The Making of the Stonequest Series

In our world, the concept on a luminescent Aether was much popularized in the 19^th century by many physicists. The concept was still quite topical at the turn of the 20^th century and is featured in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel - The Poison Belt.

First postulated by Isaac Newton, the concept of an Aether located out in space was used to explain the propagation of light waves. Similar to how physical waves need water to propagate, and sound waves require air, the analogous concept was applied to light, claiming there must be a medium in order to transmit light waves. The idea that outer space was a vacuum eluded physicists for hundreds of years. Part of the reason for this lack of knowledge was the absence of any means of testing the Aether hypothesis. The famous thermodynamic theorist, James Clerk Maxwell, suggested that the absolute velocity of the Earth traveling through the Aether may be optically determined. With this inspiration, a careful experiment was conducted in 1887 by Michelson and Morley, which verified the null-hypothesis, determining that no such Aether exists. A meticulously derived interferometer was used, a giant marble block buoyed by a mercury fountain, providing unprecedented stability. The elaborate experiment is described in a watershed paper published in the American Journal of Science. The original is provided here as a reference:  michelson.pdf

In the Stonequest Series, the term Aether is used to define an alternate dimension, one which exists in the folds of our four-dimensional space time continuum. It is the place where beings of immense power dwell.

I describe the Aether as an associated dimension. The word was actually taken from a 19th century concept. It was once believed that the Earth passed through a medium as it orbited the sun. Because sound does not propagate in a vacuum, the physicists of the time were inclined to believe that light would not propagate in empty sapce either. This led them to conclude there must be some type of dark matter in space responsible for propagating light waves, hence, the Aether. I will include an excerpt taken from the glossary of the Stoneseekers. The main analysis of the Aether is reserved for the “Science” category of this weblog.

Story Definition of Aether - The dimension residing in the fine-texture of space-time known as quantum foam. A cosmic disaster allowed the two dimensions to communicate directly, the Realm and the Aether. Artificial wormhole technology was not required now, as great rifts allowed matter from the Aether to spill into the Realm. The energy and matter contaminated much of the land, affecting the indigenous life and ecology. Flora and fauna were infected or innocluated. This gave rise to horrible mutations in the cell lines of many species, including humans. The deites have dominion over part of the Aether and are able to dictate what form the matter takes.

These are some of my musings. Occasionally, I come up with a good one. Most often, they are just statements of the obvious. Many are, no doubt, degenerate, having already been made famous by others unbeknownst to me.

While writing the Stonequest, I continually come up with thoughts and ideas. I have about a dozen yellow adhesive notepads that proudly display my scrawlings. I feel it is very important to write down your thoughts when you have stumbled across gold, or even silver for that matter. In the past I would think of something in my bed at 3AM and say to myself: “I am sure I will remember it tomorrow,” only to forget the valuable thought. This does not necessarily have to do with REM sleep erasing the idea. Sometimes I am driving in my car, and I do my best to remember something, only to find it has somehow dissapeared by the time I get home. Because of this tendency, I always have plenty of notepads lying around the house.

I hope you enjoy my quotes and notes. Some are just thoughts and ideas, not even true quotes. Here they are in no particular order.

“The power to change is our greatest power.” March 4, 2007 11PM

“I have worked very hard to get where I am - I just don’t know where that is!” 6/10/2007 7:51 PM

“You know you are thinking passionately when you find yourself attempting to do mundane tasks and discovering that while you have been mentally focused you have already done them.”  July 2007

 ”That’s the problem with eclectic inspirations - everyone thinks they know where you are coming from.” 6/21/2007 10:46 PM

Why waste energy with hate?  - Such an unnecessary expenditure of energy. It is much easier to ignore someone - don’t give them your energy (analogy from Wing Chun Kung-fu) Why bother to hate people? Why not stop the cycle - leave the person isolated by ignoring them - don’t send them a computer virus.

Can you imagine if a supernatural being appeared and asked for your help. What would you do?

Scientists, fantasy purists, philosophers and theorists - All may enjoy my work!

Every good write strives to hold a mirror to human nature. Good writing reveals something about the human condition. In my effort I attempt to do this with the light from my modest candle. The result is the Stonequest. I hope I am able to make my readers happy for having invested in my work.

Government - continually forming - a dynamic process, democracy giving way to dictatorship, akin to the building up and breaking down of muscle fibers - path dependent, involving thermodynamic variables such as work and potential energy 

“The purpose of art is to share an expression.”

“Dialogue is the spice of writing.” April 26, 2007 9:35 PM

“Don’t be afraid to dream the impossible dream - there is always that one chance, and infinitesimal odds are better than no odds at all.”

“Just because you don’t know something doesn’t make it any less significant!”

“It is always the disenchanted intellectuals responsible for starting revolutions.”

“What is written without effort is read without pleasure.”  - Samuel Johnson

 There are some forces, which transcend heridity - Love is one of them.

I would describe my writing as possessed.

A difficult subject - how does the author know what to show?

And who are these critics? If they be men, then I will give them a self-image adjustment.

A man is regarded by the character of his actions.

“The only losers in life are those who go out of their way to hurt others.”

Motive does not always ensure culpability, nor its absence, innocence.

Why would a hermit care for reputation?

Bravado, a quality no self-respecting psychopath need be without.

Diction, not apparel, proclaims the man.

Flattery works - I know it works on me, I need to see if it can work for me.

This book audaciously claims to take the reader on an epic journey of discovery. Vicariously share the perils as Wolf and his team pursue ultimate truth. Why is it good to lead a just and honest life?

“Incompetent people always fear their subordinates.” July 6, 2007

When I was in high school I was Cape Ann League Champion in the 100 meters. I wanted to break 11 seconds so badly. Unforunately, the only thing I ended up breaking was my leg, which is another story. Graduating on crutches, the most difficult feature of my injury was being ranked number one in the Northern Area meet and not having the chance to compete. It is a good lesson - life has plans and they are often different than yours.

My last four races were 11.3, 11.2, 11.3 and 11.1 seconds. I know I could have broken eleven seconds. I was never challenged. It is funny that way. Some years you have 3 or 4 athletes in the state who can run 10.8 seconds. Other years there are none. I was forunate -  for two years I did not have overwhelming competition.

I went to college at UMass and ran on the track team. I was never as fast as I was in high school. It was just not the same anyway. I was not expected to win. We had the best of the best on the team. It was daunting - the Maryland 100m champion in the blocks next to me, the NJ champion on the other side. If I ran my best time ever, it would just be a mediocre performance for them. Nevertheless, I am glad I went out for the team, not for personal glory or achievement, but for the people I met. It is strange but the people I still talk to today are from my original 4×100 relay team. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet these high calibre individuals. At the time I never imagined we would stay in touch. Since college I have been pleasantly surprised, talking to two of them fairly regularly. The captain of the team was three years ahead of me. We met up years later through a chance encounter, and we started lifting together. It was fun. I learned a lot about physical training. Without his influence I would never have pursued ametuer body-building, a hobby I very much enjoy.

Well, this has been sort of a meandering entry; however, this is a weblog, and is meant to be free-flowing and fun!

Please share with me any accomplishments you have or feel proud of. I would love to hear of them.

Dave

Woo hoooo! Finally! This happened on June 1, 2007

yay.doc

 Created by Adam Taylor

The stones are eponymously named, representing one of the fifteen deities. They reflect the most dominant trait motivating each, the emotion epitomized by the powerful being inspiring its design. When held, there is a risk of sympathy transference, whereby the weilder may unconciously embrace the ways of the patron deity. The stones also carry a unique power.

The cover for the Stoneseekers is presented below.

PASSION BY THE PORTALS

A new drama coming this fall to PCD-TV
Blackking: Ok team, I know our world has changed but we must stay brave. Remember Smokes’ brother Johnny!

Type: Yeah…he died.

Violet: Well that’s not very inspiring.

Blackking: Enough, you are supposed to be fired up! Forget it, PCD….ATTACK!

*PCD storms the battlefield*

Static Xball: Let’s keep this knight safe.

Void Knight: Oh is that a draft? Ohh it’s too cold! (loses 10hp)

Smokesup: Shut the doors!

Void Knight: Do you have to yell so loud! (loses 20 hp)

Static Xball: He is gonna die, do something Smokes!

*Smoke crams a lobbie down his throat*

Void knight: I’m…I’m….allergic to seafood…(loses 50 hp)

Smokesup: Nooooooooooooooo!

Void knight: Not….so…..loud….hey, do you have a claritin D? My allergies are….so much pollen here….

Type: I am just gonna dance and run around

Static Xball: No, he is sensitive to dancing, oh and you better take off that phat too.

Smokesup: This is crazy, this guy is a wimp! Time to take drastic action!

*Takes out a Smokes brand homemade brownie, crams it in knight’s mouth*

Void knight: Ohhh that’s pretty tasty…ohhh I feel better, my sinuses don’t hurt no more.

Type: What did you do to him Smokes?

Smokesup: Don’t worry about it.

Void knight: Can somebody put on some Pink Floyd? I love that band!

Static Xball: Wow he stopped complaining! Good job Smokes!

Void knight: Dudes…you guys are like…awesome… I just want to tell you, you are like saving my life and stuff…woah…did you ever just look at the ocean, I mean…really just look at it? It is like…HUGE!

Smokesup: Oh boy, just keep closing them buddy, I will take you to 7-11 later if you do.

Void knight: Sweet! Brownies for everyone!

*Portals finally close*

Blackking: We did it! PCD FTW! Great job guys! Guys!?

*The knight, Smokes, Type, and Static are all staring at the ocean*

Blackking: Guys?! Hello?!

Smokesup #106

Pest Control Destroyers is a clan dedicated to achieving great success in the Pest-Control mini-game on Runescape. There will be a few clan related items posted here.

Thanks.

 Blackking714 ( #10)  Second in Command

Ty Cat for your words. Yes, I was hired to dance, but I cannot say by whom. I did not accept payment for my performance, can you charge the sun for its light, or the heavens for their stars?

So many people were fighting in the ring, i felt we should have a non violent alternative entertainment. How did I learn to dance so good? It was by beating….the Dance Dragon……

Smokesup and the Dance Dungeon.

By Smokesup

I have heard it said there was once an adventurer by the name of Smokesup, for he could dance so fast, it was said smoke could be seen coming from his feet. As good as he was, he yearned to be better. One day at a pub in Varrock, he heard a drunken dwarf tell a tale about a “Dance Dungeon.” He bought the dwarf some ales and found out as much as he could.

Setting out in his new hot air balloon, Smokesup set off on his journey. After many days of travel, he saw the entrance to the dance dungeon high atop the icy mountains to the north. Landing his balloon, Smokesup bravely entered the cave. He fought many strange creatures, tapdancing treeslugs, headbanging hippos, and mambo mammals. He outdanced them all until finally he came to a giant gate. He opened it up and walked in when he heard a booming voice.

“Who dares to disturb the dance dragon?” Smokesup was shocked to see a jet black dragon with a sparkly cape and fancy boots on. Smokesup explained who he was and that he was there to learn all he could about dancing. The dragon snorted, and said that if Smokesup could outdance him, he would give him his dance cape and boots. Smokesup agreed and the dance off began!

The dragon started off with a foxtrot, and began going faster. Smokesup matched him, step for step. The dragon then started doing a four legged moonwalk and bounced on his tail. Smokesup matched him, and added a spin. The dragon was getting worried and decided to get serious. He shot out some flames towards the ceiling, and a giant disco ball lit up. The dragon began dancing at level 85, pulling out all his best moves. He finished with a floor slide, panting, and sneered at Smokesup. “Beat that!” he laughed

Smokesup did not flinch. He drank a special dance potion, (Red bull, kwarm, and dancing spider eggs) and got on the cave floor. He began with a spin, the chains on his dragon chain rattling away. He got on his head, and spun like a top, casting fire and ice spells all around. The cave lit up with the energy of Smokesup’s dance moves. He started doing the headbang move, holding a pickaxe in his hand, the force of his blows caused sparks to shoot up from the ore he was hitting, causing flames to erupt on the cave floor. Dancing among the fire, Smokes was surrounded by smoke. He spun and spun, taking in all the flames and smoke into a giant flame tornado! He was now dancing at level 99, but he could only sustain that power for a short time. In a final burst of rhythm and talent, Smokesup rose up off the floor into the center of the flame tornado, grabbed the disco ball, and smashed it into a million pieces on the floor. The cave was lit up with thousands of tiny pieces of the mirrored ball.

The dragon was speechless, and knew he had been beaten. With a sigh, he removed his dancing cape and boots, and handed them over to Smokesup. Smokesup returned to his balloon with his newfound treasures, and set off for more dance challenges. He had won this dance off, but he knew there were even better dancers out there.