Saw today online that the language Jesus of Nazareth spoke, Aramaic, is nearing extinction, as detailed here in this History.com article. As much as I am likely beyond learning other languages- at least fluently- I still hold a healthy respect and a certain sense of wonder of how diverse our languages are. I'm afraid the homogenization of the globe will wipe out many distinctive aspects of our various cultures, and likely with ill effect.
For example, I recently read a Popular Science article about how other cultures have words for emotions that do not have English equivalents. You lose the language, you lose words others have created to describe something we literally have no words for.
I wonder what Aramaic words cannot be translated to English directly.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Chapter 4: A New Direction
Another story idea popped into my head recently, one that actually bumped my new Christmas tale for the time being. The story is set in South America, in the Andes mountains (or, more correctly, beneath them) during the time of the Incan Empire. It will have a supernatural bent.
I'm about ready to finally begin editing Noah's Custodian. I'm a little nervous that I'm going to read it and be disappointed. I know I'll always be my own worst critic. We'll see. I do have some ideas that I want to work in to embellish and round out the principal antagonist.
I'm now reading Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson's A Memory of Light, the concluding novel of the Wheel of Time series. I can hardly believe I've been reading this series since it began in 1990; it survived the death of it's progenitor, who seemed to be getting lost in a morass of prose and exposition in the later volumes. After his death, Sanderson picked up the reins for the final three volumes and what a breath of fresh air! I'd almost given up on the series- Sanderson made me very glad that I'd stuck with it. Apparently Jordan left the outline and various scenes- including the ending- for his successor to work with, and Sanderson has truly done wonders.
I just finished Charon's Claw.. the latest novel by R.A. Salvatore featuring his elven hero, Drizzt Do'Urden. Unfortunately, as has been the case for awhile now, it was another forgettable but passable entry. His fight scenes are as ornate and exciting as ever, but one wearies of the politics and plotting of uninteresting villains as well as Drizzt's constant introspection. It is partly the fault of the Dungeons & Dragons brain trust, who apparently are going to shake things up once again in the Realms and lay the ground work for the direction Mr. Salvatore can take.
I'm about ready to finally begin editing Noah's Custodian. I'm a little nervous that I'm going to read it and be disappointed. I know I'll always be my own worst critic. We'll see. I do have some ideas that I want to work in to embellish and round out the principal antagonist.
I'm now reading Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson's A Memory of Light, the concluding novel of the Wheel of Time series. I can hardly believe I've been reading this series since it began in 1990; it survived the death of it's progenitor, who seemed to be getting lost in a morass of prose and exposition in the later volumes. After his death, Sanderson picked up the reins for the final three volumes and what a breath of fresh air! I'd almost given up on the series- Sanderson made me very glad that I'd stuck with it. Apparently Jordan left the outline and various scenes- including the ending- for his successor to work with, and Sanderson has truly done wonders.
I just finished Charon's Claw.. the latest novel by R.A. Salvatore featuring his elven hero, Drizzt Do'Urden. Unfortunately, as has been the case for awhile now, it was another forgettable but passable entry. His fight scenes are as ornate and exciting as ever, but one wearies of the politics and plotting of uninteresting villains as well as Drizzt's constant introspection. It is partly the fault of the Dungeons & Dragons brain trust, who apparently are going to shake things up once again in the Realms and lay the ground work for the direction Mr. Salvatore can take.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Back to School
I learned awhile ago that the University of Michigan joined coursera.org, offering free university-level courses online via video lectures and such.
I'm trying out a course, taught by Eric S. Rabkin, entitled 'Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind. Our Modern World'. I've been out of college since spring of 2010, and while this is voluntary and ungraded, I hope to slowly build my literature background and experience.
It is hard to believe these courses are being made available- access to wonderful professors and peers in a way unimaginable even a decade ago, at virtually $0. While some may caution 'you get what you pay for', I believe in terms of education you can pay for it by simply putting the work in. You determine the worth of your education by your effort.
We'll see how it goes and I'll post occasional updates here.
I'm trying out a course, taught by Eric S. Rabkin, entitled 'Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind. Our Modern World'. I've been out of college since spring of 2010, and while this is voluntary and ungraded, I hope to slowly build my literature background and experience.
It is hard to believe these courses are being made available- access to wonderful professors and peers in a way unimaginable even a decade ago, at virtually $0. While some may caution 'you get what you pay for', I believe in terms of education you can pay for it by simply putting the work in. You determine the worth of your education by your effort.
We'll see how it goes and I'll post occasional updates here.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Book List 2: The Spy
Just finished The Spy, a historical adventure novel by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott. I've been reading Cussler's books forever, having started with the Dirk Pitt adventure Treasure, given to me one Christmas when I was a teenager. Cussler is my favorite adventure author, though James Rollins has been outdoing him in my estimation these days (with Steve Berry closing in).
Cussler has gone the way of Tom Clancy, becoming a brand-name as much as an author, with hit-or-miss results. He is collaborating with his son Dirk on the further adventures of Dirk Pitt, and ended his long relationship with Paul Kemprecos for the Kurt Austin series, Numa Files. I enjoyed those as well as his collaborations with Jack DuBrul in the Oregon series. I actually read DuBrul's novels prior to his teaming up with Cussler.
The Spy marked my first go-round with the Isaac Bell series, and it was.. mediocre. The tone and historical setting was interesting, the plot a bit convoluted and dull, the prose passable.
I give it a 2.5 out of 5.
Cussler has gone the way of Tom Clancy, becoming a brand-name as much as an author, with hit-or-miss results. He is collaborating with his son Dirk on the further adventures of Dirk Pitt, and ended his long relationship with Paul Kemprecos for the Kurt Austin series, Numa Files. I enjoyed those as well as his collaborations with Jack DuBrul in the Oregon series. I actually read DuBrul's novels prior to his teaming up with Cussler.
The Spy marked my first go-round with the Isaac Bell series, and it was.. mediocre. The tone and historical setting was interesting, the plot a bit convoluted and dull, the prose passable.
I give it a 2.5 out of 5.
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