Hello readers! After the success of my lava calculations last month, I have been inspired to devote an entire blog post to pulling apart the physical inaccuracies of fantasy worlds. It turns out that the water hydrants in Tears of the Kingdom are the least of its lava-based problems (if you missed it, see: Is … Continue reading Clayton Calculates: The Death Mountain lava lake
Artificial Aphantasia
Hello readers! This week I discovered the “Bing Image Creator” – an AI image generator which anyone can use for free (i.e., for the measly price of handing all your search data to Microsoft). I’m aware that you’ve probably heard enough about AI art by now, so I thought I’d try and approach this thorny … Continue reading Artificial Aphantasia
Highmoor Maps: Book One
Hello readers! This week, I’m presenting the first map for the Highmoor series, covering the places visited in the first book. I’m also realising that I’ve made my life difficult by naming the book series after a location, because although this map covers the places visited in the book Highmoor, it is not just a … Continue reading Highmoor Maps: Book One
Muesli musings
Hello readers! Today’s blog post was triggered by a mundane observation that turned out to be interesting. Have you ever noticed that in a box of muesli, the largest pieces (e.g., Brazil nuts) tend to rise to the surface? I was reminded of this phenomenon yesterday, when I noticed that a bag of mixed herbs … Continue reading Muesli musings
New book out now: Sylvre
Hello readers! I have just published a new book on Amazon. This is Sylvre, the second instalment in the Highmoor series. To celebrate the launch, all my other books are free for this weekend (10th and 11th June). If you haven't picked up the first book, Highmoor, now's your chance! Amazon link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C7LVH17V Highmoor series … Continue reading New book out now: Sylvre
Is lava wet? And other questions
Hello readers! I’ve been playing more Tears of the Kingdom recently, and some of the “lava physics” in that game reminded me of various questions I have been asked over the years about lava in films and video games. This blog has hosted plenty of “cool rocks” since its inception, but we haven’t yet talked … Continue reading Is lava wet? And other questions
Making maps
Hello readers! Today’s blog post is mostly waffle with some updates. I’m very busy readying the second book in the Highmoor series for publication, so you can expect an announcement on that soon. I’m also very slowly creating a map to go with each book, and this has been a lot more time-consuming than I … Continue reading Making maps
Game review: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Hello readers! I’m reviewing something different today. It isn’t a film, it isn’t science fiction, and it isn’t terrible. For those of you who aren’t familiar, The Legend of Zelda is a long-running series of video games focussed around exploring a fantasy world populated with logic puzzles, eccentric characters, and curiously adorable monsters. The latest … Continue reading Game review: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Six-minute summary: Florence Nightingale
Hello readers! It’s time for the second instalment in this series of six-minute summaries. Last time, we covered Alfred Wegener, who brought about a paradigm shift in the Earth sciences with his idea of continental drift. This time, we’ll look at another revolutionary thinker: Florence Nightingale. International nurses day was on Friday 12th May, which … Continue reading Six-minute summary: Florence Nightingale
Book promotion: 6th-8th May
Hello readers! This weekend, from Saturday 6th to the end of Monday 8th May, all four of my books are going to be FREE on Amazon. To find all my books quickly, just visit my Amazon author page at http://www.amazon.co.uk/C-W-Clayton/e/B09YZXSQ3D. What is an Amazon Author page? Amazon Author pages are strange places. They are neither … Continue reading Book promotion: 6th-8th May
C. W. Clayton 