Peter Hodges » Random Ramblings

Updates to the site

Pete — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 02:49:22 +0000

The pending submissions page and the 2011 reading list page are both updated.

Most of my online activity is Twitter-based: @peterhodges, but keep watching this space for new posts.

Fringe Gets Awesome Again

Pete — Tue, 03 May 2011 02:32:50 +0000

Whoa. Seriously, whoa.

The Very Definition of Epic

Pete — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 02:31:13 +0000

Link courtesy of GK.

My new music discovery…

Pete — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 02:26:20 +0000

Here’s a band called Within Temptation out of Denmark. They sound like Evanescence with heavy Dream Theater influences. Take a gander at one of their songs backed by a full orchestra:

Four Chord Song

Pete — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 02:57:42 +0000

In case you didn’t see this when it went viral a while back, I just came across it again. I love what these guys do by taking four chords and doing a ton of pop hits.

Language NSFW in the intro.

Falling Skies

Pete — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:28:53 +0000

Well, helloooo new science fiction drama I was unaware of.

The Wise Man’s Fear…

Pete — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 03:42:00 +0000

…is beyond awesome. It does start a little slow with too much time at the University, but Pat Rothfuss’ lyricism is as spellbinding as the first book. I’m literally reading every spare minute (and then re-reading when I come across such brilliant phrasing).

As much as I like the other giants in fantasy right now, no one holds a candle to Pat’s ability to grab me by the neck and immerse me into a story.

Review to follow soon.

________________
Currently listening to:
“Crawling” – Linkin Park

Currently sitting:
In the blue chair, with my iPad

Why I live in Texas…

Pete — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 03:12:14 +0000

Texas legislation proposes felony charges for TSA agents.

Beautiful!

________________
Currently listening to:
Nothing

Currently sitting:
On the toilet, with my iPad

The Vagaries of the Muse

Pete — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 04:08:48 +0000

I write in spurts and fits; I have months where my productivity rivals “professional writers,” and then I have a period of time where I write nothing. In fact, last spring/summer, I wrote an entire novel (Blood and Stone), but wrote almost nothing except short stories since. And unfortunately for me, they weren’t very good.

But I’m starting to get the bug again. I have ideas floating and circulating in my head, so it’s time to get them on the page and see how far we can get in the next few weeks. I have the constant struggle to re-write my first completed novel (a mil-sci-fi piece). I have a strong start on a science fiction story about a traveling menagerie that doubles as cadre for intelligence agencies, and a re-imagining of the conquering of Canaan by the Israelites with fantasy sensibilities. (Think about it–marching around the walls of Jericho seven times just begs for magic…or good siege miners.)

We’ll see how it goes.

_________________
Currently listening to:
“Faceless” – Red

Currently sitting:
On the brown couch

Down for the count

Pete — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 21:17:34 +0000

I was down pretty much all week with viral meningitis; when I was back in the saddle yesterday, I think I overextended myself and have now suffered a relapse–the bad headache and stiff neck is back, and this time, they brought friends.

The good thing about this is that it gave me some sit-still time to finish Sanderson’s massive tome The Way of Kings. I found the ending for two of the character arcs to be a little too predictable, but the resolution of others was pure genius. I’ll talk about it more when I’ve reflected on the book a little more. In short, though, if you’re looking for a new fantasy epic, this is it.