Stan’s Comments (group member since Dec 02, 2017)

Stan’s comments from the Christian Cyberpunk Books group.

Here's is news that I snagged from FB today, posted by the Royal Marines. The tech being used - Cyberpunk is now.

Strike squad of just 100 Brit Marines smashed 1,500 US troops in war games drill...
A STRIKE squad of just 100 Marines smashed 1,500 US troops in a war games drill.
The shock victory has revolutionised military thinking.
Our Future Commando Force attacked in the urban warfare exercise. Conventional tactics suggest they would need to heavily outnumber the defending Americans.
But working in eight teams of 12, they outmanoeuvred their rivals and used helicopter drones linked to screens on their chests to pinpoint weak spots.
The £400million drill in California had to be cut short because the British victory was so swift and unexpected.
Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, told The Sun yesterday: “This has overturned the principles of war. Mass is no longer the asset it once was — it is all about effect. If you concentrate your force, you are vulnerable.
“On the modern battlefield you want maximum dispersion to give your opponent maximum doubt.
“Then apply disposable technology that you don’t mind losing.”
Brigadier Dan Cheeseman, head of the Royal Navy’s hi-tech weapons wing, added: “This has turned around traditional thinking.”
Yesterday, the Future Commando Force and the new “tier two” special forces’ Rangers Regiment — similar to the US’s Green Berets — unveiled hi-tech weapons at the MoD’s Bovington Camp in Dorset.
Troops are experimenting with flying grenades, remote-controlled mortar bombs and “throwbots” which can be lobbed into buildings before soldiers conduct dangerous room-clearance operations.
Dave Young, regimental sergeant-major of 3 Commando Brigade, said: “If we’d had this kit in Afghanistan, there is no doubt it would have saved lives.”
Larger quadcopter drones are being used to drop off ammo and recover wounded soldiers from the battlefield.
The Navy is planning an exercise this year to see if Marines in jet suits can board a ship.
The Rangers Regiment will fight alongside rebels and freedom fighters in other countries’ wars.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “They will be at the vanguard of a more active and engaged Armed Forces.”
They are expected to defend British interests globally, as well as fight al-Shabaab in Somalia, and IS-backed militants in northern Mozambique.
Russia’s Wagner group — a private military company — has helped to tip conflicts in Moscow’s favour by working with rebel groups in Libya, Syria and the Central African Republic...

You're most welcome!

When I was working on my master's degree and learning about thesis writing, our instructor told us the cure for feeling "blah, yuck" is to sit down and write anyway. And, yeah, there were days where I just had to write. So, please continue to write even when you don't feel like writing. You have much to say that needs to be heard my friend!

I have two fiction and several non-fiction to finish before I can give it a read, but hopefully before the year is out!

This is a very encouraging review Den. I'll add this one to my Want to Read list. Glad you found it to be promising, even if not preachy!

Den wrote: "From Wikipedia: A shared universe or shared world is a set of creative works where more than one writer (or other artist) independently contributes a work that can stand alone but fits into the joi..."

That's what I thought, but I wasn't sure. Thanks for clarifying!

I would personally be careful with how widely I opened my world to other authors. I'd have to know enough to be able to trust them to write within my Christian worldview. I'd also limit use to any existing characters unless I knew the author could write them without altering them in directions I would not want to go. Or, I'd request to write my characters if they appear in the other author's work in my world.

Does that make sense?

Praying!

What exactly is a shared universe?

Anyone read Collin F. Barnes Code Breakers series?

I read the first book a few years ago. Forgot I read it. Read it again last year and actually went on to book two.

I didn't like the atheistic world, especially when profanity used God's name in vain. If they are all atheists, why not come up with non-religious profanity?

Anyway, my ideas of character development go beyond upgrades.

One element that I did like was Barnes term techxorsists. It is a techie play on exorcism. In his books this refers to the removal of malicious code that hackers let loose. However, he has written about the upload of personhood to the cloud. This adds an interesting element since he's going beyond AI's.

Anyway, I was wondering if any of you work spiritual warfare into your Cyberpunk? That could be a very interesting twist beyond the normal Cyberpunk fare. It might come out kind of Shadow Run-ish.

PS. I may have spelled Techxorsist incorrectly. It has been a few months since I read the two books. I think there are 5 in all.

While the story sounds interesting, the description does not sound mild enough for me to read it. It comes across as pretty hard core. Perhaps that's marketing, but I doubt it. Thanks for posting that description for us.

David wrote: "Having read the book, I can assure you it will not. If they follow the book, there will be one chapter that will be particularly unsettling and I'm curious if they'll include it and how far they'll..."

I didn't realize it was already a book. Is the book worth reading or is it overtly not edifying?

Hello all!

I just saw a preview for a show called Altered Carbon on Netflix. I am positive that it won't be Christian Cyberpunk. I also didn't see a rating for it yet. Just wanted to let you all know about it because, if it isn't too adult in content, it might be a good source for ideas about tech for cyberpunk.

Nice first episode!

I just started reading a book about writing short stories. It is a pretty daring publication, as the author presents his drafts and feedback from reviewers. I'm on the section of writing tips now.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

If you're interested. One huge tip is to tell through the story rather than telling as the narrator, even in short stories. That might be helpful for Techno-Oblivion.

You certainly hit current realities well in your stories!

Finally got a chance to see Automata. It was slower than I anticipated. However, I used to live in Bulgaria, so seeing a film with locations from there was cool.

The concept that AI's could evolve beyond the limits placed upon their programming because humans evolved to be the superior beings on the planet is interesting. I was disappointed that no explanation of how it might have happened was presented in the film. I think there's a lot more potential to the world they created and the story they told. Do you know if it was based on a book that might have more detail? I've not seen any connections to such a book.

My friend Ryan Dunlap (author of The Wind Merchant series that I mentioned previously) wrote The Goldfish as a serial for an online competition - and, he won the competition resulting in a book deal for the novella.

https://www.amazon.com/Goldfish-1888-...

So, it is possible.

Another friend, who also writes novella length, write some of his work on his web site, but not full chapters and not the whole novella. That way people don't get the whole thing for free. But, with good scenes on the site, he generates interest in the whole story.

So, that's another angle.

So, something of Elysium meets The Book of Eli?

Good analysis. I'll check out your recommendations.

I don't think the author had Christian Messiah in mind when he wrote Max. I imagine his concept doesn't go beyond "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" level of messianic/savior figure.

I think if Max had been orphaned from Elysium then we could possibly see an Israel/Gentile angle - elect versus non-elect (but not in a predestinarian kind of way).

Since Max was raised as an orphan by nuns, a Christian might assume that he has heard of Jesus' sacrifice, and possibly even the Scripture that there is no greater love than to die for a friend.

I know I'm stretching it here. But, what could have been developed in the story line with the Catholic connection? With just a few changes (including a reduction of profanity) and an added scene or two, I think this could have been much more of a Christian story. I'm certain that a book has the ability to include aspects that a Hollywood production would leave out.

In what other way do you think it could be adapted to be a Christian story? Or, do you think it is beyond redemption?

None of my sketched story lines relate directly to the Elysium story line. My idea of Cyberpunk is definitely in the same vein as Elysium. I don't know enough about tech to write AIs and hackers with any degree of detail. Those would be background realities in anything I write. The cybernetics aspect of Cyberpunk is alive and well in Elysium and that is more of what I'd import, in addition to adding some of my own ideas of cybernetics. The aspect of Elysium that isn't clear in the movie, is whether cybernetic implants decreases one's humanity. The main military antagonist is pretty out there, but is it due to cybernetic implants or a long career of killing people (dirty deeds done dirty cheap). There isn't enough story time to know whether the cybernetics dehumanize Max, the hero. So, a theme unexplored in the movie. Still, Max as a Messiah figure is interesting, especially since he was an orphan raised by nuns.

Give it a watch when you get a chance and we can discuss it more.

I rewatched Elysium last night. The first time I watched it, I felt that a true Cyberpunk movie had been made. It has quite a bit of profanity, more than I remembered. That aside, I was wondering what you all think about Max as a Messiah figure in the movie? Do you see parallels between Max and Jesus. The differences are stark, but what about any similarities? Also, how could the movie be adjusted or adapted to make it Christian fiction?

Not overtly Christian, but more allegorical is The Wind Merchant and sequel. The third book is in the works. The book is pretty much squeaky clean too.

https://www.amazon.com/Wind-Merchant-...