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About This Author
I am SoCalScribe. This is my InkSpot.
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Blogocentric Formulations
Logocentric (adj). Regarding words and language as a fundamental expression of an external reality (especially applied as a negative term to traditional Western thought by postmodernist critics).
Sometimes I just write whatever I feel like. Other times I respond to prompts, many taken from the following places:
Thanks for stopping by! 
October 19, 2014 at 10:30pm October 19, 2014 at 10:30pm
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PROMPT: How many books do you own? Anything of particular note (special editions, signed copies, sentimental gifts, etc.)?
I already used Bruce Campbell's If Chins Could Kill for a previous blog entry about book signings, so I can't use it again even though it's one of the few signed copies I own. The only other book I own that I would consider a special edition (I'm not counting "special editions" like with a revised foreward or something like that, but rather truly special printings), is this red leather-bound one-volume set of the Lord of the Rings trilogy:
| ASIN: 0395193958 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 69.99
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I won it in a contest held for employees of Borders back when I worked for the book chain. Considering that it retails for around $75-$150 and is a limited edition printed in 1974, I suspect the store didn't really understand what it had and assumed it was just a promotional item or something. I've actually kept that volume in its shrink-wrap since I won it more than ten years ago. I promised myself that I wouldn't unwrap it or crack it open until I had kids and they were old enough to have me read it to them. So it remains on my shelf, in mint condition, waiting for the children that I'll read it to.
As far as books I own... ugh, I don't even think I could count them all. If we're talking books only (no graphic novels or comics, magazines, screenplays, etc.), I probably own about 500 books in hardcover or paperback. It used to be about double that, but my wife and I gave about half our collection away to the local library when we moved apartments a few years ago. No joke, our old apartment had four floor-to-ceiling bookcases stacked double and triple-deep with books, as well as stacks of books in our closet, living room, bedroom, and even in the dining room. We whittled it down to just our absolute favorites... but have, of course, started adding to the collection once again. 
If you include Kindle books, digital manuscripts, etc., I probably own close to 2,000 books. I haven't read them all yet, and that doesn't even include the books my wife owns... but one day we dream of buying a house with an extra room that we can use as a study/library/office with floor-to-ceiling bookcases lining the walls. There's something immensely satisfying about a room full of books that can be curled up with and read; I just hope we end up getting that house before we run out of living space in our current apartment (again)! |
October 19, 2014 at 2:07am October 19, 2014 at 2:07am
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PROMPT: What else do you like to read (comics, magazines, newspapers, blogs, etc.)? Recommend something to us.
I like to read a ton of other stuff besides books. I'm a comics fan, regularly read screenplays, occasionally check out newspapers and magazines, and regularly check out blog posts and online articles on topics that interest me. I think it's important to read books and I certainly read my share of them, but it's also nice to read a quick article or see a story told in a more visual format. From time to time.
For anyone interested in checking out some great stories told in a different format, might I humbly recommend:
| ASIN: 0983068968 |
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Amazon's Price: Price N/A
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The Red Ten is a limited run comic series loosely based on Agatha Christie's classic, And Then There Were None. Writer Tyler James had always wanted to approach that story from the perspective of a superhero team like The Justice League or The Avengers, but since DC and Marvel aren't really in the habit of greenlighting comics that involve killing off their most popular characters, James instead created his own super team and is self-publishing these comics one at a time. I think he's currently up to issue #6 or #7 out of ten, and it's definitely worth checking out for anyone who likes comics and/or Agatha Christie.
| ASIN: 1607069466 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 6.95
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Sex Criminals is a rather odd and compelling story by Matt Fraction about a couple who discover that they each have the ability to essentially freeze time when they orgasm. I know that sounds like a  ridiculous premise, but it's actually kind of interesting and Fraction is a good enough writer that he's found a way to make the characters compelling and the odd premise actually kind of creates a unique environment for them to explore their dysfunctions. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for kids or anything, but if you don't mind adult material (and it's not even that explicit), it's one of the most creative things I've read in a long time.
Passengers is a screenplay by John Spaihts that's been languishing in development hell for several years now, but it's one of the most compelling scripts I've ever read. The concept of the story is that a cruise ship-style spacecraft is transporting people to a new planet for habitation. They're all in cryogenic hibernation during the lightyears-long journey and a malfunction wakes one of a guy up and ejects him from his pod. The ship is entirely automated, and he realized that he work up too early; it will take 90 years to get there and even longer to go back. He's going to die of old age on this ship, and spend the remaining decades of his life all alone. So he makes the decision to intentionally wake up someone else - a woman - so that he has someone to spend his life with. The script explores his need for companionship and contrasts it against the guilt he feels at essentially condemning someone else to his same unfortunate fate.
Magazines are something I tend to buy one issue at a time rather that something for which I maintain regular subscriptions. Sometimes I'm interested in business stuff, so I'll pick up (or download) an issue of Entrepreneur or Inc. At other times I want to focus on writing so I'll check out a Writer's Digest. For technology or science or general areas of interest, I might check out a Popular Science, Popular Mechanics or Wired. And for fun I might check out an Entertainment Weekly or Game Informer from time to time.
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