I wouldn’t be that cruel unless you insisted…
Simon ;-P
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Monthly Archives: February 2018
Manic Monday Number 7 (with snow)
See me in the featured image? That’s what I want right now…
Not this:
But it looks like that snow is what a lot of England is in for weather (see what I did there?!?) we like it or not! Anyway, down to the events of the last week.
Planet Simon has completed it’s little facelift and will hopefully make much of the targeted content more accessible. Have a look and aplay and see what you think.
escribble is starting to come along nicely, with a mix of old and new posts I’m hoping that it’s going to become a blog of interest becasue I’m mixing the good and the bad of life into it. It’s going to be a fun little place so have a look and if you feel inclined hit the follow button.
The first post on Science fiction concepts has been posted into Universe of Possibilities. This first look at concepts explores a little of what I mean and why they’re important.
Why not click on the Death Star and see what I’m on about?
If you’re on Twitter make sure you follow @BlogBashChat and join us all for a blogging chat on Sunday night at 7pm British time. It’s a great little thing that’s growing weekly and you get to find out more about blogging and Bloggers!
That’s it really not much going on! What have you guys been up to?
Also make sure you follow up what’s going on in the rest of the Planet Simon universe:
Keep smiling, and blogging!
Simon 🙂
Where is Elon’s Roadster and Starman?
It seems like only yesterday the Elon Musk’s roadster and starman was launched into space on an orbit in the Mars neighbourhood. On this day there was so much excitement not seen in a long time and of course it was again proved that the Earth is round (like d’uh!).
But since then a little website has started which is tracking the position of the roadster – www.whereisroadster.com gives out live data of the position of the roadster from Earth, speed and position.
Sure the site has only a little scientific interest and is quite geeky but what it does show is a simple look at how orbits and trajectories can work. It’s pretty neat. Have a look!
Simon ☺️
Images credit: Space X
Minion Thoughts – It is possible for me to behave…
I try… honest!
Simon 🙂
Manic Monday Number 7 :-D
Right bloggies – listen up becasue there’s a lot to get through this week! After the blog split with escribble I now have to re-sort out Planet Simon and tidy up how it looks when a casual browser or blogger find it. Up until now it’s been a bit messy with all the categories and different features that it’s been hard to identify what it’s all about. To be honest it’s still going to have a lot in it but I’m hoping this will be a much better way to present my creative works to the world.
From this is going to come a series up new and updated posts, I’m wanting to re-run the Solar System Exploration Series, Scifi files and new posts on Digital art and how to get started.
On top of this too there are hyperspace plans for Universe of Possibilities which is going to become a personal hub of Science Fiction fun!
I’m going to be especially looking at concepts in Science Fiction and how they’re important and on classic scifi moments.
So there’s much to come!
If you’re on Twitter make sure you follow @BlogBashChat and join us all for a blogging chat on Sunday night British time. It’s a great little thing that’s growing weekly and you get to find out more about blogging and Bloggers!
Apart from that… that’s it. What have you guys been up to?
Also make sure you follow up what’s going on in the rest of the Planet Simon universe:
Keep smiling, and blogging!
Simon 🙂
The Great Galactic Service Station – Part 10
It is a universally accepted idea that ideas change the world er – Galaxy. The nature of the idea depends on how things change. At the time the intention is irrelevant, history decided if it was good or bad. It also depends on which side you were on and if you won or lost. This is why history texts vary wildly depending on who wrote them and what side of the particular fence they were on.
Right now Harry was at this point, telling Borian – mortal enemy of the Bak’Rah that they had given over their leader to them was a good idea for the six passengers and crew of the starship Frank (IRIS wouldn’t budge on the name). But from the point of view of those serving in fleets on both sides – well, it was too soon to write any history books… yet.
***
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t blow your ship to atomic particles right now?” The Borian shouted to Harry.
Totally unfazed by this raw aggression Harry calmly replied “Why don’t you do that to the Bak’Rah?” after all they have you leader and you can blow him to pieces while you do it.”
For some reason that defies all logic and this seemed like a good idea to the Borians. Shutting off communications they turned their attention to the Bak’rah this seemed to resonate with the Bak’Rah as they turned their attention to the Borians and the two fleets moved towards each other in a situation that wasn’t likely to end well.
“Harry!” Miranda shrieked.
“What? We won’t have to worry about them now.” Harry chuckled.
“You really know how to put the alien among the humans don’t you?”
“He has a good teacher!” IRIS calmy cut in.
It was easy to forget that IRIS was always listening and watching. It was impossible to know what a psychopathic super computer was thinking or plotting but is was always best to err on the side of safety. “Just get us back to Earth and this time follow Ralph’s instructions!” Miranda snapped.
Miranda kept quiet while they sped back to Earth, whether she found the Great Galactic Service Station or not this mission had created a huge mess. A mess she was going to have to answer for.
Ralph interrupted he thoughts. “Those two men we rescued from the pub.” Ralph asked cautiously.
“What about them?”
“They never talk and they’re stuffed into a room by themselves. What’s going on with them and what was this tape measure all about?”
Miranda smirked slightly “They’re the most wanted people in the whole Galaxy.”
“Why?”
“Well, they’re Tapians and that tape measure was meant to measure the size of the universe.”
Ralph’s face turned into one of total disbelief.
“It gets better. They were sent to the centre of the galaxy to use the black hole at it’s centre to hold the end while they carried out the measuring.”
“You expect me to believe this? It’s ridiculous!” Ralph protested.
“That is the nature of the Galaxy and the Universe Ralph. All round and everywhere are things that in the cold light of logic are insane, illogical and unbelievable. You can’t tell me you really think that what goes on in the human race is sane? Or that you’re the only ones like it?”
“Hmm… no I guess.” Ralph pondered.
“Remind me before this is over to tell you about Zargonites. It’s a tale of total insanity that you won’t believe!”
“I’m already there, but you say there’s more?”
“Oh there’s lots more” Miranda smirked, arching her eyebrow.
“Where are we going?” Harry asked impatiently.
Ralph pulled out his phone and searched for their location. “Right, this is where we need to be!” Ralph put the screen in front of Harry and scrolled through the map and pointed. “There!”
“Right, we should be there in only a few minutes.”
***
Brian rolled his eyes as he opened the door to the black people carrier “Come on we only stopped here for a coffee and some cake! Now we have three neck rest, two blankets, one teddy bear, and I’m ten quid lighter becasue of the claw machine!”
“Don’t forget my book!” Brian’s wife Claire teased while looking through the pages as she walked.
“How could I forget?” Brian jeered.
“I don’t know darling, but you are sweet!”
“Tell that to the bank manager when the credit card bill comes in! The car is full of more junk we picked up from service stations on the way home than we actually left with!”
“Oh stop grumbling.” Clair pouted her juicy red lips and planted a kiss on his lips.
Then is started, soft at first but in less than ten second a wind came out of nowhere, blowing the couple into their car and the door shut.
“What is going on?” shouted Brian.
“Look daddy!” Came a little voice from the back of the car! “Space man!”
“What?” Brian looked up. “Oh – My – God!!”
Brian untangled himself from Claire and jumped into the driver’s seat, Hurriedly turning on the car, the engine eventually starting, Brian looked up and saw the spacecraft landing, the ramp was down and four alien looking figures were making their way down it!
“I’ve not got my seatbelt on daddy!” Came one voice, another cried “I want to see the space men!”
“Nope! We’re off!” Over-revving the engine Brian sped off, turning sharply the entire contents of the car, children, wife, dog all thrown to the side of the car as he turned sharply out of the car park. Not bothering with the exit he drove up the kerb, over the grass and through the trees, a splattering of grass and mud left in the car’s wake.
***
“They were in a hurry!” Harry chuckled to himself.
“You’ve blown our cover totally this time Harry!” Miranda scolded.
“What cover? We blew it ages ago!”
“No. You did!” Miranda looked at him through slitty eyes. “You look after the ship Harry and no funny business!” Harry wandered off forlornly, Gaz and Ralph stood either side of Miranda, turning she pursed he lips and let out a loud whistle. “Come on you two! You ok Gaz?”
“Hangover still!” Gaz complained nursing his head.
“Well get over it, I’m going to need you to help me find the access point and activate the station!”
Gaz merely groaned, following Miranda down the Ramp, Ralph also followed the two Tapians also followed, looking around nervously, looking at each other as if communicating but not a word was said.
“Are they telepathic? Ralph whispered to Miranda.
“Oops, did I forget to tell you?” Miranda smirked.
“What are we looking for?”
“I’m not sure” Miranda puzzled, looking around. “There should be an access panel somewhere.”
“Do you know what it looks like?”
“Nope!”
The three of them spread out looking around the now empty car park, There was nothing to see, Ralph was looking around, although he didn’t know why. Then something caught his eye. Gaz being small had to climb onto something to see, a green CATV box. Ralph ran over to Gaz and picked him up.
“I’m going to smash you if you don’t put me down!” Gaz grated.
“Oh shut up!” Ralph pulled off the plastic green cover and threw it aside. Looking down he didn’t know what it was. But it wasn’t human.
“It’s here!” Ralph shouted out. Miranda was already behind him, making him startle.
“Why don’t you tell the whole world?” She teased. Smiling like a child who had gone to the freezer to find frozen broccoli and found ice cream instead she turned to Gaz “Right Gaz, let’s get this thing going!”
“Not so fast!” Came a voice from behind them.
To be continued…
©Simon Farnell 2018
Awesome Fantasy Maps from Soraya Corcoran
I saw this post on Saraya’s blog and I had to share it with you becasue she’s done such an amazing job on her art work:
Fantasy Maps
No fantasy book is complete without a map.
These are both maps for my own projects: Captain of Fortune and The Cursed Ashtian.
Lantha is a simple map, showing where all the major cities and towns are located around the country. Valen has more detail, with roads and forests added in.
via Cartography – Soraya Corcoran
A reblog or Press it wouldn’t have done it justice – So I’ve kind of copied the post in – I hope that’s ok Soraya. But seriously have a look at her blog!
~S
Minion Thoughts – I wish I could lose…
I would be stick thin if I could!
~S
Introducing Parallel Magic: The Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Show
Kate M Colby has created the Parallel Magic podcast, so for all of those into Scifi and dark fantasy reading this is something you should look into!
~S
If you read my January update or follow me on social media, you’ve probably caught the unofficial announcements… but now, I’m pleased to officially introduce Parallel Magic: The Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Show.
In this podcast, Jonas Lee (my friend and fellow author) and I discuss science fiction and fantasy novels over a drink. We started the show to create a virtual book club, where sci-fi/fantasy readers from around the world could chat about the books we love while enjoying the simple camaraderie of a drink (alcohol optional, of course!).
Thus far, we’ve aired two episodes. The first dives into Scythe by Neal Shusterman, along with all the existential crises a book about (im)mortality can bring. The second episode, which aired today, covers Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, as well as my first embarrassing Champagne pop, epic space battles, and the book’s brain-blowing (and not-so-brain-blowing twists).
Interested?
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Manic Monday Number 6 :-)))
I don’t know why I get excited about this every year, but I do. The days are getting longer, I wake in the morning to more light and when I leave work (at a decent time) it’s light.
So what’s been going on this week? Well apart from a few posts on the rather epic rocket launch not a lot.
I didn’t get the next part of the great galactic service station out like I wanted to, but there are more things going on
Last week I launched my new blog, after having a little think I have changed the name to something a bit more catchy escribble. There’s a bit more stuff on there, a lot of it will be the re-hash of a lot of old posts that I’ve had tucked away for years now and giving it all new life.
Also if you’re on Twitter make sure you follow @BlogBashChat and join us all for a blogging chat on Sunday night British time. It’s a great little thing that’s growing weekly and you get to find out more about blogging and Bloggers!
Apart from that… that’s it. What have you guys been up to?
Also make sure you follow up what’s going on in the rest of the Planet Simon universe:
Keep smiling, and blogging!
Simon 🙂
