Author: glowleaf

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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Slow Up

The novel Slow Up has a lot of things going on. While knowing these is not a necessity in enjoying the story, a deep background in the possible technologies and techniques involved will make it a much better read.

10. Rapid Serial Visual Representation

Can you read it?

It’s a speed-reading trick where text is parced into single point. Some speed readers like it, others do not.

Here’s an online tool to try it out.

9. Most of the IT Scenes Are Inspired by my Own Job at Wind Telecommunications HQ

Most of the tickets came in at a frantic pace, just like in the novel.

The scenes have nothing to do with real persons and situations. But the feeling of an uphill battle, that Sisyphean task of fixing hundreds of computers every day is there in Galene’s job.

8. For More on Nootropics, Check Out Reddit

Nootropics are real and have measurable effects. If you want to try them out, consult an expert. There is a lot of info online, but don’t push yourself too hard. Again, consult a doctor, not the marketing brochure.

Nothing is like the movie Limitless of course, that was a magic pill with insane powers. Real nootropics help you focus, help with creativity, memory.

Read up about Nootropics on Reddit.

7. Polyphasic Sleep is Real But You Should Take it Slow

 

Going directly at Uberman will most probably make you a zombieman.

We’ve all heard about geniuses who simply skipped sleep like Leonardo Da Vinci. That is not actually possible, of course, they only took short naps, powernaps as they call them now, to help their brain recharge.

My opinion is that getting good sleep is more important that gaining a few drowsy hours. I’ve seen that sleep deprivation cuts down on creative thinking. And there are serious medical risks involved.

Again, Reddit has a nice beginner library on polyphasic sleep.

6. The Cybathlon is a Sports Event for Augmented People Where Doping and Pushing the Limits is Kind of the Whole Point

Credits: Angel Giuffria, Bionic Actress. Cybathlon. The Spartan Race. Oscar Pistorius.

The logical next step in athletic events is to have augmented races. Some augmentations actually give an advantage over other athletes, like in swimming. Especially with world-powers sending out troops at stupid wars and having young veterans come back disabled all the time, the day where augmentations are common-place is today.

The Cybathlon is not quite an Olympic-level event yet. But it showcases what can be done, and it won’t be long before augmented athletes can compete side-by-side with regular ones, like Pistorius did in the Summer Olympics of 2012. Yes, we know what he did afterwards, that’s not the point.

You can watch the scene mentioned by Gregoris in the novel, where the winner shows unprecedented evgenis amilla (fair game spirit) and swaps out his number with Oscar’s so he can be the winner:

5. Humans With Amplified Intelligence Could Be More Powerful Than AI

Artificial intelligence is all well and good, but there are those who believe that we can expand the limits of our intellect and reach amazing levels.

Frankly, a merge of mind and machine where a trained user can hook up and amplify his intelligence for short amounts of time is what we consider most plausible.

Another archetype of this is the Mentat from Dune. Human Computers that crave information and can help with decisions.

Wacky hair is a must

From David Lynch’s Dune, we got the Mentat Mantra (It’s not from the Frank Herbert novels but fits so well it got adopted instantly):

It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the juice of sapho that thoughts acquire speed,
the lips acquire stains, the stains become a warning.
It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.

And now you’ll say it too.

4. Mean Girls is a Must Watch

Mean Girls quotes can be applied to any situation

Nuff said. Watch it.

3. Unlike Wanted’s Turning Bullets, Turning Arrows Are Real

It seems crazy but it’s true. An expert archer can shoot turning arrows around corners.

2. You Can Speed up Online Videos, Audiobooks and Video Files for Faster Input

It might seem weird at first, but the mind adapts very quickly.

Here are some tools with pitch correction:

Chrome plugin for online videos.

Video file speed control with VLC

Audible Narration speed control

1. The Tech is Real: Artificial Wombs

It looks adorable. The real-live version, not so much.

External wombs are being researched and seem to work just fine. There are many real medical conditions where external wombs would be suitable. Of course, that opens up a can of worms, since humans could be raised from prime genetic material without people knowing. It’s almost like a dystopian sci-fi story.

Slow Up is Available to Read Now

Limitless meets Black Mirror in this novel that pushes the limits of a couple’s minds.

When Galene meets a man who’s only goal in life is to make his mind go faster, she ends up falling for him. But will she manage to keep the relationship going at the top of the glass tower, when in reality she’s too much of a slob and is bogged down with all her unfinished goals, when their age difference becomes too much of a problem, and when his work places them in the sights of an unforgiving huntress?

Do you want to know what’s next for the computer geek Galene? Do you wanna meet Artemis? Then read this bittersweet story in a world where thinking too swiftly can get you killed.

Read Slow Up
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Here are the Black Friday Deals, Whatever That is

When your corporate overlord tells you to post something, you post it. We got an email basically saying, promote this, or else. We don’t really wanna know how many delivery drones will fall on our heads if we don’t comply.

So here are the Black Friday Deals, running from November 17 till 26.

I have no idea what Black Friday is. Is it like Garfield’s Mondays or something? No? Never mind.

What can you get?

If you’re in the USA:

Click here to get to the deals page.

Or if you’re in the UK:

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Stephen Fry’s Long Awaited Mythos Is Finally Here

We have no affiliation with either Mr. Fry or the publisher.

I simply waited for this retelling for so long. If you can’t remember where you know Stephen Fry from, it’s from the Harry Potter audiobooks. Or the dozen shows on BBC.

Intelligent, witty, provocative, I simply love most of his work. And with this book, he definitely takes the scepter of Mythographer of the Year.

What? What about Neil Gaiman and his Norse Mythology? Who fucking cares?

And the Mythos book is out and it only costs…

$30 FUCKING DOLLARS with European taxes.

Thank you, Penguin publishing house. Screw you for being utterly clueless about this century.

I’ll buy it, but simply because I’m a fan of Mr. Fry.

Let’s listen to a Greek myth in 60 seconds cause I’m angry now:

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Shop Directly From Us!

We have a shop, where you can browse or buy our stories directly from us.

Read. Whispersync. The wonders of technology. Then get cyberpunked.

You can pay with Paypal or just with any card through Paypal payment gateway. You will get downloadable files in these formats:

  • .Mobi
  • .PDF
  • .ePub

This is a list of the story categories currently available:

We actually prefer that you buy from the major retailers, cause that gets the algorithms rolling. But for various reasons we have the same stories available on our site.

In the future, we will offer variant covers that will not be available on any retailer.

Regarding Kindle Unlimited titles: We are experimenting with KU distribution. That, called Kindle Select, has an exclusivity clause that prevents us from even selling on our own site. Only Amazon stores are allowed. We generally don’t like that but as soon as the titles shift out of select we will update the products here.

We now accept cryptocurrency. Complete your checkout as normal, and you can choose from Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum or Monero. Send us an email at [email protected] after sending payment to verify the transaction and get your files.
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Your Shelves Are Looking a Bit… Non Bendy. Let’s Fix That

A proper reader’s shelf needs to look like this:

No, not Russian. Bendy.

If the shelf isn’t squealing under all that weight, you’re doing it wrong. That’s why we’ve brought you a massive paperback giveaway.

You can sign up here at SFF Book Bonanza.

Win 52 Sci-Fi & Fantasy paperbacks. Escape to another world for an entire year and enjoy this whopping collection of novels, from classics and bestsellers to new reads.

The giveaway starts at Nov 1 and ends at Jan 31. Sign up for a chance to win one of these epic reads:

  • The Human Division, by John Scalzi. Mother frickin awesome. I suggested that one, just read it. Fall in love with the B team.
  • Robert Jordan. Meh, TLDR.
  • Michael Crichton. Should be a good thriller.
  • Star Wars. If you’re into the EU.
  • The Book of Lost Tales. J.R.R. Tolkien. Posthumous publication. It’s worth being on your shelf. Not really dying for it, but I’d want to rifle through it’s pages. Sniff them. My preciousss.
  • Good Omens. Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Quite good. Falls flat at the climax, though. Will be made into a series starring David Tennant. Read it before it premieres. For hipsterism.
  • The Martian, Andy Weir. So fucking good.
  • Hunters of Dune. Another Dune novel? Meh.
  • Fall of Hyperion. As much as I like Dan Simmons, I can’t stand Hyperion. “We are of the cruciform. We are…” Bleh.
  • We Are Legion (We Are Bob). Dennis Taylor. SO FUCKING GOOD. Read the whole trilogy.
  • Steelheart. Brandon Sanderson. Read it. Read it. Read the whole trilogy, it’s the perfect trilogy.
  • Ready Player One. Nostalgia fueled crap. Can’t stand it.
  • The Handmaid’s Tale. Margaret Atwood. In my TBR pile, want to read it.
  • Three Body Problem. In my TBR.
  • Jim Butcher, Aeronaut’s Windlass. So. Many. Fucking. Cats. Watch as a beloved bestselling author turns into a crazy cat lady.
  • Brandon Sanderson, Way of Kings. Just read it. No, don’t mind the word count. Trust me. I’m Stormblessed.
  • Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Classic. Must have.
  • Magicians. HAS to be better than the stupid series. It has to be. Now I’m curious.
  • A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. George R.R. Martin. No idea, haven’t gotten around to the first tomes yet.
  • The Book of Dust. Everybody seems to be talking about this. At least that’s what they do in my social media echo chamber.
  • And a bunch of other novels I don’t know about. But you can win them.

Share it with your reading buddies. Only the ones you actually like, though.

My Shelf Is Too Light Indeed

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Cover Reveal: Slow Up (Available Now)

How Fast Can You Think?

Limitless meets Black Mirror in this novel that pushes the limits of a couple’s minds.

When Galene meets a man who’s only goal in life is to make his mind go faster, she ends up falling for him. But will she manage to keep the relationship going at the top of the glass tower, when in reality she’s too much of a slob and is bogged down with all her unfinished goals, when their age difference becomes too much of a problem, and when his work places them in the sights of an unforgiving huntress?

Do you want to know what’s next for the computer geek Galene? Do you wanna meet Artemis? Then read this bittersweet story in a world where thinking too swiftly can get you killed.

You can start reading the ebook right now on Amazon and get a discount at $2.99 (from $4.99)

Get this on on Amazon USGet this on Amazon UK

This story is in the same series of Crying Over Spilt Light, our divisive but unforgettable story with an android Muse.

While it doesn’t contain the same characters or situations, it’s in the same world and there’s another Muse from the same corporation that meddles with things. We playfully call this series “Hire a Muse.” So this is book 2.

Now available on Amazon, we give you the chance to get a copy at a discount. Cause we love you. Click the buttons and tell your friends.

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What a Scary Little Mask You Have There. I Hope it Comes Off in the Morning

We don’t actually celebrate Halloween here in Greece. But, in a clear case of culture seepage from Hollywood, we do have Halloween parties!

Tap to accept the mask

Even though we don’t actually have a festival of the dead, the roots of such celebrations are from the ancient Anthesteria, which was a 3-day festival honouring Dionysos. On the third day, the Feast of Pots, cooked meat and fruit were left outside for the souls of the dead. No one dared touched them, they weren’t for the living. And when the day ended, they called out loud for the spirits to begone, that the Anthesteria was over.

In modern times, the only thing close to trick or treating is kids going for Christmas Carols. And we dress up in our Carnival, or Mardi Gras, which is another Dionysian leftover. People dress up in either silly or scary costumes during that celebration.

So yeah, we don’t actually have Halloween but there has been cultural cross-pollination, and we do have scary events and parties on October 31st. Any excuse for a party, really.

But the trick or treating is left to the ghosts.

Here’s a short story set in the God Complex Universe. It takes place on Halloween night, at a party, in Athens.

Wear the mask. It will come off in the morning

When a young man from a village comes to the big city to study, he finds himself overwhelmed by the urban lifestyle. But will he manage to blend in by going to a Halloween party, when his crush asks him to help decorate the place, when the abandoned villa becomes all too spooky for him and when the illusory masks everyone wears seem to never come off?

Get Spooky on Amazon US Get Spooky on Amazon UK

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Follow me on Amazon and Get Nagged by Them Too!

I need you to do some clicking, it will only take a second.

Follow once, get tormented for eternity. Now, where have I heard that one before?

Is it done? Come on, it’s two clicks. It’s a nifty way to get all the new releases we’ve got lined up, you’re already missing out, you know.

Done?

Nice.

You can go now.

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Do You Miss Old-School Science Fiction? Then Check Out These Little Beauties

There’s a project out there, that is quite interesting. Future Fiction translates sci-fi stories from selected authors around the world and makes them available in English (And Italian, apparently).

Finding the books on Amazon is a mess, to be honest. You can start with a search on Kindle here. Or you can buy directly from the Future Fiction website.

The one I want to point out to you is the one containing two excellent shorts by my mentor, Michalis Manolios. Mentor is a strong word when you’ve had as many beers together as we’ve had, but it’s accurate. I think it was 2010, maybe 2009 when he read my stories, pushed me forward and told me I could do this, and do it well. I was fascinated with fantasy back then, but my true calling has been science fiction apparently. I shifted towards sci-fi and I honed my craft every year. The results seem to be good, as shown by reader reactions and sales numbers.

So, Michalis has two of his best short stories translated into English. They are not my favourite but they are definitely good. The stories in that Greek collection are pretty mindblowing, and these two fit the bill. Aethra and Quantum Mommy.

Read this now


I Wanna Get My Mind Blown

The rest of the volumes are either a single novella or two short stories from authors around the world. It’s a shame that we don’t have access to these stories, and that’s what I like about Future Fiction, they bring these unreachable gems to English, thus making them available to us. Some authors you’ve never heard of, naturally, others are quite well known in their countries.

Everything in the collection has the feel of old-school sci-fi, like the books I have in my bookcase. The covers, the stories, the atmosphere is a way to go back to that time when science fiction showed us what was possible instead of just shoving dystopian warnings at us. Which I’m guilty of, obviously.

Check out some of the volumes:

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The 3rd ΦantastiCon Event in Athens Was Memorable And Full of Zombies

Athens is becoming an important stop in the worldwide fantasy event circuit. This year, we had guest visitor Kate Madison, who’s made an indie series called “Ren – The Girl With the Mark.”

The cosplay competition was extremely fun and very popular. Here are some indicative pics, for the whole gallery from CosplayersGR click here.

And we had the author Ioanna Bourazopoulou, who has been translated in English and won awards for her novel “What Lot’s Wife Saw.” Here’s where you can get copies on Amazon US and UK:

There were plenty of other stuff, mostly in Greek of course. Check out the convention’s English page here and contact them in case you want to take part next year. The visitors gobble up English content like there’s no tomorrow, stuff like Saga comic volumes, memorabilia, Chibi figures and whatever sort of loot you might peddle.

To end this article, here’s Sci-fi author Judith Blish getting eaten by a zombie. Um, guys, maybe we should be taking better care of legendary writers, especially now that Star Trek is cool again? Guys? Anybody left alive?