@athelstone
Active 6 hours, 39 minutes ago-
Athelstone replied to the topic A scheme to show books written without AI in the forum Coffee Shop 7 months ago
Incidentally, Sandra’s comment is still there but she replied to the update on the activity page rather than directly to the thread
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Athelstone replied to the topic A scheme to show books written without AI in the forum Coffee Shop 7 months ago
I think you’re right.
Of course, AI writing is effectively a sampling of other authors’ work, albeit with some sophisticated algorithms that hide the truth away. An author may say that they are using AI to produce something original, but AI simply won’t work with just small samples such as from one author. It needs a “large language model” as…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted a new activity comment 7 months ago
I read Middlemarch very quickly when I was 19 and still had the habit of reading 2 or 3 books every week. MM took me a whole week. I have no recollection of how I felt about it afterwards, because, in my usual way I was onto the next book. Parts of it have sort of emerged into my mind, and, if I’m honest my writing over the years. The book that…[Read more]
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I enjoyed Middlemarch when I read it some years ago. I like politics in novels – didn’t mind those parts. As for Rosamund Vincy: poor Lydgate. The mistakes we make.
The classic that’s had most impact recently is Wuthering Heights. I had to reread it for a book group or else wouldn’t have bothered. Teenage memories of a depressing story of a grim…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted a new activity comment 7 months ago
Not directly – or any of the other books on his list. I only remember a few. I suppose it was on his list because it gives an insight into how people think about life and death and some other major philosophical issues. My difficulty stems from myself, I think. I sometimes find it hard to read something that I’ve been told I ought to read. On…[Read more]
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I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t heard of it, but a lot of non English language literature is not on my radar. As far as Ulysses is concerned, I can see why it is important, and I enjoyed parts of it very much, but it was a tough read because with the style constantly changing, I couldn’t settle into it the way I generally can sooner or later. Middl…[Read more]
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Haha, Rosamund Vincy really is the worst! Even worse than the executives indeeed. But so memorable! I found the political bits in Middlemarch hard to get through personally, but yes the introspection can be pretty lengthy too.
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I read Middlemarch very quickly when I was 19 and still had the habit of reading 2 or 3 books every week. MM took me a whole week. I have no recollection of how I felt about it afterwards, because, in my usual way I was onto the next book. Parts of it have sort of emerged into my mind, and, if I’m honest my writing over the years. The book that…[Read more]
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I enjoyed Middlemarch when I read it some years ago. I like politics in novels – didn’t mind those parts. As for Rosamund Vincy: poor Lydgate. The mistakes we make.
The classic that’s had most impact recently is Wuthering Heights. I had to reread it for a book group or else wouldn’t have bothered. Teenage memories of a depressing story of a grim…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted a new activity comment 7 months ago
Good to know that other Denizens have issues reading classic works. I remember the professor of philosophy at university remarking that there were a few books that every educated person should read. One of them was “The Magic Mountain” by Thomas Mann. Took me 40 years and 2 translations to become educated 😁
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Athelstone posted an update 7 months, 1 week ago
OK, I just pushed through a batch of updates on the Den. I had already tested them on the Den’s testing site and they seemed to be fine. If anybody finds something not working please let me know. Thanks.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
September Song 7 months, 1 week agoMy sneaky way of finding what people are reading. And yes, an extraordinary range.
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Athelstone posted an update 7 months, 1 week ago
Welcome to a new member Silver. Some may remember her as Catasshe back in the Wordcloud days
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As in CAS Short Story Competition? Obviously I’m going to welcome you, Silver.
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That’s me Richard, nice to meet you! How’s the writing going?
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Hello my old SE buddy! Lovely to see you here.
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Hello Kate! How are you doing? The writing is flourishing I see!
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Having fun writing and publishing. The marketing… less so. But a necessity!
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Actually we have met virtually before. If you haven’t made the connection, my story came second in that competition, and we had a brief exchange of e-mails afterwards. Nice to see you here.
After two novels were greeted with deafening apathy by the trade, I decided that at my time of life I had better things to do than putting myself through the…[Read more]-
Hi Richard, oh yes, I wasn’t clear in my message but I did remember you from our email exchange – clicked it was you by reading the posts in the Podium section on here where you were posting about the competition. Still remember your story well – a fantastic one. I’m sorry to hear you’ve given up ‘serious’ writing. I empathize as I had a similar…[Read more]
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Welcome back, CAS. Great another Cloudie has found their way here.
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Thank you Janette! Yes, if only all the Cloudies would come! Great this is still going though.
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Hi CAS/Silver, good to hear from you again!
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Hi Libby! Nice to see you on here. I hope you’re well
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I’m fine, thanks. Trundling on 🙂
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Athelstone posted a new activity comment 7 months, 1 week ago
I’ve tried to make the consequences easy to negotiate.
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I chose my title for its inspiration and flexibility; it’s a bonus I’ve already written 286 words.
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Athelstone posted a new activity comment 7 months, 1 week ago
Absolutely. The Sri Lankan civil war, which the west often overlooked as uninteresting, was a terrible but facinating period. I don’t think Jules knew that I was particularly drawn to its history, but if not it’s a lucky accident. The book is a fantasy applying themes from mythology to create a story from the time. It was the Booker prize winner in 2022.
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I’m relieved to hear it, and look forward to your entry. Mine is coming on nicely, but I’m nervous as to what strictures the 25th will bring
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I’ve tried to make the consequences easy to negotiate.
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I chose my title for its inspiration and flexibility; it’s a bonus I’ve already written 286 words.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Choices in the forum
September Song 7 months, 1 week agoBecause I know what the consequences of each choice are, mine have been made for me, very kindly, by Jules.
Sunshine
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
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Yikes! That book title is ‘kind’?
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Absolutely. The Sri Lankan civil war, which the west often overlooked as uninteresting, was a terrible but facinating period. I don’t think Jules knew that I was particularly drawn to its history, but if not it’s a lucky accident. The book is a fantasy applying themes from mythology to create a story from the time. It was the Booker prize winner in 2022.
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I’m relieved to hear it, and look forward to your entry. Mine is coming on nicely, but I’m nervous as to what strictures the 25th will bring
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I’ve tried to make the consequences easy to negotiate.
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I chose my title for its inspiration and flexibility; it’s a bonus I’ve already written 286 words.
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Athelstone posted a new activity comment 7 months, 2 weeks ago
That makes me very happy. Thank you Sandra.
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Athelstone posted an update 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Sometimes when life is busy, important occasions are overlooked.
It’s that time again. In fact, it is way past that time, so I’d better get this party started. There’s a new group in town. Head on over to “September Song” for details of the new Short Story Challenge.
All are welcome. -
Athelstone started the topic Welcome. PLEASE READ THIS FIRST in the forum
September Song 7 months, 2 weeks agoWelcome all.
September Song, music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Maxwell Anderson, is a bittersweet evocation of life and love as one grows older. September, we hear, is when we look back at what seemed like a plentiful supply of time, and recognise how precious is the time to come. A time of contemplation and transition.
I don’t intend you to w…[Read more]
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Athelstone started the topic Choices in the forum
September Song 7 months, 2 weeks agoI am not going to explain what these choices mean – not now anyway. They will have an influence on your story, but I have every confidence that you will cope. You have all the skill and application necessary. I will explain them later, but that won’t be until the group becomes private.
And please don’t take these choices too seriously. Yes, there…[Read more]
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Athelstone started the topic Q and A in the forum
September Song 7 months, 2 weeks agoAsk questions here. Also, if you have any great ideas that might be answers, feel free to post them.
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Athelstone started the topic Rules in the forum
September Song 7 months, 2 weeks agoSome Basic Story Rules and Guidelines
The challenge is to produce a short story. In the way that the term is usually understood, what is needed is a work of fiction. By all means stretch this definition as you like, to include, for example, an imaginative account of true events, but please avoid essays, reportage, political polemic,…[Read more]
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Athelstone started the topic Voting in the forum
September Song 7 months, 2 weeks agoOn the face of it, what you have to do is quite simple. However, those of you have been through this before in previous challenges will know that in fact it is extraordinarily tough.
When the writing stage of the challenge closes on 8 February 2026 at 22:00 UK time, the voting stage begins. No doubt most of you will have read many of the entries…[Read more]
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Athelstone started the topic Chit Chat in the forum
September Song 7 months, 2 weeks agoWhat it says
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Bless you Ath!! Details of the Winter comp so inspired me I had sentences in my head when I woke this morning that needed me to get up and write them down immediately. That hasn’t happened for some months, and though I know what you’ve still to reveal will change things, I’m confident l’ll be able to incorporate it with the as-yet loose ideas I…[Read more]
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That makes me very happy. Thank you Sandra.
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