Sahelanth > Recent Status Updates

Good! The depth of characterization reminds me of Stephen King, but Langan has more varied characters per page. The scares are simple and effective.

Good case studies, but thin on theorizing.

The case studies on Big Brother, Overwatch, and baseball are very interesting. However, the author doesn’t have a ton to say on what makes optimization a problem for games and how to avoid it. “It’s a tragedy of the commons problem” and “be aware of different incentives” are most of it.

Key conceit is that the greatest suffering grows out of love. Most of the stories focus on people harming others out of loneliness, or to reverse loss, or to reach their object of desire. Strongest so far is “The Diabolist.” Written from the perspective of a terribly lonely summoned demon, as it clumsily tries to thank the summoner’s daughter who unwittingly showed it kindness.