Spiderman: Revenge - Chapter 5

This is it! In this chapter, the identity of the mysterious villain will be revealed. Not only that, but the battle between Spiderman and the Rhino continues.

I hope everyone enjoys the continuation of Spiderman: Revenge!

Spiderman: Revenge
Chapter 1 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?0i7za6cldbsfo8l
Chapter 2 -http://www.mediafire.com/view/?kulywurduq0sh5f
Chapter 3 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?5br6tfcp6q9nq7y
Chapter 4 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?prtpx66m10bl61y
Chapter 5 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?dllktobdy04bbn1

Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

Cover Art by Sean Anders - http://www.skyscraper48.com/

Mass Effect: Babel - Chapter 4

As promised, today you are getting the next chapter of Mass Effect: Babel!

We still have a long ways to go on all of my stories. But I do have definitive endgames for them, you should know. Mass Effect: Babel is going to become much more epic in scope before the curtain finally draws. However, we are a couple chapters away from the ending of the first sub-arc in the story.

Shepard and the crew descend on Kahje in search of answers, only to find themselves brought into a vicious conflict between the Hanar armies and the robotic forced of Azrae. With the clock ticking, can they turn the tide in time?

Mass Effect: Babel

Chapter 1 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?5ipsy2b01bsqb9b
Chapter 2 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?787p1gnpckj8p6h
Chapter 3 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?xzf3eqfikpezapz
Chapter 4 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?by9dd1rbmjgnddj

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

"Story Release Updates!" or "The Return: The Revenge: Part 2: The Prequel"

Welcome to the third and final homecoming post of 2013.

Today, I wanted to get everyone on the same page about my stories and their various futures.

On the fan fiction front, new chapters of both Spiderman: Revenge and Mass Effect: Babel are finished, and they will be going up within the next week. My hope is to continue a monthly release schedule for these on an ongoing basis. I’m particularly sorry for this delay because it came when both stories were on rather unfortunate cliffhangers.

I will also begin teasing a new fanfic, followed by a formal announcement, and the first chapter - all taking place in the near future. After the positive response I’ve gotten from Avengers: The Hangover, I’ve decided to try my hand at a more long form comedy fic.

Warm Stone exists in a slightly different space though. With NaNoWriMo come and gone, I’ve taken a step back and looked at what I want to do with this story. I intend to continue it. I also intend to make it available for free, as well. But without that “50,000 word” goal, I can make the story as long and complex as I see fit. This means spending a little more time thinking about the directions that each story strand will take. I will be posting Chapter 7 before the end of January, but Warm Stone will also be moving to a “monthly” update schedule.

That said, here are the exact release dates for all of my upcoming stories!

Mass Effect: Babel - Chapter 4
Wednesday January 23rd

Spiderman: Revenge - Chapter 5
Monday January 28th

Warm Stone - Chapter 7
Wednesday January 30th

I hope you all come back, and recommend these stories to your friends! The more readers I get, the more content I can bring to you! There will be a giveaway once my Facebook page makes it to 100 followers, so spread the word and get people to subscribe.

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

"My Most Anticipated of 2013" or "The Return: Part 2!"

A couple of days ago, I shared my New Years Resolutions with everyone. That was meant as the first in a three-part series of return posts. To continue looking forward, I also wanted to share a few of the things I am most excited to see happen in 2013.

It should be obvious by now that my tastes run more than a little on the nerdy side. It’s hard to argue, though, that science fiction and fantasy are where you’ll find some of the most innovative storytelling of our time. Just look at Cloud Atlas from last year - I can honestly say I’d never seen anything like it. This year holds a number of very exciting new possibilities in the world of fiction. These are my personal picks for the most anticipated books, games, series, and movies of 2013.

Book - Untitled Sandman Book
When Neil Gaiman announced that a new Sandman book was in the works there was nothing else he needed to say. I am already sold on the fact that this will be the best thing I read all year, barring some unforeseen circumstances. That being said… I’d really like to know more about it, soon! A title, story details, or a release date would be quite nice.
Runners up - Dresden Files #15, Saga

Game - Ni No Kuni
Studio Ghibli is one of the most innovative pioneers in the animation industry, rivaled only by Pixar in my opinion. So when they collaborate with a talented videogame company on the design and writing of a game, it catches my attention. If this turns out to be as beautiful and whimsical as Studio Ghibli’s film outings then this will become an instant classic. It comes out next week, so I won’t have to wait long in order to find out!
Runners up - Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, Injustice: Gods Among Us

TV Show - S.H.I.E.L.D.
Joss Whedon returning to television is reason enough to celebrate. But Joss Whedon bringing the Marvel Cinematic Universe to television? That’s a recipe for fan boy rabies. Yes, I’m frothing at the mouth. Bringing Phil Coulson back only makes it worse, too. Watching the adventures of humans having to cope with a world full of superheroes should make for some incredibly fun drama. I hope they also manage to tie it into the films the way Marvel has expertly balanced bringing the films together. The occasional cameo from a famous hero (I’d say, at most, once or twice a season) could also be a lot of fun.
Runners Up - Arrested Development, Spartacus: War of the Damned, Game of Thrones

Movie - The Man of Steel
I’m a Superman fan. Anyone who knows me is well aware of this. But for those of you who don’t know me, let me tell you a little fact which may make it clear to you. I was one of the people who camped out, overnight, to see footage of The Man of Steel at San Diego Comic-Con in 2012. For a long time I was very lukewarm on this movie. The cast just didn’t feel right, and Zack Snyder is a very hit-or-miss director. But that footage which debuted at Comic-Con was jaw dropping. Now in a year that will include Star Trek Into Darkness and a second Hobbit movie, I’m most excited to see Superman’s origin story again, because it looks like they’ve made it pretty incredible.
Runners up - Pacific Rim, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Star Trek Into Darkness

So those are my most anticipated things in the upcoming year! What are you looking forward to most?

On Sunday there will be one last article, which shall detail the new release schedule for all of my stories! You can expect concrete release dates for new chapters to be announced for Warm Stone, Spiderman: Revenge, and Mass Effect: Babel.

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

"My News Years Resolutions" or "2013 Starts When I Say It Starts"

This article is very late, and I’d like to start by apologizing for the delay. The end of 2012 and beginning of 2013 were both quite eventful. I spent all of December in Arizona visiting with old friends and family. Then when I made it back up to Washington, I had to move within a few days, which created a whirlwind of packing and preparation.

The end of the year is always a great chance to look back. 2012 was very crazy. To call it an eventful year would be an understatement. We had a ton of fantastic films, great books, an election, not to mention the various personal events that happened in my everyday life.

For me, resolutions are not just “goals” for a year. They are meant to represent what I want that year to be. I don’t just go “I’m going to lose 10 pounds” and call it a day. I look back on the year before and see how fulfilling it was, which always informs what I decide to do going forward.

That said, I can’t really list my resolutions for 2013 without first pointing out what I managed to accomplish in 2012.

In no particular order, here were my resolutions for 2012 -

1. Get a girlfriend
Accomplished! We also broke up after six months. I should have rephrased that as “KEEP a girlfriend”. Still, on a technical level, I can check this one off.

2. Get a sailing license
Failed. The summer just sort of evaporated, and that’s really the time to try learning to sail in Seattle. I may give it a try again in 2013 though!

3. Learn to scuba dive
Failed. This was part two of my plan to get a sailing license, learn to dive, and then to explore the area around the Puget Sound.

4. Sell a novel
Accomplished! There will be further announcements about this as the year continues onwards. But it is a Young Adult Fantasy novel, and I’m quite proud of it.

5. Finish a novel
Accomplished! I wrote the above book in the period from March until December 2012.

6. Read one novel every month
Accomplished! This one was really downright accidental. I just love reading. In fact, I’d say I over-achieved and probably read at least two books each month.

So I managed 4/6! Not bad, if not exactly perfect either. Oddly enough, it feels as though I mostly excelled at the resolutions which were (at least in some context) outside of my complete control (getting a girlfriend requires meeting the right girl, and selling a novel requires a stroke of luck).

What do I want 2013 to look like? Well I’m scaling back the number of resolutions from 6 to 5, but they are still pretty ambitious.

1. Sell another novel
This one seems pretty self-explanatory. I am a writer, and wish to continue being a WORKING writer. I know that it should be about the art, but who doesn’t want to make a living while doing what they love? That is the ultimate goal here. Because life is a fusion of ones personal and professional lives. A person must find passion in every day, even the days spent working.

2. Write another novel
Speaking of spending days working, I wish to continue writing! Part of being a working writer is the constant doldrums of editing, blog maintenance, article writing, and so on. All of those do hold a certain element of appeal to me. Still, my favorite part of writing is the rough draft. Yes it always tends to be messy and need months of work. That doesn’t change the fact that it is my absolute favorite part of the writing process. It’s the moment where anything could happen in the story. That’s where the excitement always seems to be, for me.

3. Go somewhere unexpected
Obviously this is quite vague. Unfortunately it is meant to be that way. Not because I’m trying to make it easy to accomplish, though. In fact I would say quite the opposite. I want to be somewhere I’ve never planned to be, to wind up in a place entirely different and unexpected. Basically, I want an adventure, I want that sense of newness so often pushed aside due to the unimportant requisites of everyday responsibility. This is the resolution on the list that I most want to accomplish.

4. Get up to 500 Facebook “Likes”
Clearly one of my more ambitious goals, since I’m only hovering in the area of 100 at the moment. A great way to help, if you’re reading this and new, would be to go to my Facebook Author Page and click “Like”! If you aren’t new, then recommend me to your friends! At every milestone (100, 150, 200, ect.) I will be doing a contest or giveaway. If we make it to 500, then there will be a BIG giveaway, something awesome and expensive.

5. Finish NaNoWriMo
The past two years I have participated in NaNoWriMo, and both years I failed to finish. In 2011 it was because I just wasn’t motivated enough. As for 2012, I had to balance apartment hunting, holiday shopping, and other daily responsibilities. In particular, the apartment hunting is what killed my momentum. So my goal in 2013 is not only to participate in NaNoWriMo, but to finish it, as well!

So these are my goals for 2013. They show the shape I’d like the year to take, the path I want to walk - which is primarily growth in my career. I want this to be the year that I finally make my big break as a writer. I know this is a task which requires a bit of luck. I know it is, in many ways, outside of my power. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t do some things to propel myself in that direction.

I’m happy to be back and updating! This is actually the first of three posts I intend to put up over the next week. Stay tuned for my “Most Anticipated of 2013” and updates on all of my stories.

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

Avengers: The Hangover

So if the picture countdown on my author page is to be believed, this story is a day late.

To put it simply, I was pretty hung over yesterday. It made last-minute editing and tweaks borderline impossible, so this is being posted a day late.

The lack of updates on stories may continue a brief bit longer as I adjust to a few new things in my life. Most notably, I have recently moved, and this has eaten up a lot of time and energy. I will be plowing forward on every story though. It just may take a little time to get back into a regular cycle with all of them.

This marks the beginning of a series of one-shot fics that will correspond to every major United States-related holiday of 2013. This is for New Years Day (albeit being a tiny bit late, obviously). Next up will be a story for Valentines Day!

The Avengers find themselves tackling their most dangerous foe yet - surviving a hangover brought on when Tony Stark invents a new cocktail. I won’t spoil the rest for you. But I hope you enjoy it!

Avengers: The Hangover

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

Mass Effect: Babel - Chapter 3

 The apocalypse is nigh! Well not really, but it’s fun to be dramatic, isn’t it?

I hope everyone has a fun time as the day goes on. However, just because the “world is ending” don’t do anything that you’ll regret tomorrow.

How would you like the world to end? I’m voting for the rise of Godzilla, personally.

Enough stalling, though! Here is the third chapter of Mass Effect: Babel, wherein we introduce the Shadow Broker.

I still haven’t heard from any initiates to the Mass Effect canon on whether or not I have successfully bridged the gap of information necessary to make this story accessible. I would love to hear from you, if there are any! Even if I’ve failed spectacularly, knowing that will help me try even harder with future stories.

Enjoy the chapter, and hopefully I will see you all tomorrow, when we officially live in the post-apocalypse.

Mass Effect: Babel

Chapter 1 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?5ipsy2b01bsqb9b
Chapter 2 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?787p1gnpckj8p6h
Chapter 3 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?xzf3eqfikpezapz

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

"My Top 5 Movies of 2012" or "Jullian spends too much time at the cinema"

 #5. Cloud Atlas
The only way I can truly think of to describe this film is “complex”. There are a vast number of themes, storylines, and characters which all attempt to weave together into a coherent whole. A few very questionable choices aside (the makeup in particular lends to some… possible racial insensitivity), this film does what it sets out to do. Concepts like reincarnation, everlasting love, government corruption, insanity and cowardice, slavery, racial equality, and genocide all find their way into the movie. The general premise is that it follows six storylines over six different time periods, and shows how the actions of people in the past can directly affect the fate of all mankind in the future. This movie virtually demands multiple viewings. That said, even with mixed reactions, I think it merits inclusion in this list for sheer ambition alone. We need more movies like this to get made. Specifically, movies that try to be daring and different.

#4. Skyfall
I am going to have to jump on the bandwagon and say that this is the best James Bond movie ever made. I was disappointed to see them abandon the story they had told in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, but that is one of the only major gripes I have with the film. The cinematography was gorgeous - in my opinion, the best of the year. Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, and Judi Dench all gave downright tremendous performances. The story turned into a fun game of cat and mouse, with espionage being a vehicle used to tell a character-driven tale rather than another rote “save the world” plotline. This was clearly a very different kind of James Bond film, but hasn’t that been the goal of this rebooted continuity, to tell different kinds of stories? Well, Craig has been signed up for two more films. Hopefully the overarching narrative returns, and he manages to go out with a bang.

#3. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Slipping back into Middle-Earth felt a lot like going home after a lengthy vacation. A lot of people bemoan Peter Jackson turning such a short book into three films. As I watched this, though, I felt immensely satisfied with this first leg in the journey. There were a lot of scenes that went a little long, however I found myself happily lingering in them rather than feeling a drag. The scope was incredible, Martin Freeman easily stole the show as Bilbo Baggins, and the “Riddles in the Dark” section is worth the price of admission alone. I remain nothing but enthused by the idea of seeing this series continue next year.

#2. Avengers
No movie was anywhere near as much fun as The Avengers this year. From the first Tony Stark quip to the Hulk having more fun than his previous two films combined, surprise and youthful energy bounded through the entire film. Every performance was spot on, every action set piece felt like a comic brought to life, and there’s no denying that the final act held some of the most overwhelming thrills to be had all summer. What more is there to say? There’s a reason it’s one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

#1. The Dark Knight Rises
Looking back on the list, this appears to have been the year of big movies. Almost every film here was around three hours in length (some a little longer, some a little shorter). Choosing my favorite movie of the year was an incredibly difficult call. So let me make one thing clear - The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises are both equally fantastic, for very different reasons. In the end I felt like The Dark Knight Rises had a story with more grandeur and twists to it. While it was not as “fun” as The Avengers, there was an undeniable power in watching the journey of Bruce Wayne finally come to an end. Bane made for a fantastic adversary, giving Batman a physical challenge as well as a psychological one, while the last few turns in the story brought the entire trilogy together in a satisfying manner. A few editing hiccups aside, this movie was on the verge of flawless.

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

"My Top 5 TV Shows of 2012" or "Praise the LORD for DVR"

#5. Dexter

Last season felt terminally underwhelming on Dexter. Especially towards the end, when they introduced the very messed up “Debra is in love with Dexter” story dynamic. Then it ended on the mother of all cliffhangers, and I still found myself on the hook for another season. How does the current season stack up? Quite well, as a matter of fact! Debra coming to grips with Dexter’s true identity has been a downright riveting series of events. His dealings with the Ukrainian mob were also quite entertaining. Now we’re headed into a finale that promises to change everything, as the show winds up for a final season meant to air in 2013.

#4. How I Met Your Mother

A part of me is sad to see this series fall so far on the list. It used to be that How I Met Your Mother would constantly occupy the “#1” spot. No sitcom that I’ve ever seen is as dense with plot twists, clever writing, rich characters, or a sense of glee and imagination on this scale. How I Met Your Mother was a love story, one with a likeable cast and great chemistry. But in it’s eighth year, the series is beginning to show its age. They are drawing near the end of the story, and I’m hoping that it will find a resurgence of energy as we finally come to the decisive moment, the moment when Ted Mosby meets the love of his life. For now though, it’s still good, and nostalgia keeps it on the list at all.

#3. Once Upon A Time

This show really grew on me. At first I wrote it off as being fun but ultimately little more than fluff. I let half the first season stockpile in my DVR, to be watched when nothing better was around. When that time finally came, let me tell you, it won me over entirely. Yes, the special effects are ridiculous, and some of the acting is hammy beyond description, but Once Upon A Time is a series of sincere optimism. Like all great fairy tales, the true value of the series only shines through most when you see the bigger picture and deeper meaning. I defy anyone to finish the first season without being hooked.

#2. Game of Thrones

I wasn’t sold on this show at first. The first season was good, but uneven, and several of the storylines felt a little flimsy. But in season two, things kicked into high gear, and that’s when this became a marvel of television achievement. With a more cohesive narrative (even though it is technically very fractured), and some legitimate payoffs in the subplots, the show became a beast of labyrinth storytelling in the finest way. Also, Tyrion might be the funniest character on modern television.

#1. Doctor Who

In the interest of total transparency, I only discovered Doctor Who this year. The ironic part being that I even met Matt Smith once, at San Diego Comic Con 2011. He seemed like a nice gentleman, but I had no idea why everyone around me was geeking out quite so much. Now that I’ve discovered this magnificent show (my new favorite television series of all time), I see what all the fuss is about. This is a show where absolutely anything is possible. I’m not kidding. There’s an episode titled “Dinosaurs on a Spaceship” (which is one of my personal favorites). If you’ve never heard of it, I urge you to go out right now and buy the dvds, because you’re missing out on a masterpiece.

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

Spiderman: Revenge - Chapter 4

We’ve arrived at a major turning point in the story. Chapter 4 marks the end of the exposition, and the beginning of a lot of excitement and action. I obviously won’t spoil by getting into details as I’d rather let the content speak for itself. This is definitely my favorite chapter so far though. And you can only expect it to get more intense from here.

Spiderman: Revenge
Chapter 1 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?0i7za6cldbsfo8l
Chapter 2 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?kulywurduq0sh5f
Chapter 3 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?5br6tfcp6q9nq7y
Chapter 4 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?prtpx66m10bl61y

Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

Cover Art by Sean Anders - http://www.skyscraper48.com/

The Dresden Files: A Slippery Slope

I just finished “Cold Days”, the fourteenth book in the Dresden Files series.

My original plan was to write a review. I absolutely adored the novel. However, a darker issue suddenly presented itself, and now I feel an important need to address that issue. Because there is one aspect of the book that is utterly NOT okay.

Here is your disclaimer - this will be a very dicey post dealing with an unpleasant topic. And that is the topic of rape. If that makes you uncomfortable, please skip this. I don’t wish to offend anyone. If you don’t want to read such unfortunate subject matter, but want my bottom line? I am against rape in any possible context. And I feel that it should only be used in fiction when the concept or act has a very important point, a point that cannot be conveyed in any other fashion.

Also, this post will contain spoilers for the twelfth and thirteenth books in the Dresden Files, “Changes” and “Ghost Story” respectively.

I was so excited when I finished “Cold Days.” The scenes I will be discussing definitely made me uncomfortable, but I still logged onto the internet with glee, hoping to talk about the ending with other Dresden Files fans. When I started to read the reactions to “Cold Days”, though, I started to see just how troubling the book truly is.

To give a little context for non-fans, the lead hero (Harry) recently pledged himself to serve a dark Faerie Queen (Mab) in a recent book. To escape this fate, he went so far as to try and have himself assassinated. The reasons for him even accepting the offer in the first place are complicated, but let’s just say he had very few options. We start this novel very shortly after his failure to attempt suicide,  as he is forced to take on the title and duties of the Winter Knight.

The title and magical power of being the Winter Knight also, apparently, changes the personality of whoever holds it. This means that the main character is constantly at odds with his own mind on whether or not to give in to a powerful sense of corruption that spends the entire book trying to invade his thoughts. The more he uses this source of magic, the more hold it has over him. It’s meant to be similar to the Dark Side in Star Wars.

How do these wicked thoughts decide to present themselves?

Harry Dresden, the heroic protagonist of the series, begins to fantasize about rape.

Needless to say, I am not at all surprised that some people are outraged. I felt very uncomfortable whenever his mind drifted in this direction. I would have paused to think it over more, but mostly the thoughts last for a single paragraph, and then he recognizes that these thoughts are not coming from “him”. Add on the fact that I was inherently sucked into the plot of the novel, and I zipped away and was happy to leave those brief bouts of icky-ness in my rearview mirror while I took in the rest of the book.

These fantasies are never downright vivid, just implied. However, their very presence makes it that much harder to root for the hero. In fact, if this were the first book in the series, I’d have been out. It obviously helps that Harry has spent thirteen previous books NEVER thinking about raping someone. It doesn’t make it any better though.

I am incredibly disappointed with Jim Butcher, the author of the series. He’s obviously trying to use the idea of rape in terms of power and control. Harry’s subconscious mind, the part now being manipulated by a dark power, is attempting to corrupt him. And the very idea of power and control are integral to that.

But there are many, many other ways to do this. Why not just let it show by having the hero lose his temper more? That does happen a few times in the book, and I feel like that should have been more than enough to show that Harry is on a slippery slope. The rape fantasies were going too far, and even worse they were downright unnecessary to convey the point.

Making your lead hero struggle with disgusting fantasies is absolutely inexcusable. There is no thematic road that this can lead down that doesn’t end with me giving up the series, whether it’s my favorite book series (and it is) or not. Either Harry gives in to the urges, and I eternally lose respect for him as a character, or he doesn’t. But then he would probably be having the same fantasies until he stops being the Winter Knight.

Only one hint (a very minor hint) exists that suggests he may be able to escape being the Winter Knight (a throwaway line by Odin in the final chapter). My sincerest hope is that Butcher goes straight for undoing this. But my worry is that he is going to linger on the Winter subplot for several books. How many novels worth of rape subtext should a fandom be forced to endure? Even one book was far too much.

Now, it’s hard to say whether this was intentional or not. A lot of people say that sexism is rampant in Butcher’s novels. Personally, I have never seen that. The vast majority of the women in these books are intelligent, powerful, and multi-faceted individuals. So I genuinely doubt that sexism is the intent. I think it’s merely a byproduct of him not thinking clearly.

At the end of the day, I’m not ready to give up this series yet. There were a ton of very, very amazing things in this novel. The opening party sequence was hilarious and entertaining, the introduction of an overarching threat to the narrative was tantalizing, the novels climax was the best naval battle I’ve ever seen in a book, and there were a handful of new plot threads that really do work extraordinarily well.

I just hope the author can reel in this very, very troubling development. I’d hate to have my favorite book series destroyed.

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

"My Top 5 Videogames of 2012" or "Why I didn't manage to write more!"

#5. Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy (3DS)

The very moment I heard the concept for this game, I knew that I had to have it. A rhythm game using the music of Final Fantasy was just too good to be true! And it sure was. While the gameplay is simple, and the various modes lack a general sense of variety, I can honestly say that it felt like this game truly lived up to the hype. The graphics are charming in their cutesy sort of way, the music is amazing (a necessary element for any rhythm game, and one area where Theatrhythm blows away nearly all competition), and the game itself plays with perfect precision. Any Final Fantasy fan really should get a copy of this.

#4. Persona 4: Arena (Playstation 3, X-Box 360)

How often does the Story Mode of a fighting game surprise you? Yeah, that’s what I thought. With a plotline penned by the original creators of the Persona franchise (a series of utterly amazing roleplaying games, if you haven’t heard of them), the actual script in this game is far more engaging than it has any right to be. There are definitely some slow stretches. A lot of the stories suffer from spans as long as an hour between fights. But the effect, once you’ve experienced the entire storyline, is more than worth it. Add in excellent graphics, tight gameplay, and a perfect soundtrack, and this game is a fighting fans dream as well as a crossover marvel.

#3. XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PC, Playstation 3, X-Box 360)

My memories of the original XCOM game are a little fuzzy, I was quite young when it first came out. I remember dying a lot, I remember the fear of the unknown, and I remember shooting UFO’s out of the sky. All of these elements made a welcome return in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the reboot of the famous strategy series. Whether you’re engaged in tense gunfights with superior alien soldiers, struggling to manage the resources of your base, or deciding which nation to help (at the expense of another country), XCOM is filled with nerve wracking choices that force you to stretch your brain. A must play for strategy fans or gamers looking for something a little different.

#2. The Last Story (Wii)

How many JRPGs have you played where two of the leads found themselves in love? How many times did that romance actually feel natural? And I’m not saying in a “they’re surviving together under intense circumstances” kind of context. I mean how often do you see characters talk, laugh, spend a period as friends, and naturally grow closer? The Last Story does this sort of thing better than any other game I’ve ever played. All of the characters are interesting and multifaceted. The graphics are a little mediocre, and the gameplay takes getting used to, but the writing and story carry it to another level altogether. Easily the best JRPG that I played in 2012, and one of the best games of the year.

#1. Mass Effect 3 (PC, Playstation 3, Wii U, X-Box 360)

As many of you know by now, I thoroughly adore the Mass Effect franchise. I’ve been following it since the beginning, and so I knew I would feel bittersweet about the end. Now, the controversy about the ending aside, Mass Effect 3 was a downright masterful game. From the thrilling opening to the final battle, there are dozens of memorable moments and tearful farewells. The end of Commander Shepard’s journey took nearly a decade, but it was worth the wait. With the Extended Cut they even managed to turn the awkward final moments into an emotional and proper coda for the series. What else is there to say? I just hope more people discover this fantastic trilogy as the years go by, because it really is one of the most cinematic and best-written franchises you can find on a gaming shelf.

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

Mass Effect: Babel - Chapter 2

The adventures of the Normandy move forward in this second chapter of Mass Effect: Babel, wherein they follow the trail of Azrae on the ice planet Shir. Once they get there, they happen upon far more than they bargained for.

Apologies for the short introduction. I am presently on vacation, spending December with my family in Arizona. But there will be more content soon!

Chapter 1 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?5ipsy2b01bsqb9b
Chapter 2 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?787p1gnpckj8p6h

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Cover Art by Tonomura Bix - http://tonomurabix.deviantart.com

Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

Warm Stone - Chapter 6

The adventures of Alyssa continue in this chapter! She’s one of my favorite pieces of this story to write, even though we’re still in the early inception stages of her plot branch. There are a lot of exciting turns to be taken with her.

With the links to previous chapters fixed, I hope you all can actually begin reading again. Let me know your thoughts! Writers are creatures of attention. We crave it. So let your opinions, both positive and negative, be known!

Warm Stone
Chapter 1 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?o137wpyg673zvod
Chapter 2 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?7lrt03dcgai8gtm
Chapter 3 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?75mwrf7fcx0zamb
Chapter 4 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?874fd9cgds520oo
Chapter 6 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?y4e652ufh22j505

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

"Wii U: First Impressions" or "Wiik #1 Complete!"

The Wii U has officially been out for a week now. As such, I thought today would be a good day for me to give some of my thoughts on this fledgling console.

To give a bit of background - I am one of those people who has been (mostly) disappointed in the creative direction of Nintendo lately. I remember my fervor back when the Nintendo 64 was new and exciting. I was around ten years old. They set up a display at my local Toys R’ Us two months before launch, allowing people to play Mario 64. Back then, that was all Nintendo needed to blow everyone’s mind.

Even before that, I was an avid Super Nintendo fan. That was my first gaming system and I feel a tremendous amount of nostalgia for it. I cannot tell you how many days were spent jumping over Goombas and obsessing over how adorable Yoshi was (his cameo in Mario 64 was enough to make me go through the gauntlet and get every single Star).

But then came the Gamecube. It looked weird, the controller was utterly baffling, and it used a disc format that was literally inferior. This last part felt like a red flag, in particular. Hadn’t Nintendo learned their lesson with the cartridges of the Nintendo 64? Why did they deliver a machine incapable of doing everything that the competition boasted (most importantly, playing DVDs)?

I was one of the few who felt cautiously optimistic upon the announcement of the Wii. What harm could there be in letting Nintendo try and redefine gaming controls? At the time it felt like a cool idea. I saw the dangers of the gimmick and chose to believe that Nintendo knew what they were doing.

The only reason I didn’t get a Wii at launch, despite the stumble of the Gamecube, was because I couldn’t afford it at that point in my life. However when I began reading reviews (and started thinking back as early as the Nintendo 64) I began to notice a disturbing trend…

To put it simply, Nintendo is absolutely terrible at keep their systems relevant. The cartridges of the Nintendo 64, the discs of the Gamecube, and then the general hardware power of the Wii - all these things pointed towards the fact that Nintendo lives only for the “now”.

Don’t get me wrong, such a philosophy can be a lot of fun to apply in the real world. But when you’re buying a computer you want to know that your computer will be capable of running all the programs you want for as long as possible. If you pick up a vacuum at the store you wouldn’t want it to be incapable of cleaning certain kinds of messes, either. Nintendo has a great beat on the pulse of the current and the casual fans. They know what we want, plain and simple. That said, they are terrible at looking towards the future.

Does the Wii U buck this trend?

In short, it doesn’t look like it. No Blu-Ray format, a very small (initial) set of hard drives for memory, and the system specs are only a little (if even that much) ahead of current consoles. When the next wave of Playstation and Xbox are released, the Wii U is very likely to become obsolete.

Now do I regret my decision to buy a Wii U?

Absolutely not.

For starters, I didn’t own a Wii. Which meant I missed out on a number of exclusive gems such as Mario Galaxy, The Last Story, and all those ever-so-sexy Zelda games (just to name a few). I have told people that if you didn’t buy a Wii then the Wii U is absolutely worth the price of admission. I stand by this statement resolutely.

I’ve spent the majority of my time on the Wii U playing The Last Story (a charming and wonderful game, which will likely receive a dedicated post all for itself in the future), but I did take a moment or two in order to glance over my Wii U games (Scribblenauts Unlimited and Nintendo Land) and see what the system is capable of.

Scribblenauts Unlimited really brought home the idea that the Wii U is basically a giant Nintendo DS. The use of a second screen and a stylus makes the gameplay seamlessly identical to the previous games in the series. I am a big fan of the Scribblenauts franchise and I didn’t miss a step launching into Scribblenauts Unlimited.

I find the idea of a giant DS novel. However, it is hardly the breakout revolution that the original Wii made for controller design (whether you agree with this or not, it is a fact that Microsoft and Sony rushed to imitate what the Wii did for controls, with the Kinect and Move platforms).

Nintendo Land is where I found the things which make the Wii U special. This makes sense, as that was the entire design purpose behind the game.

Nintendo Land is little more than a minigame collection with a theme park wallpaper coated over it. The game allows you to explore and customize a theme park as you play games to earn coins. It’s through the various games that I learned what the Wii U could really do.

Whether I was rotating the gamepad manually to steer a car, pointing it at the screen to “aim” arrows, or navigating my way through invisible obstacles using the touch screen, I was thoroughly having fun the entire time. In particular I love the idea of the gamepad screen and the television screen displaying different images of the same scene - this could be used to heighten the cinematic feel of some games to great effect, if ever taken advantage of.

My one major complaint is that when using the gyroscope in the gamepad to control the camera, I frequently found myself disoriented. This never improved and I sincerely hope that Nintendo abandons the idea altogether before releasing an attempt at a AAA title with this control mechanic.

Overall, I am happy to have a Wii U. Playing classic Wii games has been worth it, but I’m also excited to see what Nintendo has in store for the future. The gamepad could create some wholly unique gaming experiences - something I’m plenty excited to explore. Will the Wii U keep me from buying the next Playstation or Xbox? Probably not. But I still think it’s a worthy investment.

"The Potential of Star Wars Episode VII: Part 3" or "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..."

My first two posts were very much concerned with the “now” of the big news, analyzing and defending why I found myself optimistic for Star Wars Episode VII. But to close out my reaction to all this, I wanted to look back on the past and see what Star Wars really means to me.

Then things took a turn. Actual concrete news began to pour out about Episode VII, much faster than I had anticipated. Suddenly a screenwriter was confirmed for the project. This added another wrinkle to my thoughts.

So let’s begin with the official announcement that Michael Arndt is confirmed as the writer of Star Wars Episode VII.

I consider this to be a move firmly in the right direction. Little Miss Sunshine had a few flaws. In particular, it was largely very obvious, written in broader strokes than a lot of other dramas.  But it was a movie with heart. A movie with several layers of subtlety, too. And those were the two most glaring omissions from Episodes I-III.

Then there’s the fact that Arndt also wrote Toy Story 3. Anyone who has seen Toy Story 3 knows that it is a work of genius, and possibly the best film in that particular franchise. Again, it was a film with a lot of heart.

Honestly, I think Michael Arndt has a great Star Wars script in him. The only possible hiccup may come from his inexperience at writing tent pole action films. But we will get to see his hand at that soon, too - Arndt is writing The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. With that due to be released in November 2013, we will have a taste of what a giant action film written by him looks like, and an even clearer idea of what we might be able to expect from Star Wars Episode VII.

This ties directly into why I remain so optimistic for the new trilogy.

One of my favorite scenes in A New Hope is quite early in the film. After finding out that he won’t be allowed to enlist in the pilot academy, a young Luke Skywalker stares out at the horizon of Tattooine from his small farm home. The twin suns are setting, the sky is orange and shades of nighttime blue, and the music swells into a beautiful crescendo. The moment has heart. The moment has genuine emotion to it. And I cannot think of a single moment in the prequel trilogy that matches this simple scene.

My hope is that Arndt will bring a strong emotional center back to the franchise. It seems to be the uniting component in all of his previous work, so I don’t consider myself overly-optimistic for thinking he has that potential.

Let’s also not forget the news that Episode VIII and IX now have writers as well, in the form of Simon Kinberg (who wrote Sherlock Holmes and the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past) and Lawrence Kasdan (responsible for a little flick, maybe you heard of it, The Empire Strikes Back). It is presently unclear if they will be co-writing both films, or if each of them is writing a different script, but both of these strike me as hires with immense possibility. Especially Kasdan, who many people credit with the best film in the franchise.

With screenwriters now in place for all three films, it seems as though Disney really is intent on giving us a new Star Wars film every two years. Love it or hate it, this is the reality we live in. I’m personally loving it. I like their choice in writing team already. Now all we need is director news.

My personal hope? I want different directors for all three films. If I got my pick then I would go with Joe Jonhston, Guillermo del Toro, and Joss Whedon. Probably in that exact order, too. Johnston could bring a fun factor to it while also keeping the first film relatively safe, del Toro would make for a hell of a cool (and darker) middle chapter, and then I can easily see Whedon bringing us a crowd-pleaser of a finale (I’d also expect him to successfully inject a few painful twists along the way, though). But this is just my dream team of directors for the project.

I feel I’ve quite thoroughly explained why I feel a new hope (sorry, I had to) for these impending films. Let me ask one question though, to the naysayer’s and pessimists who believe this is a terrible idea - why do you feel that way? What is gained from expecting the worst, at this point?

I’d encourage you to think back to before the prequel trilogy. In those days leading up to the release of Star Wars Episode I, how did you feel? I, for one, felt as though my inner child was back for more. My mind was abuzz with the infinite possibility presented by new Star Wars films. Epic adventures filled with dashing heroes and sweeping majesty played in my mind every night before I went to sleep. Sure, we didn’t get the perfect new Star Wars films we all hoped for, but does that devalue the excitement and anticipation which came before them?

My final argument is simply this… there is so much more to be gained from optimism now. Because even if the films turn out to be disappointments, we could all share in the hope and joy which comes from gathering together in friendship and celebrating what may come next. There is something genuinely important in those late night debates among friends, in chatting on message boards with strangers about ideal casting choices, and there even exists merit in jumping on any new rumors about casting or directors.

Because more than anything, the true heart of Star Wars lives within the passion of the fans. The only day that Star Wars is truly a lost cause is when we surrender our enthusiasm for apathy.

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

Warm Stone - Chapter 5

This chapter was a long time coming, and I’m sorry about that. I’ll save you all the details of my personal life and just leave it at this - apartment hunting consumes a lot of time and energy. But I’ve found an apartment, don’t have to deal with moving until the end of December, and am going on vacation soon! This means my mind will be freed up from all those everyday worries, which will result in a lot of writing.

Here’s the fifth chapter of Warm Stone, wherein an even more random set of characters are introduced. I’d like to state, for the record, that I absolutely know what the endgame of this novel looks like. So while it may all seem chaotic now, I promise the strands will come together in a manner that is (hopefully) very cohesive when all is said and done!

Warm Stone Chapter 1 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?o137wpyg673zvod
Warm Stone Chapter 2 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?7lrt03dcgai8gtm
Warm Stone Chapter 3 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?7lrt03dcgai8gtm
Warm Stone Chapter 4 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?874fd9cgds520oo

Warm Stone Chapter 5 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?8hfeakawvq3wdmq

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

Warm Stone - Chapter 4

Admittedly, progress has been a little slower on Warm Stone than I expected. I'm going on a trip, visiting home, in a little over a week. On top of that I am apartment hunting, and trying to make time for people. Basically my writing has taken a significant hit.

That said, I am still fully committed to getting 50,000 words down by the end of November. That's 13 days! So if I manage to achieve my goal, there should be more Warm Stone soon, and at a very rapid pace.

Warm Stone Chapter 1 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?o137wpyg673zvod
Warm Stone Chapter 2 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?7lrt03dcgai8gtm
Warm Stone Chapter 3 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?7lrt03dcgai8gtm
Warm Stone Chapter 4 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?874fd9cgds520oo

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

Mass Effect: Babel - Chapter 1

 And now it’s time to start Mass Effect: Babel, another piece of fan fiction!

Ever since the release of the first game, I have been thoroughly obsessed with the Mass Effect franchise. I’ve read every book, every comic, uncovered every secret and corner of the games, and even made it a point to absorb any and all behind-the-scenes information I can find. Simply put, it’s one of my great and passionate fandoms. It was only with the greatest of care that I’ve crafted this story set in a universe that I so thoroughly love.

If you are new to this universe, and do not mind the spoilers, then it is very important to know this - I have included all the information a newcomer would need to hop right into this universe. While there will be a fair amount of information to take in, you need no prior knowledge of previous Mass Effect games to grasp the majority of this story.

If you want to avoid spoilers for the Mass Effect series, then this is probably where you should stop reading.

It’s set during Mass Effect 2, after the Suicide Mission and Lair of the Shadow Broker, but before Arrival. I’ll be using my own Shepard’s choices (as many do) for the story, although I’ll be using Male Shepard’s “canon” name and appearance. Any decisions relevant to the plot will be explained in some form or another within the context of the text itself, I promise! If it weren’t obvious, here is the final disclaimer – there are large spoilers for Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 peppered throughout the entire fanfic. With that out of the way, I hope you enjoy the story!

Mass Effect: Babel Chapter 1 - http://www.mediafire.com/view/?5ipsy2b01bsqb9b

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Cover Art by Tonomura Bix - http://tonomurabix.deviantart.com

Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer

Mass Effect Giveaway

To celebrate the impending launch of Mass Effect: Babel, it’s time for another contest! Starting today (November 15th) and going until the end of the month (the deadline will be December 1st), see how many of your friends you can get to subscribe to my official Facebook page (a link to which can be found at the bottom of the page)!

Do you know people who love fan fiction? Then sell them on Spiderman: Revenge and Mass Effect: Babel!

Or maybe your friends are the types who like to read dramatic books? Well, tell them about Warm Stone, my half-finished novel following the parallel lives of a ranch hand and the characters he creates through writing.

There will also be original science fiction coming sometime in 2013, along with blogs that are (hopefully) fun to read. Basically, there are tons of reasons to get someone involved! Lots of ways to sell!

And what prizes are involved this time?

The Mass Effect Trilogy box set, for the system of your choosing (Playstation 3, X-Box 360, or PC). One of the greatest sci-fi epics in gaming, and you’ll get the whole thing for free!

 Also, a Mass Effect poster created by Henry William design (link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamHenryDesign).

These will be yours, and all you need to do is get your friends to subscribe. Just like the Avengers contest, the person who brings the most new subscribers to the page will win. Be sure to have them tell me that you sent them, otherwise you won’t be able to get proper credit.

But there’s more! If we get over 100 page likes by the end of the contest, then a runner-up will also win a copy of the box set! If we get over 120 page likes, the person in third place will receive a copy of the poster from Henry William design.

Thank you all for your support! Let’s see if we can’t get the page beyond 100 subscribers before the end of the year!

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Official Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/julliangmortimer