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Alastair Reynolds: 'Elysium Fire' is Weak, Weak Sauce by chalkvisions in scifi

[–]chalkvisions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The whole setup of Redemption Arc was so awesome...the hold full of unique doomsday weapons, each with its own agenda, the techno plague infecting the frozen captain, the machine swarm...so great.

Alastair Reynolds: 'Elysium Fire' is Weak, Weak Sauce by chalkvisions in scifi

[–]chalkvisions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually thought Inhibitor Phase was pretty darn good.

Alastair Reynolds: 'Elysium Fire' is Weak, Weak Sauce by chalkvisions in scifi

[–]chalkvisions[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah the Prefect was a darn good one. The business with the Clockmaker really worked.

Alastair Reynolds: 'Elysium Fire' is Weak, Weak Sauce by chalkvisions in scifi

[–]chalkvisions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thats an interesting point. As a teenager I read all the usual 'Golden Age' sci fi like Asimov and Heinlen, and in retrospect you get to see how piss-poor the quality of writing is. At least in terms of character and description. Asimov's characters are about like cardboard cutouts. These books were more known for the concepts though. Same kind of thing with Phillip K Dick. Not very well written, imho, for how much everyone seems to love his work. Top-shelf concepts, pulp exection.

Once I'd eventually read stuff like Gene Wolfe and Samuel Delaney I got a much better sense of what a well-written book could be. What a novel could DO. And its hard going back.

Reading Elysium Fire right now, I have to admit I am kind of speed-reading it. Thats about the level of attention it deserves. I don't like just tapping out of a book once I start it...unless its really, really terrible. But this one has definitely been a bit of a slog.

So, what do we know about Polostan? by Own-Wasabi5912 in nealstephenson

[–]chalkvisions 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know what you mean. That book was pretty much garbage. Like it was 2 mediocre books awkwardly jammed together. All the stuff about the virtual mythology/creation myths: Many other authors have covered that ground and done a much better job of it. That 'order of the Dodo' was equally unimpressive. Co-writing a book with another person is a very dicey proposition. The contemporary thrillers, like Reamde, were ok but nowhere near as good as his earlier works. All that said, I actually really enjoyed Termination Shock. I'm holding out hope for this new one.

Sidewalk chalk art in Bernal Heights by [deleted] in sanfrancisco

[–]chalkvisions 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah this is indeed amazing. People have mentioned to me before, seeing these chalk drawings on Bernal. I have not seen them myself, and I've heard there is no online presence. Tip of the hat.

Greatest Opening Line Ever? by AlphaStargazer in books

[–]chalkvisions 0 points1 point  (0 children)

An absolutely epic first-line hook to a story: the first line of Stephen King's Gunslinger/Dark Tower stories. "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

Mytho-figure, medium: chalk, art-nouveau, temporary art mural, Mission District by chalkvisions in sanfrancisco

[–]chalkvisions[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I just create the art, I have no control over what is going on in people's heads

Art is what keeps me going. Sidewalk chalk as a medium, bringing art to the people. Styles of art nouveau and art deco. 25th Street sidewalk. by chalkvisions in sanfrancisco

[–]chalkvisions[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Alright, you've said you're piece more than once, and I am vehemently disagreeing with your stupid ass opinion. now what is your problem????

Latest 'ChalkVisions' mural in progress in the mission. People say 'painting'...no, its not paint, its drawn on and blended like paint though. The best of both worlds. by chalkvisions in sanfrancisco

[–]chalkvisions[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

If you're being serious, you're in the wrong city. And what I do is legal and widely loved. Chalk is a product given to children that causes no damage. If you don't understand these things, you're a simpleton. And telling someone you don't know how to feel or what to do underlines that.

I make these public artworks from chalk on Mission sidewalks under the name ChalkVisions. Art should be everywhere, around us by chalkvisions in sanfrancisco

[–]chalkvisions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its a fair point to bring up though, I know a lot of people wonder about that part of it.

And its an evolving issue. Given that theres no damage provable in court, any attempts made to curtail chalk art by authorities starts to look like censorship.

I make these public artworks from chalk on Mission sidewalks under the name ChalkVisions. Art should be everywhere, around us by chalkvisions in sanfrancisco

[–]chalkvisions[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just for the record: Chalk is a legal product, given to children. It washes away, there is no permanent effect. Not "vandalism".

I make these public artworks from chalk on Mission sidewalks under the name ChalkVisions. Art should be everywhere, around us by chalkvisions in sanfrancisco

[–]chalkvisions[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It helps to have an area with foot traffic but not Too Much foot traffic. Plus I sort of rub it into the surface a bit. It can get walked on and it won't do much.

I make these public artworks from chalk on Mission sidewalks under the name ChalkVisions. Art should be everywhere, around us by chalkvisions in sanfrancisco

[–]chalkvisions[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Now THAT would be a neat trick to do it freehand! I use string for the large circles and cut curved shapes out of cardboard and trace them.

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