BitLit

Neil Gaiman, xbox360, and the computer virus in my head

Neil Gaiman, who happens to be visiting the Rose O'Neill Literary House in April for a reading (a fact which has most of us here at the House stuck in happy awe, our normal preparatory tasks now being done while whistling, while singing to the birds), wrote, in his short story collection Smoke and Mirrors: "I don't play many computer games anymore. When I did, I noticed they tended to take up areas of my head. Blocks fell or little men ran and jumped behind my eyelids as I went to sleep. Mostly I'd lose, even when playing with my mind."

I've spent my scant free time of the past few months working to beat Bioware's Mass Effect on the xbox360, a device which was purchased after I somehow became quite good at shooting alien forces in the game Halo some years ago. It's not a talent you might expect me to have. When I play these videogames for too many hours straight, I dream about them at night. I fight the aliens, drive the tanks, strategize the missions. Game's like Mass Effect, which allow for cross-character conversation using a "conversation wheel" to assist you in choosing your attitude, a certain tact, and exactly what to say even end up imposing a conversation wheel over the images in my dreams, sometimes over my waking conversations as well!

And then I start to wonder - who is writing these conversational options? Who is plotting out these complex story lines? In Mass Effect, each planet that you visit - no small number of them - has a history, a geography, a geology - that you read about in a pop-up menu. In Eldar Scrolls: Oblivion, each one of those small books and scrolls - hundreds of them - that you pick up along the paths, in hidden rooms, on the tables in shops - have side stories that were written by...well, not by the computer programmers! Video games are a lot more than just 1's and 0's. There must be a few clever English majors and creative writers on staff....

What a fantastic career to have. Does anyone know anyone who does this for a living? They'd make a great guest at the Literary House!

A treat for those of you familiar with the woes of the conversation wheel: Ass Effect - "I must know more about these trays..."

KAB

Idiots'Fest 2008: Subscribers that Rock!

IDIOTS'FEST 2008: Subscribers that Rock is a two-day literature and music festival in celebration of the Idiots'Books subscribership. THE LIT HOUSE IS A SUBSCRIBER, SO YOU'RE ALL INVITED! Come see and hear authors, musicians, comics, idiots, and physicists. Come eat slow-cooked Virginia barbeque. Come see lovely, historic Chestertown Maryland in the dead of winter! Just come.

Visit the IDIOTS'FEST website!

GUESTS
Jim Shepard, Brian Slattery, Drew Bunting, Matthew Swanson, Robbi Behr, Brian Wecht, Rich Flynn, Aidan Shepard, Victor Wishna

SCHEDULE

Friday, Feb 15, Rose O'Neill Literary House 6:00-8:00pm
Robbi and Matthew read from their work while musicians Brian SlatteryDrew Bunting attempt to distract them with musical instruments
Drew Bunting and Brian Slattery play original and unoriginal music while singing and playing the following: guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and kazoo

Saturday, Feb 16
The Bookplate backroom, 112 South Cross Street, Chestertown, MD
2:30-5:30pm
Victor Wishna, stand-up comic stands up and acts comical
Robbi and Swanson read from their work while musicians contribute tones, both dulcet and jarring
Brian Slattery, author of Spaceman Blues: A Love Song, "rocks" his book while musicians Drew Bunting (guitar), Brian Wecht (keyboard, sax, and clarinet), Rich Flynn (bass), Aidan Shepard (percussion), and Matthew Swanson (harmonica) provide the score. Offensive to the eye and ear
Intermission: Brian Slattery and Victor Wishna will sign their books; also, the audience may rest
Dr. Brian A. Wecht, B.A., PhD., member of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, delivers a stirring lecture titled "String Theory for Idiots" which may involve musicians
Jim Shepard, novelist, short story writer, and finalist for the 2007 National Book Award in Fiction will appear before you. Perhaps he will read. Perhaps he will simply stand and stare. Regardless, you will be grateful to have been there

5:30-6:00
Jim Shepard will sign books for adoring fans and bitter enemies alike

6:00-7:00
Virginia barbeque-brisket, ribs, chicken, seafood, veggies; you will eat a lot and feel sick. $10 a head, $5 for WAC students!

7:00-10:00
The Reverend Drew Bunting and his backing band "Textual Healing" take you places that you have never been. Band members are Brian Wecht, Rich Flynn, Aidan Shepard, and Matthew Swanson