meta
Okay. I regret having to do this, because by and large I enjoy engaging with my readers and satisfying their curiosity, but — I am, as of now, declaring a complete, conclusive, and perpetual moratorium on all “gotcha” questions. (I am not providing a definition, because definitions can be gamed; if
worldbuilding
So today I was catching up on another work I’ve been following on another site, and one of the chapters reminded me of some of the discussions we (all, collectively) have had about the UBI / Citizen’s Dividend here. (Click through to read and scroll down to the bit
eldraeic language
(Loosely inspired by a G+ post in which I contemplate trying to phrase Eldraeic self-concepts into Japanese pronouns and honorifics: I went with a baseline of watakushi-sama, if you’re curious.) Did you know (you did not) that archaic – or bearing in mind that it’s a deliberately designed language,
Cultural Crossovers
Don’t really have to say anything at this point, do I? * Nice “you know who I am” badge. * Ooh, nanoficus. * Less cool: exploding ficus. * JARVIS continues to be best house brain. * Your R&D process really looks unnecessarily painful. * See, now folks like this asshole is why the
worldbuilding
For various reasons, I was rereading Meditations on Moloch today, and this leapt out at me: 14. Congress. Only 9% of Americans like it, suggesting a lower approval rating than cockroaches, head lice, or traffic jams. However, 62% of people who know who their own Congressional representative is approve of
starship
(Turns out the first ship I want to do isn’t one of the ones anyone asked for. Oh, well.) SILVERFALL-CLASS LUNAR EXPLORER – BLOCK II Operated by: Spaceflight Initiative Type: Early exploration vessel. Construction: Spaceflight Initiative. Everyone’s heard of the Silverfall-class explorer, the starship that first carried eldrae from
eldraeic language
A quick word or two for your pleasure: deshalĂr: beer, encompassing non-distilled brews made from grain- or grain-analogs, literally “grain-water”. delĂ©kalĂr: wine, encompassing all non-distilled brews made from fruit, literally “pleasing-water”. qerachalĂr: distilled spirits, literally “lightning-water”. (andrakalĂr, “fire-water”, had already been taken. By naphtha.) …oh, and who could forget… xindaralĂr:
eldraeic language
cagál (n.): faeces; excrement; shit; solid animal biowaste. Note for translators: This is the word you’re looking for, which serves equally for technical, medical, and casual usage. It is not considered pejorative or vulgar per se, but certain comparisons or equivalencies may be depending on context. Variants include tracagál
eldraeic language
sashĂr: Most usually glossed “glamour”, sashĂr refers to a willfully accepted ambijective illusion embracing and enhancing beauty (aelva) and attractiveness/pleasingness (delĂ©kith); a concept foundational to high culture (meressif), fashion, and the personal arts. raĂŻthal: The plenum; the “universe”; the cosmos as a whole. Literally “all objects/entities”, it conveniently
default
living debtstyle: Living scandalously in debt or accumulating debts faster than one can reasonably be expected to repay them (not simply monetary debts, but also long-term oath-contracts, promises, favor-trades, other commitments, or even reputational liabilities). Used to indicate that the speaker considers the referent to be unreliable, “on the road
Imperial Exploratory Service
Thirty-Six Paths of Illumination, the (n.): A memetic mystery cult designed for the Imperial Exploratory Service by the Word of Command, ICC, the Thirty-Six Paths are designed as a means of handling severe cases of exodeism (q.v.). In many cases, when primitive species conclude that it is necessary and
Cultural Crossovers
Again, you know how this works… * Ooh, monologue-ing. That’s a good sign. * Well, someone forgot the first rule of mucking about with poorly understood paleotech artifacts, didn’t they? * Mind-zapping scepters work much better, I feel, when they don’t change your eye color. * Free from freedom? Well, someone