Stories Matter
There is no truer gauge of a man’s character than the way in which he employs his strength, his power.
Storm Front
Power, like money, magnifies.
Give a saint power and she will change the world for the better. Give it to a demon and watch the world burn.
It has been said many times in many ways, but to understand a person, pay attention to their actions. Words and intent aren’t without value, but true character is revealed in the actions one takes, day in and day out.
What we thought of as personality was no more than the passing shape of one of the waves in front of me.
Altered Carbon
Identity is a fascinating concept. So much of our lives, especially when we are younger, revolves around the questions of who we are and who we want to be. Many hours of my teenage life were spent agonizing over the answers to such questions.
And yet identity and personality are fluid. My teenage self would hardly recognize the person I’ve become today. Change is a part of who we are. Life demands no less. We are subtly different people with every passing hour, shaped by experiences both recognized and not.
I can’t deny the importance of identity, but at the same time, perhaps we hold on too tightly to the concept.
I was to bring peace to souls, and to do so without judgment. This I have done.
Itkovian, Memories of Ice
Itkovian has quickly become one of the most interesting characters in the Malazan series, books filled to the brim with fascinating people. He fulfills the role of shield anvil, a mortal tasked with caring for the souls of the dead.
Most impressively, he does so ‘without judgment.’ This is seen in the book as he embraces the souls of those who have done great evil. He carries their burdens himself.
What might a shield anvil look like today?
“They’ve had a long time to think,” Paran murmured. “Sometimes, that’s all that’s needed. The heart of wisdom is tolerance, I think.”
Ganoes Paran, Memories of Ice
I’m currently nearing the end of Memories of Ice, and if the ending is anything like the rest of the book, I believe it will be one of my favorite books of the year.
One recurring theme in the book (albeit minor) is how immortals view the world differently than mortals. Immortals have the benefit of time, of being able to stand back from the crush of daily responsibilities. Thousands of years changes one’s perspective.
It’s a message we all could use. It’s easy to become reactive, to be overwhelmed by the stress of a single day, to be carried away by the minutiae.
But if we can take a step back and take a long view, we realize more of what actually matters to us.
Sometimes it’s the fiction that saves us.
Bad Things by Jasper Tripp
I’m going to be announcing a new project soon, one that I’m really excited about. It’s a project born of an idea, a belief that I’ve held subconsciously for years now.
The belief is simple enough: Stories have the power to change our lives.
Stories shape the way we look at the world.
They make us laugh, cry, and stay up all night in pure terror.
Sometimes subtle, sometimes dramatic, stories get under our skin. They break through our rational shields and strike straight at our emotions.
And sometimes they can save our lives.