Agreed. Near impossible to carry any conviction or emotion into your writing if you’re not out there actually also experiencing life. Doesn’t matter what you pursue either, just has to be something that brings you to life.

Oh nice! I’ve been meaning to read it. Love Ken Liu’s short stories, but haven’t made it to the dynasty yet.

What novel series was this?

I’ll have to give this a try today. Hosting my nephews for a game - sure they’ll love it!

Roll in front of the table and still fudge the numbers, insisting the players didn’t understand what they saw

Don’t get the hate at all. The entire series is a pulp sci-fi/fantasy mashup based on 80s DND vibes. The pulp is intentional and was always there!

And even with that, everyone is still hitting perfect emotional notes, and the show is managing to wrap up a sprawling plot nicely.

Addendum: I totally forgot to include Mythic Bastionland, which looks amazing

Oh man, a fellow DE fan in the wild! I need to do another, more ambitious run where I don’t end up as a sorry cop centrist.

You’re welcome! Hope you enjoy 😄

I get that. It does seem like a series that’s nice starting where it is, once that adventuring life is already in the past.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell was the highlight book of 2025, and maybe one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Also can never not recommend The Locked Tomb series.