Devil in the Microscope is now on Audible!
Want a little mad science and skullduggery in your ear holes? Check out the audio version of my book! It’s great!
https://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/Devil-in-the-Microscope-Audiobook/B07D5LGZ7Z
Presenting is my new awesome!
Excited to be a part of the 2018 LUW Spring Conference!
https://www.leagueofutahwriters.com/copy-of-spring-conference
The Monster I Wish I’d Created
This past weekend, I was a presenter and panelist at LTUE (Life the Universe and Everything Symposium). Among other events, I was on a panel about monsters, and I thought I would write a few of my thoughts down.
First off, I love me some monsters. I’m a huge fan of the Universal Monsters movies of old. I love zombie stories. I love creepy imagery with subtlety. I love tragic monsters that don’t want to be villains or monstrous. Still, it is their nature to be so.
So, I thought I would share some of my favorite monsters. First up, as a content creator, this is the reaction your monsters should evoke.
If you can pull that off, you’re winning. The monster is from Orphan Black:
Helena is one of my favorite monsters. She isn’t quite a human monsters in the traditional sense of say Hannibal Lecter. She’s the monster you hope is on your side, one capable of anything and you just have to direct her against the bad guys. Helena exhibits one of the traits that monsters give you when you are creating content. They allow you to surprise your audience. Oh, so many ways to surprise them. In this scene from Orphan Black, Helena is wearing a wedding dress covered in blood. She looks creepy and has a knife. She just killed the man that had Sarah tied up. What is she going to do? Is Sarah next? Based on the horror on Sarah’s face, she thinks terrible things are going to happen?
But…
She hugs her, instead. Surprise!
At the panel, we were asked what monster we wished we’d created. I went with the Shadow King from the TV show Legion, but not this face:
Terrifying yes. But it is supposed to be frightening. I could point to this:
I figure this wouldn’t be quite as fantastic without Aubry Plaza in the role, as she brings everything to this face of the monster, so I could hardly hope to claim credit to a masterpiece such as this. So, the face of the Shadow King that I found they creepiest is the Angriest Boy in the World:
It starts out as just a drawing in a children’s book, a disturbing book, sure. But then we see it in the wild, and it chases us:
That is the monster I wish I had created. So awesome!
My LTUE Schedule for 2018
Here is where you can find me at the Life, the Universe, and Everything Symposium on February 15-17, 2018. Here’s a link to my class and panel schedule. Here’s a rundown:
I’ve attended LTUE a lot over the years, and the whole experience is fabulous. Now, I’ve achieved my goal and am sitting on the other side of the table as an instructor and panelist. I can’t wait to share my take on this writing adventure!
My first LTUE appearance
Nearly one year ago, I sat in the audience at Life, the Universe & Everything Symposium. I vowed then that next year I would be on the other side of those tables, sharing my own thoughts and vision on writing, monsters, science fiction, and fantasy. Well, I made it!
I will keep you updated on all the times I’ll be presenting as the schedule is finalized.
About LTUE
Life, the Universe, & Everything: The Marion K. “Doc” Smith Symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy is a three-day academic symposium on all aspects of science fiction and fantasy. I attended my first LTUE as a kid for the board games aspect, but I slunk away from my brothers and hit the writing panels. LTUE is chocked full of panels and presentations on writing, art, literature, film, and gaming. The focus is on speculative fiction, but the writing advice shared is well worth the small price tag for any writer. This convention is a must attend for any aspiring writer near Utah.
All the Podcasts…
Over the last two months, I’ve been on three podcasts talking about writing, mad science, and my book, Devil in the Microscope. In case you missed them, here are the links. Thanks to all of the hosts for being awesome and for listening to me ramble about stuff that I love. I had fun at each one.
Dungeon Crawlers Radio
I talked with the awesome DCR crew about the choices I made writing Devil in the Microscope, including why I chose a teen girl as a protagonist, why my story takes place in Florida, and why I chose mad science as a backdrop. They had excellent questions and were entertaining.
http://www.dungeoncrawlersradio.com/episodes/episode-the-devil-in-the-microscope
StoryHack Podcast
Bryce and I had a great conversation about all the fun stuff I love: board games, mad scientists, writing, and my book. Bryce is also a writer and runs the StoryHack magazine. Check it out.
Writescast
r. r. campbell has a great voice and a excellent format in his podcast. He grilled me on my mad science and science fiction in general. We discussed whether the science in science fiction needed to be realistic and accurate or whether it is better to treat it like magic.
And if you not sick of listening to my sultry voice, you can also head over to Meeple Nation to listen to me gush about all the awesome board game action.
Meeple Nation
May I recommend episode 177. We talk about mechanics and themes that we are suckers for in a board game.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/meeple-nation/id884682903
Was Doctor Poison a Great Mad Scientist?
I loved the Wonder Woman movie. It was nearly perfect for the level of entertainment it provided me. I loved Chris Pine and the talented supporting cast, especially Lucy Davis as Etta. But ultimately, the movie had to sink or swim based on Gal Gadot, and she was amazing at every moment. The villains were great as well, for the most part.
The one thing that didn’t impress me was the mad scientist, Doctor Poison. In spite of a nickname too on the nose, Isabel Maru had a classic mad scientist look with an implied tragic back story. She could have been great, but in the end, the writer’s failed her.
Spoiler Warning: I’m going to spoil some stuff.
Isabel was a Spanish chemist recruited by General Erich Ludendorff to create chemical weapons for the German army. At first she seemed a master of her own fate, creating the evil of her heart. We soon see her as a lapdog to the General, at the mercy to his will and whim. Even worse, we find out that she hadn’t even developed the poison of her own doing, instead having the menace spoon fed to her by Ares. To top it all off, she seems almost swayed by Chris Pine’s charming face and perfect accent, making her seem a foolish girl instead of the powerhouse she could have been.
She served the greater plot, which is the fate of most supporting villains, which is unfortunate in a movie celebrating woman power it all its marvelous glory. Still worse is her fate at the end, a pawn in Ares’ plan to tempt Diana. He gives Diana a chance to kill Isable for her crimes. Diana of course has pity on the good doctor, realizing that killing isn’t the answer, but love and sacrifice for others is what will heal the world and end the war.
So, in the end, Isabel is a mere pawn in a game of immortals, which was highly disappointing to me. She had agency to act on Ares’ whispering, which made her an evil person. She did horrible things, murdering countless people. She should have had agency in her demise, for good or evil, instead of being a plot point in the conflict of the hero and villain.
A slight blemish in a fantastic film.
It’s alive. It’s alive!
Devil in the Microscope is alive and out into the world. I hope you have as much fun following Anika’s science fantasy adventures as I did when writing it.
Read more reviews on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35718498-devil-in-the-microscope#other_reviews
Here’s a highlight:
Buy the Kindle version on Amazon right now. The print copy will go up for sale in a few days.
Thanks to Immortal Works for believing in my creation, and to everyone who helped in the process of bringing my book to live.
I hope you like it.
My author page at Immortal Works Press and Goodreads
Here are some awesome links:
My author page: http://www.immortal-works.com/ryan-decaria/
Immortal Works: http://www.immortal-works.com/
My Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17039448.Ryan_Decaria
Devil in the Microscope on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35718498-devil-in-the-microscope
If you use Goodreads, please Follow me and mark Devil in the Microscope as a Want to Read!
Thanks!