Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke

August 27, 2022 / The Shameful Narcissist / 1 Comment

Title: Childhood’s End
Author: Arthur C. Clarke
Date Added: April 19, 2017
Date Started: September 13, 2018
Date Finished: October 19, 2018
Reading Duration: 36 days
Genre: Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Classic

Pages: 224
Publication Date: August 1953
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Media: Paperback (Library)

The Overlords appeared suddenly over every city–intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior to humankind. Benevolent, they made few demands: unify earth, eliminate poverty, and end war. With little rebellion, humankind agreed, and a golden age began.

But at what cost? With the advent of peace, man ceases to strive for creative greatness, and a malaise settles over the human race. To those who resist, it becomes evident that the Overlords have an agenda of their own. As civilization approaches the crossroads, will the Overlords spell the end for humankind . . . or the beginning?

Childhood’s End is a Arthur C. Clarke’s vastly different take on the “alien invasion” trope. This is no bombastic War of the Worlds or Independence Day narrative, but inversely, neither is it covert in vein of They Live or The Thing. Because the fore mentioned narratives have the extraterrestrials show blatant hostility, one might be inclined to think they seem less ominous; however, because both the intentions and even appearance of the Overlords is unknown, their endgame could be far more malicious than any world destroying alien race.

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The State of the Gamer: 8/25/22

August 25, 2022September 8, 2022 / The Shameful Narcissist / 2 Comments

<–The State of the Gamer: 8/11/22 The State of the Gamer: 9/8/22–>

A weekly post updated every other Thursday detailing my current gaming projects. I have an account at Grouvee, which is a site you can use to keep track of your backlog, so please feel free to friend me there!

Games Demoed: 0

Games Purchased: 8

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force (Fairy Fencer F, Galapagos) – $5.99 @ Nintendo eShop
Trivial Pursuit Live! (Trivial Pursuit) – $7.99 @ Nintendo eShop
Doors: Paradox – $0.00 @ iTunes Store
Doors: Origin – $0.00 @iTunes Store
Doors: Awakening – $0.00 @ iTunes Store
The Birdcage – $0.00 @ iTunes Store
The Birdcage 2 – $0.00 @ iTunes Store
3D Escape Game: Chinese Room – $0.00 @ iTunes Store

Total: $13.98

Games Finished: 1

Title: The House of Da Vinci III
Series: The House of Da Vinci
System: iOS (iPhone)

Date Started: July 29, 2022
Date Finished: August 14, 2022

I’m sad it’s the last in the series and I’m finished, but I couldn’t be happier with this game. I may replay the first two, and I’ve been thinking about replaying The Room series, too. This game is the reason I “bought” so many from the iTunes store; I really wanted a similar experience. I think I paid around $5 for this, and it was totally worth it if you love puzzle/mystery games.

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The State of the Reader: 8/24/22

August 24, 2022September 7, 2022 / The Shameful Narcissist / 2 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 8/10/22 The State of the Reader: 9/7/22–>

A biweekly post updated every other Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list. Title links go to Goodreads, and if you have an account there feel free to friend me! I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.

Books Purchased: 1

Tidepool by Nicole Wilson – $0.99 @ Amazon Kindle

Total: $0.99

Books Finished: 1

Title: Dark Places
Author: Gillian Flynn
Date Added: October 4, 2018
Date Started: August 1, 2022
Date Finished: August 21, 2022

Media: eBook/Library

Woot! I finished this before it was returned to the library. I think this is the fastest I’ve read a book, and I’m so glad I did complete it. I don’t think I could’ve waited on hold and probably would’ve wound up buying it.

I initially gave this four stars, but then I bumped it up to five. The reason for the four stars was because I didn’t like the MC that much, but honestly? You’re not supposed to. Gillian Flynn has a knack for making unlikable main characters because the points she’s trying to make require it, and this book is no different. Libby isn’t likable. She has terrible habits. She steals. She lies. She’s a mooch. She’s also extremely traumatized from what she lived through.

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The State of the Writer: 8/21/22

August 21, 2022September 4, 2022 / The Shameful Narcissist / 7 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 8/7/22 The State of the Writer: 9/4/22–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 0

Project: Story/Series
Working Title: The High Archon (The Truth Seeker Chronicles)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Original
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 11,282
Status: Reorganizing & Worldbuilding
Progress: Updating background information on Scrivener

“The Sorrowful Lord”

I’ve spent the last week or so thinking up new ways to torture the above character, my poor main, “dark angel” Uriel. I’m very much a “make them suffer for their happy ending” type of writer even after the happy ending, because happiness doesn’t last; joy is a lie, and all shall end in despair. I even wrote a poem about it, buuuut I’m not willing to share that yet haha. After I finished writing about how I was going to torture him, I had to sign off for the evening, because it cut a bit close to the bone (…also literally). There’s self-mutilation for reasons that would make anyone sad. This was all in service of bridging the gap between my first novel and the WIP. I had notes on it, but more details needed to be fleshed out.

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