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Deana Whitney

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Five Amusing A.I. Characters Who Should All Definitely Hang Out

Fri Nov 29, 2019 12:00pm 12 comments 7 Favorites [+]

The term “Artificial Intelligence” can conjure a wide array of emotions from people, ranging all the way from excitement to fear. Writers have been playing with the storytelling possibilities of robots and AI (and our relationship with them) since long before personal computers were an everyday reality. 

In the past, when I’ve thought about A.I. characters, the first names that came to mind are all based in visual media, drawn from film and TV. Examples run the gamut from the Terminator to Rosie the Robot, the Cylons to C-3PO and R2-D2, Bishop in Aliens to Data in Star Trek; all of these characters showcase the wide scope of possibilities offered by A.I. characters. This encompasses simpler forms (like the Robot from Lost in Space) to more complex models (like Bender from Futurama, in all his sarcastic, narcissistic glory). It didn’t necessarily occur to me to think about examples of robots and AI characters drawn from books and fiction, for some reason…

[“Artificial intelligence is a tool, not a threat.” —Rodney Brooks]

Full-Spoiler Discussion of Brandon Sanderson’s Starsight

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Tue Nov 26, 2019 10:00am 17 comments 5 Favorites [+]
Background photo: NASA, JPL-Caltech, Susan Stolovy (SSC/Caltech) et al.

In Starsight, the highly anticipated follow-up to Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward, we continue Spensa Nightshade’s journey as she strives to become the best fighter pilot in the Defiant Defence Force (DDF). Set outside Sanderson’s Cosmere worlds, this series is an action-packed adventure sure to please anyone who has dreamed about reaching for the stars. 

Skyward introduced readers to the harsh world of Detritus and gave us a full cast of characters to root for as they fought against mysterious aliens called the Krell. Starsight launches us on a new stretch of Spensa’s journey to learn more about herself, her father, her ship M-Bot, and even her pet, Doomslug the Destroyer. In the process, we get to learn more about the wider world and the war that is so desperately being waged by the DDF. 

[“Spensa, what are you doing?!” —Everyone]

Non-Spoiler Review of Brandon Sanderson’s Starsight

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Wed Nov 6, 2019 10:00am 7 comments 4 Favorites [+]
Background photo: NASA, JPL-Caltech, Susan Stolovy (SSC/Caltech) et al.

Last year, Brandon Sanderson launched readers into a new world with Skyward, the story of Spensa (callsign: Spin), M-Bot, and the Defiant Defense Force (DDF)—a story that encompasses amazing highs and lows. We learned about the struggles of the human race on the planet of Detritus. We also learned to love Spensa, rooting for her as she fights to become a pilot and struggles with being labeled “The Coward’s Daughter.” And on November 26, everyone will have the chance to find out where the next stage of Spensa’s journey will take us in the highly anticipated sequel, Starsight. 

Checking in from Beta Flight to provide a non-spoiler review and discussion are Darci Cole, callsign: Blue, and Deana Whitney, callsign: Braid.

[You have nice shoes. – M-Bot]

Cosmere Cuisine: Colorful Dishes Inspired by Sanderson’s Warbreaker

Wed Jul 10, 2019 10:00am 2 comments 8 Favorites [+]
Cover art: Dan dos Santos ; Photos: Deana Whitney

Welcome as we continue to travel along the Cosmere Cuisine road! In this installment, we’re journeying to Nalthis in honor of Warbreaker’s 10th anniversary of publication. Endowment’s world is one of the most colorful planets created by Brandon Sanderson to date. From the highlands of Idris to the seashores of Hallandren, a richness of color infuses the world. The people of Hallandren celebrate the beauty, colors, and the richness brought to them by the Tears of Edgli.

Warbreaker leaves me with the impression of food in abundance. Food is discussed more than in any other Sanderson series besides The Stormlight Archive. I always become hungry when reading the story—typically for some seafood, since I’m not Idrian.

[Fortunately, the juice was delicious.]

Cosmere Cuisine: More Meals Inspired by Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Books

Wed Mar 20, 2019 10:00am 15 comments 8 Favorites [+]

Welcome Sanderson Fans, Cosmerenauts, and foodies to Tor.com’s newest adventures through the culinary Cosmere! Here we ask the important questions about what the people on the worlds of Brandon Sanderson eat along with their ingested metals and investiture.

Join Deana Whitney, a Sanderson Beta-reader and foodie, as she continues to explore the different cuisines in the Cosmere food chains. In this installment, we’ll take a delicious journey through Scadrial during Era 2.

[Gotta keep the stomach guessin’, mate.]

Five Books About Human and Dragon Friendships

Fri Nov 9, 2018 10:00am 58 comments 7 Favorites [+]
A Winged Dragon depicted in a Franco-Flemish Bestiary, c.1277 (The J. Paul Getty Museum)

Dragons. The word brings to mind a flood of images from movies, books, and art. Most of the adults I know love dragons. They would happily become one, or befriend one that appeared to them. Most of the kids I know want their own Toothless. (On the other hand, not many want a full grown Norwegian Ridgeback.)

When Brandon Sanderson first started thinking about the story that eventually became his latest book, Skyward, he was inspired by works about dragons—specifically books about finding dragons and learning how to fly them. Eventually, he decided to twist the classic formula of “a boy and his dragon” into a “girl and her starfighter” story, and thus Skyward took flight.

In light of the novel’s origins, it’s interesting to look back at the kinds of stories in which Sanderson has found so much inspiration, which he credits with being some of the first books he ever read as a young reader first getting into the fantasy genre. So let’s talk about the appeal of dragons.

[“You haven’t been bit till a dragon does it.”]

A Full-Spoiler Discussion of Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward

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Wed Nov 7, 2018 12:00pm 59 comments 4 Favorites [+]

Skyward is officially available as of November 6th, which means that it’s now on shelves everywhere, even as as Brandon Sanderson flies around the country on tour. This also means that everyone can finally meet Spensa, the girl who has dreamed her whole life of being a pilot, just like her father. More than anything, she wants to prove herself brave and strong, and do her part to defend what’s left of the human race. When she was young, however, her father mysteriously deserted his team; his desertion cast a shadow over Spensa and left her chances of attending flight school uncertain.

Checking in again from Beta Flight to give a full mission briefing spoiler review are Darci Cole, callsign: Blue, and Deana Whitney, callsign: Braid. If you are not ready for spoilers yet, you can check out our non-spoiler review.

Eagerly anticipated by Sanderson fans, this story is a jet-fueled start to his newest YA series—join us as we launch Skyward!

[Claim the Stars]

A Non-Spoiler Review of Skyward, a Young Adult Novel from Brandon Sanderson

and
Mon Oct 22, 2018 2:00pm 15 comments 4 Favorites [+]

Flying onto shelves on November 6th is Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward: book one of his newest young adult series. Our hero is Spensa, a girl who has dreamed her whole life of being a pilot like her father. More than anything, she wants to prove herself brave and strong, and do her part to defend what’s left of the human race. When she was young, however, her father mysteriously deserted his team—leaving Spensa labelled as the daughter of a coward, with her chances of attending flight school uncertain.

Checking in from Beta Flight to provide a non-spoiler review and discussion are Darci Cole, callsign: Blue, and Deana Whitney, callsign: Braid.

We will not touch on the pre-released Skyward material, so if you are waiting for the whole book to be out, this is a safe place and we salute you. A few comments about Sanderson’s other YA series, The Reckoners, are included, so consider yourself warned!

[Claim the Stars]

Cosmere Cuisine: Meals Inspired by Sanderson’s Mistborn Series

and
Mon Jun 25, 2018 12:00pm 20 comments 11 Favorites [+]

Welcome Sanderson Fans, Cosmerenauts, and foodies to Tor.com’s newest adventures through the Cosmere! Here we ask the important questions about what the people on the worlds of Brandon Sanderson eat along with their ingested metals and investiture, starting with Scadrial during the Final Empire.

Have you ever asked what foods would best fuel an allomancer’s investiture? What foods would help a street kid like Vin obtain trace metals to generate her “luck”? What flavors would the nobles enjoy to compliment the tastes of their metals? In the same way people enjoy pairing meals and wines, how does one pair metals and meals?

Join Deana Whitney, a Sanderson Beta-reader and foodie, along with Michael Gunter, a cook skilled in many modern and historical food preparation methods, as they explore the different cuisines in the Cosmere food chain.

[Breeze, what are you drinking?]

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