My Blog | Prose and Context

Floating island with Taipei buildings, a teacup, and flowers. Dark sky background. Text: R.F. Kuang, Taipei Story. Cover of a novel.

Catching Up: R.F. Kuang, Oscars, Other Books

Discover R.F. Kuang’s Taipei Story, Adrian Tchaikovsky’s 2026 releases, 2025 Oscar film reflections, and the profound prose of Kai Cheng Thom. Read more here!

Reflections

19 hours ago5 min read

Dark monolith towers over a misty forest with mountains in the background. Text reads "THERE IS NO ANTIMEMETICS DIVISION" and "qntm."

There Is No Antimemetics Division: Review & Analysis

Can you fight a war you can’t remember? Discover why qntm’s SCP-inspired ‘There Is No Antimemetics Division’ is a must-read sci-fi masterpiece.

Book Recommendations

Mar 105 min read

Six portraits of diverse people with mystical elements: a woman with golden threads, an elderly man, a red-haired person, a warrior, a soldier, and a fiery figure. Backgrounds are colorful and symbolic.

Postcolonial Narratives, Empathy Burnout & ADHD

Take care of ourselves, and show up when we can. It sucks we can't solve every problem! But better one at a time, building our strength as we go, than none, and dissolving in an acidic blend of guilt and hopelessness.

Reflections

Mar 34 min read

Two figures in blue uniforms stand back to back before a stained glass window, holding glowing red symbols. A spear and vibrant colors fill the scene.

What is Queerness in Media?

These days, queer inclusion in media often boils down to a binary yes-or-no answer. Here's why it's a lot more complex – and interesting – than that.

Reflections

Feb 244 min read

Fantasy warriors in armor and a submarine in space-themed background. Bold colors and dynamic pose create an epic, intense scene.

The Perfect Home for Pulp Science Fiction & Fantasy

But I'm here to tell you that these meaningless stories, comprised of more proper nouns and action verbs than you'll know what to do with, have found a place to thrive in the power metal scene – and it's great. Read on to hear about a few of my favourites, as well as a few more whose music is flirting with this genre.

Feb 175 min read

Abstract painting of a seated figure with a floral head and body in white, pink, and green tones against a dark green background.

On the Calculation of Volume I & II: Review & Analysis

Explore Solvej Balle’s "On the Calculation of Volume," a mesmerizing time-loop series. Read my spoiler-free review of Tara Selter’s reflective journey.

Feb 106 min read

A figure in ornate clothing with face paint, adorned with colorful flowers and skulls against a black background, with "Ghost" in bold text.

The Catharsis of Endings II: Death

While I've chosen just two songs to focus on today, there are probably at least a dozen you could point to as being relevant to my topic. After all, Ghost are consistently interested in subverting Catholic themes: so where a church service is all about securing that sweet sweet life after death, Ghost is here to remind you to live your life before death too.

Reflections

Feb 34 min read

Man in dark clothes defends against a surreal creature using a green ICE device. Background has sketches and splatters, evoking chaos.

A Moment of Silence, A Year of Rage

Rest in peace Alex Pretti, Renée Good, the dozens more murdered by ICE; the millions of victims of genocide, civil wars and invasions over the past year.

Reflections

Jan 272 min read

A figure stands, arms outstretched, in a swirling black and white abstract background with splatters and streaks, creating a mysterious mood.

The Catharsis of Endings Part I: Apocalypse

Through listening to music from my favourite bands, I've come to realize that existential reminders can be helpful for situating myself in space and time. Listen and read along!

Jan 205 min read

A red fist crushes metal on the cover of "Dune: The Machine Crusade." Bold red and beige text against a dark backdrop, intense mood.

Dune’s War on AI

Back in 1965, Frank Herbert envisioned a world where humanity had overcome its reliance on and subjugation by machines. When will we make that dream a reality?

Ideas in Context

Jan 135 min read

Mythical creature with antlers and wings emerges from fire, facing a person with a sword. Dark, dramatic setting with falling feathers.

‘The Devils’ by Joe Abercrombie | Review & Analysis

The Devils is different in many ways to Joe Abercrombie's most famous works, but also falls into a few of the same pitfalls. Is it worth the read?

Book Recommendations

Jan 68 min read

Book cover on wood floor: "The Buffalo Hunter Hunter" in red text with a stylized buffalo head. Dark, eerie theme with snow, trees, and a blood-stained church.

[Vampires IX] You Are What You Eat

I love this book; the way it meaningfully brings together real traumatic history with a fascinating personal vampire story.

Ideas in Context

Dec 30, 20257 min read

Winged figure holding a guitar stands amid flowers, with a sign saying "Do Not Feed the Mime" on a dark, moody background.

Looking Back at Two Years of Prose and Context

Another year marks another moment for reflection. Here's what I've learned and experienced in 2025!

Dec 23, 20254 min read

Regal figure in gold robe holds ornate staff. Intricate designs and a somber figure beneath, set against a black background. Mystical mood.

Heroes, Villains, Gods & Monsters: We’re All Only Human

The Wizard of Oz, pulling levers and maintaining his carefully crafted illusions, is a potent reminder that power and authority are always projected through a lens, or mask, such that people see only what they are supposed to see.

Ideas in Context

Dec 16, 20254 min read

Two figures sit by a campfire in a mountainous landscape with a large red sun. One holds a bowl; blue energy swirls between them. Text: Shayndl_art.

It Gets Better: Rhythm of War & Ghost’s “De Profundis Borealis”

We've all heard someone say it, but when you're feeling down it can be very difficult to believe. Here are two (three) moments that helped ingrain it in me.

Dec 9, 20256 min read

Surviving with ADHD in the Addiction Economy

Our minds are being attacked 24/7, whether by long COVID or TikTok, and we need to get defenses in place before our grey matter starts leaking out our ears.

Dec 2, 20255 min read

A woman with raised arms blends into a colorful sunrise landscape. Vibrant skies and clouds surround her, creating a serene, dreamlike scene.

Songs for a Better World [I]

I appreciate the hell out of songs which verbalize and elucidate ideas, feelings and fears which otherwise envelop me (and, I think, many of us) in a depressing yet undefinable miasma.

Nov 25, 20255 min read

A woman in a dark cloak stands before monoliths on an orange desert. Text reads "The Tombs of Atuan" and "Ursula K. Le Guin". A glowing figure holds a staff.

A Thought Experiment Turned Into a Novel: The Unspoken Name & The Tombs of Atuan

Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Tombs of Atuan" served as the foundation for A.K. Larkwood's "The Unspoken Name" fifty years later. How do the books compare?

Ideas in Context

Nov 18, 20255 min read