Go to start of BRAVO Chapter Two..
BRAVO Chapter Two - (post 4)
The Major stands up and starts to pace back and forth. He inhales the thick cigar smoke and breathes it back into the room in a blue cloud. He pours himself a large glass of the neat spirit and drinks it down in one gulp. Karloff and Ratz watch him, waiting for him to speak. Eventually he stubs out the cigar butt in a silver ashtray and turns towards the others. “Comrades,” he begins, almost shouting. “Do you think it is wise for the aliens to attack in this way?” He asks the question with his arms doing as much of the talking as his mouth.
General Ratz, shrugs his shoulders and opens his hands answering the question with another question. “What other way is there Major?” He enquires, and then quickly adds. “Have you lost your thirst for power? He spits on the rug in front of the open fire and rubs the phlegm in to the pile with the heel of his boot. He turns his back on the Major and stares into the flames.
None of us are getting any younger, thinks the Major to himself. Sometimes, using thought instead of force might be the best plan. He consoles himself. Already though, he can hear General Ratz, shouting and bawling like a madman, just a few feet away from him.
“Well?” Shouts Ratz. “Have you lost your thirst for power? Do you not remember how good it feels to be in control?”
“No General, of course I haven’t lost my thirst for power, I remember as well as you do, how good it was to be in control. I was only suggesting that as we hold all the aces, we could use them as a bargaining power.”
“A bargaining power! A bargaining power? Have you heard yourself Major? Screams the General, turning round to face the other man. “Bah! A psychological warfare! NO BLOOD! Have you gone crazy Major?” The General spits onto the highly polished table and wipes the mess with the cuff of his sleeve. “Have you gone crazy Major?” He screams again, his big brown eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. He slams his fist onto the table again and again. “Have you forgotten our glorious revolution?” He barks, starting to go blue in the face and then he sits down reaching for the very nearly empty bottle of Vodka.
Now read on ...
Monday, 25 February 2008
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Zblog #4
Zblog #4
CHAPTERS
Okay, now I've started to post chapter two. You'll notice the different characters and the new setting. I call the different scenes or sections of this work chapters, only for want of a better word or description. It may well be that later on I change the way the 'chapters' are laid out or even do away with them entirely as seems to be the modern trend. One of the books I'm reading at the moment is presented this way, and it works very well. So, who knows?
FOOTFALL
Part of the problem with blogging in general is getting people to read your work. I suppose in that respect it is not much different than any other form of publishing. On the one hand you don't want to force people to read your manuscript but on the other hand you don't want them to ignore you either. There must be a happy medium somewhere, but I guess the key is to keep on writing, regardless.
ZBLOGGING!
What's the Zblog! or the Zblogging all about then? Well, at the risk of confusing you and complicating matters even further... Go on then, I'll tell yer! It's an alphabetical thing, that's what it is. You see in blogger, on blogspot, well on this template anyway, I can create an alphabetical list, a list as posted or an alphabetical list reversed. So, to call the blog bit, blog one, blog two etc. would simply mess up the chapter listings. So instead of blog read Zblog! Which also means that there will be less than twenty six chapters in total.
CHAPTERS
Okay, now I've started to post chapter two. You'll notice the different characters and the new setting. I call the different scenes or sections of this work chapters, only for want of a better word or description. It may well be that later on I change the way the 'chapters' are laid out or even do away with them entirely as seems to be the modern trend. One of the books I'm reading at the moment is presented this way, and it works very well. So, who knows?
FOOTFALL
Part of the problem with blogging in general is getting people to read your work. I suppose in that respect it is not much different than any other form of publishing. On the one hand you don't want to force people to read your manuscript but on the other hand you don't want them to ignore you either. There must be a happy medium somewhere, but I guess the key is to keep on writing, regardless.
ZBLOGGING!
What's the Zblog! or the Zblogging all about then? Well, at the risk of confusing you and complicating matters even further... Go on then, I'll tell yer! It's an alphabetical thing, that's what it is. You see in blogger, on blogspot, well on this template anyway, I can create an alphabetical list, a list as posted or an alphabetical list reversed. So, to call the blog bit, blog one, blog two etc. would simply mess up the chapter listings. So instead of blog read Zblog! Which also means that there will be less than twenty six chapters in total.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
BRAVO Chapter Two - (post 3)
Go to previous posting..
BRAVO Chapter Two – (post 3)
Clapping and smiling, General Ratz goes over to Karloff and slaps him on the back. “Excellent! Excellent!” He tells his trusted aide. “The Freedomlanders will be fooled and our people will once again be our servants!” He continues excitedly. Then, smashing his clenched fist on the table for the umpteenth time, he declares, “We will rule with an iron fist. Karloff, you are a genius!”
Karloff is happy that the General is pleased with his work and he knows that Ratz will be even more impressed when he is shown the second reel of film. “Thank you General, thank you, this next film shows the invader craft.” He struggles once more to make the film run, but with the help of a pencil from the breast pocket of his grey suit jacket he manages. He reaches over and starts the music, it’s Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and the Major and General Ratz, start to hum along with the tune.
As the images flicker onto the canvas screen, Karloff starts his narration. “This first picture is of the Invader Craft, see how sleek and powerful it looks, there is nothing in this world to match it.” He is pointing at the image with a bamboo cane and he is happy to see that the General looks pleased. However, he is not so thrilled with the expression on the Major’s face.
Regardless, he continues. “The men have been trained to operate the craft, on a need to know basis. In addition they have all been trained in warfare and with the aid of the element of surprise, they will conquer and destroy as we demand!” Karloff shouts the last sentence.
read on...
BRAVO Chapter Two – (post 3)
Clapping and smiling, General Ratz goes over to Karloff and slaps him on the back. “Excellent! Excellent!” He tells his trusted aide. “The Freedomlanders will be fooled and our people will once again be our servants!” He continues excitedly. Then, smashing his clenched fist on the table for the umpteenth time, he declares, “We will rule with an iron fist. Karloff, you are a genius!”
Karloff is happy that the General is pleased with his work and he knows that Ratz will be even more impressed when he is shown the second reel of film. “Thank you General, thank you, this next film shows the invader craft.” He struggles once more to make the film run, but with the help of a pencil from the breast pocket of his grey suit jacket he manages. He reaches over and starts the music, it’s Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and the Major and General Ratz, start to hum along with the tune.
As the images flicker onto the canvas screen, Karloff starts his narration. “This first picture is of the Invader Craft, see how sleek and powerful it looks, there is nothing in this world to match it.” He is pointing at the image with a bamboo cane and he is happy to see that the General looks pleased. However, he is not so thrilled with the expression on the Major’s face.
Regardless, he continues. “The men have been trained to operate the craft, on a need to know basis. In addition they have all been trained in warfare and with the aid of the element of surprise, they will conquer and destroy as we demand!” Karloff shouts the last sentence.
read on...
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
BRAVO Chapter Two - (second post)
Go to start of BRAVO Chapter Two..
BRAVO Chapter Two - (second post)
The peace of the quiet room is suddenly shattered by the sound of loud music. "Sorry, General!" Karloff shouts above the racket, desperately fumbling with the dials on the tape player. After about twenty seconds he manages to turn the decible level down, he pops his ears and smiles apologetically towards General Ratz and the Major who are still seated either side of the long table. "Gentlemen," Karloff begins, pulling down a projector screen with his left hand and rolling his right hand in a gesture towards his superiors. He presses the button on the projector and an image flickers onto the screen. There is no sound track to the moving picture but Karloff has a music tape with Chopin and Vivaldi playing subtley in the distance. He intends to narrate the film himself. "Gentlemen, these are the men at work, we filmed them secretly, notice how alike they look, every one of them could be brothers."
The film shows what looks like a factory, there are many young men working at benches, fitting together small parts and pieces to make various components that are in turn taken away by hand-trucks to another area out of sight of the fixed camera. After ninety seconds the film ends and the noise of the plastic reel can be heard spinning round needlessly. Karloff reaches for the off switch on the projector, hoping that the bulb won't overheat before he has to show the next reel. He can hear General Ratz clapping loudly at the far end of the table.
continue reading..
BRAVO Chapter Two - (second post)
The peace of the quiet room is suddenly shattered by the sound of loud music. "Sorry, General!" Karloff shouts above the racket, desperately fumbling with the dials on the tape player. After about twenty seconds he manages to turn the decible level down, he pops his ears and smiles apologetically towards General Ratz and the Major who are still seated either side of the long table. "Gentlemen," Karloff begins, pulling down a projector screen with his left hand and rolling his right hand in a gesture towards his superiors. He presses the button on the projector and an image flickers onto the screen. There is no sound track to the moving picture but Karloff has a music tape with Chopin and Vivaldi playing subtley in the distance. He intends to narrate the film himself. "Gentlemen, these are the men at work, we filmed them secretly, notice how alike they look, every one of them could be brothers."
The film shows what looks like a factory, there are many young men working at benches, fitting together small parts and pieces to make various components that are in turn taken away by hand-trucks to another area out of sight of the fixed camera. After ninety seconds the film ends and the noise of the plastic reel can be heard spinning round needlessly. Karloff reaches for the off switch on the projector, hoping that the bulb won't overheat before he has to show the next reel. He can hear General Ratz clapping loudly at the far end of the table.
continue reading..
Sunday, 17 February 2008
Zblog #3
Zblog #3
DIFFERENT DRAFTS
Okay, as this is a-work-in-progress-novel the version or draft that you read on this page will almost certainly change as the novel progresses. The as-I-write-it postings are actually the second draft as the first draft is the original play version of Space Invaders! that I wrote in 1984/85. Now that I have started to post the second chapter, I realise that a lot more work needs to be done on the first chapter - which I will do and then re-post ALPHA Chapter One as a complete chapter in a third draft version. Phew!
INTRODUCING CHARACTERS
The first few chapters, or sections of Space Invaders! are taken up, to some extent, with introducing the characters. I have four main sets of characters in three different locations and a number af additional but important characters that will be seen at crucial times in the storyline. I don't want to give too much away here but I'm hoping to 'throw in' some extras that couldn't have been easily accommodated in the original playscript.
LAYOUT + DESIGN
What I have found out is that there is no easy way to layout an Online novel. I've had a look at the way some other people do it and at best it's a higgledy-piggledy mess.
So,what is the answer? Answer, I don't know!
In my case, I'm designing a format for Space Invaders! to grow into. Firstly, I have the wysiwyg postings. Then, I hope to do a third draft of each chapter which I will then post as a complete chapter. When I start to re-post my third draft chapters, I will have a clink-the-link-thingy in the side bar. Which, if I get the design right will be in reading order. For example, chapter one will be followed by chapter two etc. Am I driving you mad?
DIFFERENT DRAFTS
Okay, as this is a-work-in-progress-novel the version or draft that you read on this page will almost certainly change as the novel progresses. The as-I-write-it postings are actually the second draft as the first draft is the original play version of Space Invaders! that I wrote in 1984/85. Now that I have started to post the second chapter, I realise that a lot more work needs to be done on the first chapter - which I will do and then re-post ALPHA Chapter One as a complete chapter in a third draft version. Phew!
INTRODUCING CHARACTERS
The first few chapters, or sections of Space Invaders! are taken up, to some extent, with introducing the characters. I have four main sets of characters in three different locations and a number af additional but important characters that will be seen at crucial times in the storyline. I don't want to give too much away here but I'm hoping to 'throw in' some extras that couldn't have been easily accommodated in the original playscript.
LAYOUT + DESIGN
What I have found out is that there is no easy way to layout an Online novel. I've had a look at the way some other people do it and at best it's a higgledy-piggledy mess.
So,what is the answer? Answer, I don't know!
In my case, I'm designing a format for Space Invaders! to grow into. Firstly, I have the wysiwyg postings. Then, I hope to do a third draft of each chapter which I will then post as a complete chapter. When I start to re-post my third draft chapters, I will have a clink-the-link-thingy in the side bar. Which, if I get the design right will be in reading order. For example, chapter one will be followed by chapter two etc. Am I driving you mad?
Saturday, 16 February 2008
BRAVO Chapter Two (start)
BRAVO Chapter Two - (start)
General Ratz stands up to address the small gathering, he fingers a button on his tunic in an attempt to hide the fact that the uniform he’s wearing is at least two sizes too small for him. “Comrades,” he begins, looking around the oak panelled room and wiping a tear from his cheek. “Comrades, we meet again, hopefully this will be our final secret session before we have control of the world!” Before he sits down, he thumps the huge meeting room table with his clenched fist and takes a long gulp from a glass of neat vodka.
On the other side of the table the Major relights a cigar and blows a cloud of blue smoke towards the open fire that is burning fiercely in the hearth.
“General Ratz,” he says, addressing his colleague. “Have you given the orders to attack?” As he asks the question he licks his lips in anticipation and starts to salivate at the thought of a battle.
The General staggers to his feet and opens another bottle of the 70% proof alcohol. He throws the screw cap into the fire and watches for the little flame that momentarily shoots up before the top blackens and melts in the heat.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Screams Ratz. “The aliens will annihilate the Freedomlanders and give us the power we deserve!” He thumps the desk again, imagining that he has an iron fist. “Karloff!” He shouts to his trusted aide, who comes running to his side from one of the leather sofa’s by the fire. “Karloff,” he repeats, this time in a gentler voice. Then asks, almost as an afterthought. “Have you brought the tapes?”
Karloff looks at the General and smiles, “Yes, General, they are all ready to be shown!” He beams, flashing a mouthful of gold plated teeth.
“Bravo! bravo! I like efficiency it is good, no? Major and Karloff,” begins Ratz excitedly. “You are my most trusted men, in fact, you are the only ones I can trust.”
He tells them these things like it’s the first time they’ve ever heard them. Of course it’s not, he’s told them the same thing over and over again, year after year. This time though, things are different. “The President, huh! He’s just a puppet,” continues Ratz.“He’s our puppet, we pull his strings! These youngsters in The Party, bah! They’re not to be trusted, all they want is wealth, what do they know of the revolution?”
continue reading...
General Ratz stands up to address the small gathering, he fingers a button on his tunic in an attempt to hide the fact that the uniform he’s wearing is at least two sizes too small for him. “Comrades,” he begins, looking around the oak panelled room and wiping a tear from his cheek. “Comrades, we meet again, hopefully this will be our final secret session before we have control of the world!” Before he sits down, he thumps the huge meeting room table with his clenched fist and takes a long gulp from a glass of neat vodka.
On the other side of the table the Major relights a cigar and blows a cloud of blue smoke towards the open fire that is burning fiercely in the hearth.
“General Ratz,” he says, addressing his colleague. “Have you given the orders to attack?” As he asks the question he licks his lips in anticipation and starts to salivate at the thought of a battle.
The General staggers to his feet and opens another bottle of the 70% proof alcohol. He throws the screw cap into the fire and watches for the little flame that momentarily shoots up before the top blackens and melts in the heat.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Screams Ratz. “The aliens will annihilate the Freedomlanders and give us the power we deserve!” He thumps the desk again, imagining that he has an iron fist. “Karloff!” He shouts to his trusted aide, who comes running to his side from one of the leather sofa’s by the fire. “Karloff,” he repeats, this time in a gentler voice. Then asks, almost as an afterthought. “Have you brought the tapes?”
Karloff looks at the General and smiles, “Yes, General, they are all ready to be shown!” He beams, flashing a mouthful of gold plated teeth.
“Bravo! bravo! I like efficiency it is good, no? Major and Karloff,” begins Ratz excitedly. “You are my most trusted men, in fact, you are the only ones I can trust.”
He tells them these things like it’s the first time they’ve ever heard them. Of course it’s not, he’s told them the same thing over and over again, year after year. This time though, things are different. “The President, huh! He’s just a puppet,” continues Ratz.“He’s our puppet, we pull his strings! These youngsters in The Party, bah! They’re not to be trusted, all they want is wealth, what do they know of the revolution?”
continue reading...
Friday, 15 February 2008
Chapter One - (post five)
Go to the start of ALPHA Chapter One..
ALPHA Chapter One - (post five)
“That’s great!” Screams Arrow to no one in particular but somehow hoping that a passing robot might be hurt by his outburst. “We really are slaves now!” he continues, this time speaking specifically to his close friends and workmates Crescent and Dart. “Work, eat and sleep, work, eat and sleep...” He mimics the robotic voice, before diving headlong onto his bed and pulling the covers up around his chin.
“No leisure period. I don’t believe it, they can’t do this to us.” Laments Dart, as he too climbs onto his bunk and reaches for the blanket.
Crescent is as shocked as anybody to hear the news and for a few minutes he even forgets about his hunger pangs. “You don’t believe it?” he yells. “You don’t believe it? Well you better do Dart, ‘cos they’ve just done it, and you and everybody else knows it. We’ll have to accept it, what else can we do?
“I don’t know about you, but I’m going to sleep.” Says Dart.
“Okay, I’ll wake you for second lunch.”
“Thanks Crescent.”
Crescent goes over to Arrow’s bed and sits on the end of it. “They must be in a panic behind the scenes.” He confides. “You know, making us work around the clock like this.”
“Hum, maybe, I wonder what it is that we’re making though?” Muses Arrow. I’ve never seen components like these before.
“Well, whatever it is, they want it kept secret, all the assembly area is in the forbidden zone, which means only…”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah! Only the flaming robots know what the blooming finished article looks like!!!” Arrow completes Crescent’s sentence for him. Then he starts to laugh, a great big rip roaring laugh. “And they can’t see! Can they Crescent?” he asks his friend, still laughing.
Crescent is too hungry to laugh; instead he pulls a serious face and answers Arrow’s question as though his life depends on it. “Well, not like us, they can’t,” He begins, and then hastily adds. “But, they certainly have some kind of directional sense.”
The bell rings for second lunch, it sounds louder in the sleeping quarters than in the workshop, and the young men like Dart who have chosen to take a little nap before eating, are suddenly on their feet again and running towards the canteen to form an orderly queue for second lunch.
“That was quick!” Exclaims Crescent. “I better wake Dart…” He starts to tell Arrow, as he walks across the dormitory and shakes Darts leg.
This is the end of ALPHA Chapter One.
BRAVO Chapter Two starts tomorrow..
ALPHA Chapter One - (post five)
“That’s great!” Screams Arrow to no one in particular but somehow hoping that a passing robot might be hurt by his outburst. “We really are slaves now!” he continues, this time speaking specifically to his close friends and workmates Crescent and Dart. “Work, eat and sleep, work, eat and sleep...” He mimics the robotic voice, before diving headlong onto his bed and pulling the covers up around his chin.
“No leisure period. I don’t believe it, they can’t do this to us.” Laments Dart, as he too climbs onto his bunk and reaches for the blanket.
Crescent is as shocked as anybody to hear the news and for a few minutes he even forgets about his hunger pangs. “You don’t believe it?” he yells. “You don’t believe it? Well you better do Dart, ‘cos they’ve just done it, and you and everybody else knows it. We’ll have to accept it, what else can we do?
“I don’t know about you, but I’m going to sleep.” Says Dart.
“Okay, I’ll wake you for second lunch.”
“Thanks Crescent.”
Crescent goes over to Arrow’s bed and sits on the end of it. “They must be in a panic behind the scenes.” He confides. “You know, making us work around the clock like this.”
“Hum, maybe, I wonder what it is that we’re making though?” Muses Arrow. I’ve never seen components like these before.
“Well, whatever it is, they want it kept secret, all the assembly area is in the forbidden zone, which means only…”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah! Only the flaming robots know what the blooming finished article looks like!!!” Arrow completes Crescent’s sentence for him. Then he starts to laugh, a great big rip roaring laugh. “And they can’t see! Can they Crescent?” he asks his friend, still laughing.
Crescent is too hungry to laugh; instead he pulls a serious face and answers Arrow’s question as though his life depends on it. “Well, not like us, they can’t,” He begins, and then hastily adds. “But, they certainly have some kind of directional sense.”
The bell rings for second lunch, it sounds louder in the sleeping quarters than in the workshop, and the young men like Dart who have chosen to take a little nap before eating, are suddenly on their feet again and running towards the canteen to form an orderly queue for second lunch.
“That was quick!” Exclaims Crescent. “I better wake Dart…” He starts to tell Arrow, as he walks across the dormitory and shakes Darts leg.
This is the end of ALPHA Chapter One.
BRAVO Chapter Two starts tomorrow..
Thursday, 14 February 2008
Chapter One - (post four)
Go to the start of Chapter One
ALPHA Chapter One – (post four)
The young men’s conversation is interrupted by the sound of a loud bell ringing; it’s one of those annoying front door style electric bells, but much, much louder.
“I’m glad this work session is over.” Says Arrow, as the trio down tools and start to move away from their workbench.
“Me too,” says Dart, “I’ll be really happy when I get back to my bunk.”
“You not going to eat then, Dart? Asks Crescent, who is always hungry.
“Not yet Crescent, thanks.” Dart laughs, knowing how much his friend will be craving food right now. “I’ll eat later, I just want to lie down now, really.”
“What about you, Arrow?” Crescent asks, hoping that Arrow will be hungry for once.
Arrow looks at him and smiles and pulls a taut face; he shrugs his shoulders and makes a reply. “I’m sorry, I’m not hungry yet, I think I’ll go later too.” He says apologetically.
Although he thinks that he’s starving, Crescent doesn’t want to go to eat by himself. So, reluctantly he makes a decision “I might as well come back to the quarters with you both then.” He announces.
The young trio only just reach their shared room in the sleeping quarters when the Tanoy Bleeps. Blurp! Blurp! Blurp! It bleeps, over and over again getting louder and louder until everybody in the Dome can hear it.
Then the monotone voice of a robotic machine begins to drone.
“This is an important announcement. This is an important announcement.” It repeats itself, like someone who just likes to hear the sound of his own voice. “There will be no leisure periods until further notice. All personnel will work, eat and sleep. Work eat and sleep. I repeat. There will be no leisure periods until further notice. That is all.”
And the Tanoy Blurps. Bleep, Bleep, Bleep… it Blurps!
read on..
ALPHA Chapter One – (post four)
The young men’s conversation is interrupted by the sound of a loud bell ringing; it’s one of those annoying front door style electric bells, but much, much louder.
“I’m glad this work session is over.” Says Arrow, as the trio down tools and start to move away from their workbench.
“Me too,” says Dart, “I’ll be really happy when I get back to my bunk.”
“You not going to eat then, Dart? Asks Crescent, who is always hungry.
“Not yet Crescent, thanks.” Dart laughs, knowing how much his friend will be craving food right now. “I’ll eat later, I just want to lie down now, really.”
“What about you, Arrow?” Crescent asks, hoping that Arrow will be hungry for once.
Arrow looks at him and smiles and pulls a taut face; he shrugs his shoulders and makes a reply. “I’m sorry, I’m not hungry yet, I think I’ll go later too.” He says apologetically.
Although he thinks that he’s starving, Crescent doesn’t want to go to eat by himself. So, reluctantly he makes a decision “I might as well come back to the quarters with you both then.” He announces.
The young trio only just reach their shared room in the sleeping quarters when the Tanoy Bleeps. Blurp! Blurp! Blurp! It bleeps, over and over again getting louder and louder until everybody in the Dome can hear it.
Then the monotone voice of a robotic machine begins to drone.
“This is an important announcement. This is an important announcement.” It repeats itself, like someone who just likes to hear the sound of his own voice. “There will be no leisure periods until further notice. All personnel will work, eat and sleep. Work eat and sleep. I repeat. There will be no leisure periods until further notice. That is all.”
And the Tanoy Blurps. Bleep, Bleep, Bleep… it Blurps!
read on..
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Chapter One - (post three)
Go to the start of ALPHA Chapter one
ALPHA Chapter One – (post three)
“The thing is…” begins Crescent, puffing his chest out and rocking his head from side to side ever so slowly. “The thing is, we’ve grown bigger and wiser, so they need more robots to supervise us, to keep us in line, if you like!”
“Yeah, but where do they come from? If they can increase their number, maybe we can too! Exclaims Dart, excitedly.
Arrow throws a spanner onto the floor, he’s frustrated with the conversation having heard these thoughts voiced many times before. “Impossible!” He shouts. “We are all males, the females of our species didn’t survive the break up of the planet when we were born.”
The others look at him; they all know that that there is no hope for them, no way for them to duplicate themselves like the robots have. It’s Dart who breaks the silence.
“But there must be a way, a way to…”
“Forget it Dart, we’re here, we’re alive and that’s all there is to it.” States Crescent.
“Not quite all, we’re the servants of these, these machines. We’re being controlled by a bunch of flaming robots! They tell us what to do and when to do it.”
“Yeah,” says Arrow, “we always have been Dart, and yet, we’ve been happy until now.”
Continue reading...
ALPHA Chapter One – (post three)
“The thing is…” begins Crescent, puffing his chest out and rocking his head from side to side ever so slowly. “The thing is, we’ve grown bigger and wiser, so they need more robots to supervise us, to keep us in line, if you like!”
“Yeah, but where do they come from? If they can increase their number, maybe we can too! Exclaims Dart, excitedly.
Arrow throws a spanner onto the floor, he’s frustrated with the conversation having heard these thoughts voiced many times before. “Impossible!” He shouts. “We are all males, the females of our species didn’t survive the break up of the planet when we were born.”
The others look at him; they all know that that there is no hope for them, no way for them to duplicate themselves like the robots have. It’s Dart who breaks the silence.
“But there must be a way, a way to…”
“Forget it Dart, we’re here, we’re alive and that’s all there is to it.” States Crescent.
“Not quite all, we’re the servants of these, these machines. We’re being controlled by a bunch of flaming robots! They tell us what to do and when to do it.”
“Yeah,” says Arrow, “we always have been Dart, and yet, we’ve been happy until now.”
Continue reading...
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Zblog #2
Zblog #2
DAILY POSTINGS
I know that I've already said this elsewhere, but I must repeat it here on this posting, just to let you know that I am going to be making posts daily to Space Invaders! from now on. I know that I've got off to a slow start and I apologise to each and every one of you.
MORE WORDS
At the risk of repeating myself and boring you senseless I add the following remark strictly for the record. Space Invaders! is becoming one of those novels that has more words written about it than written in it! There you are, you see, I've said it now. It's the blogging equivelant of liking to hear ones own voice, perhaps!
ONLINE
Why do it Online? People ask me all the time. Well, good question. I think my answer would have to be that I want the challenge, I want to prove to myself that it is possible to complete such a task with the world looking over my shoulder. I want to write this novel Online because I want to communicate with my readership on a one to one name for name basis if possible in a 'warts an' all' first draft kind of environment. Phew!
ABOUT COMMENTS
All bloggers love to recieve comments and in some situations like writing a work-in-progress-novel, comments from readers not only lift the writer but also endorse the product. Of course, commenting isn't compulsory and one can never legislate such things. But it is nice to leave a comment and I don't mind if you don't like my story or the way I write it. In fact I'm actually looking for critique on this blog and I welcome anybody to leave a comment. So, if you're reading this now, and I know that you are, please leave a little comment and introduce yourself.
ARCHIVE SCRIPT
Some of you already know that I've found my original play script, the actual hand-written copy for Space Invaders! What you might not know is that when I wrote the play version at Withington Library in Manchester in 1984/85 I used a different colour pen or pencil for each character and I remember I wrote some of the robot bits with my left hand. Anyway, I tell you all this because my son Jack can scan the images into the computer for me and convert the files so I can show them on this blog! How cool's that? And guess what? The original artwork for the front cover by yours truely is still intact!
CONCLUSION
Look out for the conclusion of Chapter One of Space Invaders! on this blog tomorrow and for the start of Chapter Two which will take us to a very different place. I can't wait to press on with this project and see what happens. So, see you then, then!
DAILY POSTINGS
I know that I've already said this elsewhere, but I must repeat it here on this posting, just to let you know that I am going to be making posts daily to Space Invaders! from now on. I know that I've got off to a slow start and I apologise to each and every one of you.
MORE WORDS
At the risk of repeating myself and boring you senseless I add the following remark strictly for the record. Space Invaders! is becoming one of those novels that has more words written about it than written in it! There you are, you see, I've said it now. It's the blogging equivelant of liking to hear ones own voice, perhaps!
ONLINE
Why do it Online? People ask me all the time. Well, good question. I think my answer would have to be that I want the challenge, I want to prove to myself that it is possible to complete such a task with the world looking over my shoulder. I want to write this novel Online because I want to communicate with my readership on a one to one name for name basis if possible in a 'warts an' all' first draft kind of environment. Phew!
ABOUT COMMENTS
All bloggers love to recieve comments and in some situations like writing a work-in-progress-novel, comments from readers not only lift the writer but also endorse the product. Of course, commenting isn't compulsory and one can never legislate such things. But it is nice to leave a comment and I don't mind if you don't like my story or the way I write it. In fact I'm actually looking for critique on this blog and I welcome anybody to leave a comment. So, if you're reading this now, and I know that you are, please leave a little comment and introduce yourself.
ARCHIVE SCRIPT
Some of you already know that I've found my original play script, the actual hand-written copy for Space Invaders! What you might not know is that when I wrote the play version at Withington Library in Manchester in 1984/85 I used a different colour pen or pencil for each character and I remember I wrote some of the robot bits with my left hand. Anyway, I tell you all this because my son Jack can scan the images into the computer for me and convert the files so I can show them on this blog! How cool's that? And guess what? The original artwork for the front cover by yours truely is still intact!
CONCLUSION
Look out for the conclusion of Chapter One of Space Invaders! on this blog tomorrow and for the start of Chapter Two which will take us to a very different place. I can't wait to press on with this project and see what happens. So, see you then, then!
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