General audiencesThis material is suitable for all ages and temperaments.
| Mature audiencesThis material may not be suitable for small children or sensitive individuals.
|
Art and Writing
|
How to and how not to accept, execute, and complete commissions to produce artwork for clients. Originally presented at Further Confusion 2006.
| |||
|
This was part of a demonstration workshop introducing participants to the equipment and techniques of watercolor painting. Originally presented at Anthrocon 2004.
| |||
|
How to create and maintain a “morgue file” of reference material for art or writing. Originally presented at Conifur Northwest 2004.
| |||
|
How to select and arrange studio furniture and equipment to avoid glare, repetitive stress injury, and other hazards. Originally presented at Anthrocon 2003.
| |||
| 
|
How to mat and frame artwork, including animation cels. Originally presented at Conifur Northwest 2002 and Fanimé 2003, respectively.
| ||
|
How to depict realistic or at least plausible technological artifacts in artwork. Originally presented at Further Confusion 2002.
| |||
|
How to create all those fancy and useful typographical symbols that once were the exclusive province of the typesetter. Originally created as a design aid for co-workers.
| |||
World-Building
|
A brief history and overview of mad science and mad scientists in fact and fiction, and how such stock characters may be useful in connection with therianthropic characters. Originally presented at Further Confusion 2007.
| |||
|
A brief history and overview of intelligence and counterintelligence and how to apply those lessons to a world populated by therianthropic peoples. Originally presented at Further Confusion 2007.
| |||
|
Tips on creating vivid and believable fictional histories. Originally presented at Further Confusion 2005.
| |||
|
What might therianthropic peoples wear, and how might they decorate their bodies? Originally presented at Further Confusion 2005.
| |||
|
How might societies and civilizations develop in a therianthropic world? Originally presented at Anthrocon 2004.
| |||
|
How might “human engineering” differ in a therianthropic world? Originally presented at Further Confusion 2003.
| |||
|
This is based on a modified and simplified version of the widely used Köppen climate classification system.
| |||
|
This article explores a fascinating hypothesis about human psychology advanced by Japanese roboticist Doctor Masahiro Mori. Originally intended for publication in the now-defunct Web magazine Fuzzy Logic.
| |||
|
This article examines the suitability of various weapons systems for use in deep-space ship-to-ship combat. Originally published in issue six of the now-defunct Web magazine Fuzzy Logic.
| |||
|
A friend’s writers’ group had created an interesting author’s aid: a form with which to write up a detailed description of a character. After several years of haphazard growth, it had become terribly disorganized and redundant, and cried out for streamlining and clean-up. The result, apparently, was quite a hit with that group. Original version created by the Ad Hoc Writers’ Group.
| |||
Worldbooks
|
A number of influences came together to inspire this vaguely pulp-ish setting for a pen-and-paper role-playing plot. No spoilers are provided, though, as this is a currently active game.
| ||||
|
A couple of other players sweet-talked me into playing a feudal earl—the highest-ranking character—on this on-line role-playing MUCK, and it was indeed a pleasure to do so. When it became clear none of the other participants were conducting the sort of background research I consider routine, these essays were posted in an effort to enhance verisimilitude.
| ||||
|
One alternate Earth plans invasion and conquest; another, unable to intervene directly, instead provides willing hosts with powerful cyborg bodies to act as defenders.
| ||||
|
What if supernatural creatures were just plain folks, living discreetly as friends and neighbors? What if they kept in touch with other such creatures through a BBS?
| ||||
|
The scientific community generally agrees the Tunguska Incident of 1908 was a natural impact event. What if it were something more exotic, something with the power to alter the world profoundly?
| ||||
|
What if a visionary group of scientists and engineers built a whole new city-state out in the ocean for themselves and their families?
| ||||
|
What if a ship of bioengineered Emissaries arrived in Earth orbit with the gift of interstellar travel, presented with no strings attached?
| ||||
|
When artificial intelligence and bioengineering become mature fields, what will it mean to be human?
|
Aphorisms and Commentaries
|
A collection of curmudgeonly thoughts from yours truly.
| ||
|
An open letter to manga fans and publishers.
| ||
|
Why is so much science fiction poorly written, even when the stories themselves are good?
| ||
|
Suggestions from the audience are solicited.
|
Go to top of page
Go to . . .
This Web site and its content
copyright 2006 Dave Bryant except where otherwise noted. |
Some design elements on this Web site may render awkwardly if font sizes are changed in browser preferences or if viewed through Internet Explorer, because of its cavalier treatment of HTML and CSS standards; Safari or Mozilla-Firefox are recommended.
|