pm @ Evergreen 

K.G. Anderson (M), PJ Manney, Scott James Magner, Jack Skillingstead

How has the world changed in the past decade? How have smart phones, social media, and on-demand manufacturing already made standard tropes of speculative fiction obsolete? Panelists will consider which emerging technologies writers need to be aware of and how they might impact fiction.

aka: Here I go, playing the star again…

So here’s the deal. Today marks the end of a very long journey from half-assed entrepreneur to full-fledged failed businessman.

That’s right, the new ARUS Entertainment storefront ​is up and running, ready to serve all your independent author book-buying needs.

“But Mr. Bhagwan. I thought you already had an online store?”

Yes, I did. But that store was mainly a backstop for in-person cash sales at conventions, not a real e-commerce solution. So I got together with a couple of the smartest people I know (super shout-outs to Honor MacDonald at Eyequeue media, and web designer extraordinaire Joe Fulgham) and invested in my own future, and a fully customizable storefront that can handle anything I throw at it for a fraction of the cost. Plus it’s mine. I own it, and it’s a lot easier to navigate and share than the hosted solution I was using.

So what does this mean for this, my actual web site? A good deal, actually. Book/Sales-centric posts will now live on that page, and I’ll while I’ll be doing a bit of cross-posting, I won’t be as hesitant to post here about irrelevant things. Team Bhagwan has also added a few new features to this site that I’ll be rolling out in the next few weeks/days, so watch this space for more content!

Once upon a time, I wrote a science fiction novel about a space virus that changes what it means to be human. Technically I wrote several, but for now let’s focus on HOMEFRONT, and the trilogy it spawned five years later.

In the universe of the Transgenic Wars, humanity’s first explorations in near space found evidence of much, much older civilizations, and a peculiar little trick they used to adapt to their new homes.

Because humans are idiots, they brought the stuff back to Earth, and didn’t immediately lock it away in the deepest hole they could find. It got out, and as a result every living human being and any humans who would ever live again has some form of the Transgenic Virus (not a virus) inside them.

Most people live longer, and don’t catch colds any more. Some become stronger, faster, and more resilient than others.

Some grow extra arms. Some become telepaths.

Many people become afraid, and that fear destroys the Earth.

Fast forward a few hundred years. The most extreme (and most beneficial) forms of transgenesis have been exiled to the farthest known planets. On Earth, the population has dwindled, but also have become healthier and longer lived.

There is enough food for everyone, and enough power to light every home. But oceans are mostly dead. The industrialized world lives along shattered coastlines, fearing to explore the cities of old lest they awaken remnant war machines programmed to kill any human with a transgenic expression.

And all the important resources come from orbit, carefully apportioned by the Reclamation Council in exchange for water, air, and biomass processed on the surface to supply its military.

A military force comprised entirely of humans with vanishingly small amounts of transgenesis. So small, in fact, that they are considered to be virus-free.

Members of System Defense Force want for nothing. They are the ultimate elites, and should any member test positive for the transgenic virus, they are quietly retired to live whatever life they can make for theselves on the surface of the Earth.

It used to be science fiction. Then a killer virus of unknown origin misted its way onto the world stage, And let me tell you, Writing stories about a post-pandemic world when we’re smack-dab in the middle of one is harder than I thought it would be.

And then last month the U.S. Department of Defense enacted a policy forbidding recruits who had tested positive for COVID-19 from enlisting or earning a military commission, and my fictional and actual worlds collided.

The DoD has since walked back the policy, but they’re still allowed to bounce a symptomatic recruit or one compromised by the disease, which in effect are the same thing.

Because everybody will have symptoms at some point. Because as mentioned above, humans are idiots. And weird viruses aren’t the only prophetic thing I’ve had to adjust in the text.

For example, the virus used to be an extreme allegory for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, a ridiculously discriminatory policy which went away after I wrote the book but then came roaring back as fascism came back into fashion.

When I went to rewrite the book into a trilogy, I kept the virus, but allowed my biracial, bisexual protagonist to have a fuller (and more active) romantic life, and introduced one of her wives to the worlds as well. I let the characters tell me who they were, and this time I didn’t tell them they were wrong.

In short, my Big Gay Space Opera ™ (which fooled absolutely none of my queer friends) became bigger and gayer than ever, and I’ve very happy with the results.

Now I’m writing more stories in that world, and the split society I’d envisioned has to be reconciled. The consequences of the virus must be realized, and the stories of the “little people” most affected by it have to be told.

I’m not as happy with those as I could be, because in a lot of ways they’re still based on a pre-COVOD, pre -NeoFascist world.

I’ve finished 12 out of 30 planned chapters of my next book, and 10 of them were written in the summer of 2018, and only a third of them address the inequities of my future society. I’ve only introduced two new characters of note, with only one more planned for this novel.

As I look ahead, I’m realizing that I may not be able to tell this story in three novels as planned. I may not be able to do it in five, but I’ll give it my best shot.

So get ready for some rewrites as I expand my horizons. Because every bad thing I did to my characters in the last three has/will have lasting consequences, and not every ending is happy.

So here’s the deal.

There’s a lot of truly awful shit leading the news these days, and a very large percentage of it has to do with (white) Men Doing Bad Things.

As a whitish man of middle years (pending), I benefit mightily from unearned privilege. Quite a bit of me is white, old, male, and entirely cisgendered. As cheat codes go, I’ve got the winning hand, and there’s not a lot I can do to fold it.

But I’m no paragon. I’m just this guy. I’ve hurt many people in my rise to mediocrity, be they strangers, friends, or confidantes. And despite my best efforts, I’m likely to harm more in my rise to above average.

I say this not to garner sympathy for past bad actions, or future mis-steps. I say this, because it needs to be said, and acknowledged.

I’m the fucking problem.

I’m the nice-ish guy who can go too far if left unchallenged. I’m kept (mostly) in check by sobriety and guilt, and removing either opens us all up to sadness.

Case in point.

Once upon a time, I was almost famous.

I used my unearned privilege to press attentions on women and men who did not accept them, sometimes even after being warned away. On occasion I took the normal bonds of a relationship a step too far and emerged unscathed.

Admittedly, this was during decades when I was mostly blurry, drinking away my pain and taking life as it came to me. But that’s not an excuse, or even an explanation. It’s just a statement of fact. I was a drunk. And at times a nasty one.

I’d like to think I’ve changed since then, but deep down, that younger me is still inside this semi-wizened shell, leading me to believe that at my core I am not a nice guy.

I’m the other guy, and that’s a fucking problem I can’t unfuck.

This is not an apology, because one is neither possible nor permissible. I did those things. I can’t undo them. This is an acknowledgment. This is me baring my chest for the knives.

Because when I said you’d better come for me when I’m the problem, I meant it. And on numerous occasions in the last 25 or so years, the problem has been me.

I’ve treated my romantic partners badly. I’ve taken advantage of my friends for my own advantage. I’ve presumed relationships that did not exist.

I’ve fucked up. I’ll probably continue to do so, even though I believe I’ve got a handle on my worst self.

I first wrote this confession two years ago. I edited it last year, and I’m posting it today, on my personal web page that bears my legal name.

I’m not apologizing for who I am, or who I was. The a-word I use is ASHAMED.

I’m trying. Every day I’m trying. And on a lot of those days I see men and women around me fail the challenge.

I’ve failed the challenge.

But I still try.

If I have wronged you, I am deeply, truly ashamed. It doesn’t matter what I think transpired. It doesn’t matter if I believe my actions were not malicious. If I think, or thought, that there was nothing wrong with my behavior(s).

It matters how you perceived them, how I made you feel uncomfortable, how you were ashamed of what I’d done.

It’s not your fault. It was never your fault. It was mine.

And that is a thing I >can< be sorry for, and mean it.

No comments, please. No support for who you think I am. Just read what I’ve written, and read it again.

Because I’m watching me. And you should be too.

So after a half week of nasty-ass sickness, I’m authoring up and attending all my Norwescon programming.

What’s that, you say? Scott James Magner will be at Norwescon?

Oh yes, he will.

What follows is my easy-to-read, self-reference schedule, which may also be useful to my legion of SJM fans.

And since I pretty much know those people’s names, here we go.

Thursday

Tools of the Trade: Story Arcs

3:00pm – 4:00pm @ Cascade 12

Randy Henderson (M), Dean Wells, Andy Dudak, Scott James Magner

I’m a big fan of story arc, and our moderator Randy has provided us with a list of questions I’m just sure I can asnwer.

Also, this is approximately two hours after I check into my hotel room, and 5 hours after I’ll arrive on site. Expect me to be in prime SJM form for this one.

Friday

Whipping Out That First Draft

11:00am – 12:00pm @ Cascade 12

Tina Connolly (M), Jack Skillingstead, Jennifer Brozek, Scott James Magner, Nancy Kress

I am way out of my league on this panel, but I’ve also written a shit-ton of first drafts over the years. Hopefully I’ll have something meaningful to contribute.

Bad to the Bone: Villains in SF & F

1:00pm – 2:00pm @ Cascade 10

Julie McGalliard (M), Lee Moyer, Joseph Brassey, Scott James Magner

Fuck yeah. let’s talk villains!

Make a Villain – Sci-fi Edition

6:00pm – 7:00pm @ Cascade 10

Barth Anderson (M), Scott James Magner, PJ Manney, Andy Dudak

Fuck yeah, let’s talk villains AGAIN!

Saturday

Reading: Scott James Magner

1:30pm – 2:00pm @ Cascade 4

Scott James Magner (M)

So here’s the deal. I write fiction, and I also read it. Come hear me read from a WIP, which may or may not have a contract by the end of the weekend.

Autograph Session 2

3:00pm – 4:00pm @ Grand 2

Chris Pramas, Galen Dara, Ken Liu, Matthew Wedel, Nicole Lindroos, Barth Anderson, Tina Connolly, Fonda Lee, G. Willow Wilson, Joseph Carriker, Kat Richardson, Nancy Kress, Sandra M. Odell, Tanya D., Curtis C. Chen, Dawn Vogel, Nisi Shawl, E. Lily Yu, Eva L. Elasigue, Jack Skillingstead, Joseph Brassey, K. C. Alexander, Lee Moyer, Meg Elison, Pat MacEwen, Patrick Swenson, Rhiannon Held, Scott James Magner, Dean Wells

I not only write and read fiction, but I also publish and sell it. Come get some!

Sunday

The Influence of Tabletop Games on Video Games

10:00am – 11:00am @ Cascade 7 & 8

Scott James Magner (M), Kiva Maginn, Dylan Templar

I won’t lie, I have some strong opinions on this topic. And quite a few facts and figures as well!

So there’s the deal. Come see me, or not, but we’re going to have a gay old time this weekend in Seatac, WA. Come around and see us sometime!