Uskglass
@terrorsword.bsky.social
Fantasy, SF, anime, writing, thoughts | he/him
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When authors are clearly holding back their most interesting material in the first book of the series, it actually makes me less likely to read the next book, not more. Because then it’s clear that the second book won’t have the most interesting material either, will it?
December 12, 2025 at 12:36 AM
When authors are clearly holding back their most interesting material in the first book of the series, it actually makes me less likely to read the next book, not more. Because then it’s clear that the second book won’t have the most interesting material either, will it?
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Learning what works on the page when it comes to writing fantasy fight-scenes. Contains mild peril.
Who Dies First? Conan the Barbarian vs. The Bloody Nine
Fantasy writers, learn how to keep your fight scenes sharp with two classic examples of sword and sorcery
open.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Learning what works on the page when it comes to writing fantasy fight-scenes. Contains mild peril.
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Art by • Calder Moore
April 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Art by • Calder Moore
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November 26, 2025 at 8:04 PM
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Blauenfels Archives
November 15, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Blauenfels Archives
This is a hot take! Just yesterday a number of people on this app had a pretty in-depth discussion on the meaning of Ned Stark (i.e. is he a model character?). The fact that there are multiple plausible answers to this question shows Martin certainly made a point (and perhaps several!).
22) Never go the full George R. R. Martin.
History does not have a point. Stories need a point. It doesn't have to be a moral, but there has to be an ending to a narrative. Often in S&S that's when the protagonist or antagonist dies, but the death cannot be purely incidental - or what is the point?
History does not have a point. Stories need a point. It doesn't have to be a moral, but there has to be an ending to a narrative. Often in S&S that's when the protagonist or antagonist dies, but the death cannot be purely incidental - or what is the point?
November 24, 2025 at 1:50 AM
This is a hot take! Just yesterday a number of people on this app had a pretty in-depth discussion on the meaning of Ned Stark (i.e. is he a model character?). The fact that there are multiple plausible answers to this question shows Martin certainly made a point (and perhaps several!).
Seconded. I think I got about halfway through the first Shannara book many years ago and had to put it down. It feels like the world of fantasy has long moved on from heavily LOTR-accented stuff.
54) The Sword & Sorcery needs heart.
The Illearth War series by Donald R. Burleson, Swords of Shannara by Terry Brooks, etc. don't have the same ongoing appeal of, say, Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. Why? Because while they all use the tropes of S&S, Discworld has heart.
The Illearth War series by Donald R. Burleson, Swords of Shannara by Terry Brooks, etc. don't have the same ongoing appeal of, say, Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. Why? Because while they all use the tropes of S&S, Discworld has heart.
November 24, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Seconded. I think I got about halfway through the first Shannara book many years ago and had to put it down. It feels like the world of fantasy has long moved on from heavily LOTR-accented stuff.
The best way to characterize the appeal for me is that it moves quickly through its many ideas like sword-and-sorcery type adventure fantasy from the 70’s and before, but retains the worldbuilding depth of more modern stuff. There’s nothing like it.
Thinking again today about how much I enjoyed The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman. What’s so outstanding with that book is not that it’s well done (though it is), but that it’s great in a way that is wholly its own.
November 22, 2025 at 9:10 PM
The best way to characterize the appeal for me is that it moves quickly through its many ideas like sword-and-sorcery type adventure fantasy from the 70’s and before, but retains the worldbuilding depth of more modern stuff. There’s nothing like it.
Thinking again today about how much I enjoyed The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman. What’s so outstanding with that book is not that it’s well done (though it is), but that it’s great in a way that is wholly its own.
November 22, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Thinking again today about how much I enjoyed The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman. What’s so outstanding with that book is not that it’s well done (though it is), but that it’s great in a way that is wholly its own.
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November 17, 2025 at 8:04 PM
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Art by • David Wyatt
November 18, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Art by • David Wyatt
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November 19, 2025 at 8:03 PM
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Art by • David Gallagher
November 20, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Art by • David Gallagher
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I’m loving this new but increasingly common genre of review where film critics are made to see anime movies but they haven’t seen the connecting show, which leaves them confused and annoyed
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution review – spectacular if baffling anime is out to thrill and bewilder
Remix of old and new material from TV series includes tremendous battle sequences but there’s an awful lot of lore for new viewers to catch up with
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I’m loving this new but increasingly common genre of review where film critics are made to see anime movies but they haven’t seen the connecting show, which leaves them confused and annoyed
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
The Spear Cuts Through Water is a puzzling book for me: despite a very mature and developed tone and a bunch of great ideas right up front (like the double frame story), I still found myself getting bored about 2/5 of the way through and ultimately quit. Hard to say what went wrong.
November 6, 2025 at 11:41 PM
The Spear Cuts Through Water is a puzzling book for me: despite a very mature and developed tone and a bunch of great ideas right up front (like the double frame story), I still found myself getting bored about 2/5 of the way through and ultimately quit. Hard to say what went wrong.
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Art by • Audrey Rouvin
November 6, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Art by • Audrey Rouvin
The Locked Tomb books are so endlessly inventive. I can’t think of another series that is so fresh with each installment.
November 6, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The Locked Tomb books are so endlessly inventive. I can’t think of another series that is so fresh with each installment.
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October 5, 2025 at 8:31 PM
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#Drawtober Chapter VI - Enchanted Masquerade
Master of Two Worlds
Master of Two Worlds
October 31, 2025 at 8:13 PM
#Drawtober Chapter VI - Enchanted Masquerade
Master of Two Worlds
Master of Two Worlds
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Pit Fight
October 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Pit Fight
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