⚔️ You are NOT Entertained 👎🏼

On Thursday I’m going to see Bruce Springsteen at San Siro stadium here in Milan. (So excited!) Back in 1990, “The Boss” wrote a song called “57 Channels (And Nothin On)”. With way too many streaming platforms, dozens of networks, the internet, social media, and Amazon’s KDP for indie authors, the amount of content has grown exponentially in 35 years. Still, it seems like there’s “nothin on”.

The problem is content is not, in itself, entertainment. The utter garbage that Disney cranks out as content attests to that. From Marvel to Star Wars to Dr Who, it seems like there aren’t any decent writers left. But there’s light at the end of the streaming tunnel. Did you watch Andor? I thought it was brilliant. Yes, good writing creeps in every now and again, but it’s getting harder to find under the mound of putrescent content.

The same goes for books. I love reading and supporting indie authors. I’m one of them. But I’ve seen utter trash online. Many “authors” have an idea, write, and click publish on KDP. How can you sift through it all and find a good read? Amazon’s algorithm is your friend. The good news is, you’ll never see much of the trash. Amazon shows books based on rankings, keywords, ads, and (🥁…) what the algorithm thinks will sell.

And just like those streaming services show you a preview (even if it’s incredibly annoying how you can’t browse without them auto-playing), Amazon lets you “look inside” to read a sample of a book. You can get a feel for the author’s style and the story in a few pages. I can also spot AI written (or AI influenced) books. They lean heavy into cliches and often tell you what someone is feeling in dialogue tags. I guess AI can’t read, or write, human body language, so it has to tell you what emotions it can’t understand.

Some good atop the 💩 pile of content…

To Read:

• Tao Solandis - Written like sci-fi classics, it’s complex and engaging, with world building spanning multiple worlds and generations. Pre-Order Here​
• The Delta: A Dystopian Rebirth - A sci-fi thriller packed with genetic engineering, hidden agendas, and a fight for identity in a world where humanity is expendable. Check it out​
• Finding Idyllium - Yeah, it’s mine. From the latest 5-Star review: “It’s tense, thought-provoking, and filled with real human drama. If you like your sci-fi with heart and hard choices, this one delivers.” Now on sale​

To Watch:

• Paradise - A Star channel show I get on Disney+. Don’t watch or read about it until you’ve seen episode 1. This secret service/assassination thriller is sharply written and well acted.
• Andor - Perhaps the best written Star Wars since the original trilogy. After watching season 2, I watched Rogue One again and wow! That’s the best Disney Star Wars film - even more so after seeing Andor.
• Adolescence - This 4 episode British crime drama on Netflix is unlike anything I’ve seen. Each episode is shot as a single take - for real, with no editing tricks. And each episode takes you through a different stage of the story. Original and wildly engaging.

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Thanks for taking this journey with me, and whatever you're reading enjoy the adventure.