News from my Journey to Chaos! (June 2021)

 Hello Fans and the general Internet,

I felt it was necessary to make a general update on the progress of my upcoming novels. Part of this is because it has been several years since I have published something. Another part is because there is a lot of stuff to cover. The third part is because I have published nothing here, on this blog, except for book reviews for quite some time, and that was annoying me. 

So! Update. 

Number 1

The fifth book of the Journey to Chaos series is currently titled "The Highest Power". I am poised to start the fifth draft soon, probably in July or August at the latest. I basically rewrote the story in the fourth draft. I had to rewrite it three times in order to get a result that I liked. Because I made so many changes, I will most likely get a beta reader after I read through the fifth draft. After I receive feedback, I will start the sixth draft. Assuming that draft goes well, I can go into more technical polishing and then send it to my editor for the pre-publishing process. It may or may not be published this year. You will know when I get close because A.) I will tell you here or somewhere and B.) I'm planning on doing a bigger advertising push than I did for "Transcending Limitations". 

Number 2

What will definitely get published this year is a much shorter work,  a prequel to Journey to Chaos. It is a collection of short stories focusing on Journey to Chaos major characters: Nolien, Tiza, Basilard, Annala and Kallen. What were they up to before Eric arrived on Tariatla? These stories are the answer to that question. 

I have finished the second draft. It is about 50 pages right now. I will have someone beta-read it, and then begin the third draft. After that, assuming all goes well, I can begin the pre-publishing process. Hopefully, it will be enough to tide over Journey to Chaos fans while I finish the final book in that series. 

Number 3

Finally, the first book in my new series. I have not named it yet. Rather, I don't want to reveal the name yet. I think it is a superstitious thing. Anyway, I am working on the second draft (counting from draft zero) right now. If I do not finish this draft sometime in the next month then I will take a break from it to continue working on the final two Journey to Chaos projects. 

This is a more long-term project. After I finish the current draft, I will let it lay fallow for a bit and work on something else. Then, after I finish the third draft (counting from draft zero), I will send it out for beta reading. Somewhere in this process, I will announce what I will call this new series and this book in particular. 

Thank you for your patience. I endeavor to craft stories worthy of it. 

Brian Wilkerson is a independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).

His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.

Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior (read for enlightenment)

This is a incredible book. It is just what I was looking for. I had searched for a book on Tae Known Do history and philosophy for some time before finding this one. All I had found was stuff about competitions, the World Tae Known Do Association rather than the art itself, and even stuff about the business opportunity involved in opening a dojo. It was depressing. Then I found this book.

This book is about the art itself. It talks about the techniques, and the forms, and the other physical aspects, but only so far as they relate to the mental and spiritual aspects. That is where the art is. The physical nature of Tae Known Do is only a manifestation of the mental and spiritual aspects. It is thanks to this book that I can finally, sincerely, believe that.

I have a black belt in Tae Known Do, 1st degree, which is the lowest ranked black belt. After over a decade of attending classes from two dojos, I had little knowledge of the mental and spiritual aspects. Those aspects were not taught, referenced, or alluded to in the classes that I attended, neither the all-belts version nor the advance version. I did not seek them out, so I didn't notice at first. Over time, however, it began to distress me.

I started to think that the whole point of this practice was for tournaments. Not for belt promotion, self-defense, or personal growth, but for winning medals in tournaments. I was not a competitive guy; wining medals in tournaments was not my goal. I mean no disrespect to anyone who takes pride in tournament competition, or finds meaning and fulfillment in tournament preparation. For me, personally, it wasn't something that inspired me. I wanted to use the physical practice to develop as an individual; competing against oneself, so to speak.

This book helped me to do that. It contains all the stuff that I wished I was taught in the classes. I would have liked to have attended Master Cook's classes, because they sound like the full package of physical, mental and spiritual conditioning. 

1. This book speaks of the history of Tae Known Do: where it came from, who started it, why they practiced it, and how the development of personal virtue merged with the development of fighting ability.

2. This book speaks of the distinction between "martial sport" and "martial art", and how a given dojo might give more weight to one or the other. It advises that a perspective student should examine a particular dojo and evaluate if it is the variety that they want to invest their time and energy (and, of course, their money). The book is respectful to both, though I feel Master Cook gives the impression that too much emphasis on "martial sport" can lead to students missing out on the majority of the art itself.

3. This book speaks of the value of Tae Known Do in every day life, and every day situations that do not include physical fighting. There is a chapter that is bookended with three such situations, where only one of them involves any physical fighting. 

4. This book speaks of the role of a mentor in guiding students through their development as martial artists. In particular, it speaks of instructors who are worthy of being called a "mentor", and those who have no interest in truly teaching anyone, seeking only payment for classes.

5. This book goes into detail about the Tenants of Tae Known Do: Courtesy, Integrity, Preservice, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit. I memorized these when I was a kid attending classes, but I didn't understand what they meant at the time (frankly speaking, neither in regards to the martial art or in general). This book explains what they mean in context of the martial art.

It is through Master Cook's book that I gained a deeper appreciation of my art. I was able to recognize, in hindsight, that the dojo  I attended, particularly the second one, were more the "martial sport" sort of dojo. I was never going to find the "martial art" aspect that I was looking for at that second dojo because that was not its focus. That's fine. 

Seriously, it's fine. It was a matter of contrasting expectations. I recall other black belts at the second dojo who excelled at "martial sport". At the time, they took practice and training more seriously than I did, so they were the better martial artists.  I found what I was looking for in this book.

This is not a "how to punch/kick/block" sort of Tae Known Do book. This is book for those who want to know /more/ than how to do all of that. It can teach you the mental and spiritual aspects that underpin the kicking, punching and blocking. 

Trickster Eric Novels gives Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior A+

Click here for my next book review: Pendragon's Heir (book 1)

Click here for my previous book review: So I'm a Spider So What - light novel 1

Brian Wilkerson is a independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).

His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.

So I'm a Spider So What - light novel 1

By now, I've read this series' manga version volumes 1 and 2 as well as light novel volume 1. I have also watched the parts of the anime that this light novel volume covers. It must say, all three mediums are a different experience. Previously, when I viewed these three mediums for other stories (such as Rising of the Shield Hero)  I have found one medium to be totally outdone by one or both of the others. Not so here. All three mediums for So I'm a Spider So What are different experiences. 

This particular review is going to focus on the light novel, with compare/contrast with the comparable manga volumes and anime episodes. 

The light novel, on which both the manga and the anime are based, contains more information than the other two mediums. I was surprised to see the human-side story after reading the manga. I was like, "where did these characters come from"? That is because the manga omits the human side chapters that the light novel covers. This has pros and cons. 

The pro is that it focuses on Kumoko's life in the Great Elroe Labyrinth, and thus creates a more streamlined narrative. The con is that a lot of exposition is removed from the narrative, and this can leave the reader as confused as Kumoko to her new situation. This can be seen as a pro as well, because it enables the reader to get deeper into Kumoko's perspective, but it gives the impression that she is alone in this new world and that the focus of the story is some kind of ontological mystery. That is not the case.  

Also, manga-only readers will be in for narrative-whiplash when Kumoko leaves the labyrinth and meets up with the human-side characters. See, Kumoko's actions have been influencing events outside the Labyrinth and outside of her perception, and so manga-only readers will not see these events taking place like they would if they read the light novel. Furthermore, they will not understand quite as much about the world. The purpose, as I understand it, of the early human-side chapters is to provide context and world building, such as what the deal is about the Appraisal skill, why Kumoko is born with skill points, and certain foreshadowing about The System. 

As for the light novel itself, I very much enjoyed reading it even though I knew what was going to happen, at least in Kumoko's side of the story. The three mediums give emphasis to different events and different subjects. So while I knew what would happen, the presentation of what happens is still enjoyable. 

The anime does not include any of the human-side chapters from the first light novel, but presents them all at once, presumably adapting from a latter scene. I imagine this lack of individual focus is why Kumoko stands out all the more, since she is alone for the first several episodes. The light novel introduces the human-side characters one at a time, which provides opportunity for them to build their own personalities separate from each other. For a good while, Shun's whole situation as a prince in a palace is used to contrast Kumoko's time as a spider in a dungeon. 

Kumoko's internal monologue is charming and engaging. It is fun to read, and insightful for her personality and mood. In fact, I'd say this type of first-person narration is the best style of first person narration that I have ever read. That is not an exaggeration or hyperbole. 

When I usually read first-person narration, I have to practice suspension of disbelief in order get around the fact that this protagonist/narrator is thinking in the format of a novel, with grammar and paragraphs and stuff. Sometimes, the author uses a frame narrative like a journal or letters. That helps with the suspension of disbelief. No such thing is needed here.

 What we have are Kumoko's thoughts as she thinks them, in the form of dialogue. Locations are described to the reader as her impressions of them, and battles are described as her own thoughts as to what to do or reactions to what her opponent has done. So it doesn't sound self-conscious or unnatural at all.  

Trickster Eric Novels gives " So I'm a Spider So What - light novel volume 1" an A+

Click here for my next book review: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior

Click here for my previous book review:   New York Times article - Brain Health

Brian Wilkerson is a independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).

His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.