Some wordy explanations as to why you’re here

I am a person who was blackmailed by a malevolent secret society called “my parents”  into making a blog about Sci-Fi and fantasy. As a result, My dignity is currently falling faster than the US Dollar and my friends are, one by one, refusing to talk to me and are putting me on the Uzbekistani Mafia’s hitlist if I violate the Restraining Orders (Though they apparently are unaware of the Mafia’s whole “Omerta” thing). I’m also part of an ancient conspiracy to make the world more awesome. I’m hoping that, God willing, I will be able to generate income from this. So tell all your friends, brothers, sisters, uncles, coworkers, pets, and mistresses/mister-esses. If you steal my content I will eat your face.

On a more serious note, this is a blog about both science fiction and fantasy. I might expand it to include the umbrella genre “Speculative Fiction”.  There will be a blog post soon on the differences that will most surely bore you to tears. Later, as this blog grows older, you will find intelligent reviews, polls, articles, etc. I am a 16 year-old guy who, starting this school year, is homeschooled against his will.

Why is the blog called “Reality Sucks”?

It was primarily a tongue-in-cheek approach to naming something I didn’t necessarily want to do. The name is justified, however. I derived the name from the fact that this is a blog about sci-fi and fantasy. The reason is even more subtle, though. Many times when someone is a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, it is because they’re not content with reality and they want to get away. It’s not the case for me, but it is the case for others, and that’s why I have the name.

The subtitle/url “I took the blue pill” (which you will see sometimes) comes from the Matrix. Neo is given 2 choices. He can take the blue pill or take the red pill. If he takes the red pill, he accepts that he’s living a lie and leaves the Matrix. If he takes the blue pill, he stays in the Matrix and continues living a “fantasy”. Yeah. Of course, he takes the Red Pill, otherwise there would be no story.

I am an avid reader of books, proud watcher of movies, insecure gamer of games and strong listener of music. To break down my preferences in each:

Literary Genres:

Military Fiction, dystopian, fantasy, science fiction, Lovecraftian fiction, thrillers, and- because his stuff usually doesn’t fall into these genres, Neal Stephenson.

Favorite Books:

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, The Mortal Engines Quartet by Phillip Reeves, I, Robot, and H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos.

Movies:

Almost anything. I love comedies, thrillers, crime movies (not movies that are crimes- there’s a difference), dystopian, action movies, and war movies. When it comes to Sci-Fi and Fantasy movies, I immediately become strict on which of these kinds of movies I watch because, quite often, they’re incredibly cheesy. Cheesy is something I will not stand. I only watch some of the highest quality kinds of these movies.

Favorite Movies: Children of Men (BEST DYSTOPIAN MOVIE EVER), Serenity, Equilibrium (The dystopian aspects are meh, though the action is awesome), The Shawshank Redemption (Despite Communist Actor Tim Robbins), Black Hawk Down, District 9 (one of the best sci-fi movies ever, in my opinion, besides Children Of Men, though that’s definitely more dystopian action-thriller than sci-fi), The Blues Brothers, 12 Monkeys, and the Green Mile.

Music:

Primarily metal (thrash, melodic death metal, progressive death metal, progressive metal, groove metal), though I do like some prog rock (Opeth, though that only counts sometimes because they’re primarily progressive death metal and progressive metal and then I like some Muse). I also enjoy orchestral and classical music. No, this is not a self-contradictory paragraph. Many metal bands are inspired by classical music (it’s the intensity, emotional aspects, and skill required to play them.)

Favorite bands: Sylosis, Opeth, Metallica, Shadows Fall, and Dethklok

Games:

This is where much of my favorite sci-fi and fantasy things are. At the top of the list is Half-life 2. Half Life 2 provided one of the best stories in a long time and quite possibly the best. Dystopia. Ever. It’s also extremely unique and has an amazing, moody atmosphere that cannot be replicated elsewhere. At a very close second is Knights of the Old Republic 2. This game’s story IS one of the best ever, providing an excellent deconstruction of many things found in sci-fi, fantasy, and other genres. The villains that you face in the game, Darth Sion (The Lord of Pain) and Darth Nihilus (The Lord of Hunger) provide an atmosphere of ancient, unspeakable evil and creepiness. Whereas the character Kreia is one of the best, most mysterious and well developed characters I’ve ever seen, always questioning the motives behind your actions and the morals you have, all of which that builds up to a plot twist that’s unbelievable. The only reason why this game is at #2 is because of the disappointing executive meddling that rushed the game out, leaving last 5 hours or so of the game feeling stripped and rushed. At #3 is Mass Effect, also by Bioware, which also has a great story, albeit one that seems to mirror the first Knights of the Old Republic. But it is an excellent game.