Story & Analysis
Speculative fiction is a great way to learn obscure history & science, to say nothing of its value for interrogating society & ethics.
📗 Spite
When AI is so wrong it's actually helpful
![grimdark ritual altar in a scandinavian bog with drums & acolytes created by midjourney AI bot](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/11/Eleanor_a_ritual_altar_beside_a_temple_dock_in_a_scandinavian_b_8fa945f1-e0e3-43ec-9474-0b0fc3c77417.png)
📗 One Barbarian Boy
On the ethics of quitting pain to embrace joy
![a child on a swingset in the Andean mountains](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/11/Eleanor_children_playing_on_a_swingset_in_the_style_of_jamie_he_7dfa7436-4b2c-4107-918f-a245a09de71c.png)
📗 Marsh Rat
A long slow decline of a stable world
![a wooden canoe tied to a tree in a cypress swamp](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/11/Eleanor_a_wooden_canoe_tied_to_a_tree_in_a_cypress_swamp_hyperr_e08a92cc-2685-4c25-af81-86db6320a89a.png)
📖 Civil Mage: Chapter 5, Part 2
Irella defends a town.
![Image of a wall in the middle of a mountainside generated via MidJourney AI](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/10/Eleanor_a_small_wall_in_the_middle_of_a_mountainside_750af5b9-6eee-4daa-9462-63330e1ce651.png)
Civil Mage: Chapter 5, Part 1
Irella meets a refugee on the road
![Painting of Iraqi woman wearing red damask robes via MidJourney AI](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/10/Eleanor_a_hyperrealistic_photorealistic_fantasy_character_portr_39d40442-01e2-4ba6-9c3c-656b9e22535e.png)
Civil Mage: Marna (2/2)
Irella discussions options with her mentor
![Civil Mage: Marna (2/2)](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/09/marna_temple_architect.png)
Civil Mage: Marna (1/2)
Irella arrives in Marna
![painting of canal towpath beside a walled cityvia Midjourney](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/09/marna-towpath-arrival.png)
Civil Mage: Memorial (3/3)
Irella receives a request
![Photo of wagon on mountain road by Ani Adigyozalyan on Unsplash](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/09/ani-adigyozalyan-vzbSVMqK73E-unsplash-1.jpg)
Civil Mage: Memorial (2/3)
Irella is sent north
![Civil Mage: Memorial (2/3)](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/09/character_art_leila.png)
Civil Mage: Memorial (1/3)
Irella finds an ally
![Civil Mage: Memorial (1/3)](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/09/monika-grabkowska-ZcbvLO536zU-unsplash-1.jpg)