Tales of Maora

Stories, podcasts, and thoughts by Adam Casalino

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To those of you who like my fiction…

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I’ve posted a few short “vignettes” on my new writing blog somefiction.tumblr.com.  They are accompanying pieces about a few characters in my latest story, The Legend of Jonas Stone.  The first part of the story is on this site and the rest will go up on the new tumblr blog.  I’ve decided to put my writing work on a separate blog to keep it organized, so if you like reading, be sure to bookmark it or subscribe via tumblr’s follow thing.

The next part of Jonas Stone will go up tomorrow on the tumblr blog.  I will also make note of it here.  If you’re liking the writing, please share it with your friends and let me know.  You can keep up with all my stuff via my twitter feed (I talk about it all on there).

Really great tip from a master artist

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BlogI work really hard to improving my art. One of the ways I do that is by studying the artwork of cartoonist I’d admire and look up to. Frank Cho is one of those artists. In a recent blog post he recorded the progress of a project of his, giving this masterful advice:

One of the dangers of doing these long tedious, highly detailed illustration is rushing through it, especially when you’re more than halfway finished. This is when most of the mistakes are made. If you get the urge to rush it. It’s best to walk away and come back with a fresh eye and calm energy.

That’s a pro tip for ya! Those of you who are aspiring artists/cartoonists would do well to follow it.

The Tribal Writer, by Justine Musk

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BlogI should have given props to Justine a long time ago.  I have mentioned her blog quite frequently via twitter and over at Webcomics.com, but thought I should write up a few words about it on Tales of Maora proper.

I found Justine’s blog by accident.  I was trolling around Google News (not something I do often… as I hate the news) and found a link to a VentureBeat article in which they interviewed a writer about using the internet to build an audience.  I was very impressed at how well she understood the power of this (not-s0) new medium to reach out to the world, by-passing the traditional treadmill means of gaining exposure.  Very few writers (or better yet, publishers) have grasped this concept so far.  It was exciting to me as I, being a web cartoonist,  have spent a great deal of effort mining similar ideas wherever I could find them.

I followed the VentureBeat article to Justine’s personal blog, Tribal Writer–which “explore[s] what it means and how to be a kick-ass, soulful & savvy creative in the digital age.” Her posts are refreshing and insightful.  I was amazed at how startlingly akin her ideas are to those of the web comics camp–a sign that we are not the only ones utilizing the internet in such a mercenary and fulfilling way.  I admire Justine’s ability to grip my attention with her provocative writing.  She slyly flicks words like stones across a pond; you enthralled before you realize you’ve just learned something.  Something powerful and profound.

Check out her blog and see for yourself.  Clickster: http://www.tribalwriter.com/

An Introduction into the World of Fantasy

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BlogI am aware that some of you may not be dyed-in-the-wool fantasy fans as I am.  Rest assured that enjoying my comic can be the first step into a much greater and more colorful world for you.  Let me take a moment to point you to a few materials that will hopefully whet you appetite for this greatest of genres.

“Fantasy” itself is a very wide, blanket term.  So let’s focus on the kind of fantasy that is actually good.  I must make a note, first, to dissuade you of the notion that things like Star Wars or Star Trek are fantasy.  They are not.  They are science-fiction (in fact, pretty much anything that contains the word ‘star’ in the title is probably sci-fi, except Stardust).  The reason the two genres are so often combined is because fans of one are often fans of the other.  Beyond that the content, in my opinion, differs greatly.

The most well-known form of fantasy is called “high fantasy.”  These are the stories set in unique worlds, separate from out own, with lush histories and landscapes.  The plots usually revolve around epic struggles upon which entire civilizations pivot.  For those eager to read some of this, I recommend The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, or the lesser known Phantastes by George MacDonald (a tough read but well worth it).  For a more modern read, I cannot recommend enough The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

Another very common form of fantasy is called “sword and sorcery.”  A little odd-sounding I know.  It was coined to describe the sort of writing made popular by Robert E. Howard and his lovable Conan the Cimmerian.  This sort of fantasy epitomizes grand, swashbuckling heroes pitted against dark and, often vile, magical beings (or monsters, lots and lots of monsters).  The focus is on the personal quest/conflict of the hero and how he can obtain his goal.

For some great modern fantasy novels, go after anything by Neil Gaiman.  His work is literally defining the genre for this generation (Neverwhere is my personal favorite).  His work often throws a normal person into very supernatural circumstances and how he is invariably changed by the experience.  A body of work that will forever change the way you view the world is The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe.  His work is very much beyond description (not for the faint of heart fantasy fan, though.  It is for the very hungry).

Why is fantasy so important?  I feel fantasy stories give us a more pure window into our existence.  They strip away the superficial trappings of our modern world and force us to look at conflict at its true sources.  We see good and evil plainly.  We root for the good hero and can see his weapons of victory are readily at hand.  In our often drab and disillusioning age, we don’t always know who’s the villain or more importantly who’s the hero.  A refreshing fantasy tale can sometimes remind us.

I hope you venture forth and enjoy some fantasy today.