Dammmmm.....

Why can't I write stuff like that?

I mean, what is wrong with me?

It seems that I am constantly struggling with my writing. I have so many ideas in my head, but when it comes to putting them down on paper, I just can't seem to find the right words.

I often feel frustrated and inadequate, wondering if there is something fundamentally wrong with my ability to express myself.

Maybe I need to practice more, read more, or seek out some help and guidance.

But for now, I'm just left feeling confused and a little bit lost.

I hope that one day, I'll be able to write with ease and confidence, and express myself in a way that others can understand and appreciate.

Until then, I'll keep trying and hoping for the best.

I quite liked it. Some more than others. I was expecting something a bit more lively or with more action. But most of them were deep stories with existential questions. I liked them just the same. Some bored me a little bit. George's writing style I really love. It catches you and invites you to read.

What I'm most looking forward to is the second volume of these books, "Night Travelers". I'll see how it is

George R. R. Martin's collection of short science fiction stories is a typical mix. Martin's prose is clearly above the ordinary standard, especially for that era in the early 70s. However, this cannot hide the suspicious nature of some of the stories in this collection. Nevertheless, the main story, "A Song for Lya," is quite good. Lya, a telepath, and her partner Robb, who can read emotions, are sent to the main city of the planet Shkeen to solve a problem that the human colony has with the native population. The Shkeen have existed for 14,000 years without evolving and practice a mysterious cult that was initially just a novelty for the colonists. But it has also begun to claim humans, and the governor of the colony, Valcarenghi, wants to know why. What the two discover will change their relationship forever.

Whether through drugs, the senses, dreams, or technology, many books such as Robert Silverberg's "Time of Changes," John Varley's "The Persistence of Vision," Ursula Le Guin's "The Word for World Is Forest," Joe Haldeman's "Forever Peace," and many others examine the concept of a communal mind. Based on emotion and spirit, "A Song for Lya" is Martin's version of the concept. By examining the idea of giving the mind and body to a larger community, the author shows that not all are dragons and vampires.

The rest of the collection is rather average: neither particularly good nor especially bad. But it is worth reading to see the starting point of GRRM.

The book really charmed me. It is composed of several very good short stories.

Almost all of the stories have a rather fatalistic or ugly conclusion. Most of the stories talk a lot about emotions such as loneliness, nostalgia, or fear. Others discuss alien religions as in the case of the story that gives the book its name. Most of the stories are very interesting and leave you with things to think about, like even if we are with someone, we still feel lonely inside.

I love the author's writing style. I admire how he details a scene or landscape as he does in the first story "The Fog Comes in the Morning" and the way he develops characters even in short stories where they don't have a deep development.

I loved all the stories, but the ones I enjoyed the most were: "For Just One Yesterday", a very melancholy story that touched me deeply, talking about the nostalgia for people and the world before it was destroyed; "The Fog Comes in the Morning", a very beautiful story that shows that sometimes unanswered questions give magic to places as in the case of the so-called planet of ghosts; "That Other Kind of Loneliness", which is the diary of a person working alone in a stellar ring. I can't say more to avoid spoiling, except that it talks about the inner demons in each of us; and "The Black Darkness of the Tunnels", the story that ends the book, short, which shows us the encounter between a pair of humans after a war that wiped out everything and they had to leave the planet. One of them is a survivor who stayed on Earth and the other an explorer, narrating their different points of view.

Martin is one of the best authors who knows how to create kingdoms and cities, whether on planet Earth or in other galaxies.

He loves each anthology, and the cosmic details are original and open the imagination to a possible future. He also knew how to dissect the aspects, thoughts, and emotional experiences of humans and other beings.

Review on the Blog:

https://bosquedeliteratura.blogspot.c...

Martin's works are truly captivating. His ability to construct entire worlds, complete with their own unique cultures, architectures, and social systems, is truly remarkable. Whether it's a bustling metropolis on a distant planet or a secluded kingdom hidden away in a forgotten corner of the universe, Martin makes each place come alive with vivid descriptions and rich details.

Moreover, his exploration of the human psyche and the emotions that drive us is equally profound. He delves deep into the hearts and minds of his characters, revealing their hopes, fears, loves, and hates in a way that is both relatable and thought-provoking.

If you're a fan of science fiction or fantasy, or simply looking for a great read, then I highly recommend checking out Martin's anthologies. You won't be disappointed.

Au matin tombe la brume

It presents a beautiful new idea, highly nostalgic, suggesting that science inevitably destroys mystery and thus poetry.

Il y a solitude et solitude

This is a story of solitude for a lighthouse keeper beyond Pluto. Although not completely predictable, the ending is still rather foreseeable. And since the style is just average, well, it results in a not-so-great new story.

Pour une poignée de volutoines

It's yet another story that is quite classical in both essence and form, but with an intriguing element: the presence of rather eerie remotely controlled corpses. That being said, the story is rather well-written, and it's not a story with a predictable ending, which I tend to prefer.

Le Héros

This text is clearly marked by the end of the Vietnam War (the text dates back to 1969). Today, the end is perfectly foreseeable.

L'Éclaireur

It's yet another extremely foreseeable new story: the return to Earth, after the reduction in the radiation rate related to "the catastrophe" of scientists who come to look for traces of human life. The scout they meet clearly does not meet their desires...

VSL

Hmm... I have no memory at all.

La Sortie de San Breta

It's a story of ghost cars that would have had its place in the fourth dimension.

Diaporama

Again, I have no memory at all.

Une chason pour Lya

However, I have a very clear memory of this long story that not only gives its title to the collection but also justifies its literary existence. Let me explain...

An administrator of an earthly trading post on a distant planet asks the help of two telepaths to understand the local religion, which drives all the individuals of the planet and some earthlings to unite with a parasite that will eventually kill them. This union turns out to be, in a way, a door to a mystical, even divine union.

Through this story, the author manages in an amazing way to question the deeply solipsistic nature of the world. Let me explain: for one of the telepaths, Lya, it is impossible to truly know another through language and even through telepathy: each mind is composed of an infinite number of superimposed layers, which means that we never see the totality of the other. Therefore, of course, we can never truly understand the other.

Except when he is inhabited by this parasite: in this case, each one reveals himself fully with in addition an unconditional and total love for each other.

Of course, this deeply disturbs the telepaths. And not just them, actually.

I myself have also wondered if I really knew the person sleeping next to me (and of course the answer was no). Fortunately, unlike the people who want "transparency", I have the impression of being able to tolerate opacity well. Well, I think. In any case, this story has at least allowed me to question myself on the subject, which is already good in itself. No, wait, not good. If I had only done that, effectively, it would have been good.

No, what I did was that I trembled with the main character when understanding in which direction Lya was going (even though it was perfectly foreseeable). I suffered with him from this split. I really became one with him, once again realizing the only true talent of Martin: to put us each time in the shoes of his characters. It is a reduced talent, apparently, but which he possesses in a way that I have rarely seen elsewhere.

Should I still recommend you to read this collection? I don't know. What I know is that this song will haunt me for a long time.

In those early weeks, I didn't have much time for walks in the forest, except on the days when I joined the search teams. Most of my time was spent writing.

I wrote a series of articles about the history of the planet, focusing on the accounts of the most well-known appearances. I made portraits of the most picturesque members of the expedition. I wrote an article about Sanders and the problems he encountered and overcame when building the Castle in the Clouds. I wrote scientific articles about the very few known ecosystems of the planet. I wrote poetic articles about forests and mountains. I wrote speculative articles about ruins. I wrote about the hunting of mountain cats and about climbing on peaks and about the huge and dangerous swamp salamanders that live on some islands near the shore.

And, of course, I wrote about Dubowski and his searches. About him I wrote volumes.

Martin's works describe not only the desolate post-apocalyptic worlds but also the advanced future countries and distant dimensions with strange life forms and unimaginable rules of being. However, his heroes are united by an (above)ground longing to understand the meaning of life and find the divine principle that gives order to the universe or to themselves. Here, in just a few pages for each story, Martin proves how skillful a storyteller he is and all the strange, absurd, and perverse things he can create in his imagination. This is not another "Game of Thrones," and as far as the epic and the genre of the text are concerned, it is a mosaic of lives and stories - connected by philosophy, psychology, faith, and above all, the desperate unfulfillment of one's own existence. The sad atmosphere of absolute isolation, the feeling of being the only rational being in the universe, alternates with the anticipation of revealing the mystery, with the compulsion to attach meaning to all phenomena, which leads to the destruction of individual knowledge and subjective truth. And Martin, on every centimeter of the written page, silently asks - is progress in science and the exploration of worlds a synonym for the mental and moral progress of man - are we getting to the core or moving away from it?

It is this profound exploration and thought-provoking nature that make Martin's works so captivating and unique. They not only transport us to different and奇幻的realms but also force us to reflect on our own existence and the direction in which we are headed. Whether we are ready to face the answers or not, Martin's stories continue to challenge and inspire us.

I believe that we also need mystery, poetry, and romance. I believe that we need to have some questions without answers that worry us and amaze us.

The past is as real as the present, you know? And when the present is inhospitable and empty, the future is even more so. Then, the only sensible thing is to live in the past.

This is a compilation of 9 science fiction stories where we will travel through space and visit planets, moons, or galaxies millions of kilometers away and we will not only meet these humans who sometimes have certain abilities but also beings who are so different physically and emotionally.

Each story is governed by these characteristics but each story has its own characters and events that range from human exploration to wars of conquest.

My favorite stories are:

"Una canción para Lya", a story that gives the name to the book in which 2 telepaths are sent to discover why the Shkeen people worship the greeshka, a parasite that consumes them little by little.

"El héroe", Kagen is a soldier, born and raised as one on a planet called Wellington but now he wants to retire and live on the planet he has defended but does not know.

"And seven times I say: you shall not kill a man", the Jaenshi are a peaceful people but when the Steel Angels arrive they will destroy everything that is important to them and neKron, a merchant, hopes that they can defend their ideals.

"Esa otra clase de soledad", told in the form of a diary, a crew member finds himself alone in a stellar ring which will make him think about his past and what he desires in his present but it is possible that he is losing his mind after being alone for 4 years.

"La negra oscuridad de los túneles", after a catastrophe, the humans who have lived on the moon return to Earth in search of survivors but what they will find will be the evolution of the ancient humans.

And thus one remembers why the fat one is so good at writing his books. Maybe it's because he has a unique perspective on life, having experienced more than others due to his size. Or perhaps it's his vivid imagination that allows him to create worlds and characters that come alive on the page.

He might also have a natural talent for storytelling, able to captivate readers with his words and keep them engaged from beginning to end.

Whatever the reason, there's no denying that the fat one's books are a joy to read. They offer a glimpse into a different world, one that is full of adventure, mystery, and excitement.

Whether you're a fan of fiction or non-fiction, there's sure to be a book by the fat one that will appeal to you. So the next time you're looking for a good read, don't forget to check out his work.

My Review:

I recently came across an interesting blog post titled "Reseña: Una canción para Lya de George R." on the website https://caballerodelarbolsonriente.bl....

The post seems to be a review of a song called "Una canción para Lya" by George R. It piqued my curiosity as I am always interested in exploring new music and different perspectives on it.

I'm looking forward to delving deeper into the blog post to see what the author has to say about the song, its lyrics, melody, and overall impact. Maybe I'll discover a new favorite song or gain some new insights into the world of music.

Stay tuned as I continue to explore this review and share my thoughts with you.

This is one of those rare reads that truly leaves you speechless, unable to find the right words to talk about it for a time.

It has that certain something that grabs hold of you and doesn't let go, captivating your attention from the very first page.

The story, the characters, the writing - all of it combines to create an experience that is both unique and unforgettable.

Maybe it's the way the author weaves the plot, or the depth of the emotions that are portrayed.

Whatever it is, it has left a lasting impression on me.

Perhaps I will be able to give a more real and detailed review at a future date, once I've had more time to process and reflect on what I've read.

But for now, all I can say is that this is a book that you don't want to miss.

It's a gem that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.