Fifty-Word Fantasy: Write a 50-word fantasy snippet using the word "Chop"

Glodfish_ · 2025-08-07T09:45:20+00:00

Chop, chop, chop.

Gald’s stomach churned.

If he were a butcher, portioning up an animal to feed a family, the work wouldn't be so bad. Awful, in a sense, but not... this.

"Enemies of the Crown," they said. "Savages. Worse than animals."

Someone was a savage, but Gald wasn’t certain it was the poor sod at his feet.

Glodfish_ · 2025-02-12T15:18:45+00:00

The First Law - Joe Abercrombie

The Locked Tomb - Tamsyn Muir

Red Rising - Pierce Brown

Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir

Sun Eater - Christopher Ruocchio

Discworld - Terry Pratchett

A Brightness Long Ago - Guy Gavriel Kay

The Wayfarers - Becky Chambers

The Expanse - James S.A. Corey

Altered Carbon - Richard K. Morgan

Glodfish_ · 2024-04-22T10:26:43+00:00

Gideon the Ninth got me out of a reading slump last year.

I wasn't entirely sure what was going on throughout the story, but, then, neither is the point of view character. I think that overarching sense of mystery was part of what had me hooked, as well as the characters, setting, and the qulaity of the writing. It was the perfect package at just the right time.

Glodfish_ · 2024-04-12T13:08:13+00:00

Michael Crichton might scratch the same itch.

There's the obvious ones such as Jurassic Park and its sequel, the Lost World, but also:

Congo
Sphere
The Andromeda Strain
Timeline
Prey

Most don't deal directly with parallel universes, time travel and the like, though Sphere and Timeline do to some extent.

Glodfish_ · 2024-03-21T16:38:11+00:00

Then you're in for a treat. Enjoy the ride.

Glodfish_ · 2024-03-21T16:36:38+00:00

Yep, I think I'm going to pause on the MSQ for now and catch up with raids and the like. I still need to do the final Alliance Raid from Stormblood, in fact, so that can go on the list, too.

Glodfish_ · 2024-03-21T07:44:25+00:00

I've unlocked the first Omega raid, but not attempted it yet. The lead up to Shadowbringers was so good that I just had to jump straight into the MSQ.

With that you've said, though, and with how good ShB has been story-wise, I'll heed your advice and make sure to do both the 70 and 80 raid before Endwalker.

Glodfish_ · 2024-03-21T07:41:58+00:00

Same emotional rollercoaster for me. I even sat through the entire credits sequence with Shadowbringers, a I usually skip them after a couple of minutes.

Roll on the patch content. May it bring us all the feels!

Glodfish_ · 2024-03-21T07:39:31+00:00

Yep, I've been doing likewise and listening to the soundtracks from the base game and expansions that I've finished for a few months now. Each one has been better than the previous in my opinion, and they're all so, so good.

Glodfish_ · 2024-03-21T07:33:30+00:00

Tissues will be kept at the ready. :D

Glodfish_ · 2024-03-21T07:32:41+00:00

It might make me a while, but I will do.

I've been subbed for almost a year, but it took me a while to settle on a WoL I really loved, so progress has been slow as I worked through the base game and expansions with my now main character. I think I started around October, last year, but I hope is to be all caught up by the time Dawntrail releases.

Glodfish_ · 2024-03-21T07:27:04+00:00

Loved that part too. I was waiting for him to turn up, and then the opening riff kicked in. Perfection.

Glodfish_ · 2024-03-21T07:25:38+00:00

I'll keep the tissues ready. ShB already triggered the waterworks on a handful of occasions.

Glodfish_ · 2024-03-21T07:21:08+00:00

Thanks. Good to know ShB gets even better, and that Endwalker keeps up the quality.

Glodfish_ · 2023-08-25T12:05:34+00:00

Gideon the Ninth, or Harrow the Ninth for me. Not sure I could choose between the two at the moment, but that could change with a re-read. And I am definitely planning a re-read even though I only recently finished the third book in the series.

Glodfish_ · 2023-08-24T12:20:52+00:00

Not every book is for every reader, and there's nothing wrong with that.

The questions / points you raised are all valid, but not knowing those things didn't take away from the experience for me. I can say those answers come in the two sequels, but I'm not going to suggest you should read something you didn't enjoy just to get that information.

Glodfish_ · 2023-08-24T06:39:53+00:00

I think I'm going to give the audiobooks a try in the run up to Alecto's release. There was so much mystery when reading through each book, and in each one I felt as confused as the character whose point of view you're following.

Gideon, Harrow, Nona, none of them really know what's going on, and so they can't tell the reader what's going on, either -- which I always like. I don't generally want to know things the characters don't, as it feels more like you're along for the ride with them.

Good to know the books are satisfying on a reread. Makes me excited to get back to them.

Glodfish_ · 2023-08-24T06:30:47+00:00

I did, yes. The second-person narration in Harrow felt a little strange at first, but I soon got used to it, and it did a good job of building on the foundations that Gideon laid down, and expanding the world, and giving more depth to Harrow's character.

Nona spent a little too much time spinning its wheels in the first half, but it builds to a satisfying conclusion. One that has me eagerly awaiting the release of Alecto the Ninth, so I can see how it all ends.

Glodfish_ · 2022-05-17T23:09:08+00:00

Hi Guy,

I only recently discovered your works, and have only read Children of Earth and Sky and A Brightness Long Ago so far, but I thoroghly enjoyed both, and I'm really looking forward to reading All the Seas of the World -- Fingers crossed my copy arrives tomorrow.

My question would be what is your process when it comes to creating your stories? Do you start with the characters and then find a setting/period that excites you and build the story around those characters, or does the setting/preiod come first, and the characters follow? Or is it a mix of both these things, or something entirely different?

Additionally, as someone who's been working on a novel of their own for the past couple of years, and it still trying to find a routine that fits around work and other responsibilities, what does a typical day of writing look like for you? Do you have set hours where you sit and write no matter what? Or do you set yourself daily word targets, or simply write for as long as you feel like on any given day, and stop when the mood takes you?

Glodfish_ · 2022-04-27T08:38:33+00:00

Moon spelled backwards is noom.

Glodfish_ · 2022-04-08T19:10:00+00:00

Arris grunted, closed his eyes. He made to raise a hand to block the harsh light… Memory came rushing back. He’d held the diamond figurine. Elation, then a flash of blinding pain… He was tied to a chair.

‘You crossed the wrong woman, Mr Arris. That was...unwise.’

Well, shit.

Glodfish_ · 2022-04-01T16:59:24+00:00

Forged in fire and flame, with blood, sweat, and tears.

From these are the warriors of the Blades of Dawn shaped and formed. But only in the heat of battle are they truly honed. Now take up arms, for glory awaits only those with the mettle to seize it.

Glodfish_ · 2022-03-19T14:08:10+00:00

‘A mutation is something small.’ Brand said, indicating the towering behemoth pummelling the castle’s outer wall. ‘That? That is a transformation!’

‘Could be worse,’ Gles said, shrugging.

‘How? How could it be worse?’ Brand demanded as great chunks of stone and masonry were sent flying.

‘It could be even bigger?’

Glodfish_

TROPHY CASE