Yearly Archives: 2020

W for Witcher

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My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.

W for Witcher (2018)

Even now when I’ve played some other excellent games, Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt remains my favourite and the benchmark as I game on. I still have more of the enjoyable books that inspired the games. Plus, the Netflix adaptation lived up to expectations with my wife and I watching Series One religiously.

I’ve also started playing Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, which satisfies my unsated fascination with the Witcher-world and addiction to Gwent, the card-game in Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. Recommended for those of a like disposition.

On the other hand, exploring the literature and folklore behind this game was one of the reasons I began my investigation into the creative Origins of various On-line Games. Unlike other games, the roots are Slavic so took me down some new rabbit holes – ones I’ve used elsewhere. Skadi meets Baba Yaga?

I will post about other games that were relevant in 2018 and still are meaningful.

Links to my other 2020 A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/

To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/

V for Vijayanagara Confederation

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My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.

V for Vijayanagara Confederation 1929 (2017)

Trying to devise an alternative timeline for the Indian sub-continent was intriguing and insightful. I’ve had a fascination with the sub-continent since travelling there in 1978, travelling overland through Eastern Europe, Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan – all on the verge of major upheavals. From Nepal to Sri Lanka, I found the landscape, culture, and people mesmerising.  Ever since, parts of the sub-continent have crept into my writing.

Therefore, I inevitably included the sub-continent when I was constructing my Kanata alternative history. The initial trigger, Leif Eriksson’s permanent colonisation of Vinland, inspired me to rewrite other key episodes in history. I wanted the legacy forged from Vikings merging with the indigenous people to ripple down time. Kanata evolved into my vision of a 21st Century Viking Age that interacts across the globe.

Expect more alternative history ahead.  

Before the ‘our timeline’ revelation, do you recognise all the real historical players in this alternative reality?

V is also for Voyagers: The Third Ghost, which is released on May 5th, 2020. Visit the IWSG Anthologies blog for details.

Links to my other 2020 A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/

To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/

U for United States Navy

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My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.

U for United States Navy (2015)

Although there were few victors, the War of 1812 saw a power-shift at sea, from the Royal Navy to the burgeoning US Navy. Although today, the Royal Navy remains a force not to ignore.

Gregory Wendell, the author of the diary in ‘Seeking A Knife’ in my Snowdon Shadows series, is an RN officer who encounters the USN on the Great Lakes.

How much do you know about the War of 1812? Do you envisage the US Navy as always as powerful as today? Have you seen any of the early ships?

Links to my other 2020 A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/

To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/

T for Treachery

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My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.

T for Treachery (2019)

 At last I can give you the Final Part of Azure Spark, the investigation featuring my Welsh detective Sparkle Anwyl and her partner Kama Pillai.  I hope you’ve already joined these main characters in my Snowdon Shadows series.

The case evolved into a novella as I edited the posts into three acts. I suspect not everyone got to read ‘Azure Spark’ last year so this will be your chance to catch up. Enjoy.

Links to my other 2020 A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/

To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/

The Power of Language ~ Part 1

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Today’s post on the IWSG Anthology blog carries some of my fellow writers’ thoughts on their experiences with language. Be enthralled at:

https://iwsganthologies.blogspot.com/

S for SWTOR

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My 2020 Blogging from A to Z Challenge revisits my best posts from the 2014 to 2019 Challenges.

S for SWTOR (2018)

Here is a game-world I spent many hours in with my partner. Plus, ever since I loved the first film, the movies keep going as well – our latest watch being The Mandalorian. On the other hand, exploring the literature and folklore behind this game proved interesting – and unexpected.

I will be posting about other creative Origins of various On-line Games that were relevant in 2018 and still are meaningful.

Links to my other 2020 A to Z posts can be found here: https://rolandclarke.com/blogging-from-a-to-z/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-2020/

To visit other participants see The OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YphbP47JyH_FuGPIIrFuJfAQiBBzacEkM7iBnq6DGDA/