I knew Leigh Brackett as the writer of the first draft of Empire Strikes Back. It was only when I came across an old copy of The Long Tomorrow at a used bookstore that I learned she was a prolific science fiction author as well. The Long Tomorrow is a fascinating read—I don’t think I’ve… Continue reading Future Tense
Author: Joshua Tong
Things Going Wrong
I had a plan in Death Stranding 2. I cleared out a bandit camp then left my truck there while I ran a couple errands nearby. While on those errands I was informed that my truck had been stolen. This threw a wrench in my plans, but nothing insurmountable. So I finished up that errand… Continue reading Things Going Wrong
Open-Ended
After taking my time and enjoying it, I finished Death Stranding 2: On The Beach last weekend. At least the main story of it, I still want to finish a few orders and max out my connection with everyone — but the main part of the game is done. And man, is it excellent. Despite… Continue reading Open-Ended
Pokémon Go On A Walk
The year is 2025 and, nine years later, I’m one of the people still playing Pokémon Go. The world has changed since the game came out in the heady summer of 2016. Technology no longer seems to have as optimistic a future as it once did. A worldwide pandemic saw us retreat from each other… Continue reading Pokémon Go On A Walk
The Myth of Vegas
I am not a fan of Las Vegas. I passed through it a few years ago and was, well, unimpressed. The Strip struck me as oddly artificial, like a simulacrum of a city like New York. A recreation in a controlled environment without the perceived dangers of a real city, where a visitor doesn’t need… Continue reading The Myth of Vegas
Out of Office (Again)
These are the last weeks of Summer. Or at least, I think they are — an equatorial childhood makes the exact demarcations of the seasons a little fuzzy at best. Anyway, Summer, in my experience, is a little hectic and busy (in addition to, in some places, being unbearably hot). Accordingly, I find myself away… Continue reading Out of Office (Again)
Superhope
Superman feels like an idealistic fantasy born out of a simpler time. A space alien with powers beyond belief grows up on Earth a humble man and chooses to use his powers to help and save humanity instead of conquering or ruling us. Adapting that unbridled optimism for a modern audience outside the bounds of… Continue reading Superhope
Casual Gamer
Haven’t had much time today to sit at my computer and work on a blog post, been otherwise occupied. I did carve out a bit of time to check out the beta for Battlefield 6, the latest game in that long-running military shooter. It’s, well, it’s fun enough. The game delivers on the premise of… Continue reading Casual Gamer
Buying Music Online
Bandcamp Friday was yesterday and I, in accordance with my nature, bought a whole bunch of new music. I’ve taken a real shine to Bandcamp over the last few years, probably because so many other ways of buying music has gotten worse. Spotify’s ascendency has been enshrined: streaming music is the norm — the idea… Continue reading Buying Music Online
Why Blog?
I’ve been keeping this blog for over a decade now, posting something I’ve written most every week. Over those years, blogs have faded from prominence on the internet — the steady pivot to video that was already taking place a decade ago has firmly ensconced with video essays and whatever it is that’s raging on… Continue reading Why Blog?
Essays, Not Rants! 