Odyssey 500

The short story genre is one that is thriving – but only in certain places. Where are they?

A short story can be roughly defined as any work of fiction below about 12,000 words. A greater wordcount tends to move the story into the realms of the ‘Novella’ or Novelette’, a niche in the writing field that falls between the short story and the full-blown novel.

For many years the short story was a thriving branch of fiction but took a downturn during the middle section of the 20th. century. More publishers began to favour the novel as, understandably, they saw that a novel gave them more chance of turning a profit than a short story and, at the pinnacle, could be turned into a Hollywood blockbuster. But consider this – several short stories have been been the basis for not only movies but (oddly enough) a spin-off book! Perhaps the best known is ‘The Sentinel’ by Arthur C. Clarke. This went on to become one of the most famous films ever – ‘2001, A Space Odyssey’ – and then the book of the same name was written!

It’s interesting to note that, these days, one genre where the short story is thriving is in science fiction and fantasy. Magazines such as ‘The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction’ are still going strong after better than fifty years, whilst ezines such as ‘Interzone’ represent the new wave. If there’s one area a new writer can compete in, it’s the Sci-Fi or Fantasy short story.

If , however, you’re not the least bit interested – or capable – or writing within the Sci-Fi or Fantasy field, what is there left to you? Well, a great area for short story writers to work in is within the field of magazines for women. Some of these have readerships in the millions and most exceed circualtions of 100,000. That’s an awful lot of exposure for any writer! In fact, most novelists would consider their latest book a huge success if they sold copies in those sort of numbers.

Short story writing is also a great discipline for a writer. Often written to a strict wordcount, and for a very discriminating audience, any writer will benefit from writing short stories – they encourage tight plotting, good character development and real attention to detail. Indeed, many short story writers have said that the experience they gained in the short story field was of huge value when they came to write longer work.

There is also a category of writer who writes only short stories. Again in the Sci-Fi field, Isaac Asimov is remembered for his famous ‘Robot’ books (the recent film ‘I Robot’ was based on his work), but his most prolific writing was in the short story field, in which he wrote literally hundreds of short stories, not only in Sci-Fi but also Crime and Mystery – his ‘Black Widowers’ stories being amongst the most fascinating ever written in the field.

These areas – Sci-fi/fantasy and women’s magazines – are then two major areas where short stories are not only holding on but are in fact thriving. If you want experience in writing and to see your name in print, they are a good way of achieving the status of ‘published author’. That’s not to say they are easy markets – competition can be fierce. However, they have been for many years the entrance level for many authors and there’s no reason you cannot follow in their footsteps.

With a rich history that extends back at least 3000 years, Tahiti has been a prized possession of conquerors, particularly Europeans, over the centuries. Despite the advances of uninvited visitors, however, Tahitians cultural heritage remains strong and helps define this tropical gem.

Although historians surmise that Tahiti was first discovered and inhabited as far back as 1000 B.C., it was not until the early 16th century that European explorers happened upon it.

Great Britain and France tangled over the country in the 18th century. In the mid 19th century, King Pomare V, whose family presided over a Tahitian political dynasty, relinquished control of the islands to France, which reconstituted Tahiti as an overseas territory dubbed French Polynesia in 1957. Today, Tahiti is considered a French Overseas Country with self governing powers.

Modern day Tahitians trace their rich cultural heritage back to their Maohi ancestors, the Hui Arii. In addition to Tahitian folklore of colorful myths and legends, ancient Tahiti had a highly developed hierarchy of social and religious chiefs, well defined customs, a complicated code of court etiquette, sophisticated dances and drama, and high standards of craftsmanship.

Many of these cultural traditions are alive and well today. Tahitian dance and music are testaments to the strength and resiliency of local culture. Accompanied by traditional instruments such as drums and conch shells, Tahitian dance, called tamure, has been linked to many different aspects of life here since ancient times.

In fact, Tahitians have used this art form over the centuries to welcome a visitor, pray, challenge an enemy, and even seduce a mate. Modern Tahitian music is popular around the world, blending Polynesian rhythm with Western melodies.

The skills of ancestral Tahitian artisans are considered sacred and passed along from generation to generation by mamas guardians of tradition and matriarchs of Tahitian society and craftsmen themselves. Foremost among this traditional artistry is tapa, dyed cloth made from the bark of young trees. Local craftsmen are also skilled at creating wooden tiki sculptures, carvings, and bowls; hand dyed pareu; and quilts.

Large, open air sanctuaries known as marae were once the center of power in ancient Polynesia. These stone religious sites, similar to temples, hosted important events, such as worshipping, peace treaties, war celebrations, and the commencement of voyages to distant lands. Although many Tahitians now attend church, maraes can still be found throughout the area.

Heiva i Tahiti is the greatest Polynesian cultural event in the world, a celebration of ancient traditions and competitions from late June to late July that has been the most important event in Tahiti for more than a century.

Tahitians from many different islands gather in Papeete, the Tahitian capital, to display their crafts and compete in traditional sporting and musical events. If you are lucky enough to be in Tahiti during the event, locals will likely encourage you to join the celebration.

The word tattoo originated in Tahiti, taken from the original word, tatau. The legend of Tohu, the god of tattoo, describes painting all the oceans fish in colors and patterns. In Polynesian culture, detailed, intricate tattoos have long been considered signs of beauty and were once an important symbol of the rite of passage into adolescence.

Polynesians once journeyed through the vast Pacific Ocean aboard massive double-hulled outrigger canoes called tipairua, using stars as navigational guides to create new civilizations. Today, tipairuas continue to play an important role in everyday Tahitian life and are honored in colorful races and festivals.

Finally, what would a society steeped in cultural traditions be without its own unique variety of food? Tahiti is renowned for its fresh fish and exotic fruits and vegetables prepared with Polynesian influence and a touch of French flair.

A few popular Tahitian dishes are poisson cru, raw fish marinated with lime juice and soaked in coconut milk; chevreffes, or freshwater shrimp; and poe, sweet pudding made of taro root flavored with banana, vanilla, papaya, or pumpkin and topped with coconut milk the ultimate Tahitian dessert.

A fun, festive way to sample Tahitian cuisine is by attending a tamaaraa, a celebration featuring native fish, pork, and chicken dishes, as well as traditional Polynesian singing and dancing.

In years gone past video game villains were over the top caricatures of film villains. Often portrayed as a psychopath bent on world domination for whatever reasons, these villains would give the game a reason for being, you played the hero and you must save the world from the villain. As time has passed and the technology used for computer games has come on so too have the characterisation and portrayal of villains into something more akin to their film brethren. In this article I will take a look at some of my favourite video game villains and explain what made them so great.

The G-Man from the Half Life series of games is one of the most iconic villains ever to make an appearance in a game. He takes the appearance of a tall, thin man in a cheap suit, much like a government employee. His qualities are similar to that of the Cigarette Smoking Man from the X-Files TV series. You’re never quite sure of his motives, at times he directly helps you and at others he will hinder your progress. He can often be seen observing the players actions and will talk to you in a cryptic fashion.

Uncertainty is what makes the G-Man such a great villain. You’re uncertain of his motives, his identity, his allegiances, his power and whether or not he is human. He gives the player numerous Hobson’s choices, where you must decide between two seemingly unfavourable options. He remains perfectly calm in times of seemingly high danger so you’re left wondering if all that goes on is entirely down to his plans. Even after two full games and many expansions you’re still left with very little information about the G-Man, and it is this sense of foreboding and uncertainty that makes him such a great character.

A completely unemotional AI is always an engaging villain, just see films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and the Matrix as examples. The thought of an entity that has absolutely no remorse or mercy can be genuinely scary, and when Valve added a dash of dark humour to their incarnation in 2007 they created an instant classic. GLaDOS was the star of Portal. A sentient AI that seemed genuinely unhinged she would constantly tease you throughout the course of the game. She provided a slew of memorable quotations and an unforgettable final battle. While not intrinsically evil it shows that computer villains can be extremely effective in a cold, heartless way. They don’t hate you, they’re just doing their job, and if that means burning you to a crisp, then so be it.

Another classic villain archetype is that of the fallen hero. Probably the greatest use of this example is in the Star Wars series of films where Anakin Skywalker is corrupted and becomes Darth Vader, a complete transformation from the ultimate good guy to one of the most notorious villains of all time. In Warcraft 3, the character of Arthas suffered a similar fate. Once held up as the perfect hero he becomes corrupted by power and becomes the leader of what was once his enemy. He even leads armies against his former home and kills his father. The sight of one destroying what he once looked to protect was also used in Star Wars, and has significantly more impact that some motiveless villain doing it out of spite.

Of course, no video game would be complete without the ultimate in virtual villains – other players. If you thought that the bosses you faced in Resident Evil were bad then think again, they’re nothing compared to what players will do to you. The anonymity of the Internet creates an interesting environment where no one is accountable for their actions. Because of this people are basically free to act as they wish, and so will use every advantage, cheat, exploit and hack they can get their hands on. You’ll encounter a surprising amount of devious cunning when multiplayer competition is involved and certainly other players are the ‘villain’ that have had me wanting to throw my keyboard out of the window more than any other.

There are, of course, many more great villains that this but I feel that these represent some of the more successful ones in crossing that barrier between film and games in presenting more believable characters with some amount of depth to them. As the technology reaches a point of near realism game designers will have to work harder to create great games and so I’m sure more time will go into characterisation. This should lead to some classic villains in the future, and I look forward to what comes next.