Remember when I recently suggested you read an excerpt of the novella “Legion” by Brandon Sanderson? Well, Dragonmount is now offering a DRM-free electronic version of “Legion” for $2.99. Considering that the physical copies of “Legion” (courtesy of Subterranean Press) are a little pricey, this is a steal.
Just in case you are unfamiliar with “Legion,” here is the summary provided on tor.com:
Stephen Leeds, AKA “Legion,” is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his “aspects” are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society.
C’mon, who doesn’t want a little Brandon Sanderson to read on their commute? I think this will be a perfect little appetizer before you get to check out the final volume of The Eye of the World saga by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.
Now, if an 88-page Brandon Sanderson novella is a bit too long for you, maybe an article by Warren Ellis (twitter) is more your speed? In case you are unfamiliar with Warren Ellis, well, let’s take a look at what Wikipedia has to say about him:
Warren Girard Ellis (born February 16, 1968) is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes (most notably nanotechnology, cryonics, mind transfer, and human enhancement).
In other words, he’s smart, creative, and his viewpoint will bend your brain–in a good way. This article in particular is a good one. It’s about realizing that there are wonderful, amazing, cutting-edge things happening on this planet and others every day. By being more aware of our present, Warren Ellis argues, we can more easily/accurately/creatively predict our future. This should be required reading for al writers. Be sure to check out his description of Mons Olympus on Mars.
And if you need other things around you to think about, well a GINORMOUS solar filament just erupted from the sun. It was as big across as the distance between Earth and the Moon! Second, amateur astronomers were able to spot a possible impact on Jupiter. Not the pros, amateurs. We do indeed live in the future.