Alien Fiction: the Thread

Hexigate 2018-01-09 06:51:13 UTC #3

Alien Fiction: Alien Fiction

joe_galindez 2018-01-09 06:52:20 UTC #4

in which we start selling in-universe merchandise

Zaboem 2018-01-25 07:41:17 UTC #5

I found some old character sketches from back when I was deciding on how I wanted the members of my alien trio to appear. I'll start posting them in this thread mainly so that I do not lose them again.

In related news, I completed the next chapter of the story a couple of weeks back. I have decided to invest a lot of energy though in editing and really punching up the humor. This is the first time all three aliens will appear together, so I want this scene to really pop. A floated a sample of dialog on a couple of Facebook boards along with a survey question asking how funny it was. The most popular answer by a wide margin was mediocre, and that just doesn't cut it.

Zaboem 2018-01-25 07:45:46 UTC #6

P.S. These characters are Shiva the dragon, Odin the boar, and Isis the rabbit. All are derived from the Chinese zodiac. I have no idea why Odin is wearing a necktie in this sketch.

arushiangelica 2018-01-25 14:45:25 UTC #7

In Hindu mythology Shiva is part of the three main Gods. Brhama is the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer.

Zaboem 2018-01-25 15:11:23 UTC #8

@arushiangelica, about that, is Shiva a fitting name or would usage of that name be problematic for Hindu readers?

arushiangelica 2018-01-25 15:40:52 UTC #9

Depends on the readers. Usually anyone who reads is smart enough to not be fanatics. So, I think, as far as people like me are concerned, you are good to go.

Zaboem 2018-01-26 06:02:23 UTC #10

The tenth episode of Alien Fiction has been posted. I also went back and added some theme music for dueling scene earlier. Isis has been formally introduced, so a new chapter thumbnail was created to mark the occasion.

On a related note, I just noticed that if I include the RPG rules, this project has just passed over the 50,000 word mark. This is the minimum length to be designated as a novel by the National Novel Writing Month rules. If I can wrap up the story and complete the rules, I can claim to be a novelist and not be lying for the first time in my life.

Zaboem 2018-01-26 06:08:49 UTC #11

I have been waffling on this matter for a long time. At first, I wanted all of the characters to be named after ancient mythology gods but from different pantheons. I was going for an Ancient Aliens Theory theme while still keeping my alien tongue planted in my cheek. Isis originally had the name Venus, but I liked Egyptian name of Isis better for her. Then again, I thought that a lot of contemporary people continue to worship to Shiva (and Siva), so that might be construed as poking fun as their religion. Heck, that might be actually poking fun at their religion. Then I flipped again when I considered that I knew Neo-Pagans who prayed to gods of "dead" religions like Venus and Isis. Odin in particular is making a major comeback in the United States. Thus, there is really no such thing as a mythological god which no one finds sacred anymore, and thus I cannot avoid offending if I use the names of any gods.

I could be overthinking this.

arushiangelica 2018-01-26 07:07:52 UTC #12

As a writer one can't think about how audience will react. Because once one enters that sphere, there is no way out.

ChristodeBoyet 2018-01-26 07:42:49 UTC #13

A little chime in. Consider it like this, especially from what I know of Odin. You can't do anything worse than what happens to them in the religion, right? Arushi is right it's better to not worry from the readers perspective. Since your novel is a fictictious work. A slippery slope is making a novel that's insulting towards a specific religion in every aspect and I don't see you doing that.

Hope that eases your thoughts some.

Zaboem 2018-01-27 02:05:42 UTC #14

more very old sketches in all their goofiness

DiegoPalacios 2018-01-27 02:07:13 UTC #15

And we buy it for in-universe currency

Zaboem 2018-01-29 01:01:59 UTC #16

Look, it's a bird. It's a plane. It's another old dusty sketch from when I was trying to settle on a style.
No, I do not remember why I labeled a sketch of a chicken as Beast of the Apocalypse. I bet I was being cool though...

Zaboem 2018-01-29 01:03:31 UTC #17

I do like how Isis is so slack on that sketch.

Zaboem 2018-01-30 07:03:20 UTC #18

Oh dear, he has not run out of old sketches yet.

If anyone is interested in base system of the roleplaying game rules for Alien Fiction, those rules are also available under a Creative Commons license. Make your game, give it away, sell it or whatever. The system is called C.O.R.E. and can be found on Archive.org under the names CORE and Chupa Open Roleplay Engine. I think the next installment will be another chapter of the game.

Zaboem 2018-01-31 01:07:40 UTC #19

Zaboem 2018-01-31 02:15:00 UTC #20

Zaboem 2018-02-08 07:55:42 UTC #21

Holy bat jokes, fat man!

The number of subscribers to Alien Fiction has reached double digits. I am a god among rockstars.

Zaboem 2018-02-26 08:45:40 UTC #22

Very minor update: Editing has been completed the existing chapters of story. At least, this as edited the text likely to get with me editing my own narrative. I also rearranged the theme music slightly. I moved Your Poison by CTVS into the fight scene, removing Galaxy of Friendship by Random Encounter. Galaxy will be moved into an upcoming chapter.

I have begun shopping around for a local audio facility. I need somewhere I may record a higher quality audio track than I can do in my own home. When I get a deal secured for that, the audio book edition Alien Fiction should follow shortly.